Chapter 26: The Astonishment of Butler Dibble
(What an extraordinary sense and “eye” this person possesses… Truly, a bundle of talent…!)
As he taught magic to Rest, the butler serving the Rosemary Marquis House, Dibble couldn’t help but marvel internally. Before him, Rest was attempting the magic he had just been taught.
“Um… Is this right? Am I doing it correctly?”
“…Yes, there are no problems. You are activating it properly.”
“Thank you! I’ll try it again, so please watch me!”
It had only been an hour since Dibble began Rest’s training in Interpersonal Combat. He had first lectured him on the mindset required for a magician in battle, then proceeded to teach him useful spells for fighting against humans. To be honest, he hadn’t expected things to progress this smoothly. Even a talented magician typically took at least a week to learn a new spell. Advanced Magic could take months or even years to master. Thus, magicians often chose spells from their favored attributes to focus their efforts on.
(But… how is it that this person can master magic after just one demonstration…!?)
“Alright… here goes…”
Rest activated the magic he had just learned. With the spell of Invisibility, Rest’s figure vanished from sight. This was a spell favored by spies and assassins. Many court magicians avoided learning it, dismissing it as “the magic of lowly thieves,” but it was incredibly useful in Interpersonal Combat, so Dibble had deemed it necessary for Rest to acquire it.
In addition to this spell, Rest had already mastered others such as Acceleration, Smoke Screen, Darkness, and Amplification. He had memorized each one after just a single demonstration, and Dibble struggled to maintain a composed expression.
(I must not let this one slip away… No matter what, I must bring him into the Rosemary Marquis House…!)
Since the mock battle, Dibble had been in favor of Rest becoming the husband of Viola and Primula. He saw him as a talented young man and wished for the young ladies he cherished like grandchildren to be united with someone they loved. However, witnessing Rest’s true abilities had changed his perspective.
Rest was not merely “a person who could be welcomed into the Rosemary Marquis House,” but rather “a person who must be drawn in at any cost, regardless of the sacrifices required.”
“Professor Dibble, what should I do next?”
“Ah… well…”
Dibble pondered deeply. With Rest’s remarkable memory, he would soon run out of spells to teach. While that wasn’t necessarily a problem, there was something else that piqued his curiosity.
(Now that I think about it… I’ve had him use magic several times, yet there seems to be no sign of his Magical Power diminishing. I should measure how much he possesses first.)
“Please use the Body Enhancement spell. As strong as you can.”
“Like this?”
Following the instructions, Rest activated Body Enhancement. A shimmering aura enveloped his body, a sight that spoke volumes to those who knew what to look for.
“In Interpersonal Combat, Body Enhancement is both fundamental and profound. Maintain this state for as long as possible without letting the magic dissipate.”
“So, I need to keep my concentration, right? Understood, Professor!”
Rest maintained a fighting stance, his fists poised, while sustaining the Body Enhancement spell.
(A beautifully executed enhancement spell without any fluctuations. For a novice magician, maintaining Body Enhancement for more than five minutes is rare. Even among court magicians, few can sustain it for over thirty minutes… I wonder how long his Magical Power and concentration will hold out.)
Dibble observed Rest as he continued to use magic.
To summarize the outcome… Rest released the Body Enhancement spell after about an hour. However, it was not due to a depletion of his Magical Power, but rather a lapse in concentration. There was no sign of his Magical Power diminishing, and rather than merely being impressed, Dibble felt as if his very heart had been ripped from his chest.