**Chapter 26: The Astonishment of Butler Diable**
(What an extraordinary sense and “eye” this person possesses… Truly a bundle of talent…!)
As he taught magic to Rest, the butler serving the House of Marquis Rosemary, Diable couldn’t help but marvel internally. Before his eyes, Rest was attempting the magic he had just been taught.
(I had thought he was a young man of great potential since the mock battle before my lord. I knew he had a promising future. But… I never expected it to be to this extent.)
“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 Diable began Rest’s combat training. He had started with a lecture on the mindset required for a magician in battle, followed by teaching him useful spells for fighting against humans. To be honest, he hadn’t expected things to progress this smoothly. Even a talented magician typically takes at least a week to learn a new spell. For advanced magic, it could take months or even years. Thus, magicians often choose spells of their preferred attributes to focus on mastering.
(But… how can this person learn a spell 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 personal combat, so Diable had decided to teach it.
In addition to this spell, Rest had already mastered Accelerator, Smoke Screen, Darkness, and Amplification. He had memorized each spell after just one glance, and Diable struggled to maintain a composed expression.
(I cannot let this person slip away… I must find a way to bring him into the House of Marquis Rosemary, no matter what…!)
Since the mock battle, Diable had supported the idea of Rest marrying Viola or Primula. He believed Rest to be 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 abilities had changed his perspective.
Rest was not merely “a person who could be welcomed into the House of Marquis Rosemary,” but rather “a person who must be drawn in at all costs, regardless of the sacrifices required.”
“Diable-sensei, what should I do next?”
“Ah… well…”
Diable pondered. With Rest’s remarkable memory, he would soon run out of spells to teach. While that was not necessarily a problem, there was something else that piqued his curiosity.
(Speaking of which… I’ve had him use magic several times now, but he doesn’t seem to be losing any magical power. I should measure how much magical energy he possesses first.)
“Please use the Body Enhancement spell. Make it as strong as you can.”
“Like this?”
Rest activated Body Enhancement as instructed. The magical aura enveloped his body like a shimmering membrane.
“In personal combat, Body Enhancement is both fundamental and an advanced technique. Maintain this state for as long as possible without letting the magic dissipate.”
“So, I need to keep my focus, right? Understood, sensei!”
Rest held his fighting stance, fists poised, while maintaining the Body Enhancement spell.
(A beautifully executed enhancement spell without any fluctuations. A novice magician typically cannot maintain Body Enhancement for more than five minutes. Even among court magicians, few can sustain it for over thirty minutes… Now, let’s see how long he can maintain his magical power and concentration.)
Diable observed Rest as he continued to use magic.
To summarize the outcome… Rest released the Body Enhancement spell after about an hour. This was not due to a depletion of magical power but rather a lapse in concentration. Rest’s magical energy showed no signs of diminishing, and Diable felt as if his very soul had been yanked from his body.