TDK

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

Chapter 7 Part 1

---

Chapter 7 – The Former Demon King, Fights The Private Tutor

“A black arrow has been fired…!?”

Kachel Mieghem muttered. He was stunned when he saw the arrow that was shot towards the sky.

“Xellos-sama failed his examination!? After all the trouble I had gone through, he failed!?”

“He didn’t fail. He probably withdrew”

said Princess Iris Restia.

“There may have been some sort of issue. There is also the possibility of a re-examination. When the three of them come back, we’ll hear what they have to say”

“…I’ve… failed. I… me! Even after all the work I’ve done!!”

“…Kachel?”

The tutor, Kachel, did not respond to Princess Iris.

He crouched and started punching the ground with his fists as if he hadn’t heard anything.

“As I thought… this is wrong. Two hundred years have passed, but people still don’t understand the hierarchy. It is impossible to make the ignorant understand…. That’s why… the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’── !?”

“What are you doing, Kachel Mieghem!? You are being disrespectful to Her Royal Highness!”

“…That’s why the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ ── their will is to be inherited by ‘──────’”

Princess Iris turned pale at Kachel’s next choice of words.

It was the chanting of ‘Ancient Magic’.

“Get away from Kachel!”

“‘Sylph Summoning’  ‘Fire Spirit Summoning’!!”

In the next moment, birds of wind and lizards covered in flames appear around Kachel.

There were twelve of them. 

All at once, the birds and lizards descended upon the soldiers. 

“── G-Gahhhhh!?”

The soldiers’ limbs were lopped off, their faces burned, and they fell one by one.

“…Let’s move on to the second plan. I shouldn’t have relied on the child of a countryside noble in the first place. My career as a tutor was ── foolish!!”

“Stop it! Kachel Mieghem!!”

shouted Princess Iris.

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing in front of her.

A private tutor in the service of a Baron family should not attack royal soldiers with magic.

“You are the son of the former minister, Longes Mieghem, aren’t you? Why are you doing this?!!”

“‘From ── The ── Darkness’ ── ‘Summon’ ‘The Black Beast’”

‘──── Uuuuoooo’

The birds of wind and the lizards covered in flames disappeared. Instead, a magic circle appeared in front of Kachel.

What emerged from there were three jet-black hounds.

Each has two heads and two tails. Their six pairs of eyes were as red as blood.

“Protect Her Royal Highness Princess Iris!”

“Shields up! Keep the monster away from her!!”

The soldiers formed a circle with Princess Iris at the center.

‘Gwaaarrggghhh’

The three beasts jumped towards the circle.

The soldiers thrust out their spears and attacked the beasts. But ── they couldn’t hit them.

The two different parties’ reaction speed was too different.

As the beasts dodged the soldiers’ spears, armors and shields were pierced with their claws, wounding the soldiers.

“Begone, you monsters! Activate, ‘Fire God’s Relentless Barrage, Ifrit Blow’!!”

Princess Iris’s ‘Ancient Magic’ created flames that flew towards the hounds.

However, she couldn’t hit them. The enemy was moving too fast.

“Odd… Kachel Mieghem shouldn’t have the magic power to control this many familiars…”

“You have such doubts, Your Royal Highness?”

Kachel gave a lopsided smile at Princess Iris’s question.

“Well, Kachel is just a magic tutor. The lowest rank in the ‘Magic Guild’. He is just a small fry trapped at the end of the line. Is that what you think?”

“I don’t think of you as a small fry!”

“My father, the minister, didn’t choose me as his successor. He chose an illegitimate child. And the royal family acknowledged it. They acknowledged it, you know?!!”

shouted Kachel.

“That’s why I had to show the royal family my true power. For that very reason, I wasted so much time in this countryside, for this family!!”

‘Gwaaarrggghhh!!!’

As if to agree with Kachel, the three hounds cried.

“It was a very boring jar being a magic tutor. A child with a bad ability to learn and an illegitimate child who doesn’t know his place. But now it’s over. I’ve succeeded in inviting the royal family on the pretext of an examination. Now is the time to raise the signal!!”

“…Signal…?”

“Yes. The resurrection of the great ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’!!”

The soldiers’ eyes widened in surprise upon hearing Kachel’s words.

‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’.

It is the organization of mages who first discovered the legacy of the ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’ in the world.

They analyzed the ‘Ancient Magic’ and ‘Ancient Artifacts’ and made them their power.

Wielding their mighty power, they drove out all demi-humans and monsters with intelligence and expanded human territory.

Then, kings from various regions fought over the territory, and war broke out.

The war was supposed to end in a skirmish, but the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ intervened.

They used the war to benefit themselves and gain power. Thus, this had led to intensifying the war.

In the end, it led to the worst war of all, the ‘War of the Eight Kings’, in which eight kings fought each other over territory.

The ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ was destroyed because a sage stood up and stopped the Church’s rampage.

The ‘Ancient Artifacts’ were scattered, and most of the ‘Ancient Magic’ was also lost, but the war was over.

After the war, the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ became a taboo organization, and its members were executed.

The organization was destroyed. There should be nothing left of it.

“How could the great ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ be destroyed? Here is the legacy of their ‘Ancient Artifact’!! Sacrificial magic power!!”

Kachel Mieghem held up an amulet with a black stone on it.

“You should consider yourselves lucky to be able to witness the resurrection of the great ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’!”

‘Gwaaarrggghhh’

The beasts pounced on the soldiers.

“Gyaaaahhhh!”

The beasts’ claws tore through the shields, and their fangs bit into the soldiers’ arm.

In the meantime, another soldier thrusts his spear into the body of the beast. However ── it had no effect.

No blood flowed from the beast’s wounds. The beast’s enormous magic power quickly closed the wound.

“Originally, I was going to send Xellos Grossalia to the ‘Magic Guild’ and use him as a tool to revive the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’…”

Kachel laughed.

“Children are simple. If I could get them to only believe in me, I could fool them in no time. He didn’t even know he was just a tool to be used by me! But he fulfilled his role, at least. After all, he brought Princess Iris here. I’ll use the princess to turn this Baron’s household into a base for the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ ──”

“── Shut up”

A voice came out from the forest.

Iris turned her gaze and saw a small shadow running out of the forest.

“Yuuki Grossalia-sama!!”

“You’re back, huh?! But fire magic from that distance ──”

‘Gii’ ‘Gii-gii’ ‘Giii!!’

The princess heard a voice right above her.

She looked up and saw black wings flying in the sky. Bats. It was bats.

They flew in a cloud towards Kachel’s familiars.

Princess Iris moon-eyed.

The bats’ wings seemed to have a red crest on them.

“Characters? Symbols? No! That’s the ‘Fire God’s Relentless Barrage, Ifrit Blow’!?”

The wings of the bats started to lit up with a red light.

And then ──

Zudododododōntsu!!

Countless fire bullets shot out from the bats’ wings and rained down on Kachel and the black beasts!

“Gyyaaaaahhhhh!!”

‘Gwwaaaarrrgggghhhh!!’

Kachel and the beasts screamed.

“As I thought, it was the ‘Fire God’s Relentless Barrage, Ifrit Blow’!? But why from the wings of a bat!?”

The ‘Fire God’s Relentless Barrage, Ifrit Blow’ is the ‘Ancient Magic’ that Princess Iris has just acquired.

It’s not possible for a bat to fire it in rapid succession.

“Gyaaaahhhh! Stop. Stop it!!”

‘Gwaaarrggghhh!!’

Zudododododōntsu!!

The barrage of fire bullets did not stop.

Kachel used his magic to create a barrier and managed to defend against the barrage.

The beasts, however, took the rain of fire head-on.

The three black beasts were pierced by the fire bullets, burned, and disappeared.

“Now’s the time! Everyone. As soon as the fire bullets subside, charge in and seize Kachel!”

shouted Princess Iris.

“Get out of the way!”

Yuuki Grossalia’s voice stopped the princess and the soldiers from moving.

For a moment, goosebumps appeared on Princess Iris’s arms.

His voice was terrifyingly cold and full of anger.

“Ha-haha! The illegitimate child!? The illegitimate child of a Baron family used ‘Ancient Magic’!?”

The fire bullets stopped.

Kachel Mieghem shouts while pressing his wound with his burned robe.

“Impossible! This must be some sort of mistake. The filthy illegitimate child of a filthy Baron family just ── gyaaaahhhh!!”

“I told you to shut up”

She wondered when he pulled it out.

She wondered when he slashed him.

The next thing she knew, the boy was running past Kachel with a dagger in his hand.

Kachel’s left arm was gouged, and blood spurted out.

“…Did you see him draw his dagger?”

Princess Iris looked at the soldier next to her.

The soldier shook his head.

“I couldn’t see it. It was too fast”

“Amazing… who the heck is he?”

Neither Princess Iris nor the soldiers could move.

The boy, Yuuki Grossalia, completely dominated the area.

“I’m going to kill you”

said Yuuki Grossalia.

“You called my family a tool and tried to use my family. I’m going to kill you!”

It was as if he had already decided to do so.

Yuuki Grossalia proclaimed.

---

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

Chapter 6 Part 4

---

“Listen to me, you stupid brother!!”

‘Fii!?’

“You’re annoying!!”

I struck the clinging bird with my fist.

‘──── Gii!?’

The bird made of magic power dispersed with a single blow.

Naturally, with two ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ spells in effect, the fists themselves have also been strengthened.

The back of my hand was ripped open and bled, but that’s okay!

“Wait, Xellos! Xellos Grossalia!!”

“Yuuki!?”

“Listen to me for once, you stupid brother!!”

“Why!? How can you run that fast!?”

“The effects of the ‘Ancient Artifact’s replica’ change depending on how you use your magic power! That’s how it’s supposed to work!!”

“T-That’s bullshit! How are you faster than me!!?”

“I understand. I’ll tell you then! I’m actually the reincarnation of a mage who died two hundred years ago! I have a mysterious aptitude for ‘Ancient Magic’! Because of that, the effect of the spell is doubled. I can move twice as fast and have twice as much physical strength!! So how did that sound? Do you understand now? You stupid brother!!”

“Even now, you still talk nonsense!” 

Xellos nii-sama kicked a tree, changed his direction, and came running towards me.

“I’m going to silence your impudent talk!! Yuuki!!”

“You’re finally looking at me, Xellos nii-sama!!”

“Yeah, I never liked you!!”

“I know! You don’t like illegitimate children, do you!?”

“You’re wrong!! You annoy me! I joined the ‘Magic Guild’ to prove that I’m superior to you!! It was troublesome! The ‘Ancient Magic’ and the studies!! If it weren’t for you, none of this would have happened!!”

“Don’t you dare blame this on me!!”

“Shut up!! ‘Ancient Magic’ ── ‘Sylph Summoning’  ‘Fire Spirit Summoning’”

Nii-sama started drawing out two intricate crests with his finger.

‘Giii!’ ‘Gyuooo!!’

A bird of the wind and a lizard covered in flames appeared from the two summoning circles.

“Summoning magic!? Isn’t this the part where nii-sama and I exchange blows!?”

“I’m a legitimate child! The one who will join the ‘Magic Guild’ and raise the Grossalia family’s name, Xellos Grossalia! That’s why I’ll defeat you with everything I’ve got!!”

“Bring it on!!”

I ran towards nii-sama with the speed boost from the ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ spell.

“Go! ‘Sylph’  ‘Salamander’! Make Yuuki kneel before me!!”

“Go to hell! I’m not going to let such a tiny monster like that stand in the way of the ‘Monster, Nosferatu’!”

I use my fists to slay the blue bird and my dagger to kill the flame lizard.

In the meantime, I took a few steps to close the distance while nii-sama activated the summoning magic again.

As expected of ‘Ancient Magic’ summoning. It’s fast and can be used continuously.

However, I’m the ‘Monster, Nosferatu’. My cheek was cut by the bird’s wing, but it didn’t matter. The flames burned my clothes, but it didn’t matter. I’ll ignore the wounds and say goodbye to the Grossalia family here anyway.

I’m going to beat up Xellos nii-sama and Kachel so that I won’t have any regrets!

“Yuuki… you…. Your hands are… bleeding!!”

“Now, do you understand that I’m the ‘Monster, Nosferatu’? You stupid brother”

“No, you’re not. You’re family. I’m… I’m…”

Just in time.

I held my fists over my head.

If I hit him with two ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ spells still in effect, he would die, so I canceled one of them and kept only one active.

After all, Xellos nii-sama has to manage the Grossalia family.

Just like a fight between human brothers, I’ll hit him just enough to keep him from getting hurt.

“Grit your teeth!! Don’t bite your tongue!! And stand firm, too!! Xellos nii-sama!!!”

My fist hit Xellos nii-sama in the stomach.

“Ugh! Yuuki ── you…”

Xellos nii-sama’s body tumbled and lay down on the grass.

The amulet that nii-sama was holding was also blown away.

“…It hurts”

Blood began to flow from the wound on my right hand and splattered all over Xellos nii-sama’s face and arms.

My right hand hurts like hell.

As I thought, it was too reckless to fight against familiar spirits with my bare hands….

“…No… I wasn’t… planning to hurt a member of my family… Yuuki is… bleeding… hurt…”

“Get up, Xellos nii-sama”

I grabbed Xellos nii-sama by the arm and pulled him up.

“You can do what you want with the Grossalia family. After all, I’m an illegitimate child. I’ve told you many times that I’m not interested in the peerage. If you think I’m lying, then so be it. Instead, from here on out, I’m going to leave the Grossalia family. As the ‘Monster, Nosferatu’”

“…Yuuki. You…”

“If you want to remold the Grossalia family as you see fit, so be it. But I won’t allow you to mess with my family. If I stop by here in the future and see that something happens to Rumia and Martha, I won’t forgive you, nii-sama. I don’t care if it’s the Grossalia family or the magic guild. I will use my entire being as a monster… to crush you”

“…U-Ua”

Nii-sama’s body began to tremble, and he plops down on the ground as I let go of his hand.

It seems like I’m exhausted, too.

I’ve done it.

I revealed my true identity and used twice the amount of ‘Ancient Magic’. I’m completely exhausted. 

…Let’s get out of here before someone comes.

“What on earth are you guys doing over there?!!”

Suddenly, I heard a voice.

A person walks towards the exit of the forest. It’s Barnes-san with the axe.

“We don’t allow examinees to fight against each other! Just what on earth are you guys doing here?!!”

“…T-This is”

Xellos nii-sama looked at Barnes-san and me.

I revealed my true identity to nii-sama, and he will probably tell Barnes-san about it.

After all, nii-sama has no reason to stand up for me.

My human life ends here.

Barnes-san is the princess’s bodyguard. There’s no reason for him to let me, the ‘Monster, Nosferatu’ go.

I’ll ask Dick and the other bats to slow him down, and then I’ll use that opportunity to escape to the mountains. After that, I’ll be leading a vagabond life.

What a pain.

If possible, I wish I could have said goodbye to Martha.

“This is… just a fight between brothers. Barnes-sama”

…Nii-sama?

“I was the one who charged at Yuuki, and he fought back. That’s all”

“…Hey, Xellos nii-sama”

I put my face close to nii-sama’s ear.

“…Aren’t you going to tell him my true identity?”

“…How can I tell him that!? You idiot!!”

He was furious.

“…If anyone finds out that there’s a monster in the Grossalia family, the family would be ruined. As the legitimate son, I have to protect our family”

“Is that so?”

“…And besides, I have no way of confirming who you really are. But you see… I’ve lost. You’ve made it clear that I’m no match for you……. It’s somewhat refreshing”

Nii-sama slumped his shoulders tiredly and picked up the fallen amulet.

“I knew it was a lie that you were bad-mouthing me. But I have to make the Grossalia family comparable to the high-ranking nobles. To do that, I need to obey Kachel-sensei. That’s why I had to believe in his words. While I was thinking about that… I… began to think that what that man had said was… true…”

“…Nii-sama is too serious”

“…Shut up. You’re just my younger brother”

“You haven’t called me your younger brother for a long time. Xellos nii-sama”

“Yeah, you’re my younger brother. So don’t go off on your own”

“…Well” 

“I don’t want Rumia to cry after you’re gone, and I also don’t want Her Royal Highness Princess Iris to get suspicious. I have to protect the Grossalia family. I can’t let our family be ruined because of me. So… don’t leave”

“……All right. Seriously. Humans are troublesome”

It seems like nii-sama is not going to tell anyone about me.

If he is fine with that, then… all is well.

There’s no way for me to prove that I’m a reincarnation of Dean Nosferatu either.

It also seems hard to live a vagabond life at the age of thirteen.

I can always leave at any time, after all.

“Are you done talking? So what do you want to do now? Will you continue the examination, Xellos Grossalia?”

Barnes-san thrust the butt of his axe into the ground.

“The aptitude examination also includes fighting me. You don’t have to defeat me. You just have to use magic to avoid the attack and get through the forest. If you can do that, I will approve you to join the ‘Magic Guild’”

“I withdraw”

Nii-sama brushed off the dirt from his trousers and stood up.

As it is, he bowed deeply to Barnes-san.

“I don’t have what it takes to join the ‘Magic Guild’. I’ve… strengthened ancient magic with dirty means ──”

“Are you sure you want to withdraw?”

“Yes. I’ve already decided”

“I understand”

Barnes-san put down his axe and then took out a small bow and arrow from his back instead.

He also pulled out a red cloth and a black cloth from his pocket and explained quickly. The red cloth is a sign of passing, and the black cloth is a sign of failing.

Slowly, Barnes-san tied the black cloth to the arrow.

As if waiting for nii-sama’s reaction, he pointed the arrow to the sky and drew the bow, but nii-sama said not a single word. 

So Barnes-san fired off the arrow to the sky.

“With this, Her Royal Highness should now know the results of the examination. Well done, you two”

“May I ask you a question, Barnes-san?”

“What is it? Xellos Grossalia”

“Is it true that Yuuki saved Barnes-sama?”

“Yes”

Barnes-san nodded readily.

I was hoping he would dodge that question.

“I’m certain of it. That’s why Her Royal Highness and I mistook Xellos Grossalia for Yuuki Grossalia. Her Royal Highness meant no harm. I apologize for our disrespect”

“No, that’s all right”

Xellos nii-sama relaxed his shoulders and laughed.

“…As I thought, I’m no match for Yuuki…”

Just as nii-sama uttered those words ──

“────── !!”

Suddenly, there came screams from the other side of the forest.

That’s where the princess is.

“We’ll talk later. Let’s head back to Her Royal Highness. Follow me!!”

Barnes-san started running towards the entrance of the forest.

Xellos nii-sama and I looked at each other and then followed suit.

For a moment, the face of the princess appears in my mind.

The face looked just like Alice, Lyle’s daughter, and Lyle, who I deemed my child in my previous life. 

“Sorry. Xellos nii-sama, I’ll go ahead first”

I once again activated my ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ x2 spell.

Xellos nii-sama can’t keep up. He seems to be wobbling on his feet. Probably because of that attack I did earlier.

I overtook Barnes-san and continued onwards.

“…Her Royal Highness Princess Iris, huh?”

Seriously.

If she didn’t look so much like Alice, I’d leave her alone.

Lyle and Alice are both… resonating in my mind.

They’re really troublesome children. Seriously!

---

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

Chapter 6 Part 3

---

“Your Royal Highness…”

The tutor, Kachel, suddenly knelt and spoke.

“Why did you allow the illegitimate child, Yuuki-dono, to participate in the examination?”

“That’s rude. Kachel Mieghem-dono”

“I don’t need a soldier to tell me what to do!! You should know your place!!”

Kachel shouted at the soldier who had interrupted him.

“Xellos Grossalia-sama is the one whose talent I brought out. Even I was astonished by his magic power capacity. Isn’t it an insult to compare him to an illegitimate child?”

“…Kachel Mieghem”

said Princess Iris in a calm voice.

“What do you think this examination is about?”

“I believe it is for Her Royal Highness, Princess Iris, to see the results of my education”

“The results?”

“That’s right. Xellos Grossalia-sama, whom I educated, is brilliant and competent. He will break through even if faced with powerful monsters. I believe this is an opportunity for Her Royal Highness to see that I have raised someone of that caliber”

“Is that why you recommended a dangerous mountain as the examination site?”

“…Dangerous? Who told you that?”

“Those who went for a preliminary inspection said so”

“It’s only because they’re weak. Power is everything to a mage. Just like the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’!!”

shouted Kachel.

The air froze.

Princess Iris and the soldiers stared at Kachel with stiff expressions.

“Oh. A slip of the tongue. The ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ is taboo”

“The ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ has been destroyed. Kachel Mieghem”

Princess Iris took a few steps away from Kachel.

For a moment, this man who spoke so loudly seemed like a different person.

“The ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ was destroyed after using up the legacy of the great ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’. The ‘Lindbel Magic Guild’ was founded on the principle that we should not indulge in power, taking what happened to that organization as a lesson. Have you forgotten that, Kachel Mieghem?”

“I understand. I apologize if my remark offended you”

Kachel kept his head down and kept a watchful eye on her.

“I was just thinking. What would I do if I had as much power as the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’…”

“You are here as a tutor for Xellos Grossalia-sama, correct?”

“Yes, of course”

Kachel shrugged his shoulders and continued.

“Yes, of course. I am dedicated to the proper education of Xellos-sama. That’s what my life is all about”

“…I see”

Princess Iris nodded.

As she looked deep into the forest, she thought.

(I hope that this examination will end without incident and that they will return)

The expression on Kachel Mieghem’s face, as he gazed into the forest as well, was ominous.

Xellos nii-sama and I were running through the ‘Kitral’s Forest’.

I’ve gotten used to the bracelet with the ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’.

I’m also slipping through trees at twice the normal speed.

If Dick had been around, he could have guided me along the shortest route, but that’s not happening because it didn’t matter whether I won or not.

So I’ve asked Dick and the others to wait outside the forest. I didn’t call for them, but here they are.

“Xellos nii-sama! I need to talk to you. Please listen to me while we run!”

I shouted.

Xellos nii-sama, who is running in front of me, didn’t answer.

He must have noticed that I am right behind him. After all, he’s been looking back many times.

“Damn!! Why don’t you listen to what I have to say for a change! Don’t get mad on your own and lose your temper!!”

“Shut up”

Xellos nii-sama looked at me with cold eyes.

“I already know that you are trying to take over the Grossalia family”

“Who!? When!? In what month, day, hour, minute, and second did I plot such a thing!?”

“I heard the maids talking about it!”

“I know nothing as such!”

“Kachel-sensei told me that you’ve been bad-mouthing me to the maids!!”

“Like I said, when!?”

“Many times over! Every day!! Even the night before yesterday!!”

“I wasn’t even in the mansion the night before yesterday!!”

I was at the inn in town with Martha.

I’m sure Xellos nii-sama knows that, too.

“Shut up, shut up, shut up!! I won’t let you have the Grossalia family!!”

“I told you I don’t want it!!”

“That’s why you always deny me!”

“All right, I understand. Can I beat you up? Xellos nii-sama!!”

“If you’re not plotting to take over the Grossalia family, then why would Her Royal Highness summon you!? It’s strange, you know!? And how come Her Royal Highness knows about your existence, the illegitimate child!?”

“Then let me tell you the truth. But please, you can’t tell anyone! Are you fine with that, nii-sama!?”

“All right. I understand. So tell me, Yuuki!”

“I snuck out of the mansion the other day and went to the mountain behind the mansion. There, I found Clara-san and Barnes-san being attacked by monsters! I lent them a little help at the time!! I guess that’s when she found out! That there’s a child with black hair and black eyes in the Grossalia family!! But to summon me, the illegitimate child, I don’t know what she was thinking. That’s all!!”

“Really!?”

“If you think I’m lying, ask Barnes-san, the one who has the axe!”

“…You’re always like that…”

“What?”

“You’re always doing things I can’t do!!”

As he said that, Xellos nii-sama’s hands were making strange movements.

‘Ancient Magic’, huh!?

“──── ‘Sylph Summoning’!!”

“‘Ancient Magic’ summoning? That’s awesome, nii-sama!”

I pulled out my dagger.

Pale blue spheres were generated around Xellos nii-sama. Several of them.

Familiar spirits in the form of a bird were formed and flew towards me.

Each has two pairs of wings that are as sharp as knives.

No problem!!

I caught the first sylph’s wings with my dagger.

I managed to slay a second one somehow. As for the third one, I fell to the ground to evade it.

“You’re so strong, yet why do you even bother with me!? Xellos nii-sama!!”

“Shut up! Just drop dead!! You illegitimate child!!”

The distance between Xellos nii-sama and I widened. While running, Xellos nii-sama is summoning familiar spirits.

Is he trying to stop me once and for all?

“…That’s it. He’s getting on my nerves”

No more.

I don’t care if they find out who I am. In the end, I wasn’t cut out to be a human.

I’m not going to hold back anymore.

It has nothing to do with the examination or the magic guild.

From here on out, it’s just a fight between brothers.

I’m going to punch Xellos nii-sama in the face, make him understand, and then I’m going to beat up his tutor, Kachel ──

After that, I’ll disappear from the Grossalia family.

I’m ‘Monster, Nosferatu’, after all. I’ll just disappear from the family!

“‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’!!”

I drew the crest of ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood’ on my left hand.

Together with the bracelet, the ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ spell effect is doubled.

As it is, I kicked the ground and started running.

---

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

Chapter 6 Part 2

---

The next day, all the Baron’s household members are lined up in rows in front of the mansion.

Father, Xellos nii-sama, me, and Rumia, in that order.

At a distance behind us are the butler, Neil, and all the servants. Martha is with us, too.

The tutor, Kachel, stands behind nii-sama.

“I’m relieved that Yuuki nii-sama has returned”

Next to me, Rumia murmured quietly.

“Now Yuuki nii-sama can declare himself as a member of the Grossalia family in front of the Princess”

“I wonder if I can I stand with Martha and the others”

“…Yuuki nii-sama”

Rumia grabbed my sleeve. She looked like she was about to cry.

It didn’t seem like I could escape.

“Quiet, everyone. They’re here”

A black carriage with golden trimming, pulled by two white horses, approaches. An excellently dressed coachman is holding the reins. Behind the carriage are soldiers. Next to the carriage is…the bodyguard, I think. He looks oddly familiar to me. 

He is an old man with white hair, and he carries a long-handled axe on his back.

There is no doubt about it. It’s Barnes-san, who I met in the mountains behind the mansion a few days ago.

Now, before he could even look at me, I was already on the ground kneeling.

“Hey, Yuuki. It’s still early”

I’m sorry, Father. I need to hide.

It’s not rude to kneel early, right?

That’s why I didn’t want to come to the mansion. I knew they were related to the Princess.

If possible, I would have preferred to be among the servants, with Martha and the others.

It was none other than the tutor, Kachel, who dragged me here.

‘How can a member of the Baron family be absent, Yuuki-dono?’

── Or so he says.

If he weren’t Xellos nii-sama’s private tutor, I would have already punched him.

“We are very grateful to Her Royal Highness, Princess Iris Restia, for her presence!!”

Father suddenly exclaimed.

The black carriage stopped in front of us, and all of us knelt at once.

Then, Father raises his voice again.

“We, the Grossalia household, would like to thank you for this opportunity by allowing Xellos Grossalia to take the examination”

“Thank you. I appreciate your courteous welcome”

The sound of the carriage door opening could be heard.

Someone is coming out.

“This is not the royal palace. I’m not here as a princess, but as an examiner for the ‘Lindbel Magic Guild’. There’s no need to be so humble, Xellos Grossalia-sama”

“…Eh?”

Someone in white shoes stopped in front of me.

I looked up and saw a girl with silver hair standing there.

She is about the same height as me and wearing the same golden hair ornament that Clara-san gave me.

“I’m Iris Restia”, said Clara with a kind and gentle smile on her face, as if she was meeting me for the first time. 

“I’ve heard that you have outstanding magic skills, Xellos-sama. I am very much looking forward to meeting you. I wonder how much practice you have had at such a young age ──”

“You got it wrong. Your Royal Highness!”

Father exclaimed.

“That is his younger brother, Yuuki. This one here standing next to me is my legitimate son, Xellos, who will be taking the examination”

“…Sorry for the mistake. Please accept my apology”

Princess Iris bowed lightly and moved over to stand next to me.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. Xellos Grossalia-sama”

“…I am honored to have the opportunity to have an audience with you, Princess Iris Restia”

*Grind*, I heard the sound of Xellos nii-sama grinding his teeth.

Nii-sama gave me a sideways glare. Kachel, too.

In the awkward mood, the family members of the Grossalia family, Her Royal Highness, and her escorts were facing each other.

On the side of Her Royal Highness are Princess Iris herself, and Barnes-san with an axe.

The other soldiers are at a distance from us.

So Her Royal Highness and Barnes-san are the ones involved in this examination, huh?

“Well then, without delay, let’s start the examination”

“Yes. The exam site has already been arranged, Your Royal Highness”

The tutor, Kachel, raised his head.

“I will guide you to the exam site, ‘Kitral’s Forest’”

“…Thank you. Kachel Mieghem”

Princess Iris sighed quietly before answering.

“From here on out, it’s going to be related to the field of magic, so let’s only have a few people accompany us”

“I have made no oversight. I already told Baron Georg-sama and his family to wait for the examination results at the mansion”

“Understood. I’ll have Barnes and the others to accompany me. You don’t mind, right?

“As you wish, Your Royal Highness”

I was still on my knees, listening to the voices of the Princess and Kachel.

Clara-san was Princess Iris Restia.

Barnes-san is her bodyguard. So that means he is a man of considerably high rank.

They had come to perform a preliminary inspection on the examination site, hiding their identities. The reason they used pseudonyms was probably so they wouldn’t cause a commotion. Since I didn’t reveal my name, it’s no wonder that they mistook me for Xellos nii-sama. After all, I was also using magic at the time.

“…I didn’t want to be involved with the royal family”

It’s difficult…to be an ordinary human.

Uncertainties pile up one-by-one, and human relations change. 

To tell the truth, I want to run away right now.

But considering the position of the Grossalia family, that’s not going to happen.

“Let’s hope nii-sama passes the exam”

If Xellos nii-sama joins the ‘Lindbel Magic Guild’ and becomes friends with the high-ranking nobles, the Baron Grossalia family will be at peace. I can go to a public school without worry, too. It’s also not a problem if I go missing in the future.

After all, I’m just an outsider in this household.

As the ‘monster’, I’ll stay far away quietly and pray for the happiness of my family.

“…That’s why we need the baron household to assist us with the examination”

“A member of our family?”

“Yes, Baron Georg-sama. To ascertain the magic aptitude of Xellos-sama, we need a comparison”

“Hmm…but, the member in our family who has any knowledge of magic…”

“There’s no need to know anything about magic. After all, the examination requires the ability to manipulate magic, apply it, and deal with crises. If possible, I’d like someone close in age and physique”

“I see! In that case, take Yuuki”

When the situation finally hit me, Father and the Princess were looking at me.

“As my son, Yuuki excels in the ability to adapt. What’s more, he can set traps in the mountains and catch prey on his own, without me teaching him how to do so. And he is so kind as to present it to me so readily, too! I’m very proud of him”

“Oh, really?”

Father. What have you done?

Don’t just go “Oh, really?” with me, too, Princess Iris.

You’re here for Xellos nii-sama’s exam, right? There’s no need for you to pay me any mind, you know!?

“Well then, Yuuki Grossalia-sama. Can you please assist us with Xellos-sama’s examination?”

“He’s an illegitimate child! Your Royal Highness!!”

cried Kachel.

“He is of unknown lineage, born to a woman whom Baron Georg-sama met on the battlefield. How can such a person be allowed to take part in the examination!?” 

“My, my, did you know my grandmother was a commoner, too?”

said Princess Iris with a smile.

“My grandfather ── the Marquis of two generations ago, fell in love with my grandmother at first sight, proposed to her, and so my mother was born. If you’re going to criticize me for being of common blood, then I shall have to leave this place, too”

“That is not what I mean. I’m talking about the hierarchy” 

“The younger brother assists the older brother with his examination. Don’t you think that’s conforming with the hierarchy?”

The Princess closed one eye mischievously.

“But!”

“Kachel Mieghem! This examination is already off your hands!!”

The Princess suddenly shouted.

“Your task was to choose the examination site. And that has already been settled. To allow the examination to proceed smoothly, we will not discuss it now!! With that, we should give priority to the examination to discover someone’s talent, right? You should know that”

“…Your Royal Highness. I…I…”

“Your Royal Highness is right, Sensei”

Father took a few steps forward.

He knelt in front of the Princess and bowed very deeply.

“I’ll obey Your Royal Highness’s wish and order my son, Yuuki, to help with the examination. That’s also fine with Xellos, right?”

“…Yes”

Xellos nii-sama looked at me, glaringly.

“Don’t you run away, Yuuki”

He whispered to me.

He put his face close to mine so that no one else could hear.

“I’ll remind you of the difference in our birth. You should know what will happen if you run away”

“What happens…?”

“I’ll be the next head of the family. Me. Eventually, I’ll reshape the Grossalia family to whatever I want it to be. After all, I know you’re trying to incite the members of the mansion to get rid of me”

“What’s the matter? Xellos, Yuuki”

“It’s nothing. I was just asking Yuuki for a favor”

Hearing Father’s voice, Xellos nii-sama pulled away from me.

He’s smiling as if nothing had happened. And Kachel, too.

“I understand, Father, nii-sama. I will be there for the examination”

I said.

After all, I wanted to talk to nii-sama.

It can be during the examination where Kachel won’t be present.

We arrived at the ‘Kitral’s Forest’ in a carriage.

At the forest entrance, there’s me, Xellos nii-sama, tutor Kachel, the Princess, and her soldiers.

Barnes-san, the axe-man, is already in the forest. It seems that he will supervise the examination.

“The goal is on the other side of the forest. You will have to run to the location”

“…You, huh?”

“Xellos-sama, and Yuuki-sama. Please use this”

The Princess took out two bracelets.

“These are ‘Ancient Artifact’s replica’ developed by the ‘Magic Guild’ after the last war”

“Ohhhhhh! What an honor!”

exclaimed Kachel.

“‘Ancient Artifacts’ are the legacy of the ‘Capital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysium’, and they are beyond human comprehension. What an honor it is to be allowed to use it in the examination, even though it’s just a replica! I’m in tears!!”

“I-I’m honored, Your Royal Highness”

“…It’s an honor”

Following Xellos nii-sama, I also bowed my head.

“Even after two hundred years, the mages could only produce an item of this level. It is not as accurate as a real ‘Ancient Artifact’, and it will lose its magic power after one use. But it is also a product of gathering the most sophisticated engineering done by the ‘Magic Guild’. Don’t forget that” 

Hearing the Princess, Xellos nii-sama and I bowed.

This bracelet is an ‘Ancient Artifact’ ── a replica of it, huh?

Back in my day, there were holy swords, holy spears, and so on. The ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ would use them all the time.

The real thing was lost, so they made something similar, huh. It’s amazing.

“This is an item that, when equipped, will provide your body with the spell ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’. We will have the two of you go through the forest with it on”

The Princess continues with her explanation.

“Barnes will interrupt you on the way, and you will have to get past him till you reach outside of the forest”

“May I ask you a question? Your Royal Highness”

“Go ahead, Yuuki-sama”

“Why do I have to run with Xellos nii-sama?”

“Please think of it as a way to see the differences between Xellos-sama, who is accustomed to using ‘Ancient Magic’, and the ordinary person”

“Differences, you say?”

“Even if you’re used to it, running through the forest with ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ active is…. The speed can still be quite frightening because there is still the branches, the roots, the slippery ground, and the wet grass that are all closing in on you much faster than usual as you run”

The Princess smiled boldly.

“We can’t see how brilliant Xellos-sama is if he runs alone. It is only when he is compared with someone who is not used to ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ that we can know how outstanding he is”

“I understand”

I want to talk to Xellos nii-sama, where Kachel is not present.

If nii-sama hates me, I don’t mind leaving the mansion.

But, I don’t understand why…nii-sama says I’m trying to get rid of him. I’ll feel bad if he doesn’t clarify.

If I leave him alone and something happens to Rumia and Martha after I have left ──

Then I’ll have to come to detest Xellos nii-sama.

“Thank you very much for this valuable opportunity. Your Royal Highness”

I received a golden bracelet from the Princess.

When I put it on my wrist, strength welled up in me.

It’s the same feeling I got when I used ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’.

Nii-sama and I walked over and took our starting position.

Kachel has left. At last, he finally left us.

When we enter the forest, I’ll have a talk with nii-sama.

“Are you both okay? Now then, on your mark. Get set”

The Princess raises her arm.

Clara-san ── no, Princess Iris Restia, as I thought, really does look just like Alice.

Alice was the only daughter of Lyle, the chief of ‘Fila Village’, where I lived in my previous life. Alice inherited Lyle’s eyes and her mother, Remilia’s hair color and lips.

Seriously, the resemblance is uncanny.

Is it just a coincidence? Or is it ──

── No, let’s focus on the exam now.

It’s obvious that Xellos nii-sama will clear it, and I will just follow him without being a hindrance.

Let’s have a human talk. Because after nii-sama goes to the ‘Magic Guild’, I won’t get the chance anymore.

“Let the examination begin!!”

“── I’m going” “Ha!”

Nii-sama and I started running at the same time.

Straight into the forest.

---

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

Chapter 6 Part 1

---

Chapter 6 – The Former Demon King, Takes Part In The Magic Examination

“This is ridiculous! Why should I be called back to the ‘Magic Guild’?”

The tutor, Kachel, slammed the parchment onto the floor.

This is the Baron’s library.

The tutor, Kachel, breathed heavily as he looked at the letter from the ‘Magic Guild’ which had just arrived.

What’s been written on the letter was ──

‘D-rank Mage, Kachel Mieghem

There was a serious error in the information you submitted about the ‘potential examination sites’ this time.

As a result, those who went for a preliminary inspection were harmed.

Under normal circumstances, you would be called back immediately for an explanation, but in consideration of the future of the examinee, Xellos Grossalia, the examination will proceed as planned.

You are to work as usual until the end of the examination and then return to the ‘Magic Guild’’

“You’re kidding me! What about those who went for a preliminary inspection at the exam site!? I don’t give a damn about the underlings!! I only chose a place where Xellos Grossalia would stand out!! How is that a mistake!?”

I knew there were monsters in the mountains behind the mansion.

But it is also a place where the illegitimate child, Yuuki, can easily go hunting.

I was going to show them how good Xellos is by putting him in the same place.

And yet, those who went for a preliminary inspection were attacked by monsters ──

“As long as Xellos Grossalia could pass the exam…”

This is my only hope.

Those who enter the educational institution of the ‘Magic Guild’ are allowed to choose their own mentor.

If Xellos chooses me as his mentor, then I will probably be able to maintain a reasonable position in the guild, too.

But what if Xellos fails the exam…?

“If that happens…I, too, will have to make a decision”

Kachel held his head in his hands.

(Why is this happening to me!?)

(Why do I have to bet my life here!? Why…!?)

“Arrrrrrgggghhhhhhhh!!”

Kachel stomped on the parchment scattered on the floor. Again, and again.

Princess Iris will come here as scheduled.

Thus, the examination will take place as planned. Perhaps, I will be treated as I have always had been so that the young man of the future can take his examination as usual.

“…In that case, I will just continue to be the ‘Tutor Kachel’”

Xellos Grossalia has an enemy. The sense of danger against the illegitimate child, Yuuki, has been sufficiently instilled in him.

He must have come to believe that the only way to oppose Yuuki is to follow me.

If I can use his feelings to my advantage, Xellos will be able to do as I have always wanted ──

“Sensei, have you got a moment?”

Suddenly, there was a knock.

It was Xellos Grossalia.

“I need to talk to you. May I come in?”

“…Please come in. Xellos-sama”

After picking up the scattered parchment, Kachel answered.

The door opened, and a pale face Xellos came in.

“…Sensei. I think I heard a loud noise”

“It’s just a slip of the hand. More importantly, what’s the matter?”

“…Sensei”

Xellos looked up at his private tutor and muttered.

“Will I really be able to pass the exam?”

“What are you talking about now!?”

The tutor, Kachel, grabbed Xellos by the shoulders.

“Please don’t do such a bearish thing! Her Royal Highness is already in the territory, you know!?”

“…But”

“You are the legitimate son of the Baron Grossalia family. You have to show as much ability as you can in front of Her Royal Highness. Such a timid attitude will only give that illegitimate child an opportunity to take advantage of you!”

“Do you mean…Yuuki?”

“Yes. How many times have I told you!? The illegitimate child is a pest in a noble household. In order to get rid of him, we have to work together to oppose our common enemy!!”

Kachel gritted his teeth.

“It was the same in my family. The Mieghem family was thrown into chaos because of an illegitimate child who excelled in magic. I am saying this for the sake of Xellos-sama because I don’t want Xellos-sama to suffer the same fate!”

“…But, Yuuki is…my…younger brother ──”

“Enough! How many times have I told you!? The things that he’s been doing behind your back”, Kachel scowled at Xellos.

What Kachel had told Xellos came to his mind.

── Yuuki Grossalia is trying to get rid of you.

── He has been spreading rumors about you to the servants, behind your back. That’s what I found, and that’s also why the servants stayed away when we were together.

── Even your little sister, Rumia, is very fond of Yuuki. That’s also another scheme of his.

── I’ve heard of this and those rumors, too. But you shouldn’t tell the Baron. We don’t know what a desperate man will do.

── If you show your outstanding ability, you can blow everything away. Don’t worry…I, Kachel, the tutor, is the only one on your side ──

“I have given Xellos-sama the aforementioned item. It is an item that can form a link between Xellos-sama and me. With that, it will eliminate your anxiety. Isn’t that right?”

“Y-Yes”

Xellos looked at the black amulet on his right arm.

He always wore this when Kachel told him rumors about Yuuki.

When he touches it, his anxiety goes away. It is now something that Xellos cannot live without.

“What is the result of your neglect of Yuuki-dono? Don’t you remember that your father openly praised Yuuki-dono?”

“But…that doesn’t mean Yuuki has talent”

“In that case, how do you explain Her Royal Highness’s instructions to summon ‘all the family members’ in the Baron family!?”

“Eek”, Xellos lets out a small shriek.

The reason for that is Kachel shouting and hitting the desk with his fist.

The private tutor, Kachel, does not tolerate dissent. At first, Xellos was afraid of Kachel, too.

But he has gotten used to it now.

His ability in ‘Ancient Magic’ has improved. Thus, he is now able to take the examination of the ‘Magic Guild’.

That means that the tutor, Kachel, is right.

“Why can’t you understand!? In the first place, Her Royal Highness wouldn’t know about Yuuki-dono, would she? And yet, Her Royal Highness sent a letter requesting to summon all the family members in the Baron family. I’m sure you know what that means, don’t you, Xellos-sama!?”

“…Yuuki spread rumors about me…in order to get rid of me…?”

“I’m glad you understand”

“Yuuki said…he would be traveling during my examination. It was also to spread rumors about me to other towns…? To spread my name and make me look bad…”

“You see the danger you’re in now, don’t you?”

“……Kachel-sensei”

“I’m the only one on your side. Only me, Xellos-sama” 

Kachel sighed.

Then he tapped Xellos’s shoulder and said.

“You have talent, Xellos-sama. Please believe in yourself and use the greatest magic you have. High-ranking magic that even Her Royal Highness has to acknowledge”

“Yes, Sensei”

Xellos nodded ── though he still looked pale.

Kachel flipped up the hem of his robe and said.

“You must win for the Baron’s sake. And above all else, as a proud student of mine. I’m looking forward to your success. The legitimate son of the Baron family, Xellos Grossalia-sama”

---

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

Chapter 5 Part 3

---

“……I’m bored”

With a thud, I lay down on the bed at the inn.

I could hear voices coming from outside the window.

Maybe it was because this inn is located in the middle of town, so I could hear the noise of the bustling street very well.

“I’ve brought you some tea. Yuuki-sama”

“Martha. Can I open the curtains?”

“If that’s your wish, Yuuki-sama. I will take full responsibility if someone finds out, so don’t worry”

“I’m sorry. I won’t bring it up anymore”

I have to be patient here.

Because I’m sure Martha would love to open the curtains as much as I do.

A princess visit is a once-in-a-lifetime event after all. I’m sure Martha would really love to see the princess, too.

Today is the day before Xellos nii-sama takes the exam to join the ‘Magic Guild’.

I’m supposed to wait here at the town inn while Her Royal Highness comes to visit the Baron’s territory for the exam.

My maid, Martha, and two servants from the mansion came with me to the inn.

I have told the other two, “Think of it as a vacation”, so they’re probably relaxing in their rooms by now.

In the end, it was decided that Xellos nii-sama’s exam was to be held as planned.

Nobody said anything about Clara-san and Barnes-san.

I don’t know about the royal family nor the ‘Magic Guild’…but perhaps after the exam, they will announce tutor Kachel’s mistake and punish him.

As far as I’m concerned, as long as Xellos nii-sama’s exam goes well, that’s all that matters to me.

“…I’ll behave. After all, it’s not like I want to see Her Royal Highness”

I sipped the tea Martha had brewed for me.

It had the usual temperature and taste. As expected of Martha.

“Would you like to join me for tea, Martha?”

“Yes, I would love to join you. I’ll go get a cup then”

“I’ll wait. Also, I won’t open the curtains even when I’m alone”

“I believe in you. Yuuki-sama”

Martha left the room and came back with a cup in her hand.

When I offer her a chair, she obediently sits down.

This is not the mansion. She doesn’t have to follow the rules of nobility, too.

“Since you’re bored, would you like to read a book? Yuuki-sama”

“The books that Kachel-sensei prepared for me?”

“‘The Magnificent Magic Guild’, ‘The Importance of the Class System’ ── there are five similar books in total”

“I don’t want to read them”

When I sighed, Martha smiled wryly.

This makes me think that being locked up in the inn isn’t so bad either.

Besides…being outside makes me want to experiment with magic.

The girl I met in the mountains was using the fire element ‘Ancient Magic’. I memorized the movements of her finger. If I draw the same crest, I should be able to use the same magic, too. What would happen if I drew it on Dick’s body…?

“…I have to study this more in-depth”

This is what makes a mage addicted to magic.

When you learn magic, you can do more. And that results in you wanting to learn more.

Sooner or later, the goal increasingly becomes about what you can do and not about what you do. In the end, it becomes about a life of research.

I’ve seen such people in my previous life. It wasn’t a very good one.

“Come to think of it, Martha, do you ever think about the future?”

“Yuuki-sama is wise, so I think you should become a politician in this country”

“No, no, this is not about me”

“You told me about the ‘Lydala Flower’ that is good for coughs, didn’t you? Thanks to you, my mother’s condition has improved, you know!? Where did you learn about that!?”

“From some merchant. I met him when I snuck out of the mansion and went into town”

“Yuuki-sama is really amazing…”

Martha’s mother is chronically ill.

Every time I go visit her, I would use my ‘Purification’ skill on her, but the treatment takes time.

That’s why I brought her some flowers to help with her coughs. If it’s placed at her bedside, it can ease the irritation in her throat a little.

I told Martha that I had heard it from a merchant from the East.

It was true, of course. Although I did meet that merchant in my previous life.

“I wish Yuuki-sama could take the ‘Magic Guild’ exam, too”

“It’s troublesome, so no thanks”

“Did you know? I’ve heard that the exam is now to be held in ‘Kitral’s Forest’”

“The mountain and the swamp were no good?”

“There were three proposed sites. It is said that the mountain behind the mansion is absolutely no good and the swamp was a no-go because of its mysterious nature”

“I guessed as much”

I suppose the girl, Clara, and the old warrior, Barnes, had judged so.

After all, they were attacked by ‘Dark Bears’ in the mountains where tutor Kachel had reported that it was super safe and secure, so his words no longer have any credibility.

When it comes to the swamp, it is no good as well, because it’s hard to move around there.

The only other place where magic can be used without being seen is ‘Kitral’s Forest’.

The princess should be in the territory by now.

I wonder if Clara-san and the old man, Barnes, will also be accompanying her.

The girl ── Clara-san, she looks exactly like Lyle’s daughter, Alice….

“Martha, let’s say…”

“What is it, Yuuki-sama?”

“I have a few questions…but before that, I need a little more honey in my tea”

“Please remember to brush your teeth before you go to bed, okay?”

“I know”

“More than 20 minutes?”

“I’m not a child. By the way, Martha is the only child, right?”

“Yes”

“This is just an example, but let’s say if there’s a girl who is a little older than you, and she looks exactly like your mother, Melissa, would you suspect your blood relations?” 

“Yuuki-sama, do you think there’s something wrong with my family background?”

“This is just an example. It’s about someone that I know”

“Someone that you know, huh?”

“For example, if there is a girl who looks a lot like the daughter of someone I thought of as my son, should I suspect her blood relations?”

“I heard that there are three people who resemble one another in the world”

“Yeah”

“So I wouldn’t judge by the face alone, but by something else”

“Something else?”

“My mother is very good at baking apple pies. Her pies are very delicious”

“I know. Melissa’s pies are my favorite, too”

“But I heard that Mother learned it from my grandmother. And my grandmother learned it from my great-grandmother. That’s why everyone in my family loves apple pie”

“In other words, you’re saying that I can judge by her favorite food?”

“Hmm. But that’s a trait that doesn’t get passed down unless you lived in the same family”

“No, that’s enough”

It’s unlikely that I’ll meet Clara-san again in the first place.

I probably won’t even have the chance to ask her what her favorite food is.

It is also unknown whether Alice’s favorite food, ‘Spicy Venison Thin Crust Pie’, is still around in this era. 

“It was very helpful. Thank you, Martha”

“I’m glad to be of help”

“I appreciate it. If I had to leave the mansion, I wish Martha would follow me”

“If it’s a passionate invitation, I’ll consider it”

“That will be after my coming of age…when I turn 15 years old”

“Well then, once that time comes, I’ll get back to you about that”

Martha and I sipped our tea together.

“Come to think of it, there was a package delivered to my house when I was away”

“A package?”

“It was ‘Dark Bear’ claws. They were charred, but they made good money”

“I didn’t know there was such a nice person”

“I wonder who it could be. Mother was smiling with a handkerchief she had sewn for Yuuki-sama though”

“Beats me”

Martha and I sipped our tea together again.

This is not bad either.

It would be nice if Martha and I could spend time together like this.

…If I go to the ‘Magic Guild’, I wonder…if there is ‘Ancient Magic’ that can do that, too?

“…A delusion. That is just a delusion”

“What kind of delusion? Yuuki-sama”

“I can’t tell Martha that”

“It might come true if it’s a passionate invitation though?”

“…I think you’re misunderstanding something here”

“Well, let’s make sure of that when I wash your hair next time”

Please stop smiling so boldly while grabbing the bust of your maid uniform, Martha. 

“Yuuki-sama! Is Yuuki-sama here!?”

Suddenly there was the sound of footsteps and the door to the room opened.

The person who came in was a maid sent from the mansion.

“I’m here. After all, Martha will get angry at me if I got out”

“You make it sound like you’d run off if I’m not here”

“I think I’d at least try to avoid being noticed”

“I’m doing great. A good role model for the maids”

“Well done-well done. Oh, pass me the honey”

“You’re adding too much. Yuuki-sama”

As she said that, Martha brought the honey pot to me ──

“Now’s not the time for that! Yuuki-sama and Martha, too”

“Help me put the honey pot back”

“…Baron-sama has asked for Yuuki-sama to return to the mansion”

……Huh?

“It seems that we have received a notice from Her Royal Highness’s envoy to have all the family members of the Grossalia family to greet her. Please return to the mansion at once. Yuuki-sama!”

---

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

Chapter 5 Part 2

---

“…Haa”

I sat down on the ground and sighed.

I couldn’t hear the monster anymore. It looks like there won’t be another ‘Dark Bear’ coming.

“Thank you very much…”

The girl bowed her head to the boy.

“I can’t thank you enough for saving us from a dangerous situation”

“Likewise, I was able to see some good stuff”

The boy shook his head.

Looking back, he was about my age.

If he is a noble, he would still be at the age of being taught by a private tutor in preparation for school.

(I can’t believe there was such an amazing person in the countryside far from the Royal Capital. Even though we are about the same age, he wasn’t afraid of the monsters at all. If he made one wrong move, then he could have gotten himself killed by the ‘Dark Bear’…and yet, he saved me…such courage)

The girl involuntarily clutched her chest.

I couldn’t stop my heart from beating fast.

(…Maybe this person…is the one taking the exam?)

“You saved us, boy! You’re amazing!!”

Unaware of the girl’s agitation, the old warrior called out.

“Are these bats your familiar? It’s amazing. Even in the ‘Magic Guild’, there are very few people who can control their familiar to this degree. This is really an impressive feat!!”

“No, they were strong, to begin with”

“…Is that so?”

“Yeah. I was just feeding them. And then we became friends”

“…Those are some strong bats there” 

“They have to be strong to live in these mountains where monsters appear, right? More importantly”

The boy looked directly at the girl.

His gaze was so intense that it almost overwhelmed her.

“If you are a local, you wouldn’t have entered the ‘Dark Bear’ territory. If you are outsiders, you can have a local to act as your guide. You guys are outsiders, correct? Why is it just the two of you at this hour?”

“N-No…we…”

“Don’t blame Ojou-sama. We were told that it was safe here”

“From whom?”

“From a private tutor in the service of the Baron Grossalia family, a man named Kachel Mieghem”

“……Aah, I see”

The boy looked like he had just swallowed something bitter.

“That bastard. He should think a little before doing something…the exam almost got screwed up…”

“Are you, perhaps a member of the Baron Grossalia family?”

“No, I’m just a hunter”

“Just a hunter who uses magic?”

“A hunter who knows a lot about magic”

“……Oh, really?”

“……Yes, really”

“Even so, you have some amazing abilities. If it’s you, you can even join the ‘Magic Guild’, you know?”

“Are you from the ‘Magic Guild’?”

“…Eh?”

“I can roughly guess it from the conversation”

“Y-Yes. I ought to have told you that sooner”

The girl stood up and brushed the dirt off her clothes.

Then she looked at the old warrior standing behind her.

He received her gaze and nodded as if to confirm something ──

“I’m helping with the exam. My name is…Clara”

“I’m Barnes, Ojou-sama’s bodyguard”

“In a few days, there will be an exam for joining the ‘Magic Guild’ around here. And for that reason, we came to perform some preliminary inspections. After all, there must be no danger and injustice”

“Keep it a secret from your people. They will cause a big fuss if you told them in advance”

“So that’s what it was about”

“Thanks to you we were saved. If you don’t mind, may I have your name?”

“…Can’t I be a nameless hunter, too?”

“There’s nothing wrong with that. You are our benefactor…oh, that’s right”

The girl touched the back of her ear and took off the barrette from her silver hair.

“I’ll give you this as a token of my gratitude”

“…No, there’s no need for that”

“Oh? If you’re a hunter, then don’t you need to monetize what you get from hunting?”

The girl covered her mouth and laughed.

The boy has a troubled look on his face.

I wonder why. Looking at his face, I get a warm feeling in my chest.

“The ‘Dark Bear’ materials were burnt to a crisp. Please take this instead. Okay?”

“…Thank you very much”

“Hehe”

The girl took the boy’s hand and placed a silver barrette on it.

What should I do if he refuses…? Such a thought crossed my mind for a moment.

However, the boy just accepted the barrette frankly.

“You really saved us back there. Please help me offer my thanks to your bats, too”

The girl bowed deeply to the boy again. The old man does the same, too.

“If you hadn’t rushed to us, we wouldn’t be alive now. You were really…amazing. Like a strong gust of wind, I suppose that’s what one would call it, right…?”

“……You”

“Eh?”

“……You look just like…my idiot son’s daughter”

“……You have a grandchild? That can’t be possible”

“……Forget that. I’ll escort you to the foot of the mountain”

The boy then led the girl and the old warrior to a safe place.

Their carriage was hidden in a grove at the foot of the mountain.

In the end, Barnes wanted to thank the boy as well, but the boy turned down the offer and left.

“He’s a wonderful person, wasn’t he?”

The girl murmured with a sigh.

“That level of fighting ability at such a young age. The courage to target the monster’s vitals with a single blow. I wish someone like him was near me”

“As a bodyguard? Ojou-sama”

“Yes. If possible, I wanted to tell him my real name, but…”

“He did save our lives after all. Though you will get your chance soon enough”

“If it’s him, he wouldn’t even need to take the ‘Magic Guild’ exam. I’d like to have him to be my retainer right away”

“A knight standing right beside Ojou-sama. It’s a position that everyone aspires to, isn’t it?”

“Do you think that he’s the examinee this time?”

“There’s no doubt about it, right?”

The old warrior, Barnes, nodded contentedly with his axe in his hand.

“That boy is Xellos Grossalia. The one who intends to join the ‘Magic Guild’, right?”

“Is that so?”

“Did you find something amiss?”

“The tutor, Kachel, described him as ‘Blonde hair and blue eyes. A courteous young nobleman’ in the report”

“His words are unreliable! You must have realized it too, don’t you, Ojou-sama?” 

“…Kachel’s father was a brilliant man”

“At any rate, I think that boy is Xellos Grossalia. If he was a different person, then Kachel has overlooked such talent. If that’s the case, then he ought to be kicked out of the guild right away! Especially after what he did to Ojou-sama!!”

The girl was not listening to Barnes.

The image of the boy from earlier still remained on her mind.

A mysterious hunter. A fighting capability that defeats monsters in an instant. And bats that are too strong.

He knew about the ‘Magic Guild’ exam. If he isn’t Xellos Grossalia…then who is he?

“Furthermore……he said he knows someone who looks like me”

The girl shook her head.

I have a feeling that I must look into the Baron household a little more. 

---

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

Chapter 5 Part 1

---

Chapter 5 – The Former Demon King, Rescue A Girl

“Please run away, Ojou-sama! You can’t deal with the ‘Dark Bear’ yet!!”

“How could I leave the old man and run away!?”

The girl readied her sword.

She’s covering the wounded old warrior behind her back and stares at the enemy in front of her.

It was just before dawn when her carriage reached the foot of the mountain.

She entered the mountain with the old man for exploration before the place became busy with people.

They were supposed to have moved according to the map.

However, the road suddenly got cut off. Due to that reason, the two lost their way and entered the monster’s habitat.

“That bastard. What did he mean by ‘A safe mountain free from monsters’? Even the map is rubbish!”

“We have to get through this first!!”

“I’ll be your shield. Ojou-sama, your magic”

The old warrior used an axe with a long handle as a cane to stand up.

His left arm was badly wounded after the ‘Dark Bear’ had caught him off guard.

The bleeding was stopped with magic, but it will take some time to heal completely. 

‘GWAAARRGGGHHH!’

The bear which is twice the size of an adult is standing on its hind-legs.

The monster’s eyes are locked on the old warrior and the girl. There’s no way they could escape.

“── The source, a crucible of heat. Like the lava flowing from the Earth, the breath of scorching heat is shown here”

While recalling the incantation she learned, the girl begins to draw a crest in the air.

“I’ll buy Ojou-sama some time to chant. I won’t let you pass me! Dark Bear!!”

The old warrior swung his axe.

There was a thunk sound, and the blade cut into the arm of the ‘Dark Bear’.

‘GYAAARRRGGGHHH!!’

“Now! Get away from there, old man!”

“Affirmative!!”

“‘Fire God’s Relentless Barrage, Ifrit Blow!!’”

Several flames formed around the girl.

All at once, the flames rush towards the ‘Dark Bear’.

‘G-GUUUOOOOOO’

“It’s working, Ojou-sama. Hang in there and finish it off!!”

“Yes!”

The strength of ‘Ancient Magic’ lies in its ability to fire off continuously.

As long as the spell passes through the ‘Circuit’ of magic power, the same magic can be unleashed in rapid succession.

‘GUUUOOOOOO!! GUUUOOOOOO!!’

Flames formed one after another and again rushed towards the ‘Dark Bear’. Burning the ‘Dark Bear’ in front of them.

“That was a close call. Seriously, when it comes to his information…”

“Be quiet, old man!”

The girl listens carefully.

‘──── GUUUOOOOO. GUUUOOOOO’

A roar can be heard. And it’s close, too. 

The girl re-read the parchment in her hand.

‘This mountain is rated A. No monsters. Even if there are any, it will be some low-level monsters. Safety rating AA. Ideal for the examination site. It’s a place with a nice view, too. Please come anytime’ ── that’s what was written on it. 

That’s why the girl and the old warrior came here to check it out together.

However, the ‘Dark Bear’ that attacked them is a monster with a danger level of ‘C’.

Only intermediate level and above adventurers can fight it.

How can a place where such a monster exists be rated as a ‘Safety Rating AA’?

“Old man! This way. Let’s get out of here now. While we’re running, your medical treatment ──”

“Ojou-sama!!”

The trees on both sides shook.

What appeared were two ‘Dark Bears’ that were even larger than the previous one.

With rage glowing in their eyes, the two ‘Dark Bears’ raised their arms at the girl.

“Damn!!”

*Clang!!*

The claws that were swung down were received with a sword. But the sword couldn’t completely extinguish the bears’ blow.

The girl was thrown to the ground and rolled to a stop after hitting a tree.

One of the ‘Dark Bears’ heads for the girl and the other one is heading towards the old warrior.

“…Gah!”

The girl coughed involuntarily as she tried to chant to cast magic.

She hit her chest when she fell. Right now, she can barely breathe, let alone speak properly. Due to that reason, she can’t use magic.

“Ojou-sama!!”

“…No”

‘GWWWAAAARRRGGGHHH!!’

“I still have so much to do ──!”

As if to drown out the girl’s scream, the ‘Dark Bear’ swung its huge claws down.

Those claws cut through the air.

“There are a lot of monsters on this mountain. It’s impossible to use it as an examination site”

“── Eh?”

The next thing she knew, she found herself flying through the air in the arms of a boy she didn’t know.

His hair and eyes are black. He is about the same age as the girl. But his arms are strong and enveloped the girl.

This boy was the one who saved her.

“…The ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ magic of Ancient Magic? But…this is amazing…”

He rushed over to the scene just before the attack of the ‘Dark Bear’ hit and jumped away after grabbing the girl in his arms.

Unbelievable ──, the girl thought.

Neither the girl and the old man, nor even the ‘Dark Bear’ noticed his approach.

Even with the ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ magic of ‘Ancient Magic’, such speed shouldn’t be possible.

“T-Thank you very much. And who might you be!?”

“At this time of year, it’s the breeding season for the ‘Dark Bear’. Even I try to stay away from their territory. It’s best to run away as soon as you see one”

“…Eh? Ah. Okay…”

“Well, when you’ve pissed off the ‘Dark Bear’ this much, it’s already too late”

The boy lowered the girl to the ground and held up his dagger.

“It should be fine here. You guys back up the old man over there”

‘Gii-Giii!’

When the boy called out, four bats emerged from the forest and headed towards the ‘Dark Bear’.

Don’t tell me…they are going to fight, too? The girl wondered.

‘Dark Bear’ is an intermediate class monster. In terms of its danger level, it’s a Stage Five’s C class.

It is a level where the girl and the old man can barely fight against it. No matter how many bats are heading towards it ──

*Bam!*

‘GUUUOOOAAAHHH!!’

The ‘Dark Bear’ staggered as it received blows from the bats’ body to its chin.

And also to its temples and ears.

The bats continue to attack the ‘Dark Bear’ at breakneck speed.

‘Guooooaaaahhhh!!’

The ‘Dark Bear’ fell to the ground.

“No way…mere bats have the ‘Dark Bear’…” 

‘…Gah!? Gaaaaahhh!?’

The ‘Dark Bear’ groaned as blood flowing from its head.

The bats’ wings and their claws are like sharp blades. They easily cut through the body of the ‘Dark Bear’ which was protected by its thick fur.

The reason they didn’t attack its torso was that the old man was attacking it with his axe.

“This is amusing! I’m fighting with bats!!”

“Amazing. The bats…are coordinating with the old man…”

The girl was amazed by the scene happening in front of her.

The bats retreated just in time for the old man to swing his axe and then charged forward the moment he finished swinging.

The wounded ‘Dark Bear’ wasn’t even able to stand up.

“Can you still use magic?”

The boy suddenly muttered.

“Please use the fire magic again. I wasn’t able to see it clearly earlier”

“Y-Yes. I do have some magic power left”

“Shoot it when I give you the signal”

The boy starts running with a dagger in his hand.

“── He’s gone!?”

The girl exclaimed involuntarily.

She couldn’t catch his movement. Even for a ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ magic, it was too fast.

Such speed was not possible with Level 1 ‘Ancient Magic’.

“‘──── The source, a crucible of heat…’”

The girl begins to chant the incantation for the magic just as the boy had instructed her.

‘Gwah? Gwaaahhh!!’

The ‘Dark Bear’ looked around, to the left and right, but it couldn’t grasp the boy’s position.

The boy went to its blind spot at high speed and thrust his dagger into the back of the ‘Dark Bear’.

‘GWAAARRRGGGHHH!?’

“…This is the end for you”

The boy pushed the dagger into the monster’s body.

However, it was shallow.

The dagger can cut the flesh of the ‘Dark Bear’, but it can’t reach the heart.

(It stopped moving. Now’s the moment!)

When the girl was about to activate her magic.

“Here it comes. ‘Rapid Freezing’!”

‘GWAAARRRGGGHHH’

Blood gushed out of the chest of the ‘Dark Bear’ as a sharp, icy blade pierced it.

The girl understood it in an instant. That is normal ice magic.

‘Dark Bear’ has tough body fur. Both fire and ice can be resisted to some extent.

That’s why the boy wounded the ‘Dark Bear’ and cast ice magic from there.

“Wha-? Then you don’t even need my magic…?”

“No, ‘Dark Bear’ has strong vitality”

The boy kicked the ‘Dark Bear’ in the back and leaped away.

“Just in case, please deal the finishing blow! So that I can clearly see how Ancient Magic can defeat them!!”

“A-Alright! Activate! ‘Fire God’s Relentless Barrage, Ifrit Blow’!!”

When the girl activated the ‘Ancient Magic’, flames flew out, and the dying ‘Dark Bear’ was subsequently devoured by the flames.

“The old man over there! Dick and the others too, please get away from it, there will be flames heading towards it soon” 

“A-Aye” ‘Gii-Giii!’

“You over there. Use your fire magic on the remaining ‘Dark Bear’!!”

“Ah, alright”

Just as she was told, the girl continuously activated her magic.

Flames were sent flying to the ‘Dark Bear’ that was fighting against the old man.

The ‘Dark Bear’ which was bleeding from its head and torso, couldn’t evade the magic.

Its whole body was bathed in fire and collapsed.

---

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

Chapter 4 Part 3

---

Dawn.

I sneaked out of the mansion and headed for the mountains.

This is to experiment ‘Ancient Magic’.

I overslept.

I slept like a log after dinner because I ate too much.

The pancakes Martha made for me were delicious, so it can’t be helped. This body is still just 13 years old, so it requires lots of sleep.

“The mountains behind the mansion will only be off-limits in the afternoon, wasn’t it?”

The sun hadn’t even risen yet. There aren’t even any guards on duty this early.

If I use the ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ and ‘Flight’ magic, it will only take me 10 minutes to reach the mountains.

“Dick. Are you awake?”

‘…Yes! Master!’

This is at the mountaintop on one of the mountains.

I called out in a low voice, and the bat, Dick, flew over.

“You heard me well just now”

‘Dick knows all on this mountain. Everyone was waiting for Master’s arrival!’

*BAZABAZABAZABAZA ──!!*

The sky at dawn turned black.

Countless bats were flying in the sky.

“Thank you. I understand the greeting. But let’s have them disperse before someone notices them” 

‘Certainly! Everyone, disperse!!’

The bats scattered.

Dick and three other bats stayed behind. They’re there to keep a lookout for people.

“‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’, activate”

I drew the crest of the ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ magic on my left hand.

It’s been experimented up to this point.

This time I’m going to try drawing the crest on my right hand as well.

I activated the two ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ magic drawn on both of my hands, and started running.

The scenery flew by.

Fast! What the hell is this? I’m scared!!

I can’t keep up with my senses. It’s too fast. When I kicked the ground with my own momentum ──

My body flew through the air.

It’s like the ‘Flight’ magic I used in my previous life. Back then, I used my magic power to fly like a bird.

“The operating time is about 10 minutes, huh?”

The experiment was successful.

Drawing two crests will double the effects of ‘Ancient Magic’.

Xellos nii-sama was chanting an incantation while drawing the crest in the air.

Because there’s only one mouth, so only one instance of the magic can be used at a time.

In my case, however, that limitation doesn’t exist.

I can invoke the magic just by simply drawing the crest with my ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood’.

“…Not good, this has become fun somehow”

In this era, I’ve decided to be an ordinary human.

I’m going to make magic just a hobby, but….

“I wonder what would happen if I draw and invoke 3 crests at the same time”

………….

…….

I tried.

── *CREAK*, I felt my body creak.

“ARRRGGGHHH!?”

This is dangerous. It’s one hell of muscle pain.

When I try to move my limbs, I can feel the cramp going on in my leg with a sense of numbness too.

No good. My body is not keeping up with the magic. This is too reckless for my 13 years old body.

………….urgh.

…….uuhn.

After 10 minutes of intense muscle pain…the effects of the magic finally wore off.

As I thought, ‘Ancient Magic’ is dangerous.

Let’s not be reckless. After all, I’m just an ordinary human in this era.

‘Master. What’s wrong?’

The bat, Dick, perched on my shoulder and looked at me with concern.

As I look at those wings….

“…I wonder what would happen if I draw the crest on Dick’s body”

‘Is it magic? Please give it a try!’

“Are you sure?”

‘It seems fun!’

“I’ll give it a try then”

I’m 13 years old now, a child in the throes of curiosity.

So I inadvertently drew the crest of the ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ magic on Dick’s wings. It ended up looking like graffiti.

“…Okay, I drew it. How do you feel, Dick? Feeling anything?”

‘I’m feeling weird’

“All right. I will erase it immediately”

‘There’s no need to erase it. It’s amazing, Master! I’m full of energy now’

Dick had disappeared ── and when I realized that, he had already flown up to a greater height.

“Whoaaa!”

‘Ohhhhhhhhh!!’

We both raised our voices at the same time.

Dick’s speed as he flew over the sky was several times faster than usual.

I need to focus to see Dick’s movement.

“Hey! Don’t come swooping down like that. You’re going to fly into a tree”

‘It’s okay. My sound waves related abilities have been strengthened, too!’

Dick slips through the trees.

The leaves on the branches fell after Dick passed by.

Bats avoid obstacles with sounds that we can’t hear ── according to his own testimony, but seems like it has been strengthened.

‘This is amazing! To think that Master has such great power’

‘Kyuii. Kyuii’

Before I knew it, the other three bats were flying towards me.

“You guys want to be strengthened, too?”

Nod, nod.

“…Just this once though”

‘Kyui! Kyuii!’

I drew the crest on them.

It can’t be helped.

After all, I need to make sure that this ‘Ancient Magic’ can also be used by anyone, not just my servants.

And the outcome is ──

‘Kyuiiii ──!!’   ‘Kyuuuuiiiiii!’   ‘Kyu kyu, kyu ──!!’

‘This is amazing, Master!’

All 4 bats are now in the ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ state.

“‘Ancient Magic’ is a real force to be reckoned with…”

The mages of the ‘Magic Guild’ can manipulate such power at will?

As I thought…it will be better to not get involved with them.

I’ll go to a public school and live my life as an ordinary human.

Magic is a hobby. I won’t go into it any further. It’s too dangerous. That’s that. 

“Shall I head back now? Martha will get angry if I’m late for breakfast”

There should be some leftover syrup from yesterday for breakfast. It tastes good on bread.

Even the Baron household rarely serves it, so I can’t miss it.

‘Master. I found someone’

Dick returned.

‘While searching for the others, I saw humans are being chased by monsters’

“Is that so? That is going to be a problem”

‘I know right’

“What kind of monster was it?”

‘It’s a Dark Bear’

“They’re in big trouble. But then, to have entered the mountains without any preparation. It can’t be helped”

‘Is that so?’

“They must be reckless travelers. Anyway, it’s none of my business”

‘Then why is Master running at the same speed as Dick, who has been strengthened and you’re still getting faster! You’re really amazing, Master!’ 

It can’t be helped.

This mountain behind the mansion is Xellos nii-sama’s examination site. There will be trouble if there’s a corpse.

Either the exam will be postponed, or it will be rescheduled. If that happens, the tutor, Kachel, will definitely be enraged more than ever.

Ahh, it’s troublesome just thinking about it.

“Who is it? Who is the one that entered this mountain unprepared!”

I’ll have a look at you.

And I will decide whether to help or not after.

---

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>

Chapter 4 Part 2

---

“Are you still concerned about Yuuki-dono?”

“…Yes. Sensei”

“Again, it’s impossible for Yuuki-dono to use ‘Ancient Magic’. That’s because it’s a magic that can only be used by chosen ones”

“Y-Yes. I’m well aware of that, but…”

“I understand that Xellos-sama is wary of Yuuki-dono. Did you see how Baron-sama behaved earlier? He cared for Yuuki-sama so much. As expected, it seems that he is being ensnared. This proves that Yuuki-dono wants to overthrow you and take over as the heir”

“…Sensei, I’m…”

“Don’t let your guard down. Xellos-sama”

Tutor Kachel grabbed Xellos Grossalia by the shoulder.

“Yuuki-dono is steadily implementing a plan to get the servants on his side. The other day, he tried to treat the servants to prey that he had hunted. This is an obvious attempt to curry favor with the servants. I wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t stopped him”

“Is Yuuki…really trying to overthrow me?”

“It’s a common occurrence in noble families”

Kachel muttered bloodily.

“Things like an illegitimate child joining a noble family and eventually taking over the family. It’s unforgivable to neglect someone who is the legitimate son just because he is a little better. You must show them that this is not the true extent of your power”

“…Sensei?”

“Listen, Xellos-sama. The only one who is on your side is this Kachel Mieghem. Do you hear me, I’m your only ally”

Kachel repeated.

An illegitimate child invades the Baron family. 

The Baron even accepted Yuuki, everything is just a ploy to take over the Grossalia family. 

“I have faith in you. Xellos-sama”

“…Sensei”

“Xellos-sama is the one whom Kachel Mieghem should serve. If this body did not possess a great amount of magic power, then I might not be able to gain the trust of Xellos-sama ──”

“N-No. I trust Kachel-sensei”

“Then please repeat these words after me. Clutch this amulet tightly ── Yuuki Grossalia is our enemy ──. We have a common enemy, and we must fight against him” 

“W ── We have ── a common enemy”

“No matter what Yuuki-dono does, he can’t win against Xellos-sama. After all, I’ve already taken steps to make sure that my magic and Xellos-sama’s magic are one. So please be at ease on the day you’re taking the exam. Xellos-sama”

After returning to my own room in the detached building, I decided to look into the phenomenon earlier.

Xellos nii-sama’s ‘Ancient Magic’ was activated by drawing a crest in the air and chanting an incantation.

The crest could be read from the movement of his fingers.

I didn’t understand the incantation. As far as I know, that wasn’t the language of any country.

It’s probably a language used exclusively for ‘Ancient Magic’.

The only way to know is to learn it from the tutor, Kachel, or the ‘Magic Guild’.

That’s why I only drew the crest and didn’t chant the incantation. 

But the ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ magic was activated and I don’t know why it did. 

── Let’s think about it from the beginning.

In this world, there’s the commonly used magic, and the ‘Ancient Magic’ discovered by the ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’.

The differences between the two are power, duration, and magic power consumption.

Compared to common magic, ‘Ancient Magic’ has these 3 areas that put it in a different league.

Nii-sama with his ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ magic, fought evenly with Father who is a veteran soldier.

After the fight ended, I drew the same crest that nii-sama had shown me, then my body got stronger, too.

The question is, why did the magic activate?

“Let’s try out an experiment”

I took out a piece of parchment.

With pen and ink, I tried to draw the same crest again.

“…Nothing is happening”

Next, let’s use my ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood’.

At the time, things started to change when I drew the crest on the palm of my hand with blood from the wound I made on my fingertip.

Let’s do the same thing here then.

I cut my fingertip with a knife and drew on my palm with the pen using my blood as the ink.

The magic activated.

My body feels light. When I bend and stretch…I feel unpleasantly fast.

Let’s not jump as I might crash into the ceiling.

I then silently count the number of seconds. 100…200…about 600 seconds. So, it can only last for 10 minutes, huh?

The crest I drew on my palm faded and disappeared as soon as the effect of the ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ magic wore off. It seems that the magic power contained in my blood was exhausted. Looking at the crest, I can tell how long it’s been in effect, too.

Next, I’ll repeat what I did previously, but draw the crest on the parchment this time.

I tossed the parchment ── and it just fell normally.

It’s not possible to use the ‘Body Strengthening, Boosted’ magic on a parchment, huh?

“…That means my ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood’ is the cause?”

I displayed my status again.

‘Yuuki Nosferatu’

Age: 13 years old  Race: Unknown

Stamina: B   Strength: B   Agility: A   Magic: S   Dexterity: B

Skill: Flight. Magical Blood. Stealth. Ice Magic. Servant Creation. Multi-Species Linguistics. Erosion. Purification. Ancient Magic Aptitude.

My skills have increased.

What’s going on? Up until now, there was no such skill as ‘Ancient Magic Aptitude’.

In the first place, I never used ‘Ancient Magic’ in my previous life.

However, I was stabbed with the ‘Ancient Artifact’, Holy Sword, at the end….

“Could it be…that time!?”

When I died in my previous life, the Holy Sword was stained red with my blood.

And my blood is an extension of me like my limbs.

When I died, I was connected to the ‘Ancient Artifact’, Holy Sword.

In other words, I reincarnated being connected to the ‘Ancient Artifact’.

It seems that it had some sort of effect on my soul, and as a result, I’ve acquired the skill, Ancient Magic Aptitude.

So, ‘Ancient Magic’ could be activated just by using my ‘Magical Blood, Mistel Blood’ as the medium to draw the crest?

“…Interesting”

When I reincarnated, I thought that the humans of this era might have analyzed ‘Ancient Artifacts’ and developed their own culture with what they discovered.

However, that didn’t happen.

Because of the war, ‘Ancient Artifacts’ have disappeared, and ‘Ancient Magic’ is being managed by ‘Lindbel Magic Guild’.

But…what if I were to master ‘Ancient Magic’…?

“Maybe I can develop the culture and make this world a more comfortable place”

Okay. End of delusion.

No way. It’s impossible.

I was called a frontier Demon King in my previous life, and I’m now an illegitimate child of a Baron family. Let’s not get my hopes high.

My desire is to study humans and be able to pretend to be human. That’s all.

Let’s leave the affairs of the human world to humans.

“Let’s hope Xellos nii-sama joins the ‘Magic Guild’ and rise to greatness”

I lay down on the bed.

From outside, I could hear my little sister, Rumia, and Martha’s voice.

“Yuuki nii-sama caught a rabbit! The lunch menu is going to be nii-sama’s meat!” 

“Yuuki-sama is amazing. I’m sure it will be delicious”

Rumia…that sounds like you’re going to eat my flesh.

Martha, you should lower down your voice a little, too.

Everyone in the mansion knows they’re good friends, but it would be troublesome if Kachel heard about it.

“…I’m fine with this”

Reincarnated as a human and have a normal family, too.

From now on, I can go to school and learn more about this era.

I was treated well enough as an illegitimate child of a noble family.

I’m no longer the ‘Local Demon King’ nor the ‘Vampire King, Vampire Lord’.

The ‘Sanctuary Church, Elysium Temple’ that cornered me is gone, too.

‘O Immortal Mage! As a Demon King, you’re plotting to conquer the human race, aren’t you!?’

I don’t think I’ll be accused of that anymore.

…Seriously. Nobody was plotting to conquer the human race.

All I wanted to do was improve my magic, make it easier for the people in the village to draw water…and reduce the rate of livestock contracting diseases so that they could have meat once a week ──

“…This is depressing. My previous life”

I decided to sleep until lunch, so I closed my eyes.

That night, the butler, Neil, told me about the coming day of Her Royal Highness, the Princess’s arrival.

He also told me that starting from tomorrow afternoon, the mountains behind the mansion would be off-limits as it could be one of the potential exam sites.

And so, I decided to sneak out of the mansion again.

---

<< Previous | TOC | Next >>