Otome Game Mob Villain

Chapter 646

"Impressive, you noticed quickly. This is a potion specially crafted for Lord Lidd's training—prioritizing efficacy and speed of effect over taste and drinkability. At the strong request of Lord Liner, Lady Nanalie, and Lady Fara, we rushed to complete it in just a few days. The taste aside, I guarantee its effectiveness."

"Ah, I see..."

Too drained to retort to Sandra, I hung my head. Curtis, intrigued, leaned in with a curious "Hoh?"

"A mana recovery potion that emphasizes efficacy and speed? Fascinating. Might I try one?"

"By all means. Ah, Lord Lidd—may I give him one?"

"Sure. But... it has a rather *unique* taste."

Answering Sandra's question, I glanced at Curtis, who smiled warmly.

"Bah, at my age, most flavors hardly bother me anymore."

With that, Curtis tossed the pill into his mouth, took a gulp of water from a cup, and swallowed.

"Hmm. Indeed, a unique taste—but not undrinkable. The closest comparison would be the weed stew I had to endure during my military days."

"Oh? That’s an interesting evaluation. Among researchers, including myself, it’s described as smelling like herbs left to rot into sludge."

"Sandra, don’t encourage him. I have to drink those pills too."

Protesting to the two of them, I suddenly found Fara right in front of me, beaming.

"Now then, Lord Lidd! For the future of House Baldia, *gulp* it down!"

"O-okay. *Gulp*, right..."

Taking a few pills in hand and bringing them to my mouth, a powerful stench assaulted my nose.

...Yeah, if strongly scented herbs were left to rot, this might be exactly how they’d smell.

Glancing around, I noticed the beastkin children—with their keen noses—had already distanced themselves from me.

Steeling myself, I tossed the pills into my mouth and immediately chugged water.

Even so, the bitter astringency of the herbs lingered, and the intense stench burned through my nostrils.

I couldn’t help but grimace, but soon, a sensation of mana recovery washed over me.

"...The efficacy and speed are impressive, but I’d appreciate a little more attention to taste next time."

"Of course! We plan to refine it based on clinical trials with Last in Renaluute, so rest assured."

Shooting Sandra a resentful look, she puffed out her chest proudly.

Last—a young wolfkin boy—is the younger brother of Sheryl, a squad leader in the Second Knight Order.

He suffers from the same mana depletion syndrome as my mother and has been assisting in clinical trials in Renaluute.

To the research-obsessed trio—Sandra in magicology, Nikique in pharmacology, and Bizica in medicine—he’s apparently a rare find.

The smooth progress in my mother’s treatment is largely thanks to Last’s... not sacrifice, but devoted cooperation.

"Well, I’ll wait patiently."

Letting out a sigh, Fara smiled softly.

"Thanks to the recovery potion, your complexion has improved, Lord Lidd. Now, please return to training. We absolutely cannot allow you to lose to Lord Johan."

"Y-yeah. Right."

I nodded hesitantly, but her smile carried an indescribable intensity and pressure.

A little—no, *very* scary.

As I stepped toward the center of the training grounds, Curtis cleared his throat behind me.

"Now then, Lord Lidd, we shall proceed with the next exercise."

"Got it. What’s next?"

When I asked, Curtis relaxed his expression.

"Though you are overflowing with talent, Lord Lidd, you still lack experience. Thus, from here, the vice-captains of the Second Knight Order will attack in pairs while in beastform. You are to face them using only body enhancement."

"Two-on-one is fine, but... isn’t that about the same as usual training?"

Glancing at the vice-captains waiting at the edge of the training grounds, I tilted my head.

After all, I regularly spar with the Second Knight Order members.

Two-on-one is less common, but it doesn’t feel like it’d make up for my lack of experience.

"No need to worry. Every five minutes, the opposing pair will rotate with those on standby. As time passes, the combinations will also change, forcing you to constantly adapt. It will be excellent training."

"I see. That *does* sound interesting."

New opponents every five minutes—and in rotating pairs—would undoubtedly sharpen my adaptability.

"Lord Lidd, your first opponents shall be myself, Ared, and Endra."

"Looking forward to it."

Turning toward the voice, I saw Ared, a bearkin with refined, cute features, and Endra, a plain-faced monkeykin, stepping forward from behind Curtis.

"Yeah, let’s do this," I replied, then glanced at Curtis, sensing the intent behind the pairings.

"The combination is ‘strength and speed,’ right?"

"Indeed. They’ve also undergone prior coordination drills, so this should serve as good preparation against Johan Bestia."

"Makes sense."

I nodded in understanding.

Johan Bestia’s fighting style relies on his high physical abilities—*swift close-quarters combat*.

No one in the Second Knight Order matches his raw power and speed, but with two working together, they could simulate his approach.

"Ared, Endra—don’t hold back. Especially if you’re doing this for my sake."

"Understood. Lord Curtis also instructed us not to hold back."

"I’m not sure if I can truly substitute for this Johan fellow, but I’ll do my best."

Ared narrowed his eyes, while Endra scratched his cheek sheepishly.

"Now then, let the training begin. *Positions!*"

As Curtis raised his right hand, I activated *Body Enhancement: Second Form*.

Seeing this, Ared and Endra also triggered their beastification and body enhancement.

A surge of intense mana waves erupted from the center of the training grounds.

"*Begin!*"

At Curtis’ command, Endra instantly leaped forward.

Closing the distance in a flash, he unleashed a rapid barrage of claw strikes.

Monkeykin excel in nimble, high-speed attacks, favoring combos over single heavy blows.

"Pretty fast, but I can handle this much."

"Naturally. Which is why—"

He smirked, suddenly crouching low.

The next instant—*Ared appeared from my blind spot*, lashing out with a devastating kick.

I’d fallen for Endra’s feint—dodging was impossible.

Crossing my arms on reflex—

"How about *this*?!"

"Gh—?!"

A bearkin’s beastified strike rivals even the likes of Dynas or Rubens in raw power. There was no blocking it head-on.

To disperse the force, I flipped backward in a high arc, putting distance between us.