Make no mistake, even a mage needs a certain level of physical strength and stamina.
In terms of operation, it’s similar to being an artilleryman, so swordsmanship isn’t essential… but there’s no way someone whose livelihood is combat doesn’t need stamina.
It’s like the military on Earth—officers learn how to build endurance and shoot guns, right?
In this world, mages would generally belong to the military, so physical training is at least a given.
And swordsmanship? It’s typically learned as a refined skill for nobles.
So, why did I reject the training from my father? Even though sword skills and physical abilities are important?
…There’s a reason for that.
The training was inefficient, and he forced me to learn some rural so-called ‘real combat swordsmanship’ (which was really just his own made-up style).
Things like ‘don’t drink water’ or ‘don’t take breaks’—those kinds of ridiculous orders. Ancient Showa civilization, maybe?
But… there was also the emotional issue that I just didn’t want to deal with a scumbag who didn’t have a shred of respect. Actually, that might have been the main reason.
Well, I don’t care about someone I’ll never see again. I forgot him in an instant.
Anyway, since my childhood, I’ve been efficiently training my body, melding magic into my tissues to strengthen myself from the core, and even performing body modifications, so I’ve gained considerable power.
Now, I’m at the point where not only can I avoid being killed by a sword, but even a direct hit to the head from an anti-material rifle wouldn’t kill me.
Though, according to experiments, it seems I’d be blown away by the impact, and it would hurt. I know that well because I tested it several times with Aida.
I can also withstand high temperatures up to around 1,200°C and low temperatures down to -100°C. Aida did.
I’ve tested electricity, high-concentration magical radiation, actual radiation, decompression—basically everything, and I seem to endure quite well.
Yeah, that’s really helpful.
I mean, having a loyal lover who volunteers, saying, ‘Please test it on my body!’ every time we run a human experiment? That’s a rare relationship. I should cherish it.
…But just so you know, I’ve set it up so I can kill her with one touch if she betrays me.
So, what were we talking about again?
Oh yeah, improving physical capabilities.
With my strengthened body, I recently created a ‘Machine Learning-Style Swordsmanship’ by subdividing and reconstructing data collected from invisible drones I attached to nearby so-called ‘sword masters,’ and I installed that as an app in my brain.
That means I can become a sword master with just a single thought.
So, I’ve got noble swordsmanship down pat.
Practice swings? Forms? No need for that.
I just run the app with my brain’s overwhelming processing power and let it make decisions for me automatically.
And since AI swordsmanship is a program, it continually gathers information and strengthens itself through deep learning.
The magic also controls my body, not my consciousness.
In other words, I can get stronger even while I sleep, without ever weakening.
‘Isn’t that cheating?!’
The one whose wooden sword I just knocked away is a classmate of mine, Zess.
‘If it’s possible to use magic efficiently, then not using it would be stupid.’
‘Then how about this?’
The one who tried to kick me from behind is also a classmate—Holman.
‘Did you think I hadn’t made a martial arts version as well?’
I grabbed Holman’s ankle with just one hand behind my back…
‘Huh? Wait… whoa!’
…and threw him toward Hector, another classmate who was waiting for an opening.
‘That’s enough!’
At that point, the teacher… the old man Kurjes stepped in to stop us.
‘…What was that? The footwork of the Howl family, the arm swing of the Zangetsu family, the wrist movement of the Winsword family, and the focus of Kurjes’s real combat swordsmanship… How did you do that?’
‘I explained earlier. I attached drones to swordsmen around the world to gather motion data, subdivided and systematized it, accelerated time in a compressed virtual space, had 50 million avatars fight to the death, optimized the actions using genetic algorithms, and compiled it into an application that I’m using.’
‘I didn’t understand a single word of that… but is this also one of your techniques?’
‘You could say that, but I’ve saved it as a regular application in my brain, so I can use it even in situations where I can’t cast magic.’
‘Hmm… well… fine. In battle, using whatever you have available is the right approach.’
Ignoring the old man who nodded in approval, I, as the leader of this group, spoke.
‘For physical techniques, this is probably good enough. Physical techniques for mages are just a refined skill anyway, so there’s no need to take it too seriously.’
‘But, Exus, even as a mage, what would you do if you were suddenly attacked?’
‘If I reinforce my body with magic, no half-hearted ambush will kill me. If you’re worried, take the defensive magic e-learning course I uploaded on the MagiaPad the other day.’
‘…Got it. Well then, about magic training…’
‘Sorry, but I’ve got a dinner meeting with Viscount Carpenter and a trading company in about an hour. I’ll be leaving soon.’
‘Ah, well, I’ll give you full marks for today, so go ahead. The nation’s interests come first.’
As expected of the old man, he understands.
‘As for magic, just complete the training program I emailed to the MagiaPad. Once you’re done, send me a message, and I’ll think of something else then.’
Being both a student and a businessman is tough.
While I changed into formal attire, I used a cleansing spell to wipe away my sweat and had the homunculi prepare for the dinner meeting.
This time, it’s a dinner with Viscount Carpenter and the trading company he’s close with. The topic? Media mix plans for games.
In the process, things like ‘movable type printing,’ ‘multicolor printing,’ and ‘manga’—artifacts of a lost civilization—will be introduced into this world, but who cares? As long as it makes money.
Actually, money no longer means anything to me.
I just want to become insanely rich, the world’s wealthiest, and gain influence in every corner of society.
After all, I’m running a secret organization.
Even though this world is such a primitive backwater that it doesn’t have laws or society advanced enough to require secrecy, in a hundred or two hundred years, civilization should progress a bit.
By that time, I want to monopolize wealth, resources, and technology…
Ah, what I’m saying is this:
You’ve heard of the Rockefeller family, right?
The oil tycoon, John D. Rockefeller.
In modern times, when the use of oil wasn’t yet well established, he built and operated refineries… and by the time society became oil-based, he held a monopoly on the oil industry, making him extremely wealthy.
The Rockefeller family still exists as a foundation today, and they continue to wield power and influence. It might sound like a conspiracy theory, but it’s true.
…That’s what I’m aiming for, too.
By monopolizing or skillfully managing new magic techniques, emerging magic technologies, solid industrial capabilities, and capital and authority, the Aurora Group will continue to exert influence on future generations!
That’s why I’m working hard.
Now, now, it’s time for business… it’s business time.
