Chapter 7 – Hidden Progress
The morning light filtered through the estate windows, spilling across the polished floors with a golden glow. Harsh awoke before anyone else, as was his habit. Even now, at seven, he was already attuned to the subtle hum of ambient magical energy that surrounded the Gremory estate. Most children would have laughed or played with such sensations—but to Harsh, it was a map, a puzzle, and a guide all at once.
He rose quietly, moving to the courtyard where the system had silently prepared a new sequence of exercises. Energy compression, precision strikes, elemental interplay… today, I'll combine them all, he thought. The interface in his mind was hidden, invisible to anyone else, giving him knowledge no ordinary devil could match.
Rias arrived shortly after, her bright crimson hair bouncing with her usual energy. Sona followed, calm and composed as ever. Both girls were early risers, eager to train with their childhood friend—but they had no idea the hidden advantage he carried.
"Morning, Harsh!" Rias called cheerfully, her excitement evident.
"Morning," he said casually, smiling. Outwardly, he appeared relaxed, even playful—but inside, his mind was already analyzing patterns, testing variations, and calculating efficiencies.
Their morning sparring began. Harsh moved fluidly, blending his minor elemental attacks with dodges and counters, predicting Rias' sweeping arcs and Sona's precise, measured strikes. To the girls, he simply seemed talented and clever—but each movement was guided by the system, running invisible simulations faster than their eyes could follow.
Predictive combat efficiency… 35% now. Mana output stable. Elemental fusion improving.
He suppressed a grin. No one could suspect that each dodge, each counter, was calculated, refined, and logged in real-time. To Rias and Sona, it was instinct. To him, it was mastery in the making.
After sparring, Harsh retreated to the balcony, watching leaves dance in the morning breeze. He practiced meditation and mana flow control, silently pushing his abilities further. Small sparks of fire and wind danced along his fingertips, harmless but precise. No one saw them. The sparks were as much a test as they were training, a personal benchmark of progress.
Rias leaned on the railing beside him. "You've been quiet this morning. Thinking about something?"
"Just… observing," Harsh replied lightly. "There's always something to notice."
Sona tilted her head, her gaze calm but discerning. "Observation is good, but don't lose yourself in it."
Harsh's lips curled into a small, secretive smile. No one knows… and they never will. Every movement, every thought, every spark of energy—my advantage grows, unseen.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Harsh cataloged the day in his mind. Every dodge, every subtle adjustment, every reaction from Rias and Sona was stored, analyzed, and filed silently. He even noted patterns in their energy usage, predicting how they might react in future situations—all while appearing to be just a talented child.
Cheesepiece progress… 9%. Bond with allies improving. Skills advancing. Everything is on track.
As night fell, he lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, fingers twitching as tiny sparks of energy danced along his skin, completely hidden from view.
The coming-of-age ceremony is approaching. I'll be ready… and no one will see it coming. Not Rias. Not Sona. Not anyone.
With that thought, he closed his eyes, already planning tomorrow's secret training session.
Every day, invisible progress… every day, closer to mastery.