──That day, in a corner of the mansion──
“Are you still worried about Yuuki-dono?”
“…Yes, Sensei.”
“I’ll repeat myself, but it is impossible for Yuuki-dono to use ‘Ancient Magic.’ That magic is only accessible to the chosen ones.”
“Y-Yes, I understand that.”
“I can see why Zeros-sama is wary of Yuuki-dono. Did you see the Baron’s attitude earlier? He was quite concerned about Yuuki-sama. It seems he is indeed being manipulated. This could be evidence that Yuuki-dono is trying to usurp your position as the heir.”
“…Sensei, I—”
“Do not let your guard down, Zeros-sama.”
Instructor Kahel grasped Zeros Glossaria’s shoulder firmly.
“Yuuki-dono is steadily executing plans to win over the servants. Just the other day, he was trying to share the spoils of the hunt with them. It was an obvious attempt to curry favor. If I hadn’t intervened, who knows what might have happened?”
“Is Yuuki really… trying to push me out?”
“Such things are common in noble households.”
Kahel muttered as if he were spitting blood.
“Bastards often worm their way into noble families and eventually take over. Just because one is slightly more talented does not mean they can disregard the rightful heir… It is unforgivable. We must show them that our true power is not to be underestimated.”
“…Sensei?”
“Listen well, Zeros-sama. Your only ally is me, Kachel Miegen. Understand? I alone am your ally.”
Kahel repeated the same words.
The illegitimate child encroaches upon the baronial house.
The Baron’s recognition of Yuuki is nothing but a scheme.
“I trust you, Zeros-sama.”
“…Sensei.”
“You, Zeros-sama, are the one that Kachel Miegen should serve. I may not possess great magical power, and perhaps I cannot earn your trust, but—”
“N-No. I also trust you, Instructor Kahel.”
“Then repeat those words. Clutch this Amulet tightly—’Yuuki Glossaria is the enemy’—we have a common foe that we must confront.”
“W-We have a common enemy…”
“No matter what Yuuki-dono attempts, he cannot defeat me and Zeros-sama. I have already taken measures to ensure our magical powers unite. So rest assured and take the exam, Zeros-sama.”
──At the same time, in Yuuki’s private chamber──
After returning to my secluded room, I decided to investigate the phenomenon from earlier.
Brother Zeros’s ‘Ancient Magic’ activates by drawing a sigil in the air and chanting a spell.
The sigil could be deciphered from the movements of his fingers.
However, I couldn’t understand the spell. To my knowledge, it wasn’t a language from any country.
It was probably a language exclusive to ‘Ancient Magic.’
To learn it, I would have to study under Instructor Kahel or at the Magic Guild.
I had only drawn the sigil without chanting the spell.
Yet, ‘Boosted’ had activated.
Let’s think this through from the beginning.
In this world, there are commonly used magics and ‘Ancient Magic’ discovered by the Sacred Domain Church.
The differences lie in power, duration, and magical consumption.
Compared to regular magic, ‘Ancient Magic’ is exponentially stronger in all three aspects.
Brother Zeros drew with ‘Boosted’ and matched our battle-hardened father.
When I drew the same sigil he showed me, my body also became stronger.
The question is why my spell activated.
“I should experiment.”
I took out a scrap of parchment.
With a pen and ink, I attempted to draw the sigil from earlier.
“……Nothing’s happening.”
Next, I would use my Mystel Blood.
Earlier, I had smeared blood on my finger and drawn the sigil on my palm. The change occurred after that.
Let’s try the same thing.
I cut the tip of my finger with a knife, applied blood to the pen, and drew on my palm.
It activated.
My body felt light. When I bent down… it was uncomfortably fast.
Jumping… I should avoid that. I’d hit the ceiling.
Now, I just need to count the seconds. One hundred… two hundred… about six hundred seconds. Ten minutes, huh.
Next, I would apply my blood to the pen and draw the sigil on the parchment.
When I tossed that parchment with a “teii,” it simply fell.
The parchment couldn’t activate ‘Boosted.’
“…So the cause is my Mystel Blood.”
I displayed my status once more.
Yuuki Nosferatu
Age: 13 years
Race: Unknown
Stamina: B
Strength: B
Agility: A
Magic: S
Dexterity: B
Skills: Flight. Mystel Blood. Presence Concealment. Ice Magic. Servant Creation. Corruption. Purification. Ancient Magic Aptitude.
My skills have increased.
What does this mean? I never had a skill called ‘Ancient Magic Aptitude’ before.
In my previous life, I had never used ‘Ancient Magic.’
The last time I encountered it was when I was stabbed by the Holy Sword of an Ancient Artifact…
“Was it that time!?”
When I died in my previous life, the Holy Sword was stained bright red with my blood.
And my blood is a part of my hands and feet.
When I died, I was connected to the Holy Sword of the Ancient Artifact.
In other words, I was reincarnated while connected to the Ancient Artifact.
This must have influenced my soul, resulting in my aptitude for Ancient Magic.
That’s why simply drawing the sigil with my Mystel Blood activates ‘Ancient Magic.’
“…Interesting.”
When I reincarnated, I thought the people of this era might analyze the Ancient Artifacts and advance their culture.
But that didn’t happen.
Due to war, the Ancient Artifacts vanished, and ‘Ancient Magic’ became the property of the Lindbell Magic Guild.
However, if I were to become a master of ‘Ancient Magic’…
“I might be able to advance culture and make this world a more comfortable place.”
Yes. Fantasy over.
Impossible. Impossible.
I was once known as a local Demon King in my previous life, and now I am the illegitimate son of a baron. I won’t aim too high.
My wish is to understand humans and be able to pretend to be one. That’s all.
Let humans handle the matters of the human world.
“I hope Brother Zeros joins the Magic Guild and becomes successful.”
I lay down on my bed.
From outside, I could hear my sister Lumia and Martha’s voices.
“Yuuki-nii caught a rabbit! For lunch, we’ll have brother’s meat!”
“That’s amazing, Yuuki-sama. It must be delicious.”
Lumia, that sounds like you’re going to eat my flesh.
Martha should lower her voice a bit too.
Everyone in the mansion knows they’re childhood friends, but if Kahel hears, it could lead to trouble.
“…I’m fine with this.”
I’ve reincarnated as a human and have a normal family.
I can attend the academy from now on and gain knowledge of this era.
I’m being treated well enough as the illegitimate son of a noble.
I am no longer a ‘Local Demon King’ nor a ‘Vampire Lord.’
What happened in my previous life is now in the past.
The Sacred Domain Church that cornered me is no longer around.
“Immortal Sorcerer! You are plotting to conquer humanity as a Demon King, aren’t you!?”
I shouldn’t have to endure being insulted like that as a Demon King anymore.
No one was ever plotting to conquer humanity.
I just wanted to master magic to ease the villagers’ water-fetching burdens… and reduce livestock diseases so we could have meat weekly—
“……Annoying. My previous life.”
I decided to sleep until lunch and closed my eyes.
That night, Butler Neil informed me that Her Royal Highness would be visiting.
He also mentioned that starting tomorrow afternoon, the back mountain would be off-limits as one of the candidate locations for the exam.
I decided to sneak out of the mansion once again.
Next time, Episode 10 is scheduled to update this evening.