Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: An Unexpected Guest (3)
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As a student of Märchen, the Pianist of Melody, her skills improved by leaps and bounds.
She had become so sensitive she could detect even the slightest air pressure shifts within her Schema, and her fingers leaped across the keys so fast they were a blur.
Reina's performance, which was said to earn praise even from the illustrious royal family.
But to Rian, who had lost countless nights of sleep to that sound since childhood, it was nothing more than murderous noise.
“Damn it, the witch has gotten stronger. But it takes more than that to kill a man.”
Reina seemed to hear nothing but the sound of her own playing.
Her pouting lower lip made it clear she was in a state of deep concentration.
Her hair was disheveled and her eyes were hollow, as if she'd been up all night.
Dressed only in her panties, her thighs were on full display.
In fact, she had been playing the piano for seventeen hours straight.
It was a funeral march, famous across the continent for its difficulty, and she had recently hit a wall, struggling with it.
For an artist, a barrier is both a curse and a blessing, as it is a phenomenon that appears just before a breakthrough in skill.
When that happened, Reina would stay up for days on end to overcome the barrier.
Rian saw a new glimmer of hope.
If he could just sneak into his room and grab his things, he could escape, whether by jumping out the window or breaking through a wall.
‘Okay, calm down. I'm going back home.’
Rian moved slowly, staying in the grand piano’s blind spot.
If he could just make it to the stairs, the operation would be a resounding success.
Of course, Reina was always one step ahead of her brother.
The moment a light of hope brightened Rian's eyes, she, as always, abruptly stopped playing.
‘Argh, damn it.’
Without even turning her gaze, Reina spoke.
“You, what have you been doing? I suppose they teach you how to be a clown at the sword academy these days?”
“Tch, if you saw me, you could have at least acknowledged me. And what's with your outfit? A grown woman playing the piano in her panties? Don't insult the arts.”
“Talking back again. You clearly haven't been beaten enough.”
Despite her threatening tone, Reina picked up her skirt and put it on.
Only her family knew that the more stressed she got during practice, the more clothes she would shed, one by one.
“Hehehe, still, you must be embarrassed in front of your little brother, huh? Oof!”
The moment Rian burst out laughing, the sole of Reina's foot slammed into his face.
Rian had trained hard, but it was still a speed he couldn't even react to.
“Damn it. What the hell was that for? Ptui, ptui!”
As Rian wiped his mouth, Reina held out her hand.
“Hand it over. Your report card.”
Rian's face stiffened.
As expected, the inevitable had arrived.
“Wh-why are you so obsessed with my report card? I'm a grown-up now. Ow, ow, ow!”
Reina yelled, pulling Rian's ear.
“Not handing it over? You want to die today?”
“Ah, alright! Here, here!”
Rian took the report card from his inner pocket and threw it on the floor.
Then, without a backward glance, he fled to his room.
“Ugh! He really hasn't been beaten enough. When is he ever going to grow up?”
Reina picked up the report card and unfolded it.
The scores for his training subjects descended in order, and at the very bottom were the total number of students and his overall rank.
Her hand trembled as she confirmed his rank.
Last place!
Not second to last, but dead last.
‘No way. He might be pathetic, but he at least tries hard.’
Reina flipped the report card over and checked the section for the supervising instructor's comments.
Her eyes widened in shock as she read the words.
We regret to inform you that your child has finished the semester with the lowest grades.
Rian currently believes he has opened his Schema, but the faculty has concluded that this is merely a placebo effect resulting from his increased physical strength.
This phenomenon is known as an 'Imaginary Schema,' and while extremely rare, such cases can occur. This is a time when he needs the warm support of his family.
“Ugh, seriously! I can't take this!”
Reina crumpled the report card and stomped up the stairs.
She threw open the door to find Rian sitting like a bear, packing his things.
“Hey! You got last place!”
“Yeah, whatever. It is what it is.”
“And what's this about an 'Imaginary Schema'? What does that even mean? Is it like… a phantom pregnancy… or something?”
“I guess so.”
Rian answered as if it had happened to someone else and continued what he was doing.
From the moment he'd revealed the report card, he had transcended all worldly cares.
Reina seethed with anger as she glared at Rian.
Then, unable to hold back, she started mercilessly pounding on Rian's back.
“Ugh, you little brat! Die, die!”
“Ow! That hurts!”
“Is it that hard? All you have to do is open your Schema!”
“I don't know! What am I supposed to do if I can't do it! I did my best, okay? Anyway, I'm leaving, so get out of my way. I might miss the carriage.”
“Go where? You're staying right here! As soon as things are wrapped up here, I'm going down with Grandpa, so you'll go with us then!”
“No way! I have plans!”
“Plans? What kind of plans could you possibly have? You see these grades and still feel like having fun?”
Feeling a surge of emotion, Rian almost played the Shirone card.
But he held back until the very end. This was something he could never tell Reina.
It was none other than a couples' trip.
If she heard Shirone was going with a girl, Reina would surely use any means necessary to stop him.
‘She's so ugly and so full of jealousy.’
At first, he had hoped Shirone and his sister would get together, but now he felt he should be the one trying to break them up.
A modest and calm woman would suit Shirone much better than a witch like her.
“What plans? Aren't you going to tell me?”
“It's with a girl. We're going on a trip.”
“A girl? A guy from the sword academy is meeting a girl?”
“There are girls there, you know. Eljain Tess. You know the Eljain family, right? She's their daughter.”
Reina was well aware of the Eljain family, which had long distinguished itself in the diplomatic field.
But a daughter from such an elite family would surely be arrogant.
She couldn't even imagine her going on a trip with her brother, who had come home as the last-place student in his school.
“Where do you get off lying like that? Tell me the truth! You're up to something else, aren't you?”
“Whatever, mind your own business! I'm leaving!”
Rian, who had focused on stuffing his backpack, ignoring Reina's nagging assault, seized the first chance he got to jump up and run away.
“Hey! Get back here!”
By the time Reina stepped out the door, Rian was already leaping down the second-floor stairs and running for the entrance.
It wasn't a distance she couldn't cover if she activated her Schema, but Reina let him go with a look of annoyance.
It was a show of confidence, born from the belief that she could control Rian, who had been easy prey for her since childhood, even from a hundred thousand li away.
“Huhu. Go on, take the carriage. Let's see who gets there first.”
Reina waved the report card at Rian's retreating back.
* * *
After seeing his friends off, Shirone walked to the carriage sent by the Ogent family.
The family's vice-butler, Temuran, was there to meet him.
Just as befitting the man who had given Shirone a hard time while organizing the Great Library, his strict impression remained unchanged even after half a year.
His attitude toward him, however, was quite different.
Not only did he bow politely, but he also wore a gentle smile.
“It has been a while, Young Master. You have done splendidly.”
“It's been a while for you too, Vice-Butler.”
At first, being called 'Young Master' had felt awkward, but now, half a year later, it no longer bothered him.
Of course, it was still a bit embarrassing.
The two sat in the carriage and chatted until they reached Shirone's home.
Shirone was especially glad to hear how the members of the Ogent family were doing.
“Wow, he's already a certified professional?”
Rian's older brother, Ogent Rai, had passed the certification exam.
Of course, as is common for a 10th-grade swordsman, he was in no position to relax and was said to be spending his days hectically on the front lines.
“Yes. Furthermore, Lady Reina has been promoted to concertmaster of the 7th Royal Orchestra. She is doing exceptionally well. The head of the family is still busy with official duties, and the great elder is said to be retiring soon to return to his hometown.”
“I see. But I heard Rian also has an eldest brother? What does he do?”
“Hmm, that is not a matter I am at liberty to speak on. Please just know that he is a 6th-grade certified swordsman. It may not be my place to say, but it would be best if you did not bring up the eldest son at the main house either.”
“Ah, I see.”
Considering the Ogent family's character, they didn't seem like a household where discord would arise among family members.
Nevertheless, if it was a topic that couldn't be brought up, he thought it might be a political matter.
“Is Rian doing well? Though I suppose I'll be seeing him soon.”
Temuran's reply was the shortest one yet.
“We have not had a single word from him in half a year.”
“Hahaha! That's just like Rian.”
Amid their pleasant conversation, the carriage soon entered the mountains.
Shirone opened the window and savored the scenery of his hometown.
The colorful forest landscape seemed to already be welcoming his return.
The carriage pulled into the inner courtyard of Shirone's house.
It was the very same spot where Temuran had come to pick Shirone up before.
“Thank you for the ride. I'll come visit again soon.”
“I have only done what was expected of me. Please enjoy your time.”
Shirone turned with a fluttering heart.
Seeing the shabby but charming log cabin, he was filled with a fresh wave of emotion.
‘Thank you. I'll be a good son during the break.’
The closer he got to the house, the more he thought of his parents.
His mother, who had suffered so much until now, and his father, who hadn't hesitated to kneel to send him to the magic academy.
Shirone threw the door open and shouted with overwhelming emotion.
“Mom! Dad!”
“Uwahahaha! That's right, that's right! Beer is best with pork!”
“You think so too, Father? I also find that beer doesn't go well with mutton!”
“Exactly. Mutton has a gamey taste that ruins the drink. Here, here! Let's have another round on that note!”
Shirone stared blankly at the living room.
He was surprised by the festive atmosphere, which was more than he'd expected, but the real shock was the large-bodied boy sharing a drink with Vincent.
He was much taller than before and his hair was shorter. But the strong impression was unmistakably Rian's.
“Shirone! You're here!”
Rian shot to his feet.
But the one who ran over faster than anyone was Vincent.
The moment he hugged him, the stench of alcohol wafted over. He must have drunk quite a lot.
“Oh! My son is here! Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Ugh, you reek of alcohol. What's going on? Why is Rian at our house?”
“He's been staying here for two days to see you. He helped with the woodcutting and even went hunting with me. How was it? Wasn't it fun, Rian?”
“Hahaha! Of course, Father! A true man must know how to hunt!”
Shirone was dumbfounded.
The father he knew was not one to treat a noble carelessly, even if he was his son's friend.
What on earth could they have bonded over in two days to be drinking together before it was even lunchtime?
Shirone slipped out of Vincent's embrace, who was rubbing his stubble against him, and yelled at Rian.
“I heard you were out of contact? Did you stop by the main house before coming here?”
“No, why would I go to the main house? This is my lord's home. Isn't that right, Father?”
“Don't be ridiculous! What trouble did you get into this time?”
“W-what trouble could I get into?”
He feigned innocence, but one look at Rian's face was all it took to know.
It wasn't that he wasn't going home, but that he *couldn't*.
Shirone sighed and stepped into the living room.
‘Haaah, this isn't how it was supposed to be…’
To think the father-son reunion he had anticipated would end up as a drinking party.
But seeing his father, who was thinner than before, he also felt a sense of relief that he wouldn't have to cry.
“Oh, Shirone, you're here. Come here, my baby.”
Olina pulled Shirone into her warm embrace.
Thinking that the only person in the world he could truly count on was his mom, Shirone was finally able to exchange a greeting more to his liking.
“Mom, you must have had a hard time while I was away. I'm sorry.”
“Hard time? Not at all. The Ogent family helped out a lot.”
While patting Shirone's back, Olina shot a glare at Vincent.
She was not pleased with the sight of him being drunk when their son had come home for the first time in half a year.