Sir Hero, It’s Time to Train!

“Oh dear, did such a thing happen? Ha, ha-ha.”

The middle-aged man with a gentle demeanor in front of Christian and Aira managed to hold back his laughter.

Although he appeared to have a robust build befitting his warm impression, his body was surprisingly well-balanced with a mix of fat and muscle.

The first impression one would get of this man, Viscount Derin Lyndon, was undoubtedly that of a ‘farmer’.

With a straw hat, worn-out work clothes, and tanned skin from the sun, one would hardly guess he was a noble if encountered outdoors.

“First, let me change my attire, and then I’ll hear the rest of your story. Please wait a moment.”

After smiling warmly, Viscount Derin went to change in his bedroom. Soon, he returned wearing clothes that appeared lavish and expensive.

Yet, the typical authoritative air of a noble was still hard to spot on him.

‘But he seems to be an excellent lord after all.’

In the fields, he mingled with his people by dressing like them so as not to make anyone feel uncomfortable.

However, when meeting other nobles, he presented himself accordingly. One could say it was an embodiment of a noble-like manner.

Christian and Aira followed Viscount Derin into the parlor. Servants quietly and respectfully placed aromatic tea in front of the viscount and the siblings before retreating.

“That boy, really. He’s just like his father. I always knew he’d cause some sort of trouble eventually.”

“But if you think about it, wasn’t it Aira who caused the incident?”

“It takes two to tango. It’s hard to say who’s more at fault.”

Viscount Derin said while sipping tea from an expensive teacup with his rough hands.

Considering the fact that children from another family he had invited as guests to his home quarreled as they pleased, it could have been seen as an affront to the Derin family.

However, he didn’t seem too perturbed.

“I apologize. I should have stopped it, but I was hasty.”

Christian bowed his head slightly, and by his side, Aira pouted her lips and bowed cautiously.

“I’m sorry, Viscount Derin.”

“Ha-ha…”

At the siblings’ apology, Viscount Derin looked surprised, opening his eyes wide.

“You two have changed a lot, I see. I had heard about it, but seeing it firsthand, it’s indeed a nice sight.”

“Ah, yes…”

Viscount Derin appeared like a grandfather meeting his grandchildren for the first time.

Although he was at the age where he was transitioning from middle-aged to elderly, he was the oldest among the family heads of the Rangar region.

“Alright, alright. Even if you fight, try not to make it too big.”

Though it sounded like he was talking to Caedwin and Aira, it felt more like advice directed at Christian and Aira.

The Viscount Derin was likely aware of the heir structure within the Worden County, and he seemed concerned whether such competition would lead to discord in the Rangar region if it were to escalate.

“You needn’t worry. Fights are mere childish antics from our younger days, aren’t they? As we age and understand each other’s lives, we share drinks and reminisce about those days, eventually becoming friends.”

“Exactly. As you fight, you develop affection and learn to understand each other better.”

Christian and Viscount Derin seemed to get along well, and Aira made a sulking face at their camaraderie.

But that didn’t deter Viscount Derin, who seemed to be in good spirits, as he slowly began speaking.

“That reminds me, I received contact from Count Worden, and if it’s alright, may I ask you for a favor?”

“A favor? What kind of favor…”

“Well, you see, since we’ll be sending correspondence to the capital regarding affairs of the estate anyway, I was hoping you could accompany them.”

They already had accompanying parties like Liber Cotra and Caedwin Humbleton. The Derin family was merely offering their place as the final stop before they left the Rangar region.

“I see. I don’t mind, but…”

Sensing the underlying meaning behind Viscount Derin’s smile, Christian spoke with a wry smile.

“Are you thinking of sending Miss Sonya along?”

“Indeed. With the heirs of Cotra and Humbleton going, we can’t be missing, can we? It’s also a good look.”

Three out of the four core families of the Rangar region would be traveling together.

As the head of the Derin family, which played a critical role, he couldn’t just leave his family out when the heirs of three families were moving together.

Christian understood that sentiment.

“I would have liked to send my eldest, but since they’re already in the capital…”

“It’s all right. We’ll have Sonya accompany us.”

“Thank you. I will prepare well so that there are no inconveniences on the way.”

In truth, refusing wasn’t much of an option, and it was hard to reject when he asked with such a pleasant smile.

While it didn’t particularly matter, it could still be uncomfortable, so Christian sneaked a glance at Aira’s reaction. Aira didn’t seem particularly displeased either.

‘Well, Sonya’s matters will be handled by Liber Cotra anyway.’

From the brief observation of Sonya sticking to Liber, it didn’t seem that she would pay attention to or bother them.

“So, when are you planning to depart? I think it would be nice to take a tour of the estate tomorrow after resting today and tomorrow.”

“We plan to leave tomorrow morning at the latest, Viscount.”

“What? Tomorrow morning? But you arrived this afternoon?”

Viscount Derin had received reports before coming to the mansion.

He was astonished when he heard they had arrived on foot and was even more surprised when they greeted him in good health.

Having once wielded a sword and trained his mana, though now more focused on estate management and agriculture, he still had keen eyes.

Indeed, he had developed a sharp eye for assessing the human body, physical forms.

Hence, the siblings’ well-trained bodies garnered an unusual amount of trust.

Hearing their incredible feats, he felt like capturing them and learning the secret of their physiques to share with his people.

Still, hearing that they intended to leave without resting for a full day seemed out of the ordinary for hosts receiving guests, prompting Viscount Derin to speak quickly.

“Please, do not overexert yourselves. Although time is tight, I will provide you with the best and sturdiest horses and carriages. So, feel free to rest for a few days.”

“Thank you for your offer, Viscount. However, there are tasks to complete on the way, so we must depart promptly.”

“Is that so? Then there’s no helping it. In that case, at least have a good rest this evening. I’ll cancel the welcome banquet plans.”

His words were genuine, not sarcastic.

A welcoming banquet wouldn’t suit those leaving the following morning, and with his daughter, Sonya, preparing to depart as well, Viscount Derin was busy.

“Well, then, please take your rest. I’ve detained you for far too long,” said Viscount Derin as he got up, mirrored by Christian and Aira.

He left them in the care of a servant to guide them, hoping they would indeed rest well.

As Viscount Derin saw them off, Aira, following the servant’s lead, asked Christian, “Why the rush? We could rest a bit before leaving.”

“Rest is something we can do en route. No need to do it here.”

“You didn’t let us rest at all!”

“That can’t be true. I let you rest 10 minutes every 3 hours, with food and drink.”

“And how’s that rest?!”

Christian looked at her with a blank expression as if asking why she was making a fuss. Aira felt too wronged to speak.

Even with her visible frustration, Christian remained indifferent.

“Running for 3 hours with a 10-minute rest? It’s paradise, pure paradise. Back in my day, we weren’t allowed a single drop of water for 24 hours straight because rest supposedly came after death.”

“When exactly was that? And who put you through such madness?”

“That was the gracious teaching of my master.”

“… I’m going to ask Father, no, mother, to dismiss Dame Laura when we return home.”

Oh, that can’t happen. It wasn’t that master.

It would bother him if the wrong teacher got dismissed.

Besides, seeing Aira so full of discontent made him feel a bit soft-hearted.

In his past life, he would have kicked her up and told her to stop whining, but it seemed he didn’t want to adopt such harsh methods, as Christian spoke with an indulgent expression.

“Alright. Then when we get to the capital, let’s rest as you wish for a bit. Just hang in there until then.”

“Ugh…”

Even though it was essentially Christian declaring there’d be no proper rest until they arrived, his promise of a sweet rest afterward was tempting enough for Aira to relent.

Although she felt irked by the feeling of slowly becoming conditioned, she couldn’t resist.

“How, how many days?”

“Hmm, hm, hmmm.”

“Is it really something to ponder so much about?”

Seeing Christian ponder as if at a monumental crossroad made Aira laugh in disbelief.

Finally making up his mind, Christian turned to her with determination and said, “A week.”

“A-a week?! Really?!”

“Yes. After the hardship comes genuine reward. That way, you won’t utter nonsense or complaints along the way.”

“Ha, what nonsense! If you’re lying, I won’t let you off! You know we have relatives here, right? I’ll immediately tell them everything!”

“… We also have relatives in the capital, don’t we?”

There was a palpable determination in her voice not to forgive him if he lied.

Feeling the firmness of her resolve, Christian nodded with a sigh, and only then did Aira smile broadly, clenching her fists in relief.

‘She’s so simple. Seeing that, it’s totally like master.’

Honestly, while it was encouraging to see some original traits of her master emerging, it also felt slightly foreboding.

Such a simplistic and brute manner reminded Christian of terrifying memories from his past life’s rigorous training.

‘I have to raise her well. She mustn’t inherit my master’s personality.’

He wanted to believe that such a brutish personality was not innate but developed later in life, perhaps due to the hardships and adversities faced after running away.

So he would trust in it.

His master, the current Aira, surely would change.

… At least, her personality must change.