Chapter 53. That's the Backing.
Right after Phurion left.
I stepped out of the waiting room and opened the door to the training room with Dahlia.
The training room of the "Sage's Rest" was quite spacious.
"...Money is good, indeed."
It was about 20 meters wide and long, and at least 5 meters high.
The academy also has such training rooms, but they are public spaces used by many students.
One can't use such a large area alone.
The dummies arranged at intervals were also high-quality, expensive products, which were hard to come by at the academy.
There was a reason why Dahlia and Phurion went out of their way to get permission to use this training room.
After briefly looking around the training room, I turned my gaze to Dahlia.
Dahlia stuffed the remaining half of the macaron into her mouth.
Her expression was stern, but her eyes held a glimmer of anticipation, as if she was looking forward to the one-on-one combat training.
Seeing her like that, the reality finally hit me.
I'm going to teach Dahlia?
The data book Phurion handed over. It seemed casual, but it wasn't an ordinary item.
He must have collected it with great effort.
But to hand over such a data book and ask someone else to train, not himself?
'Then it must be Dahlia.'
So, I had a rough idea, but...
Actually facing her was a different feeling.
'If I had known in my past life, I might have beaten her up and told her to stop barking.'
No, I wouldn't have beaten her up.
I would have beaten her up until she was almost dead, then saved her, and visited her when she was almost healed to beat her up again.
That's how much of a bad relationship we had.
No, "bad relationship" is an understatement.
- "I'll bury you here today."
- "Strange. I thought this was your spot. Isn't it sunny and nice?"
How many times did we clash?
Every time we met, one of us would be on the brink of death before the fight ended.
Of course, I won more often.
'I am a righteous troubleshooter. Righteousness always wins.'
The reason I never finished them off...
Who would have thought that Dina's direct bloodline would be so well-supported? The reinforcements came like dogs.
Each time, I had to hold back in frustration.
After becoming a representative mage of Dina, I didn't run into her anymore.
Naturally, as a representative mage of Dina, it was too heavy to chase after troubleshooters.
'After that, Deculan couldn't easily touch Dina either.'
That's the kind of relationship we had.
It's no wonder I feel a new sense of nostalgia.
I stroked my chin and looked at Dahlia.
Leaving aside the bad feelings from my past life, let's just consider the objective influence.
'Somehow, Dahlia's existence has suppressed Deculan.'
Just the name Dina is a thorn in Deculan's side.
With the birth of an outstanding mage, Deculan can no longer underestimate her.
'Should I try to bring that forward a bit?'
To be honest, I want to beat her up.
One-on-one combat training? There's no such thing as training in a fight.
Just hit a lot, and get hit a lot, and the body will adapt and move on its own.
'Getting hit until you really die.'
As you hit and hit, the one getting hit starts to think, "Ah, I might really die if this continues."
Eventually, they'll beg for mercy, and that's when you hit them even harder, with all your might.
Then, they'll grow on their own.
Because they'll think they might die.
'It's more fun that way.'
How often does an opportunity to beat up Dahlia come?
Sure, I could create one.
But an opportunity with a clear reason and no repercussions like this won't come again.
But, there was something more important.
If I can humiliate them, I'll be full even if I'm hungry, and refreshed even if I don't sleep.
I briefly recalled the battles with Dahlia from my past life.
I don't know how she trained, but you can usually tell the direction from the magic and combat style she uses.
After thinking it through...
"What do you think is the most important thing in one-on-one combat?"
This was the start of the training, disguised as one-on-one combat, to suppress Deculan.
The clock tower in the city of Hagen Square rang.
The citizens of Hagen knew that the day was almost over when the clock tower chimed six times, signaling 6 PM.
It was time for the academy students who had gone out to return to the academy.
A few latecomers were hurrying back to the academy, and Phurion sat in the cafeteria with a tired face after a few hours.
Phurion raised his gaze and took in the two boys sitting opposite him.
"No, Chenbei, this formula can be omitted. So, my answer is also correct."
Damian immediately cast a spell on the spot.
As he emitted light like a regular light spell, Chenbei's face darkened.
To be precise, the brighter the orb became, the darker his face got.
'How can the spell maintain its form without the stabilization formula?'
Without the stabilization formula, the natural mana should waver and extinguish as it moves.
Phurion tried casting a spell without the formula, just in case, but as expected...
The spell soon disappeared, emitting a faint magical spark.
It was usually like this.
- "No! This can be omitted!"
- "Why is the spell manifestation in three stages? It works just fine when I write it down."
Common sense doesn't apply.
Still, at first, there was a glimmer of hope.
'...I need to rank 16th.'
He didn't have to adjust to that himself, but since he had taken on the task, he had to do his best.
That was the responsibility of someone with the name Dina.
Damian was incredibly bright.
- "I've learned this too."
He knew the basic formulas...
Once you enter the academy, you're expected to know the basic magical theories.
And what family is Damian from?
So, even if he didn't study much, he must have completed the basics.
Even setting that aside, there was a glimmer of hope.
He absorbed new formulas and their meanings like a sponge.
There were a few stumbles and parts he didn't understand...
'Geniuses aren't geniuses for nothing.'
It seemed he had a natural talent for it.
However, that's where the problem began.
The more he knew, the more "why" and "how" questions he asked.
He insisted that certain formulas could be omitted, even though they were essential...
'When he actually omitted them and cast the spell...'
It felt like common sense was being completely negated.
Ironically, the more Damian's knowledge grew, the slower the progress became.
His own studies were long finished.
And if he thought of it as a review while teaching Damian, it wouldn't be a loss.
Of course, not being able to achieve perfection was a bit of a concern, but it was inevitable.
Would he fail to complete the task he had taken on?
The pressure from a sense of responsibility.
Chenbei, who had been muttering beside Damian, looked at Phurion with a pleased expression.
It hurt less when he got hit too.
Phurion had retired first, but if he had to handle Damian alone, he would have collapsed long ago.
"It's time for dinner now!"
Damian suddenly stood up.
While studying is important, taking care of meals during the growth period is even more crucial.
Phurion smiled kindly and waved his hand.
"Sure, go eat. Eat a lot, and take your time so you don't overeat."
He secretly hoped they would leave quickly.
However, there was a water sprite holding him back.
"Phurion, come on. Aren't you hungry? You should eat properly."
Phurion looked at Chenbei in disbelief, his mouth forming a line.
Their gazes met in the air.
Did Chenbei feel the intense will?
He nodded with a feigned regretful expression.