Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Friend-1
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Calm down. The nickname "Joke Killer" hasn't spread that far yet.
Look, even Ariasfil...
"So... is that another one of your newly developed joke assassination techniques...? Leonardo...?"
"......"
...Isn't there a nice bridge around here somewhere? Preferably one good for drowning or falling off.
"...What?"
Now an undeniable Joke Killer, Leo asked with a depressed expression.
"What you're doing right now..."
"What I'm doing right now?"
"Talking to me formally... that's what."
At those words, Leo suddenly felt a question arise.
"...Of course I should use formal speech. I'm your squire."
"But when we first met, you spoke informally."
That was because...
"I wasn't a squire back then. Now that I am, I need to show proper respect."
"Still..."
She fidgeted awkwardly with her legs and hands in a way that didn't suit her, carefully broaching the subject. It was a behavior Leo rarely saw even in his previous life, amplifying his doubts.
"Before we settle that, Leonardo, I'd like you to show me what I asked for first?"
Before his doubts could fade, Chris reminded him of her request. Right, he had agreed to demonstrate Mana Physical Training.
"I'll show you right away."
"I'm looking forward to it."
At that moment, Leo didn't notice, but a shadow fell over Ariasfil's expression. It was a pity it was hidden behind Chris.
"Then, first..."
Leonardo took off his upper garment, exposing his bare skin.
"Why are you suddenly taking off your clothes?"
"Mana Physical Training works best with as much skin exposed as possible. Wearing clothes doesn't drastically reduce the effect, but better to be thorough."
Aaahhh, I can't hear a thing.
The ravings of that ancient old hag must be hallucinations from my fatigue. That's how it had to be.
"Impressive physique. To be this toned at just thirteen..."
The praise for his body was a bit embarrassing, but Leo took some pride in his physical condition.
The firm muscles and healed scars on his body visually represented the boy's training to some extent.
"...Uh..."
For some reason, Ariasfil wasn't looking straight at him but glancing at Leo's body bit by bit with her eyes.
Yet she was clearly taking in every muscle and inch of skin.
Regardless, Leo was busy focusing his senses on the mana around him.
"Hoo..."
As he exhaled, Leo activated Mana Physical Training.
Setting aside the nonsense and jokes, Leo's training proficiency had indeed advanced another level.
The split mana particles were even finer, and opening the skin's pores through physical training had become more adept.
"...This... is impossible..."
Chris, witnessing the sight, couldn't close her mouth. Even if she tried to tense her jaw, her jaw muscles seemed paralyzed, drooping under gravity.
"How...!! Did you do that!?"
Finally shaking off the muscle paralysis, Chris rushed to Leo and demanded.
"Pardon?"
Her excessively excited reaction left the demonstrating Leo flustered instead.
"That technique just now!! Splitting the mana and inserting particles into the skin's pores!!"
It was the first time she'd been this agitated since seeing the black wyvern with red eyes or meeting the odd-eyed mage.
"First...! Please calm down...!"
"Calm down?! You must not realize how monumental this achievement is with your limited knowledge!!"
His mind was over twenty-five, making it hard to accept, but he needed to agree for now.
The excited middle-aged woman in front of him was too frightening to contradict.
"Ch... Lady Chris, please calm down first..."
"...S... Sorry. Ahem..."
At Ariasfil's words, Chris barely clung to reason and cleared her throat to compose herself.
"...Leonardo, do you know the basics of mana breathing?"
"Yes, inhaling mana-mixed air into the lungs to attach particles to the body."
The Reinhardt mana training method was based on breathing. Among them, the House of Reinhardt's breathing technique was top-tier.
"Correct. We believed nothing surpassed breathing for mana training. But it had one fatal flaw."
Her tone was a bit exaggerated, but Leo had a rough idea of the flaw.
"“You can't do physical training while mana breathing.(Right?)”"
Saying the same words at the same time, the Sage admired.
Ignoring the renowned Sage's absurd remark, Leo focused on his conversation with Chris.
"Right, you can't physical train during mana breathing. Doing both disrupts the breath and makes training sloppy."
Research to combine breathing and physical training was a hot topic, ongoing before Leo's birth.
But physical exertion was poison to the delicate mana breathing.
Mana breathing basics and muscle-use breathing differed in form and rhythm.
From inhalation volume to holding time, everything was subtly different, with posture amplifying variances.
Focus on mana breathing fatigues the body quickly, nullifying stamina training.
Prioritize stamina, and mana breathing becomes irregular, reducing absorption and risking side effects.
Thus, people trained them separately for efficiency.
"But the House of Reinhardt overcomes that with their unique constitution and training?"
Reinhardts had the Hero's blood and soul, growing bodies rivaling physical training just from mana absorption, with 300-year traditions surpassing common methods.
"Indeed. But... wait."
The smooth flow halted abruptly.
"...What's wrong..."
"...How do you know that? Info on constitution and training isn't easily obtained."
Oh no. In his previous life, sure, but current him shouldn't know or need to.
"Well... I don't know the details."
So, as naturally as possible.
"Just rumors from my brief mercenary days. I was certain when Lady Ariasfil perfectly mastered the method I taught."
He had to patch the story together.
"Hm... Truly the fate of a warrior."
The words came naturally, but hearing them twisted his face unnaturally. He had to endure.
"Anyway, even Reinhardt's secrets have that flaw. Physical and mana training times are divided."
Now the full meaning clicked.
"...Mana Physical Training allows both simultaneously."
"That's the miracle! It shortens time overall, and with refinement, surpasses pure mana breathing or physical training in quality!"
It was revolutionary.
Though Leo created it himself, he hadn't grasped its significance back then.
Should I kill him with a joke?
"If it won't offend, I'll definitely suggest this training to the Family Head. If pushed well, it could change the landscape of mana training! And not just that—I'll prepare a reward myself!! I swear on the name of Black Rock!"
He wasn't sure how weighty "Black Rock" was, but Leo nodded. The reward tempted him greatly.
"Then I'm off! I'll report this immediately!! Expect the reward!!!"
"Ah... Yes..."
Sage, this isn't my fault.
With those words, Chris vanished from the training ground like a shadow into the darkness.
"...Ah... Yeah... That's how it went."
Left alone with Ariasfil, Leo said that.
"Clothes..."
"Pardon?"
"Put your clothes on first..."
She picked up his fallen shirt from the ground and held it out.
"Ah, thank you."
As he gratefully took and put on the offered clothes, Leo expressed his thanks. Even young, seeing a scarred male body could be unpleasant.
"Stop... that..."
"Stop what?"
"...Don't talk like that..."
Ariasfil's face reflected in Leo's calm eyes.
For some reason, her reflected face looked sad.
When Leonardo first said he'd come to the family...
Though she didn't show it, Ariasfil was overjoyed, practically jumping inside.
‘Leonardo's coming to our house? Tomorrow? Right now?’
Just thinking about it brought a bright smile to her doll-like face.
‘We can train together every day. Talk every day, spar every day, laugh together every day.’
And not just that—whenever she wanted, she'd see Leonardo's face. Hear his voice, watch his swordsmanship, and... feel his warm touch.
"...Hehe..."
With a girlish laugh she'd never made before, the girl eagerly awaited the next day.
But
"...I've been craving oranges after so long.
“Pfft-hahahahaha...!! Ack!! Eek! Hee-hee!! Gulp...”
After Leonardo suddenly knocked out Alfred, something felt off.
Of course, she worried about the fallen Alfred.
He was over twice her father's age yet always healthy, so his collapse was concerning.
But ironically, what worried her more was...
“What do we do!? Leonardo...! Leonardo...!”
Leonardo, who had entered the interrogation room.
It had been two hours since he went in without coming out.
What if he was undergoing some strange torture?
She suddenly recalled tales of the interrogation room monster eating bad grandparents or Alfred.
Leonardo would stylishly slay such a monster, but worry was inevitable.
Fortunately, he was released soon after.
But
‘Why go to the distant annex instead of the main house?’
Life with Leonardo didn't go as hoped.
Going to the annex, not the main house, was dissatisfying,
And him being a mere squire, not an escort knight like Jehard, bothered her.
This made daily sightings difficult.
Above all.
"Lady Ariasfil."
"...Of course I should use formal speech. I'm your squire."
That formal speech was painfully burdensome to hear.
‘Why formal speech...?’
Did he dislike being dragged to the interrogation room right away?
If so, she could compensate plenty.
Or did other squires bully him?
If that, she could just cut those squire scum.
Or... no way, me?
Does he hate me?
"...Why are you using formal speech?"
If it was really that, what should she do?
Her mind went blank, words failing her.
"...Weren't we friends...?"
Her first friend, because he was her first friend,
No proper words came to mind.