Today, I’m updating twice a day. For those visiting for the first time, please start from Chapter 7.
“Someone, bring me a wooden sword!! We will now commence a mock battle between myself and Zeros.”
“Sure, I’ll do it.”
“Yuuki, you will watch the fight between Zeros and me from over there.”
“…Okay.”
“I’ll have Neil ensure that no one comes here. We must prevent any of the household from witnessing ‘Ancient Magic.’ That should suffice, Instructor Kahel.”
“I have nothing but respect for your thoughts, my lord.”
Thus, my father and brother were set to engage in a mock battle before me.
The preparations were completed swiftly, and my father and brother faced each other, each wielding their weapons.
Father held a thick wooden sword with both hands, while Brother Zeros held his with one.
“I will judge the outcome!”
Instructor Kahel shouted, standing between the two.
“The battle will end when one of you acknowledges defeat or drops your sword. Is that understood?”
“Yes,” “No objections, teacher.”
“Then, begin!!”
“Here I come, Father!!”
It was Brother Zeros who made the first move. He began to trace shapes in the air with his fingers while murmuring what sounded like a spell.
“‘Achieve! I am────────────’”
“Well done, Zeros!”
I couldn’t catch the words of Brother Zeros’ incantation; it was unlike anything I had ever heard.
“Activate──‘Boosted’!!”
Brother Zeros kicked off the ground and dashed forward.
“──So fast!”
His physical abilities had skyrocketed. He closed the distance to Father in an instant and swung his sword down with one hand.
Clang.
Father caught Brother Zeros’ sword with his two-handed weapon. No—he wasn’t able to fully block it. He was being pushed back. Despite being a head and a half taller and twice as broad as Brother Zeros, Father was losing strength against him. It felt like a joke. I had never seen magic with such power, even in my past life. Regular magic could at most enhance physical strength by a fraction. Yet, Brother Zeros now possessed strength and speed that were likely multiplied many times over. …Scary. Is this the power of ‘Ancient Magic’?
“Zeros, is that the result of your training?”
“Yes! With ‘Ancient Magic,’ I can fight on equal footing with you, Father!”
“Impressive indeed!!”
Father gritted his teeth and pushed back against Brother Zeros’ sword. For a moment, as Brother Zeros stepped back, he timed it perfectly and leaped backward. Brother Zeros closed the distance again, swinging his wooden sword. In terms of strength and speed, Brother Zeros was already superior. Still, Father was managing to hold his ground, likely due to his combat experience.
I understood why ‘Ancient Magic’ could only be used by the Sacred Domain Church and the Lindbell Magic Guild. The incantation Brother Zeros spoke had a unique pronunciation, with regular breaths interspersed between the sounds. It was likely a proprietary language exclusive to ‘Ancient Magic.’ Unless I deciphered that, I wouldn’t be able to use ‘Ancient Magic.’ I couldn’t do it either. There was no way I could chant such a bizarre incantation without being taught.
“How about it, Yuuki! This is my power! Have you learned your lesson yet!?”
Brother Zeros shouted as he deflected Father’s downward sword strike.
“You can’t even comprehend this power. I will become a top sorcerer in the Magic Guild with this strength! And I will elevate the House Glossaria to the same status as high-ranking nobles!!”
“Indeed, Yuuki. This is the power of ‘Ancient Magic.’ It is strength beyond your imagination!”
I noticed Instructor Kahel was looking at me.
“The power to fight on equal terms with the seasoned baron. With this, Zeros will ascend as a noble! Soon, you will no longer be able to speak with me or Zeros! You understand the difference in status, don’t you!?”
“Yes.”
I was tuning out Instructor Kahel’s words. While Brother Zeros’ sword, enhanced by ‘Ancient Magic,’ was impressive, Father was barely managing to respond. I could clearly feel the fear of turning the people of this era into enemies.
…This was the first time I had seen ‘Ancient Magic’ up close, and it was terrifying. Even if I used all my skills, I wasn’t sure I could win. After all, I didn’t understand the theory of magic at all. Just a moment ago, I was barely able to memorize Brother Zeros’ finger movements.
Brother Zeros had been drawing some kind of emblem with his fingers. Like this, and like that… adding the incantation…
Thump.
My heart raced. My limbs felt warm. It was as if power was surging from deep within my body. —What is this? It felt like I was returning to my past life as the ‘Immortal Sorcerer’ Dean Nosferatu. My stamina and energy were overflowing—? What is this? What is this power!?
“I apologize! I’m feeling unwell, so I must take my leave!!”
“…Huh?” “Are you okay, Yuuki!?”
Brother Zeros and Father called out to me. But I had no time to respond. I moved my legs with all my might, distancing myself from the three of them. I needed to get to a place where no one could see me. Right, I should head to the backyard.
“Wait, Yuuki! You have to see my power!!”
“Please don’t chase after me, Brother Zeros!”
Why is he chasing after me? Especially in a ‘Boosted’ state. I can’t get caught now!
I quickened my pace.
“—Huh? I can’t catch up!? Why!?”
Brother Zeros’ voice faded away. I turned the corner of the mansion and entered the backyard. Then—I kicked off the ground with all my strength.
──Zeros’ Perspective──
“Hey!? Yuuki!?”
Zeros chased after his brother, rounding the corner of the building. He entered the backyard of the annex, but—
“…He’s gone.”
Yuuki was nowhere to be seen.
“This can’t be. How could I, who activated ‘Boosted,’ not catch up? Yuuki is stronger than me? That’s impossible.”
“What happened, Zeros?”
Turning around, he saw Instructor Kahel.
“Yuuki is missing. I couldn’t catch up to him. Could it be that Yuuki also uses ‘Ancient Magic’?”
“That’s impossible.”
Instructor Kahel shook his head.
“To use ‘Ancient Magic,’ one needs specific movements, incantations, and the manipulation of internal magic power. It’s not something an untrained commoner could master.”
“But!!”
“You’ve only just begun to use ‘Boosted,’ so your control may not have been perfect. Normally, you should have overwhelmed Baron Geolug in a spar.”
“…Teacher.”
“Now, let’s return to the baron. You have achieved your goal of showcasing your power to Yuuki. Next, you must demonstrate it to the baron as well.”
“Yes.”
Zeros began walking toward the front yard of the mansion.
“But… sometimes, I feel like I can’t compete with Yuuki…”
“Let’s talk later. That commoner is no concern. You have the strength to prove it, just as you always do.”
With that, Zeros and Kahel departed.
──Yuuki’s Perspective──
“…That was close.”
From the second-floor room, I looked down at the backyard. After running to the backyard, I had jumped straight up to the second floor. I opened the window and hid inside the room.
My ‘Flight’ skill was still incomplete. Normally, I couldn’t jump to the second floor. I managed it because ‘Boosted’ was active.
Watching the fight between Brother Zeros and Father had suddenly made my limbs feel warm. Power surged from deep within me, as if I had returned to my peak in my past life. Realizing it was dangerous, I decided to escape.
“I never expected ‘Ancient Magic’ could be activated just by drawing an emblem with blood…”
I looked at my palm. There was an emblem drawn with Mystel Blood. I had unconsciously drawn it while watching Father and Brother Zeros’ mock battle.
It was a habit from my past life as the ‘Lone Demon King.’ Back then, whenever I wanted to jot something down quickly, I would cut my fingertip and write with my blood on my palm or parchment. Lyle would laugh and say, “That’s why they call you a vampire.”
“I need to research ‘Ancient Magic’ a bit more.”
With that thought, I turned to the room’s occupant.
“So, sorry about that. I didn’t mean to surprise you, Martha.”
“Is that what you say after barging in while I was changing?”
Inside the room, the maid Martha glared at me, clad only in her undergarments, clutching her half-removed maid outfit. Perhaps because she was changing, her usually tied chestnut hair was swaying freely.
“Do you have any idea how surprised I was when the window suddenly opened?”
“…I’m really sorry.”
“When I realized it was you, Yuuki, I felt relieved.”
“Well, I’m not sure if relief is the right reaction.”
As I said that, Martha puffed her cheeks.
She is Martha. Two years older than me, at fifteen.
She works in the annex as my personal maid.
Due to her mother working for the Baronial House, Martha has been coming to this mansion since we were young. For both Lumia and me, she is a childhood friend. Martha’s mother is currently unwell and doing handicrafts at home. In her stead, Martha has taken on the role of maid and etiquette apprentice at the Baronial House.
“That’s because Martha has pledged her loyalty to you, Yuuki-sama.”
Martha looked at me while hiding her body behind the maid outfit she was holding.
“When my mother had to leave her position at the Baronial House, you spoke to the Baron about hiring me instead, Yuuki-sama. If you hadn’t said that, my mother and I might have been left wandering the streets by now.”
“…That was before Kahel arrived.”
The Baronial House was a bit more lenient back then.
“Besides, my mother was the only one looking after me. Instead, it turned out that Martha was the one taking care of me in the annex, so I feel like I’m the one causing trouble.”
“You’ve come to visit my mother many times.”
“Well, it’s uncomfortable being stuck in this house, and I don’t have anyone else I know.”
“Every time you visit, my mother’s health improves.”
“That’s just a coincidence.”
“Is it really?”
“Yep.”
“Even so… Martha’s loyalty belongs to you, Yuuki-sama.”
Stubborn, isn’t she? That’s how humans can be.
“I’ve said it many times, but I don’t see you as a servant, Martha.”
“You always say that. You consider me a partner for living in this mansion.”
“That’s right.”
With Brother Zeros and the tutor glaring at me, and Martha living alone with her sick mother, it’s quite tough to survive in this Baronial House.
“I understand… if that’s what you say, Yuuki-sama.”
“By the way, Martha.”
“What is it, Yuuki-sama?”
“Aren’t you surprised that I came in through the second-floor window?”
“I know very well how amazing you are, Yuuki-sama.”
“Is that so?”
“You used to protect me when I was a crybaby. You chased away bugs with magic and cooled my burned hands. Each time, you said, ‘Oops, this is a secret,’ which only made me accumulate more secrets. So I’m not surprised anymore.”
“Sorry about that.”
“Is it alright if I say ‘Oops, this is a secret’ again for this one?”
“Yeah, that works.”
“Understood.”
“Sorry.”
“By the way, Yuuki-sama.”
“Yeah?”
“Now that I think about it, what are your thoughts on peeking at me while I was changing?”
“I know very well that you’re beautiful, Martha.”
“Thank you. As a reward, I’ll wash your hair later.”
“I just washed it the other day, so it’s fine.”
“Nope, not happening.”
“…Alright.”
“Good.”
“Well then, I’m going back to my room. Bring me some tea later.”
“Yes. I’ll come after I’ve finished changing.”
With that, Martha bowed her head. I decided to head back to my room.
A few minutes later.
As I was sipping the tea Martha had brewed for me, my father entered the room.
“Yuuki, while Her Royal Highness is here, you’ll be staying at the inn in town. Martha and a few others will accompany you. However, you are not permitted to return to the mansion until Her Royal Highness departs.”
My father spoke without meeting my gaze.
“Honestly, you don’t need to go that far. You don’t even have to lock yourself in your room. But… if it’s the directive of the tutor dispatched from the Magic Guild… it can’t be helped.”
“I don’t mind, Father.”
It was my idea to leave the house. Besides, it wouldn’t be so bad to relax at an inn for a change. At least I wouldn’t have to see Instructor Kahel’s face.
“Martha will be coming with me, right? Then I’m fine with it.”
“…I’m sorry, Yuuki.”
That came out of nowhere.
My father stretched out his arms and hugged me.
“I’m just a social climber. I probably don’t belong in the nobility. It’s frustrating. I shouldn’t have to put my own son in such an uncomfortable position…”
“Father, Martha is watching.”
“She’s not watching.”
As he said, Martha had turned her back.
“Please continue, Baron.”
“…This is embarrassing.”
Being hugged by my father in front of Martha is incredibly awkward.
I always thought it was my role to comfort children.
In my past life, I used to soothe crybabies like Lyle and Alice like this.
But being comforted isn’t so bad either.
In my previous life, I didn’t know my parents.
But now I have my father. My sister Lumia, Brother Zeros, and Martha too.
Just that alone might make it worth being human.
“Thank you, Father.”
“I won’t let you suffer. I’ll have Neil, the butler, make the arrangements. Martha, please take care of Yuuki.”
“That alone is more than enough, Father.”
“Leave Yuuki to me, Baron.”
I slipped out of my father’s embrace and bowed. Martha was also bowing behind me.
I stayed like that until my father left the room.
I didn’t know what kind of face a human child should make in moments like this.
Next time, Episode 9 is scheduled to update tomorrow at noon.