Chapter 53: Test Complete.

Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Test Complete.

Chapter 53: Test Complete.

Osborne continued on with Julie. He asked her questions he had already prepared beforehand, then instructed her to show him her skills.

’Her level might still be average at the moment, but one thing is unmistakable—her skill as a mage is superb.’

"I think I’ve seen enough, Miss Julie."

"My lord... If you would only give me time—" Julie became anxious, thinking she had failed the interview.

"What are you going on about? You pass."

"Your power is lacking, yes, but if I were looking for a powerful mage, I would have hired a tower master. I think your skills and abilities are more than enough."

"My lord..." Julie was stunned, her heart trembling as countless emotions began to bubble up.

"From henceforth, you shall be my magic instructor." Osborne said as he got up and approached her.

"I look forward to learning from you, Teacher." He offered her a hand.

"Likewise... I promise I won’t disappoint you, my lord." Julie took his hand and got up.

"You’re done with the interview, my lord?" Clawdeth returned at that point, with a tray of refreshments in hand.

"Why yes." Osborne said before looking at the tray in her hand. "I’m afraid those are no longer needed."

"Please find a maid to assign Julie to her new station. From henceforth, she’ll be living in the manor with us."

"Please relay this information to Lady Guinevere as well."

Clawdeth bowed her head. "As you wish, my lord," she said, and yet her expression creased in displeasure in that brief moment.

To think he ordered her around like a common maid only to now send her back again.

Clawdeth left with Julie, leaving Osborne alone with himself.

He watched them leave before changing directions and leaving as well.

---

"Well, this is a surprise. I didn’t expect to see you so soon," Gilhound said.

"How may I be of service, my lord?" He added with a smile. It seemed he was still quite happy with his past dealings with this new lord of his.

"I need you to become my swordsmanship instructor," Osborne said.

Gilhound was taken aback for a moment.

"My lord, I’m afraid I don’t understand. Why me?" He said. "I’m sure there are other far more capable individuals."

"That might be the case, but for now, just go along with it."

"I’ll tell my wife that I’ve decided on both instructors." Osborne said before turning his back to him. "We begin at dawn. Please don’t be late," he said as he left.

"Shouldn’t I be the one to say that?" Gilhound muttered, watching him as he left.

The next day, at the crack of dawn, Osborne had someone call out Gilhound.

The two of them then found a secluded spot in the estate surrounded by trees.

’I thought he was joking, but who knew he was actually serious.’ Gilhound thought to himself. He looked at Osborne, who was taking some pre-workout stretches as if already prepared for what lay ahead.

"So where do we begin?" Osborne said after finishing his stretches.

"Do you begin by teaching me your swordsmanship?" He added.

"My swordsmanship?" Gilhound paused. "I’m afraid I can’t do that, young master. The only sword technique I know is that of the house. No one can teach it to another without the express approval of the head of the household."

"You’ll need to ask her ladyship first or learn it from the young misses themselves. Only direct descendants are allowed to learn the Roosevelt family’s sword technique."

"Even a knight like myself is only aware of the first two levels." Gilhound emphasized just how tightly guarded the technique was.

’I see...’ Osborne muttered. So much for learning a swordsmanship technique.

’Perhaps I could learn it from her.’ Osborne couldn’t help recalling Ruby’s offer to spar, but thinking about it, he wasn’t exactly sure she would hand him the family’s special sword technique.

"My lord." Noticing his disappointment, Gilhound tried cheering him up. "While I can’t teach you the house’s swordsmanship, I can still help you better improve your aura."

Osborne nodded, gesturing for him to proceed.

"Unlike mana, which exists independently of the body, aura is born from one’s own vitality, making it that much more vital than the former," Gilhound explained.

"The more powerful one’s body is, the more aura they can produce. While that’s the case, it doesn’t necessarily mean that only strong bodies can produce large amounts of aura."

"There have been cases of people with weaker bodies possessing formidable aura as well. I, for one, know a few noble households and people whose swordsmanship and members aren’t focused on brute strength."

"Take Lady Ruby for example. Unlike her ladyship, she chose to pursue a different sword path. Her blade is as swift as it is gentle."

"Aura can also be broken down into different levels as well as its users. The purer the aura, the stronger the martial artist," Gilhound said.

"The current most used ranking term for aura users are stages. The purer your aura is, the higher your martial stage. Unlike mages who rely on magic circles to define one’s growth, a martial artist’s aura stars are quite important."

’The more stars one engraves on their heart, the greater their stage.’ Osborne knew this much long ago.

While advancement sounded easy, in reality, it was far more dangerous than one thought.

If in the process, one made a grave error during their advancement, they could as well lose their life, since one’s heart was no laughing matter.

"As of now, you’re still a fledgling martial artist, young master. Only when you’ve completed your first engraving will you truly feel the weight aura brings."

"How many stars do you have, if I may ask?"

"Hehehe." Gilhound rubbed his nose with a hint of pride. "You can’t possibly get a job here as a knight without being at five stars at the very least, hehehe." He said smugly.

’No wonder he’s so smug.’ Osborne thought to himself. In the entire kingdom, the highest martial stage one has accomplished, as far as he knew, was seven stars—a feat achieved by people so few, they could be counted on one hand.