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“Hang in there, Erucel. We’re almost at the top floor.”

But dealing with the presence of a father was different. I had my real father, and calling a stranger ‘father’ felt sinful. If he had been as abrasive as the mistress, it might have been easier. But despite his hatred for the festival, he wasn’t a stepfather.

“Hm.”

If this were reincarnation, I might have had time to adapt and accept it. But since I wasn’t ready for this emotionally, every step up the stairs felt heavy. Still, I had my reasons for this uncomfortable encounter and couldn’t avoid it forever. I steadied myself and made my way up to the top floor.

“Phew, even getting here is exhausting…”

“Huff… Huff… It was truly exhausting.”

“No, not you. Me.”

Just as Erucel collapsed in the hallway, an elderly voice sounded.

“Tsk, tsk. Still bullying your younger brother, I see.”

To accuse me of mistreating my brother like that was annoying. I narrowed my eyes in displeasure. However, upon seeing the frail old man in front of me, my anger dissipated into a neutral expression.

It was the knight commander, Coulot.

After Aol, he was the strongest in the world.

Unsure of how to address such a man, I stayed silent. But since he spoke first, I couldn’t remain silent forever. Watching Erucel for cues, I played it wisely.

“Ugh… I feel like I’m dying, Sir Coulot…”

“Tsk, you think I’m taking your side? Good grief, the third young master is too dramatic. Now, get up!”

Coulot lightly kicked Erucel’s rear. As a knight commander, and an incredibly strong man, even Hersel would have given him some respect. Thus, I figured I should do the same.

“You’re looking healthy, Sir Coulot. May you live long.”

“Huh?”

Perhaps my polite greeting was over the top, for his eyes widened in surprise.

“Well, yes… It seems you’ve recovered quite a bit.”

“Indeed. I have business to attend to, so I’ll be going now.”

Afraid of making another mistake, I turned to leave. But Coulot narrowed his eyes and offered a word of caution.

“Mind you, the Duke is in a foul mood. Don’t do anything to aggravate him. Don’t make a mistake.”

“Is something bothering Father?”

“Well, the second young master has left the house, so it’s only natural he’s upset. And the trophies in the basement… It seems the monstrous bird ate them all, adding to his fury.”

Damn, that’s bad news. Feeling even more tense, I deliberately walked more slowly, pretending to be in more pain.

***

Coulot watched Hersel’s back with a bewildered expression, then turned to Erucel.

“Am I getting old and losing my hearing? That insolent brat actually said something polite, didn’t he?”

“You heard correctly, Sir.”

“What?”

Erucel didn’t seem to be lying. Coulot, taken aback by the upside-down world, unconsciously stepped back.

“That loose tongue actually said something polite?”

Given that Hersel used to constantly spew insults like “boastful old man” or “bubble-blowing geezer,” Coulot couldn’t help but be astonished.

“I’ve never seen anything this bizarre in my life. What’s been going on?”

“I don’t know the details, but it seems he’s been mentally unstable lately.”

Erucel massaged his trembling legs from the exhaustion.

“But don’t let your guard down, Sir Coulot. He’s still rotten at his core. I swear I’ll…?”

Coulot nodded at Erucel’s determined words.

There was no other way to explain the earlier situation except to think that Hersel had gone mad.

“I thought I had lost a gem, but it seems there was no point in waiting…”

Coulot had been waiting to assess Hersel’s capabilities as a knight.

After gauging him, it seemed his personality had slightly changed, but the content remained the same.

“Well, this is turning out interesting in its own way.”

Coulot chuckled as he watched Hersel enter the reception room. He was curious about what would happen if Hersel entered the academy in this state.

* * *

As I stepped into the reception room, the first thing I noticed was a bottle of alcohol and two glasses on the table.

Aol, seated at the head of the table, began speaking as he looked at the shelves filled with bottles.

“Not much has changed since my time here.”

I heard that this was the annex where Aol lived before becoming the head. Now, he was voicing his reflections. I greeted him.

“You called for me, Father.”

Though calling him ‘Father’ felt awkward, it wasn’t too difficult to say. Perhaps it was thanks to the ‘Noble Blood’s Ember’ trait.

“Take a seat.”

Aol pointed to the seat with a glass on it.

The atmosphere suggested he wanted to drink together.

I didn’t like the idea since I had decided to quit drinking.

“I’ve actually stopped drinking.”

Aol blinked at my honest reply.

“That’s a good thing.”

He seemed genuinely pleased and poured himself a drink.

Pour—

One glass, two glasses,

He drank alone continuously.

Eventually, he emptied an entire bottle…

Pop!

When he opened the second cork, I wondered if I had made a mistake by saying nothing while he drank in silence.

Finally, his heavy lips opened.

“Do you resent me?”

His deep, calm voice started with an ambiguous question, making my head spin. Was he referring to past conflicts I wasn’t aware of, or the fact that he had ignored the lady’s murderous rampage?

“I’m not sure what you’re referring to…”

“Anything, really. But I’m specifically talking about the times I tested you with your life.”

“….”

Not knowing how to respond, I stayed silent.

Aol seemed to interpret my silence as he wished and downed another drink.

“To be honest, our relationship has always been one of love and hate. If you died, it would be your fate.”

This seemed a bit harsh.

“Still, you were like a sore thumb to me. Blaming you was like blaming myself. I also wandered like you and had no right to be strict with you. As my first child, I didn’t know how to raise you. Despite that, I was always disappointed in you, though I had no right to be…”

Listening to his continued words, I felt awkward.

It seemed he wanted to apologize, fueled by alcohol, but I could only see it as his circumstances rather than resentment.

Hersel must have caused considerable trouble for him.

‘Having said it out loud, it feels like an excuse.’

Aol laughed bitterly as he poured another drink.

“But it seems I was wrong. Maybe I didn’t even try to understand you.”

At this point, I felt I should say something, so I opened my mouth.

“I don’t dwell on past events.”

It was an honest sentiment.

Though it was frustrating to be in Hersel’s body, it wasn’t Aol’s fault.

Aol’s eyes widened slightly, and he smiled.

“You’ve grown to be quite a broad-minded person.”

“You flatter me.”

“Yes, this is a drinking session, but we’ve only talked seriously. Hersel, do you have anything you want to say to me?”

With the alcohol setting in, the mood felt right.

It was a good time to bring up my request.

Giving up the position of head could come later. First, I needed to talk about magic.

“Actually, about the academy…”

“Feel free to speak comfortably.”

“Alright, then.”

With no more hesitation, I spoke clearly.

“I want to enroll in the magic department this time. Could you find me a skilled magician to teach me the basics?”

Thud!

The reception room door closed.

I had just been flatly rejected and thrown out.

In truth, his reaction was within my expectations.

– The Tenest family was built on the sword. What would they say if the eldest son wanted to learn magic?

As they say, what is planted is what grows.

Whether it’s swordsmanship or magic, a family established with one discipline doesn’t permit the other, according to this world’s lore.

– Though I don’t look down on magic, it doesn’t suit our lineage.

With Mircel, who would later make the Tenest name famous, there was hope that they might overlook the wayward son.

But the monstrous bird incident shattered that hope.

-You are expected to contribute greatly. I heard you helped capture the bird. So, focus on the sword and don’t waste time on nonsense.

For someone with a damaged dantian, it was a painful reality.

Being forbidden to study magic, which I was forced to learn, made me genuinely want to pursue it.

The biggest motivation was Aol’s pitiful reaction.

– And Hersel, though it’s awkward to say, you learning magic… That requires intelligence. Never mind, just leave.

Comparing my intelligence to Hersel’s?

I had never felt such an insult to my pride.

To equate me with that primitive fool who wasted his time drinking and reading obscene stories was to say I had no worth.

I had to prove it. I would become a magician.

***

“What do you think about him learning magic?”

Aria asked, rolling her pen, as Dellerger scratched his head from the couch.

“Well, he’s already as strong as he can be, so it’s natural to look at other things.”

Aria looked skeptical.

“…I still can’t believe it. Hersel is really stronger than you?”

Though she had heard about the incident in the mines from Dellerger, it was hard to believe.

But Dellerger answered without hesitation.

“Yes. Incomparable, really.”

“…”

Aria was speechless at his firm response.

Dellerger, sensing her unease, added an explanation.

“You heard about him surviving that monster’s breath attack, right?”

“I still can’t believe it. Isn’t that an exaggerated rumor?”

“It’s not an exaggeration. Even the townsfolk saw the mountain melt. Plus, there are eyewitness accounts.”

Aria rested her chin on her hand, falling silent. The evidence was clear.

“But I wonder if it’s alright.”

“What do you mean?”

“His request for a magician. The Duke wouldn’t allow it in a family known for swordsmanship.”

That was a headache.

Despite the many eccentric magicians, few were crazy enough to teach the Duke’s son.

But with enough money, nothing is impossible.

Aria smiled slyly.

“We could do it secretly. I have the means.”

“Secretly? Is there really a magician willing to do such a thing?”

“Yes, and they’re top-notch in their field.”

“Surely not a magician from the Magic Tower? That would cost a fortune.”

Dellerger blinked in surprise as Aria took out an old book from a drawer. It was the “Ancestor’s Ledger” she found thanks to Hersel.

“If I receive something, I should repay generously, don’t you think?”