Chapter 29: Seats already selected

“Just because you say there’s nothing wrong doesn’t mean you’re free.”

Since the Silver Sabertus expedition, nothing significant had happened, but there was a lot to do.

With only a month left until the deadline I had promised, it was no surprise I was busy.

I had to build up my stamina, train my swordsmanship, and learn to control my mana.

In between, I also learned from Elaine how to handle special situations as a knight. It felt like a special privilege to

have a sitting captain of the guard give me private lessons.

“If I were the examiner, your score would be harshly evaluated.”

“That’s how our captain should be.”

Elaine had promised not to assist me with cheating during my exam, so this wasn’t cheating. It’s no different from a

teacher not teaching while also preparing the final exam questions.

Moreover, becoming a knight is an absolute evaluation, not a relative one.

Whether I did well or not didn’t affect the others’ success, so if you’re upset, just do well yourself.

Ah, of course, physical tests are a different matter, and there is a relative evaluation in those.

If you’re dissatisfied, I’ll share some novel knowledge, so go stab a dagger into Silver Sabertus’ eye and break the ice

of the Crystal Lake.

I had been diligently training my stamina, so my body was steadily growing stronger.

Swordsmanship was improving too, as I set three basic movements and practiced them, making progress easier.

Mana control, however, was a challenge.

“To sense mana… it’s definitely a place where beginners get stuck. Suddenly, you’re told to detect a special force in

the air, which is hard to comprehend. But for you, Luke, it might be easier.”

“Easier?”

“You can already control your body temperature with heat manipulation, right? You can make yourself warmer or cooler.”

“Well… I’ve never cooled down, but I’ve gotten hotter many times, especially when it’s cold, I raise my temperature.”

“Knowing how hot your body is and being able to adjust it to suit you is already a solid foundation.”

??

“Let’s approach it this way: people can tell where it’s hot and where it’s cool on their skin. You can distinguish

between hot and cold winds, right? So, try to differentiate the warmth or chill in the air, and erase familiar

sensations through elimination. Mana’s aura is much bigger than that, so once you sense a space, you’ll have a clue.”

Unlike Elaine, who was straightforward and practical, this explanation was long and theoretical, but since it was a

mage’s lecture, focusing deeper into mana than a knight would, it was easy to understand.

I now understood why the best instructors in the fantasy world compete so fiercely.

I hate to admit it to Elaine, but… in theory-based mana lessons, Sophia was better.

However, when Elaine asked how my lessons were going, I answered that they were going well, though she seemed

dissatisfied, so I couldn’t bring myself to say more.

Thanks to Sophia’s detailed yet simple lectures, I eventually learned to sense mana. While I hadn’t experienced any

major changes, the world where I could now sense mana felt truly amazing.

For one, I could now gauge the amount of mana someone had. This would make it easier to assess an enemy’s

strength in battle. Even with identical-looking items, I could tell which one contained mana as an artifact and which

was just an ordinary object. I’d also be able to spot whether an opponent had magical items or not.

If I progressed further, I’d be able to sense an enemy’s mana to read their attack paths, or, like Grace, exude killing

intent to threaten enemies.

I didn’t know this before, but a knight’s killing intent isn’t just about creating an atmosphere to invoke fear. It’s

actually a technique that uses mana in the air to exert pressure on the enemy’s body.

I wasn’t at that level yet, so I guess Elaine hadn’t taught me that.

I also shared my heat manipulation abilities with Sophia, except for the Salamander scales.

The firepower I could produce without Obsidian wasn’t remarkable, but Sophia was more interested in how I used

heat manipulation rather than its sheer power.

Though she had no interest in men, like a mage tower wizard, she was very fascinated by mysterious phenomena and

was proactive in engaging with me.

During this time, Sophia also performed a mana aptitude test for me.

“…Interesting.”

“What is?”

“Being told that your mana absorption and internal mana operation are excellent is impressive, but it’s also a bit

overwhelming.”

“Mana absorption ability, combined with how quickly you’ve managed to learn how to handle mana, clearly shows

your talent,” Sophia said, her voice filled with awe.

“Is that so?” I asked, trying to hide my surprise.

Sophia nodded, a knowing smile on her face. “Your mana absorption rate is exceptional. Even though you drank the

blue potion, it’s clear you have an innate talent. Most people are dulled by their environment, accustomed to the

mana they’ve been surrounded by since birth. But your absorption is smooth, like a newborn learning to perceive the

world.”

“Wow…”

I was taken a back by her analysis. In a way, it felt like she was getting closer to the truth about me, but I didn’t mind.

She continued her explanation.

“Your mana operation skills are also remarkable. You’ve only had this ability for a short time, yet you’ve already

grasped its usage, which is a sign of incredible aptitude.”

“Really?”

I couldn’t hide the curiosity in my voice. This felt strange, but hearing this made me feel proud, though a little self-conscious too.

“Do you adapt quickly to new situations, environments, or tools? Perhaps you’ve always been good at adjusting to

things around you?” Sophia asked, studying me carefully.

Adaptability… I thought. “I guess I’ve had to get used to a lot of things in my life. After all, I was dropped into this

strange world without any preparation.”

She nodded, acknowledging my answer. “That makes sense. Your adaptation skills clearly helped you master your

mana abilities so quickly. It’s like you just understand it, almost naturally.”

I was still processing this. It felt great to hear such praise, but at the same time, I was getting increasingly anxious

about the fact that Sophia might be learning too much about my true nature. If the truth came out, it would be

impossible to hide the fact that I had transferred into Luke’s body.

“Can I ask you something?” I said, hoping to shift the conversation.

“Of course,” she replied, her attention fully on me.

“Do you think I could use this ability to train further? I mean, how can I improve my control and get better with it?”

She gave me a thoughtful look, then smiled. “That’s exactly what we’re going to do next, isn’t it?”

Just then, Elaine entered the training ground. She was dressed lightly, clearly planning on training herself, but I

could tell there was another reason for her visit. Perhaps she just wanted to check on my progress.

She greeted both Sophia and me, but there was an unspoken tension between her and Sophia.

“Hello, Captain Elaine,” I said, nodding.

“Good afternoon, Sophia,” she replied, but her eyes briefly flicked to me with a bit of surprise.

“Well, it seems like you two are already on familiar terms?” Elaine said, a hint of disapproval in her tone. Her eyes

narrowed as she gave me a questioning glance. “Luke, you’re on first-name terms with Sophia now?”

Sophia responded with a soft chuckle. “We’re just getting to know each other better,” she said, clearly teasing Elaine.

“It’s not a big deal.”

Elaine’s cold stare didn’t soften, but I could tell her frustration was less about the formality and more about how our

relationship had progressed without her noticing.

I silently laughed, feeling a mix of embarrassment and amusement at how tangled my interactions were becoming.

“Is everything all right?” I asked, trying to break the tension. “Did you come for training?”

Elaine just nodded but continued to glare at Sophia, and I couldn’t help but wonder what her true feelings were

about Sophia’s interest in me.

‘It seems like Elaine might be jealous, though I don’t know why,’ I thought, though it didn’t make sense to me yet.

Moreover, since she had no interest in men whatsoever, she didn’t really make any effort to keep a distance when

interacting with them. After all, no one is shy around dogs or cats, right?

Sofia was simply a lesbian, not someone who hated men, so she was naturally affectionate toward animals.

‘Just comparing the smile I get with the one she gives Elaine shows the difference.’

Unfortunately, Elaine’s attention seemed to be focused on me, so she didn’t seem to notice Sofia’s smile.

Hmm… Saying it like this makes Sofia seem a bit pitiful. It feels like one of those unrequited love clichés.

Even though she’s a woman, she’s a rival, so I don’t feel any sympathy or pity at all.

“Please don’t hold it against Luke. We see each other often, so I don’t really like being formal. That’s why I asked to

be treated casually.”

“Even so…”

“Besides, I’m still in my twenties. Being called an elder already makes me feel old, don’t you think? It’s also

uncomfortable being treated like I’m higher up than my peers. I can’t help it in the Iceflower Tower, but now that

we’re away from the hierarchy of the tower, I just want to be a bit more comfortable.”

Sofia said that with a somewhat sorrowful expression.

It was obviously an act, but against Elaine, it would surely work.

From what I know, there’s barely any age difference between the two.

People, regardless of position, environment, or race, tend to feel a strange bond when they find out they’re the same

age.

If they’re of the same gender too, that bond only grows stronger.

“…………I understand. I’ll respect the elder’s wishes.”

In the end, Elaine backed down.

From the start, Sofia had the upper hand in their relationship, being a guest of the Northern Duke and the captain of the guards.

And since she was someone who clearly separated personal and professional matters, it was natural for her to

sympathize with Sofia, who wanted to live differently while staying at the Winter Palace compared to her time at the

Iceflower Tower.

“So, you can call me by my name when we’re not in front of others.”

“I don’t often see you, unlike Luke, and we’re not working together, so… But as the captain of the guards, if I treat the

elder of the Iceflower Tower too casually, it could create bad blood between our factions. So I hope you understand.”

“I see your point. Then, can we continue to act like this in public, but when it’s just the two of us, can you treat me

more casually?”

“Hm…”

“I don’t have any friends in the Iceflower Tower. People my age are intimidated by my status, and those who are the

same level as me are all middle-aged or older. So, I actually like you and Luke more. I’ve always wanted to speak

comfortably with people around my age. Like friends.”

Wow. Even though Elaine had already set her boundaries, Sofia’s advance was relentless.

She really has a way with words, just like when she was teaching.

In such a short amount of time, she managed to create empathy, invoke sympathy, respect the other’s wishes, and

even drag me into the mix. I want to clap for her.

It’s a good thing Sofia has magical talent; if she had gone down a more illicit path, she could’ve become a major

headache.

Elaine, clearly bombarded by Sofia’s words, groaned in discomfort.

Though her mind told her to maintain boundaries, her heart seemed torn by sympathy for Sofia’s position.

‘That can’t happen.’

If Sofia genuinely wanted to be friends, I would have helped foster that bond and supported their warm atmosphere.

But…

Look at those eyes. There’s something sinister about them. She’s filled with thoughts of getting closer, starting from

friendship.

“Uh, Sofia?”

“Yes?”

“Our captain is not only the leader of the guards but also a model for the entire Northern Army. The discipline and

order of the Northern Army can be traced back to our captain. So, treating you too casually might not just be an issue

between the captain and me, but it could also affect the entire Northern Army’s image.”

“So, you want me to treat you casually only when it’s just the two of us? Would that be difficult?”

“Sometimes, when people get too close, they might slip up in front of others, right? Even if you do ninety-nine things

right, one mistake can be more damaging.”

“I see, that’s a valid point. Thanks for letting me know.”

Sofia nodded in acknowledgment of my reasoning.

Her true goal was to become closer than friends with Elaine, and that was what I had pointed out.

“So, when we’re not on guard duty, would it be okay to treat me casually, just like this?”

Sofia made one final attempt, but I could tell I had already pushed this as far as I could. I looked at Elaine.

Elaine’s expression softened slightly, and after a moment of thought, she finally gave in.

“Yes, that should be fine.”

“Thank you!”

Sofia beamed with a bright smile of triumph.

I couldn’t help but laugh at her, finding the whole situation ridiculous.

It seemed like she was already planning to catch Elaine on her next day off.

‘The seat has already been taken.’

Elaine’s next day off was already pre-arranged. The one after that too.

If Sofia wanted to book a seat now, all I could say was:

There’s currently a high demand for seats. Please wait a moment, and you’ll be automatically connected in the next

phase.

You are currently second in the queue, with an estimated wait time of 100 years.

Sorry.