Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: True Ancestor (2)
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“Eh? My disciple? Did you take some kind of elixir in the meantime?”
The master suddenly grabbed my wrist and spoke with a rare look of bewilderment on her face.
“An elixir? Well... nothing specific comes to mind. What's going on?”
“It's just... the mana emanating from you, Rishir, has grown enormously.”
“Must be thanks to Master's lessons, right? If I had to choose between an elixir and Master's teachings, I'd pick Master's lessons without a second thought.”
“Duran. Remember what you said about my lessons? You heard Rishir just now, right? You heard him.”
“Is that so?”
The master looked pleased yet unconvinced.
“This level of growth can't be explained simply as the effect of lessons.”
“Could you explain it simply enough for a guy like me to understand, Master?”
“Let's say the mana growth Rishir could expect from today's lesson is 1.”
“About 5?”
“No. Roughly 50.”
“...Magic is too easy. Makes me want to die from boredom.”
I stared at the horizon with a hollow feeling.
This must be how the great sages who grasped the truths of the world saw it.
How insignificant the world truly is.
“Look at my disciple's high nose. But you have the right to it now. Yes.”
“The truth is, the change in Rishir is a result that's hard to achieve through normal magic training. Even considering his innate talent.”
“...But I really can't think of anything... Ah, could it be from using my Unique Color on Fienne?”
“Probably not. If so, there should've been a change when you sent Goggos back to the earth too, right, my disciple?”
“Yes, Master.”
“After today's lesson, could you tell me everything that's happened so far?”
As she listened to my story, the master suddenly started grinning and glancing at Fienne.
“She tried to use her power of enchantment on my disciple?”
“...”
“...And stole my disciple's lips?”
“Eek!”
“They're going to be engaged, sure, but strictly speaking, they aren't yet. And it wasn't even with pure intentions? And... in this context, it looks like the marriage will fall apart anyway?”
“Don't misconstrue your master's wish that her disciple's bright future not be confined to the narrow role of a son-in-law.”
The master pondered for a long while after that, then shook her head.
“Yeah. Still no idea. If I could figure out the reason and apply it to lessons, it would greatly help solve the chronic issue plaguing my disciple.”
The chronic issue plaguing me.
Those words brought back the master's evaluation of my magical aptitude from our recent lessons.
-My disciple. How great it would have been if you'd encountered magic just a bit sooner. Even swordsmanship training would have helped.
-The Bendel Family feels so spiteful.
Magical aptitude is largely divided into two categories.
Mana capacity: mana power.
Mana handling: affinity.
The master said my affinity was exceptionally high, clearly in the realm of geniuses.
But my mana power was clearly in the realm of mediocrity—
And she attributed this glory entirely to the Bendel Family.
Mana power is more influenced by acquired factors than affinity.
That mana power was literally neglected due to the Bendel Family's negligence.
Mana is like muscle; no matter the talent, it requires consistent training, investment, and management.
To achieve results in magic or swordsmanship? At the latest, foundations must be built from age 10.
Nobles start even earlier, using elixirs and constant mana exposure from infancy—
-In other words, you've lost nearly a lifetime. Since you're a noble, Rishir.
-Duran, that's too harsh. It's okay, my disciple. You've got me by your side.
-Just to check, Master, at what age did you start learning magic?
-Hmm. Can't quite remember?
-Means you started so young you don't even remember. And from then on, learning everything under a master, gobbling all sorts of elixir-like things. The forest is full of them.
-No surprise there anymore. The world's order revolves around the haves. If I were surprised, I'd be disappointed in myself—proof I still haven't faced reality.
-What to do~ My disciple's turned into a backroom mage who skips meals for booze and smokes~
-Inflicting pain brings out the literary flair. I like it. Maybe leave her be like this.
By the master's words, I'd lost at least 8 years, at most 18.
To catch up to those ahead, I'd have to work myself to death, with no guarantee of good results.
Mana is muscle.
There's a limit to growth per training session.
The later you start, the harder it is to compensate for lost time, even with extra effort.
-Still, don't be too disheartened, my disciple. Your innate mana power is as excellent as your affinity. At this rate, you could reach the 3rd circle in two years.
1st circle: novice.
2nd circle: apprentice.
3rd circle: recognized as a proper practitioner.
Most nobles strive for 3rd circle before adulthood.
Some reach 4th before the coming-of-age ceremony—then the family hangs a banner.
Both our family's eldest and youngest had achieved that.
A bastard like me was needless to say at 1st circle.
Rather than disappointment, I decided to take comfort in this fact.
18 years late, yet standing at the same starting line as others in just 2 years? That's something.
“Master. You said I gained 50 times the achievement just now? So, effectively, I've shortened the time to 3rd circle by 50 days?”
“Well, it's not that simple, but no need to nitpick a good thing. I'm not Duran.”
50 days gained.
Thinking that way sparked my interest in the phenomenon affecting me.
Well, no point in me pondering what even the master couldn't solve.
I just desperately hoped such luck would happen often.
“Alright then.”
Clap.
The master clapped to liven the mood.
“Excuse me for a moment?”
She approached the fallen Fienne, checked her body this way and that, and nodded.
“As expected. Her power has greatly weakened, but not completely gone.”
“Ah. Should I use it one more time? My Unique Color. That True Ancestor power. Make it disappear for good this time.”
“R-Rishir...! Why are you doing this to me...!”
“Fienne. Remember this: a wounded man turns into a beast. You never know what he'll do. So be careful playing with men's pure hearts from now on. This big brother's lesson.”
“You didn't even fall to my power in the first place!!!”
“That's why it hurts even more. If I'd been dominated by your power and known nothing, how nice that would be. For a moment, I even thought of you as my one and only little sister.”
“Ugh... L-Little sister!? How much of a child do you plan to treat me as!? This insult... I can't overlook it anymore. Do you know how sp-special I am! How beautiful I am...”
Fienne glared at me while speaking, but her pale face flushed peach-like, and she averted her gaze midway.
“Why are you embarrassed after saying it yourself?”
“It's your fault!!! It was my first time... going that far... But you keep treating me like a child... teasing me... humiliating me...”
Fienne sniffled cautiously, looking up at me.
“D-Do I really seem that way to you, Rishir...? Powerless me... am I nothing...?”
Damn. True Ancestor indeed. What powerful mental interference.
Her baby bird-like whimpering made me feel like the utter villain.
Dominated by that magical guilt, I approached the fallen Fienne and offered my hand.
“...”
Fienne pouted and sniffled but obediently took my hand and stood.
I pulled out the handkerchief I always carried as a gentleman's duty and dusted the dirt off her dress.
Then flipped it to wipe the tears from her eyes.
Fienne pursed her lips and looked up at me with raised eyes.
Up close, she looked just like an adorable kid.
A fatherly smile crept onto my face unwittingly.
“...”
Fienne suddenly averted her gaze.
“Fienne?”
As I called again—
She closed her eyes and pursed her lips toward me.
What's with this girl now.
I ignored it and brought the handkerchief to her face.
“Come on. Hmph!”
“...Pardon? Hmph?”
“Hmph!!! Gotta blow your nose, right? If you're a proper lady, you know how important keeping tidy is~ Come on, hmph~”
“B-Blow your nose!? N-No way!!! A-Are you insane!? What do you take me for!?”
Fuming, Fienne backed away from me and pointed a trembling hand my way.
“Y-You're doing this on purpose...! I know it!? You're embarrassed, so you're treating me like a kid...! H-Hmph, men and their bravado!”
She smirked to tease me back—
But with her trembling voice and teary expression, it was just cute.
Older than me? Sure. Go ahead, big sis.
Then the master poked my shoulder.
“My disciple? That girl may seem like that, but she's actually quite kind, so don't be too harsh.”
“Pardon? The one playing brain texture games with people?”
“From what I heard, she's quite lenient in her methods. Even when taking blood, she stays within limits that don't affect life. And with mental interference, she leaves some sense of self.”
So she was a decent kid, huh?
Under my gaze like I was appraising a praiseworthy child, Fienne floundered.
“D-Don't look at me like I'm some commendable kid! I just... just didn't feel the need to go that far with those kin!”
“In other words, you don't abuse your power recklessly?”
“I'm not like those vulgar ones who lack restraint.”
She seemed pretty confident about that.
Unlike moments ago, she boasted proudly.
The gap between her personas made me chuckle unwittingly.
“True. You are different.”
“And what nonsense are you going to spout now...”
Fienne eyed me warily in disgust, but couldn't hide the subtle upturn of her lips.
“Lady Fienne?”
But at the master's call, Fienne flinched.
“Will you make a promise here? No more abusing that power?”
“...Why should I?”
“Y-Yes, I promise...!”
Fienne seemed ready to keep up the momentum, but folded immediately at Duran’s brutal words.
For some reason, she feared the master more than me, who nullified her power.
“My, what a good girl.”
The master smiled brightly, took Fienne's hand, and traced her palm with her index finger.
Fienne winced slightly.
Suddenly, a thin red line appeared on Fienne's white palm.
“My disciple?”
The master pressed the wounded palm against mine.
“...”
A soft whisper from the master, and a strange power enveloped our palms.
“Lady Fienne. That's a promise, right?”
“Y-Yes...”
The moment Fienne answered, a wave of power surged from our palms up our arms and struck our chests.
“Ah!”
“Oh.”
Fienne and I each let out a sound and stepped back slightly.
The master nodded in satisfaction at us.
Afterward, Fienne and I parted from the master and returned to the Bendel mansion.
-Due to Normalization, Lady Fienne's power weakened and her control over kin became unstable—but it'll only be temporary, right? It wasn't a control that used much power anyway.
-Anyway, Lady Fienne? Could you help my disciple through that control?
-...How should I help?
-Simple. Withdraw the marriage. Then the family will naturally lose interest in my disciple, and he'll leave Bendel amid indifference.
-Or release the control, cause chaos, and escape in the confusion.
-Duran, really. That'd put Fienne and Rishir in a tough spot, chased by the Church and Empire. Hmm. Being chased once for experience might not be bad?
-Sorry. Don't say crazy things.
Mindful of that final conversation with the master.
“Lady...!!!”
As the master said.
When Fienne and I returned to the mansion, it was in an uproar.
Gallant only remembered us leaving together.
Thus, I became the bastard who dragged an unwell lady outside.
“Sir Rishir? Would you explain what happened?”
The Bendel butler interrogated me.
The Diltan family head and retainers stood behind, watching.
A face-saving show prepared by Bendel for Diltan.
“You bastard—”
Then a handsome man with flowing long hair lunged and grabbed my collar.
“Dragging a sick child around outside like that!?”
“Sir Kalan!!!”
Fienne's brother, I suppose.
The Diltan family's eldest son.
“Everyone, please stop...!”
Fienne cried out then.
Cough!
Cough!
The chaotic atmosphere settled instantly.
All eyes focused on Fienne.
“Sir Rishir tried to stop me desperately. I was the stubborn one. So please, don't blame him.”
No trace of the earlier tearful brat.
The frail girl in pure white with demonic allure earnestly pleaded, calming the room in a flash.
“...Sir Rishir. The family head summons you.”
Starting with the Bendel butler, the crowd dispersed one by one.
“Let's go, Fienne.”
Kalan glared at me, trying to take his sister.
“...”
But Fienne clung to my hand, refusing to let go.
“Fienne?”
“Brother. Can I stay with Sir Rishir a bit longer?”
“But your condition—”
Fienne raised both hands and flashed a spirited smile.
“Is it because of Sir Rishir? I feel so much better today.”
“...”
Kalan glared discontentedly, clicked his tongue, and left.
“What does that bastard have—”
Muttering complaints not quite to himself.
Soon, only Fienne and I remained.
“...”
I stared at Fienne in disbelief.
“...What? Spouting more nonsense?”
Back to brat mode, Fienne awkwardly averted her gaze.
The butler mentioned the family head summoning me.
After killing time briefly with Fienne and parting, I headed straight to the family head's office.
“We are discussing your marriage with Lady Fienne.”
The words hit as soon as I entered.
The family head left me standing and got straight to the point.
“Behave properly and prepare your mind in advance.”
That ended his business.
Throughout, his eyes stayed fixed on the desk papers.
“I have something to say.”
I spoke to the top of his head.
Perfect timing, I thought.
“I'm leaving the family.”
“...”
Now he looks this way?
The family head stared at me with an expression like he'd misheard.