Chapter 100: Presence

“Alright then, same as yesterday. And don’t forget to remember your points for improvement. Give it your best.”

After finishing conveying today’s training regimen… Ishud, just like the day before, started his muscle training with specialized equipment.

(…Even though they sleep in beds with the effect of enhancing deep sleep, maybe they haven’t completely recovered from fatigue yet.)

While noticing that there was still some fatigue lingering in Gulf and the others as he watched the serious matchs… Ishud didn’t think about reducing the amount of training.

Rather, Ishud used to finish the day’s training completely before six o’clock.

During the time until Ishud returned from the forest at night… they began the rigorous training, not lightly called independent practice, undoubtedly by the will of Gulf and the others.

“Ishud-niisan, my muscles are a bit sore.”

“Hahaha!!! That’s to be expected. In that case, you’ll have to try even harder to move efficiently and not waste any magic.”

“I see. In this condition, it’s a good opportunity to think deeply about it.”

“That’s the spirit.”

Lyune, the fourth daughter, is just as clever as Suara.

She quickly sensed areas that could be polished given the current circumstances.

(Is it because my body feels heavy…? Yes, indeed. It’s certainly a critical situation.)

Having wielded a wooden sword and later a real sword since childhood, Ibuki has been told many times.

That it’s when you’re exhausted that you can deliver your best strike.

“Gulf’s win rate has increased a bit, huh?”

“D-Do you think so?”

“Hahaha!!! If you’re fighting with all your might, you won’t have time to think about that.”

During the lunch break, Ishud relayed the changes in the win rates to Gulf and the others as far as he could remember.

“…How am I doing?”

“I don’t think you’ve changed much, if I remember correctly.”

“I see… I suppose.”

“You shouldn’t let it get to you. Just like how some people’s win rates go up like Gulf’s, there are also those whose rates go down. But not seeing a change in your win rate amidst all that could be considered growth, couldn’t it?”

The morning training involved matches using weapons they don’t usually use.

Though the win rates in these matches differ from those using their main weapons, Michela and the others, who are conscious of getting stronger, still find themselves concerned about these match results.

“…Ishud, has my win rate gone down?”

“Hmm… Dustin-senpai, your win rate might have slightly decreased from before. But even if you’re using a lighter weapon, if you fight like yourself, it’ll probably change again… But since it’s an experience for learning various things, maybe you don’t need to worry too much?”

“I see. It’s not good to be too fixated, huh?”

While everyone felt some concern about their win rates, they faced the training squarely and looked forward.

Amidst this, just after the final match of the afternoon training, a man entered the training ground.

“Wha…!?”

In the next moment, all six of them… simultaneously turned their heads in that direction.

“So you’ve returned, Ishud.”

“Great-grandpa Roberto!!! What, did you not hear from Father?”

“No, I heard that you’d be coming back soon.”

With a bald head and a stern face, Roberto’s interaction with Ishud seemed… quite normal.

His physique was even larger than Alfred’s, with muscles that made one question if he was truly human, yet there was no hint of combativeness when he entered the training ground or afterward.

Still… in the presence of Roberto, Gulf and the others unconsciously stepped back.

(R-Roberto-san… he’s the one Ishudo talked about before, that…)

(Ha… haha… laughing is the only response to this kind of situation, huh?)

(This… individual is the one… even if Ishud tried to kill him, he couldn’t… the one…)

(This pressure… I’ve never felt anything like it, not even in Yamato.)

(I see… a demigod, huh?)

(…Truly, someone who could be called a living legend.)

They barely managed to express their thoughts inwardly.

However, they remained frozen, unable to utter a word.

“Hm? Ahh… well, I guess it can’t be helped. You guys don’t need to be so scared, you know? Great-grandpa Roberto is perfectly kind and not scary at all.”

Ishud didn’t question why they were so shocked and frozen that they couldn’t even speak.

Even though he conveyed that he wasn’t the type to pick fights, Gulf and the others still couldn’t manage to stand up straight.

“Hmm, are you guys Ishud’s classmates?”

“!!!!!!!!! W-I’m a commoner, Gulf!!! Nice to meet you!!!!!!”

As his attention was fully turned towards them… in that moment, Gulf felt an urge to stand up…to stand and introduce himself.

(I-I can’t… I can’t stay seated, that’s right!!)

If he was going to proudly declare himself as Ishud’s classmate, he couldn’t just stay seated in front of Roberto forever.

To gain recognition, he had to stand up quickly!!!! And even though Roberto had no intention of complaining about them not being able to stand up, he also had no intention of acknowledging them as Ishud’s friends!!!

However… as the Gulf gathered his courage and stood up to introduce himself, Roberto’s opinion of him definitely improved.

“I’m Philip, hailing from nobility.”

“Likewise, I’m Michela.”

“Ibuki, from Yamato.”

“I’m Christille.”

“I’m Dustin.”

Inspired by Gulf’s attitude, Philip and the others managed to muster the courage to stand and introduce themselves.

At that moment, it wasn’t that they lacked composure to speak their family names… It was just that in the presence of someone worthy of the title “demigod,” as Ishud had called him, they instinctively realized the insignificance of power… and no one spoke their family name.

“Ishud… Looks like you’ve made some friends.”

“My father sent me to that academy, thinking I had the most sociability, after all.”

“Hehehe, indeed. Alex and the others should at least possess some common sense… Well, it’s not something to worry about now. By the way, Ishud, since you’ve returned at last, how about a duel with me?”

Just by declaring that he would have a match with his great-grandson for the first time in a long while… It was a major event for Ishud.

“!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Reacting reflexively, unleashing all of his fighting spirit and will to fight, Gulf and the others who had somehow managed to stand up again found themselves dropping to their knees once more.

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