Sir Hero, It’s Time to Train!

“The son died early, causing the downfall of the family, didn’t he?”

Although his master had been reluctant to talk about family matters, he hadn’t completely avoided it.

Mostly, it had come out during drunken rants, but he had some idea about the family situation.

The eldest son, Christian, had suddenly passed away at a young age, and his master had also run away, causing problems in the succession line.

“Sigh, it’s complicated, really complicated.”

He didn’t know where, how, or why he had died, but in any case, his death had triggered his master’s departure and the subsequent collapse of the Worden family.

“Anyway, master must have had a tough time.”

The fighting voices of the mothers, which used to be heard from outside, had now quieted down a bit, but how must his master have felt growing up watching such scenes every day?

He himself, who had experienced it only for a short time, felt like packing up and running away right now.

Christian had no regrets and felt confident he would live well no matter where he went.

But now, he couldn’t do that.

“I’m master’s brother….”

He had subtly asked Garcia, who had guided him to the medical room, and it didn’t seem wrong.

And that fact alone made him gather his will to face reality instead of running away.

“The problem is the successor fight.”

He still didn’t know much about the family circumstances, but judging from the mothers’ relationships, he could roughly guess.

He felt like an uninvited guest who had barged into someone else’s family feud.

“Sigh….”

A deep shadow fell over Christian’s face.

This past was not his own but someone else’s. And the biggest issue was…

“Small and clean.”

He spread out his palm to see that it was almost free of calluses and clean.

Everything he had in his past life had disappeared.

“Roughly twenty years ago?”

He guessed it was about that time from the look of his master.

Clenching the hand he had spread out, Christian thought.

‘Then that means Fierce Demon Dragon still exists….’

Fierce Demon Dragon Magnus.

A being with an unfathomable power among dragons. His body shivered thinking about the monster that would have been impossible to stop alone.

‘If it weren’t for those bastards….’

The ones blinded by greed who tried to use the dragon and ended up being devoured by it.

The Dragonkin.

He didn’t know, nor did he want to know, their principles or reasons.

It would have been just a meaningless fuss to satisfy their petty, useless desires.

As a result, gangmaryong went berserk, and half of the population disappeared.

“Those bastards must be crushed before they come to the surface.”

Before they could awaken Fierce Demon Dragon, he had to take action.

But in his current state, it was impossible.

It wasn’t something that could be taken lightly.

Humans who drank dragon’s blood, became half-human, half-dragon Dragonkin, and betrayed humanity.

More might have died at the hands of traitors than at the hands of Magnus.

“Someone who can help me right now….”

As there were crazy people trying to pull a sleeping dragon out of its lair to burn the world, he needed to recruit people to beat them down!

… But saying that would just make him seem like a madman.

Who would understand his situation and follow him unconditionally?

If there were, that person would have considerable issues as well.

Or should he set out alone to find Fierce Demon Dragon’s lair, whose location was unknown?

Even if he found it, in his current state, he would be a mere snack for the creature.

Thus, he couldn’t help but be worried.

Someone who had the power to beat down Dragonkin and understood his situation…

“There is one, isn’t there?”

Yes, there was. The only person in this world who could understand him.

Christian’s head naturally turned to the side.

On the bed next to him, a rejuvenated, no, a young Aira was sleeping peacefully.

“Seeing it like this, she doesn’t look like master.”

Certainly, there was a resemblance.

Since they were the same person, it was natural to look alike.

But aside from the similar appearance, something was fundamentally different between master he knew and the young Aira in front of him.

‘The sharp spirit and rough yet cold mana of that master… this one does not have.’

Moreover, the body of his master, hardened to the extremity, brought admiration to all who saw it and terror to those who faced it.

However, there was no trace of such qualities in the child before him. It was just like his current self.

A strange smile appeared on Christian’s face.

“It seems I have something to offer to my master.”

If it didn’t exist, he would create it.

There was no one better than his master when it came to creating something from nothing, and it was he who learned from that master.

“Hoo, hoohoohoo.”

Yes, he decided to repay his debt.

From now on, he would ensure that his master did not run away from home. So that he did not have to roam the streets and suffer.

This disciple would devote himself entirely to repaying everything he had received from his master.

Ah, don’t worry too much.

If you get beaten up and roll around enough, you will grow up.

Isn’t the proof right here, in me?

By getting thoroughly beaten up by my master… thud! And rolling diligently… crack! Didn’t I save the continent?

“Hoo, hoohooho. The upcoming training sessions will be enjoyable.”

***

‘It hurts…’

At the instant she opened her eyes, she naturally frowned at the pain radiating through her head.

However, apart from that, her body didn’t seem to have any significant issues. As Aira slowly checked her physical condition, she let out a small sigh and cautiously got up.

And as she quickly realized where she was, her frown deepened.

‘So, I’ve been brought to the infirmary again…’

Every time she sparred with Christian, she would collapse to the floor, exhausted, but being brought to the infirmary like this was a first.

Aira bit her lip hard and tightly clenched her fist.

‘I failed again…’

“Hoohoohoo.”

‘I lost again…’

“Hahaha.”

‘How am I supposed to beat him…’

“Kuhuhuh!”

‘All I did was disappoint my mother again…’

“Wahahaha!”

“Quiet! Who’s making such a racket in the ward?!”

The laughter coming from next to her.

Feeling as if she was being ridiculed, Aira turned her head and shouted angrily.

“I’m, I’m sorry!”

“Is ‘sorry’ all you can say?!”

“I’ll correct my behavior! It won’t happen again!”

A voice filled with earnest apology flowed from beyond the curtain.

At least he understood words. Aira thought to herself maybe she should stop at that point.

… Huh?

Swish!

When she drew back the curtain at the familiar voice, she was greeted by her younger brother, younger by just one day and a half-blood relative.

“Why are you here?”

Christian Worden was on the next bed.

Kneeling upright with his gaze darting nervously around, he looked at her, making Aira feel somewhat bewildered.

“Why are you kneeling like that?”

“… Instinct?”

She had no idea what nonsense he was spouting.

***

Hmm, instinct is important.

For any living being, forgetting that instinct would mean inevitable demise.

Appetite is an instinct, and so is the need for sleep.

Is there any living being that can live while forgetting that?

Such a being would no longer be considered alive.

So, this is…

‘I guess I should say my survival instinct is overpowering my rationality.’

Sitting on the bed with a sulky expression was the young version of his master, staring directly at him.

Even in her youthful face, his master’s features unmistakably remained.

Above all, those red eyes and black hair, and the unique teardrop mark under the left eye.

‘Have I been too excited? But it’s alright, this isn’t the same master I knew. It’s okay, it’s okay…….’

Especially when upset, crossing arms and tapping the foot while sitting with legs crossed. Everything was just like master in my memory.

“Hey.”

“Yes.”

Christian quickly straightened up and responded to Aira’s call.

Every single action felt not just strange but annoying, as if Aira couldn’t stand it, as her face contorted.

“What’s wrong with you?”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“What do I mean?”

“What seems to be the problem……?”

“Are you mocking me?”

“No, I’m not.”

Aira’s expression grew increasingly stern at Christian’s response.

Calm down. First, take a deep breath. Inhale, exhale.

‘The person in front of me, no, the child in front of me is not the master I knew.’

The past and the future. The difference was significant.

His master then was a 39-year-old accomplished warrior.

The one in front of him now was a young girl.

As he understood the differences, his perspective on master gradually changed.

While maintaining respect for his master, he decided to face her as family… as Christian Worden.

That was probably the best way to honor her.

Steeling his thoughts, Christian looked Aira straight in the eye and spoke.

“Are you feeling okay?”

“Huh? What’s this? Suddenly, you seem fine?”

Although Christian’s sudden change in attitude was strange, Aira’s expression relaxed, reassured by his return to normalcy.

“Thanks for genuinely facing me this time.”

“Well, that’s because I…”

… misunderstood.

Christian felt pressured under Aira’s gaze filled with expectation, but he tried to respond calmly.

“Why are you here, anyway?”

“Huh? Well…”

Aira couldn’t fathom why Christian was in the infirmary.

It didn’t seem like he was here to check on her out of concern.

A person visiting a sick friend wouldn’t be laughing and rolling around on the bed… was he here to mock her defeat?

Responding to Aira’s puzzled look, Christian chuckled lightly.

“I got hurt too.”

“Hurt? You? When? Why?”

“Don’t you remember? My side. One hit like this.”

“You’re here just because of a single hit to your side?”

“My sides are sensitive. That’s why I’m always tense even when changing clothes.”

“How ridiculous!”

Aira shouted, glaring with dissatisfaction at Christian’s cheeky attitude.

“Besides, seeing you so energetic, I guess you’re not that badly hurt?”

“Of course not. Did you think I’d be done in by just that?”

“Really? Then that’s a relief.”

“Huh?”

Feeling puzzled by his seemingly caring words, Aira tilted her head.

“So you’re still in one piece, right?”

“That’s true, but… What are you doing? That’s my clothes.”

Christian handed over Aira’s outerwear as well after putting on his discarded coat.

Before Aira had time to question it, Christian urged her.

“Hurry and put them on, we’re going.”

“Where do you want to go at this hour?”

“Obviously, to train.”

“What kind of training are you talking about? And who are you to meddle in my training?”

“So you want to keep getting beaten?”

“No, but what does that have to do with…”

“You might get seriously injured if you keep getting beaten up. Don’t regret it later; get up now.”

“…….”

Master, I won’t waste any time to make you a respectable person as soon as possible.

Let’s carefully examine the current level of master in a very detailed manner.