Chapter 254: Individual Growth

Chapter 254: Individual GrowthIn the basement of the Carnedas family’s mansion, there was a hidden room.

In that room, a strange swirling door opened, and a man and a woman staggered out.

“Kugh!”

“Uhh...!”

It was Ian Fairytale and Ciel Carnedas.

Both of them lay sprawled on the floor, groaning. The door automatically closed, and the swirling phenomenon subsided.

“Haa, ahh, we did it...!”

“Shut up.”

Ian barely managed to sit up and looked at the sacred sword in his right hand, chuckling.

Ciel buried her head on the floor and grumbled in annoyance.

The two had just returned from the divine realm. Ian had undergone trials and received the recognition of a Great Heavenly Being, obtaining the Luminous Sword, while Ciel was overwhelmed by the memory of the imposing presence she had seen at the end.

Even for a brief moment, they had encountered a Heavenly God.

Ciel felt as if she had been reduced to nothing more than dust. The Heavenly God was far away yet distinctly present and incredibly immense. Its mana pulsed like a heartbeat, evoking a primal fear.

She shuddered just thinking about it, yet this oblivious man was grinning widely, proud of obtaining a formidable magic weapon. He was annoyingly carefree.

“Ian! Ciel!”

“Lady Ciel!”

Hearing the noise, Amy Holloway went down to the basement with a Carnedas family maid.

Amy immediately knelt in front of Ian, while the maid assisted Ciel.

“Are you okay? Are you really okay?”

“I’m fine! Look at this, Amy. I’ve become stronger...!”

“You’re covered in wounds!”

Amy tearfully hugged Ian.

“You idiot. I told you not to overdo it. Do you know how worried I was?”

“..I’m sorry for making you worry.”

“...Welcome back.”

“I’m back.”

Ciel frowned as she watched the couple, lost in their own world.

It was like there were hearts floating above their heads. A cross-shaped vein popped on Ciel’s forehead, and a shadow fell over her eyes.

As if she was saying, “How dare they be affectionate in front of me?“

“Should I kill them...?”

“Please restrain yourself, Lady Ciel.”

The maid stopped Ciel as she began to gather her mana.

This kind of pure love, devoid of drama, only fueled Ciel’s anger.

Ciel liked blood, love, and war. Something as stimulating as Isaac’s complicated romantic relationships.

“More importantly, I have something to report.”

The maid spoke in a serious tone.

She reported that demons attacked while Ciel and Ian were away. Fortunately, the forces of Düpfendorf had helped, so there were no casualties.

Amy chimed in, vividly recounting the events of that day.

“...”

Ciel fell into deep thought.

* * *“Ugh...!”

“You missed.”

In a corner of the Butterfly Garden.

Just like last night, Gerald Astrea tried to teach me footwork this morning.

It had a name that sounded like something straight out of a martial arts novel, but it was actually a technique using mana.

After only a short distance, intense pain shot through my thighs, knees, and calves. I tried to grit my teeth and endure, but I lost my balance and fell.

Sweat poured down my entire body. The unfamiliar training was extremely exhausting.

“First, your mana must harmonize with your muscles and joints. As if they were one from the beginning. It will be quite difficult at first. It’s not just about being good at magic.”

Gerald explained as I staggered to my feet.

Gerald didn’t have a natural talent for magic. However, he had mastered the method of imbuing his muscles and joints with mana to enhance his movements. He had figured it out on his own.

It was much more challenging than the usual physical-enhancement magic, but Gerald had a high understanding of his own body, which made it possible.

In any case, succeeding in this process was a prerequisite for learning the “Footwork” Gerald mentioned.

“Let me repeat. This is a method to infuse strength within your body. If done correctly, you can achieve quick movements with no effort. The effect increases as your body grows. The key is to harmoniously blend your mana with the movements of your muscles and joints. It requires some trial and error, but with your capabilities, you should be able to do it soon.”

Gerald’s technique, if mastered, could reduce the strain on the body and enable effective rapid movements. It felt like raising the upper limits of physical capabilities.

However, Gerald’s method wasn’t widely practiced.

“It’s difficult...”

Due to the insane difficulty of the technique.

Having a natural talent for magic wasn’t enough. It was clear that this technique was for those with exceptional talent who had trained both their bodies and their magic.

Without a proper understanding of one’s body structure, it was hard to use. So, I didn’t know how to do it either.

Gerald seemed to have mastered it thanks to his remarkable physical talent.

Anyway.

I needed to appropriately infuse mana into the muscles and joints, but any misstep would cause imbalance and pain.

I had to find the fine line where mana could be infused and operated only in the muscles and joints.

It was like pouring soju into a soju glass using surface tension to fill it to the brim.

“It feels like I’m close to a breakthrough.”

Using wind mana to move quickly puts tremendous strain on the body.

If he continued, he would inevitably suffer severe aftereffects.

So, Tristan needed to find a way to reduce the strain on his body.

“What do you mean...?”

“I’m practicing channeling mana into parts of my body that don’t usually imbue mana.”

“What?”

The butler was shocked.

“Like muscles and joints. If I do it right, I might be able to control my power more effectively.”

The butler, once a mercenary wizard, could fully grasp the absurdity of what Tristan was doing.

Channeling mana into his muscles and joints? No one could tell just by looking.

It would likely cause severe imbalance and pain as if his limbs were breaking.

“If you continue like this... you could end up with irreversible injuries.”

The butler’s voice trembled with concern for Tristan.

“Such pathetic talk. That’s what this training is for. Do you think someone as superior as me can’t overcome this?”

Tristan snickered and lightly brushed off the butler’s hand, which was holding the towel to his mouth.

“Enough, return to your post.”

Tristan turned his back and resumed his training. The butler watched him with pity.

He felt good about his desire to improve himself. For the butler, who had pledged to serve the Humphrey family, seeing the future head, Tristan, work hard every day was indeed admirable.

But... if he trained this intensely, his body would give out before his spirit.

Still, Tristan trained with a smile, driven by the anticipation of reaching new heights, his heart raced with excitement.

In the end, the butler couldn’t help but voice the question that had been on his mind.

“Young Master.”

“What?”

“Why... do you push yourself so hard?”

Why is he striving to become strong?

Why did he study and train with all his might, driving himself into extreme pain?

Isn’t he already more than capable of becoming the head of the family?

As a butler, it wasn’t his place to ask. What could be more admirable than the next head who strives to grow every day?

The butler regretted asking the question.

He lowered his head.

“I misspoke. Please forget what I just said...”

“It’s only natural.”

“Pardon?”

Since enrolling in Märchen Academy, receiving education, meeting many people, and experiencing numerous humiliations at the hands of Isaac.

Tristan had learned a lot.

“I used to think I was the brightest. But looking back, I was just covered in dirt.”

He felt ashamed of having been so proud of his talents and the little skill he had accumulated.

He felt ashamed of his complacent belief that his efforts and achievements were the right way.

He wasn’t a brilliant person at all. He was just a clueless, dirt-covered beggar.

Those damn guys who made him realize this were shining annoyingly bright.

I will outshine them all.

I will become a great wizard, lead the Humphrey family, and surpass and crush the likes of the Ice Sovereign Isaac.

“How could I possibly stay still?”

His heart was pounding.

Tristan walked forward, the wind swirling around him.

The butler closed his mouth and quietly watched Tristan’s back. Then, a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

“Indeed...”

The butler bowed his head to the one he would serve until the day he died.

And then, at dawn.

Whooosh!

As Tristan flew, surrounded by wind, he realized he was moving faster than he had expected.

A gentle sensation. The wind spread like petals. He reached a point further than he intended in the blink of an eye.

He clearly felt the unfamiliar sensation of the speed.

He didn’t feel his body’s reflex that used to weigh him down and disrupt his body.

Surprised, Tristan stood dazed for a moment.

Soon, his lips curled into a smile.

“Kehehehe... Kuhahaha!! I did it!! I did it, didn’t I?!”

In a surge of exhilaration, Tristan laughed loudly, only to start coughing after a while.

The butler, who had been watching, sparkled with joy as if it were his own achievement.

With the sense of accomplishment came a heavy fatigue that drained Tristan of his strength. He chuckled quietly before collapsing powerlessly to the ground.

Tristan had reached new heights.