Extra in a Romance Fantasy chapter 57

57 – Regained Normalcy

Returning to the mansion, we welcomed back a peaceful daily life.

Considering the impossibility of going back to a resort or venturing outside the city after what had happened, we had to spend all our time inside the mansion or in Lakenwood.

So how did we spend most of that time?

Well… it varies from person to person, but speaking for myself.

“Hey, let’s spar.”

“….”

I mainly engaged in sparring with Edan.

“…Again?”

“You don’t have anything else to do anyway.”

“…True.”

Though I put on a reluctant expression, I eventually drew my sword and faced Edan.

Much of my daily routine after returning to the mansion revolved around sparring with Edan.

Of course, not as intense as our first encounter, and always within limits without using magic.

It was a given.

If two swordsmen of our caliber engaged in a full-fledged magical duel, it was clear that the Blunoa estate would be reduced to rubble.

While it might seem dull to imagine a spar without magic, as superhuman strength is usually exhibited through magic, when a transcendent being reaches a certain level of determination, even without magic, the situation isn’t as mundane.

Clang! Clang!

The sound of swords clashing a few times.

“Good job.”

Another sparring session came to an end.

“Really, you’re an unbelievable fellow.”

Edan seemed genuinely fed up as he shook his head.

“They say true geniuses grow by the day… but you seem to be growing by the second.”

“…Thank you.”

I nodded.

Edan wasn’t one to speak insincerely, so while it might be considered a genuine form of praise, I found it more awkward than gratifying.

“I won’t be able to beat you soon at this rate.”

Edan grumbled.

“For someone who grumbles, you’re doing pretty well at winning.”

I added quietly to his grumbling.

After returning to the mansion, most of the sparring matches ended in Ethan’s victory.

“Well, of course, I should win. I’ve been wielding a sword for at least 20 years longer than you.”

Ethan frowned upon hearing my words.

Well, when you think about it, it’s only natural.

Considering that he has poured about 20 more years into martial arts than I have, it’s inevitable that his swordsmanship is superior. Although he claims not to use magic, his physical abilities clearly surpass mine.

“But even that won’t last much longer. In a few months, I’ll catch up.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

Ethan said incredulously, but I couldn’t argue with that.

It is true that my progress has been rapid. Initially, I was overwhelmingly defeated in sparring, but now I have reached a level where the fights are more balanced.

However, this growth was not exclusive to me alone.

Through repeated sparring sessions, Ethan was also growing.

And at a noticeable pace.

He, too, was blessed with talents from the heavens.

Truly, the genius Ethan mentioned, who grows differently every day, is none other than him.

“Alright, enough. Stop the lip service.”

Ethan, who brushed off my slightly unjustified complaints with a few waves of his hand, turned his head towards me.

“Okay, did you learn something?”

With that, he asked, looking in a direction other than me.

…

…

There stood the familiar faces of Ayla and Cedric.

***

After returning to the mansion, our activities with Ethan were not limited to just sparring.

Teaching Ayla and Cedric also became a part of our routine at some point.

It started with Cedric.

From Noble mtl dot com

Not long after returning to the mansion, Cedric came to me and proposed a sparring match.

I had expected some reaction after revealing my skills, but I had not anticipated a request for a match, so I hesitated inwardly.

However, knowing Cedric’s nature, rejecting him would be as futile as blowing out a fire, so I eventually accepted his request.

The result, needless to say, was evident.

Since there was no need to hide my skills anymore after revealing them, and since Cedric himself probably didn’t want that either, I didn’t hold back.

As a result, Cedric was brutally defeated.

Or rather, helplessly… would be a more fitting term.

Although I had initially given him a head start due to my advanced skills, Cedric’s full-on assault was completely blocked, and the moment it ended, my sword was at his throat.

That marked the end of our sparring.

And Cedric, who suffered such a crushing defeat.

…

Gazing at me silently, he got up and left.

I gazed at his retreating figure with a slightly worried look.

“There’s no need to worry like that.”

It was Edan who snapped me out of such thoughts.

“He’s not someone who easily breaks. He’ll stand up again.”

“…”

He seemed to immediately understand what was troubling me.

I was worried that Cedric Allenhart might falter.

Since childhood, he had been hailed as a genius, possessing exceptional talents that surpassed those of his generation.

I couldn’t help but wonder if someone like him might feel discouraged and despair in the face of someone like me.

But soon, I nodded my head.

If Edan spoke with such conviction, I thought it was safe to believe him.

Not only did Edan have a keen eye for people, but he also knew Cedric better than I did.

From what I heard, Edan and Cedric had been friends for quite some time.

More precisely, it was a friendship between Edan and Cedric’s master, Geomseong. When Edan went to meet Geomseong, he ended up crossing paths with Cedric as well, and they met quite frequently.

Due to a lack of contact in recent years, when they met by the lakeside, I didn’t recognize Cedric right away, but it was clear that Edan knew more about Cedric than I did.

So, I decided to trust his words and wait.

In the end, the wait wasn’t long.

The next day, the sound of swords clashing fiercely echoed through the mansion.

Sure enough, the protagonists of that sound were Cedric and Ayla.

With a familiar sparring, sharper and more intense than usual, Cedric was engaged.

“See? I told you not to worry.”

Edan, who appeared out of nowhere, said with a smirk.

As he said, my worries were unfounded.

Cedric was not a man who would yield so easily.

After that day, a fervor for training swept through the Blunoa Mansion.

It wasn’t just Cedric. Ayla, perhaps inspired by Cedric, began training with even more zeal than before.

Around that time, sparring between Edan and Cedric, as well as between Ayla and me, took on a slightly different form.

There were now spectators for the spars that originally only involved the two of us.

Although it was a spar without the use of magic, it was a duel between individuals who had reached a level of determination.

Ayla and Cedric might not be able to understand everything due to their lack of experience, but we decided to make the sparring sessions open to them so they could observe and learn from our talents.

Furthermore, we provided direct assistance.

Edan mainly to Cedric, and I mainly to Ayla.

Considering Cedric’s pride, I thought he wouldn’t want to learn from me despite the difference in levels of attainment, so I took charge of Ayla, while Edan seemed to have realized this fact and stepped in to mentor Cedric.

Whether Cedric was also acknowledging Edan or not, he readily accepted Edan’s teachings.

Originally, I had planned to entrust Ayla to Edan as well, but for some reason, Ayla actively sought guidance from me, so naturally, she became my responsibility.

“Um, um… Mr. Wade… There’s something I would like you to teach me…”

“Oh, sure.”

It was the same today.

After finishing the spar with Cedric, Ayla immediately approached me to seek guidance.

Since there was no reason to refuse, I promptly addressed her queries.

During the training, she pointed out things that caught her eye, mainly areas that could be improved and things she should think about on her own.

Indeed, possessing outstanding talent, she quickly grasped my words and absorbed them like a sponge, making them her own.

However.

Even she, at times, showed signs of being stuck in unexpected areas.

“Is this… how it’s done?”

“No, it’s better to shift your weight more towards there.”

For example, even now.

I advised her on a posture that felt a bit awkward, and she was adjusting her posture accordingly, but unlike her usual self, she was making slower progress.

“Like this…?”

Once again, Ayira tried to adjust her posture, but even that stance had some awkward angles.

Seeing this, I even demonstrated it myself, but she still couldn’t quite grasp the technique.

…Hmm. It seems it’s not as simple as just showing; adjustments have to be made.

With that conclusion in mind, I said,

“Excuse me for a moment.”

I went behind her, held her body, and began guiding her posture according to my will.

Perhaps due to her petite build, she snugly fit into my embrace, allowing me to easily adjust her posture to the form I desired.

“Like this, swinging your arms without exerting too much force…”

Her body moved as if it were mine.

It was challenging to execute it as perfectly as with my own body, but capturing the essence was not difficult.

In this way, I unfolded the movements I wanted to teach her through her body.

“Do you understand?”

After that, I asked her.

“Yes, yes…!”

Ayira, who usually didn’t show much strength, responded with a hint of vigor.

I felt slightly puzzled by her reaction, but I assumed it meant she was focused, so I proceeded to the next move.

“Your actions are quite graceful.”

A familiar voice interrupted, causing me to stop my movements.

“…You’re here.”

It was Estelle.

Having appeared out of nowhere, she gazed at Ayira with a disapproving look.

Ignoring my greeting, she stared at Ayira nestled in my arms, then turned her gaze towards me and said,

“You need to learn the art of suspicion.”

“What?”

What on earth was she talking about all of a sudden?

“It means the creature you think is a dog might actually be a fox.”

“What… What do you mean?”

I couldn’t comprehend her words at all.

“Sigh… Well, I can’t expect you to be sharp in these matters.”

In response to my answer, Estelle shook her head in exasperation.

Then, her gaze shifted once again.

Facing Ayla in my arms.

“Appearing innocent, yet cunning like a fox inside.”

“….”

Although the words seemed directed at Ayla, she offered no response.

“Well, forget it. Please, enjoy today to your heart’s content.”

With a lingering gaze on Ayla, Estelle, leaving behind incomprehensible words, departed.

I tilted my head. I couldn’t make heads or tails of what Estelle said.

“…You’re quite fidgety too.”

Suddenly, Edan interjected.

He, too, gazed at me with a look of annoyance.

“Why the sudden change, Edan?”

“It seems my words are failing me at the moment… No, forget it.”

“If you have something to say, say it clearly.”

Edan, who never held back what he wanted to say, was being typically enigmatic.

Why is this gentleman acting this way again?

However.

Edan merely shook his head and said nothing more, leaving me feeling uneasy as I looked his way.

“….”

Even Cedric, standing behind Edan, nodded politely at me.

…Why are these people behaving like this today of all days?

Filled with doubts, but since no one seemed willing to explain, I turned my focus back to teaching Ayla, and thus, another day came to an end.

And the next day.

I went to the backyard to engage in the daily training.

“…Seems like there are more people today.”

For some reason, the audience had significantly increased compared to yesterday.

Estelle, who left cryptic messages, Rachel, who seemed wide-eyed for some reason, Mary with a composed face, Alexis scrutinizing only Mary, and finally Del, gazing at this spectacle with a distant look.

“You’re the one who sowed the seeds, lad.”

Edan spat out those words with an air of annoyance.

Feeling unjustly blamed, as I couldn’t fathom why it was my fault, and with the group’s accusing glances making me feel even more so, I remained silent.