"…Ahem. Lady Speda. For now, you're the more senior one here."
"I'm aware."
"Hmm. Perhaps it would be best if we also clarified how we address each other?"
"Forms of address? Lady Parnell, is there something else you wish to be called?"
"N-no… it's nothing…."
After the sparring match ended, during the break.
Listening to their exchange, I nearly burst out laughing from the bubbling amusement rising in my chest.
'Not just in battle, their personalities clash too.'
Reisia, who politely tried to close the distance step by step.
Luciana, who treated her coldly and formally, pushing her away.
Would Reisia ever be able to form a solid academic bond with Luciana?
'Well, that's their business.'
"You've both worked hard. Here, have some."
"Hm. Cold water?"
"Thank you."
"Well then, Lady Luciana, how was it? Do you feel this duel helped you at all?"
Of course I had to evaluate.
If unsatisfactory, I'd need to find a replacement sparring partner.
"…Ahem. I taught her with all my heart, but whether she accepts it is another matter. I hope you'll consider that I set aside all else to be here."
Reisia's polite words carried a veiled protest about promises not being kept.
But I was unmoved.
"Well, if the student doesn't feel it, then it's meaningless in my view."
In the end, it depended on Luciana's satisfaction.
Both pairs of eyes turned toward her.
"Ah… Lady Parnell was very precise in her pointers. Above all, crossing blades like this… it feels like I'm grasping something."
"…It's been only one day, hasn't it?"
No skill could be mastered overnight.
In the original story, characters gained techniques only after long anguish and training.
Luciana's response to my doubt was absurd.
"Is there a problem with that?"
While I was momentarily dumbfounded by her retort, Reisia, eager to form ties, cut in.
"As expected of Lady Speda. It's famous in high society—how you mastered Northern Swordsmanship in just one day of training."
"…That's nothing unusual."
"Oh, but you should be proud! I heard you first took up a sword at age ten. How could mastering a style in a single day at that age not be extraordinary?"
Tch. Truly, a genius.
She was my favorite character, yet her talent was so overwhelming it stirred jealousy.
"Hehe. Once I forge my own swordsmanship, you'll be the first I wish to show it to."
"…Really. To so casually declare you want to overwhelm your feeble attendant in a duel—most nobles would consider it a virtue to cherish their retainers, not oppress them."
Words that could easily sound arrogant.
Naturally, Reisia's face soured immediately.
"You, as an attendant, how dare you—"
"Hehe, I won't deny it. But are you any ordinary subordinate?"
To Luciana, though, it wasn't arrogance but playfulness.
"You've already defeated me several times, and still you speak so shamelessly."
"My apologies."
"It's fine. Our matches are always enjoyable and refreshing—you've earned the right. I forgive you."
Was it the training ground lights?
Or her anticipation for another duel with me?
Her sapphire-like blue eyes sparkled brighter than ever.
"Have you rested enough, Lady Parnell?"
"Eh? Ah—yes, of course."
"Then let us spar again. While the sensation is fresh, I'd like to engrain it."
…Indeed, Luciana was a genius.
One who coupled talent with effort, flawless in every way.
'Tch. With expectations that high, living up to them won't be easy.'
But not impossible.
She said every match with me was fresh.
To keep that freshness, I too would need new weapons.
Watching Luciana's sword bounce off my shield,
I steadied the mana within me—
for tonight's lesson with Batory.
"…Haa."
"Why do you sigh the moment you arrive?"
"No, it's nothing. You summoned me at night, and I worried what for. It seems it was needless concern."
Twisting the golden strands that had slipped by her ear, Batory heaved sigh after sigh.
"So, you wish to discuss magic?"
"Exactly."
"You follow my teachings well enough, though."
Batory raised a hand to her chin as though weighing her words.
"In terms of elemental and combat magic… you lack talent. But in support magic, you show some promise."
A generous evaluation from the Great Mage.
But for me, it wasn't enough.
"I'm a greedy sort, you see."
"…And what is it this time?"
Batory didn't bother to hide her exasperation.
I simply grinned.
"After all, among those around me, only you, Lady Batory, seem to know about Unique Magic. So I came to seek your guidance on it."
At that moment, a new light flickered in her wine-red eyes.
"Unique Magic?"
As if doubting how a fledgling mage dared say such things.
Her tilted head betrayed the suspicion clearly.
"Am I being premature?"
"…No, not that. Rather, it surprises me that the so-called King of Doppelgängers still has no Unique Magic."
Unique Magic wasn't something just anyone could wield.
Still, Batory had a tendency to overestimate me.
'Though yes, it is a bit shameful, as the representative of a whole race, to lack it.'
A surprisingly sharp point.
'Frost Mane… are you truly the King of Doppelgängers?'
If suspicion turned to doubt, she might devour me.
I scrambled for an excuse.
"Ugh… that's exactly the problem. I am Frost Mane, but I'm also Hans Byron."
Unique Magic, Unique Technique—
they were born of one's identity, the culmination of a character's traits.
"Usually Unique Magic begins with self-realization, doesn't it?"
"That's true."
"But I've lived under so many names and forms… I can't grasp what my 'Unique Magic' should be."
I scratched my head, feigning frustration.
Thankfully, she seemed to accept it; her suspicion softened into sympathy.
"Now that you mention it, I recall hearing that Doppelgängers—even nobles—sometimes fail to manifest Unique Magic due to identity confusion."
"…Yes, exactly."
…That had just been a bluff.
But apparently Doppelgängers really did suffer that very problem.
"A pitiable circumstance. Is it your race's limitation?"
"Limitation? Please say it's just a trait."
"Well, take heart. Even if so, you have a counterexample nearby."
"A counterexample?"
I tilted my head, not knowing what she meant.
"Why, among your loyal subordinates—one of your kind, the mage with antlers."
Loyal subordinate with antlers.
She meant Iskadel.
I'd never seen his full magic in action.
But considering Batory's words, and the fact that he'd fended off a divine archer, he surely had Unique Magic.
'Shall I check?'
As his cult leader, checking my follower's stats was as easy as a finger snap.
[Faith Management]
[Iskadel Byron]
[…]
[Unique Magic]
[Wendigo Epic]
[Imaginary World]
[…]
Imaginary World was beyond my reach, so I skipped it.
'As expected, the status window never lies.'
Just as I thought: a competent subordinate, Unique Magic and all.
I chuckled to myself.
'Come to think of it, he's been rather quiet since fighting the Divine Archer.'
The Sword Demon and the Beast Tamer had at least sent messages.
But Iskadel merely awaited orders—a true model of loyalty.
'Heh. Who's really worrying about whom here?'
Right now, my priority was my own growth.
The Doppelgänger limitation was something I'd fabricated—and even if it were true, it wouldn't apply to me as a human.
"Thank you for your hopeful advice. Now, could you give me some pointers regarding Unique Magic?"
"I sense your impatience. You are strong enough already. Why the rush?"
"Because Lady Luciana may soon awaken a Unique Technique. I can't afford to fall behind."
"Hooh…."
Blood vessels bulged across Batory's whites and brow.
I knew exactly why she reacted so.
'Ahem. Best prepare a gift before she sulks again.'
But before I could decide what to give—
"Unique Magic, hm. Haha! Frost Mane, I have just the training method for you."
She quickly masked her irritation with a bright smile.
"…Why do you smile so ominously?"
"Nothing at all. Just listen. A mage has a different path than the descendants of warriors."
Batory approached, carrying the fragrance of flowers, perhaps from perfume.
"Is there anything more effective than refining your mana, meditating, and contemplating yourself? You lack talent, so this is the way for you."
A training method guaranteed by the Great Mage—surely effective.
But there was a problem.
"Refining mana… you say?"
"Yes. Is there an issue? If you're in such a rush, drastic measures are needed."
Cold sweat trickled down my neck.
I remembered: advancing to the next stage of Hemocraft also required mana refinement.
"Haha… but isn't real combat as important as meditation? Perhaps we should call in Elizabeth or Liura for sparring instead—"
"You talk too much nonsense."
Snap!
Before I knew it, Batory had drawn close, maid uniform fluttering.
"Wait—!"
"This is the path you asked for. Don't refuse my help. I too wish to see you grow, for the descendant of the warrior. I'm cheering for you deep within my heart."
She gripped my wrist tightly.
Agony spread as if needles scraped through every vein.
"Urghhh…! Ghhhaaaahhh!"
"Stop exaggerating. To gain Unique Magic, you must reflect upon yourself—hear your true voice."
Through the pain-blurred vision, I glimpsed her smug smile, fangs bared.
"This training won't end in one session. The more you meditate, the more refined mana you'll need."
"Ghh… guh…."
"Well? Ready to continue?"
Hellish training didn't begin to describe it.
Even if lightning coursed through my veins, it couldn't hurt worse.
And this, multiple times?
"There's no time to dawdle. Every moment wasted, the refined mana dissipates. Will you give up?"
"…Tch. Of course not."
Hoarse from screaming, I sat cross-legged immediately.
Having tasted the pain once, I could endure again.
Compared to the importance of Unique Magic, this agony was nothing.
"Though… is there a less painful way…?"
After all, pain was still pain.
If there were an easier way, I'd gladly take it.
"Impossible. Endure it."
At her decree, I discovered my throat could still produce such unearthly cries.
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