"Come to my room this evening. I will give you the Secret Manual then."
At his father's answer, Leo slowly slid the dagger into its scabbard.
"Thank you, Father."
Leo bowed at the waist as he offered his thanks. Magenta, however, gave no response and merely focused on putting on his clothes.
'Is he angry?'
The thought suddenly occurred to Leo, but he decided not to pay it much mind.
After all, he was going to receive the Secret Manual he wanted.
"Leo."
Magenta had been about to leave the training ground, but he stopped and called to Leo.
"Yes, Father."
"That dagger you held to my throat. Where did you get it?"
Leo lowered his head slightly and answered Magenta's question.
"It is a weapon from Exile."
"Hmm...... Is that so?"
Leo smiled pleasantly at the faint excitement in Magenta's voice.
He was clearly curious.
Leo had thought it a Famed Sword from the scabbard alone. What must Magenta have thought after feeling the blade's aura for himself?
It was possible Magenta had merely asked to cover his awkwardness after losing to his son, but it was far more likely that he had spoken because the dagger was such a fine Famed Sword.
"Very well. There are two days left now."
"Yes. I will make sure to inform him."
Magenta finished speaking and immediately left the training ground.
"Haa......."
The moment the door closed completely behind him, Leo let out a great breath and sprawled out on the spot.
The tension had left him, and all the strength had drained from his body after enduring Magenta's ferocious aura and attacks.
Leo was still only eighteen years old.
His mental strength had been sufficient to endure it, but his body had not caught up yet.
'If he'd left even a little later, I would've collapsed in front of him.'
Leo had gritted his teeth and endured until his father left.
He had not wanted to show him any weakness for no reason.
Still lying on the floor of the training ground, Leo closed his eyes and slowly replayed the spar with his father.
'That was seriously dangerous.'
If not for his senses from his previous life, he might not have evaded the final attack.
'Now that I think about it, Father was really too much, wasn't he?'
And if Leo had failed to evade it, he would truly have been in serious trouble.
His sword would have shattered, and his body would have been split in two on the spot.
No, forget being split in two. He might have been pulverized.
At first, Leo had intended to counter the final blow.
But in that fleeting instant, an instinct that told him he had to evade it moved his body.
He had fallen behind his father in everything—mana, swordsmanship, and stamina—but there was one thing, and perhaps only one, that he could confidently claim to possess in greater measure than his father.
'Instinct born from real combat experience.'
That was what had allowed him to bring the spar with his father to a successful conclusion.
"Young Masteeer!"
Leo slowly opened his eyes at the sound of Hans's voice coming from the training ground door.
Hans rushed over to Leo in an instant and spoke with a worried expression.
"Are you all right?"
"Of course."
"The Head of House told me to hurry to the training ground, so I came. Are you truly all right?"
"I told you I'm fine, but you keep asking. More importantly, Father said that?"
"Yes. It felt strangely awkward."
Leo looked puzzled at Hans's words.
"I have worked for House Valantes for more than ten years, but that was the first time I had ever seen the Head of House smile. I was truly astonished. In the past, I even thought his face was a mask."
Leo breathed a sigh of relief at Hans's words.
He had worried that his father might be displeased because Leo had won, but that did not appear to be the case.
At the same time, another thought occurred to him.
'Perhaps he wasn't fighting at full strength.'
It was possible that the vicious final strike had not been serious after all.
If Leo had tried to counter it instead of evading, Magenta would probably have withdrawn his sword and left the training ground at once.
But Leo had dodged it and even turned the tables by holding a dagger to his father's throat.
The fact that Magenta had smiled meant that Leo's move had satisfied him.
His father's smile was exceptionally good news for Leo.
Leo slowly raised himself.
"Nnngh......."
A groan escaped him of its own accord.
"Hans."
Leo barely managed to sit up and smiled pleasantly at Hans.
"Sorry, but could you carry me on your back to my room?"
***
After finishing his spar with his father, Leo returned to his room on Hans's back.
He spent the entire day groaning in pain.
It was a fairly difficult time, but still.......
'I got the Secret Manual, and my mana reserves increased significantly.'
That evening, he dragged his aching body to his father's study.
There, he obtained the House Valantes Swordsmanship Secret Manual.
He was permitted to consult the Secret Manual for one month.
He had to learn everything within that period and then return it.
In truth, after reviewing its contents, he did not think it would take even a full month as long as his stamina held up.
It was much smoother and more balanced than Akedos's Swordsmanship, so he did not expect any great difficulty in executing all its movements.
His only concern was how to use the shield, but if he concentrated his training on that part, he believed he could learn the rest quickly.
Above all, his maximum mana had increased considerably.
He was not yet at a level where he could use a Mana Blade, but it was still a meaningful change.
Previously, he could summon Minatos for no more than one day. Now, he could easily maintain the summoning for around three days.
'Just as expected of Akedos's Mana Cultivation Method.'
Akedos's Mana Cultivation Method possessed a combative nature that allowed it to grow tremendously after its practitioner fought a powerful opponent capable of drawing out his limits.
Leo had also fought many battles over ten years, so he could develop more rapidly. Perhaps that was why this spar had contributed so greatly to his growth.
Today, the day after the spar, Hans visited Leo's room while he rested and recovered.
"Young Master, this is medicine the Head of House ordered me to deliver to you."
Wearing a proud smile, Hans entered the room carrying a bowl on a tray.
"Father sent it?"
"Yes. Hmm...... He said it aids recovery and can also strengthen a frail body."
"Very well. Leave it here."
"The Head of House ordered me to make sure you drink every last drop......."
At Hans's words, Leo smacked his lips and beckoned him to bring it over.
'Hmm...... The effect is quite good, isn't it?'
After drinking the medicine, Leo turned his body this way and that on the bed and smiled in satisfaction.
His stiff body felt considerably lighter, and the mana sloshing within his Mana Circle felt much clearer.
"You look far better than you did yesterday. More importantly, Young Master, Is it true that you are leaving the Valantes Inner Castle?"
"Yeah, I need to go out."
"I will make the preparations. When do you intend to leave?"
"I think I'll get going soon."
"Yes, understood. Then I will prepare as well."
"I will begin immediately. If I start preparing now, we should be able to leave together within an hour."
Leo shook his head at Hans's words.
"No, Hans. You stay in the Valantes Inner Castle."
"Whaaat?"
Leo snickered at Hans's excessively high-pitched response.
"Why?"
"Is it not only natural for the thread to follow wherever the needle goes, the hammer to follow wherever the nail goes, and the arrow to follow wherever the bow goes?"
"But right now, I don't need a needle, thread, nail, hammer, bow, or arrow, do I?"
"Young Master, it is merely an expression. I mean that our bond is that close. Hehe."
Leo tilted his head at Hans's words.
"Hmm. I've never thought of us that way, though?"
"Whaaaaat?"
Hans made such a commotion that the room rang with his voice, and Leo finally burst into loud laughter.
Seeing him laugh, Hans pouted and replied.
"But you once said I was like a brother to you......."
"Of course we're like brothers. Isn't that why I'm giving you this order, to provide covering fire for your romance?"
"Romance?"
Hans smiled slyly and leaned his face closer.
Leo leaned in as well and whispered.
"It just so happens that Father will be in meetings all day. This is your chance, Hans."
"As expected...... Young Master...... My apologies. I failed to understand your profound intentions in advance."
"Exactly. So hurry and go see May."
Hans nodded with a solemn expression, then rose from his seat.
He was walking toward the door when he stopped and looked back.
"Young Master."
"What?"
"But no matter how much I think about it, letting you leave the Valantes Inner Castle without accompanying you......."
"So you don't trust the security of the Valantes Domain? I'll tell Father. I'll say Hans was worried because security in the domain was a complete mess......."
"Ah, no! That is not it! Then when should I return?"
Leo slowly rose from his seat and answered Hans.
"Spend as much time with May as you want, and when you think you have had enough...... come back."
Hans nodded at Leo's answer.
"Yes...... Understood. Hehe."
Hans left the room, and Leo immediately called Minatos.
Well. It would not have mattered if Hans had accompanied him, but Leo had sent him away because he wanted to spend a little more time with Minatos.
Minatos was still the same little kid they had been when Leo first met them.
-Hello, Leo!
"All right, Minatos. When are you going to grow?"
-What? Why are you hurting me as soon as I arrive?! I drink milk every day, you know!
"Ah...... Really?"
Leo chuckled at the sight of Minatos pushing their lips out in a pout.
-Yes! I've been exercising very hard lately so I can grow taller!
"I see. All right, all right."
-Is there anything you want me to do? Should I follow Baron Vector Leger again today?
"Yeah, but a little later. Before that, let's go into town together. I'll show you around."
Minatos nodded with a radiant smile at Leo's words.
-Yes! I'd love that!
***
-Wow! What's that?
-Wow! Is that something you eat too?
-Wooow! It looks delicious!
-Wow! Look at that! It's incredible!
-What's that?
-What are they doing there?
-What's that?
They definitely seemed to have bonded.
From the moment Minatos left the Valantes Inner Castle, they unleashed a tremendous barrage of questions.
Leo answered every one of them in detail without missing a single question.
After touring the domain on a date with Minatos, Leo ordered them to follow Vector, then headed to the meeting place in time for his appointment.
'People really are looking at me differently now.'
Answering Minatos's questions throughout their tour of the domain had been exhausting enough, but accepting the greetings of the domain's residents had been exhausting as well.
Every person who passed bowed repeatedly to him with awe in their eyes. It was almost burdensome.
But it was not unpleasant.
As Leo entered the establishment while receiving the residents' greetings, the members of the Blood Axe Merchant Company seated at the tables rose to their feet.
"Welcome, Young Master"
At Exile's greeting, the members bowed in perfect unison.
"Please, everyone, sit."
"I was surprised to receive your message so suddenly."
Exile's eyes were filled with goodwill.
It was precisely how one looked at a benefactor who had saved one's life.
"Father said he would meet you tomorrow."
Exile's eyes grew twice as round.
"Truly?"
Then he began stroking his beard.
'He did that the last time we spoke, too.......'
It appeared to be a habit.
"Yes. He has invited the Blood Axe Merchant Company to the Valantes Inner Castle tomorrow morning. Come to the main gate of the Valantes Inner Castle and ask for me. Someone will probably come down to meet you."
Exile bowed deeply with an ecstatic expression.
"Thank you very much, Young Master! I did not expect to hear from you so soon. I will prepare our highest-quality goods."
Leo nodded at Exile's words.
Then he slowly spoke.
"Ah, right...... I would also like to purchase one more weapon......."
"Of course. Just tell me what you need, and I will supply one of the highest quality."
Leo nodded and took out a money pouch from inside his clothes.
"I would like to buy a piece of armor. Leather Armor, but with defensive power comparable to Chainmail......."
In truth, it was an absurd request.
Leather Armor focused on mobility rather than defense.
Chainmail, on the other hand, focused on defense rather than mobility.
In other words, he was asking for armor that possessed both mobility and defense.
"I have one."
But Exile was different.
'I wouldn't have made this request of an ordinary blacksmith. Heh heh.'
Leo nodded with a satisfied smile.
"Shall I bring out the products for you to look over?"
When Leo quietly nodded at Exile's words, Exile immediately rose.
"Exile."
"Yes, Young Master."
Exile had been about to rise, but he stopped at Leo's words and looked at him.
"I gave it some careful thought...... and it seems a shame that I received nothing in return for building a bridge to Father."
"What?"
"I received a dagger for saving your life, and you promised me a sword if the deal with Father went through...... but I received nothing for building that bridge, did I?"
Leo had far less money at this point in his life than he had expected. After all, he was effectively the unwanted burden of the house.
That was why he had devised this method.
"Yes...... That is true."
Exile nodded at Leo's strangely persuasive argument.
Leo smiled pleasantly at him.
"Then how about discounting the armor as payment for building that bridge?"
Exile's brow furrowed at Leo's words.
He began stroking his beard as though deep in thought.
After a brief pause, Exile nodded as though he had reached a decision
Exile nodded as though he had reached a decision.
"Yes. Very well. Let us do that."
"Then would you show me the products now?"
'Good.'
At the very moment Leo celebrated inwardly, Minatos softly appeared beside him.
'What happened all of a sudden, Minatos?'
Minatos answered Leo in an urgent voice.
-Leo! Something terrible has happened.