Sir Hero, It’s Time to Train!

“Hahaha! Did you see that, Kytos? Our grandchildren made it confidently to the finals and completely embarrassed that blasted Viscount Liardo!”

“It’s all thanks to Count Worden for guiding the children so well.”

“Yes, indeed. Our son-in-law’s family is truly remarkable. The bloodline flows just the same… no, stronger!”

The Maurquis Roscarle Ferdida, heavily intoxicated, turned red as he downed the drink from his glass.

There was concern that he might go overboard, but seeing his wife Lady Rosa subtly mixing water into his drink to manage the alcohol content, the concern lessened.

In this peculiar gathering, Christian and Aira found themselves dealing with their grandfather’s drunken ramblings.

“Here, you two have a drink as well!”

Roscarle took the bottle from his wife and filled new glasses before handing them abruptly to Christian and Aira.

Aira became flustered by this bold action, whereas…

“Oh dear, such a precious thing! It’s spilling, it’s spilling!”

“……”

Christian quickly took the glass his grandfather offered, lamenting as the excess drink overflowed.

‘How long has it been since I’ve had a drink!’

With his eyes shining, Christian took the yellow liquid, savoring the fragrant aroma.

He had not touched a drop since inhabiting this body, making him crave it even more.

‘It might not be as good as what Aunt Rachel made, but still…’

As he eagerly brought the glass to his lips, anticipating the deep, fruity taste mixed with a tangy alcohol bite, aira intervened.

“What’s up?”

Aira blocked Christian’s path with her hand, causing him to frown at her.

“Are you going to tell second mother that you drank?”

“……”

Christian’s lips pouted in discontent, but he quietly lowered his glass. Watching secretly, Roscarle burst into laughter.

“Hahaha! Neria certainly raised her child well. When she was ten, she secretly drank the wine I hid and fainted!”

“That was your fault, you know.”

Rosa sighed lightly and shook her head at her husband’s silly behavior.

Perhaps due to that horrible experience, whenever there was a banquet or party, Neria would find Christian and enforce sobriety upon him.

Aira took the glass from Christian and replaced it with juice, making his expression darken even further.

“I’m not a kid, can’t I just have one drink?”

“You are a kid. Realize that you’re only sixteen.”

“Sigh…”

With a sigh, Christian sipped his juice, and Kytos approached them.

“Nevertheless, you both did remarkably well. Never thought you’d pass the preliminaries so easily.”

“It was just kids fighting,”

Christian responded, sipping juice calmly. Aira couldn’t help but retort internally, ‘You’re a kid too!’

“By the way, aira. Did the Miles Viscounty express anything towards you? No one came to visit?”

“What? No, they didn’t.”

“Hm…”

“Am I not supposed to be here?”

“No, that’s not it… I just thought they’d at least congratulate you, given it’s a cooperative matter. It wouldn’t have been an issue if they genuinely wanted to offer congratulations rather than manipulate you.”

“Oh…”

Kytos hadn’t said anything about Aira, who had been recommended by the Miles Viscounty to participate in the Aries Order’s martial tournament.

Their agreement had been about her circumstances, not a complete relinquishment of control over Aira.

If they had come purely to congratulate her, Kytos would have happily allowed her to meet them.

“Gail, my friend. Would be nice if he came over to share a drink on a day like this. Tsk tsk. So cold.”

Roscarle expressed his displeasure, clicking his tongue while listening to his son’s words.

Although belonging to different factions, they had shared mutual interests in common, maintaining a decent relationship between the families.

Especially business-wise, they were closely tied, with the heads often meeting.

Despite the solid friendship, Marquis Ferdida could count on one hand how many times he had met the Viscount Miles privately.

His grumbling was a sign of disappointment.

Ignoring his father’s complaints, Kytos turned to Aira.

“But on the finals day, it’ll be fine to meet your uncle, so don’t worry too much.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Aira seemed to breathe a bit easier with this assurance from Kytos.

She had been recommended by not the Viscount Miles himself, but his son, Evan Miles, junior Baron.

The Ferdida family was well aware of who had truly supported her, and Kytos wanted to reduce the burden Aira seemed to feel from being under their family’s observation.

“Now, it’s okay for you both to rest and not entertain grandfather anymore.”

“This is a banquet this old man is throwing for my dear grandchildren… Oof!”

Roscarle stood abruptly to express his dissatisfaction, but Rosa quickly covered his mouth, reined him back to his seat.

Moreover, a stern wife’s smack across the back, ‘Do it in moderation, my dear,’ deflated him swiftly.

Observing his grandparents, Christian could finally nod in understanding.

‘Now I understand why mother is so innocent.’

Having grown up in a warm family naturally imparted that nature.

And for Christian, this realization felt profoundly new.

“Then, we shall retire for now. We’ll see you in the morning.”

Christian’s gesture to leave made Roscarle sigh in regret.

Yet, believing his grandchildren must be tired, he didn’t hold them back, allowing Christian and Aira to finally escape the drinking session.

***

Having left the drinking gathering, Christian was led by Aira to the sparring grounds.

Being late at night, it was quiet.

“Are you sure you’re okay not resting?”

“I didn’t find it tiring.”

“… I’m afraid you’re becoming more of a stamina monster.”

“You’re the one who made me this way!”

Aira, hearing Christian’s words, revealed her displeasure.

She hadn’t expected her body to become like this, and hearing it from the person responsible irked her to no end.

“Well, considering the preliminaries were rigged to match with easier opponents, you probably aren’t tired.”

“Huh? Rigged?”

Standing with practice swords, aira tilted her head at Christian’s words. Christian shrugged in response.

“We both got recommendations from influential families. No point in putting us against similar calibers and causing discomfort unnecessarily.”

“… So you’re saying my qualification wasn’t due to my skills?”

“That’s not it. You had the skills to make it through to the finals easily.”

Christian laughed, brandishing his sword lightly, watching Aira’s expression slightly stiffen.

“Does this mean I’m not strong enough to win?”

“Even if there’s an age limit in place, most will be older than us, you know? No matter that you’ve learned the wave technique, your opponents likely have too and have trained longer. It’s natural to be slightly behind.”

“Hm…”

Aira’s expression softened slightly. She knew that well.

Though she learned the wave technique, she remained humble.

With only a few months having passed since mastering body activation and the wave, there would be opponents in the finals who had spent years, if not close to decades, sharpening their swords and mana.

“Still, I don’t plan to lose.”

“I didn’t raise you to.”

Aira’s determined declaration had Christian smiling, his enchanted sword beginning to hum.

Aira too fueled her sword with her wave technique.

Her wave burned fiercely, much like peerless flames; it exuded a striking power noticeable at a glance.

Meanwhile, Christian’s wave, modestly sheathing his sword, barely emanated light comparatively.

To any onlooker, aira’s abilities outshone Christian’s.

But…

“Ugh, why can’t I compress it better?”

“It’s about technique, technique.”

“Ugh…”

Aira’s mana resembled an unrefined state, freshly extracted from the mana reservoir.

In contrast, Christian’s mana had been refined and compacted.

Aira’s wave was large and flamboyant, but light; Christian’s was small and seemingly weak, yet heavy.

Both knew which wave held more power.

“But still…”

Christian lunged at Aira, who easily blocked his strike.

Not only did she block it effortlessly, but she followed up with a swift counterattack, exploiting Christian’s opening.

Her speed was nearly untraceable by eye, with power to boot, and their contrasting wave techniques clashed, causing magical sparks to fly.

“You’re far from weak. You’re only going to get better.”

“Tch. Hearing that now doesn’t make me any happier?”

Despite her curt reply, aira’s face bore a small smile.

“If it’s about entertainment value, we probably wouldn’t face each other easily until maybe the finals; until then, make sure you don’t lose.”

“I won’t lose. And…”

Fending off Christian’s sword, aira voiced her resolution.

“I won’t lose to you either.”

Her passionate red eyes echoed the fierce waves burning on her sword.

Should they clash, she would treat it sincerely—a serious match.