ATP 18

Chapter 18

“Gift!”

The moment I selected the option, a message that only I could see appeared.

[<System> You have gifted ‘Prinz Rodellein’ the Job Change Package (Combat) – ‘Aura Master’s Energy’ and ‘Blessing of Rapid Growth’.]

[<System> Aura is an ability that can only awaken after training the body to the toughness of steel and mastering at least one type of weapon technique.
To assist with awakening, the ‘Aura Master’s Energy’ package consists of three parts: ‘Aura Awakening Quest,’ ‘Physical Training,’ and ‘Weapon Training’.]

It was quite different from the divine power job-change quest I had received. Unlike magic or divine power—where awakening the ability itself was the first step—Aura was closer to the final stage of swordsmanship, so it made sense.

[<System> ‘Prinz Rodellein’ has learned Strong Body Lv.1 through ‘Physical Training’.]

[<System> ‘Prinz Rodellein’ has learned ‘Basic Wooden Swordsmanship Lv.1’ through ‘Weapon Training’. If the main weapon changes, the weapon technique will automatically change as well.]

[<System> A conditional quest to awaken Aura has appeared for ‘Prinz Rodellein’.]

[<Quest> “If you want to become an Aura Master, you should become a Sword Master first!”]

• Achieve Strong Body Lv.50 (1/50)

• Achieve Weapon Technique Lv.50 (1/50)

Current main weapon: Wooden Sword
Sub-weapon: None

[<System> ‘Blessing of Rapid Growth’ has been applied to ‘Prinz Rodellein’. Skill proficiency will be gained at double speed.]

“Hmm?”

Prinz’s shoulders suddenly stiffened.

The change wasn’t as obvious as what had happened with the skeletons, but it seemed like he felt something.

“I invested eleven million cash in this, so you’d better work hard.”

“Huh?”

“And stop getting beaten up all the time.”

“Uh… o-okay.”

After finishing my reminder, I jumped to my feet.

“Ai, where are you going?”

“Suddenly I got some inspiration for alchemy, so I need to go cook.”

“Huh? Your inspiration is about alchemy, but you’re going to cook?”

“This time I’m going to make a tasty energy supplement. I just thought of recipes for pasta flavor and steak flavor. I have to make them before the inspiration disappears!”

“Oh… that actually sounds really good.”

“When it’s finished, I’ll let you taste it first. Just rest for now.”

“N-no, I should go check on the young master again. I wonder if the sword lesson is already over… I kind of want to hold the wooden sword again.”

Seeing the faint spark of motivation in him, it didn’t seem like my eleven million cash would go to waste.

“See you later, Oppa.”

“Yeah, Ai.”

✠

One week after the day Romdio beat Prinz half to death under the excuse of “practical training.”

Something had changed since that day.

The person who felt it the most clearly was Romdio.

“Y-you bastard! Haaah… haaah! Why are you getting better and better at dodging?!”

“Uh… I think I’m doing the same as usual. Maybe… you’re just tired, Young Master?”

“Grrr! Don’t talk back so calmly! Haaah!”

The swordsmanship instructor had decided to keep his training policy, strengthening safety measures instead. Wooden sword sparring continued regularly.

But Romdio could no longer bask in the fantasy of becoming the strongest knight on the continent like before.

For some reason, the instructor always chose Prinz as his sparring opponent.

Grinding his teeth, Romdio charged and brought his wooden sword down in a vertical slash.

Just like before, Prinz lightly raised his wooden sword to block.

But then—

SMACK!

Romdio’s wooden sword flew out of his hand, and a sharp pain exploded in his wrist.

“AAARGH!”

“Ah! Young Master!”

“Y-you bastard! Y-you attacked me?! H-how! How dare you—!”

“I-I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to attack… I didn’t think you’d bounce back by yourself…”

“W-what the hell did you just say?!”

Romdio felt like his insides would burst.

But Prinz wasn’t lying.

In fact, a message that Romdio couldn’t see had appeared just moments ago.

[<System> Congratulations! Strong Body Lv.5 achieved. Weak attacks from minor opponents will now automatically counterattack.]

[<System> Congratulations! Wooden Swordsmanship Lv.4 achieved. You can now beat a worthless noble brat like laundry.]

Is it just my imagination…? My body feels different.

Even Prinz was beginning to notice it.

“Alright, that’s enough for today!”

The swordsmanship instructor—short blond hair and a catfish-like mustache—approached and kindly reviewed the day’s lesson.

However, his attention was not directed at Romdio.

“Ahh, Prinz! You’re improving day by day! When blocking attacks, just remember to bend your knees slightly and use your arm rather than only your wrist!”

“Thank you for the advice, Viscount.”

“Haha, no need for thanks. Watching your growth has become my greatest joy lately!”

Romdio exploded in anger at the heartwarming scene.

“Hey! Viscount Carmel! Whose instructor are you?!”

“Haha, my apologies, Young Master. It’s just that I rarely meet a student who might become an unparalleled genius—and who also has such an excellent learning attitude!”

The sword instructor, Viscount Carmel, treated Prinz warmly—very unlike someone who had once stood by and allowed him to be beaten.

To be fair, he had his own excuses.

At the time, he had been forced to teach Romdio Gilette—an incompetent troublemaker everyone avoided because he was just a branch-family retainer.

So he had given up and let things run their course.

And then the incident happened.

But thanks to that event, he had discovered a pearl hidden in the mud, and now his passion as an educator burned fiercely.

Maybe I can raise an Aura user too!

Feeling somewhat guilty, Carmel wanted to treat Prinz better.

Leaning closer so Romdio couldn’t hear, he whispered.

“Prinz, if you ever run into difficulties while practicing, you’re welcome to visit me anytime. You know where my residence is, right?”

“My lord, I’m merely a servant. You don’t need to go that far…”

“Ah, ‘my lord’ sounds so distant. When it’s just the two of us, you can call me Master.”

A student this talented needed to be claimed as a disciple before some sly bastard snatched him away.

Prinz’s ears turned red as he politely replied.

“T-thank you… even just for saying that.”

“Oh, I’m not saying it lightly.”

Viscount Carmel had once been quite famous himself.

Back when the Gilette family was renowned as a house of swordsmanship, Carmel had been a first-rank elite member of the count’s dungeon subjugation squad.

He had even been known as a genius swordsman with a beautiful face.

Receiving instruction from someone like that was an incredible honor.

Could I… become a knight too?

Prinz imagined himself receiving knighthood at the continent’s official Knight Academy, swearing the oath of the sword.

For the first time, it felt like his dream was within reach.

✠

“Ai!”

“You’re here, Oppa?”

I greeted him brightly, pausing in the middle of crushing a piece of steak into paste.

These days, I was completely devoted to making nutritional supplements and boosters through alchemy.

Rolling concentrated nutrient mixtures into round balls and adding flavors—steak, pasta, smoked salmon, blueberry muffin, and more—was going smoothly.

Prinz was always the first taste tester.

Just like martial artists in wuxia novels swallowed miraculous pills to increase their inner energy, taking alchemical tonics in this world was essential.

Even the count family’s useless brat drank potions like water, so there was no way I’d let Prinz go without supplements.

Thanks to the dungeon farm, I’ve got herbs in massive supply too.

By the way, once Prinz confirmed a tonic tasted good, I also ate it myself.

Hey, I need to take care of my body too.

Today, I handed him another experimental piece.

As usual, Prinz stuffed it into his mouth like a rice ball.

“Wow! This is really good!”

“Really?”

That one was tuna kimbap flavor.
Maybe Korean food actually worked in this world?

Once his chipmunk-like cheeks deflated, I secretly handed him a separate, fist-sized supplement.

“Oppa, want to try this one too?”

“Sure!”

Prinz accepted it without hesitation.

The moment he took a bite—

“U-UWEGH!”

He spat it out.

“…Hmm. That bad?”

“Gasp! S-sorry, Ai! You made it and I…! I’m really sorry!”

“Success.”

“…Huh?”

I grinned wickedly.

“Fufufu. That one’s for the troublemaker brat. I specially made it sparrow-dropping flavor. If it makes someone throw up in one bite, it’s a huge success!”

“….”

“Oppa?”

When I looked back, Prinz’s eyes were glistening with resentment.

“You… you made me eat that. That’s so mean.”

“Come on, Oppa. Are you sulking? It’s actually good for your body.”

“….”

“Oppa? Hello? Oppa?”

“….”

Prinz turned his back and ignored me.

Uh oh.

He must be really upset.

“I was just joking. Are you mad?”

“….”

“Oppaaa.”

“….”

It seemed apologies required sincerity and effort.

“Ah! I’ll give you half of my chocolate milk every day for a week! Forgive me, okay?”

“…What?”

At that moment, Prinz suddenly turned toward me.

His widened eyes looked strangely serious.

I flinched.

In my panic, I had acted the way I used to with my brother when I was younger. Maybe he found it suspicious since the possessed body normally wouldn’t do that.

Being observed too closely wouldn’t be good.

So I pretended to stay calm.

“Oppa, what’s wrong?”

“Uh… well… just now… it felt like something was about to come to mind.”

“…What?”

That was an odd answer.

“No, it’s nothing.”

Since he brushed it off first, I decided not to press further.

“So? Are you still mad?”

“I wasn’t mad from the beginning. I was just joking too.”

Seeing his bright smile at last, I relaxed.

The small incident was quickly forgotten, and the two of us chatted away without noticing how much time had passed.