"But boy, was your sword practice so unusual! At our age, we usually focus on increasing our maximum output when practicing body-strengthening magic. Even the talented ones focus more on burst power, the speed at which they can draw out maximum output."
Fey said in amusement.
"But you, you were mainly focused on removing the aftereffect of the body-strengthening magic. Well, it's not entirely meaningless since it helps conserve mana....... But honestly, I don't think it's something that people would do when they can't sleep due to anxiety right before an exam. If anything, your stance made it clear you have a specific goal in mind."
I see, I understand...... I freaking don't understand anything! What kind of monstrous insight did this girl have?
All I did was just practice swinging my sword, you know?
If it had been me watching others practice instead, I bet I wouldn't have gotten an inkling as to why that person was swinging their sword no matter how much time passed.
It was impossible unless you were a veteran.
But this esteemed lady said she was aspiring to be an Artificer.…… Don't tell me the Royal Academy has monstrous people like her at every corner…
"It is my honor to receive such praise. But as much as I am delighted, you're overestimating me, Fey-sama. I'm embarrassed to say my mana capacity is barely at the threshold for a knight. Hence, I'm just trying to practice how to save my mana as much as possible."
This was a situation akin to a soldier stepping on a landmine area, I didn't know where the next landmine might be, so I could only tread carefully and look for a way out.
I quickly tried to cut short any interest she might have for me.
"Is that so? But isn't your mana capacity around 2480 units? I don't think it's low enough to warrant special training."
Fey said while having an amused expression on her face again.
What in the nine worlds?!
Leaving everything aside, guessing someone's maximum mana capacity just from their practice was impossible. It was ridiculous. It wasn't like I practiced until I exhausted myself.
Should I try to say she got it wrong?.... No, the number was too accurate to refute.
The last time I checked it, my mana capacity was 2400, so I could more or less guess that my current mana capacity should indeed be around 2480.
"Pfft. You don't need to look like someone asked you for your soul. Of course, I didn't guess it just by watching you practice. ——Ta-dah!"
Fey took out a video camera-like something from her purse.
"This is the Mana Capacity Measuring Tool I have invented. It calculates the target's total mana capacity from the remaining mana they have left. The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵⚑𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮⚑𝓷𝓮𝓽
Unfortunately, it needs to observe the target for at least 30 minutes to come up with an answer so it's pretty useless to bring it in actual battles for now.…… But you know, it took around 2 hours just to measure you because of how little mana you had left. This just proves it still needs some modification.
Anyway, what's impressive is your mana manipulation accuracy. It's not something you get to see every day!"
Fey once again had an amused expression on her face.
……Did I perhaps miss any kind of foreshadowing earlier? She did say she wanted to be an 'Artificer', right? No way, I wasn't a master diviner of some sort who could predict that she would be such an oddball!
"Your praises are wasted on me. It was just an old habit of mine after training for so many years… My battle power is just 5… Yes, I'm not even worth comparing to garbage."
Who could have thought I had already stepped on a landmine from the beginning… In confusion, some incomprehensible words that even I didn't understand flew out of my mouth.
"Kyahahaha! Well, it's not sophisticated enough to measure battle power, talent, or comprehensive abilities. Ah but it's not entirely useless either, so I guess the feedback is good enough.
After all, necessity is the mother of invention. You sure know your stuff, Allen."
And for the nth time, Fey again had an amused expression on her face.
Oh heavens no, I didn't mean that! All I just said was I was nothing more than garbage that could be seen on the roadside, that was it. It didn't have anything deeper to it to compare it to philosophical stuff!
"Is Fey-sama acquainted with my Elder Sister?"
I cursed my own uselessness and tried to steer away from the topic.
"Yeah, I know her. After all, she was the sole talented lady who managed to get into the Advanced Magic Tool Research Institute of the Aristocratic Academy of the Dragoon family.
You know, that institute rarely took anyone aside from graduates of the Royal Academy. I also aspire to become an Artificer. I thought I should visit her at least once since I am going to the Royal Capital.
But boy, my lucky stars must be shining for me to meet the little brother of ."
For the nth nth time, Fey had an amused expression on her face.
……. Why? Why did I feel like I stepped on another landmine? —— Did this mean I would have to introduce this landmine of a lady to my Elder Sister, of all people?
But, Tempest Rose? What in the world have you done, Elder Sister?
I was a bit curious about the title but I didn't ask any further. I felt like it would be another landmine.
Why did I have a vision that it would rain blood if I really introduced them to each other?…… It was probably just my weary mind hallucinating, right?
But I didn't have any compelling reason to refuse her. Alright, let's just say yes for now and then I would make sure we never crossed paths in the future.
Also, I should quickly escape from this situation.
After formulating my plan, I put on a smiling expression and spoke.
"Of course, I'll introduce you! My sister would certainly appreciate interacting with a talented young lady like Fey-sama. Oh, excuse me, my frequent chronic urination..."
"Fufu, Well you were practicing for at least 6 hours, sweating profusely without drinking any water. It must be an awful disease, no? Also, we're already friends so you don't need to be so formal."
Fey may as well have a permanent amused expression on her face at this point.
'Not again,' I thought. I already tried to ignore her 'we are friends' remark, so any ad-lib wouldn't be enough at this point.
I straightened myself and said,
"Unfortunately, this is the type of illness it is. Also, I make it a point to sleep for at least three hours a day. I'm not sure if Artificer Fey-sama needs any rest, but there are just three and a half hours left until we arrive at the capital. I'm afraid I need to go or else I might leak here."
I hurriedly said and extricated myself from the situation.
"Kyahahaha! Yeah, my apologies for that. Pfft— Also, Artificers indeed don't put sleep as their priority. Good night then, Allen."
Fey winked while running her fingers through her short, glossy hair.
How do I put it, she was wrapped in the liveliness peculiar to young girls, reminiscent of a cat, with striking eyes, and her slender fair-skinned nape was like a piece of artwork. Well, such things were inconsequential as of the moment.
My body right now was screaming at me to get rest already. Who would have thought such a small practice session would lead to me being completely exhausted? I need to get ready for tomorrow (though the date has already changed).....
As I was heading for my berth while being annoyed at the situation, Fey raised her voice from behind me.
"Speaking of which, you know nobles shouldn't kneel and bow their heads without any reason? That posture is meant for criminals in a courtroom! Hahaha!"
Fey had kept her amused expression until the end.
Strange, this world didn't have the culture of kneeling, huh? I thought it was a common practice since my father often did that while apologizing to my mother...
T/N - So far, there is no romance/harem tag in the web novel.
Editor note - Take a shot every time Fey has an amused expression on her face.