Chapter 2 Part 1
Chapter 2 – My Former Master Is A Vampire
The students were gathered in a large meeting room in the academy. And the three of us were sitting at the back of the room.
As soon as we were seated, I took a look around the whole meeting room.
Hmm… this place is more like a large lecture hall than a large meeting room.
The meeting room has a gentle semicircular step-like design with desks and chairs.
There is a raised platform in the front of the room. Ten desks were also lined up in front of the blackboard.
It was probably originally used as a lecture hall. Removing the desks on the platform makes it look like a podium.
And it seems that half of the desks on the platform are for the Student Council and the other half are for the academic staff.
Oh? Merlin is sitting in the seat of honor on the academic staff’s side.
Usually, Merlin is absent from all academy duties except for the duties of being a homeroom teacher, so her presence here seems to indicate that this is an important event for the whole academy.
“So, the meeting is about to begin.”
One of the Student Council members on the platform ── a girl with purple hair ── stood up.
“All right, everyone, please be quiet. I’m Irene, the host and also the Vice President of the Student Council, will now begin today’s meeting. The agenda this time is the ‘Emperor of the Thunder God, Ephthal’ Festival, which will be a test of abilities that selected students will participate in two months from now.”
Wow…
What an embarrassing name for a festival.
No, it’s probably not embarrassing at all to anyone but me.
But this is a Demon Academy. Why would a festival be held in my name, a human hero?
“As you all know, our headmaster is the eldest of the ‘Emperor of the Thunder God, Ephthal’s’ School, a living legend. This event was initiated by the headmaster’s sponsorship five years ago ──”
I immediately turn my gaze towards Merlin.
She saw my expression and seemed to be holding in her laughter.
‘So you’re the cause, huh!?’, I slumped my shoulders in dejection.
But, well, it was five years ago.
She probably thought I was dead at the time and named the festival after me out of love and respect.
I do not feel bad when I think about it, but the way this is going, I am supposed to be a part of that festival, right?
Somehow, I would feel embarrassed… just at the thought of seeing a statue of myself in town.
“As you all know, the ‘Emperor of the Thunder God, Ephthal’ Festival is a competition between classes. We will compete in various competitions, but eventually, the top two teams will compete in a five-on-five round-robin battle in front of all the students.”
I see. I looked to the side, and for some reason, Maria was frowning crudely.
“Only the truly selected teams that have completed the training camp will participate in the ‘Emperor of the Thunder God, Ephthal’ Festival. All the third-year students have already experienced the training camp, so today, we will have a pep rally for the second-year students who are going to the training camp. The training camp, which is a gateway to success for elite magic, is so harsh that 40% of the students drop out every year. I hope that everyone will grit their teeth for the harsh training ahead.”
Maria then stood up.
“Wait a minute! We’ll also be participating ── in that training camp!”
“Well, well? Is that little elf girl a fool with no common sense? In the first place, there is no precedent for first-year students to participate in the training camp, you know?”
“That’s because the first-year students until now were unable to complete it due to their lack of abilities, so it’s natural for them to pull out voluntarily, isn’t it?”
“You should think about why this has become precedent. The training camp is held in a forest full of monsters. If you participate in the training camp with subpar abilities, an unforeseen accident could kill you, you know?”
“Hmph, this year’s first-years ── if you underestimate us, you’ll get hurt, you know?”
I mean, it looks like they know each other.
Maria and Irene-san’s gazes collide in midair, and sparks are seemingly produced.
The student with glasses sitting next to Irene-san then stood up.
“If you’ve been listening from the beginning… then you should know that first-year students can’t participate in the training camp. That should have come first. So don’t be ridiculous.”
“What, are you the General Secretary of the Student Council? Do you have a problem with that?”
“Your lineage alone shouldn’t have allowed you to enroll into this academy in the first place, let alone represent it, don’t you think?”
“My lineage? Are you saying that you discriminate against elves?”
“No, I wouldn’t say that if you were an ordinary elf. But, I’ve heard that you’re an elf of quite a lowborn status.”
I heard a snap go off in Maria’s head.
No, of course I did not actually hear that sound… Well, her face turned into that of a Hannya in an instant.
“Are you trying to pick a fight? If that’s the case, I’ll accept it! In the name of the forest spirits… I will not tolerate any insult to the Daumier tribe!”
“Trying to pick a fight? Here? It seems that you really are a tribe of lowly elves, as the rumor goes. Don’t forget that you are generously allowed to enroll in this academy.”
And then the man with glasses shifted his gaze to me ──
“Haha! And you guys have even chosen an inferior species, human, as your class representative instead of someone from the demon race? My, my, it seems that you really do have a shortage of talent.”
Maria loudly shouted back, “Fuck you!” while showing the middle finger to the man with glasses.
“He may be human, but ── he’s our ultimate weapon!”
Oh? Maria seems to be really mad at him for making fun of me.
It seems that Maria was telling the truth when she said she acknowledges my abilities.
“You should be ashamed of yourself… for having to rely on an inferior species! Are you planning to disgrace the class representatives of this academy!?”
The man with glasses sighed deeply.
“This is a magic festival named after the hero of the demon race, Merlin-sama’s master, you know? The Emperor of the Thunder God must be lamenting in his grave at the thought of such people participating.”
Well, I really do feel like lamenting right now.
“That’s why the first-year students are not allowed to participate in the training camp this year either!”
“Wait a minute. You can’t just decide that on your own!”
“You’re still saying that!? You should know your place!”
At that moment, a dignified voice rang out in the meeting room.
“It’s fine. They may participate in the training camp.”
“…Merlin-…sama? May I ask you to repeat that… again?”
“You know exactly what I have said, but you want me to repeat myself? Haha, you sure got some nerve, don’t you? I’ll remember your face, you know?”
Merlin’s cold gaze made the man with glasses turn pale as he received it.
“B-B-Bu… But, Headmaster Merlin? It is true that the training camp is dangerous, the first-year students might…”
“They won’t get hurt. It’s impossible.”
“That’s right! Merlin-sama also knows that the first-year students lacked the abilities… eh?”
“Like I said, these people are qualified if you’re talking about their abilities.”
“…Eh?”
“Do you still want me to repeat myself?”
“But there is a certain prestige that comes with the training camp. The second-year students aside, if the first-year students… the lowly elf and the inferior species were to participate…”
“General Secretary? Don’t you know?”
“What is it, Merlin-sama?”
“My master, the Emperor of the Thunder God, is not a demon, but a human, an inferior species as you call it. And I’m not looking for your answers. You should bear in mind that I’m only telling you my decision. Surely you aren’t telling me that you don’t accept my word for it, will you?”
The man with glasses made a sour face as if having swallowed a bitter bug.
“Ug-… Ugh…!”
Then Merlin shrugged her shoulders and said:
“Oh, and explicit discrimination in reference to a particular species is prohibited. You should at least refrain from saying that in public. Your remarks will be discussed at the staff meeting, and a verdict will be issued shortly.”
“Eh? What do you mean by… verdict?”
“It means you’ll receive disciplinary action.”
“That’s… that’s ridiculous…? Just because of that?”
“You’re pathetic. To verbally abuse others in public? I figure you would be prepared to be impeached?”
“N-N-No… that’s… I-I’m… sor… sorry.”
And so, Merlin sighed deeply.
“I’ll give you a personal lecture. It’s the etiquette I once learned from the legendary Emperor of the Thunder God.”
“…What do you mean?”
“When confronted with an opponent that you absolutely can’t win against and if it’s a monster, run away with all your might. If it’s a human, don’t hesitate to get down on your knees and apologize immediately. The common denominator between life and death is speed. Speed is the only thing that counts. By the way, General Secretary?”
“…What is it?”
“It’s funny. You seem haughty to me, even though you have displeased an opponent you can never win against.”
Well, I remember teaching her to run away and apologizing upfront.
But over the last 400 years, it has become quite radical after applying Merlin’s theory.
“I-I-I’m… sorry!”
The man with glasses got down on his knees, which was quite a sight. Merlin also nodded her head in satisfaction.
“You’ll be confined to your room for a week. Considering your future career, I’ll put you on sick leave ostensibly so that you won’t have a history of disciplinary action against you. Go cool your head.”
And with that, the man with glasses bowed his head and left the room dejected, and the matter was settled.
Then, the sound of fingers snapping, made by the Student Council President, could be heard, and the desks on the platform started to be cleared.
For some reason, only Merlin remained on the platform.
Chapter 8 Part 1
Chapter 8 – The Former Demon King, Leaves Home
That night. I was back in the mountains again.
“So, I’m going to the royal capital. Who wants to follow me?”
‘Master.’ ‘Gi-Gi-Gi.’ ‘Kii-Kii.’ ‘…Kii.’
All the bats in the mountains agreed.
“There’s too many of you. I’ll take Dick and only two more.”
So I said.
A fierce battle between the bats began.
The result.
“Okay. The two of you then. Your names will be Gale and Neal. I’ll give you ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood’ as well.”
‘Kii.’ ‘Ki-Kii.’
I cut my finger, and blood began to flow.
The two bats, Gale and Neal, licked the blood.
With this, they will be able to talk as well. And do as I say.
“What I need you guys to do is to scout the royal capital. Also, information on the guild and the town. I also want you guys to check out the routes I can take to hide in case of an emergency.”
‘Master.’ ‘Understood.’ ‘Got it.’
Dick, Gale, and Neal replied.
Let’s have them help me live the way of a human.
I’m still a novice at being a human. So I want to make sure I do not get found out.
I have learned my lesson. I do not want anything like what had happened in my previous life to occur again.
“We’re leaving tomorrow. So I’ll end it early today. Until then, please accompany me in practicing ‘Ancient Magic’.”
‘‘‘Kii-Kii!’’’
And so, after practicing ‘Ancient Magic’ for a while, I returned to the mansion ──
The next day.
The day for me to leave for the royal capital has finally come.
“I’ll be going, then. Father, Xellos nii-sama, Rumia.”
“Yeah, please do your best.”
Father holds my hands.
“If it’s you, I know you’ll be fine, Yuuki.”
Xellos nii-sama gave a refreshing smile.
“P-Please take care and write to me, Yuuki nii-sama.”
said Rumia, with tears flowing down her face.
“Her Royal Highness wants you to be a knight escort, but there is no need to push yourself. Always try to favor the high-ranking nobles. Don’t forget that our Grossalia family is considered an upstart.”
“I understand. Father.”
“There are many children of nobles who will be going to the royal capital as well. I have also told the nobles of other families about you. Please don’t be rude to them.”
Father, you do not need to be concerned about that.
I have a feeling that getting involved with the other nobles… will be troublesome.
“Martha. Please take good care of Yuuki for me.”
“To be honest, Martha doesn’t really like you, since Xellos-sama disliked Yuuki-sama.”
“…You always speak frankly, don’t you.”
“Martha is Yuuki-sama’s personal maid, after all.”
“I understand. I apologize for what I have done so far. In return, I’m going to back up Yuuki with the entire Grossalia family. Can you please believe me on that?”
“Yes. Xellos-sama.”
“And don’t worry about your mother, Melissa. We’ll take good care of her.”
“Thank you for your kindness.”
Martha bowed and began to load her baggage into the carriage.
But before that, I wish she would tear off Rumia, who is still hugging me.
“It’s not like we won’t see each other anymore, right? And you also won’t mind if Rumia goes to visit you, right?”
“There are holidays too, and I think I can at least have a family visit. So it will be fine.”
“Take care, Martha. Even if we’re far apart, we’ll always be friends, won’t we?”
“Yes. Please come and visit us, Rumia-sama.”
“Yeah… yeah.”
“Come on now, Rumia. It’s about time.”
said Father.
Rumia finally moved away from me.
Father, Xellos nii-sama, Rumia, maids, and servants are all lined up in rows in front of the mansion.
Speaking of which, this is the first time I’ve been sent off on a journey by someone.
In my previous life, I was asked, ‘Why don’t you age!?’, ‘Get out of here, you monster!’. I was chased off all the time, and after I settled down in ‘Fila Village’, I hardly ever went out of the village.
I see. So this is how humans send off their families.
“Thank you for everything.”
“What are you talking about, Yuuki?”
Xellos nii-sama held out his fist to me.
“This is your home. If you need anything, you can always come back. ‘My Lord’.”
“Xellos? What do you mean by ‘My Lord’?”
“It’s a secret between Yuuki and me. Hey, Yuuki.”
“…Yes, nii-sama.”
Xellos nii-sama and I put our fists together.
This is what it means to be human.
I’m no match for them. Seriously.
And so, the carriage carrying Martha and I departed Baron Grossalia’s territory.
The carriage carrying Martha and I is going smoothly along the road.
It takes about fifteen days by carriage from the Baron’s territory to the royal capital.
Today is the 14th day, so we should be able to see the royal capital tomorrow.
“There’s no need for a carriage, though.”
“That’s not how it works. Young Master Yuuki.”
said the coachman.
He is an old soldier over fifty years old, who had been patrolling the territory.
“We have social norms. Besides, young master is going to be Her Royal Highness’s knight escort. It’s a great honor to be given the task of escorting young master to the royal capital.”
“Don’t get all teary about it. Also, you don’t need to call me young master.”
“Please don’t worry about it, ‘Young Master Yuuki’.”
“Stop it, Martha.”
“Hehe.”
Martha smiled happily while sitting on the vibration suppression blanket.
“Martha never thought that Martha would be going to the royal capital.”
“I’m sorry, you had to come with me.”
“Martha is Yuuki-sama’s partner, after all.”
“It’s to survive in this world.”
“Martha realized that this is not a kind world when Martha’s father died.”
“I’m not going to die, so don’t worry.”
“Martha trust you. Yuuki-sama.”
“Thank you. Anyway… isn’t the carriage slowing down?”
I looked out of the carriage window.
The scenery has hardly changed for a while now.
“Pardon me, young master, Martha-chan.”
“Please stop adding the ‘-chan’.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about it, ‘Martha-chan’.”
“…Mm.”
“Is something the matter?”
“No, the carriage in front of us isn’t really moving…”
The coachman bowed to Martha and me.
“Dick. Are you there?”
‘Yes. Master.’
Dick, who had been hiding among the baggage, appeared.
“I’m sorry, but I need you to see what’s going on.”
‘Certainly.’
Dick flew out of the carriage window.
“That’s my familiar, Dick. There are also Gale and Neal.”
“You have many friends, don’t you? Yuuki-sama.”
“I thought you’d be surprised.”
“It’s only natural that Yuuki-sama is amazing.”
“I’d like to surprise Martha for once, though.”
“No, Martha doesn’t get surprised anymore because Yuuki-sama surprised Martha so much when Martha was still a child.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. It was good training for Martha to become Yuuki-sama’s personal maid.”
“Martha is amazing.”
“Right back at you.”
While we were having that conversation, Dick returned.
‘The road is empty, but the carriage in front of us is moving slowly. Together with a large parade of soldiers.’
“A large parade of soldiers?”
‘Yes. Three carriages. And many guards.’
“It’s really a large parade. Do you know who the carriages belong to?”
‘The carriages have Wyvern emblems on them.’
“Wyvern emblem, huh. Martha, do you know?”
“In that case… Marquess-sama? No, Duke-sama’s…?”
“The Wyvern is Duke Sorey’s family crest. Young master, Martha-chan.”
said the coachman at the driver’s seat.
“It’s a historic noble family. We can’t overtake that large parade.”
“No, they seem to have stopped.”
I looked out the window and saw that the Duke’s carriages had indeed stopped.
A little later, our carriage also came to a halt.
“Martha, do you remember what Father said to me when we were about to leave?”
“Please do your best.”
“Then Father said that there are many children of nobles who will be going to the royal capital as well.”
“Martha remembers. Baron-sama also told the nobles of other families about you.”
“I wonder what Father told them.”
“Martha thinks it was bragging about Yuuki-sama.”
Martha and I looked at each other.
We had a bad feeling about this.
“Young master. Someone is getting out of the carriage in front of us.”
“I’ll handle it. Martha, get my clothes ready.”
“Yes, Yuuki-sama.”
I turned my back to Martha.
Martha took the best coat out of the baggage and put it on my shoulders.
As soon as I unfasten my belt, she turns her face to the side and gives me ironed trousers. While I change out of my casual clothes into something more formal, Martha takes a comb out from the chest pocket of her maid’s uniform and fixes my hair. She then smooths out the wrinkles of my coat, adjusted the collar, and I was done.
“…You two are in tune with each other, like a married couple who have been together for twenty years.”
“We are partners, after all.”
“Martha has pledged her allegiance to Yuuki-sama.”
I got out of the carriage, leaving Martha and the coachman behind.
Chapter 1 Part 2
☆★☆★☆★
And so, three days later.
We ended up playing tag in the vast forest on the grounds of the academy.
The rules are simple. Anyone who could land a blow to the head with a mock sword without being noticed would win.
Quite a few of us may sign up for the Adventurer’s Guild in the future. So it is a kind of training to detect and erase magic presence as a countermeasure against monsters in the forest.
Naturally, I have been detecting the magic presence of everyone from the very beginning.
Incidentally, Anastasia was in the thief business, so she is very good at erasing her magic presence. Even I can’t detect her magic presence if I am fifty meters away from her.
And Maria is of the forest hunters, so she is naturally good at that. But well, she is still no match for me.
Before I became one of the Four Emperors, I was a member at the guild as an S-rank adventurer.
“Don’t underestimate an elf’s ability to detect and erase magic presence!”
Thinking that I had not noticed her, Maria jumped off from the top of the tree and swung her sword down at me at the same time.
That being said, this girl practices a fair number of martial arts compared to an ordinary person.
I am also an expert in swordsmanship, but I have been training endlessly against the likes of Fraser nii-san and Headmaster Mauriat, ever since I was a child.
So naturally, I have very little experience in sparring with less skilled opponents. And therefore if a half-baked opponent comes at me with full force ──
“Ah, you dodged it!?”
Yeah, that’s right, it is quite difficult to hold myself back.
I have been trained in swordsmanship so that my body moves in reflexively, so I guess this is another area I need to work on in the future.
*Thunk* “──── Ow!”
I knocked her out by hitting her on the head with my mock sword.
Maria fell towards me, and I held her gently as she almost fell face-first to the ground.
That is when ── the sweet scent of the Daumier elf tribe’s unique perfume tickled my nostrils, causing my heart to pound really fast.
“I’ve been wondering if we have met before… I see, so that explains a lot.”
The memories of my previous life, memories that had long been forgotten, came flashing back in my mind.
At the same time, a warm feeling started to spread in my heart.
“We even share the same competitive spirit, huh… Haha, this is really nostalgic. You were very young, but when I first met you… you had a face that looked just like this.”
I then laid my school uniform on the ground and slowly put Maria down.
As soon as class is over, the academic staff would probably come to collect her. After using simple recovery magic on Maria, I left.
☆★☆★☆★
And so, Maria came at me 11 times.
I won 10 out of 11 rounds ──
“Hehe. Finally, finally, I won against Ephthal!”
In the morning classroom, Maria was proud of her victory and nodded her head contentedly.
“I’m a genius, after all. Well, it’s no surprise that justice always triumphs over evil in the end.”
Anastasia is making a weary face at Maria, who is ranting and raving with a triumphant look so that everyone can hear her.
She is definitely doing this on purpose so that everyone can hear her.
I guess she wants to advertise the fact that she won, but how much does she crave the limelight. Or does she want to make herself look better…
“Maria-san just won by default. In the first place, Master didn’t participate in the magic firing test.”
“S-Shut up! Do you have a problem with that?”
“No, not at all…”
Then Maria pointed her right index finger at me, stretching out her small chest.
“Anyway, it’s true that I won against you. And it’s also clear that I’m the definite winner in the end.”
“Okay, okay, I understand, I understand. I’ve lost.”
“W-What’s with that response?”
“Like I said, I’ve lost. By the way… Maria?”
“Hm? What?”
“Why do you insist on coming at me like that?”
“First of all, you and I are class representatives. Since I need to rise to the top of this academy, I need to see for myself if you’re useful.”
“I’ve heard that before, but we don’t need to have a match over and over again, do we?”
“There’s a good reason for that, too. I don’t like you. That’s why I need to test you over and over again. Emotionally, I just can’t accept it.”
“You… don’t like me?”
“Your name! It’s your name!”
“My name?”
“I admire the first Emperor of the Thunder God. He was a great hero who once fought to protect the elves. I used to listen to his legends as a sort of lullaby during my childhood.”
“…I see.”
Well, Maria’s Daumier tribe and I… have an old relationship.
It is also true that I have fought to protect the elves.
“So, you have the same name as the first Emperor of the Thunder God. That’s like sacrilege to our tribe, you know?”
“So that’s why you came at me?”
“Yes, I thought… I’d have to make you yelp more than once. And now it’s just the first of many.”
I see, I understand the situation.
But… hmm, it is still a pain in the ass to be constantly hounded for matches.
It can’t be helped. I just have to use the same method I used to deceive Merlin.
The made-up story of my ancestor, the Emperor of the Thunder God, actually had an illegitimate child… and entrusted all of his magic to the family.
“Err, Maria. Actually ──”
And so, I told Maria some nonsense about my lineage.
“…This must be a lie, right? Is that true?”
Well, it’s a lie.
Anyhow, Maria opened her eyes wide in disbelief.
“No, but… that’s…”
Hmm…
She seems to be dubious.
Nonetheless, I’m also tired of matches day after day. If it is because of my name, I would like to convince her right here and now.
For now, it is already known that I am a certain influential person.
And there is also the obviously unnatural relationship between Merlin and me. This fabrication makes sense from a situational standpoint and should have a certain amount of persuasive power.
I wonder if the genius elf would buy into my made-up story.
“No, but… It’s odd that you have the same name in the first place… Hmm… It’s true that you’re beyond the scope of an ordinary person… No, but… It’s a crazy story…”
Maria groaned and began to ponder ──
“Yes. I believe you. I’m convinced.”
── All right! That was easy!
I assumed a victory pose, and Maria then cleared her throat.
“Well, be that as it may… I can also acknowledge the abilities of others. I’ll admit that the battle between you and me was one of my greatest evenly matched battles.”
Anastasia had her mouth agape with a blank look on her face.
“You called that an evenly matched battle?”
I was a little curious, so I asked Maria.
“By the way, you said you were going to make me yelp a few times, didn’t you? How many times exactly were you planning to do that?”
“About thirty times?”
“That’s dozens of times, you know!?”
Good gracious, I dealt with this early. I would be horrified if I had to take her on endlessly.
Maria then tapped me on the shoulder.
“In other words, I’ll acknowledge you as my equal. From now on, we’ll act together as class representatives, and I’ll give you the number two spot. Well, you are the ultimate weapon for the team, so I look forward to working with you.”
── And so, that brings us to the beginning of the story.
Basically, from now on, we will be working as a team, “Follow Maria who’s the leader…”, and that is how it came to be.
☆★☆★☆★
The next day.
Maria, who had been in high spirits ever since this morning, said something unexpected again.
“Today, there will be a meeting to select class representative candidates. You know that this academy selects five members for each class, right?”
“They’re members who participate in mock battles between classes or against other academies, right?”
It seems that I am partially forced to be the class representative as a magic swordsman, but come to think of it, I have not heard anything about it.
“That’s right. The five of us consist of two mages, two magic swordsmen, and one priest.”
“Hmmm.”
“Currently, you are the magic swordsman. Anastasia and I are the two mages which makes us three now. The other two will be decided after this.”
“No, no, wait a minute.”
“Eh? What?”
“Apart from me, Anastasia is joining us, too?”
“Frankly speaking. Other than the three of us, the rest in our class are useless. They’re just small fries.”
“Hm? What do you mean by that?”
“When I first entered this academy, Abe and I tried to train the other three class representatives because they were terrible. Then, unbeknownst to me, Abe kind of brought them to the brink of death… And since then, they’ve refused to go to this academy. There was nothing I could do about it.”
“Oh… I see.”
I don’t know exactly what happened, but it seems to be something troublesome anyway.
That being said, it was the right decision to expel Abe from this academy, after all. Bringing a classmate to the brink of death is…
“No, but can we suddenly make Anastasia one of the class representatives?”
“She got a perfect score on the previous exam, didn’t she? That was actually a set of difficult first-year final exam level questions. If she got a perfect score on it, then nobody will complain. Besides, both of you are on good terms with Merlin-sama, right?”
Well, I guess there is no more hiding that anymore.
“So, the three of us are going to attend the class representative meeting organized by the student council after school. And that will be my first step to becoming a legend.”
“…Legend?”
“Yes, you heard it right! It’s a Cinderella story about me, by me, for me, a transcendent beautiful genius!”
“Err, what does that mean?”
“I told you before, didn’t I? It’s the greatest honor a mage student can receive, the Grand Jade Medal.”
Maria said arrogantly to the point that her chin would point up towards the ceiling.
“My legend begins at today’s meeting! There’s also our ultimate weapon, Ephthal, over here. As for those pompous student council members ── I’m going to astound them right from the beginning!”
Yeah. This person gives me a surprisingly bad feeling.
I had a dream for the first time in a long time. Perhaps it was because I was exhausted after solving one of my problems.
It was a dream about my previous life.
Back when I was still Dean Nosferatu, I was teaching children in that old castle ──
“My lord!!”
“Lyle. You’re still here.”
“Yes!”
The 8-year-old Lyle Carmine nodded with laughter.
This is the innermost room of the old castle. It’s a classroom for the children.
The villagers jokingly call it the ‘Throne Room’.
Indeed, there is a chair that makes it look like a throne. The villagers made it several generations ago. It’s getting a bit worn out, but it gets repaired every few years.
On the floor, there are tablets lying around.
Until just now, the children of the village were practicing their writing and doing math problems.
In the morning, children between the ages of four and thirteen come to this old castle to study. They would leave before sunset.
It may sound like a classroom, but it also partially acts as a nursery.
I’m always taking care of the little ones while letting the older children study.
“And why aren’t you home yet, Lyle?”
“Please continue teaching me, my lord!!”
“It’s already late today. Let’s do it tomorrow.”
“No!”
“…Hey now.”
Lyle is the only son of Dick and Gerda. He is small for his age and likes to study more than playing. However, his ability to learn is poor.
When I look at Lyle’s writing on the tablets… Aah, he makes a lot of mistakes in his grammar and calculations.
After all, Lyle is a hasty child.
I always tell him to write more calmly.
“Look outside, Lyle.”
“It’s dark, isn’t it! My lord!”
“You probably heard the evening bell ring, didn’t you?”
“I did. My lord!”
“Then, what should you do?”
“To learn more!”
“Wrong! Hurry up and go home! It’s dangerous, you know!?”
“There are no monsters on the mountain trail around here, so it’s okay!”
“That’s because the people in the village and I have been exterminating them regularly.”
“Thank you very much! My lord!”
“Don’t mention it, just go home. I’ll send you off.”
“Eeeeeehhhhhh.”
“Go home!”
“Ouch, ouch! My head hurts!”
He is saying that, but isn’t he smiling?
Seriously, I don’t understand humans. They came to a ‘Monster, Nosferatu’ like me, and showed me a smile.
I have lived for nearly two hundred years, and I still do not understand humans.
“In the first place, why do you want to study so badly?”
“Because I’m behind everyone else.”
“It’s not a contest, you know?”
“I know. B-But…”
Lyle’s cheeks turn red.
He crouches down and begins to poke at the tablets.
“What’s wrong with Remilia’s tablet!?”
“No! I don’t like Remilia!”
“Huh?”
“I don’t care that Remilia said she likes smart people! I don’t care that Remilia said she wanted to be the wife of the village chief! I just don’t care!!”
“I see. So you want to marry Remilia!?”
“Stop it!”
Hey, don’t hit me… while crying.
Seriously.
“It’s late now, so go home. This is my decision.”
*Sniff Sniff* “…Uuu.”
“Instead, come back thirty minutes early starting from tomorrow morning.”
Lyle looked at me dumbfounded.
Before I knew it, his tears had stopped. He is a calculated child.
“Tell Dick and Gerda that I asked you to help with the cleaning. I’ll help you with your studies before the other children get here.”
“…My lord.”
“It’s just that. Remilia is by far the best I’ve ever taught. It will take a lot of effort to make her fall in love with you, you know!? So don’t hit me!”
I took him back to the village since it was getting late ──
“Good morning! My lord!”
“I told you to come here thirty minutes early, didn’t I!? Why are you coming right after dawn!!?”
I really do not understand humans.
“I’ve decided to marry Lyle.”
It was a few years later that Remilia came to report this.
Her declaration of marriage threw the men of the village into the depths of despair.
For she is a beautiful girl, which was rare around here.
“In commemoration of our marriage, please teach me the magic for restraint, my lord.”
“Why’s that!? What are you going to use it for?”
“Don’t worry! I won’t use it on anyone but Lyle!”
“What are you going to do to your newly-wed husband?”
“…I mean, isn’t Lyle popular?”
Is that so?
Are you not the only child in the village who likes him?
“Lyle is good-looking, hardworking, responsible, and very honest! What girl wouldn’t like him!!?”
“You think so?”
“…Please make corrections. My lord.”
“…Well, first of all, I think you two are a good match for each other.”
“As expected of my lord, you’re a good judge of character!”
“Stop pointing your finger at me. Don’t prepare to chant. That’s intimidation!”
“I mean, only my lord knows how great Lyle is.”
“I know he’s been working hard to get you to like him.”
“I know, right.”
“But didn’t you always like Lyle? So why did you put conditions on the marriage? Like becoming the village chief or the best mage in the village?”
“Eh? Because isn’t it cute that Lyle makes an honest effort?”
“…Human women are scary.”
“When we get married, I’m going to make him work hard so we can have lots of kids.”
“Please be moderate.”
“If Lyle gets sick, please take care of him.”
“Don’t rely on me before you two get married!”
It can’t be helped.
I grabbed some herbs from the warehouse.
“Here. This is a decoction of ‘Hermes Grass’ root, which is good as a nourishing tonic. Use it only once a day.”
“I love you! My lord!!”
“Yes, yes.”
“In return, Lyle and I would like to give you a present.”
“A present?”
“Lyle loves you, my lord.”
“I suppose so.”
“Of course, I love my lord, too. In other words, the number one and the number two in the ‘I love my lord ranking’ of ‘Fila Village’ will get married. What do you think will happen?”
“I don’t know.”
“Well, believe it or not, the child who loves my lord the most in the world will be born and will become your wife!”
“Don’t talk nonsense!”
“Why is that?”
“Because you’re all going to die before I do.”
“…Is that why you’ve always been alone?”
“It was pretty tough when your parents died. What would I do if it was my wife?”
“It will be fine!”
“What?”
“Because Lyle and I are going to have lots of children.”
Remilia smiles shyly.
“Then maybe one of them will be immortal who can stay with my lord forever and even have a child together.”
“What are the odds of that?”
“You will see. I’ll do my best!”
“Well, just make sure Lyle doesn’t die. Also…”
I placed a stone on the palm of Remilia’s hand.
It was the ‘Lapiris Stone’ that I had refined, which has a magic power accumulation effect.
It was quite difficult to find one with high purity.
“It’s a wedding gift for you. Be happy, Remilia.”
“Yes!! I promise!!”
“Haa… haa…… My lord…”
“It’s okay, Alice. You’re not going to die.”
A few years later.
This is my room in the old castle.
Lying on the bed is Lyle and Remilia’s daughter, Alice.
Around that time, the epidemic of ‘Death Crest Disease’ was in full swing.
The death toll in the royal capital continued to rise.
So I told the villagers not to go to the royal capital or any villages near it, but ── I couldn’t stop the ones coming from there like messengers and emissaries.
There were several infected people in the village.
Those with mild symptoms were placed in the inner ‘Throne Room’.
But Alice’s fever has not gone down yet.
The ‘Death Crest Disease’ that appears when one is infected is still there. That is why I have been keeping an eye on her.
I did the treatment.
I have been giving Alice my ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood’, and continue to use the power of ‘Purification’ on her.
The worst is over. Alice should be ── fine.
Now it’s just a matter of time… I keep repeating the same words over and over again, don’t I?
I have been living for almost two hundred years, and every time someone is dying, this would always happen. I just never grow up, don’t I?
“Hey… My lord.”
“Go back to sleep, Alice.”
“Why do you look like you’re in pain?”
“…Huh?”
“My lord is immortal, right? But ever since Alice is dying, my lord has been in pain. Why’s that…?”
“…I don’t like this kind of thing.”
“…This kind of thing?”
“I just can’t get used to people around me dying young. It’s like I’m cheating since I don’t die. That’s all.”
“Is… that so.”
Alice rolled over in her sleep.
She squinted her big eyes and looked at me.
“Then Alice will do her best.”
“Yeah, that’s the spirit. The purification is progressing, so you’ll feel better soon. Hang in there.”
“If I do my best, will you reward me?”
“Very well.”
“Then, when Alice grows up, Alice will be my lord’s wife.”
“Yes, yes.”
“…My lord, you idiot.”
“Why, all of a sudden?”
“That’s not how you answer a maiden’s confession.”
“That can wait till you get better.”
“By the way, by wife, Alice meant that Alice would be with my lord for the rest of her life.”
“…I’ll think about it when you’re older.”
“…My lord, didn’t you tell everyone that?”
“You’re scary.”
“They’ll forget about it when they’re older anyway, is that what you think?”
“Don’t read the mind of the ‘Immortal Mage, Lord of Nosferatu’.”
“Won’t you think about it…?”
“Time passes differently for humans than for me. I’m not going to let the ‘future you’ take responsibility for the ‘present you’.”
“Mmm. Then let’s play a game.”
“A game?”
“Alice will always remember this feeling, even after Alice is older. So, if Alice doesn’t forget, take Alice as your wife.”
“Sure. But then who’s going to succeed Lyle?”
“Mother has a second child in her belly. So it will be fine.”
“Remilia is overusing ‘Hermes Grass’ on Lyle, huh…”
“He’s still young, so he’ll be fine.”
“Don’t say that. And don’t say that to the other children.”
“We’re quite open about it.”
“All right, all right. Now go to sleep.”
“…Yeah.”
I patted her on the head, and Alice closed her eyes meekly.
This was just before I died.
I don’t know what happened to Lyle, Remilia, and Alice after that.
I… should not know.
However ──
*Rustle Rustle*
I heard strange noises.
There are faint voices from over there. What… is this?
Whose memory ── is this?
“I… I… with this hand of mine… my family… ‘My Lord’…”
“……‘My Lord’ said… ‘see you’… so surely… someday.”
“…You are…… our…… hope……”
“──── Hero ────. I put you ──── in ──── charge.”
“──── If you are okay with it ────, I understand.”
“──── No matter how much time passes ──── I will always be waiting for you ──── so ────”
“Someday, I hope we meet again ────”
“…Eh?”
When I came to my senses, I found myself in my bed in the Baron’s mansion.
…I was dreaming.
A dream from long ago…
The last thing I heard was voices. Lyle, Remilia, and Alice’s.
There was also a mixture of voices from people I didn’t know.
It was not my memory. Maybe it was something that has happened from the past two hundred years ago.
Something that Lyle and the others were talking about…?
In that case, who conveyed it to me…?
I don’t know.
I don’t even know why I was reincarnated in the first place. It is pointless to think about it.
…But Lyle… was concerned about the fact that he killed me.
If that was truly his voice, what did Lyle and the others do after my death…?
“What’s the matter, Yuuki-sama?”
“…Something from long ago… no, I had a strange dream.”
“Please tell me about it, Yuuki-sama.”
“Rather than that, Martha, why are you in my room?”
“You’re leaving for the royal capital tomorrow, aren’t you? And you told Martha to wake you up early because you have many things to do before that, didn’t you?”
Right.
It has already been about a month since the enrollment examination.
Since then, I have been very busy every day. I have to read the materials that Princess Iris sent me and the enrollment guidelines for the ‘Magic Guild’. I read the orientation guide and the document about the ‘Knight Escort’, and I accompanied Rumia in my free time ── just like that, time flew by quickly.
If Martha had not helped me with the preparations, I might not have made it in time.
“Thank you, Martha. I’m getting up.”
“With that said, what were you dreaming about?”
“……I don’t remember.”
I feel bad for Martha, but I have to leave it like that.
“What a shame.”
“Why’s that?”
“Martha thought that by analyzing the dream, Martha would be able to serve Yuuki-sama better.”
“It’s fine. Rather, come help me get dressed.”
“Yes, Yuuki-sama.”
From now on, I will study ‘Ancient Magic’ at the ‘Magic Guild’ in the royal capital.
I wish I could find out about Lyle and the others… there.
I should be careful not to reveal my true identity and be prepared to disappear at any time.
If I disappear by dying… they would be sad.
So let’s just be sure that it will be a normal, missing person case.
“Well then, let’s go, shall we?”
“Yes, Yuuki-sama.”
I then left the room of the mansion.
Tomorrow is the day I will leave for the royal capital, so let me do what I can today.
Chapter 1 Part 1
Chapter 1 – The Story Of How I Got Tangled Up With A Pompous Elf
“Hey, you?”
It was that one day in the classroom after school when Maria said that to me.
“Hm? What is it?”
“Didn’t we have a test on basic fire magic the other day?”
“Oh, the test the day before yesterday?”
“Yes, that’s it. The results of that test will be announced tomorrow. So have a match with me.”
“Eh? A match? Why?”
“You’re a subject of my observation. Since you moved to this academy, there are many incomprehensible incidents that it would be absurd not to pay attention to you. I suspect that you are also responsible for Abe’s disappearance from the academy.”
Maria pointed at me, stretching out her small chest.
She has good instincts. Because, as a matter of fact, I am the one who caused Abe to disappear from the academy.
“Observation, you say…?”
“Anyway, have a match with me tomorrow. I’m telling you that I’m going to personally measure whether or not you’re capable of representing the class, so be grateful. If you are capable, then we’ll be fighting together as comrades in the class competition.”
If I remember correctly, I was chosen to represent the class as a magic swordsman.
“By the way, Maria?”
“Hm? What?”
“…I’ve been wondering for a while now, have we met before?”
When I asked, Maria tilted her head and replied, “Well”.
“I only know the Elven Forest and the Demon Academy. You’re the first of the inferior species, human, that I’ve met.”
“…Well, if we’ve never met, that’s fine.”
“Anyway, have a match with me tomorrow, okay?”
After that, she left the classroom gallantly.
“Haa,” I sighed.
── In other words, a girl who is a pain in the ass seems to be interested in me.
The next day.
In today’s morning homeroom, the results of the basic fire magic test are to be announced.
Maria, who was sitting in front of me, turned around and grinned at me.
“I’m going to test your abilities today. You seem to be hiding them. Well, even if you are, it is impossible for me, a beautiful genius, to lose.”
How should I put it? There seems to be a sense of rivalry here.
From what I heard, Maria is always at the top when it comes to examinations.
So, does that mean she is concerned about the uncertain factor of my sudden arrival that could threaten her top position?
No, that can’t be it. She said we are fellow class representatives, and she, with expectations, plans to test my abilities.
“Well then, I’ll announce the test results. As is customary practice in the academy, I’ll call you in order of your scores.”
When Maria heard this, she spoke to me in a hushed voice.
“As Merlin-sama said, the test results will be announced according to the scores. Will Ephthal be the first to be called, or will I be the first to be called… That’s right. The match will be decided by the name of the first student to be called.”
With a cough, Merlin continued.
“Here’s the test results. First place goes to two students. Tied for first place with 100 out of 100 points.”
Maria shrugged in disappointment.
“Humph, looks like it’s not settled this time.”
“Not settled?”
“You and I are tied for first place with a perfect score. It seems that our capabilities cannot be measured in this basic test. Well, I’m glad I miscalculated because I would be in trouble as the leader of the class representatives if I showed the bottom of my abilities in this basic test.”
“Huh? But didn’t you call me an inferior species?”
“I am a meritocratic person. I think humans are inferior in magic, but it’s a different story if they showed their abilities. Since you have got a perfect score on this test… you should be useful to me as a member of the class representatives from now on!”
Maria held out her right hand to me. It seems that she is asking for a handshake.
And before I knew it, all eyes in the class were on us.
Well, I guess it’s only natural when she talks this loudly.
“I feel like shaking hands now would be a hassle…”
“Eh? A hassle?”
“N-No, it’s nothing.”
I had no choice but to take her hand and shake it. Maria nodded in satisfaction.
It was at that moment that Merlin called out my name.
“The first person to tie for a perfect score was student Ephthal.”
“Oh, hey.”
I stood up and bowed my head.
Merlin and I looked at each other and smiled as if it was natural. There’s no way I could have made a mistake on a test of that level other than a careless mistake.
“Next, the second student in the tie for first place with a perfect score is ──”
Maria then stood up and brushed her hair back.
Looking at her from behind, I can tell that she has her arms crossed and a smug “Well, of course” look on her face.
“Student Anastasia. Next, student Maria with 96 points, and the next is much lower. Student Maris with 74 points. Next, 70 points…”
Anastasia stands up and bows her head. And ──
── Maria froze.
She doesn’t move an inch even when her name is called. She just stood there with her head down.
Just now, with so much assertion that she declared, “You and I are tied for first place with a perfect score.”…
── This is embarrassing.
After a while, Maria slumped down in her chair. Then she plopped her face down on the desk with her shoulders trembling.
☆★☆★☆★
A week later.
“Ephthal! I was careless last time, but this time I stayed up all night studying for many days!”
Today is the announcement of the results on the wind magic theory quiz.
Incidentally, it was just a quiz this time, so it does not seem like they will announce the names in the order of the scores.
“Hehe, how is it? My abilities as a beautiful genius have been demonstrated.”
Fluttering her 100 points answer script, Maria stretched out her small chest.
“Yeah, I’ve lost!”
Incidentally, Anastasia scored 98 points this time, which is probably just a careless mistake.
“Hehe, now that I’ve beaten all the small fries. What’s your score? Well, even if you scored 100 points, I still won’t lose. After all, I have a perfect score of 100 points.”
“Err… my score is…”
“What’s your score?”
Maria then snatched my answer script from me.
“Shoot,” I shook my head.
Maria took a look at my answer script. Her mouth repeatedly opened and closed like a washed-up fish gasping for air.
“…284 points out of 100 points?”
Merlin on the podium greatly nodded and said this in a dignified voice:
“It’s just bonus points because of how brilliant the answers were. There shouldn’t be anything odd about it, right?”
Well, unlike the previous exam, which was full of simple and straightforward questions with no room for bonus points, this quiz was, in all likelihood, Merlin’s prank on me.
In fact, these questions can even be solved with a rudimentary knowledge of magic.
However, they are questions that use constant, which was unproven in my era.
So, as a scholar, I can’t help but fall for the questions that say, <<Provided that, the Euryale constant is 3>>.
To be precise, it would be 2.997. Even though I hadn’t yet proven it at the time, but for some reason, I just know…
I challenged the quiz under the theme of proving such a curious constant.
As a result, I wrote the process of proving the constant on the back of the answer script, and I did it just barely within the time limit.
Well, I’ve read all the modern magic theories, so I responded to Merlin’s prank in the form of a complete answer.
But that aside, Maria was glaring at me with a red face.
“This is favoritism! Just because Merlin-sama likes Ephthal a little bit doesn’t mean you can be so blatant about it!? I know about the bonus points system, but that’s just an extra 3 or 4 points at best, isn’t it?”
“Student Maria, if you have any objections, then I’m all ears. But I don’t have a lot of free time either… so, can you have a look at student Ephthal’s answers properly first?”
Maria dubiously… looked over my answer script and turned pale as she looked at it.
“What is this? I don’t even know what you have written. What is this…? Just what is this answer script?”
Maria thrust the answer script back at me with a dumbfounded look.
☆★☆★☆★
So, the next day.
We are having a hands-on training session at the sports ground on how to enchant weapons with magic.
I with a sword, and Maria with a bow. In other words, each of us is supposed to use the weapon that we are best at.
“I understand that you’re a theoretical absurdity. But magic is a world of application.”
And so Maria came at me again…
She is really a pain in the ass.
“The elves are forest folk, so naturally, I have learned hunting magic since I was a child. In other words, the same goes for archery.”
Maria smirked and then shot an arrow at the target while laughing loudly.
“Level 1: Wind Enchant.”
The arrow is accelerated by wind magic.
And then, the arrow with increased speed pierced the center of the target with great force. A powerful “Whoosh!” could be heard as the arrow hit its mark.
“Hehe, what do you think? Of all the people who can’t even use enchant magic, I, a first-year student, managed a perfect enchant… You won’t get to see it quite often, you know?”
“Err, not bad, I guess.”
It seems that everyone already knows that I’m not just any ordinary person, so it should be fine if I use level 2 enchant magic.
With that said, Maria works well as a coal mine canary, huh?
Apparently, she is the top first-year student. Therefore, the same or a step ahead of it… will tell you that this is a line where I would not stand out as an outsider. [Editor’s Note: So basically here, Ephthal is considering using the same level or one step above Maria’s enchant magic, and supposedly this won’t make him stand out too much.]
As for me, it is annoying to be told that I’m riding Merlin’s coattails of influence, but with that being said, I certainly did get special treatment. Deservingly, if I don’t show a certain level of my abilities, Merlin’s honor will also be damaged.
So, with all of that considered, let’s go one step ahead of Maria.
“Level 2: Ice Enchant”
The mock sword was covered with ice.
Good, the ice sword is now complete. It should easily break through something like a defensive fire barrier magic.
By the way, I can use level 6 or 7 enchant magic if I put my mind to it, but anything above that will be a challenge.
After all, I would like to complete the ultimate Thunder God Sword by enchanting it with ‘Level 10: Emperor of the Thunder God, Ephthal’.
“L-L-L…Level 2 enchant magic?”
“Eh? What’s wrong?”
“…I can understand if you’re an elite upperclassman. But… you’re in the same year as me? Lies… this… must be a lie… No… but that’s a real level 2 magic sword…?”
For a moment, Maria almost collapsed on the spot, but she held her ground.
“H-H…Hmph, it seems like you’ve got some abilities. But don’t think you’ve won!”
Chapter 7 Part 4
“Thank you very much for your help today”
The princess and I are in the reception room of the detached building.
The tea that Martha had made for us was long gone. Not knowing how to pass the time, I drank it in small sips until it was all gone. I don’t know what to say to the princess.
Mainly because she reminds me of Lyle’s daughter, Alice.
“Apologies. It wasn’t just ‘today’. You already did save me ‘the other day’, too”
“It was Clara-san that I saved the other day”
“That was me in disguise”
“Why did you use an alias, Your Royal Highness?”
“I sometimes help the ‘Magic Guild’ with their investigations. As a princess, it’s not easy for me to go out, after all. When I want to move freely, I use the name ‘Clara’”
“So that’s why you were in the mountains…”
“Yes. So, I was wondering if you would accept my proposal”
“About me becoming an apprentice at the ‘Magic Guild’, right?”
“I was so excited earlier that I declared it without even asking for your opinion…”
Princess Iris’s face turned bright red.
“But it’s also true that I was amazed by Yuuki-sama’s abilities and that I want you by my side as someone I can trust. If you stay by my side, I will be able to do my research at the ‘Magic Guild’ with peace of mind”
I understand that.
After all, the princess has been attacked by monsters in the mountains and by Kachel in the Baron’s territory.
Having more guards would be better.
“Is that why you want me to join the ‘Magic Guild’?”
“It’s odd, isn’t it? That a member of the royal family would be so obsessed with magic”
“I don’t understand why you would go so far”
“…I’ll tell you the reason why I’m so obsessed with magic”
The princess looks down as if deep in thought.
Then she looked me in the eye.
“Actually, there is something different about me from other princes and princesses”
“Something different?”
“My grandmother was a commoner who married off to a marquis two generations ago as they fell in love at first sight. She was very beautiful, wise, and also had a great talent for magic, but… she had a slightly unusual constitution”
“Are you sure you want to tell me about this?”
“I don’t mind”
“Why?”
“I can’t ask you to do me a favor while hiding things from you. Besides ──”
Princess Iris, choosing her words carefully.
“I have a feeling that if it’s Yuuki-sama, you will listen to me seriously. It’s just a feeling though”
“I understand. I’ll listen”
“Back to the story. There were two things about my grandmother that were unusual. One was that she had a larger capacity for magic power than most people. The other was that she always remained young. When I was young, I met my grandmother, and she was so young that I thought she was in her twenties even though she was in her fifties”
“What happened to your grandmother?”
“She passed away some time ago. My mother married into the royal family, had me, and then had an accident”
“Are you perhaps also in your thirties, Your Royal Highness?”
“No-no, I’m only thirteen years old”
“Right”
She has a large capacity for magic power. And she always remained young, huh….
Come to think of it, the familiar to whom I gave blood to, have lived longer than a normal bat. Their capacity for magic power also increased.
But I’ve never given ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood‘ to a human before ── no, there was Lyle’s daughter, Alice.
How much ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood‘ did I give Alice when I cured her illness in my previous life?
I can’t remember.
But I remember giving Alice a lot of my blood because her ‘Death Crest Disease’ was very serious….
“May I ask for your grandmother’s name?”
“My grandmother’s name is Rachel. Are you interested?”
“Yes”
If she was in her fifties when the princess met her, she’s probably not Alice.
“I would love to hear your story…”
“I understand. It’s hard to imagine what it’s like to live forever”
“Do you know the cause of your grandmother’s constitution?”
I asked.
The princess shook her head.
“I don’t know. My mother said she didn’t know either”
“Has the constitution been passed down?”
“I think so. After all, my magic power capacity is larger than most. There are very few people in the royal family who can use ‘Fire God’s Relentless Barrage, Ifrit Blow’, you know?”
…Is that so?
I’ve drawn the crest of ‘Fire God’s Relentless Barrage, Ifrit Blow’ on the wings of Dick and his companions.
I was able to analyze it when the princess used it in the mountains.
“In the marquis’s family, my grandmother’s constitution was not a problem. But not in the royal family. I was told many things about my constitution. The reason I joined the ‘Magic Guild’ was so that I could know what I am”
“You’ve been through a lot, haven’t you?”
“It’s all to find out my roots”
The princess smiled.
“I want to train at the ‘Magic Guild’ and become a mage recognized by everyone. I want to become a high-ranking mage, study hard, and know what I am. That’s why I’m obsessed with the ‘Magic Guild’. If it can be realized, then I would like Yuuki-sama to help me with that”
“Very well”
I understood the circumstances of Princess Iris very well.
I also understood why her hands were trembling.
She has told so much to someone she doesn’t know well. It can’t be helped that she is scared.
“Yuuki Grossalia will obey Her Royal Highness Princess Iris’s request and join the ‘Magic Guild’”
“Thank you very much!”
The princess grabbed my hand.
“I-If you don’t mind… would you be my knight escort?”
“A knight escort?”
“Yes. Children of the royal family can choose a knight to guard them when they reach the age of thirteen. Though many of them choose from among the nobles, I would like to ask Yuuki-sama to do it”
“Is that… different from studying together at the ‘Magic Guild’?”
“It’s something more intimate. We will be under the same mentor and work together at the ‘Magic Guild’. While we study together as apprentices, I would like you to be my friend and protect me”
“But I’m an illegitimate child of a Baron family?”
“I’ve seen what Yuuki-sama is capable of”
“I have no objection to being Your Royal Highness’s knight escort”
Conversely, I would like to help Princess Iris find her roots.
If she is a descendent of Alice from ‘Fila Village’, her ‘constitution’ might be my fault.
Maybe me giving Alice ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood’ two hundred years ago affected her descendants.
“May I ask you something? Your Royal Highness Princess Iris”
“Please. Go ahead, Yuuki-sama”
“Does Your Royal Highness Princess Iris like ‘Spicy Venison Thin Crust Pie’?”
“…I beg your pardon?”
The princess became puzzled.
Well, just to make sure.
That’s what Martha told me. She said that the taste of family is something that is passed down from generation to generation.
“…No, I’ve never had it before”
“Right”
It is a village dish. How could the royal family eat it?
“But I do like spicy food”
“Thank you very much”
Let’s put it on hold whether the princess is a descendant of Alice.
Even if I know she is a descendant… It’s not like I can say anything about it.
However, this is also a chance. We can be together while we are at the royal capital.
“Well then, I will serve as Your Royal Highness’s knight escort after joining the ‘Magic Guild’”
I stood up and knelt before Princess Iris.
“…Is this a verbal promise?”
“No, officially, I have to get permission from my father ── His Majesty the King”
“After joining the ‘Magic Guild’?”
“Yeah. I’ll talk to my father. There will be a briefing and orientation for new members at the ‘Magic Guild’, so I was hoping that Yuuki-sama could come to the royal capital before that”
If it’s before the briefing, it’ll be about a month from now.
“I understand. Then I will go to the royal capital before the briefing”
“You are really an amazing person. Yuuki Grossalia-sama”
Princess Iris put her hands together and smiled.
It is a strange, childlike smile ── or rather, since we are of the same age, we are just children.
“You have the ability for quick decision making, fast reaction speed, and a sense of humor as well as magic skills. I was surprised that you asked me what my favorite food is. If it’s someone like you, I can understand why your brother would want to teach you magic”
“Is that so”
“I’m also looking forward to seeing how much talent you will show at the royal capital”
Princess Iris stood up, picked up the skirts of her dress, and bowed.
“Please tell me one last thing. The ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ has been destroyed, right?”
“Yes”
“Then why would Kachel do that?”
“Barnes and the others searched his room and found a copy of a letter”
“A letter, you say? Is it addressed to his friends?”
“It wasn’t addressed to anyone, but the content was praised to the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’. It’s not clear where he got the amulets from. It’s just that…”
Princess Iris pondered a bit before continuing.
“I’ve heard that there is an organization that idealizes the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’”
“…Such an organization exists, huh?”
“The ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ is taboo, but I’ve heard that some people are studying it. If Yuuki-sama is interested, I can arrange for you to meet with the researchers”
“Thank you”
“Very well. Now then, I shall take my leave”
With that, Princess Iris left the reception room.
“So I’m to guard Her Royal Highness while she is an apprentice at the ‘Magic Guild’”
The terms are not bad.
If there’s someone looking into the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’, they might be able to get some information on it.
Given that Kachel was a worshipper of the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’, there may be others like him.
There is no telling what they will do, after all. So let’s take some precautions.
“…Well, that will be after I go to the royal capital”
I left the reception room.
Let’s have Martha bring me some snacks and then take a nap.
The next day, I was summoned to Xellos nii-sama’s room.
“You’re here. Yuuki”
“How nostalgic. I haven’t been in this room for three years”
It has changed a lot.
There used to be maps of the territory and books about the tales of this countryside, but now there are only materials related to the ‘Magic Guild’ and the examinations.
Xellos nii-sama is sitting behind his desk, with his back to the window.
I can’t tell what facial expression he has because of the backlight.
“I wanted to ask you something. That’s why I asked you to come here”
“To ask whether I am really the reincarnation of the ‘Immortal Mage, Lord of Nosferatu’?”
“That doesn’t matter”
“That doesn’t matter, you say?”
“Yes. It’s not what I wanted to ask”
Xellos nii-sama stood in front of me and looked me right in the eye.
“I’m going to keep your secret, no matter who you are. Do you believe that?”
“I believe you”
“Why is that?”
“Because nii-sama is prideful and does whatever he says”
“Are you serious?”
“Yeah?”
“…I see”
Nii-sama’s shoulders slumped and sighed.
“You’re amazing. Yuuki”
“What’s with that sudden praise?”
“I’ve always disliked you. I always thought it was because we had a different mother ── that you are my half-brother. But I was wrong. I’m no match for you. I knew that, and that’s why I’ve always disliked you…”
“I’m not that big of a deal”
“Yuuki. Take this”
Xellos nii-sama took out a sword from behind his desk.
He pulled out a sword and pointed the tip of the blade at himself ── wait, why would he give me the grip?
“This is an oath. Xellos Grossalia will always be on your side no matter what. If you doubt me, push the sword and take my life”
“No, I will not take a knight’s oath here”
“This is to set things to rights. Yuuki, I was saved by you. And so I’ll repay the debt”
“Nii-sama, aren’t you being too serious here?”
“I can’t help it. It’s in my nature”
In the first place, Xellos nii-sama is not the one to be blamed here.
Nii-sama had been under the influence of Kachel through that amulet.
It was also the reason why he said this and that to me.
And so I tried to convey this to Xellos nii-sama, but ──
“No, that’s another story. This is to set things to rights”
“You sure are troublesome!”
── Seriously.
Nii-sama is way too serious. I can’t help but think that he is devoted to the family in a weird way.
He sure is troublesome.
That is why I cannot leave humans alone.
“Yuuki Grossalia accepts Xellos Grossalia’s oath. I accept my brother’s oath to always be on my side. This should be fine, right?”
“I still owe you more though”
“You need to work on your overly serious nature, nii-sama”
“No, as a legitimate son of the Grossalia family, I have to be better than that”
“That’s the issue, nii-sama”
“…I don’t understand what you’re saying, Yuuki”
Nii-sama smiled with his head tilted to the side.
While we were talking, there was a knock at the door.
It seems that a maid from the main building had come to tell us that lunch was ready.
“You can also eat in the main building, Yuuki”
“No, Martha is waiting for me”
“Just eat twice. You are in your growth period, after all”
“Don’t be absurd, nii-sama”
We left the room together.
*Rustle* There was a noise.
I looked, and there stood Rumia across the corridor.
She was staring at Xellos nii-sama and me, paying no attention to the book she had dropped.
“Yuuki nii-sama… and Xellos nii-sama… are getting along well”
“Rumia?”
“Sorry for making you worry, Rumia. It’s as you said, Yuuki and I are getting along well…”
“It’s been a long time since I last saw this… I-I’m happy. I’m so happy”
Tears fell from Rumia’s eyes.
“Yuuki nii-sama!!”
“R-Rumia!?”
“I’m so glad. Yuuki nii-sama has always wanted to reconcile with Xellos nii-sama…”
“Why are you hugging me!? Go hug Xellos nii-sama”
“Xellos nii-sama has been very stubborn, so I won’t hug him”
“…No, I’m good”
Did Xellos nii-sama look chagrined just now?
“Yuuki will soon be going to the royal capital as an apprentice of the ‘Magic Guild’, after all. You should fawn on him while you still can”
“Is it okay!? Yuuki nii-sama”
“…It’s not fair to ask me that now”
“As the legitimate son, I’ll allow it. I’ll also tell Father about it”
Why do you have that “I got you” look on your face? Xellos nii-sama.
Rumia is… well, too clingy. You’re the daughter of a Baron family, aren’t you? Seriously.
And so Xellos nii-sama and I, for the first time in a long time, talked as brothers ──
As it is, I was free to go in and out of the main building as I pleased.
Prologue
It was lunch break at the magic academy.
I had bought lunch from a stall outside and was sitting on a bench devouring a roast beef sandwich.
As I was thinking that the food from the stall was delicious, my classmate Maria came to sit right beside me.
This blonde girl with twin-tail hair is an elf exchange student.
She has a cute face, a little over 140 centimeters, and has piercing eyes. But she seems to be a pretty outstanding student and is one of the top first-year students like me.
Well, she is aggressive towards those around her, so she seems to be isolated in the class.
“Hey, human? I wonder if you’ve ever heard of the Grand Jade Medal?”
She brushed one of her twin-tail hair up with her right hand, stretching out her small chest.
“Grand Jade Medal? What is that?”
“It’s a medal of honor given to only a few mage students per year at this magic academy for their exceptional achievements”
“Oh, I see”
Then Maria stood up firmly right in front of me with her feet set apart.
“You! Join me!”
“…Eh?”
She continued to speak to me in an unwavering tone.
“You have potential. And I’m not saying it’s for free. If you join me… I will certainly take you with me”
“Take me where?”
“The honor of being a mage student ── the jade realm. Well, from now on, you as a member of the class representatives and with me as the leader, you will be useful to me”
To tell the truth, normally, I would be wondering what the heck this girl is talking about.
But I happened to know what she was referring to. Because the other day ──
Chapter 5 Part 3
～～～～～～～～～～～～
That night, thick midwinter clouds covered the air.
There was no moonlight, and the only thing that stood out was the orange light from the magic lamp, which leaked out of the window of the mansion where Lord Langobalt resides.
There is one person walking with his back straightened on the bright red carpet in the long corridor.
The boy’s name is Bass Langobalt.
His golden hair, which had been his pride and joy, had all been shaved off and became a bald hill.
His green eyes were dark and sunken, and his fists were tightly clenched.
He knocks on the black tea tree door at the end of the corridor.
Come in. A low, heavy voice said.
“Excuse me. Father”
This is the study of the master of this mansion.
Evans Langobalt, a muscular man with a beard like a lion.
“What do you want, this late at night?”
“…I’ll get straight to the point. Father, would you please rid this domain of Lilith and Abel?”
Evans just shook his head, at a loss for words.
“That’s not possible”
“Why’s that!?”
“I’ve told you before. Lilith-dono is not just a maid. She is my benefactor. I can’t ignore her wishes”
“What does that mean!?”
Bass raised his voice so loud that it echoed in the darkness of the night.
As a matter of fact, the story that Lilith is not just a maid had been told to Bass by his father when he turned ten.
With its many geological disadvantages, this village had been able to prosper largely due to Lilith’s accurate information and recommendations.
“We don’t need to rely on them, we can already govern this domain ourselves. It shouldn’t be a problem at all!”
“…Bass. You’re wrong”
“I’m wrong? Why’s that!?”
“Father. Bass nii-chan. What’s going on? I can hear you from all the way down the corridor…”
The door opens, and Ted walks in, yawning in his pajamas.
An orthopedic cast was wrapped around his leg like an iron.
“Ted. You can walk!?”
“Yes. Look! As you can see, I can walk just fine! I’m fine!”
Ted leisurely replied to Bass’s surprise.
Evans saw this and sensed something but said nothing of it.
“Bass, Ted. I was going to tell you the truth when the time came. About my relationship with Lilith-dono. And why I have such respect for her”
“…Father. What sort of respect makes a noble bow?”
Evans fell silent for a moment.
He was going to tell his two sons that Lilith is a demon and that he is sheltering her for a reason.
But Evans had a hunch.
Bass is feeling very gloomy right now.
Even though Bass is his son, he could not let him in on the secret.
“You’re not going to answer me, are you?”
“I can’t answer you now”
“In that case! That’s fine!”
His father’s vague words made Bass even more displeased.
But after a while, Bass seemed to have come up with an idea.
“Father! Can you recommend me to Arthuria Magic Academy!?”
“―――― !?”
His father, Evans, slowly shook his head when he heard Bass’s words.
“That won’t do. You will stay in this domain and study to be a lord. Isn’t that what you promised me?”
The Arthuria Magic Academy is a prestigious school that has produced many elite magicians.
But since it takes at least five years to graduate, Evans was reluctant to enroll his sons.
“I want to learn more powerful magic! More power, more incisive. So that I can, with fierce magic, mince my enemies and shake them off without mercy! And for the likes of commoners. No, I will become the most powerful magician that no one, not even nobles, can defeat!”
Evans was surprised.
In Evans’s eyes, Bass is a sensible son who never lets his emotions get the better of him.
“…Bass nii-chan. Don’t be so hard on yourself”
“Shut up! You are a disgrace to all nobles!”
At that moment, Bass took an action that stunned his father, Evans.
That’s because he pushed his injured younger brother away.
“Hey! Stop that!”
“But… It’s… It’s his fault…! He’s a noble, yet he’s getting along with a commoner!”
Evans had changed his opinion of Bass, who repeatedly spoke and acted like a child.
In any case, in his current state, Bass could not be entrusted with the work of a ‘lord’.
In that sense, Bass’s wish was favorable to Evans.
“I understand. I’ll recommend you to Arthuria Magic Academy”
“…Really!?”
“Yeah. Leave this domain to broaden your horizons and see how much more the world has to offer”
“…I knew you would say that, Father. Thank you”
Evans waved his hand, and Bass walked out of the room.
Looking at Bass’s back, Evans felt pain in his chest.
Where had I gone wrong with that boy? Evans wondered.
“…Ted. Are you okay?”
“It hurts. But I’m fine”
“Is that so”
Despite the unreasonable violence, Ted’s response was calm.
Apparently, I had been blind to my sons at every turn.
Although he seemed like a mischievous child, Ted was actually more mentally mature than his older brother.
“Ted. I’ll tell you the truth”
“Father?”
“…Ted. I was saved by Lilith-dono in the past”
“Eh?”
“One snowy day. I was hunting in the forest. When suddenly I was about to be attacked by a monster”
I dared not tell Ted that it was a long time ago.
Evans had known Lilith for more than twenty years.
“Is that so?”
“Yeah. Since then, Lilith-dono has aided me greatly. To me, Lilith-dono is like a good neighbor and a teacher in life”
At the time, their relationship was a bit like that of Abel and Ted.
That day.
When I asked her, ‘Why are you doing so much for me?’, Lilith’s reply was unexpected.
‘I want an environment where my special someone can live in peace when he wakes up’
When I first heard of this, I did not understand what she meant, but now I understand.
That day, when a monster almost attacked me in the forest, Lilith ‘kept me alive’, all for a day like today, I guess.
“Really? I didn’t know. That there was such a side to that nee-chan maid”
“Yeah. That’s why Ted. You mustn’t become like Bass. Get along with Lilith-dono and her siblings”
“You don’t have to tell me that! Abel is my underling… No, my beloved friend, after all!”
Bass, who continues to reject Abel for childish reasons, and Ted chose to accept him.
The two siblings are clearly divided on this day.
～～～～～～～～～～～～
I’ll tell you what happened next.
A month after that day, I had a very peaceful life.
I woke up to the sound of birds chirping in the morning, had breakfast with Lilith, and studied in the library until just past noon. After eating Lilith’s pre-made lunch, I took an hour-long nap.
When I wake up, I stay shut in the library and continue my research on magic.
The library was bathed in the afternoon sunlight.
As I yawn, I suddenly see my face reflected in the window.
I haven’t played tag with the rich kid of nobility (younger brother) since that day.
Haa. After all, if I don’t workout on a regular basis, my body will grow dull.
I looked down at my book but decided to close it immediately.
My ears can’t miss the ‘noise’ outside the room.
That’s right. Since that incident, I haven’t played tag once.
“Excuse me! Please take good care of me today, too! Master!”
The door swings open, and Ted bursts into the library.
Since the duel with Bass, there has been only one small change in the routine.
“…Hey. I’ve told you many times. Open the door quietly when I’m reading”
“Rather than that, Master! Hurry up and teach me the rest of yesterday’s magic! I’m actually starting to get the hang of it!”
“……”
That’s right. The change that came about in my daily life was that, before I knew it, Ted had come to look up to me as his ‘master’.
Of course, I refused at first.
But no matter how many times I refused, Ted persisted and wouldn’t stop calling me ‘master’.
“Looks like your leg has recovered”
“Hehe! Of course! An injury like this doesn’t even count as a scratch!”
Lies.
When you fell off the roof, you were shedding a lot of tears, weren’t you?
“Well, it’s been a while. Then shall we do it?”
“Eh? Do what?”
I took my scarf and wrapped it around my neck.
“Tag”
The rich kid of nobility (younger brother)’s eyes lit up like a dog’s when it realized it was going to be playing a game.
“Alrighty! I’m going to defeat Master today!”
“It’s fine that you’re so confident, but you should apply the body strengthening magic that I taught you yesterday. You’ve got the hang of it, haven’t you?”
“Hehe! Don’t worry. I got this!”
It is one of Ted’s few merits that he responds well, but the problem is that in many cases, he is just all talk.
I open the window to go outside.
A refreshing breeze blew in, turning the pages of the book on the table.
This is how my nonchalant life slowly passed.
Chapter 5 Part 2
～～～～～～～～～～～～
An hour later.
I could heal Ted’s injuries, but I wanted to see the current skill level of the medical magicians in this era.
That is why I decided to climb up a tree and sneak a look from outside the window to check on the situation with the rich kid of nobility (younger brother) in the infirmary.
“It will take six months to heal fully”
“Is… that so”
“Young master. I understand that you want to play, but you must be patient”
It will take six months to heal completely, huh?
That is quite a long time.
No matter how much the injury was aggravated due to Bass’s recovery magic, I didn’t think it was that serious.
It seems that in this era, the level of medical magicians has also fallen.
*Kachak*
After confirming that the old doctor had left the room, I snuck into the infirmary through the window.
“Eh…? Is that you, Abel…?”
“Yeah. How’s your injury?”
“Hehe. Of course. An injury like this doesn’t even count as a scratch!”
The rich kid of nobility (younger brother) acted stoutly, but he could not hide his exhaustion.
“ZZZ…”
After a while, Ted fell asleep.
Hmm. He sure does have an unattractive sleeping face.
As usual, there is not a shred of intelligence on his face.
“I won’t wait for six months, you know?”
I created several magic syntaxes in the air.
<<Deconstruction Technique – Low-Level Recovery Magic, Small Heal>>
<<Reconstruction Technique, Healing Magic. Parallel Activation, Recovery Magic>>
<<Body Strengthening Magic, Change Application, Healing Power Enhanced>>
All right. That should do it.
I removed Bass’s lousy magic and applied the bone joining magic.
After that, I boosted the healing power, so with this, it should heal fairly quickly.
“Sorry, Ted. But I’m impatient”
Of course, I don’t care about the injury of the rich kid of nobility (younger brother).
It’s just that losing my daily workout partner would be a blow to me as well.
There is still value in this guy.
Let’s hope he heals quickly and continues to work hard for me.
～～～～～～～～～～～～
“Hmmm? Who might you be?”
A day has passed since the duel occurred.
Early in the morning of that day, I opened the front door and saw a young man I didn’t recognize.
“Could it be? You are… Bass?”
I asked him while still half-convinced.
I didn’t recognize him because of his new hairstyle, but upon closer inspection, I noticed that his clothes and facial features are similar to those of the rich kid of nobility (older brother).
Somehow, his hair had been cut so mercilessly that it looked quite tragic.
“Insolent fellow! How many times have I told you to call me master!? Ouch!”
Behind him, a lion-like mane ── or rather, a stern-looking man with a beard hit Bass on the head.
He has the same burnt amber blond hair as Ted.
The color of his eyes is blue, so he has the <<Blue Eyes>> which are good at water attribute magic.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Evans Langobalt. Abel-sama”
He said his name in a low, intimidating voice.
Evans then immediately dropped to his knees.
“Abel-sama. I’m very sorry for what happened! I beg you. Please forgive my foolish son!”
Hmmm? What is this person saying all of a sudden?
Forgiveness or not, I wasn’t angry from the beginning.
“Father! Why are you apologizing to this commoner with inferior eyes! He is the younger brother of one of our maids, isn’t he!?”
“You fool! What are you saying!?”
*Whack* A dull sound was heard.
A clenched fist is firmly stuck on Bass’s head.
Hmm. It’s a good punch with a lot of his body weight put into it.
Perhaps Ted’s physical abilities are something he inherited from his father.
“Listen. Bass. I think that this is a good time to tell you this! We didn’t hire Lilith-sama! She hired us!”
“……Come again?”
Bass seemed stunned by Evans’s words.
I see.
So that is how it is. It made sense.
I’ve always wondered.
Why a high-ranking demon like Lilith is serving under a human.
Even though the times have changed, it’s hard to imagine demons working for humans.
Then why?
Why is Lilith working as a subordinate to a noble?
Perhaps Lilith knows the noble’s secrets.
For a demon to live among humans, there are bound to be some obstacles.
I guess that using the influence of a noble to survive is one of the ways for the demons to survive in this era.
“Haha ──! Abel-sama! I beg of you! Please be lenient with the punishment!”
He said all of that while bowing his head on one knee.
Evans grabbed Brass by the head and forced him to bow. A look of humiliation can be seen on Bass’s face.
What sort of secrets does Lilith know to get a proud noble to get down on his knees?
I’ll have to ask Lilith about that next time I see her.
“You can raise your head. I was never angry in the first place”
“Abel’s sama generous words! I can’t express how grateful I am! Thank you very much!
“……”
Evans began to bow his head with increasing vigor as if he was about to sink into the ground with that all said and done.
I told him to raise his head.
This family really doesn’t listen.
*Sniff Sniff* “What the hell…? What the hell… is going on!?”
Forced to kneel on the ground without knowing the reason, being on the verge of crying, Bass’s desolate shaved head is pointed towards me.