Chapter 9
Chapter 9
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Political Marriage (2)
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"Teacher?"
For a brief moment, my teacher, who had been lost in shock, belatedly covered her mouth and made a huge fuss.
"Duran, can you believe it? My disciple is getting married~ It feels like I met Rishir just the other day, and now he's already becoming a groom~"
"Oh, right. Was it? Rishir feels so special to me that I got confused for a second."
"Is that true? You and I only met yesterday? I thought it'd been at least ten years."
"See~ Rishir says the same thing."
"Oh my. Should we, Rishir?"
"Unfortunately, I'm already spoken for..."
"I see how it is."
Hm. A political marriage.
Diltan.
My teacher listed keywords related to the political marriage, lost in thought.
"Rishir?"
"Yes, Teacher."
"What does my disciple think?"
"A son-in-law? Well, as the bastard son, I don't really think I have much say in family matters. Separately, though, it's quite awkward."
"Oh my. Do you have someone else in your heart? Who? Who is it? Not human, perhaps? She's a bit tall for a woman? Has rare silver hair? An intellectual air that's striking? Lives in a dark forest, avoiding the sun, so her skin is flawless? Not to brag, but she has quite an alluring figure?"
I calmed my advancing teacher and resumed the conversation.
"It's not like that. It's just... being a son-in-law. It's called a son-in-law, but it's basically like being sold off, right? That's what worries me. I'm already uncomfortable here where I was born, so if I go somewhere else with the bastard label still attached, how much worse will it be? Yeah, something like that."
"Hm~ Even as a nominal son-in-law, they won't be able to bully you openly, but as you say, there will be some hardships."
"And above all, I was planning to leave this place soon anyway."
"Leave?"
"Something like ditching the bastard build and starting a new life. The bastard build seems to have a clear ceiling."
"..."
"..."
My teacher and Duran stared at me like I was some exotic specimen.
Even though it's a book.
"I've thought this from the start, but my disciple is really unique."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah. People in your situation usually obsess over that sort of thing."
"Oh, Duran. Thanks for the unsolicited explanation. But is it that rare for a bastard to escape their family?"
My teacher gently stroked my hair.
"A bastard is basically one piece of paper away from being a noble, right? It's just whether they can use the family name or not."
"True."
"Generally, their goal is to get that permission from the family."
I was the same.
Precisely, the past me.
The past me lived solely for the goal of getting that recognition from my father.
"Even if they get permission, they still have to disclose it metaphorically as a bastard, but that's nothing. Ignoring a bastard acknowledged by the family is basically a challenge to the family itself. In other words, they become a bastard that only family members can ignore—a de facto formal noble."
My teacher shook her head.
"I don't know if I should say this in front of my disciple, but I just don't get it. Is it worth going that far for? That noble title? Even if it's just a hollow shell?"
Now, I think the same as my teacher.
The past me, on the other hand—
That's when Duran chimed in.
"...Yeah. I see. I was thoughtless."
Duran's words didn't perfectly represent my past thoughts.
But they captured a part of it.
I had thought that.
That if I got permission to use the family name, even as a bastard, everything would be fine.
It was extreme, but understandable.
Adult prejudice and discrimination have enough power to turn an innocent child into a monster ruled by inferiority.
"My disciple? Did I say something wrong?"
Lost in thought, I noticed my teacher cautiously gauging my reaction.
"Ah, no. I think both you and Duran make valid points."
"My disciple has such a big heart."
My teacher stroked my head and continued.
"Back to the main point. I support Rishir."
"You mean leaving the family?"
"Yes. The Diltan Family isn't the right place to hone the value of your unique color. Haeren isn't either."
"Then where would be suitable?"
"There's no set path for learning. But it's true there's no better place to broaden your horizons than the imperial capital."
"Then I'll follow your advice, Teacher."
"Oh my. Can you decide that easily?"
"I trust your wisdom."
"Oh my oh my oh my. Does my disciple spend all day thinking of pretty things to say~?"
Pat pat pat pat!
My teacher's stroking grew more vigorous.
Was the magic lesson starting already?
Fire attribute?
It's hot.
"By the way, Teacher. After you're done with your business in Haeren, are you heading to the imperial capital too?"
"No. I have some business there, but not right away. There are many places I need to visit."
"After all that?"
"Probably back to where I came from. The forest. I have unfinished business there."
"Should I come with you then?"
"That sounds great~"
"Hey, Duran. I know how to talk, okay? It was just a joke."
My teacher met my eyes and said.
"Rishir should live Rishir's life. You don't have to follow your teacher."
"... That's great advice, but is that something to say to a disciple you're planning to abandon after a week?"
"Eek~"
My teacher made a sound with her mouth and slyly backed away from me.
"Don't worry, though? Our one week will feel like a year?"
"Oh my~ Even the book acknowledges my literary talent~"
"Wow~ A week like a year~"
No matter how I think about it, I picked the wrong teacher.
Twenty minutes after leaving the library, we reached the residential district.
"We're here."
My teacher entered a house as naturally as if it were her own.
"Oh. Teacher, you have a place in Haeren? Do you come often?"
"Of course."
"Duran~"
"...Teacher?"
"Disappointed? That your teacher is such a failure she doesn't even own a house in the city?"
"No."
"Good."
"I was disappointed that a housebreaker is such a failure."
"Nooo~"
Still, I silently followed my teacher into the living room.
She's not the kind of great person worth getting surprised and pointing out every little thing.
"Rishir? Take this."
My teacher placed a silver orb in my palm.
"Think of that silver orb as your hand and try moving it."
"Got it."
"For the next week, we'll focus entirely on moving that silver orb. What that orb is—actually, it might be better to explain the purpose of this training first. As I said, we only have one week—"
"Teacher?"
"—so— Huh? My disciple."
"Does this normally float in the air like this?"
"Right. That's our ultimate goal. To make that silver orb float in the air—...Huh?"
"Huh?"
All three of us let out sounds at the same time.
The book isn't human, but anyway.
"...?"
My teacher poked the silver orb that was floating ever so slightly above my hand.
"Teacher?"
My teacher muttered blankly.
"Guess I need to redo the curriculum~?"
With a somewhat excited tone.
It was insanely unexpected.
I never imagined learning magic would demand such insane stamina.
"Ugh. I'm dying."
My muscles were fine, but my whole body was screaming. Even my soul.
How are you guys so tired?
I'm tired in 3D.
Tired enough to die three times.
Three days into my teacher's magic lessons.
After finishing training, I dragged my staggering body back to the Bendel mansion.
My teacher emphasized the importance of rest, saying magic isn't something you grind endlessly.
Thanks to that, even after training, the sky was still blue and clear. Just around lunchtime?
A nap and then reading the book she copied for me would be perfect.
That was my way back to the annex, home sweet home.
Creak!
Suddenly, the sound of someone jumping up from a chair.
"Lady, wait—"
A desperate voice trying to stop her.
"Lord Rishir!!!"
A clear voice ignoring it.
Thud. It felt like a baby bird crashed into me.
About that much weight hit my back.
And slender arms wrapped around me from the front.
Turning around, a girl in pure white was hugging me.
"I missed you!!!"
The girl looked up at me with endlessly clear eyes.
"Ah...!"
I recognized her immediately.
'Who is this?'
I recognized her as a complete stranger.