Chapter 12. 2 Years Later

*BOOM!!*

The training dummies lined up in the training grounds split in half and collapsed simultaneously.

“Hah.”

Did I miss any? I savored the feeling in my hand, but checked my surroundings just in case.

Every single dummy was bisected.

It's been about two years since I learned Fleet.

I've finally reached the point where I can say I'm proficient.

*Clap, clap.*

Lowell, who'd been training me for those two years, clapped as he watched.

“Your Fleet is perfect now.”

“Finally.”

It wasn't just Fleet.

I'd become fairly proficient with the other basic techniques as well.

Well, I'd been training for two years.

If I *hadn't* gotten better, I should've just quit.

“You’ve grown quite a bit, haven’t you?”

“Yeah, well, I’ve been eating a lot.”

Even when I was sixteen, I thought I was pretty well-built, but after eating well and training my Aura, my stunted growth finally sprung loose.

Thanks to that, I was almost eye-level with Lowell, who used to be a head taller than me.

“I have some business to attend to now, so just do some sparring for the rest of the day.”

“With who? Daren? Kaiden?”

“Daren seems to be free.”

“Ah.”

The only people in this mansion I could spar with were Daren or Kaiden.

Lowell was on a completely different level, and the captain of the security squad, who was in charge of the mansion's security, was always busy.

“Where is he?”

“I told him to come here, so he should be… Oh, there he is.”

Following Lowell’s gaze, I saw Daren approaching from the garden.

“Yo, dog.”

When we first met, I wasn't exactly on good terms with Aria's Bodyguard Knights, Daren and Kaiden.

But now, well, after training and sparring together, we'd become relatively close.

“I told you I’d kill you if you called me that.”

“Give it your best shot.”

Plus, since mind games were important for Aura Users,

sparring with other Aura Users was essential, so it was better to stay on good terms.

“Loser goes first.”

I beckoned Daren with my hand.

“This little…”

Daren, who was in his late twenties when we first met, was now entering his thirties.

*Swish-*

And his skills had definitely improved.

Just look, Daren vanished right before my eyes.

‘Track.’

I immediately used Track, and in the slowed-down world, I saw him charging towards me.

*KABOOM!!*

Using Fleet and activating Guard on my arm, I blocked the wooden sword that Daren swung.

“A Knight’s allowed to ambush?”

“You always do it.”

I'd attacked him at the start of a few sparring sessions, so

he occasionally tried to strike first now.

“You’re using three at the same time now?”

“Gotta keep up.”

The official proficiency level of an Aura User was determined by the number of basic techniques they could use simultaneously.

If you could only use one, you were a Beginner.

Two at the same time, an Initiate.

Three, an Intermediate.

And if you could use all four simultaneously, you were considered a Master Aura User.

For the record, Daren and Kaiden were Intermediates.

I'd also reached Intermediate level recently.

“...Two years after properly learning it?”

“I’m a fast learner.”

Anyway.

“Seems you have time to chat.”

Since he’d attacked, it was my turn. I quickly extended my hand towards Daren's abdomen.

“Rush.”

"Uh, oh."

Immediately.

*FWOOOSH-! *

Daren was sent flying from the shockwave that erupted from my hand.

Using the opening I'd created, I picked up the wooden sword on the ground and ran towards him.

“Ugh.”

He’d activated Guard in that short time and was already getting up. Daren also rushed towards me.

Immediately after.

*CLANG!*

Our wooden swords clashed.

Daren's swordsmanship was the Void Family's style,

similar to the Illusion Sword technique, which disoriented the opponent.

…I’d noticed something while training here.

The Void Family’s techniques were a bit…underhanded.

Like Vision Fleet, which used afterimages for surprise attacks, or Vision Rush, which infused throwing weapons with Rush to make them explode.

It felt kind of sneaky, unbecoming of Nobles.

Well, since they were a Family that constantly guarded the borders against enemies, I guess it made sense that their techniques were practical.

Who cares about honor when you're facing enemies?

Efficiently wiping them out was the best.

Anyway.

I was also learning these Void Family sword techniques from Lowell, and they were proving quite useful.

*Thwack- Thud- Thwack-! *

Since we were both using Illusion Sword, our swords often grazed each other rather than clashing head-on.

Each time, the tip of the wooden sword would scrape against our bodies.

“Your swordsmanship’s not bad.”

“I’ve practiced a lot.”

I’d learned not only the Void Family techniques from Lowell,

but also instructions on existing techniques.

‘…Where did you learn this swordsmanship?’

‘From the former Champion.’

‘…Hmm, I see. It's an excellent technique.’

Because I learned so many different styles and used them countless times in actual combat, my habits were deeply ingrained.

Instead of trying to force me into the Void Family style, Lowell chose to teach me a variety of techniques to increase my options.

Well, that was what I wanted anyway.

There were so many variables in real combat, so

it was better to have plenty of backup plans.

Anyway.

Back to the sparring.

Even now, he was swinging his sword with sharp momentum.

*Woosh-*

Daren's sword sliced right through me.

“Hmph!”

Or rather, through an illusion created with Vision Fleet.

It was still rudimentary, but I could create faint illusions like this,

which were somewhat effective in a close fight.

I took advantage of Daren's momentary flinch and got behind him.

I swung my sword—

*Thud-*

It was blocked by a strange barrier.

And immediately after.

I sensed a familiar feeling and activated Guard.

*BOOM-!! *

An explosion erupted from Daren’s back, sending me flying.

*Thud- Thud.*

I rolled a few times on the ground, using a breakfall technique, and regained my footing.

“…Good reflexes.”

“I’ve been training ten years longer than you.”

What Daren just used was the Void Family’s Vision Guard.

It was a technique that automatically triggered a Rush in the direction of an incoming attack that Guard detected.

Like an automatic reflex.

For the record, I wasn’t good at that one.

Guard and Rush didn't really suit me.

Speed was where it was at.

There's also the fact that Daren's specialty is Guard, and the remaining Bodyguard Knight, Kaiden's, is Rush.

You could say the Mansion's young Aura Users have a pretty well-balanced setup.

Did Lowell plan this? Knowing that old geezer, he probably did. Thinking that, I sheathed my wooden sword like it had a scabbard and took my stance.

He got me with his technique.

I should return the favor.

"Hey, you. Don't do that."

"Here I come."

"I said don't!"

I closed my eyes for a moment, then opened them.

The world slowed.

And in that slowed world...

A red afterimage, like a line, pointed straight at Daren.

The instant I saw the afterimage,

I used Fleet and traced the sword path along the red phantom.

And then...

*Bam!!*

I slammed straight into the Mansion wall.

"Ow... Why'd you dodge?"

"You little shit, I'm telegraphing everything. What do you expect?"

"Ugh."

What I just used is the Void Family's Secret Technique, Vision Track.

A technique that allows you to see the most efficient and powerful sword path to reach your opponent. Usually used in conjunction with Fleet.

According to Daren and Kaiden, who’ve been on the receiving end,

this technique can't be blocked or parried. You just have to preemptively dodge after seeing the starting stance.

"Damn. Wish I could use it without the stance."

"You're asking for the fucking moon, kid."

Daren looks at me with an incredulous expression.

"First time I've seen someone use a Secret Technique after only two years."

"I've mastered the basics, so I can use it, albeit clumsily."

Even then, it’s still rough around the edges and needs setup time.

"Next time, wanna go without Aura?"

"With knives?"

"...No biting."

Anyway.

I spent the rest of the training time sparring with Daren.

After that, I went back to my doghouse.

This place has changed a lot in the past two years.

The Young Lady keeps adding stuff to it, so the once-spacious place is now overflowing with junk. Running out of room.

I'll have to ask for an expansion soon. I won't even have space to lie down soon.

Oh, and there's one more recent change. It's that...

"Dog, you there? Come out."

"Yes, Young Lady."

"...Never mind, go back in."

"Huh?"

The Young Lady's gotten a bit prickly.

The Young Lady, with her brilliant blonde hair tied in twintails, now speaks more curtly than before.

Probably early puberty.

"So, I should go back in?"

"No, follow me."

A teenage girl's mind is unfathomable.

She's been really hard to deal with lately.

Even Lowell, the master of handling the Young Lady, finds it difficult these days.

"Hand."

"Yes."

"Head."

"Here you go."

Even though she's prickly, her actions haven't changed much.

Well, her appearance has changed a bit. The Young Lady has grown quite a bit taller in two years.

Of course, I've grown too, so the eye-level difference isn't that big.

*Pet, pet.*

Now I kneel on one knee by default so it's easier to pet her.

"Lessons are tough these days."

"They're always tough, aren't they?"

"That lady is serious, you know? Do you know how much homework she gives me?"

...Sometimes I miss the innocence of two years ago.

Girls grow up fast.

That cheerful Young Lady has become like this because of early puberty.

"How are your lessons coming along?"

"Not much difference, but... Ah, want to see?"

"Sure."

And the growth wasn't limited to height.

Clearly talented, the Young Lady's Magic achievements have been steadily increasing.

I hear rumors that a Magic genius has appeared in the Void Family.

Even the special Tutor teaching her continues to come even after the contract ended because of her talent.

"Get the Disc."

"Yes."

One thing that hasn't changed, though, is that she visits me almost every day.

No matter how busy she is, she always comes to chat or play.

"Here you go."

I found the Disc in my house and handed it to her.

It's a special Disc made by the Magic workshop, my dedicated training Disc.

"Alright, here I go."

Of course, it doesn't have any special abilities.

It's just incredibly durable.

Which means...

*Whooooosh-*

The Young Lady infused the Disc with Magic and threw it.

Hmm, the fireball is bigger than before.

At this rate, by the time she's an adult, it'll be as big as the fireball that burned down the Mansion two years ago.

Anyway, afterwards...

"Fetch!"

The Disc, now a blazing fireball, flew through the air accompanied by the Young Lady's excited voice.

I focused my Aura in my eyes.

The Young Lady's Disc throwing was surprisingly helpful for my training.

As her Magic got faster, I had to adapt, which meant I had to try my best.

Because if I miss the Disc and it breaks the wall, I'm the one who gets scolded...

Anyway, immediately after, in the slowed world,

I saw a small, faint red afterimage.

Simultaneously, my body shot forward.

I’m accelerating at an incredible speed with Fleet, but it doesn't feel that fast.

It just feels like everyone else is slow and I'm the only one moving at normal speed.

And so...

I coated my hand with Guard, snatched the fireball-like Disc out of the air,

and the Track I'd pushed to its limit immediately deactivated.

*Crash, bang, wallop.*

I tumbled across the ground, but got up naturally.

...Looked like a smooth landing, right?

My back is a little sore from tumbling earlier as well.

"Yay! Good boy!"

But well.

She's so happy, so I should keep playing with her.

Seeing her like this, she really is the same little girl from back then.

"Head!"

"Yes."

I approached and knelt on one knee, and the excited Young Lady ruffled my hair vigorously.

*Pet, pet, pet.*

...The Mansion Maids have been working hard on my hair lately.

I'm going to get an earful about this.

"Oh, right. We might have a guest coming soon."

"A guest?"

The Young Lady, still petting my head, said something unexpected.

...We have those here?

First time I've heard of such a thing in the past two years.

"Yeah, another one of the lady's students is coming over."

"...When?"

"Probably next week?"

The Young Lady's Magic Tutor is someone even Lowell acknowledges as incredible.

The student is highly likely to be a Noble.

If they're coming as a guest to the Void Family, they must have a corresponding status, right?

I can already picture the Servants bustling around. As for me, if I just hide in the doghouse and never come out...

"Oh, right! I'm going to show you off first when they come."

"Huh?"

...I wasn't even planning on showing a single hair.

The Young Lady said something bizarre.

"Why me?"

"Huh? Where else would you find a Dog like this? I have to show you off!"

The Young Lady's smile, as she said that,

was like a child excited to show off something amazing.

...It seems like...

She really intends to show me off in front of the guest.