Chapter 8

"Still, that form you just went through was quite unusual!

Usually, when we talk about physical enhancement training for our age, the focus is on increasing maximum output.

Even for someone with exceptional talent, the training would focus on explosive power, which means increasing the speed at which you can boost your output."

Fei is smiling brightly.

"But you were focusing on eliminating the aftereffects of physical enhancement magic in your training.

Well, I won't say it's meaningless because it saves magic power... but to be honest, at this crucial time just before the exam, when you can't sleep due to anxiety, it's not something you should be doing.

It's the kind of training someone with a long-term vision would do."

Hmm, I see...

No, what kind of Soma eye is that?

What I was doing was just a form practice?

If I were in the opposite position and watching someone else's form practice, I wouldn't be able to tell what their purpose was, no matter how long I watched.

I'm not a master with decades of experience in this field...

And an aspiring magic tool engineer?

Is the Royal Academy full of such monsters?

"It's an honor to receive such high praise.

However, to be very honest, it's a misunderstanding, Lady Fei. To be frank, my magic power is barely enough for a knight.

I had no choice but to focus on training to save magic power, yes."

Given the uncertain situation, I had to try to find a way out.

"You think so? Your magic power is around 2480, right? I don't think it's so low that you need special training."

Fei is smiling brightly.

No way!

No matter how much I watched your form, there's no way I could tell your maximum magic power. I wasn't training to the limit.

I considered the possibility of a bluff, but the numbers were too specific.

The last time I measured, it was around 2400, but I've been consistently training in magic compression, so I feel it's around 2480 now.

"Pfft. Don't be so surprised. Of course, I didn't just figure it out by watching.

Here it is."

Fei took out something that looked like a video camera from her bag.

"This is a magic tool I developed to measure magic power. It estimates the maximum magic power from the residual magic of the target.

Well, it takes about 30 minutes to observe the target, so it's not practical in real combat yet.

...Usually, it takes about 30 minutes, but with you, it took nearly two hours because your residual magic was so minimal.

There's still a lot of room for improvement.

...Still, your magic control precision is amazing!"

Fei is smiling brightly.

There was no such foreshadowing, right?

It's impossible to predict this just from the hint of being an 'aspiring magic tool engineer.'

"No, no, just a habit from the past, nothing more... I'm just a piece of trash with a combat power of 5."

Panicking from stepping on a mine with my first move, I blurted out something I didn't understand.

"Kya ha ha ha! Of course, it's impossible to measure combat power, which is a comprehensive ability involving skill, with a magic tool.

...But if it could be measured to some extent, the benefits would be significant.

Necessity is the mother of invention. Allen, you have interesting ideas."

Fei is smiling brightly.

No, that's not it! What I meant was that I'm just a piece of trash on the side of the road, with no deeper meaning!

"Do you know my sister, Lady Fei?"

Cursing my careless second move, I forcibly changed the topic.

"Of course, I know her. She's a talented woman who, after 20 years, transferred from the Dragoon noble school to the Advanced Magic Tool Research Academy.

That place almost exclusively accepts graduates from the Royal Academy.

As a young aspiring magic tool engineer, I was planning to pay my respects to her when I go to the capital.

What a lucky break, to meet the brother of 'Rosa of Wrath' here. Can you introduce me?"

Fei is smiling brightly.

I stepped on another mine.

Introduce this dangerous person to my sister? To 'Rosa of Wrath'?

What did she do? I'm curious, but I don't really want to know...

If I were to introduce them, I can only see a future where blood rains down...

But there's no reasonable way to refuse here.

I have to accept it and never meet her again. That's the only way.

The rest is to quickly leave this place.

With my plan set, I plastered a smile on my face and spoke.

"Of course, I'll introduce you! My sister would surely welcome the opportunity to interact with a talented young person like you. Oh, I have a frequent urination condition..."

"Pfft. Allen, you were practicing for at least 6 hours, right?

Without replenishing fluids. While sweating profusely.

That's a tough condition, isn't it?

And since we're friends, you don't need to use 'sama,' okay?"

Fei is smiling brightly.

I ignored it the first time, but this is the second time she's recognized me as a friend.

I can't just pretend anymore...

I decided to stand my ground.

"That's the kind of condition I have.

Additionally, I set a rule for myself to sleep at least 3 hours every day. As a magic tool engineer, Fei might be fine, but we only have 3 and a half hours left until we arrive.

I have to go because I might pee myself."

Saying that, I forcefully cut off the conversation.

"Kya ha ha ha ha! I'm sorry. Pfft. Magic tool engineers tend to neglect sleep... Good night, Allen."

Fei raised her neatly cut, lustrous hair and winked.

She had an energetic and lively aura, like a cat with distinct eyes, but her slender, pale neck had a mysterious charm.

But that's not important.

I need to sleep and recover from the exhaustion that makes me feel like I did more than just a bit of form practice, to prepare for tomorrow (which is already today)...

Fei called out to me as I returned to my bed, feeling exhausted.

"By the way, nobles shouldn't kneel and bow without a reason?

That's the posture taken by criminals in court! Kya ha ha ha ha!"

Fei was still smiling at the end.

No culture of dogeza...

I thought it was a common practice in this world because my father often apologized to my mother in that posture...