**Chapter 16: A Mock Battle with the Veteran Butler**
Rest kicked off the ground, enhancing his power and speed through Body Enhancement as he darted around, skillfully toying with his opponent. Ever since he was taken in by the Viscount of Honor’s household at the age of ten, he had fought countless monsters in the forest. Body Enhancement was one of the spells he had used most frequently; it was no exaggeration to say it was his signature technique.
(This person… is strong…!)
As he battled the butler of the House of Marquis Rosemary, Rest couldn’t help but marvel inwardly. It had been less than three minutes since the fight began. He had successfully landed the first blow, sending his opponent flying, but he believed that was merely a lucky punch due to the butler’s momentary lapse in focus.
“Remarkable Body Enhancement… I never expected a young man who isn’t even twenty to wield this magic with such precision!”
The butler blocked Rest’s punch and offered words of praise. Though he appeared to be over sixty, his movements were sharp and swift, matching the speed of the teenage Rest.
“I’m the one who’s surprised… Despite my appearance, I was confident in my speed.”
Rest launched an attack. The high kick aimed at the butler’s head was deftly avoided as the butler lowered his stance.
“I have my pride as an old soldier… And while you possess a considerable amount of magical power and seem to use Body Enhancement regularly, I suspect your experience in combat against other people is lacking, isn’t it?”
“Well, that’s…”
“Your attacks are honest and straightforward, lacking any feints. It’s clear you haven’t trained in formal martial arts and have only fought monsters. If you had practiced the martial arts, I would have been on the ground long ago.”
“……”
He struck a nerve. Although it appeared that Rest was the aggressor in their battle, the butler was skillfully deflecting his attacks with exceptional technique. The difference in their abilities was glaring.
(Perhaps I should properly learn martial arts? Cedric seems to have never studied it…)
The butler launched a sharp knife-hand strike. Rest instinctively braced himself, only to be struck by a low kick to his left leg. The blow landed squarely on a sensitive spot, and Rest nearly let out a groan.
“A feint… I see, so that’s how it is…!”
“Oh? Are you alright?”
“N-no problem…!”
His leg wobbled. He didn’t think it was broken, but it certainly felt bruised. Without releasing Body Enhancement, he simultaneously activated Heal to recover his leg.
“Oh, how skillful. You can activate two spells at once.”
“I-I can do it…”
“Many young mages cannot. The less experienced tend to focus on casting powerful spells, often neglecting the precision and simultaneous activation of magic. It’s lamentable how many youths disregard the fundamentals.”
“Then… can I do this as well?”
Having healed his injury, Rest activated another spell. A sphere of lightning appeared in his palm.
“Thunder Ball!”
“Oh… Lightning magic, is it?”
The lightning surged toward the butler, but he swatted it away with his knife-hand. Although it seemed he had made contact with the lightning, there was no sign of electrocution. Upon closer inspection, Rest noticed that the butler’s arm was coated in brown earth.
“Wrapping magic around your body like this is also effective in close combat, you know?”
“I see… This is quite educational!”
Once again, Rest attacked with lightning. Though his assault was blocked, he seized the opportunity to leap at the butler.
“Hah!”
“Whoa!?”
The butler exclaimed in surprise. Rest had wrapped his arm in sharpened earth, using the same magic the butler had demonstrated earlier.
“My apologies. I see you had already mastered this.”
“Well, that depends on your perspective!”
“Indeed, indeed.”
The two clashed their earth-armed limbs together, the sound of their strikes echoing like hard objects colliding.
“Ugh…!”
After several exchanges, the butler’s fist struck Rest’s shoulder. It was clear that in a brawl, he was at a disadvantage.
“Then… how about this!”
“……!”
Multiple Thunder Balls appeared around Rest.
“Take this…!”
Of course, that wasn’t the end of it. While launching the Thunder Balls, Rest also attacked the butler with his earth-clad arm.
“Impressive, impressive…! Truly wonderful…!”
As the butler countered the Thunder Balls with his earth-covered arms, he expressed genuine admiration.
**Body Enhancement**
**Thunder Ball**
**Earth Wear**
A Trio of spells activated. Rest was maintaining three types of magic simultaneously. It was a feat that required strong willpower to control his magical energy, precision, and an immense amount of magical power.
“This… I must go all out, or I will lose!”
“Ugh…!”
Just as Rest prepared to deliver a decisive blow, the butler’s figure vanished.
“Ugh…”
In the next moment, a sharp strike hit the back of his neck, causing his brain to rattle. The sudden blow forced his magic to dissipate, and his consciousness began to fade.
(I lost… What just happened…?)
Without even understanding what had been done to him, Rest collapsed to the ground, unconscious.