Marius’s training method advanced the concept of magic power sharing even further.
Marius would use Catherine’s magic power to cast spells.
By repeating this process many times, Catherine’s body, or rather her magic power, would learn the process of transformation into magic.
At least, that’s how the game’s tutorial explained it.
Marius reasoned that if he used Catherine’s own magic power, there was no risk of mistakenly killing her.
The problem was Catherine’s magic power capacity; if it was too low, it would be useless.
Magic power sharing was designed to reduce the speed of magic power consumption, and once depleted, sharing became impossible.
He discreetly used “Scan” to check Catherine’s magic power capacity, which was fifty.
“This should be enough, I think…?”
At ten or lower, it would have required dangerous, underhanded methods to forcefully increase it.
“Um, Lord Marius, please take care of me.”
Marius nodded to Catherine, who showed a hint of anxiety, reassuring her.
“It might be a little painful…”
“I’m fine. I’m from Boltner, after all. I have confidence in my grit.”
She straightened her back and answered clearly.
Marius felt a mixture of unease and curiosity about Boltner’s educational methods, but at this moment, her response was reassuring.
“Then, let’s begin.”
Marius placed his hand on Catherine’s left shoulder.
Then, he shared his magic power.
“Nnnh.”
Catherine let out a strangely seductive sound, but he ignored it.
He perceived Catherine’s magic power, synchronized with it, and drew it out.
That he could do this so easily, despite it being his first experience, was likely due to his “Sage” title.
“【Wind】”
A gentle breeze blew, but it vanished instantly.
Since it was cast using Catherine’s magic power, the effect was momentary.
“To succeed on the first try…”
Marius couldn’t hide his internal surprise.
In the game, this would have been difficult for anyone but a magic-specialized class.
Considering that, Catherine’s talent was quite remarkable.
Just as he was about to try again, Barra and Lovisa covered their mouths, their eyes wide open.
The air seemed to freeze.
The people of Boltner looked on with puzzled expressions. What had happened?
“Did I do something wrong?”
Marius racked his brain, unable to recall anything amiss.
Barra then spoke to him tentatively.
“Um, Lord Marius…”
“Yes?”
“Was that… the legendary technique considered the ultimate art by wizards?”
“…Huh?”
Marius was momentarily confused by her statement.
Looking closer, Barra’s eyes were filled with a strange light, while Lovisa and Emma seemed to be shrinking back.
“It’s amazing. To have mastered even the ultimate art, befitting someone who can defeat demons and demon lords! I truly respect you!”
Barra’s voice was sweet and enraptured, as if punctuated by heart emojis. It was then that Marius finally realized what he had inadvertently done.
“I was tricked by the tutorial… you idiot.”
Marius swore internally.
He had underestimated the sheer magnitude of being able to use another’s magic power.
Looking back, it was only natural, considering how little magic power sharing had even permeated society.
While Barra interpreted it favorably, others were not so forgiving.
To perform what was considered the pinnacle of magic wizardry so casually as mere training was understandably shocking.
“If… if it’s not too much trouble, could you teach me next time?”
Barra stammered, mustering her courage to make her request.
“Yes, I don’t mind.”
Marius agreed, wondering if this phrasing was impolite.
He wished his own common sense could be the common sense in this world, if possible.
Marius felt this quite earnestly. Being consistently met with stunned silence after any display would be detrimental to his mental well-being.
The people of Filat seemed to have recovered from their shock rather quickly, though.
He thought that collaborating with Barra, who was a skilled teacher, might make this technique more widespread.
In this way, Barra was slowly but surely bridging the gap. Meanwhile, Lovisa
“【Aqua】”
A palm-sized ball of water appeared, and her progress was steady.
“Princess Barra’s teaching method is truly exceptional…”
Barra’s teaching was so skillful that she could have made a living as a magic instructor for wizards, leaving Emma with no choice but to grit her teeth.
Lovisa was foolishly unwilling to cut corners.
If she failed, she could ask Marius for guidance, but
While he had previously seen this as a virtue, it now appeared as a rigid, uncompromising personality trait, a terrible flaw.
As Lovisa continued her training, her expression became subtly strained, a change only Emma, who knew her well, could discern.
Marius realized it was likely born not of fatigue, but of recognizing her own inferiority, an insight gained from their long acquaintance.
Perhaps she had finally realized the folly of clinging too rigidly to the facade of training, even when it was merely a pretext.
“No, even if she understands, she can’t let go…”
Emma, having known Lovisa since childhood, felt genuine sympathy for her.
She had been taught from a young age to prioritize the country above all else.
Love was unnecessary for a princess; she was to think only of how to benefit the nation.
It was a bitter irony that this very teaching would become an obstacle to serving her country.
“I wonder if they don’t teach this in Ranleo or Boltner?”
This kind of sarcasm was likely just misplaced frustration.
A princess of a kingdom should have been taught to be the foundation of her nation.
After all, a nation was an organization built upon countless lives shed, sweat, tears, and fallen bodies.
While Lovisa had learned “Water,” she was in a state of having “her flesh cut and her bones broken” by simply watching Marius become friendly with other women.
Catherine, meanwhile, had managed to conjure a “Wind” spell on her own.
However, this presented a new problem.
The spells tended to fly towards whoever was in the line of sight, making them extremely dangerous.
“Princess Catherine, are you perhaps also capable of… eye gouging techniques?”
Marius asked. The young princess nodded.
“I was taught that groin kicks and eye gouging are the basics.”
Perhaps it was because she was frail, but recalling her precise and efficient movements made him think Boltner’s teachings were brutal.
This was likely the reason they were called “unmatched in close combat on flat terrain” on the continent.
As Marius pondered this, Catherine timidly spoke to him.
“I’m afraid I have a rather presumptuous request, but if possible, I would like to learn ‘Strengtheness’ and ‘Heal.'”
These were body enhancement magic and basic healing magic.
The theory that the presence or absence of these two could significantly alter survival rates was a strong one.
Healing magic could be substituted with potions, but for body enhancement, one would have to rely on Magic Items.
Potions were also finite, so it was certainly beneficial to learn these spells.
“Or rather, they don’t even teach body enhancement in Boltner…?”
Could it be that they fought enemies with body enhancement spells using only their raw strength?
Or perhaps wizards capable of casting body enhancement were rare?
If it was the former, then the people of Boltner were truly terrifying.
Casting body enhancement could bridge a certain level gap.
Curious, Marius casually asked Catherine.
“Are you perhaps unfamiliar with ‘Strengtheness’ or ‘Heal’ as well?”
“Yes.”
Catherine nodded regretfully and explained.
The biggest drawback of the strong people of Boltner was their ignorance of magic.
They had seriously attempted to learn it in the past, but few improved, and their progress was slow, leading to a lack of enthusiasm.
They were not inherently ambitious about territorial expansion, content with protecting their ancestral lands, so it wasn’t a major issue.
The borders of their country were vast plains, making it difficult for enemy nations to secure bases or supply lines, forcing them to prepare for pitched battles with the Boltner army.
Even with such preparations, Boltner’s territory offered little in the way of valuable resources.
Sheep farming was prevalent, and their beef and lamb were renowned, but they weren’t worth the risk of fighting the Boltner army in open combat.
It was more profitable to sell goods to Boltner, as it didn’t involve losses to one’s own soldiers.
There were no humans foolish enough to desire such a land, and thus Boltner enjoyed peace.
“But if we’re to fight demons in earnest, we can’t afford to be so complacent…”
The young princess’s decision to try and learn magic was a result of considering her role.
She hoped that if a twelve-year-old like herself could learn it, more people would earnestly strive to master it.
“Is it really that simple?”
“I’m sorry. Boltner people are generally simple.”
Marius, who had been muttering to himself, was met with a apologetic reply, making him feel awkward. He then realized something and decided to offer his help.
“For those who accompanied you to Filat, Princess Catherine, they can also learn to imbue magic into their bodies using the same method.”
“R-really?”
Catherine was flustered by the unexpected turn of events and looked up at Marius.
Seeing the innocent girl make such an adorable gesture required Marius to exert considerable effort to suppress a smile.
“It would be my pleasure. It will serve as a good symbol of the friendship between our two nations.”
“Yes!”
Catherine beamed with a brilliant smile.
Honestly, Marius found it difficult to feel any affection for strangers, but this smile made him want to protect her, setting aside any calculation.
Perhaps this was Catherine’s strength and the reason she was loved by the people of Boltner.
“【Strengtheness】”
“【Heal】”
Marius used Catherine’s magic power once for each spell.
Catherine’s magic power was at its limit.
Color drained from Catherine’s face, she began to sweat, and her breathing grew ragged.
This was the state of collapse that occurred when magic power was depleted.
“This state you’re in now is the collapse from magic depletion. Please remember it.”
It wouldn’t be a bad thing for this girl, who would likely use her magic power to its limit for someone else, to remember her own limitations now.
“Y-yes.”
Though wavering, Catherine gritted her teeth and managed to stay on her feet.
One had to admire her grit.
Since the girl, who had rarely used magic before, had no innate magic recovery skills, he shared some of his magic power with her.
He had to be cautious, as giving her more than her body could handle might break it.
“Ah, I’m recovering.”
Catherine felt herself recovering from the state of collapse, but Marius was inwardly astonished.
Her recovery was too fast, even for him.
Perhaps, with training, she could acquire a magic recovery skill.
The people of Boltner seemed to have unusually high potential.
Or it might just be the little princess.
“Then, let’s give it our all.”
“Yes!”
Her energetic voice rang out.
Barra, who had been glancing at the two of them, was surprised that Marius could also use healing magic.
“Does Lord Marius have three classes?”
Come to think of it, it was unlikely that a great wizard like Marius only had two classes, summoning included.
He probably hadn’t used them before because there was no need.
“Is it the same as me?”
If he had three classes, that is.
It was a trivial matter, but finding something in common with Marius made Barra slightly happy.
