Chapter 17
Chapter 17
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 17
Chapter Title: Alpheas Magic Academy (3)
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“That’s out of the question. I am my father's son. I will never, ever be adopted by someone else.”
“Sh-Shirone.”
Vincent's voice trembled with emotion. There was no hesitation in his son's tone. In fact, he sounded offended that he even had to say it.
Shirone's firm stance surprised the family members.
It was, of course, a difficult problem. But to answer so clearly meant he felt not a shred of conflict in his heart.
Klumpf, his demeanor changed, stared at Shirone with cold eyes.
“Are you truly certain? This is a golden opportunity to become a noble. A chance like this doesn't come to just anyone.”
“If it means changing my father, I would rather live as a commoner.”
“Commoners cannot enroll in the magic academy.”
“Then I will not enroll in the magic academy.”
“If you do not enroll in the magic academy, you cannot become a mage.”
“Then I will not become a mage.”
“Shirone!”
Klumpf shot to his feet, his eyes burning. Shirone's rigid attitude was frustrating. Why was this child, who was usually so quick-witted, being so stubborn about such a simple problem?
“Is it out of guilt? This world isn't so forgiving. For the sake of success, there are things you must give up. Or was your dream so insignificant to begin with?”
The massive Klumpf was intimidating just to look up at. But Shirone, as always, answered calmly.
“Perhaps it is.”
“What?”
“No matter how grand my dream may be, it too was inherited from my parents. My parents are the roots that nourished the fruit that is me, allowing me to dream. The opportunity I have now with the Ogent family, the chance I had to become a butler before that, and even being able to read before that—all of it was possible because of the roots my parents gave me. This single opportunity I've been given now is nothing compared to the infinite opportunities my parents have passed down to me. To ask me to deny those roots and draw nourishment from another's is no different from telling me to wither and die.”
The living room was silent. But a storm was raging in everyone's heart. Reina wiped away tears, and Rian smiled with pride for his friend.
Klumpf's eyes, looking down at Shirone, wavered.
*How can a child like this…*
He had been mistaken. Had he been thinking about this all wrong from the start? Even without anyone's help, wouldn't this boy eventually become a mage?
He is great. No, infinite. Even the honor of the Ogent family was just a passing opportunity for this boy.
No one could hold him. Not unless he chose to hold on to them first.
Only after convincing everyone did Shirone smile.
“I am grateful for the offer. But I cannot accept it. My parents are the two people right here in this room, and no one else.”
Vincent clenched his fists. He was ashamed. He wanted to crawl under the sofa right then and there. How could he feel hurt over a mere piece of paper? When his son trusted him so completely. To think that he, a parent who had given his son nothing, had almost felt resentful over something so trivial.
“Please… accept Shirone as a son of the Ogent family.”
“Father.”
Vincent squeezed his eyes shut.
“Please accept Shirone as your adopted son! I beg you!”
No one thought Vincent a bad parent. They would have done the same if it were a matter concerning their own family.
“I understand how you feel, but it can't be helped. After your son has spoken so, how could we possibly ignore his wishes?”
“Shirone… Shirone is not actually our child.”
“Honey!”
Everyone's eyes went wide at Vincent's declaration. But no one was more shocked than Shirone.
It wasn't just because of the secret of his birth. In fact, anyone here could have vaguely guessed it. Just by looking at their appearances and builds, it was clear Shirone and his parents were completely different.
But this declaration was a matter of their father-son relationship, something incomparable to a piece of paper. For the sake of his son's dream, Vincent was truly prepared to give up being a father.
“My wife and I cannot have children. We came upon Shirone by chance. As you've seen for yourselves, he must be the child of a noble. He is a son far too good for me. If he were to be adopted by nobles, it would be more like him returning to his rightful place, not denying his roots at all.”
Considering his words, it made some sense, and the room fell into deep thought.
But shattering their thoughts, Shirone cried out with a hurt expression.
“Dad!”
“Sh-Shirone?”
“What are you doing? How could you say something like that without even discussing it with me! You've never said anything like that before!”
“I-I'm sorry, Shirone. The reason I didn't tell you was…”
“Do you know why I never asked? Because everyone has only one father. And only one mother. Just how many parents are you trying to give me? Because of you, I'm about to have six.”
Vincent was stunned. The two adoptive parents, the two of them, and the two who had abandoned Shirone—that made a total of six. When he thought of it that way, he couldn't believe what he was doing to his own son.
“I-I was just sad that you might give up your dream because of me…”
“Who's giving up their dream? Opportunities will always come along in life! Do you have any idea what it feels like to be abandoned by your parents twice?”
Tears welled in Shirone's eyes.
Only then did Vincent realize. He had forgotten because his son was so smart and thoughtful. His son was still only seventeen years old.
“Shirone, I'm sorry! What has this father of yours done! I'll never entrust you to someone else. I'll make sure your dream comes true, I promise!”
“Dad!”
As Vincent embraced him tightly, Shirone finally wiped his tears and buried himself in his father's arms. How scared he must have been. How hurt this thoughtful child, who never showed his feelings, must have been.
The members of the Ogent family watched the father and son's reunion with warm hearts. The one most moved was the head of the family, Bischoff. He, too, was a father who had raised his four sons and daughters alone after his wife passed away early.
Bischoff quietly spoke to Klumpf.
“It seems we have no choice but for you to use your influence, Father.”
“You ask a lot of this worn-out old geezer. How am I supposed to pull any strings? Even families of scholars, who are masters of clever tricks, throw up their hands at Alpheas's stubbornness.”
Klumpf groaned and shook his head. But it seemed he had an ace up his sleeve, as his expression wasn't entirely grim.
“Then, as the head of the family, I must issue an order. See if you can get him through that special admission. I hear you're owed an old debt.”
“Hmph! That old geezer owes me more than just one or two debts. The problem is, he's not the type to bend his principles for that.”
“Is it absolutely impossible?”
“Keke. We'll see. Isn't relentless pestering the perfect cure for a man who clings to principles?”
Bischoff smiled silently. He was reminded of his own situation, having been forced to take over as head of the family because of those very same relentless tactics.
* * *
Shirone stayed with the Ogent family until the day Rian left. It was uncertain if he would pass the special admission, but even if he did, he wouldn't enroll until the beginning of next year, so he still had six months to spend with his parents.
An elegant, four-horse carriage stood waiting at the main gate of the Ogent estate. It was the carriage that would take the family to the royal capital.
Rai was already inside, and Klumpf was scheduled to meet with Alpheas, the headmaster of the magic academy, before joining them at a midpoint.
Rian, not wanting to part with Shirone, was in tears. Whether it was the magic academy or the sword academy, there was no set duration for completion. If you didn't pass the graduation exam, you could be stuck attending for years, so there was no telling when they would meet again.
“Shirone, you have to become a mage! I'll write to you!”
“I know. It's not like we'll never see each other again. You can come back sometimes, right? Stop crying.”
“You'll definitely be able to graduate! I guarantee it!”
Reina smacked her immature little brother on the head and said,
“You should be thinking about your own graduation! I'm most worried about you!”
“Hey! I'm going to work hard too! I'll definitely become the strongest knight and be Shirone's sword.”
Shirone didn't doubt his words for a second. Rian would do just fine. He didn't have Rai's genius, but he possessed countless things that Rai did not.
Reina stroked Shirone's head and said,
“Shirone, don't worry. Just enjoy the time with your family for now. Grandfather will definitely get you into the academy. He's not one to make empty promises.”
“Okay. And… thank you for your help.”
Shirone said it with sincerity. No matter how close he'd become with Rian, things wouldn't have turned out this well without Reina's assistance.
Reina suddenly realized that she, too, didn't want to part with Shirone. He was four years younger, but the reason he didn't seem it was probably because he was a person of excellent character.
“Shirone, when you graduate from the magic academy…”
Reina started to say something but just smiled instead. He was a seventeen-year-old boy with a bright future ahead of him. Once he went to the magic academy, he would interact with countless talented people, far more than he ever had before.
“Never mind. Let's both do our best. You'll definitely become a mage.”
“Okay. Please take good care of Rian.”
“Haha, don't worry. He's even made a knight's oath, so he'll work hard even without me nagging him.”
Reina gave Shirone one last look before boarding the carriage. The moment the four horses stamped their feet, the window flew open and Rian stuck his head out.
“Shirone, you're the best! When you get into the magic academy, crush them all!”
“You too! Make sure you graduate!”
And so, his year and a half as a butler came to an end.
Now that it was actually over, a wave of sadness washed over him, as if he were leaving home.
Even the great coat of arms of the Ogent family, which had intimidated him when he first arrived, now felt like a symbol wishing him good fortune.
“Young Master, shall we go? I will escort you home.”
A carriage was waiting to take Shirone. Seeing it, the reality of going home finally set in.
Shirone bowed his head toward the Ogent family mansion.
“Thank you for everything.”
* * *
Alpheas Magic Academy.
Around noon, while classes were in full swing, two old men sat facing each other in the headmaster's office, drinking tea.
One was a large-framed, blue-haired man; the other, with a gentle smile, sat slightly stooped, gazing out the window.
They were Alpheas and Ogent Klumpf, friends of fifty years.
The conversation between the two had stopped thirty minutes ago. To be precise, Klumpf was waiting for Alpheas's answer.
It didn't matter how long it took. It was Alpheas's turn to speak, so Klumpf remained silent.
“Even for you, I cannot grant such a request.”
For an answer that took thirty minutes, it was rather anticlimactic. But Klumpf grinned.
He had dragged it out as if making a difficult decision, but in truth, he had probably been thinking of nothing at all. The Alpheas he knew was that kind of prankster.
“Even for me? Do you have any idea how much I suffered because of you when we were young?”
“Gahaha! To hear you boasting of your deeds, you must be quite desperate. However, I didn't create the special admission to be a back door for nobles. Countless requests come in every year, but even the special admission has its own conditions.”
“Keke, that's a funny one. A back door for nobles. But this time is different, I assure you.”
Alpheas grew slightly uneasy. Klumpf's eyes were full of mischief, a sure sign he had brought another headache with him.
“I'm not asking you to accept some good-for-nothing. Quite the opposite. My youngest grandson has a friend who is exceptionally talented. It's like seeing you as a boy.”
At the mention of a story from over fifty years ago, Alpheas's gaze grew distant. Come to think of it, so much time had already passed.
“Your youngest grandson, you mean the immature and reckless Rian? He's just like you were as a boy.”
“Kekeke! He has no talent, so I threw him into the sword academy. Anyway, let that good-for-nothing fend for himself. The one I'm talking about is Rian's friend.”
“If he's that talented, wouldn't it be fine for him to enroll through the regular process? I can only assume there's a problem.”
“There is a very big problem. He's not a noble.”
Alpheas's eyes widened. It wasn't because he was being asked to accept a commoner. It was because a brief moment from five years ago flashed through his mind.
“Don't tell me… is he a boy with blond hair and blue eyes?”