Coward? Or maybe not. (Ch:9)
And with a nod she left the room.
Kaeya stood straight from his leaning against the wall position and spoke up.
"It's about time I start my daily training. So, I'll be in the forest near the mansion—let me know if anything comes up or when it's time for lunch."
Ram gave a slight bow. "Understood. I will inform you when the meal is ready, Kaeya-sama."
Subaru grumbled about the difference in treatment in a low tone, which no one could hear.
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Rem stepped closer to him and extended a measurement cord. "I will take your measurements. Stand still, with your back straight."
Subaru is standing while Rem is measuring him from behind. He yelps when she has her arms around him.
"Please don't make strange noises. It's unpleasant.
"That was beyond my control! This is awkward for a guy in various ways!"
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Kaeya walked into the forest surrounding the mansion. He stopped in a small clearing, rolling his shoulders as he took a deep breath.
"Alright... let's see if this works,"
He had been considering experimenting with a technique like this. In theory, if it worked, it would greatly benefit his future training. It was something he had seen in an anime, and he believed the concept could be incredibly useful.
He had studied the basics of magic and understood its fundamental principles. If his theory was correct, this spell should be possible by properly combining Earth, Yang, and Water magic.
He started by shaping Earth and Water magic together, compressing the elements to form a solid structure resembling himself. Then, he wove Yang magic into the mix, trying to forge a link between himself and the clone.
Yes, he was trying to replicate the Shadow Clone Jutsu from Naruto.
If this worked, he would be able to get muscle memories and normal memories of the clone, with which he could read as well as train a large amount in a few days.
For a brief moment, it looked like it was working—a second Kaeya stood before him, unmoving but fully formed.
Then, with a loud crack, the clone crumbled apart, dissolving into water and dust.
Kaeya exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "Of course it wouldn't work in a single try."
He had to make the body properly with Earth and water magic and then share his consciousness with the clone using yang magic somehow.
Now that he had thought about it further, it occurred to him that even if he succeeded in creating the spell, controlling like 100 bodies would be almost impossible. However, since being able to train at a higher training rate was still preferable, working on this spell seemed like a good use of time.
He took a deep breath, gathering mana once more. This time, he carefully balanced the three elements. He shaped Earth magic into a firm but flexible structure, layered Water magic to give it fluidity, and infused Yang magic to bind a small part of his consciousness within it.
Slowly, the clone took form.
Its eyes opened. It lifted its hand—moving, not as a mindless puppet, but as if truly alive.
Kaeya smirked, the clone mirroring his expression. "Looks like it worked this time."
To test it further, he had the clone mimic a few basic movements—raising an arm, shifting its weight, even taking a few steps. Satisfied, he dispelled it.
A rush of feedback hit him instantly—his body tingled slightly, and his muscles felt as if they'd performed the movements themselves. It had worked, surprisingly in the second try no less.
Kaeya stretched his arms. "Not bad. Now, let's see how many I can make."
Kaeya spread his mana into the ground, and soon, clone bodies began forming—one after another—until around twenty identical figures stood before him. Once their physical forms were complete, he used Yang magic, maintaining his connection through the ground as he worked on linking his consciousness to them.
It took about thirty seconds to establish the connection, and then... it worked.
Kaeya opened his eyes to see twenty perfect copies of himself standing before him. Though they weren't particularly durable and would likely break apart with a single strong hit, there was something unique about them that he hadn't anticipated—he could see through all of their eyes at once.
It felt strange. He couldn't quite describe the sensation, but it was as if he had multiple screens in front of him, each displaying a different perspective. The disorienting feeling faded quickly as his mind adapted to it.
'Alright, time to get to the fun part.' He thought.
He stood up, his hands disconnecting from the ground.
"Form four lines of five." He could have commanded them telepathically, or they could have followed orders without speaking, but giving commands aloud felt much more natural—like a commander teaching his soldiers.
The clones immediately followed the order, arranging themselves into neat rows.
"Now that our training speed is twenty times faster, each column will focus on a different task." He assigned each group a role.
The first column would focus on refining the Wind Slash spell he had used back at the loot house. It currently took him three seconds to prepare, which was far too slow in a real battle. With the clones' help, he planned to reduce that time significantly.
The second column would spar against each other using swords while ensuring they didn't dispel one another. Normally, fighting against an opponent with the exact same style wouldn't improve adaptability, but it would still refine his precision, accuracy, and reflexes.
The third and fourth columns would each work on magic—one on Yang magic and the other on Yin magic. He still hadn't learned Akra, a common strengthening spell, and he hadn't had the time to properly study Shamac, a Yin magic spell.
For now, he decided to ignore water magic. Aside from Huma and healing spells, he had little use for it at the moment. His healing was already decent, and Huma could technically be considered a fire spell or a water spell, meaning there was no need to dedicate training to water magic for now.
With everything set, he exhaled, watching as his clones began their tasks.
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Subaru and Ram were searching for Kaeya.
It was time for lunch, and with Ram's clairvoyance, finding him didn't take long.
As they got closer, Subaru heard the sounds of battle—blasts of magic, swords clashing, and the rush of wind cutting through the air.
"What's with all the noise?" he muttered before breaking into a run.
Ram followed him at a more leisurely pace.
When they arrived, Subaru's eyes widened at the sight before him.
Kaeya sat in the shade of a tree; around him were identical copies of himself. Some were locked in sword fights; others channeled magic, sending bursts of energy at distant trees. The bodies of a few of them were glowing, possibly practicing a buff spell.
"What the hell?!" Subaru shouted. "You turned this place into a boot camp!"
Kaeya didn't immediately respond. He was watching his clones intently. After a moment, he glanced toward them.
"You're here earlier than I expected."
"It has been three hours since you left to train, Kaeya-sama," Ram stated. "It's lunchtime."
Before responding, he gave his clones a silent command. One by one, they dissipated, their experiences flowing back into him.
He blinked as the information settled in his mind. His swordplay felt sharper, more refined—movements he hadn't practiced personally now felt natural. On top of that, the knowledge of new spells his clones had practiced had seamlessly integrated into his mind.
Subaru, however, was still gawking. "Seriously, what kind of magic is this?!"
Kaeya dusted off his back. "One that speeds up my training."
"How?" Subaru asked, clearly confused.
"I receive the experiences and muscle memory of my clones. So if I create two clones and we all train, it's basically the same as training at three times the efficiency—though it doesn't apply to physical training, unfortunately," Kaeya explained.
"Even so, that's cheating!"
"Efficiency."
Ram silently took in the information. She understood the value of such a spell—one that even Roswaal-sama had never used before. Duplication magic could only recreate the surface of the body, even when it was used to replicate living things.
If such magic had existed before, Roswaal would have surely known about it. which implied that Kaeya was undoubtedly a skilled magician with a wealth of experience. The idea was further supported by the fact that he was half-elf, since elves were thought to have better control and larger mana reserves.
"We should return to the mansion now." Ram said, before they could continue on with their banter.
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Now that lunch was over, Kaeya was led to Roswaal's private library by Ram.
"Thank you for showing me the way," he said.
Ram gave a small nod. "If you require anything, please call for me." With that, she turned and left, leaving Kaeya alone in front of the grand wooden doors.
He pushed them open, stepping inside. The room was vast, lined with towering bookshelves filled with neatly arranged tomes. The scent of aged paper and ink filled the air, and the dim lighting gave the space a quiet atmosphere.
Kaeya's eyes swept across the room, but he didn't immediately move toward the books. Instead, he turned on his heel and exited.
Out in the open field near the mansion, he focused his mana. Earth and water intertwined to form ten clones. Once the physical forms were complete, he infused them with yang magic, tethering a portion of his consciousness to each clone. It took a little over 5 seconds, but once it was done, ten Kaeyas stood before him.
"Go to the library and read."
The clones immediately turned, heading back inside. As for Kaeya, he followed behind at a slower pace.
Upon reentering the library, he found his clones already at work, each one scanning through different books and flipping pages. He let them be, casually grabbing a book himself and sitting down at a nearby desk.
With this, he could absorb knowledge from multiple sources at once while still maintaining his own focus. This was going to be efficient.
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Kaeya shut the book in his hands with a quiet thud, leaning back in his chair as his clones continued reading. He had gathered a decent amount of information—mostly historical records, politics of Lugunica, and some major conflicts in the past. The Demi-Human war stood out to him the most.
His interest wasn't in the war itself but rather in the battlefield accounts. The records detailed the Sword Saint of that era clashing with a powerful half-elf. Given that he now inhabited a half-elf body, the possibility of his past self having been part of the war wasn't small.
"Was I involved in the Demi-Human War, fighting alongside the demi-humans?"
If the Sword Saint was on the human side, then that was the only possibility left. But there was one issue—the war took place around forty years before he arrived in this world.
'Maybe elves have long lifespans, like in the novels from my old world?' He mulled over the thought, his fingers idly tapping against the wooden surface of the table.'That would explain why this body still looks like an 18-year-old from human standards.'
It was an interesting theory, but there wasn't much he could do about it now. For the time being, it was enough to know that his past was tangled in conflicts far larger than himself.
Just then, the library doors creaked open, breaking his train of thought. He turned to see Ram entering with Subaru, both carrying cleaning supplies.
Subaru let out a small whistle, looking around. "Man, you've been in here for hours. Thought we'd have to drag you out."
"I got caught up in the books."
Subaru stretched before looking at the shelves. "Man, this place is huge. Cleaning all of it is gonna take forever." He let out a dramatic sigh. "I knew being a butler wasn't gonna be easy, but this is just cruel."
Ram, standing beside him, didn't even spare him a glance. "Barusu, complaining won't make the work disappear."
Subaru grumbled, picking up a cloth and starting to wipe the shelves. "Yeah, yeah. You're just watching me suffer, aren't you?"
Ram folded her arms. "If you were competent, I wouldn't have to."
Kaeya, having heard enough, closed his book and stood up. "I'll take a break."
As he walked toward the exit, he issued a silent command to his clones. He didn't want them dispelling inside the mansion and leaving behind a mess of mud and water, so he waited until he was outside. Stepping into the forest, he gave the order. The clones melted back into the ground, leaving no trace.
With that, he made his way back toward the mansion, stepping onto the lawn where he spotted Emilia sitting alone on the grass, looking up at the sky.
She seemed lost in thought, but when she noticed him, her expression brightened slightly.
"Kaeya," she called, smiling.
He approached, stopping a few feet away. "You're out here alone?"
Emilia nodded. "Puck's napping. And I usually talk with the lesser spirits after dinner. And I like sitting outside sometimes—it's peaceful." She glanced at him curiously. "What about you? Done reading?"
"For now," Kaeya replied simply, taking a seat next to her.
A brief silence settled between them before Emilia spoke again. "You know... it's nice to talk with someone like this."
Kaeya raised an eyebrow. "Someone like me?"
She gave a small laugh, though there was a hint of sadness in her expression. "Another half-elf. I never thought I would meet someone like me anytime soon."
That made sense. According to what Emilia and Puck had told him, All the elves were frozen other than Emilia.
Kaeya, however, wasn't particularly attached to his current identity. "I suppose."
Emilia smiled at his usual detached response but didn't push the conversation in that direction.
With a pause he continued. "So, Why do you want to be the monarch?"
Emilia hesitated for a moment before answering. "I want to make things better for everyone. I don't want people to suffer because of what race they are, or their appearance."
She continued, "And... If I win, I can use the dragon's blood to free all the elves who were frozen long ago in the Elior forest."
Kaeya absorbed that information, silently watching her. Emilia's goals weren't self-serving. She wanted to save her people.
And he knew nothing about the person he was before inhabiting this body. Though his main goal was simply to live a good life here, and for that, he needed strength, uncovering his past wouldn't be a bad idea either.
With that thought, he came to a decision.
"...Alright, I will help you," he said.
—
No.
At least, that was what he considered saying. But that thought vanished in an instant.
To him, It seemed like the kind of response a good person would give—someone eager to help, to offer themselves for the sake of others. But Kaeya wasn't that kind of person.
The truth was, he didn't want to get too involved. He had no desire to carry the weight of others' expectations or responsibilities. That wasn't the life he wanted. He valued his freedom—the ability to move without being bound by obligations. Being tied down and then yearning for freedom had led to countless conflicts with his relatives and parents.
But those bonds and responsibilities weren't a choice. They were either placed on him from birth or forced upon him by expectation.
Kaeya sighed, leaning back slightly. "That's quite the goal you've got."
Emilia smiled, though she tilted her head slightly. "You think so?"
He gave a small shrug. "I can't say I share the same goals, but... I suppose I can respect them. Without my memories, I don't feel any particular connection to the elves in the Elior Forest. So, for now, I don't see myself striving toward that goal."
Emilia's expression softened, though there was a flicker of disappointment in her eyes. Still, she smiled. "That's okay. It wouldn't be fair to expect you to care just because we're both half-elves."
Kaeya exhaled lightly, looking away as the wind rustled through the trees. "Well, you've given me something to think about," he said, standing up. "I'll see you later, Emilia."
Emilia looked up at him, her expression soft. "Alright. Take care, Kaeya."
With that, he turned and began walking away.
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Just as he stepped past the hedges lining the lawn, a familiar voice called out.
"Oi, Kaeya!"
He stopped, looking to the side to see Subaru approaching with a casual grin. But there was something behind it—friendly, sure, but with a slight edge of jealousy.
"You and Emilia-tan sure seem to be getting along well," Subaru said, crossing his arms. "Having a nice heart-to-heart out here?"
Kaeya raised an eyebrow. "We were just talking."
"Yeah, yeah, that's how it always starts," Subaru muttered, sighing exaggeratedly. "Next thing you know, she's trusting you with her deepest dreams, and you're promising to protect them or something."
Kaeya gave him a dry look. "Sounds like a lot of effort."
"So you're saying you wouldn't?"
"I don't think she would say something like that to begin with. You're overthinking things." Kaeya replied, He walked past Subaru and with raising his arm he said, "Alright, I will continue my reading session, See you later."
"Okay, later!" Subaru replied.
Subaru watched him go for a moment before scratching the back of his head. "Hah... I think he might be one of those workaholics who work all day."
With a sigh, he turned and made his way back toward Emilia.
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Kaeya continued toward the forest.
On his way, he ran into Ram, who glanced at him before speaking. "Dinner will be ready in an hour, Kaeya-sama. If you are going to train please come back before that."
He nodded. "Got it."
After reaching the clearing where he had trained before, he immediately began creating his clones, the process now faster than before. Ten identical copies of himself formed, standing still as they awaited his command.
"Go to the library and read," he instructed.
The clones turned and walked back toward the mansion.
As for Kaeya, he didn't know what activity he could work on, which would end within an hour, so he decided to test his progress on what his clones had worked on before lunch.