Chapter 26: Chapter 26

As expected, Mother and Father began to worry first. As always, they put my safety first.

However, they didn’t worry overly much either.

“If ever there’s anyone who covets Dane’s magic power, I’ll have to break them. Isn’t that right?”

Mother, who usually would have scolded him for saying such a thing, just nodded and stated, “They’d die without even knowing how they died. Isn’t that so, Dane?”

So bloodthirsty but trustworthy.

Father, who was a Hexa class spearman.

Mother, who was a legendary (retired) assassin.

What did I have to worry about when they were watching my back? Plus, there were also my sisters.

Of course, that didn’t mean I was just going to sit back and be protected.

“I’ll also work hard.”

I also had to grow stronger.

Talent.

As Cidrane said, it would be a waste not to develop my talent. It might be a bit much to say so myself, but I even had numerous talents.

Spearmanship.

Assassination.

Magic.

Summoning.

Swordsmanship.

They were all talents that were hard to explain with just Ancient Magic.

“By the way… Haha! It’s truly amazing. It would shock anyone if they found out. Wait, the fact that this happened to Dane… does that mean Ancient Magic was sleeping within our bloodline?”

Hmm, it seemed like I had to look through a few history books. Did we have any ancestors with an unusual history?

Well, it didn’t really matter. The fact that I now possessed Ancient Magic meant that I was clearly different from others. Not only did I have Ancient Magic, but I also had great talent.

Ancient Magic only served to highlight how special I was一

“Since it’s become like this, I plan to be good at everything.”

It made me ambitious.

“Hehehe. Lily, it seems our Dane has developed some manly ambitions.”

“Yes, Arken. Then, I hope he will become the best assassin and assassinate the emperor of Drenik, who I failed to kill.”

“Ahem, what are you talking about? He has to become a spearman who’ll be remembered by history and become greater than me! Assassination is after that! I hope he’ll make all those who say they can use the sword kneel with his spear.”

My parents were so brutal. If my sisters were here, wouldn’t there be a serious family discussion about my future career path?

“Hmm. What is certain is that our historians will have a lot to record this time. Hahahaha!”

“That’s true. Hahaha!”

After the laughter passed, it was time to be serious.

“Dane, it seems we’ll have to talk about your trip to the capital.”

It seemed like Father and Mother had already talked about it between themselves.

“As you may know, the minimum age for admission to the Academy is fourteen. That is your exact age right now.”

The Imperial Academy.

Unlike the graduation age limit, there was no age limit for admission.

“So, originally, I wanted Dane to enter the academy after he had studied and practiced enough… but to be honest, Mom and Dad’s greed was a bit mixed in with that decision, too.”

My father winked and my mother continued, “Dane, as long as you are of the minimum age for admission, you can enter the Academy whenever you want. Just say the word and we will start preparing.”

They had expressions of regret on their faces, but it wasn’t like before. It wasn’t that they had lost their love for me, but it seemed like they had finally made up their minds to let me go.

“Dane, at your age, there’s no better place to go to learn and practice in the world than the Academy. You’ll do well.”

“Show off your talents, my son.”

I nodded at their generous support and stated, “Yes, I will definitely do that.”

I wondered if they were this affectionate when my two older sisters left.

“Oh, and Dragon Tail… will be passed on to you, Dane, when the time comes. So until then, you know, right?”

“Of course.”

The best spearman.

I still needed to learn more about assassination, my summoning skills were still in their infancy, and I was just starting out with magic. I also needed to continue practicing my swordsmanship, so there was a lot to do, but I was confident.

“Dane, since I have already given it to you, become someone worthy of Nighthorn. And while you’re at it… I hope you save many people with that dagger.”

I remembered what my mother said when I saved Cidrane in the Forest of the Last Days with Nighthorn.

“Yes, I will.”

But I didn’t feel burdened. After all, it was what I wanted.

The world outside the battlefield and the best environment for me to develop and grow my talents.

I was rather happy, not because I was going to the academy, but because I was finally going somewhere I could further develop my talents.

“Oh, so you’ve decided?”

“Yes, I decided to go a little faster.”

“That’s good. It would be a waste to confine that talent in this castle. Well, it is a good enough estate and castle, but…”

Cidrane reacted to my decision to go to the Academy as if it were to be expected.

“Were you originally planning to go a little later?”

“Well, I was planning on practicing my spearmanship and swordsmanship a bit more, and then maybe reaching 4-chains since I’m already learning it.”

“You’re already a monster, but a freshman who could almost wipe out all his seniors could have gone to school then.”

“Not now?”

Cidrane chuckled at those words.

“If I were you, and the Academy admission age wasn’t restricted, I would have entered when I was seven and graduated by now.”

He added, “Well, your current level is more than enough. Just don’t reveal too much from the beginning. It will become very annoying. The Academy welcomes talent, but not all who study at the Academy are like that.”

My older sister used to say the same thing often, having seen absurd situations where people were criticized for being good at magic.

Of course, my older sister responded by blowing most of them apart. If our family had been like the Tyren or some other ambiguous family rather than Sogres, my parents would have been summoned by the academy a hundred times by now.

“Still, since you are a member of the Sogres family, those mediocre people won’t even be able to make eye contact, let alone argue. And don’t you have older sisters?”

That was true. Life at the academy would probably be pretty comfortable.

“Hmm, would it be different if it were a member of the Thermion duchy?”

Oh, right. I remembered that I had to go meet Duke Thermion once I got to the capital. He would be very disappointed if I didn’t.

While there, I would stop by the Thermion’s blacksmiths and think about what kind of weapon I would have made the crest the Duke gave me.

And…

I needed to write a letter to Leila.

‘I’ll do it sooner or later.’

“Let’s see, there are only about three months left until the entrance ceremony… I guess I’ll have to leave here in two months.”

“I guess so.”

Two months. With all the preparations, it would go by in an instant. There would be no time to refine the spearmanship I learned from my father, hone my swordsmanship, or review the assassination techniques learned from my mother.

“What about you, sir?”

“I’m thinking of going back to the Magic Tower. I just remembered something I need to do.” Cidrane scoffed in disbelief. “Who would have thought I would find the solution to my boredom here? I will return and tell you as soon as I find any clues about Ancient Magic.”

He looked very excited. Were all mages like that? My older sister also seemed like a child who was excited rather than tired when inventing and researching something.

“I’m having a lot of fun thanks to you, you little punk.” Cidrane then asked slyly, “Aren’t you sad that I’m leaving?”

I shook my head firmly and stated, “No. Even if you leave, I hope you will teach me all of the 2-chain rearrangement codes before you leave. It was a promise, after all.”

“…What a shrewd boy.” Still, it seemed like Cidrane wasn’t that upset. “Well, you need to have this much shrewdness to survive with that talent. It’s okay for a talented person to be a little cocky, but if you’re too cocky, you’ll get stabbed in the back.”

He really said whatever was on his mind in front of a child.

“Very well. Let’s do that. I’ll teach you everything I have and then leave. If someone asks you where you learned magic later, how about telling them my name?”

“Then that’d make me your disciple.”

“Damn, it didn’t work.”

I chuckled and said, “Still, I’ll say that I learned up to 2-chains from you.”

“That works. Thank you.” Cidrane groaned with an expression that showed no gratitude at all. “Ugh. I’m still the head of a Magic Tower…”

“Then how about up to 3-chain? That’s a little bit better.”

Cidrane hesitated for a moment before nodding at the suggestion in a subtle manner.

“Arrrgh! Alright, if rumors spread that I only taught up to 2-chain when I’m the head of a magic tower, I’ll be considered an embarrassment! Yes, the real magic is from 3-chain!”

Somehow, he seemed like a very friendly uncle.

“Be prepared. My classes are going to be very difficult. Starting from 3-chain, it will be so complicated and difficult that it can’t even be compared to 2-chain. You’ll probably start to think about giving up on magic.”

Despite the threats, I smiled broadly.

“I’ll try my best to learn.”

“Hmph, so annoying.”

“What is?”

“That confident expression!” Cidrane exclaimed with a sigh. “I’ve never wanted to teach someone this much before… I know you won’t agree to be my disciple, but always keep this in mind. This is the first time I’m putting so much effort into teaching someone!”

At that, I bowed my head respectfully.

“Yes, sir. Thank you.”

“If only you weren’t so eloquent. Ugh.”

Cidrane acted as if he would punch me but stopped and shook his head. Seeing him like that made him look like a friendly next-door neighbor to me. I seemed to have grown a little attached to him in these few short days.

“Oh, and I’d like to give you a gift, sir.”

“A gift?”

“You unsealed this bracelet, didn’t you?”

Of course, only Ancient Runes appeared on the bracelet, and it was not immediately clear what it could do. However, since we found out that my magic power was from an ancient kingdom, I had to repay him.

“That, uh, it wasn’t much… I’m still the head of a magic tower.”

“Still, I don’t think I would have gotten it if it weren’t for you, sir.”

But people shouldn’t be so unscrupulous. From Cidrane’s perspective, it might not be a big deal, but I wasn’t the type to just wipe my mouth clean and go.

“Well, if you think so…”

So, I took out the things I had prepared in advance. It was a hot item that I received from my older sister yesterday using Item Teleport Magic.

Cidrane accepted the well-packaged spherical object with a puzzled expression on his face.

“What is this?”

“Open it.”

I saw how Cidrane’s pupils and hands trembled for a moment as he checked out the item.

“It’s a new product that hasn’t even been released yet. My older sister developed it recently, and she sent it to me specifically because I asked her.”

It was a crystal ball for communication, otherwise known as ‘Compact Crystal Ball 2.0.’ She said something about having improved it through user feedback.

“Ahem. Hmm. I told you I’m not one for trends. Once you reach 8-chain, you can keep in touch and do whatever you want without something like this!”

“Give it a try. My elder sister even said that she hoped you would use it well.”

Cidrane looked at the crystal ball and pretended to be defeated.

“Well, if you say so…”

“Oh, right. You need to register your magic code before using it.”

“Oh, wait a minute. I can do it.”

“I’ll help you. Here, inject your magic.”

“Hmm. I said I can do it… like this?”

“Oh, good. It’s starting to glow.”

I glanced at Cidrane, who was focused on the crystal ball, and almost burst out laughing. I didn’t know he’d like it that much. It seemed giving him the crystal ball was a great idea.

“Using code like this…”

“Oh, it’s working. So it works like this.”

“Huh, didn’t you say you knew how to use it?”

“O-of course! I was just confused because it’s the latest item. Haha.”

“Aha.”

After I explained how to use the crystal ball to Cidrane, I returned to my room. I needed to get some rest.

“Young master, you’ve worked hard today. Rest well. Things will get busy starting from tomorrow,” Herman suddenly said.

“I guess so. After all, we’ll need to prepare well. Oh, then, I guess I won’t be able to see you for a while.”

“Unfortunately so.”

After all, you weren’t allowed to bring attendants to the academy. So, when I went to the academy, I would temporarily be separated from my loyal attendant.

“I’ll tell the chef, so ask him to bake you a tart anytime. Oh, it might be a bit awkward to ask without me around. Then, I’ll make a request at Uncle Hessus’ bakery outside the estate so you can go there and eat.”

“Oh, you don’t have to do that, young master.”

“Of course, I do. Your siblings like it.”

“…”

You could say this was a small reward for Herman, who had faithfully served me for so long. It could be said that he was just doing his job, but I was still grateful.

“Thank you, young master. I won’t forget this favor. I will serve you until I die.”

“Really. Aren’t you going to be the chamberlain?”

“If I can serve by your side, I don’t need to be the chamberlain.”

I burst out laughing at that.

“Alright. Let’s see about that.”

“I’m being honest.”

“Yes, so don’t change your mind later. Go rest.”

“Yes, young master.”

Once the door closed, a chuckle slipped past my lips.

“I should practice and get used to it.”

Once Herman was not by my side, I would have to do everything by myself. Since I did so in my previous life, I would probably adjust quickly, but I would still feel that gap.

Anyway, other than such adjustments, there was a lot to prepare.

Two months.

While training, I had to prepare to go to the academy. Swordsmanship, spearmanship, assassination, magic, and…

“Oh.”

Remembering the golden egg my second sister gave me on my 7th birthday—that is, the familiar that didn’t hatch—I took it out.

It was a cruel thing that didn’t react even though I religiously injected it with magic twice a day for the past seven years.

Whoooong.

I habitually injected it with magic, but it still didn’t react. However, I discovered a truth not long ago.

The magic I injected into it didn’t leak but was being absorbed. From that, I could gather that what I was doing was not completely useless.

“Well, it should work someday.”

I wouldn’t worry about it too much.

I recalled what had happened with the Tyren siblings. Back then, I made the summons of another summoner obey me without a sign. I was also able to summon using someone else’s sign.

A familiar was just a bonus. What I was interested in was summoning.

“Anyway, I have to go to the academy if I want to become a summoner.”

One of my goals was to take the specialized classes for summoners and gain the opportunity to take the test to be issued a sign. Since my second sister was currently working there as an assistant professor, would we be able to meet each other often?

Well, anyway.

“Ugh, I should get some rest.”

I closed my eyes and soon fell asleep.

That night, I dreamed of going to the academy—like the little kid Cidrane kept saying I was.