A few days passed.
Swordsmanship training continued during that time.
It wasn't anything grandiose.
Lloyd still ran laps around the training grounds, over and over.
In between, he learned how to grip the sword, basic stances, and footwork.
It was training focused on solid fundamentals.
But Lloyd never complained once.
He didn't protest for powerful techniques or ask for practical combat tricks.
He simply devoted himself silently to the training.
Haviel, the one teaching him, was astonished every day.
The household staff at the baron's mansion were just as shocked.
"Young Master only trained again today?"
"That's right. Didn't complain once. From morning till evening, all day long."
"Goodness. Day after day, turning into a wreck like that..."
"Yeah. I couldn't believe it even watching."
"Me too. Doesn't this make no sense?"
"Make no sense?"
"Hmm, could Young Master be sick or something?"
"Sick? What do you mean?"
"Like a mental illness."
"So you're saying he's gone mad?"
"Yes, exactly. He seems a bit crazy."
"...That actually makes some sense."
Conversations like that went back and forth among the maids.
Meanwhile, the mansion guards often wore suspicious expressions too.
"Why's Young Master Lloyd acting like that lately?"
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"He just seems off. Don't you think? Have you seen that guy drinking lately?"
"Huh, come to think of it, no?"
"Right?"
"Yeah. Now that you mention it, I don't think I've seen him drink in at least half a month."
"Whoa, creepy."
"Why?"
"I'm getting this ridiculous thought that actually makes sense."
"What is it?"
"What if Lloyd's doing drugs on the sly?"
"Drugs?"
"Yeah, drugs."
"What kind of drugs?"
"What kind? Drugs, man. Narcotics."
"What?"
"Shh. Keep it down. A guy who used to crave booze every day suddenly quits cold turkey. And now he's training diligently all day? What else but drugs?"
"Come on... talk sense."
"Why not? I heard some drugs make you hyper-focus on one thing obsessively. Maybe that's it, and he's training all day because of that."
"..."
"See? Admit it. How else does trash like him train that hard?"
"Uh, um, shut up, man."
"Why?"
"Behind you, behind."
"...Behind? ...Oh, uh, good day, Madam!"
The guards chatting at the mansion's main gate hurriedly bowed their heads.
Baroness Marbeia Frontera appeared behind them with an elegant smile.
"You've had a hard day today as well."
"Oh, no, not at all."
"Could you pass this towel to my son when his training ends?"
"Of course, Madam."
"Thank you. Must get boring on duty."
"Pardon?"
"Enjoyable conversation is a fine way to ease boredom. Just keep the topics appropriate. He's my son, after all."
"...We'll keep that in mind."
Such exchanges happened often.
The maids thought he'd lost his mind.
The guards figured he was on drugs.
The baron and his wife watched with eyes full of joy and worry.
Lloyd's training progressed smoothly in the meantime.
Haviel's amazement continued as well.
'He's like a completely different person.'
It was training from morning till evening.
Training that bordered on hellish.
Running all day, even rolling on the ground.
Swinging the sword in the same stance endlessly.
His palms blistered and shredded.
'And yet he doesn't complain at all. Far from it—he's enjoying it.'
At first, Haviel wondered how long that enthusiasm would last.
But now his thinking had changed.
He was starting to worry about injuries instead.
Lloyd's zeal was too intense.
Haviel had to stay alert every moment, watching the training. Then, at precise intervals, he'd stop Lloyd and force a break.
'Can a person change this much?'
The wastrel who craved booze daily.
The drunken trash who caused scenes.
That figure was nowhere to be seen now.
'And those bizarre stories he recites every night.'
Thanks to them, Haviel was enjoying proper sleep for the first time in ages.
Concrete this, stress that.
Bending moments whatever.
Definitely not magic spells.
He fell asleep too fast to remember properly.
From what he recalled, it seemed like academic lectures.
Yet their power(?) rivaled sleeping pills.
He just had to sit comfortably in the chair.
A few phrases in, his consciousness faded.
Deep sleep came unbidden.
At this point, it was beyond astonishing—verging on mystical.
Haviel quietly furrowed his brow.
'What is that man's true nature?'
The past brute.
The current string of surprises.
The gap was too vast for simple redemption.
He almost wanted to believe another soul had entered wastrel Lloyd's body.
'Of course, such nonsense is impossible.'
He shook his head.
Lloyd was approaching on his thirtieth lap around the training grounds.
"Stop there, Lord Lloyd."
"Hoo, haa, already? I can keep going."
"I know."
"Then why?"
"It's time to move to the next phase of training."
"Next phase?"
"Mana sensing training."
"Oho."
Lloyd's lips curved up.
The moment he'd been waiting for had arrived.
'Honestly, the basics were getting boring.'
He'd run till he dropped.
Devoted himself without a peep.
His stamina had improved noticeably.
His complexion cleared, vitality filled his body.
Even waking in the morning felt invigorated.
Plus, his consistent effort earned a good amount of RP.
'More than I thought. Already at 97 RP.'
In those few days, favorability with Haviel rose by an extra 1.
That netted 18 RP.
Favorability with Baron Frontera rose by 2 for 20 RP, and with the baroness by 3 for 30 RP.
Lloyd was gradually grasping the RP system.
'RP from Haviel seems 18 per favorability point. From the baron couple, 10 per point? So characters provide different RP amounts.'
Likely tied to their importance in the novel.
That was Lloyd's guess.
'Then prioritize raising favorability with Haviel. Though the baron couple is a bit unexpected.'
By novel weight, they weren't major.
Strictly speaking, early extras.
Yet they gave over half of Haviel's RP.
Maybe hidden roles yet to be revealed.
'Anyway, finally mana sensing training.'
It felt fresh.
Exciting too.
'To beat Sir Neumann, I need to start mana cultivation now at latest.'
About half a month till the duel.
Starting cultivation now wouldn't form a Mana Heart in half a month, of course.
Mana Heart formation took immense time.
Untalented: over 10 years.
Average: around 5 years.
Prodigy: about 2 years.
Century's genius: minimum 6 months.
Even under expert guidance, that's the timeline.
'But Haviel formed his in a single day. Solo, no less.'
What a monster.
As he thought that, Haviel's words sank in.
"Don't expect to form a Mana Heart right away just because we start mana sensing. Take it one step at a time. Even so, sensing training alone will gradually enhance your physical abilities."
Haviel's instruction continued.
"Have a seat here, then."
"Like this?"
"Yes. Relax. Drop your shoulders."
"Like this?"
"Yes. Now I'll inject a bit of mana into your body."
"What do I do?"
"Nothing. Just close your eyes and feel the path of the mana I control."
"Like meditative breathing or something?"
"What's meditative breathing?"
"It exists. Let's start."
"Understood."
Lloyd closed his eyes. Relaxed. Let go of tension.
Then Haviel's palm touched his back.
Unlike his refined noble looks, the calluses—thick as alligator hide—pressed vividly against his back.
A cool, clear energy seeped in.
Sssszz...
"..."
This was mana.
Strange, unfamiliar sensation.
Mana passed through skin and muscle.
Seeping like water into tissue.
Down through organs.
Settled below the navel.
The so-called dantian.
The mana clump U-turned there.
Entered the spine like highway on-ramp.
Rose slowly along it, stimulating nerves.
Up the nape, over the crown, wrapped the face descending.
Reached the chest, finally enwrapping the heart.
Thump, thump!
Heartbeat sounded vividly.
Muscles contracting after expansion.
Vigorously sucking in, pumping out blood.
Mana merged into the flow.
Entered the heart naturally.
Spread his energy through the body.
A sense of total clarity.
Lloyd stayed like that a while longer before opening his eyes.
"How was it?"
Haviel's voice came clearer than before.
Not just that.
The training grounds in view.
Clouds drifting in the sky.
Everything sharper.
If before was standard HD, now the world upgraded to full HD instantly.
Even the wind on his skin felt more vivid.
Just one mana sensing session.
All senses slightly enhanced.
Lloyd turned.
Haviel wore a faintly proud expression.
Lloyd grinned back.
First mana sensing experience.
His honest impression, straight to Haviel.
"Lame."
"...Pardon?"
"Totally lame."
"..."
A crack formed in Haviel's proud face.
But Lloyd stayed cool as steel.
"No real difference from what I expected."
"Didn't you feel the mana moving inside?"
"Oh, that? Yeah, I did."
"Lord Lloyd, that's proof of resonating with mana. Your senses should be keener now."
"Oh, this? You're bragging over this much?"
"Lord Lloyd."
Haviel's gaze sharpened toward him.
A chill crept into his voice.
"This isn't something to dismiss as 'just this much.' That's how it is."
"Mana sensing training?"
"Yes. You're under a grave misconception right now."
"Misconception? What kind?"
"Excessive expectations, for one."
"Against myself?"
"Exactly."
Haviel's reply grew sharper.
"You won't suddenly get noticeably stronger or superhuman from one sensing session. Quite the opposite. Steady steps are key for Mana Heart formation. You can't fill your belly with one bite. You know that if you have any common sense."
"Yeah. Of course I do."
"Then why are you throwing a tantrum?"
"Tantrum? Me?"
"Yes. Are you anxious about the duel with Sir Neumann approaching? But that fight was impossible from the start. Sir Neumann is no weakling. He's a knight at the threshold of Sword Expert."
"I know. Low-grade Sword Expert. Not someone I can beat easily. Not with just half a month of ordinary cultivation, anyway."
"...Pardon?"
Haviel, who'd been icy throughout, finally faltered.
Lloyd eyed him meaningfully.
"You think I'm whining and acting up?"
"Well, naturally..."
"Gonna keep playing dumb?"
"I don't follow."
"Come on, Haviel Asrahan. You think I'd pick you out of nowhere to teach me swordsmanship for nothing? Or that I'd challenge Sir Neumann after half a month of basic cultivation like some idiot?"
"Well, of course..."
"Let's be honest. You have a secret cultivation method stashed away, beyond this ordinary stuff, right?"
"..."
As expected.
Haviel was terrible at lying, as always.
'Way too obvious.'
He couldn't hold back a chuckle.
So he let out a smirk.
"Should I say it outright? The Asrahan Heart Method. Teach me that. Still gonna deny it?"
"..."
Haviel's eyes went wide.
Asrahan Heart Method.
In the novel *Iron-Blooded Knight*, it was the supreme cultivation art Haviel created—the one that made him history's first Grand Master.
(End of Chapter 12)
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