~shing~

~shing~

~thud~

Lucius swung his sword hard and finally knocked down the training dummy. This was his third day of sword practice and he could see that his control was slightly better than before. Though he hoped that this body would improve faster.

The body of Asher was already past its optimum growth years and it will take him even longer to make it grow better and improve the strength.

'Hopefully, I'm able to form a hell imprint to gain the ability to use the hell energies.' Lucius thought as he wiped his sweat with a towel that Kiana passed to him.

"Good!" Lieutenant John said. "Your dedication is much better than those of the new recruits I have seen." He added.

Lucius simply nodded to this and put the training sword back. He had not gotten to the point where he could spar with another person and it would take him a week or more to reach that point.

John was the one who had told him to just practice with the dummies for now as he didn't want him to get injured so early after having recovered his body.

"Let's go back, you should rest now," Kiana said.

"Alright. I want to take a bath too…" Lucius said before returning to the mansion.

He went straight to the bathroom, where the hot water was already prepared for him. The servants now knew his routine and thus would keep everything ready. Quickly taking a bath, Lucius winced at his sore muscles. Though the hot water also helped relax them, eventually.

Steam emitted from his body as he was putting on his clothes. It was near the end of summer and the weather would start to get cooler soon. Lucius walked to the dining hall where, to his surprise, the count and countess were already waiting.

"Oh? You two are back early today." Lucius said.

"Yes, we thankfully finished quickly today." Count Gabriel spoke as he took a sip from a wine glass, the pale yellow wine glistening in it.

Lucius had seen this wine and knew that it was the most common type of wine that was made in the territory. Unlike his previous world, red wine wasn't as common here and the yellow wine that he was seeing was made from some local fruits called 'Jezens'.

These fruits were yellow in color and had a pulpy interior. Their taste was citrus like but much sweeter. Their skin though, was inedible for humans and was used as feed for cattle.

Jezens were an important produce of the territory and Lucius had taken note of this. Anything that contributed to the income was important for him to know, as they would be part of his power one day too. Knowing his territory well would only give him an advantage.

"I have been missing my son too, so I just dropped the remaining work for tomorrow," Lita said with a gentle smile.

"I'm grateful that I get to see you too." Lucius said as he took a seat.

"I heard you commissioned a team of mercenaries for something?" Gabriel asked.

"I did indeed, father. I asked them to get me Rock Bee Rune crystals." Lucius said.

"Why would you want them? Are you really intending to study artifacts?" Lita asked with concern.

"Yes, mother. I reckon it would be better for me to study them. Perhaps I'd make a better man out of myself that way." Lucius said in a self depreciating manner.

He knew how the Asher before him was, having a reckless nature and little talent. Being giftless had only made him insecure about himself. But Lucius was not like that. He knew that there were many paths to power and he was going to take the one he found the most accessible.

"Don't say it like that. No matter what anyone says, you are the sole inheritor of the Inanis Family. You are a good person and have plenty of time to learn." Lita spoke.

"I think Asher is right," Gabriel interrupted.

"But dear…" Lita protested.

"Lita… no matter what you say, Asher is giftless. While we as his parents know that he is good, the others don't. They will snub and insult him behind his back. Right now we are still here sot they won't attempt anything directly for a while, but what if we are gone?" Gabriel said.

~Sigh~

"If he truly does get some skill at artifacts, it would be a testament to his capabilities. Just that would be a matter of prestige that would allow him to command respect in the circle of nobles and they would cooperate will. At least there won't be anyone trying to poach on our territory then." Gabriel stated.

"I… I understand." Lita said with reddened eyes.

As a mother, she did not want her son to suffer and knew his drawbacks. But she could also not help but want the best for him.

"Yes, mother don't worry. I am doing this on my own and am willing to learn. I know the artificers guild won't take me in since I don't fulfill their conditions but I can still try to become an independent artificer." Lucius added.

Silence depended in the hall for a couple of minutes after which Lita took a breath and said, "alright. If you want to truly do this, then I shall support you."

"Thank you, mother." Lucius replied.

"Now then… since you have hired those mercenaries, I suppose you need a little help in paying them." Gabriel said with a chuckle.

"Yes father, if you would give me ten thousand gold coins I would be very grateful," Lucius asked, shamelessly.

Gabriel raised his eyes at him but did not deny.

"Okay, I shall grant that amount. But you will only use this for learning and nothing else. If I hear that you are using this for pleasure or to play around, I'll punish you myself." Gabriel said with a fierce expression. "I shall not have you become like one of those good for nothing scums of noble children." He added with a hint of disgust.