Now, though, things were different.
Iri's arrival had slotted the final piece into place for his familia's "grand baptism plan."
With a super healer in position, what was there to hesitate about?
So from here on out... it was time to just send it!
As long as nobody actually died, push them to the brink of death!
After all, he had Iri's overpowered healing magic, the White Grail, as a safety net.
Looking at the absurd effects described, this spell's power could probably already rival that of the Vana Mardoll herself.
In other words, as long as Iri was on the field, even someone critically wounded and on the verge of death could be hauled back, so long as there was a single breath left in them.
To have an ability this powerful and not put it to full use, to just shelve it instead, now that would be a genuine waste.
Conveniently, Iri could also train her own stats through frequent spellcasting, while everyone else could go all out in mock battles without holding back. A training regimen like this would dramatically accelerate ability growth while also banking a huge amount of real combat experience, technique, and fighting spirit.
Three birds, one stone!
Why not?
Sweet!
These thoughts crossed his mind. Leon couldn't keep the corners of his mouth from lifting as he explained to Iri:
"Iri, I don't mean I want you fighting directly."
"I mean that with you on the field, Jeanne, Rose, and Kureha won't have to hold back when they spar."
With that, Leon walked everyone through the training concept of the "baptism."
And then...
Kureha's eyes instantly lit up with heat!
"Baptism? I like this training method. Jeanne, Rose, let's get started! With Iri here, this time you don't have to go easy on me!"
Faced with a match request from the combat-loving Sword Saint, Kureha, Jeanne and Rose both gave a helpless smile.
"Well, since you put it that way, it'd be rude of us to turn you down. And training like this really does have huge benefits for all of us, especially for you three, Laurier, Aura, and Iri."
"Come on, we just got back from the Expedition and we've been idle for days now. Time to work the kinks out!"
That was what Jeanne said out loud, but in truth... beyond her hands itching a little, she also wanted to see just how far Iri could go.
"You all have fun, then!"
Seeing the atmosphere in the sitting room start to heat up, Leon left them with that line and bolted off to the basement. There was no way he wanted to play any one-on-one ring matches with Jeanne and Rose under a rule that restricted spell use...
Thinking back on this past year of training, he couldn't count how much suffering he'd swallowed.
Did anyone really think this polished combat instinct of his came from hacking away at monsters?
No, it had been beaten into him with fists.
...
...
Afternoon.
After a simple lunch, the daily chores done, and a short nap, the time slipped quietly toward two in the afternoon.
In the small courtyard.
The women, Iri included, gathered at the "training corner."
A glance showed that everyone had already changed into outfits made for moving freely.
If a modern person saw the way Rose and the others were dressed, their eyes would have popped out of their heads.
Some wore the figure-hugging style of a short athletic tank with yoga pants, white cotton socks, and trainers, the kind of gym look that traced out every perfect curve. Others went with loose black hip-hop pants paired with skate shoes and a snug backless sports top, giving off a sharp, breezy street-youth vibe.
Even though the simple pairings gave off a laid-back "I just threw this on" ease, with the women's superb proportions and outstanding looks backing them up, they wore even those minimalist outfits with an air of class.
Worth noting, every piece in the familia, whether combat gear or training wear, had been custom-fitted to each person's body by the master tailor at the Fine Tailor's Shop.
As for formalwear and proper dress, the prices were honestly a bit much, and there was no use for them at the moment, so those hadn't been acquired yet.
...
"Alright. Since Leon proposed this baptism extreme-training method, and since it's a mature system the Freya Familia spent years feeling out and putting into practice, we still can't just copy it wholesale. After all, every familia and every person's specific situation is different."
"Laurier, Aura, you two go first this round. When you trade blows, don't hold back too much, let loose a bit."
That said, Jeanne looked over at Rose:
"Rose, the Elixirs are all prepped, right? If the experiment doesn't go as well as we expect, we might have to spend a little..."
Rose gave her a reassuring look, lightly shook the two exquisite purple vials in her hand, and flashed an "OK" sign.
"Then, you may begin."
As everyone stepped back toward the wall, Laurier and Aura let their relaxed expressions fade, their eyes turning focused.
"Aura, careful now!"
"Mm."
The word had barely left her when Laurier bit her lip, swung her beloved sword, and closed the distance in a single lunge!
That's right, they were using their actual combat weapons, not training ones!
Just knowing that put a pressure on Aura completely unlike any past training session.
Faced with her friend bearing down on her at speed, Aura's pupils shrank slightly. She backpedaled in quick, choppy steps, swinging her staff and murmuring under her breath, beginning to build the incantation with her Concurrent Chanting technique.
"Hah!"
...
Five minutes later.
Aura lay in the snow, half her body covered in blood, her face pale, eyes rolled back as she lost consciousness.
Beside her stood Laurier, at a total loss, her face blank.
Everyone: "..."
Watching the usually cool-and-aloof elf girl now sprawled there like a stray off the roadside, vomiting blood while her eyes rolled back, Jeanne and the others turned their faces away, unable to bear the sight.
There was no helping it. It was just too brutal, too gruesome.
Pitting Aura, a pure backline Mage, against Laurier, a midfielder, in a ring match had been reckless enough to begin with, and worse, this midfielder was a damn elven wind-magic spellblade who specialized in speed.
How the hell were you supposed to fight that?
Lasting five minutes in Laurier's hands instead of getting one-shot the second she poked her head out, that alone had to be the result of Laurier quietly going easy on her.
If it had been Leon in that spot, a flat "you want me to actually hit you?" would have counted as showing restraint.
"Ah, looks like in a one-on-one solo, a pure backline Mage really does get the short end of the stick."
Kureha forced down the fighting spirit itching inside her and nodded in agreement:
"Yeah, not everyone's a freak like Leon, casting spells on instant cast with a bottomless well of mental energy, his spell arsenal covering attack, defense, and control across the board, and the most absurd part, that ability to take a hit that's tougher than a frontliner's..."