After handing Reinhard the bag of gold coins, she stared at him with a strange disapproval. Turning her head, she began to leave the room, but called loudly over her shoulder:
"When I return from this assignment, I expect your full attention for my lessons."
"Lessons?" he echoed.
"Yes. We'll be going over basic knowledge, etiquette, and combat." She skipped out of the dark room, bouncing lightly on the balls of her feet, clearly excited at the thought. Swinging the heavy bag of coins in one hand like it was nothing, she looked genuinely thrilled at the idea of teaching him.
He could only watch her happily disappear around the corner.
He was fine with learning combat and even basic knowledge—but etiquette? Really? If it was anything like those sleazy royal etiquette segments from TV back in his world, he wasn't exactly thrilled about it. Still, he remembered she had some kind of Divine Protection related to teaching… but could that really make etiquette fun?
Actually, at this point, it might be faster to list which Divine Protections she didn't have.
It was then that a sharp stomp shook the floor, followed by a loud whooshing sound. The room vibrated, and the nearby candle nearly toppled over, wobbling back and forth like a pendulum trying to regain balance. Toyota, unsure what had just happened, quickly stabilized the candle—fire hazards in a place full of people weren't something to ignore.
He blew out the tiny flame and peeked outside the door to see what had caused the noise. The hallway looked normal at first glance—until something caught his eye.
A single boot print was indented into the wooden floor, with smoke rising from the edges of the impression. The sheer amount of friction it must have taken to leave that mark made his jaw slacken.
Yeah… that was definitely Reinhard.
At this point, he really shouldn't be surprised by her absurdities—or ever question her strength again. The fact that she hadn't accidentally destroyed the mansion just by casually ripping off door handles or shattering plates with her grip spoke volumes about her self-control.
His gaze shifted to the sleeping woman lying in front of him, Luanna Astrea. There had to be a way to cure her—whether it was dragon's blood or some unknown ability. If he got strong enough, it should be possible. With Reinhard's swordsmanship now as one of his traits, he was already a high-level threat compared to the average knight. If he could find a way to infuse that with magic, that would take things to another level.
"If I can form constructs, why not try making a basic sword?"
Walking down the hallway and entering his new room, he sat cross-legged on the bed and closed his eyes, trying to feel his mana. What he lacked was both quantity and control. Spreading his mana into both hands, he attempted something different from what he'd tried before: using vita in both palms, increasing the weight and density of his mana.
He could feel the mass of the mana molecules increasing.
"If I can use this effect outside my body—similar to Minia—and expel the mana outward with force, I should theoretically be able to make a concussive blast."
He attempted to expel the mana from his body, but the moment it left his palms, his control weakened. Trying to produce a repulsion in the air, he expected to at least see a ripple or feel wind pressure—but nothing happened. No visible or tangible phenomenon.
"What's so different…?"
Standing up, he grabbed a thick book he'd found earlier and set it up vertically on the bedside table like a domino. Holding out his hand beside it, he tried again to create the repulsive force.
There was something this time.
The book didn't topple over, but its pages rustled, as if disturbed by a breeze. It was a sign—small, but definite.
What if the issue was that the longer he took to use the mana he released, the quicker it settled to the ground? That would mean he needed to release it instantly—and simultaneously increase its mass—shooting it like a Minia projectile, just without any defined form.
Straightening the book again, he gathered mana into his palm and forcefully released it, simultaneously increasing its mass. With a soft thud, the book tipped over, pushed lightly by what felt like a gust of air from his outstretched hand. He grinned.
If I can use this ability throughout my whole body at a strong enough output… I could be completely projectile-proof. No one would be able to touch me.
The only noticeable flaw was that the range was extremely limited—less than a foot. But if he used it on the soles of his feet while running, he could artificially increase his movement speed and generate his own momentum. The applications filled his mind like wildfire.
Vita: Increases gravity. (Mastery Level: 3) — NEW
It increased his proficiency. That confirmed he was on the right track. If repulsion worked, why not try the exact opposite?
"Let's try it on my whole body all at once," he muttered, exuding his mana evenly throughout every inch of his form. Simultaneously, he increased its mass. A strange sensation washed over him—as if he were submerged underwater. When he tried to move, everything felt sluggish, like he was pushing against resistance.
Keeping the effect on everything except his hand, he slowly reached toward his own chest. As his hand neared, he could feel a faint repulsion effect, but it was extremely weak. He was still able to touch his own skin easily, like pressing two opposing magnets together with physical force. With a disappointed sigh, he let the effect fade from his body.
"I can tell the difference... this is similar to Nen in Hunter x Hunter," he mused. "So if I focus all of the repulsion force on just a single finger, the effect should be multiplied."
Forming a finger gun, he set up the fallen book as a test target. Focusing all his mana into the tip of his finger, he aimed in a direct line toward the book's center. A small grin tugged at his lips.
"Fire."
The book instantly shot backward with much more force than when he'd used his entire hand, flying nearly across the entire room. But despite the successful result, Toyota grimaced in pain. A sharp, needle-like sting pulsed through his finger—likely a consequence of concentrating and releasing so much mana at a single point.
Still… a success.
He set up the book again. His goal this time: make it fly into his hand.
Activating Murak, he reversed the effect—using suction instead of repulsion. By making the mana molecules lighter and expelling them outward, he unintentionally created a miniature vacuum. Instead of pulling the book gently into his hand, the suction flung the cover open and sent the pages into chaos, as if a gust of wind had slammed it open from the opposite side.
Instead of drawing it to him smoothly, the vacuum had nearly torn the book apart by ripping pages.
Realizing the damage, panic set in. He quickly stopped the effect and rushed to fix the book, carefully unbending the warped pages and putting it back where he found it. Attraction requires way more precision… much more than repulsion.
Still, the fact remained—he had just performed weak, close-range telekinesis. What was once a dream now felt startlingly real.
Murak: Decreases gravity. (Mastery Level: 3) — NEW
Now that he had access to basic gravity-type spells, Toyota wanted to try creating a sword—but he didn't have the foggiest idea where to start. It was derived from Minia, right? So how was he supposed to continue?
He decided to try altering a Minia projectile.
Summoning his usual pink construct, the familiar 2.5-foot chonky projectile materialized in front of him, disintegrating backward into the air like pink dust gathering in reverse. As it floated before him, he noticed something strange—it seemed to be absorbing mana directly from the atmosphere, not from him. That explained why it could be summoned externally and didn't require direct contact.
Interesting.
Reaching out, he managed to grab the floating construct. Then, focusing, he infused his own mana into it. The moment he did, it began to change. Like an infectious disease, the purple hue of his mana crawled up the length of the pink shape, staining it dark with an eerie glow. It now gave off a stronger, more ominous presence.
Ignoring the vibe, he began refining the shape. His mana carved into the projectile, peeling away the unnecessary bulk and slowly molding it into the form of a blade. He added a simple oval guard and adjusted the handle, refining its shape for better grip and comfort.
Strangely, the handle felt... soft?
He blinked. That had to be his imagination.
Once complete, he let go. The weapon hovered steadily in the air, though he still had to feed it mana to keep it from dissolving. Stepping back to admire his work, Toyota was impressed.
The weapon was a double-edged longsword with an oval guard. The handle and edges gleamed with a dark purple hue, while the rest of the blade shimmered pink. Sure, the color scheme was feminine—but it still looked badass as hell.
He reached out and gave it a test swing. The movement was fluid, filled with power—and yet, the air made no sound.
It was as if the sword had never even been swung.
Creation of Rudimentary Constructs (Mastery Level: 2) — NEW
A loud thud erupted from behind him, making Toyota flinch hard as he inhaled sharply, clutching his chest. The sword in his hand instantly crumbled into powder, which vanished into the air within moments.
Behind him stood Reinhard, breathing like she'd just gone for a light jog, her eyes gleaming with an eager intensity—as if she were expecting a reward.
"My lord, I've just hired some of the best intelligence gatherers in the country," she said, practically vibrating with excitement. "They promised they'll have the information we need within three days or less."
Still trying to catch his breath, Toyota glared at her while massaging his chest. "Don't scare me like that again. I'll have a heart attack."
A flash of guilt crossed her face. She bowed deeply, clearly distressed. "I apologize. That wasn't my intention. I simply assumed you'd want to hear the news immediately."
That was too fast. Could she have rushed back so quickly due to her internal fear of failure with Felt?
"Well... you're not wrong," he admitted, his tone softening. His expression quickly shifted from scolding to that of an excited child. "Wanna see something cool I just figured out?"
"Of course, my lord." She smiled, watching him with an expression that could only be described as proud—so much so that any bystander might seriously question their relationship.
But once again, she'd called him "my lord." And it felt... off.
"Can you not call me that?" he asked, rubbing the back of his neck. "It just feels weird."
Tilting her head, she blinked. "What's so strange about it?"
"Well… it's like me calling you 'my knight' all the time." He shrugged. "It's a little too formal."
The moment he said that, her eyes lit up with an intense, obsessive gleam that made Toyota internally panic.
"Wouldn't it be more comfortable to just use each other's names?" he continued quickly. "Like, instead of calling you Reinhard... how about I call you Rei?"
Internally, every time he said "Reinhard," he couldn't help but picture the male version. Having a different nickname just made everything easier.
The suggestion hit her like a lightning bolt. Rei. The word echoed in her mind, awakening a strange, new warmth in her chest. She wanted to accept it immediately—but she had to act composed. She put on a forced mask of calm, trying to hide the shaking in her voice.
"You can call me whatever you wish."
Toyota, misinterpreting the tremor in her tone, raised a brow. "Oh... if you really don't like it, I can think of something el—"
"No! I like it. Please refer to me as Rei," she blurted out, eyes intense.
He blinked, a bit startled by her sudden insistence. "Okay, Rei it is."
As soon as he agreed, a soft smile spread across her face. A new warmth bloomed in her chest. Rei. She liked the sound of it—especially from him.
"What would you like me to call you, then?" she asked gently.
"Toyota. Or Crimson. Old man Rom calls me Crim."
The name Rom rang a bell. Reinhard furrowed her brows. She'd heard that name recently—but when?
"Can I call you... Lord Crim?" she asked hesitantly.
"Uhh, could you maybe leave out the 'lord'—?"
He stopped when she looked down at him with those massive, glistening, radiant blue puppy-dog eyes.
He sighed in defeat. "...Yeah, sure you can call me that." Remembering what he was about to show her, a prideful grin returned to Toyota's face as he resummoned the projectile. Grabbing it confidently, he dyed it with his purple mana. Thanks to his earlier experience, the process was now much faster—he formed the mana sword in just eight seconds.
Running a finger lightly along its edge to test the sharpness, he noticed something new: with Karma's reserve active, the projectile's size had increased. Without it, he probably would've only been able to make something the size of a machete.
Watching the newly forged sword, Rei offered appropriate praise. "That is very impressive—to be able to form mana constructs with such precision. And you're using yin-type magic without a contracted spirit? That's rare magic. As expected of Lord Crim."
Hearing her praise made his metaphorical ego inflate like a balloon. This... this is what friendship was supposed to feel like. Supportive. The more time he spent around her, the less he thought of her like some character from a story—she was undeniably real now in his mind.
"Do you want to hold it?" he asked, holding the sword out toward her, handle-first.
She took a sudden step back and shook her head. "I wouldn't want to destroy your sword."
"What? Why? I can just make another."
Hearing that, she hesitated for a split second—then abruptly reached out and took the sword.
To Toyota's shock, the weapon began to dissolve the moment it touched her skin. But it didn't fall apart like before—it was absorbed. He stared, confused. Was this some kind of Divine Protection?
Rei, meanwhile, was focused on the sensation. As the purple-dyed portions of the sword began to break down, a rush of power surged through her, followed by an unfamiliar jolt of pleasure. The mana—it was unbelievably pure.
Toyota watched in stunned silence, until she noticed his expression and hurried to explain.
"I was born with a broken gate," she began, calmly. "But unlike most broken gates—those that become completely dysfunctional due to overuse—mine is different. I can gather mana, and I can imbue it into my body or sword, increasing power and destructiveness. It happens automatically to any mana in the surrounding atmosphere."
She paused, looking a bit sheepish. "Normally I can control it. But when I directly touch a construct made of pure mana—not elemental magic—I absorb it. I'm sorry for destroying your sword. Please forgive me."
Toyota, still absorbing what she'd said, came to a realization.
So that's another reason she's the strongest. It's not just her bloodline or swordsmanship—she was literally born different.
"You don't need to apologize, Rei," he said with a small smile. "Like I said—I can easily make another."
The bright smile returned to her face, lighting up her expression—until something seemed to click in her mind.
"We need to start your education as soon as possible," she said, her tone suddenly more serious. "We can return to construct forming in your free time. I need to prepare you with the little time I have left."
At that, any trace of brightness on Toyota's face visibly dimmed.
"Great. More preparing," he muttered, his voice completely devoid of enthusiasm.
Completely missing the sarcasm, Rei's smile grew even more delighted.
"I know, right? Let's go!"
Before he could protest, she grabbed his wrist and began dragging him out of the bedroom like an excited tour guide on a mission.
(AN: In the Vol 0 chap, it has all his stats and abilities along with the scale if you want a reminder or recap. I've been thinking of some checks and balances to keep him from becoming too powerful with Rei on his side, and after some reflection, it is very difficult. We now have an OP knight as a Pokémon. We will reach the action soon, just wait.
I've set an official release schedule: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Although when I get bored, I add extra.
Bonus chapters will drop on Saturdays if my demands are met. 🔫
Trade deal:
You give me 50 power stones, and I give you a bonus chapter.
Sounds fair, right?)