[7:00 pm]
The world is not so easy that Colt will be able to live a colourful life without doing shit. Right now, it was the afternoon; the sun is about to set but still, Colt still run around the training grounds.
He had finished forty-laps and only ten more to go. Neun kept watch of Colt's running and nodded his head.
"Ha~! Ha~!"
Mina was watching from the side, worried of Colt but also smitten by his figure that is drenched in sweat She was silently anxious and also enamoured by his serious expression. Mana silently floated up to her hands as she tried doing something.
"Darling..." She whispered but then, Neun moved his hands in front of Mina.
"Please, do not interfere, the young master decided to do this for your sake Young Lady Mina so please let him be without using any magic. Heal will dissipate his tiredness but it will also make him incapable of getting used to being tired so please understand that all of this is for him."
Mina heard Neun's words of 'for your sake' and stood there, daze at Colt's dashing yet pathetic figure.
Colt continued running for another hour and finally completed the rest of the thing. Now that he is finished with his 'stretching', the act of actual training shall start.
Right now, stretching is what Colt had been doing and real training will come after he finishing the fifty lap running. And as he plopped to the ground, wheezing to catch his breath and trying to endure the burning sensation on his lungs, Colt looked at Neun and asked:
"So, what's next?"
"The next part of the training is going to be the most important of all swordsmanship — footwork."
This is the second day of Colt's training day. And if yesterday Neun spoke of running being the week-long thing; he meant that for a week the training will become exceedingly more rigorous than the day before until the seventh day comes and "real training" begins. And as for the week-long running, that's the only thing that will not change for the week.
It was confusing even Colt.
"Here, Darling."
"Ah, thank you."
Having been handed a towel by Mina, Colt wiped his face clean of dirt and sweat as he listened to Neun speak without pause.
"Footwork is the most important part of swordsmanship, training your footwork now while you're tired is the aptest time. Destroy your legs multiple times and then reconstruct it; that way, even when are tired after fighting for three days straight, even when your foot goes numb, you'll be able to move and decisively dispatch an enemy."
"Is that really true?"
"Hehehe, do not worry, I have tried it before. Now, please start, after this Young Lady Mina will be taking care of you so do not worry."
The second part of the training has begun. Destroying and reconstruction, Colt had heard of that phrase millions of times from different sources. Considering how it is also used in real life, he believes that it is true and not some useless rambling.
But, he is in doubt about the other thing Neun spoke of. Fighting while numb, he's pretty sure that's some fantasy mumbo jumbo. But still, this world is not earth, after all, so the chances of it being true are rather high.
"I'll show you how it is done first, then, you will do it on your own after. Ready? Okay, I shall start the explanation, the name of this footwork or movement arts is Water Ripples. When trained to its full extent, you will even be able to tread on water, only leaving a single ripple in a tranquil lake! There are five steps in the Water Ripple, this is the first step..."
Neun placed his right leg in front of him, his body straight and as if he was just going to take a step forward, he suddenly disappeared from where he stood and the next thing Colt knew, he was already nowhere to be found.
"Piercing Droplet, that is its name."
Colt turned to his right, around twenty meters away was Neun, looking at him with a smile. Colt couldn't see it properly, Neun's movement was too fast, leaving him with a gaping mouth.
Neun continued to speak.
"Moving straight, like a water droplet uniting with a larger body of water; it is a quick step and if I use it to its fullest, I can move a hundred meters in a single step! Also, this step is used when you wish to attack and swiftly kill your enemy."
Colt's mouth was opened wide, he looked at Neun in reverence and he quickly got up. He looked at Neun and smiled, before saying.
"Can you repeat your instructions? I didn't get it."
Night came to pass, Colt's training lasted until ten in the evening then he collapsed and needed to be dragged back inside his room where Mina took care of him. He was also healed by Mina to relieve him some of his fatigue.
And before Mina left Colt's room, she rummages through his stuff, and that night, some of the more intimate clothing of Colt went missing as Mina left the room.
As for what she intends to use those for, no one knows.
The next day!
"My daughter, are you sure you're going to stay here? Do you not wish to be with your father?"
"Worry not, father for this daughter of your wishes to spend some more time with my beloved. I shall return to the capital in two weeks when the time to attend the academy arrives. My Darling and I shall go there together." No one argued when Mina said Darling nor did anyone cringe.
Everyone accepted it.
"Okay, if that is your decision."
It was finally time for Marquis to leave after receiving an immediate summon, but despite the sad farewells of father and daughter, the atmosphere was light.
After saying some fluffy words to Mina, Liron looked sternly at Colt.
Pat!
Liron placed his hands on Colt and looked into his eyes.
"I shall leave her in your care..."
Liron then pulled Colt in his embrace and whispered something only the two of them could hear.
"I have seen your effort to change...but I also know your past, try not to hurt my daughter or I'll give you a visit even if I am at war...okay?"
Colt felt his spine tingle, he now doubts if Marquis Liron had some association to the original's death in the novel.
The Marquis separated with Colt and flashed a wide smile as if he said no threat earlier.
He moved over to Count Shickly who, he too pulled close to him and hugged. He whispered something to Count Shickly and the two turned to Colt with a wide grin plastered on their battle-hardened mug.
It was unnerving for Colt. And he didn't even know what they are talking about, he just wished he won't get killed.
The Marquis finally left, and an hour later, Mina and Colt decided to take a stroll outside the city.
They had the coachman take them to a bakery and bought a cake before heading to the orphanage.
Mina held a beaming smile and Colt felt his heart is about to burst.
'I'm a father...'
A new kind of pressure is adding to his many stress.