"Anyway, each weapon has a different way of being used. As you can see, this mace is a weapon that crushes and pulverizes a single point with great force. Of course, if the young lady were to use it, she wouldn't even be able to swing it before being overwhelmed by the weight and flying away with the mace."
Aen chuckled.
"And if you infuse it with mana."
Aen lowered his gaze.
Soon, a red aura began to ripple around him.
I recognized it at a glance.
'Mana!'
Lord Bell's mana was purple, while ordinary mana was red.
I watched the scene as if possessed.
'Amazing...'
In terms of mana purity, Vansis's was higher, but the precision with which Aen handled mana was clearly on a different level.
It flew around Aen as if alive, and soon began to envelop the mace.
That's...
'Magitech.'
A unique Lord Bell technique of imbuing weapons with mana.
Direct descendants of Lord Bell who inherited the blood strongly could use magitech without restrictions.
Conversely, this meant that those who were not direct descendants of Lord Bell could not use magitech.
Therefore, Lord Bell selected knights who were particularly outstanding and performed a ceremony.
Performing this ceremony allowed them to use mana.
That was...
'The Lord Bell Magitech Knight Oath Ceremony.'
Knights who underwent Lord Bell's special ceremony could train in magitech.
They were called Magitech Knights, and the elite knight order that gathered these Magitech Knights was the 1st Magitech Knight Order.
'So that's why Aen is so great.'
The Lord Bell Knight Order, which only the best aspiring knights could join.
Among them, the Magitech Knight Order, which was formed by selecting only the most outstanding individuals.
And within that Magitech Knight Order, only the strongest, most upright, and exceptionally decisive and capable knights, supported by their skills, and who had made significant contributions that no one could object to, could become the commander who led the Magitech Knight Order.
And Aen Rixus was the person who fulfilled all of those requirements.
It's not for nothing that he's spoken of like a legend among the knights.
'I knew it, but...'
Seeing his precise and powerful magitech right before my eyes, I felt his greatness even more.
As the mana completely enveloped the mace, Aen swung it at the tree again.
Whoosh—! After the heavy sound of air being torn apart,
KWAANG!
With an explosive sound, a cloud of dust spread out.
Crackle...
─KOOONG!
Soon, the tree simply collapsed.
I stared blankly at the fallen tree.
The tree was almost completely shattered.
It was such a huge tree that it would take several adult men to barely encircle it, and he shattered it in one go...
The power was on a completely different level from before.
"This is magitech. Magitech generally refers to the combination of swordsmanship and mana, but it doesn't necessarily have to be swordsmanship. Magitech is possible with any weapon. That's what makes magitech special."
"...Amazing."
I was purely impressed.
It was awe-inspiring.
Then Aen chuckled and said,
"This is about the extent of ordinary mana, but magitech performed with the special mana of Lord Bell's direct descendants is much more powerful and precise. It's beyond human limits."
At Aen's words, I just blinked blankly.
The magitech from a moment ago was already amazing, but Lord Bell's direct descendants' magitech is even more incredible?
'I can't even imagine it.'
I felt Vansis was amazing anew.
In a few years, Vansis would become one of the strongest Magitech Knights in Lord Bell's history.
'He's still annoying, though.'
Thinking that way, I could understand why Estio's position as heir was shaken.
All the previous Lord Bell heads were outstanding Magitech Knights, while Estio was not born with Lord Bell's mana.
"Anyway, what I want to say is, you don't necessarily have to use a sword. There are weapons that suit the user's characteristics and weapons that don't."
I nodded at Aen's words.
"So, what we're going to do today is..."
The weapons in the container poured out before my eyes.
Picking up one of the rolling weapons, Aen smiled brightly.
"We're going to find a weapon that suits the young lady here. Prepare yourself."
Was it just my imagination?
I had an ominous feeling.
And the feeling was right.
"That's all for today. Good work, young lady."
Thud!
"Huff, huff..."
I gasped for breath.
Sweat dripped from my chin.
'It's hard.'
No, the word 'hard' couldn't fully express it.
It felt like I was going to die.
Yesterday's basic test was really tough, but the actual lesson was incomparably more grueling.
"Still, I'm surprised you're keeping up better than I thought. Your sense of learning is very fast and your understanding is also excellent. You're basically gifted."
I looked up at Aen with difficulty.
"Really...?"
"Of course. I'm not someone who gives generous praise to just anyone. Even if you're the young lady, there are no exceptions."
Aen was right.
It was well known among Lord Bell's knights that he was very picky and strict when it came to swordsmanship.
So what he was saying now must be true, but...
I looked down at my trembling hands.
The skin on the palms of my hands was peeling off, revealing blood. I would probably get blisters soon.
It was proof that I had worked hard, but...
'I don't know.'
Am I doing well?
At this rate, I don't think I could even touch the end of Vansis's hair.
I can't do this.
I raised my head sharply and looked at Aen.
"Commander, just a little more—"
"Enduring is also effort."
But Aen answered right away as if he already knew what I was going to say.
"I highly value the young lady's will and desire, but if you do any more than this, your body won't be able to handle it. You don't want today to be your last lesson, do you?"
"......"
His tone was gentle, but his eyes were stern.
I had no choice but to nod.
"...Yes."
"Good girl."
He smiled brightly as if he was pleased, and reached out his hand to me.
"Come on, let's go. I'll take you to your room."
I stared blankly for a moment, then took his hand.
Grasping his large hand, I trembled as I stood up. But I immediately fell down.
"Ugh...!"
"Oh dear. It seems your legs have given out completely."
As Aen said, I couldn't put any strength into my legs.
But I was trying to get up somehow.
"Excuse me, young lady."
"...!"
Aen picked me up in his arms in an instant.
Startled, I looked at him, and Aen smiled and said,
"At this rate, you won't be able to get to your room even by night."
It seemed like that was really the case, so I had nothing to say.
"I'm only carrying you specially today. I won't be so lenient from tomorrow."
He put on an ostensibly strict expression.
But I could tell right away.
He was pretending to be strict on purpose because he thought I might ask him to put me down.
In the end.
"...Please."
"Anything for you."
He gave a satisfied smile as he looked at me, who had surrendered.
Even though I was smaller and lighter than other children my age, Aen carried me around as if it was nothing.
'It's comfortable...'
I like the stability that his large, solid body gives.
Is that why?
Nod, nod.
As my mind became hazy, my head kept falling forward.
'No, I have to stay awake.'
Not only had I become baggage, but I couldn't use him as a bed.
'I can't sleep. I can't......'
...I shouldn't, but.
"She's asleep."
Aen smiled softly as he looked at Lucia, who had fallen asleep in his arms.
Soon, he arrived in front of Lucia's room.
Opening the door without knocking, the brown-haired maid who had been loitering near the bed turned around in surprise.
"Who, who are you?!"
Then, she found Lucia in his arms and widened her eyes.
"Ah, young—"
Aen blocked her mouth as she was about to shout loudly.
"Shhh. The young lady will wake up. Be quiet."
"Mmph!"
The maid, Marine, nodded her head greatly, indicating that she understood.
When he took his hand away, she looked at Aen with trembling eyes.
Reading the fear in her eyes because she didn't know who he was, Aen introduced himself.
"I am the young lady's swordsmanship teacher. The young lady is only asleep, so don't worry."
"A, a swordsmanship teacher? The young lady is learning swordsmanship......? W, since when? Why?"
Aen frowned slightly at Marine's persistent questioning.
"Do I have an obligation to tell you that?"
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