**Chapter 7: Cedric is Disliked**
The forest lay just beyond the estate of the Viscount Ebern, a place where monsters had made their home, though none were particularly strong. Local adventurers routinely ventured in to thin their numbers, and Rest also hunted there for his magical training. As long as one didn’t venture too deep, it was unlikely to pose much danger, even for young boys and girls who had yet to reach adulthood.
“Alright, let’s go! Follow me!”
Into this forest strode a group of five, a mix of boys and girls. Leading the way was a red-haired boy—Cedric Ebern. With a father who served as a Court Magician, Cedric held a rod in his right hand and stepped confidently into the woods. Following closely behind were two boys, both the sons of lower-ranking nobles with whom Cedric had established a friendship.
And then there were the two girls. One had a golden ponytail, while the other sported long silver hair. Both retained a youthful innocence appropriate for their age, yet they possessed a radiant beauty. Compared to the three boys, they exuded an undeniable elegance, clearly born of noble lineage. This was no coincidence; they were the daughters of the House of Marquis Rosemary, a family of much higher standing than the boys.
“Viola, sister…”
“Don’t worry, Primula. I’m here with you.”
The blonde girl was named Viola, and the silver-haired girl was Primula. They were twin sisters born into the House of Marquis Rosemary. Their visit to the Viscount Ebern estate was intended to foster a friendship with Cedric and his companions. Their father, the Marquis Rosemary, served as the head of the Court Magicians and was a superior to both Rest and Cedric’s fathers. With both families having children of the same age who were set to enroll in the same academy next year, it was only natural to create opportunities for camaraderie.
(Cedric Ebern… I’ve heard he possesses incredible magical talent, but as a person, he’s utterly lacking. It’s obvious he’s trying to charm both me and Primula.)
(Cedric-san feels somewhat intimidating. The way he looks at my sister and me is frightening, and he boasts incessantly. There’s no way I could ever become friends with someone like him.)
However, as a result of this budding friendship, Cedric had completely fallen out of favor with the Rosemary sisters.
Cedric had been urged by his father to somehow win over one of the sisters and grow closer to them. By courting the daughter of the head of the Court Magicians, he likely aimed to elevate his own status. Cedric himself was captivated by the beautiful sisters at first sight and pondered how he might make them his own. His insistence on leading his friends and the sisters into the monster-infested forest stemmed from this desire. He intended to showcase his magical prowess by elegantly defeating the monsters, hoping to impress the sisters.
“Gii, gii!”
“Oh, a goblin has appeared! Alright, I’ll take care of it with my magic!”
As they walked through the forest, they quickly encountered a monster. It was a goblin, a low-ranking creature with a childlike physique, green skin, and no hair to speak of.
“**Fireball!**”
“Giiiiiiiiiiiiii!”
Cedric pointed his rod at the enemy and unleashed his spell. A fist-sized fireball struck the goblin, engulfing its small body in flames. The goblin writhed in agony on the ground before finally succumbing to its injuries.
“Hahaha! A goblin is no match for me! I took it down in one hit!”
“Just as expected from Cedric-sama! What incredible magic!”
“There’s no way we could ever use magic like that!”
“Hahahahahaha!”
Victorious, Cedric stomped on the charred remains of the goblin. His friends, the sons of barons, cheered him on, reveling in his triumph.
“………”
Cedric glanced over at the sisters, but both Viola and Primula wore expressions that were decidedly cool. In Cedric’s mind, the sisters were supposed to be captivated, exclaiming, “How wonderful! How cool!” Instead, their reactions were the exact opposite.
(Sister, that guy is…)
(I know, Primula… We can’t trust him.)
The sisters whispered to each other. As daughters of a marquis, they had often been subjected to calculating and ulterior motives since childhood, making them sensitive to such insidious gazes. They both sensed that Cedric harbored unsavory feelings toward them.
(We should tell Father to keep us away from the Ebern family. It would be best to maintain only minimal contact once we enroll in the academy.)
(He seems talented as a magician, but… his personality is frightening. I don’t want to get close to him.)
Cedric’s attempts to impress the sisters had completely backfired. His boastful display of defeating a weak monster and his glee in trampling its corpse only served to disgust them. Yet, Cedric, who had lived a self-centered life, remained oblivious to their discomfort. Instead, he pointed deeper into the forest, convinced he hadn’t done enough to impress them.
“A goblin isn’t even a good practice target! Let’s go further in!”
“Um… even if this forest is peaceful, there might be stronger monsters deeper inside, right?”
“Y-Yeah, Cedric-san. Surely we shouldn’t go any further…”
“Shut up! Defeating weak monsters is boring! Don’t worry, I’m here, the genius magician!”
Cedric puffed out his chest proudly and marched deeper into the forest. His friends, the baron’s sons, hurried to keep up with him.
“…Sister, what should we do?”
“Well, he does have a point. There aren’t many strong monsters in a forest like this, so it should be fine.”
Even if they disliked him, it would weigh on their conscience to ignore someone heading into a potentially dangerous area. The Rosemary sisters followed the three boys, feeling like guardians watching over impudent and reckless children.