Flap-.
It was early morning, just around dawn.
A single messenger bird flew into the Frontel family castle.
"...Say that again."
Kun Frontel opened his mouth with his characteristic dry expression. It was no different from usual, but the aura leaking from him was not easily concealed.
Disillusionment? Displeasure? No, it wasn't that. He was far removed from someone who would let personal emotions color his bloodline.
Even Meno, who had served Kun Frontel as his master for a long time among his close aides, couldn't easily gauge it.
Normally, there was no need to. Prying into areas his master hadn't permitted was not the role of a retainer.
"Young Master Kroha has begun training in martial arts."
"...Intriguing."
But this reaction was not something to brush off lightly.
It meant exactly that. The head of a family regarded as the hegemon of the western continent was showing interest.
No one could easily understand it. Especially since the object of that interest was none other than the family's illegitimate son.
Kroha Frontel.
The ultimate failure who inherited the great Frontel bloodline yet couldn't even attract mana.
Strictly speaking, even calling him a failure was too generous.
Most rejected even considering Kroha, who had a mother lacking the qualifications, as part of the Frontel family.
'...Incomprehensible. Starting to train in martial arts so late won't change anything.'
There were eight Frontel heirs excluding Kroha. All of them were geniuses without question.
Five were already official knights, and three were undergoing formal heir training.
It was practically a foregone conclusion that one among them would inherit the position of next family head.
In other words, there was no place for the youngest born as an illegitimate son.
'If he'd stayed quiet, he might have at least kept his life.'
When he received the report, Meno had certainly thought that. The Frontel family thoroughly excluded the weak, after all.
'...And yet.'
Kun Frontel seemed to be expecting something.
The Frontel were a group that pursued strength. In that sense, there was nothing to expect from Kroha.
'No.'
There was one thing left.
It was the name 'Kroha' that the family head had personally bestowed.
Meno had some inkling as well. Why he had given that child such a name.
'It's been over ten years already.'
The massive scar on Kun Frontel's left eye. Meno knew who had left it.
The one called the empire's sharpest fang, who had suffered from Dissolving Ice yet ascended to the ranks of the strong, confronted Kun Frontel, and survived.
'The same name.'
Bestowing the name Kroha on his child was likely for the same reason.
A faint hope that, afflicted with the same mana disorder, he might grow into a strong one like that man.
And perhaps a wish that someday he would leave a scar on his left eye just like it.
"Meno, send that to the child."
With Kun Frontel's following command, Meno decided to set aside his lingering doubts.
'So that's how it is.'
Either way, it was his master's judgment. Meno just had to accept it.
"Understood."
...And with that, the conversation ended, and news of Kroha spread unfiltered to his other siblings as well.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"That's all for today."
It had been several days since training began under Anet's orders. With Ronne's words, Kroha threw himself onto the grassy field.
Sweat had drenched his clothes thoroughly.
Ronne, watching him, didn't show it outwardly but was inwardly full of admiration.
'Truly astonishing.'
In truth, the training intensity so far couldn't be called particularly high. It was all basic strength exercises and swordsmanship fundamentals to build foundations.
Yet he couldn't help but react this way.
Because he knew the life Kroha had lived until now. To put it simply, like a flower in a greenhouse.
'A normal child would have whined or slacked off.'
Moreover, just a few years ago, he could barely care for his own body. His condition had improved somewhat, but he wasn't fully cured.
However, Kroha never slacked for even a moment. As if it was a familiar routine he'd repeated daily.
'Even now.'
A face showing regret that it ended. He probably wouldn't complain even if training resumed abruptly here. He'd likely step up even more proactively.
'Can't deny he's Frontel blood.'
The conviction came during the swordsmanship basics instruction.
While his stamina was below average, his talent for swordsmanship was above it.
Even though it'd only been a week since he first touched martial arts.
Sometimes Kroha had those moments. A seasoned, sharp look like someone with countless experiences.
'His eyes came alive.'
Some might say, what's so surprising about a simple horizontal slash? Anyone can do it.
No.
In handling a weapon, fundamentals were paramount. The difference in skill became stark based on one's precision.
In that sense, Kroha's strike was perfect. Even with just brief theory and a simple demonstration.
No one seeing it would believe it was his first time.
'Talent.'
That was the only word to describe it. Kroha had clearly proven his aptitude as a martial artist.
That might be why it felt regrettable. Because his other siblings all had talent too.
He didn't want to conclude definitively, but with Dissolving Ice, he surely couldn't match them in the end.
Ultimately, it was pointless worry. Whether he wanted it or not, Kroha had to carve his own path.
"You worked hard. Shall I go ahead and prepare the meal? Is there anything you'd like?"
"I'll eat whatever Ronne makes."
"I'm grateful for that. Then I'll do my best to prepare it."
"Yeah, thanks as always."
With that, Ronne turned toward the mansion with a faint smile. Right after, Kroha lay flat on the grass.
'Sweating it out really does feel good.'
Kroha could feel his body refreshed and his mind clearer.
After entering this body, he'd avoided intense activity for a while due to Dissolving Ice restrictions.
It might benefit ordinary people, but not his past self.
'Good thing I'm progressing faster than expected.'
Now that he'd laid some groundwork for River, training was immensely helpful. His physical state was no longer a concern.
On the contrary, it would shorten the completion time for River beyond expectations.
'That said... the lack of strength is inevitable.'
With virtually no prior activity... it was undeniable.
Separately, the gap from this child's body, not an adult's, was annoying. Like it needed more delicacy.
His resolve to train at full throttle rang hollow; he couldn't even perform half his potential skill at this point.
Can't fill a belly with one drink, after all...
'Disappointing.'
Ronne looked quite surprised, but that didn't matter. Martial arts weren't for showing off.
If unsatisfied, the priority was pondering how to fix the issues.
'For a while, I need separate stamina training.'
It was also Kroha's consideration for Ronne. To reach peak condition, some movements needed refinement.
In this state, he couldn't face Ronne, who was putting in effort for him.
'Still no clue about this.'
Kroha covered the sky with his palm.
His gaze was on the back of his hand. There was a faint engraving.
It had been there since he awoke in this body, unrelated to the Frontels.
'No idea where it came from.'
Most puzzling was that no one else noticed it, except him.
'No one to ask.'
It might be something he didn't know about.
He'd asked his mother and Ronne, but they thought he was seeing things and just worried.
'It's clearer now.'
He wasn't without clues.
The change started when he began building River.
As the mana he could circulate increased, the engraving sharpened.
He didn't know the link between mana and the engraving.
He vaguely guessed its role would reveal upon River's completion.
Ultimately, the destination was the same.
"Up we go."
Kroha stood right away. Even lying briefly made his body feel stiff.
Of course not. Aching muscles everywhere proved his concern valid.
Gurgle-.
'Meal first.'
Overdoing it impatiently was no good. Eating and resting well was part of training.
Fortunately, conditions here fulfilled that perfectly.
'Thanks to Ronne's cooking skills.'
Food smells were already wafting. Tonight seemed smoked meat.
For a moment, Kroha wondered if he'd grown a bit complacent in this repeated stability.
'Not bad.'
He figured this much mercy was fine.
Because he knew. This moment was the last calm before the storm ahead.
...And a little time passed, into the night.
Step, step.
"It's been a while since this place."
For the first time since Kroha started staying at Thorn Hill, a guest arrived.
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