Chapter 3.34 - Thursday, July 21th, 6,00am

“RISE AND SHINE YOU GOOD FOR NOTHING BRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

A terrible, annoying shout shook the entire house with its might.

…It can't be, that guy— he's actually serious…?!

BAM!!!

He barged into my room—

"—RISE AND SHINE!!!"

BAM!!!

—and Restia's room.

"—IT'S MORNING ALREADY YOU IDIOTIC BRATS!!!"

"…WILL, YOU, SHUT, UP!!?" Restia complained.

"I DON'T CARE IF YOU ARE FEELING DOWN OR WHAT, JUST MAKE UP WITH YOUR BROTHER ALREADY!!! TIME~! TO~! WAKE~! UP~!!!"

So annoying…!!!

"STOP BOTHERING MY LITTLE SISTER ALREADY!!!"

I swiftly stepped into Restia's room and yelled at him.

He doesn't seem to be bothered by it at all.

"…Ngh."

When I look at Restia, she avoided my eye contact with a displeased look.

…I don't want that.

…I don't want Restia to hate me.

"I'm extremely sorry Restia please forgive this stupid big brother of yours…!" I said to her while making a perfect 90-degree bow.

Towards my little sister, I could only ask for forgiveness.

However, Restia didn't reply. She didn't forgive me.

The only thing I could do is to continue with my perfect 90-degree bow; until I saw her feet.

"Restia..." I inadvertently murmured.

Restia had tears gathered at the corner of her eyes, but it didn't fall off.

"Idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot, IDIOT!!!" She suddenly screamed.

As she scolded me, she throws punches at my body. One time each— a total of six.

…The last one hurt a little.

"DO YOU EVEN KNOW WHAT I'M ANGRY FOR!!?"

WHAP!

I grabbed onto Restia's hand before it could slap me on my face.

"I know it all too well, Restia." I told her.

Then, I gently place her hand on my cheek.

"Ngh…!"

Restia tried to pull her hand away, but she can't.

"I know you think you are useless; I know that you think you didn't help out much but that's not the truth. If it's isn't for your magic, he would've died— and we wouldn't be standing here. You even developed a better plan to save them, and you did it perfectly…!"

"…Big brother…!"

"Restia…!"

"Myaster…!"

I huddled Restia and Ruby, and they did the same as well.

"Sheesh, this is so disgusting. Why am I even watching such a thing again in the early morning…!?"

"""…………"""

With sync, we ignored him.

"Anyways, take a bath, brush your teeth." He then murmured. "Meet me at the training chamber later."

"T… Training?!" I muttered. "W-Why!? I haven't even recovered from my injuries yet—"

"Three weeks." He reminded me, and nothing else.

I inadvertently recalled the favour I asked of him yesterday.

"…Okay." I replied.

"What… about me…?" Felix asked.

Felix, the Black Cat— isn't the type that wants to be left out.

"Dómr prepared a special course for you, and of course, that wolf, snake, leopard, lion and this rabbit as well. Now get along, scram. Don't bother your master."

Maybe it's because his attitude sucks. Felix looks like she's on the verge to explode with anger.

"NYAA…!"

She did…!?

It's already too late for me to stop her from pouncing towards Principal.

She did it as a warning attack to Principal, perhaps.

"Hmm? Get lost."

WHAP!

"NYA!?"

—and was swatted away like a fly.

"Felix…!"

Seconds before she crashes the floor, I immediately rush to her rescue— catching her in my arms.

"Felix, are you okay?"

"Y-Yesh…"

That swat completely caught her off guard. Her eyes are spinning.

"N… Nya…? Nya…!?"

"…Eh?"

I was dumbfounded that she suddenly floats up till she's higher than me.

Fortuna soon joins her.

They panicked and tried to run and sorts, but unfortunately, they didn't get to move from their spot.

"Know your place, will ya…?" Principal then said to Felix while moving her closer to him. "Even Dómr, who you deemed strong and powerful is afraid of me."

"N-Nya!!?"

Unfortunately, Felix is too confused to listen to him.

"Geez… these guys are such a handful."

After deliberately sighing, he went downstairs with Felix and Fortuna following behind as they float.

"Ruby wants a bath with myaster." Ruby suddenly told me.

"I want big brother to scrub my back."

I knew it. Restia would come along as well.

"Erm, yeah… why so suddenly…?" I asked them.

"Hmph…! It's my apology." Restia said to me while pouting.

…I can't argue against that.

…………………………………

After half an hour, we gathered at the training chamber, where Principal have been watching.

"You, are, late." Principal uttered.

"Sorry, it took me a while to comb their tangled hair… Look at how pretty they are…!" I said.

"Good." He murmured.

PAK.

""!?""

With him snapping his fingers, a teleportation magic circle appeared below our feet.

After a bright flash, Restia, Ruby and Principal disappeared.

He probably teleported to dad's villa, as what I asked of him last night.

It's about Restia's punishment for telling Nightmare about the time limit and Ruby's punishment for almost killing Restia.

To them, being separated from me without our parents now feels like hell for them.

I also want her to master teleportation magic from a far distance. If she could master that spell— this means she would be willing to go to school like a normal girl because she could always come back home with that spell.

I also want to stay with her for another six years.

Restia's mana alone probably couldn't teleport back to this island, but with Ruby's ridiculous amount of mana— it's possible if she borrowed Ruby's mana.

Nevertheless, from the note I found sticking on the door to the training chamber, I didn't expect that he would provide this hopeless me a training course as well.

'I did as what you requested. Now get inside that chamber and do 100 push-ups, sit-ups, and squats. Thank you. Finish it before I return, or else you get another set."

Will I get bald after this?

I could only deliberately heave a sigh and step into the training chamber.

"Hmm…?"

It's been a while since I came here— almost a week.

Inside this chamber, the gravity was tweaked up to 150G, in other words, 15 times stronger than our normal gravity.

I need to do all those sets under 150G of gravity?

"That bastard, he's looking down on me…"

…………………………………

"HAH— HAH— HAH— HAH—"

What's wrong with me…!?

Why am I this exhausted in just six days…!?

"… What's wrong? Running out of breath so soon?"

It's Principal. His voice came from the door.

"…And what's wrong with you?" I asked.

I was shocked when I turn to face him.

His right eye and left cheek are smashed and swollen with bruises, and his clothes were torn with some scratch marks.

He purposely let me see the injury on him.

…I can't believe it.

They landed several hits on him!?

"…You understand how hard is it for me, right?" He said.

Even though he had a smile on his face, but I could tell he's angry.

"…Sorry about that. You can heal yourself now."

"Do you understand the reason for those sets now?" He asked while casting a healing spell on himself.

His multitasking ability is scary. Not even Restia could cast while talking at the same time.

"…It accelerated." I murmured. "The body deterioration…"

Even though I'm injured, but I knew well that it's not enough to make me exhausted even if I'm under such a strong gravity.

"Exactly." He told me. "Make sure to keep in mind of your daily training to slow down the deterioration or else you end up paralyzed before you even reach sixteen years old."

That said, he stepped into the training chamber casually, as if taking a walk at the park.

…That explains the power of his punches.

"Heh… you monster." I murmured.

"Why, only a monster would have another monster as a friend, don't you agree?"

I could only laugh after hearing that. I do admit— my parents are indeed monsters just like him.

"First of all, I'd like to hear what sort of training did you learnt from your father." He asked, brimming with curiosity.

"Sorry to disappoint you, I only knew the basic way to fight."

I felt a little guilty to tell him that I didn't receive any flashy training at all.

"…I see."

However, instead of looking disappointed, Principal stared at me with a grin.

"Then, what will you do when you faced an opponent like me?" He said proudly.

"Run away." I instantly replied.

Do you really need to ask?

"Hahaha, that definitely sounds like your father's teaching." He laughed boldly. "Then, what if you have something you need to protect?"

"Stalling and find a way to escape with them."

"Well, well. You are indeed your father's son." He praised. "What else is there?"

"Never to use or reveal my trump card unless it could kill my opponent."

"…Huh." He looks stunned for a moment, then he shakes his head, seeming to disagree. "He even taught you that…?"

"I'm the one who asked for it."

"Is that so? This means… you already have the resolve to killed or be killed, huh…"

Saying that, he gets closer to me— at most, three steps away; and stopped.

"Alright, brat. Try to land a hit on me— I won't take even a step away from this spot."

As soon as he sets the gravity back to normal, I took a leap— closing our distance.

WHAP.

…He stopped my uppercut with his hand.

Well, he had to.

"Oh my god…! You are aiming my balls right from the start!?" He groaned with cold sweat.

"Guh…!"

Although his grip isn't tight, or rather, gentle. But for some reason, I can't break free from it.

"That's not how you do it. Instead of pulling my wrist, you should grab it on my finger like this—"

CRACK!

As soon as he said that, I broke his pinkie and escaped, taking some distance.

"—ARGHHH!?"

Then I follow up with a right hook aiming at his solar plexus.

"…guard."

BAM!

"Oww…!"

W-What on earth did I hit on his stomach…!? It felt like a diamond…!

"That's— that's the same technique you used to block Dómr's paw!"

"Hmm? That was quicker than I expected. Alright, you could stop now." He said calmly while healing his broken finger.

"You… aren't angry that I broke your finger…?"

"Why should I? It's normal for the weaker side to go all out and use cheap tricks. Besides, that's just how your father and I exchanged our training."

Cheap tricks, huh. It felt like an insult for some reason.

"You have been friends with dad that long…?"

"Hmm… not really." He unmindfully avoided this topic. "But a friend's trust isn't decided by the amount of time they knew each other, isn't it?"

"Just like how Felix, Asha, and Pearl trusted me…?"

"That's not for me to answer." He replied. "Because they are the ones who believes in you."

"…………"

…It doesn't matter anymore. As long as they would be friends with Restia and Ruby…

"Anyways, maybe you heard it from Raphael many times but I'm still going to say it— your body is in a terrible mess, brat." He muttered.

"I know."

"There are lots of different energy swirling inside you, almost indistinguishable from each other. That mass of energies is constantly clashing against each other. That energy is so enormous that it's impossible for your body to contain it."

"I know."

"That's why that incomplete seal that was placed on you. It supresses your clashing energy, delaying the breakdown on your body. But because of that, your mana was sealed and you can't grasp vitality energy."

"I know."

"There's a limit on how much you could improve on physical strength through gravity training with that body of yours. It means you are completely and utterly hopeless."

"Can you tell me something that I do not know?"

"That's a lie, actually."

"What…!?"

I was stunned.

That expression on his face was like, 'gotcha!'

"There's still hope in me…?" I inadvertently murmured.

"That's right, brat. Hope, is the right word." He told me with a grin. "You see, there's such a power called the 'Force of Will'."

I was surprised once more.

It was that!?

"Then didn't I already learn it…?"

"Nonsense. You only learn basics of it— that's what the 'Basic of Fighting' is for. It is to help you develop your 'Force of Will'."

"Then how exactly does this 'Force of Will' works…? Dad only demonstrated once."

"'Force of Will', as the name goes— it is a power that acts depending on your resolve and determination. It could be split into three categories— Will of 'Presence', 'Cladding' and 'Essence'. Though, I know you've seen it before, but nevertheless— it's better for me to explain with my own demonstration."

After I saw Principal raised his hands and clapped...

CLAP.

…my world immediately envelopes into darkness.

This is magic…?

Eh…? Eh!?

I speak, but there's no voice— or rather, there's no sound. I can't even hear my breathing and my heartbeat.

Earlier, I could smell the shampoo's fragrance that I had on my body— but now I couldn't.

…All four of my senses are completely stripped away.

All that's left was my sense of touch; at least, I could still tell that I'm standing on the floor.

Ow…!?

Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain coming from the back of my head.

He hit me on the head!?

Then this means he's already into training for 'Presence'.

I need to find him in this complete darkness.

Reacting to it, I swayed my hand— but I hit nothing.

… It's difficult when I can't rely on my eyes and ears.

Here…!

Turning to who knows where, I threw a straight punch.

"!"

I felt an impact.

Seconds after that impact, that darkness surrounding me vanished in an instant.

My senses returned to me.

God, the light is intense…

As soon as my iris adjusted to the light— about a few meters away, I saw Principal lying on the ground with a painful look.

"G-G-G… Gahack…!"

It's not exaggerating to say that he's almost on the verge of dying.

"What's wrong!? Did I hit your balls for real!?" I asked.

"H-How could you… find me so quickly!?"

"I don't know." I replied. "For a moment there I felt something."

"Y-Y-You bastard…!"

"Why are you angry all of the sudden!?" I protested.

"G-Guh— Remedium…!" (Cure…!)

It took him a few moments to recover until he could sit properly.

"Damn it— your punch completely ignored my multi-layered defensive magic barrier and landed on my solar plexus!"

"Well, yeah, sorry." I apologized.

But he doesn't seem satisfied with it— as soon as he recovered, he grabbed me on my shirt and glared at me.

"You stupid brat! Did you learn it from your dad before!?" He yelled while shaking me violently.

"What— it's obvious that I didn't. What's more, my dad only demonstrated it once." I replied.

It's surprising that he suddenly squatted down and placed his hands on his head, looking vexed.

"That can't be— that can't be that can't be that can't be…!"

Those murmurs felt like he's cursing me.

"Erm…"

"YOU FREAKING GENIUS!!!" He suddenly screamed. "DAMN IT ALL I HATED PRODIGIES!!!"

"What's wrong with you!? Get a hold of yourself…!"

Following the flow, I continuously slapped him on the face, just like my mom always did when dad's thoughts drifted to another dimension.

"Hmm…? Ow— hey— stop it already…!"

"What's wrong with you!? I thought you are cursing me for a moment there…!"

"Sigh… my bad." He muttered, while casting a healing spell on his cheeks. "It's just that, my bad habit from the old days returned for a moment."

"You mean that cursing…?"

"No! It's just— it took me three days to truly grasp the 'Presence Sensing'…! Your dad learnt it within a day, and you just learnt it within minutes!"

"I did…? Whoa— hey!?"

I suddenly saw an image of my face punched by the Principal, which I immediately took a step back— which I saw his fist just right in front of me.

"W-What's with the sudden punch…!?"

My guard is still up, just in case he's going to kick.

"Crap— you even learn 'Foresight' and 'Anticipation'." He muttered.

"No, wait— what was that punch just now!? I didn't feel the presence of your punch at all…!"

"That, brat— is called a silent fist. If you could sense a presence, then of course, it is possible to erase your own presence to remain undetected. When I throw a punch, I erased the presence of my arm— this is called 'Presence Erase'."

"What about 'Foresight' and 'Anticipation'?"

"Before I throw my silent fist— you saw an image of my fist smashing your face, right?"

I nodded.

"And after you dodged it, you took a guard against a kick instead of another silent fist. Why is that?" He added.

I'm not too sure of my answer.

"… it's because your leg had a presence to attack?"

"Bingo." He grinned. "' Anticipation' is meant to deal against normal attacks while 'Foresight' is meant to deal against presence erasing attacks. Of course, if there's a way to erase your presence, then there's a way to amplify it as well. As such…"

"…!"

Like waves of a tsunami, fear gushed all over my body— sending terrifying chills on my spine.

After a moment later, he waved his hand to check on me.

"Hmm…? You are still standing…?"

"Yeah… it surprised me."

It totally did.

"Surprised you?" He raised his right brow, as if he's saying, 'That's it?' "Geez… your willpower sure is terrifying tough."

"What was that…?"

"'Intimidation'. You amplify your presence in order to prevail over opponents. Any weak-willed person would've fainted over this technique easily."

"Even if I could withstand it, but my body couldn't move."

"Indeed, not only knock out, but it also provides the ability to stun others for seconds as well. To break free from that, you need to win over that 'Intimidation' with your 'Fighting Spirit'."

"…!"

Once again, I felt a cold chill running my spine.

That bastard— he's doing it again…!

"Grk…!"

TAP.

When I knew it, I already took a step forward.

"My… Well done." He said to me. "Now, on to the next one…"

"'Will of Presence' may be convenient, but is it possible for me to dodge bullets as well…?" I interrupted.

"It's possible, only if your reaction speed is fast enough to keep up with a bullet."

"Ow…!"

He flicked my head with his middle finger.

"See? If you can't even react to a simple finger flick— then there's no way you could dodge a bullet."

"If I can't dodge, then can't I guard it just like how you guard against my fist earlier? You even used the same method to guard for several times. It's like you are wearing an invisible suit of armour."

"That's the 'Will of Cladding'. In my case, you could call it 'Will of Defensive Cladding', or 'Defensive Cladding' in short. Now then, try punching me again—"

BAM!

"—without hesitation…!?" He uttered while receiving my punch.

"…!?"

When my punch landed on his abdomen, the impact felt entirely different compared to the last time.

If the last time felt like a hard diamond, then, this time, it felt elastic, like a jelly.

"Grk…!?"

Which then, the power I sent was rebounded back to me, twofold of it.

My arm may be numb, but that power is not even enough to even strain it.

"What you felt from the first time is 'Hard Defensive Cladding', while this is 'Soft Defensive Cladding'."

"…No wonder, so that's how you repelled Dómr's paw. But why do you require my katana— is that for 'Offensive Cladding'…?"

"Man, aren't you quick to pick up the pace… There's indeed 'Offensive Cladding', but you are wrong— 'Defensive Cladding' can be cladded on weapons to make it tougher. When comparing to your body, wouldn't you prefer something that could guard without inflicted with pain?"

"…Makes sense."

"As for 'Offensive Cladding'— while it may be helpful to sharpen your attacks and sort, it doesn't help to toughen up the durability of your weapon. For example…"

Principal then cast his magic storage and pulled out a katana from it.

“Lapis murum.” (Stone wall.)

As soon as he summoned a stone wall— he sliced off the upper part of the stone wall from a distance.

"Once cladded with 'Offensive Cladding', it's possible for your sword to cut from a distance— like a flying slash that some skilled modern swordsman could do. However, that's not the only use of it."

He summoned two exact same-looking stone walls in front of him.

BAM!

He throws a straight punch on the first one.

BAM!

Then, the second one— with the exact same punch as the first one.

It seems like a regular punch without any boost or techniques, yet the difference is obvious. The first stone wall had a hole punctured cleanly on the centre, while the second stone wall crumbled.

"Depending on how you cladded it, your attack may have a different effect."

That's all he demonstrated.

"…That's it?" I asked.

"What do you mean that's it?"

"I mean— if you could defend or attack, isn't it possible to self-recover or counter as well…?"

"……!?"

He was entirely surprised.

"…Well, well. I never thought of that before." He murmured. "Looks like my trip here isn't all that boring after all…!"

"And didn't you say there are three categories? What happened to 'Essence'?"

"Meh, don't bother about that. It can't be trained or strengthened."

"…I don't get it. What exactly is 'Essence'?"

"'Essence' is something like the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something that determines its character— to simplify it, it means 'Who you really are'. In your case, because of 'Who you really are', those magical beasts are attracted to you and willingly to serve under you."

"Then if it's just something as simple as that, why is it a power?"

"Because this is a power to let others trust you. When you are at a loss, this will be the power that allows those who trusts you to lend you a hand."

"In other word… friends— ow!?"

He knocked me on the head with the sheathed katana.

"Don't be a smartass, brat. Family and friends are not the only thing you could trust."

Saying that, he intended to stroke my head— but I slapped it away.

"…Only my family are allowed to do that." I told him.

Hearing that, he retreated his hand, seeming sentimental for some reason. Looks like he misses his family.

"So… do you want to learn it? The 'Force of Will'."

"Nope. Why would I even need to learn it anyway? There's no point to do so since I'm stuck on this island anyway."

I would probably die here.

"Huh…? Who says you would be stuck here forever?"

"—eh."

I was dumbfounded.

"B-But doesn't magic work on me…?"

"I didn't say anything about magic either. All you need is a plane; don't you think so?"

"Are you nuts? Are you telling me you intend to storm into this island with a plane?! How could it possibly survive!?"

"That is, for the current technologies we have on Central Imperial Island. I'm sure it would only take less than six years for an aircraft with that specs to complete. By then, you are going to join the academy that me, your father and some of our friends founded— Imperial Knights Academy." He declared.

"HUFF— HUFF—"

When I heard that over-familiar panting sound, I immediately look at the door.

"R… Restia…!?"

S-She made it back— in just that short time…!?

Not good. She looks dizzy— is it mana deficiency…?

"Wow… that was quick. You really learn fast like your mother— GEH!?"

Before Principal could finish, Restia suddenly appeared in front of him— with a kick landed on his face.

I couldn't believe my eyes.

"Warp magic!?" I inadvertently uttered.

As soon as I said that, Principal was sent flying to the wall with that kick.

He accepted that blow just like that…!? Why didn't he guard it with his 'Will of Cladding'…?

"…!"

Restia then switched her target— me.

I knew she would be angry, but I didn't imagine her developing her nature just like mom— after all, this is the first time she was this furious. At this point, she wouldn't listen to anything until I'm able to stop her, just like dad.

Restia is forcefully using her depleted mana… I need to stop her before she's in danger.

Just when I reached out my hand, trying to press Restia down— she warped behind me, performing a low sweep.

As soon as I dodged by taking a leap, I felt a presence approaching from behind with a terrifying speed.

I immediately retreated by skipping to the right.

"NYAA…!"

It perfectly dodges Ruby's claw, which sliced down on my left.

I betrayed Ruby's trust in me twice in a row now.

When I thought it will be over, Restia then follows up with a straight punch— however, as I intend to dodge, I realize that punch was a feint.

"…Guard."

Which then, I raised my arms to cross-guard against her kick.

BAM!

"K… Guh…!"

When I knew it, Restia flew back from the recoil and crashed on the floor.

…That should do it.

"Guh……!"

She's on the verge to vomit, but she can't— because her stomach is empty.

"Calm down, Restia…!"

"YOU PROMISED YOU WOULD NEVER LEAVE ME!!! YOU LIAR— GUH—"

"…!"

It's 'Foresight'— Ruby from behind.

"NYAA…!?"

Before her claw could cut me, I avoided by squatting down— by the time she's above me, I grab her arm and swing her down gently.

"W… Why…? Why did master do such a cruel thing…? Hic—!"

Ruby has been crying. I don't know how long she had been doing so. The way Ruby looks at me felt like that she'd lose all hope in the world.

She wants to resist, but I stopped her from doing so.

My chest felt so tight, so painful.

But even so, I steeled my heart, raising my left arm.

"Sorry, Ruby."

W-WHACK!!!

Just before Restia could crawl back up again— Principal knocks her out on her carotid pulse while I knock out on Ruby's.

"Hah…" I heaved a sigh.

It would take a whole lot more time for them to calm down.

The emotion I'm feeling now is way worse than I thought.

“Now, now. Don’t feel sad. What’s done already done.” He said, while carrying Restia on his arms. “For now, let’s take them upstairs and let them rest. They did an amazing feat just to teleport all the way back here from a faraway country.”