Around noon.
"Is everyone gathered? It's a bit sudden, isn't it? You were probably all diligently training on your own."
I had summoned the promising talents I was nurturing to the training grounds. Naturally, Rena and Mia were present, and Hayes, who had recently awakened as a healer, had come as well. Only Isabelle was absent, as she was sleeping in her room. She had been up all night training by my side.
"Is this a mid-term check, Lord? During this time, I have been practicing very hard!" Rena confidently displayed her sword, which was tucked at her waist. This sword had been gifted to her by Rakis not long ago. Impressed by her rapid progress, he had given it to her as a congratulatory gift as her master.
"How is training under Sir Rakis, Rena?"
"It's excellent! My master is meticulously guiding me from A to Z. I regret not having such a master sooner," Rena exclaimed, her eyes burning with determination and zeal. She was like an unstoppable locomotive.
"Today, I'm going to teach you all a special method that can enhance your training speed. I think you're all at the level where you can grasp it now."
"Wow, Lord! Does this mean Mia can start learning magic too? I can already gather mana with my eyes closed using associative methods!" Mia was practically bouncing in excitement.
According to Hayes, Mia had been spending more than 12 hours a day reading magic-related books in the library within the lord's mansion. If there were difficult terms or content, she would even look them up in a dictionary, immersing herself wholeheartedly in her studies. I hadn't expected such passion, but Mia was focusing on magic beyond my imagination.
I tugged Mia forward slightly by holding her hand and placed an artifact, which I had kept in my pocket, into her palm.
"Wow? What is this?"
"It's an artifact! It's going to be very useful for your training, Mia."
"An artifact? Isn't this something really expensive?"
"It's fine. It's not that expensive. That's not something you need to worry about."
At the young age of 12, Mia was already awake to the concept of money, probably due to growing up poor with Merry. She always linked every conclusion to money. When I handed her the artifact, she twitched nervously, thinking it was something pricey.
"Wow, an artifact…"
"Mia, remember last week when we practiced the Magic Missile?"
"Yes, we practiced hard all week, but I just can't seem to condense the wind orb!"
Mia pouted in frustration, shouting out her dissatisfaction. It was a common hurdle anyone would face, but it was clear she found it irritating.
"This is an artifact that absorbs basic magic of the 1st class and below. It only absorbs from very close range, which is why it's not widely used. I mean, unless the opponent is a fool, who would use magic right in front of you?"
"Exactly! If I were a mage, I would target from as far away as possible! Like a predator stalking its prey quietly!"
"So it can't be used in combat, but for training, it's extremely useful! Mia, hold the artifact in your right hand and cast 'Magic Missile.'"
"Just the casting?"
"Yes, you aren't able to fully unleash it yet anyway. Just try casting it. That's fine."
"Alright!"
Barely after I finished speaking, Mia immediately cast 'Magic Missile.' Her focus was still lacking in detail, making complete spells difficult for her. However, she was able to temporarily gather the wind orb.
"How is it?"
"The Magic Missile orb was absorbed by the artifact as soon as it formed! And even though it's a very small amount, I can feel mana returning to me!"
"Bingo. So why do you think I gave you this artifact, Mia?"
"For repetitive… training?" Mia quickly grasped the purpose. Correct. It's for repetitive practice.
According to the system message, this artifact absorbs magic of the 1st class and below and returns one unit of mana to the user. In other words, the mana used and the mana recovered is equal, making it a source of unlimited power. Currently, Mia's mana stat is in single digits.
Attempting a 1st class magic spell a few times would often exhaust her mana, but with this artifact, the mana isn't consumed. As soon as one unit is used, another is immediately replenished. As long as she doesn't forget how to use the artifact or abandon her training, the infinite power will continue indefinitely.
"That's correct. From now on, you'll repeat casting and absorbing, over and over. Eventually, you'll gain insights into the 'Magic Missile' magic. Right now, it's unclear, but repeated practice often leads to great inspiration."
"Lord, you're amazing! An artifact that restores mana! Awesome! I'm so excited!" Mia was already dancing with glee.
"Go practice around the back."
"Yes, Lord! Thank you so much!" Mia headed towards the outskirts of the training grounds, her face full of a bright smile. Then, with a "Yap! Yap!" she was absorbed once more in practicing 'Magic Missile.'
"Next, Rena."
"Yes, Lord! I've been wanting to see you. You've been so busy lately…"
"That's true. I've been too busy to see you, but I've been keeping up with your news through Sir Rakis every day."
"Really?"
"I am everywhere and nowhere. There isn't a single piece of news in the territory that I overlook."
"Will you tell me the special method as well, like Mia?"
"Yes, follow me. There's something I want to show you. Hayes, do you want to watch too?"
"Yes! When you go somewhere, Lord, I will follow you without fail!"
Leading the way, I gestured for Rena and Hayes to follow. Enthusiastically shouting while she trained, Mia was so absorbed in her practice that she didn't notice us moving to another location. We soon arrived at the left corner of the training grounds. I pulled away a cloth that had been covering something.
It revealed a training apparatus I had been meticulously preparing for a month. I had crafted it by recalling memories from <Paradiso>.
"Wow, Lord! What exactly is this device? It has four pillars at the corners of a square, but I can't tell what it's for." Rena touched the pillars with wonder.
Each pillar was inscribed with symbols and words from the Nas Continent, symbolizing water, fire, air, and earth. These were magic attack devices. They were machinery that launched basic magic representing the power of the four elements. To create this device, all 25 magic stones I had taken from Deluc's trap were used.
"The power of the elements corresponding to the symbols is condensed and released. This is called basic magic, but there's no other name for it. It's slightly lower in level than 1st class magic."
"Oh…"
"The core of training with this device is one thing. Use all four devices while ensuring that the attributes don't overlap in sequence and must be 'twisted'."
I emphasized this point, particularly for Rena to understand. The reason for twisting the order is to maximize training efficiency. In <Paradiso>, this was known as the tanker bug training method.
The reason is, if you continue to practice defending against one type of elemental magic repeatedly, proficiency would increase in increments of 100, 80, 60, 50… and so on. To prevent repeated macro-style training, facing the same attribute consecutively resulted in less proficiency gain. However, if one practiced magically defending against rapidly changing attributes in a short period, the system perceived this as actual 'combat'. Thus, it lifted the restriction, treating it as a no-holds-barred actual battle situation.
This device was specialized for such deceptive magical training. I was the first user to develop this in <Paradiso>, and because of it, I made a considerable amount of money. Of course, soon after, similar enterprises started cropping up, and it became a fleeting business.
"I understand what you're saying."
"You were given a shield by Rakis not too long ago, right?"
"Yes. Because of your concern, I acquired a really great shield."
"Concerned? It's a cheap shield, so go ahead and use it however you like until it's worn out. Anyway, you will see four buttons in the center. Press them with your foot. Then corresponding magic orbs will be launched from the pillars to the center. Their killing power is quite low, so don't be afraid."
"Thank you so much, Lord!"
"If you're thankful, then start training right away. Continue until the day I tell you to stop."
"Yes, I will!"
The day I tell Rena to stop will be the day the system message alerts with [You have mastered the basics of Magic Defense]. The same applies to Mia. Until then, I would relentlessly drive both children. Smack, smack.
"Next is Hayes."
"Yes, Lord!"
Lastly was Hayes. To get to the conclusion, Hayes had awakened as a healer. But… that's it for now.
"It's still too much for you to heal people with your current abilities. Last time, you succeeded in drawing out divine power using an artifact, but your energy is still very unstable."
"That's true. What should I do? I really want to become the best healer by working hard in training!"
A healer is someone with healing abilities so extraordinary that they cannot be compared to even high priests, grand bishops, or great holy maidens. In terms of the healer concept, one could say it's the term for the top-tier healer. Across the entire Nas Continent, there were no more than five healers. They had to be exceptionally talented.
The frightening aspect was that Hayes had the two most crucial attributes for a healer: devotion and encouragement, with potential abilities rated S and A, respectively. In <Paradiso>, a named healer NPC – who even now, 10 years ago, is the best active healer – Medine had this special disposition. [Special Disposition: Devotion SSS / Encouragement SS / Holy Sacrifice A]
If pointed in the right direction, turning her words into reality was definitely no dream. That's because her special disposition, like level and stats, could grow and develop.
"But so far, you haven't tried using your healing abilities with 100% effort. You've clearly awakened, but something inside you is holding you back. You need a catalyst to overcome this. You said you couldn't find the answer on your own, right?"
Hayes nodded. Awakening abilities as a healer is harder than one might think. In games, simply choosing is enough, but in the real world, it requires something felt in both body and mind.
Having never thought about becoming a healer in her 23 years of life until now, it seemed that there were subconscious defense mechanisms or pessimism embedded within her. I decided to provide a shock therapy. Not a trick like I showed Isabelle or Mia or Rena, but a very straightforward and certain shock therapy. It's the type of conventional approach I dislike the most, yet it was a method she truly needed.
In the next moment. Shiing!
I pulled a dagger from my coat. And. I opened the palm of my other hand, opposite the one holding the dagger. Sssslash!
Without hesitation, I cut my palm deeply enough that the blood spurted onto my face. Without a second thought, I had self-harmed using my healing magic to mend the pain and wound, but right now, I had decided not to use any other power but hers.
"Lord! What on earth are you doing? You must quickly heal it with magic! Why would you suddenly cut your palm with a dagger?" Hayes' pupils were quivering intensely. She had a look of shock, as if she were half dazed.
"Heal it, this is something for you to resolve with your own hands. It might seem like a joke, but I'm afraid I'm being serious."
"Lord...!" Hayes cried.
I smirked despite the dire situation, as blood flowed abundantly and closed my eyes.
Nurturing promising talents!
Sometimes it requires the decisiveness to cut through blood and flesh swiftly like a blade.
I closed my eyes in silence.
Waiting for her transformation.