"Now then… After studying, it is time for some physical training, wouldn't you say?"
"Yes… I'll be in your care…"
In the training grounds of House Rosemary, Rest and the elderly butler stood facing each other.
The purpose was training.
The butler had agreed to teach Rest how to fight.
"I'll be conducting personal combat training just as you requested, Lord Rest… but whatever is the matter? You look rather haggard."
Rest was, for some reason, utterly drained, all vitality gone from his eyes.
"If you're feeling unwell, we can postpone the training to another day…?"
"No, please, let's begin… If anything, I feel like I need to move my body hard and blow off some steam…!"
"…?"
The butler wore a puzzled expression, but nodded. "Very well, then…"
"Ah, before we begin, allow me to properly introduce myself. My name is Diebl. I am a former court magician now serving as a butler."
"Rest. You were a court magician, so why are you working as a butler?"
Becoming a court magician granted one a hereditary honorary viscount title for the span of a single generation.
If one served until retirement age, one should have received a generous pension as well.
"I was forced to resign due to an injury. The previous head of the household took me in."
"An injury…?"
"It's nothing serious now. If anything, the decline that comes with age is far more painful."
The butler, Diebl, lightly rolled his shoulders while maintaining his gentle expression.
"Now then... we're about to begin combat training against an opponent. First, please look over there."
"Huh?"
Diebl pointed off in some random direction.
Rest followed his gaze and looked—only for an impact to strike his abdomen in the very next instant.
"Gah...!?"
"My apologies. What I wanted you to look at was my foot."
Diebl's heel had slammed hard into Rest's stomach, forcing him to drop to his knees on the spot.
He coughed violently, retching up the contents of his stomach.
"What... are you..."
"The basics of interpersonal combat: never let your guard down. You never know what means an enemy will use to attack you."
"............!"
"They may launch a surprise attack. They may be concealing a weapon. They may disguise themselves as an ally to get close. They may take a hostage... You must account for every conceivable method and prepare for the worst."
"............"
Diebl extended a hand toward him.
Rest moved to grab it—then stopped himself at the very last moment.
"Correct. Well done."
Diebl produced a thin needle he had been hiding in his palm.
Had Rest grabbed that hand, he would have been pricked by the needle.
"This is merely a sewing needle, but an enemy truly intent on your life would use a poisoned one."
"............"
"If you were the only one at risk from your carelessness, that would be fine. You'd only be getting yourself killed. However... when your death also costs the lives of those you were trying to protect — that happens all too often in actual combat."
"People I'm trying to protect...?"
There was no such person... or so he was about to mutter, before falling silent.
There were people who had done so much for him.
People who had pulled him out of that household and given him an environment where he could carve out a future.
(Viola... Primula...)
The faces of the Rosemary sisters surfaced in his mind.
If anyone asked whether Rest harbored feelings of love or romance toward the two of them, he would shake his head.
But if asked who were the people he absolutely did not want to see hurt... the two of them were the very first faces that came to mind.
"If you have people you must protect, then defeat must never be permitted. By whatever means necessary — no matter how much mud you have to wade through, no matter how many call you a coward... fight and win to protect those people. A magician has no need for that sort of upright chivalry that says losing after a fair fight is nothing to be ashamed of. If you don't win, nothing else matters."
"...Understood."
"Good. Then, as for your training from here on out—"
"[Earth Sphere]"
From where he still sat on the ground, Rest cast his magic the instant Diebl turned to look behind him.
It was an earth spell launched at the back of his head, but Diebl tilted his neck to the side and dodged the surprise attack.
"Well done. That gets top marks."
Diebl turned around, applauding.
His romance-gray-mustachioed face creased with deeper wrinkles as he praised Rest's ambush.
"Ready to become a dog or a beast if that's what victory demands... that is the correct way of a magician. You have tremendous potential, you know."
"...Thank you."
Being praised made Rest grimace.
He'd been unable to dodge the surprise attack.
No matter how much he was praised, it meant nothing if he didn't win... and that was precisely Diebl's teaching.
"Heh heh..."
As Rest twisted his expression in frustration, Diebl's smile deepened.
"From here on, for your training... there are two things you need to do."
Diebl held up two fingers and bent them one by one.
"First is magic acquisition. I'll be teaching you magic useful in combat against people, so make sure you learn them all."
"...Yes."
"And second. You'll be doing nothing but sparring with me. Not just anything-goes combat, but also hand-to-hand fighting without magic, battles where only specific magic can be used, and fights with your limbs or senses restricted—you'll experience all of it."
"..."
"Unfortunately, my close-combat style is self-taught, so I can't teach you any formal techniques or martial arts. You'll have to learn those on your own."
"...Steal the techniques, you mean."
Rest nodded and finally stood up.
Since this was supposed to be combat-against-person training, he'd assumed they'd be doing kumite and breakfall practice like in karate or judo.
It was different from what he'd expected, but... Diebl's approach was far more practical.
(If I can become strong enough to beat Diebl, I'll definitely get even stronger...!)
He might even be able to defeat Cedric, and perhaps even his father, who was an active court magician.
"Alright, let's start with magic acquisition. The first thing I'll have you learn is [Acceleration 」—it's a spell called **Acceleration**. I'll demonstrate it for you, so make sure you don't miss a thing.」
"Yes, I'm counting on you…Sensei!"
Rest bowed deeply to the man who had agreed to become his teacher, speaking with firm resolve.