Chapter 15
Chapter 15
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Elena
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“The eldest son of the Callas Viscount Family, Jeffrey Callas-nim, has arrived!”
All eyes turned toward the entrance at the mention of Callas.
The boy didn't shrink back under the piercing stares in the slightest.
Thud. Thud.
Jeffrey halted his steps in front of his father.
“It's an honor to meet you for the first time, Viscount Frontier. I am Jeffrey Callas, heir to the Callas family.”
“...Thank you for coming.”
Jeffrey exchanged greetings with his father first, then Alensia, Elena, and finally approached me.
“I've heard so much about you from my father. A pleasure to meet you, Elwin-nim.”
“The pleasure's mine, Jeffrey-nim.”
We exchanged polite greetings.
But.
'Why isn't he going somewhere else?'
Jeffrey took a seat right next to me.
Then he elegantly ate some fruit.
'Everyone's staring over here?'
I slowly—very slowly—shifted my position.
But.
This time too, Jeffrey followed and sat beside me.
“Ahem, Jeffrey-nim, is there something you'd like to discuss?”
“Not particularly. It's just... I don't know anyone here. You feel the most approachable, Elwin-nim.”
How could I brush him off after a line like that?
He'd come all the way from the continent.
I couldn't just leave him alone.
I ignored the intense gazes from my father and Alensia as best I could.
The problem was that Jeffrey wasn't the end of it.
“The Vice Mage Tower Lord of the Gray Mage Tower has arrived!”
The Vice Mage Tower Lord also took a seat next to me.
Jeffrey, I could understand.
After all, we'd established a cordial relationship with Viscount Callas.
But what about the Vice Mage Tower Lord?
Because I'd spent a little time at the mage tower?
There were plenty of people like that.
Plus, I'd left right away since I had no talent for magic.
“Vice Mage Tower Lord-nim, the food over there looks delicious. You should try it.”
I deliberately recommended something far away.
The Vice Mage Tower Lord filled a plate with food and came right back to my side.
Ah... why were these people doing this?
My father and Alensia's stares were growing hotter by the minute, which was getting on my nerves.
Was it because I'd never had anyone pay attention to me before?
The current situation felt like walking a thorny path.
“Vice Mage Tower Lord-nim, did you have something to say to me?”
“Since the heir Elwin has brought it up first, I'll speak freely. Our Gray Mage Tower...”
As if he'd been waiting, the Vice Mage Tower Lord launched into a boast about the mage tower.
The Gray Mage Tower, founded by the first Vampire Duke.
The mages striving diligently to uphold his legacy.
“The Gray Mage Tower houses all sorts of documents left behind by a 9th Circle Archmage. Thanks to that, talented mages flock here, but...”
Finally, he got to the point.
As I'd mentioned before, the Gray Mage Tower had a powerful advantage.
Namely, the documents left by a 9th Circle Archmage.
And the mages who had studied and researched them.
But there was a problem.
The environment of Monster Island.
“Mages are respected wherever they go. But on Monster Island, we lack the means to do so. Especially the food—it's sorely lacking.”
Clothing, food, shelter.
Clothing and shelter could be managed somehow.
The issue was food.
Especially meat.
It was hard to import livestock, and even harder to store it.
On the continent, you could feed them grass from the fields.
But the grass on Monster Island couldn't be used for that.
In other words, when buying livestock, you had to procure massive amounts of grass for them too.
And since that grass withered, it had to be imported periodically.
“I've heard you're planning to raise livestock, Elwin-nim. Couldn't you sell some to our Gray Mage Tower?”
“I see how things stand. I'll consider it favorably.”
Our conversation ended with the arrival of the next guest.
“Brilda Frontier-nim has arrived.”
Brilda and the Frontier retainers poured in.
They all looked exhausted, as if they'd rushed here overnight after hearing the news late.
Even if Brilda held a banquet at the mansion
and many retainers attended,
with my father here, this was now the center of Frontier affairs.
The banquet hall filled up in an instant.
A considerable number of retainers had come with Brilda.
Once the commotion settled, Brilda stepped forward.
“Thank you all, esteemed guests, for attending my daughter's coming-of-age ceremony.”
I didn't like Brilda acting like the host.
But traditionally, parents—especially the mother—handled the ceremony, so I couldn't complain.
“Today, my daughter becoming an adult, Elena Frontier. Allow me to formally introduce her. Come here, dear.”
Elena stood beside Brilda.
My sister just looked moved by the crowd of well-wishers.
“Unlike her eldest brother, Elena Frontier is a child with exceptional magical talent.”
Unlike her eldest brother?
Did she have to say that on such a joyous day?
Everyone present knew who the eldest of Frontier was.
“She is currently studying at the Gray Mage Tower, and...”
The banquet hall doors opened, cutting off Brilda's congratulatory speech.
As all eyes focused on the entrance,
the steward spoke.
“The first daughter of the Vampire family, Lady Benia Vampiras-nim, has arrived!”
Blue hair like Alensia's.
Beauty rivaling Alensia's.
And a gentle smile different from hers.
Benia Vampiras, similar yet distinct from Alensia, entered the hall.
Two men followed behind her.
“Heir of the Aquano Barony, Unter Aquano-nim, has arrived!”
“Heir of the Aer Barony, Anton Aer-nim, has arrived!”
Four of the five territories on Monster Island.
Their heirs gathered in one place.
'If Clan Kent shows up, that'll be everyone?'
And it actually happened.
The doors opened again, and a sturdy-built man entered.
“Heir of the Kent Barony, Clan Kent-nim, has arrived!”
Vampire Duke Family (Benia Vampiras, Alensia Vampiras)
Frontier Viscounty (Elwin Frontier)
Kent Barony (Clan Kent)
Aquano Barony (Unter Aquano)
Aer Barony (Anton Aer)
The heirs who would rule Monster Island's future had gathered.
Benia took a seat at one of the tables, with Unter and Anton flanking her.
Clan Kent, arriving late, stood beside Alensia.
“I also extend my thanks to the newly arrived Lady Benia and the heirs. Now, let us continue the congratulations. Elena is studying at the Gray Mage Tower and...”
Brilda's speech ended,
and the gift-giving ceremony began.
Starting with my father, the guests offered congratulations and presented gifts to Elena.
Elena's face lit up with happiness as so many people celebrated her.
'I'm glad Elena's happy, but...'
Benia and Alensia had never met without incident.
So today too...
As the gift-giving ended and guests mingled,
the incident finally erupted.
“Benia. Why did you come here?”
“You should call me sister.”
“Don't give me that sister nonsense. Why are you here?”
“If you're going to fight in a place like this. Let's just let it pass quietly today...”
Crash.
Alensia struck Benia's hand.
The glass in her hand fell to the floor.
“Lady Alensia, mind your manners!”
Unter stepped forward from behind Benia.
Clan, behind Alensia, couldn't hold back either.
“Unter! How dare you speak to Lady Alensia like that!”
“What did you say!? You bastard, Clan!”
I knew it would come to this.
Stress surged, making the back of my neck throb.
A 2-on-2 standoff.
Then Anton joined in.
“Lady Alensia's actions were indeed improper.”
Maybe because he was a wind mage.
He blamed Alensia in a light, passing tone.
As his words ended,
all five pairs of eyes turned to me.
Normally, this would be my moment to step in.
I was Alensia's fiancé and close ally.
Alensia vs. Benia
Clan vs. Unter
Elwin vs. Anton
I was even Anton's counterpart.
But I couldn't join.
I had no justification.
I'd been dumped by Alensia
and effectively ousted from her faction.
Seeing me silent, their expressions changed.
Benia regained her usual gentle smile.
Unter sneered.
Anton turned away, bored.
Clan raged at being outnumbered,
and Alensia...
'She's angry.'
Others might see her usual cold face,
but I could tell. The subtle shift in Alensia.
Because I'd spent so much time with her.
And so,
the bloodless war ended with Benia holding the advantage.
Gray Mage Tower.
Elena headed to the dining hall as usual.
Walking alone.
Other days, it felt tiring,
but not today.
At her coming-of-age ceremony, so many people had celebrated her.
The Gray Mage Tower was just a place to study magic.
Here, she just needed to learn magic.
Once she left this place...
Scenes from the ceremony flashed in her mind.
Father. Brother. Grandfather.
Frontier retainers.
The two ladies of Vampiras.
The heirs of the three baronies.
Even the heir from the continent's Callas family had come.
'The Vice Mage Tower Lord was there too.'
She wasn't close to the Vice Mage Tower Lord.
Yet he'd come in person.
Not one of her teachers, but the Vice Mage Tower Lord himself.
Her self-esteem, worn down by solitary tower life, rose.
Elena lifted her head.
She didn't avoid eyes meeting passersby.
As her sister Alensia had said,
she straightened her back and put strength in her gaze.
Arriving at the dining hall,
she received her meal.
She took a seat in the middle of the empty table.
Unlike the days she'd sat at the end alone, studying magic formulas while eating.
Sitting straight, head held high, the food seemed to digest better.
About halfway through,
classmates approached.
“Elena...”
“Can we eat with you too?”
“Do as you like.”
“Thanks!”
Students sat around her, with her at the center.
“You had your coming-of-age ceremony, right? Congrats.”
“The ladies came to your ceremony too, huh?”
“Not just them. All the heirs from the island's families were there!”
“Even the Callas heir...”
“And the Vice Mage Tower Lord...”
After eating, she sat on the grass with her classmates.
Again, she was at the center.
“Elena, did you hear the news?”
“What news?”
“They say Lady Alensia's faction is losing ground.”
“Huh? Tell me more.”