“Well then master, let us begin the training.”
“Thank you for having me.”
“Yes, you are quite welcome.”
Aira and I look at each other and bow.
We tend to fool around, but Aira really is the best teacher when it comes to training. I need to do things properly starting from this.
“Since we are standing on sand, let us start with what we cannot usually do.”
She says while throwing two daggers, that are stabbed into the sand.
“There are approximately two hundred meters between them. First, go without speed skills, and run back and forth using only Posture Control. When turning around, do not use your hands, and kill the momentum within ten meters. If you go over the limit, you will receive an additional day off as punishment per infraction. Make sure you execute this well, or your dungeon explorations will become distant.”
“All right.”
“Of course, you must run at full speed until the two hundred meter line.”
“Okay.”
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
Bam!
“Master, get a better grip on the surface with your soles! You are not killing the momentum!”
“Kuh… Like this!?”
Bwoom!!
“Yes, make sure you do not forget that feeling!”
“Yes!”
Aki was on Enki’s head, so she could better observe Shouta doing his laps.
Maki and Ayane each placed a camera on the two points, and proceeded to prepare drinks and towels under Enki. This training was a common sight for them, but perhaps not to onlookers.
Takane and Yukine looked on nervously as they watched Shouta train for the first time.
“…Ayane and Maki…”
“What?”
“Yes? Ah, do you need chairs?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Ayane was not too good with them, but that was in the past. A curtain had come down recently, and through talking with her sisters, she was conquering those feelings. After all, the emotions she could not decipher behind their eyes were no longer there.
“Is our brother-in-law always like this on his days off?”
They could not help but be puzzled. Normal adventurers would take it easy for days when they had time off. They were no different, so they could not imagine they would be seeing this sight after coming to a southern beach.
“Yes. Have a lot of fun on the first day, and train all day after that. Darling is stoic like that.”
“How much have you two heard about Shouta from Sakuya?”
“Hn… Should we say it, Taka?”
“I think it’s fine. She told us to deepen our friendship so they don’t dislike us, and to lend a hand whenever we can.”
“Next! You may use both hands but not Posture Control!”
“Yes!”
Aira continued giving Shouta conditions as he ran.
Bwoom!
“He has hidden skills that are above Legendary and his growth rate is through the roof… That’s about it, right?”
“…Can you tell us why mother thinks that’s the case?”
Takane and Yukine looked at each other. Few knew this information even within the Houjouin family. But Ayane was a part of said family, and Shouta would also join it eventually. As the eldest daughter of the Houjouin family, Takane decided it was not a problem.
“What I’m about to say is top secret. Can you promise not to tell anyone?”
“That goes for both of us.”
“Fufu, true.”
Takane looked around.
On that beach were Shouta and his fiancees, retainers, and the two sisters. The managers and guards hired by the Houjouin family were not within earshot.
“Mother has a skill that allows her to see someone’s aura.”
“Aura?”
“Yes. And the shine of this aura changes depending on the rarity of the skills this person has. When she saw him during the party, she saw a rainbow aura of Legendary or Phantasm skills.”
“So this aura reflects only the rarest skills a person has?”
“That is what I heard.”
“I see. So the lady has a very interesting skill.”
“!?”
Takane expressed surprise without making a sound, when she realized Aira was next to her.
But she was also one of Shouta’s fiancees, so she would be joining the family. She was a maid with a military background, but had a clear standing at this point. She was not to be treated as an outsider.
“…Can you not startle me like that?”
“Excuse me.”
“Aira is a prankster.”
“I didn’t notice her either. You’re stronger than you were before you joined our brother-in-law, right?”
“Thank you… Next! No Posture Control or hands!”
“Yes!”
Aira’s attention was on Shouta even as she heard the others.
And she gave him his next instructions as he continued running.
“Dowaah!?”
Bwoosh!!
But as Shouta made a turn without his skill to support him, he could not hold his balance, and fell spectacularly. And since he showed no sign of getting up, Aira followed it up with an attack.
“…Taking a break already? Is it not too soon?”
“I-I know. I’m just thinking a bit.”
Shouta got up and took deep breaths, and began running again. Aira had a satisfied smile on her face, as she saw him run with sweat pouring from every pore.
But that lasted only a moment, as she quickly put on her emotionless expression and turned to Takane.
“Will you help with master’s training?”
“Yes, we intend to!”
“You should know our abilities, right? Use them to their fullest.”
“I will. Miss Takane uses Spatial Magic, and Miss Yukine Forbidden Magic. We should be able to increase the level of master’s training a lot with your help.”
Takane’s Spatial Magic was Lv6, a high level. She could not only create almost ten footings, but also give them color. This meant that her allies could also make use of them. This footing was easy for allies to see but hard for enemies to spot, which meant she was good at support.
Yukine wielded Forbidden Magic, ice and water magic that was not a part of the four elements, and was one of few people who could do so. She was also good at fighting up close, meaning she was an all rounder that used both physical attacks and magic.
Their help greatly expanded what could be done in training.
Aira thought it was good that Shouta wanted to learn powerful skills to become stronger, but he should also distribute them for the sake of his training.
“But such a convenient offer cannot be truthful.”
Immediately after stating this, Aira’s gaze turned colder than ice.
“What is your real goal? Helping master is but a bonus, correct?”
“…What do you mean?”
“If you do not speak, I will have to ask you to leave.”
“…”
Aira and Takane glared at each other, as Maki looked on silently, and Yukine and Ayane felt flustered, as both were ignorant.
“It is an off period, but I cannot accept the idea of Lady Sakuya moving two important personnel to the middle of nowhere at such an important time.”
Both fell silent for some time.
The only sounds were those of Shouta running and kicking sand.
“…I give up. I can’t compete with mother’s Red God of Death.”
“That is an old nickname. How accurate is it?”
“You’ve got a pretty good idea, right? Over eighty percent.”
“I see.”
Said Aira, as her cold stare turned back into a blank expression.
“Well then, please keep it a secret from master when the time comes. There is no need to tell the other ladies, since their attitudes will give it away.”
“Why? This information…”
“I know. But it will benefit master to experience it once.”
“You’re rough.”
“I would call it affection.”
Both smiled knowingly.
“Next, Fast Run! And Posture Control!”
“Yes!”
And in the meantime, Shouta kept running.
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