Chapter 32

"The amount of magic power a person has does not change throughout their life. However, by training your physical strength, you can increase its rotation."

Once used, magic power becomes empty, but it recovers along with the recovery of physical strength. It's like saying that even if the tank is small, if you pour a lot of water into it, it will be fine.

"In battle, physical strength is still considered important. In this country, many people have the power to manipulate water, and it is said that those of royal blood have a tendency towards this. Lady Rabi, you are like that, right?"

"Yes, but Fehr is different."

Sai, who knows where he got them from, put on glasses and continued his lecture. I wanted to tilt my head, thinking, "There were no such stills in the original work, right?" However, I have heard that even rhinos have poor eyesight, so could it be from there? I wanted to ask, "So that's why you have bad eyes," but I couldn't ask such a question without reading the room, so Rabi quietly zipped her mouth.

--- Why is this situation happening?

"Can you help me become stronger?"

When Rabi asked this, Sai initially just blinked repeatedly. Panicking at the insufficiency of her words, Rabi added, "No, look. As you can see, my body is below average, and I've been trying hard, going back and forth! And as you know from my test scores, the consequences of my past carelessness are catching up with me! Anyway, I want to become human!" By the end, it felt like she had said something different, but as she piled on desperate explanations, the boy suddenly softened his expression.

In the main game, he always had a stern expression. The rarity of this made Rabi's bright red eyes widen in surprise. However, the expression quickly returned to its usual state, and seeing Rabi tilt her head, Sai smiled again. She was surprised.

Was he always like this? While she was surprised, she might have been looking at him through the lens of the game. Well, Sai is the one wearing glasses now. The day after Rabi's request was accepted, he even brought a small blackboard and held an outdoor class under the blue sky. Despite his seriousness, it was endearing, but this was what she had wished for. Sitting in the courtyard and looking at each other, they started from the basics of what magic power is.

While she wanted to train her body and use magic power more effectively, she was somewhat disappointed that it started with theory. However, this made her realize how little she knew. She had rarely attended the academy, and her knowledge was a mix of gaps in general knowledge and memories from her previous life. She also learned that physical strength and magic power are closely related.

Sai had explained that magic power recovers as physical strength recovers, but it might also work the other way around. Rabi's low physical strength might be due to her low magic power for recovery.

If that's the case, what about commoners who have no magic power? They are essentially outside the protective power of names, living under different rules from nobles. Rabi, thinking this is strange, realized that the common sense in this country is different.

"To quickly master the use of magic power, the best way is to have a medium, although it is not allowed in exams."

"Many people cannot find their own medium."

This was also part of the game's knowledge. A medium is something that allows you to efficiently circulate magic power by using something closely related to you.

"Do you, Sir Sai, have something already?"

"Yes, but I cannot give a detailed answer."

She asked as a conversation starter. Magic tends to be secretive. While she responded with "Of course," she actually knew the answer. His medium is a thin, narrow sword passed down in the Narsol family, which he has had since childhood. It was used in game events. He probably can't carry it in the academy, so it's stored at his family home.

Rabi also has a medium, but if Mari were to find out, she might faint, so she is hiding it very carefully.

Listening to Sai's lecture, Rabi understood that magic power and physical strength are closely related. Knowing that nothing is wasted, she trained more seriously than usual. However, what she called training was probably like a game to Sai, and she was instructed on how to walk. The angle and spread of her feet, even the soles of her shoes, were thoroughly drilled for efficient movement. Just this made her feel unusually warm and cozy, as if she were facing forward.

"First, you need to start here, Lady Rabi," she was treated like a child, which was rare, and while she was confused, it felt ticklish to be praised for what she could do.

"Can I have lunch with you, Lady Rabi?"

A few days later, while preparing her usual congee bento with side dishes, Sai suddenly spoke. Tilted her head and, before saying "Of course," she wondered what he was up to. Then, a cold sweat ran down her back.

Sai is always by Rabi's side, but she has never seen him eat.

"You! Eat!?"

"I am human, after all."

Sometimes I want to eat. In response to her waving her hand, "No, that's not what I meant,"

"Have you been holding back all this time!?"

"No, it's no problem at all."

Why didn't I notice, Rabi regretted. "Since it's a rare opportunity, I thought I would join you," the knight said cheerfully, with no trace of his initial sternness, making her wonder if this was a dream. Sitting on a small bench in the rose garden, they stuffed their mouths and listened to the light chirping of birds. It was surprisingly peaceful.

While her love for congee hasn't diminished, she added rice balls and pickles for a more filling meal. The cucumber pickled with salt and this world's mustard brought back nostalgic happiness. However, her body still craved soup, and the minestrone, cooked with tomatoes, was warm thanks to a convenient heating device. The harmony of Japanese and Western food in her stomach was delightful.

Satisfied and cheeks puffed out, she noticed Sai, who only had rice balls, staring intently at her hands. His eyes were wide. She had seen this expression before, on a servant.

"It's not blood! It's tomatoes! They are very nutritious!"

The servant had looked at the soup, which had turned bright red from cooking, with wide eyes. "I don't understand Lady Rabi's cooking methods," he had said, his thoughts reduced to broken sentences. "But it's delicious."

No matter what others said, even if the servant's eyes were dead, this was delicious, and cooking was just. However, when she had to say it herself, it felt like she had lost.

"No, I just thought you always eat different things, Lady Rabi."

"Different things..."

Well, it's not wrong. For example, she lifted the pickles and minestrone and explained them. "Ah, they go well with white rice." Seeing Sai's eyes fixed on the pickles, she offered him one. "Thank you," he said, and the moment he put the cucumber in his mouth, "Mmm," he made a face at the unfamiliar taste, making her laugh.

***

Still, no matter how peaceful things seemed, he was a knight of Baldo and not supposed to be by Rabi's side. This made her feel lonely and hopeful. In this world, Sai was the first to notice Rabi, reaching out to her loneliness. He was serious, kind, and handsome. A bud-like feeling whispered in the depths of her heart.

So, despite the risk, Rabi asked Sai.

"What do you think of Nelra, Sir Sai?"

She was also concerned about Nelra's current movements, but she immediately regretted asking. Sai tilted his head slightly and chose his words carefully. "I do find her very concerning." "Of course, Nelra always sets flags." Sai has few scenes in the first half of the game. Fans even pointed out, "Where is Sai?" Perhaps in the original, he was always near Rabi like now.

Thinking this calmed her down. After all, she is a chicken bone lady. Well, recently she has evolved to a dried sardine lady, but compared to Sai, it's a big difference. She should look in the mirror and start over. Ah, what embarrassing thoughts, she patted her cheeks lightly, and occasionally Sai looked at her blankly. Then, he slowly reached out to her smaller head, quickly pulled back, and stared at his own hand.

--- I hope Sai and I can be good friends, Rabi thought.

But.

"Even though you have a fiancé, you are keeping a man by your side? What are you thinking?"

Her fluffy cream-haired brother crossed his arms and glared at Rabi with frustration. It seems even her small wish is difficult in reality.