Varocia : From Gamer to Mentor

Olgan had barely drifted into a deep sleep when a knock on the door roused him awake.

Groggily, he dragged his weary body to the door and opened it. Standing before him was a young maid with pink twintails, clad in an asymmetrical black and white maid uniform. Her calm and composed aqua blue eyes and demeanor made her seem somewhat unapproachable.

Well, it's no surprise that the maids here wear asymmetrical uniforms too. Although hers is quite alright, like a character from a gacha game. He thought before asking, "How can I help you?"

"Dear esteemed guest, I have brought your dinner," she said, bowing with a smooth yet sharp movement.

"Oh, right," he replied, remembering Edith's earlier words. He stepped aside, allowing the maid to push a floating dinner cart into his room.

With impressive skill, she set the food on the table, moving with professional grace. However, the main dish turned out to be the infamous Kaseto Steak, releasing a rich aroma that wafted enticingly despite its odd appearance—a mini tree, complete with strangely shaped bones standing upright on the plate.

"Uhm... thank you," he managed, his smile faltering as he sat down, staring at the peculiar steak. It resembled lamb ribs but looked far more bizarre.

Recalling Lenna's insistence that it was delicious, he forced himself to pick up the knife and fork.

Before he could start eating, he noticed the maid hadn't left; she was still standing by the door.

"You don't have to wait for me to eat. I'll call for you when I'm finished" he said, gesturing toward the enchanted bell near the door, assuming it's used to call the service.

The maid shook her head. "I have been instructed by Princess Edith to become your personal maid during your stay at Magect Mansion, Sir Olgan."

He paused, considering this for a moment before nodding. "Alright, what's your name?"

"You can call me Aqualia," she replied softly, her sharp aqua blue eyes carrying a hint of weariness.

Is she just tired, or is this her normal demeanor? he wondered.

"Alright then, you can just call me Olgan—no need for 'Sir.'"

Aqualia nodded in acknowledgment.

His attention returned to the Kaseto Steak, torn between starting with the side dishes or forcing himself to tackle the bizarre-looking steak. In the end, he surrendered to his fate. Using his knife, he cut a piece of the meat, which surprisingly yielded easily, separating from the bone with little effort.

He swallowed hard, nerves buzzing as he popped the piece of meat into his mouth.

Closing his mouth, he took his first bite, and the world melted away. The steak was an explosion of flavor—smoky, succulent, with a hint of something earthy that lingered delightfully on his palate.

Silence enveloped the room as he swallowed his saliva and cut another piece, this time dipping it into the rich brown sauce before tasting it.

The sauce, rich and velvety, enhancing the already exquisite taste of the steak with its deep, complex flavor. It was a blend of spices that seemed to dance across his tongue, awakening his senses and igniting a warmth that spread through him.

Kaseto Steak was surprisingly delicious!

After finishing his last bite, Olgan felt a deep sense of satisfaction, the flavors still lingering on his tongue like a beautiful memory. He watched as Aqualia skillfully cleared and cleaned his table before leaving the room.

Feeling content, Olgan decided to meditate for a little while before surrendering to sleep once more.

------

After waking up in the morning, Olgan brushed his teeth and took a refreshing shower before sitting down to breakfast served by Aqualia. Today's main dish was a Kaseto sandwich, which made him wonder if they had any other types of meat in stock.

As he watched Aqualia leave the room with empty plates of delicious breakfast, he continued practicing his [Basic Fire Control]. His concentration was interrupted by a knock at the door.

He opened it to find Edith, clad in asymmetrical leather training garb.

"Have you settled in?" she asked, her bright eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.

"Yes, I couldn't ask for more," he replied, nodding appreciatively.

Edith paused for a moment, then added, "I've already used the Communication Device to speak briefly with my dear father and mother about what happened. When they return from the frontline, they will reward you for saving me."

Hearing that made him nervous. Who wouldn't feel anxious in front of a duke and duchess?

"Frontline? Against the Wintoria Empire?" he asked, trying to mask his trepidation.

She nodded. "Yes. Our Magect Family has always enjoyed a measure of freedom. We've never been targeted for an attack, so our family is often called to the frontline. I wonder why they never attack our territory?"

Maybe they don't want to occupy a place full of asymmetrical architecture and strange livestock... he lampooned, stifling a chuckle.

"Alright, so what brings you here?" he finally inquired.

With a beaming smile, she responded, "Of course, as your first student, I have to be diligent! Please guide me, my Mentor!"

He smiled back, nodding, before following her into the training area, Aqualia trailing behind them. How professional.

Lenna joined them midway as they stepped outside the castle and entered the expansive training ground, filled with knight apprentices honing their skills under the watchful eyes of their instructors.

"I heard you're back, Edith!" called a fierce-looking man with short black hair, a tan complexion, and battle scars of veteran.

"Yes, I'm back, Uncle Shane," Edith replied with a warm smile.

She introduced him, "This is Uncle Shane; he's responsible for much of my training when I was a kid."

"Hello, my name is Olgan Tenia. Pleased to meet you," he said, bowing slightly.

Shane patted Edith's shoulder, a flash of suppressed anger crossing his features. "I heard what happened. I swear I'll help you find the ones responsible for the attack and publicly execute them!"

Edith smiled wryly. "Thank you, Uncle Shane, but it's alright. I'll handle it myself."

In her mind, although Shane was a Chief Knight Instructor, his rank was likely far below that of whoever had orchestrated the attack. He'd only be putting himself in danger by seeking the main culprit.

After calming down, Shane smiled. "I also heard you saved her and shared valuable knowledge about offensive VIT-type Classes. You have my gratitude." He patted Olgan's shoulder with considerable force, making it a little painful.

"I just happened to be there at the right moment," he replied humbly.

"Haha! Fate and luck are also forms of strength!" Shane laughed heartily. Despite his fierce appearance, he seemed quite easygoing.

"Anyways, you're here to guide Edith in her training, right? Mind if I watch?" he asked, genuine curiosity shining in his eyes.

Olgan glanced at Edith, who shook her head apologetically. "Sorry, Uncle Shane, but this method is a secret—at least for now."

"Hoh? Now I'm even more curious about what training method could be so secretive," Shane remarked, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

"Then I wish you good luck," he said, waving as he walked away to focus on the other knight apprentices.

As they walked deeper into the training area, Olgan glanced at Aqualia, who was quietly following them. "Is it alright for her to join us too?"

Edith looked at him, smiling. "It's fine. I sent her to serve you as your maid because I trust her."

Upon entering the training hall, which quite resembled a larger version of Japanese dojo, the door closed automatically behind them. A large magic circle activated, casting a transparent sheen over the entire building.

After scanning the surroundings and finding nothing special, Olgan turned to Lenna. "Lenna, do you remember the 'grinding' method of Edith's [Rage]?"

Lenna nodded. "Yes."

"Then we'll do the same here. Let's speedrun her [Berserk] to Level 10 today!" he grinned, excitement bubbling within him.