Sir Hero, It’s Time to Train!

“Ah!”

Liber was thrown to the ground of the training field by the sword dance cast by Christian.

“E-elder brother Liber!”

Sonya, who was worriedly watching Liber, was half-crying, but she couldn’t run to support him.

She was too scared of Christian’s piercing gaze, and having been stopped several times already, she had come to understand that such actions were futile.

All she could do was to look at Christian with resentment.

“Hmm, shall we stop here?”

“A-again…”

At Christian’s words, Liber managed to straighten his bent knees, using his practice sword as a cane to stagger to his feet.

His eyes were already bruised, and blood was faintly dripping from his nose and mouth.

Moreover, his entire body was bruised, leaving him without a spot that didn’t hurt.

There were external injuries, but his mana was twisted, causing internal injuries as well.

Just a slight movement resulted in rough coughing and pain. Despite this, Liber stubbornly stood back up.

“Elder brother Liber, fighting! His flank is his weak spot, so just aim there!”

“U-ugh, go cheer somewhere else! Why are you doing it on my back?”

“Shut up and keep doing those push-ups. You have 800 to go.”

“Wasn’t it 80?!”

From a little distance, Aira was cheering while sitting on Caedwin’s back as he struggled with his push-ups.

Aira patted Caedwin’s head several times to quell his complaints and then looked at the duel between Christian and Liber with a nonchalant expression.

“The sword dance is really nothing special. Besides, the sword dance Christian is using now is from that bastard, so it’s pretty sloppy. Just break it in one hit!”

“H-ha ha. I’ll give it a try…”

In actuality, Christian was matching himself to Liber’s level for Liber’s sake.

To Liber, who had already sparred with Christian, the current Christian didn’t bring him the sense of hopelessness that he couldn’t surpass.

Yet, Liber had already fallen several times, and his attacks hadn’t even grazed Christian’s clothes.

“To be honest, at your current level, there’s no way you’ll ever touch Riley.”

“I know, but that hurts to hear.”

Though Liber smiled bitterly, his eyes were calm as he stared at Christian. It was clear he had no intention of stepping back as he adjusted his stance once more.

This determination was something Christian found thoroughly satisfying.

When people recognize their true abilities, when they understand their limits, they often despair.

Comparing oneself with someone they desperately want to surpass can be demoralizing.

But Liber instead inflamed his competitive spirit, choosing to step forward rather than retreat.

‘That single step is crucial.’

The person who can break through the wall blocking them is always the one who doesn’t retreat, who takes that step forward, even if slowly.

And just as Liber was focusing his breath, preparing to rush at Christian again,

“Alright, let’s call it a day, and elder brother Liber should review and come back for the next day. Today’s training ends here.”

“W-what? Why?”

When Christian stopped the training, Liber was perplexed. Even Aira, nearby, was gawking at Christian, shocked.

The training fanatic was ending the session this early? It was honestly hard to believe.

While both Liber and Aira seemed suspicious, Caedwin was the only one rejoicing, lying flat on the ground with Aira still on his back, grateful that the training was over.

“It’s over!”

“Elder brother Liber!”

Shortly after, Sonya hurried over with a towel, water, and a potion for Liber.

As Liber, surrounded by Sonya’s heartfelt care, looked on in bafflement, Christian cleared his throat and spoke.

“I think I should visit my maternal family.”

“Oh…”

At Christian’s response, Aira approached quietly and asked.

“Are you heading to meet Marquis Ferdida?”

“Well, even if they made the deal foolishly, it’s still proper to show some due courtesy for the sake of the family, don’t you think?”

“Yes, but still…”

Aira seemed to understand, nodding slowly.

Miles and Ferdida.

It had indeed been a situation where the elder members of the two families residing in the capital, rondia, came to an agreement on their own.

Above all, considering his father and mothers, it seemed reasonable to adhere to the terms of the agreement.

There was no need to foster unnecessary conflict that would lead to familial distress.

“So pack your bags. We’ll leave as soon as preparations are finished.”

“Can’t we just wash and rest before going?”

“You can bathe there. We’ll have dinner at their place.”

“Ah, this is like a group of beggars…”

Apart from Christian and Sonya, everyone else’s condition was as shabby as beggars.

Suggesting they just pack and head out could easily lead to a cold reception from the gatekeepers.

Yet Christian seemed firmly set, not intending to relent.

“They’re the ones who invited us. Whether they welcome us or not, we’ll find out.”

“Are you doing this on purpose?!”

Aira asked cautiously, to which Christian gave a subtle smile.

“They will welcome us as esteemed guests. Even if not warm-heartedly, they will greet us. By seeing how they greet us, we can infer how they perceive the Worden family.”

“Indeed…”

In the end, they would likely be welcomed. Given the multitude of eyes observing and the relationship between families, they had little choice.

But in what manner they would be greeted, Christian seemed keen to ascertain.

Would they be genuinely welcomed, even in their current state, or would they be met with the usual formal politeness…?

“Still, it’s too calculated.”

“Relations among people are always calculated. More so when it’s family to family. Just like when we visited the Viscount Mile’s estate today.”

Aira couldn’t counter that. Being summoned to the Viscount Mile’s estate today, reflecting on the events there, it felt more like being received as members of the Worden County rather than as family.

Especially that duel…

‘That probably was a test of sorts…’

Aira, too, had harbored some suspicion, so all she could do was sigh.

“Fine, then. Let’s pack and head over.”

With Aira understanding the situation, Liber lowered his sword and spoke quietly.

“But are you sure it’s alright for us all to go?”

“What are you saying? They’ve already agreed to it. If there’s an issue, we just consider it as how it is and return here. All of us.”

“Haha…”

At Christian’s confident remarks, Liber could only respond with a somewhat awkward laugh. Nonetheless, he, too, decided to shed his worries, nodding.

“Alright. Let’s do that. Ah, will we still train there?”

“Training doesn’t stop. I’ll push you guys hard, have dinner, and train till late at night. So don’t refuse the hospitality and eat well.”

Aira grimaced, but Liber seemed relieved, smiling. Despite Caedwin, still lying down in discomfort nearby, no one paid him any attention.

*

The estate of Marquis Ferdida was located in the central residential district of the capital, where the upper nobility resided.

The current family head of the Ferdida Marquisate, Roscarle Marquis Ferdida, was a significant figure in the central political circle and the head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, holding considerable power.

But considering this, the mansion of the Ferdida Marquisate wasn’t particularly large.

Even compared to other noble families’ mansions in the area, it was small, more so than the Viscount Mile’s estate.

“Hmm? What’s that?”

The guard standing at the mansion’s front gate squinted in confusion at the sight of a group approaching.

“Why are beggars wandering here?”

“Beggars? Oh, they really are…”

Another guard also scrunched his brow at the sight of the ragged-looking individuals.

This area, being where the nobility resided, had strict security and far better public order than elsewhere.

Magic lights ensured the streets and mansions remained bright even at night.

The large presence of patrolling soldiers and knights from the order of the city guard meant that thieves didn’t dare approach, and beggars couldn’t even enter this place from the start.

Ordinary citizens who strayed in by mistake were turned away at once, so seeing beggars walking so boldly had the guards at the mansion’s gate clucking their tongues.

“Tsk tsk. The city guard will be in for it again today.”

“I tell you, those lazy city guards these days leave everyone sighing. It won’t be long before they cause a significant incident.”

The moment someone filed a complaint about beggars roaming the area, the city guard would face another uproar.

Especially with the notoriously short-tempered noble in charge, the guards shuddered at the thought, even though it wasn’t their responsibility.

“Hey, wait. Those beggars are heading this way.”

“What?”

As they whispered among themselves, the guards quickly noticed the beggars approaching them and furrowed their brows, assuming they were there to beg.

As they were also commoners and not nobles, they felt a bit hesitant about being too harsh in chasing them off.

But as the beggars drew near, the guards were left puzzled.

‘Huh? Maybe they aren’t beggars?’

Several of them certainly looked rough. With tangled hair and tattered clothing, they resembled beggars.

However, there was a young girl dressed in decent clothes among them, and a boy who, despite his worn attire, appeared as if he could be a young master from a noble family.

One of the young men, looking like a beggar, yelled at a more decently dressed young man.

“Why, why didn’t we take a carriage… ha, ha, why did we have to walk here! At least know the way if we had to walk!”

“It’s strange to expect someone to know their way through the capital on their first visit. Why ask the obvious?”

“…”

Caedwin’s face turned beet red at Christian’s dismissive attitude, as he nonchalantly picked at his ear.

How could someone who made them wander for hours ask such a thing?!

Unable to bring himself to lash out, he just cursed Christian silently in his mind.

Ignoring Caedwin entirely, Christian looked at Marquis Ferdida’s mansion and then at the guards, speaking.

“This is Marquis Ferdida’s residence, right?”

“Uh, yes, but…”

Christian’s bold demeanor momentarily stalled the guards, who were about to drive them away.

“Please, pass the message.”

Christian, with a puffed-up chest, declared to the guards.

“Christian Worden is here to see his grandfather.”