Succession (2)
Hmm, still the same. He's been a sturdy one since he was a boy.
Hierniorn wore a pleased expression.
Leonir stood nearly two meters tall.
Yet his presence felt gentle rather than intimidating.
The playful smile tugging at his lips said as much.
"Looks like the chef really showed off his skills—your shirt's covered in sauce."
"Uh...?"
"Just kidding. Your shirt's spotless."
He got me.
It was hard to believe he was the son of the cantankerous Rohbark. A completely different vibe.
I let out a hollow chuckle as I stared at the giggling Leonir.
"So it was you who sent the chef, Uncle."
"That's right, me. You're at that age where you're growing like a weed, so eat up. At least while you're stuck at Eternalism, I'll cover the ingredients myself. Order anything you want—if it's not on the menu, tell him to make it."
"Thank you."
I dipped my head slightly in gratitude.
Leonir leaned against the window sill and fixed me with a steady gaze.
"Anyway, you've grown a bit since I last saw you. In the Tomb of Books and Swords, you still looked all fuzzy with baby hairs, but now you're starting to fill out like a man. That overly pretty face can't be helped, though. You look just like him."
Was he thinking of his youngest brother?
For a fleeting moment, I caught a shadow in Leonir's eyes.
In this life, my face bore a striking resemblance to Demiph's—the one I'd seen at the fake funeral.
Thinking of my birth father brought a crucial question to mind.
Does Leonir know about that fake funeral too?
His face had already regained its calm, offering no hints.
After a brief internal debate, I decided to test the waters.
"Uncle, there's something I'd like to ask."
"Go ahead."
"What kind of man was my father?"
"......"
I was probing him.
He didn't seem like the type to lie easily, so I'd toss out a question about Demiph and watch his reaction.
But Leonir's response was unexpected.
"Well, I don't really know."
"Pardon? I heard you two were close among the brothers."
"Close, huh..."
Leonir trailed off and turned his gaze to the window.
A chill glinted in his eyes.
"Yeah, that's right. As kids, I thought I knew Demiph inside out. But now? Not so much. Maybe it was all an illusion. Turns out he had his own agenda hidden away. Your father betrayed me. Didn't stick a knife in my back, but it felt like a solid smack to the head."
"......"
Silence fell.
Betrayed?
His answer was so out of left field that I struggled to find words.
But I clearly saw complex emotions flicker across his face before vanishing.
A moment later, he looked back at me and spoke again.
"We'll talk about your father another time. For now, let's move on to other matters. Far more important ones."
Leonir rummaged in his robes with a slightly twisted expression, muttering to himself.
"Scheming old fogies gunning for you, the Seven Great Problems, and wrapping up the adoption... Even this'll take all day."
He let out a light sigh and tossed a thick stack of document binders onto the table.
"First off, news of you absorbing a pillar of the Factor of Eternity has the whole academy in an uproar. No precedent for it. Caused a bit of trouble, too. This made its way to the family head. Take a look."
Elman, seated on the sofa, had apparently already read it—his face twisted in a wry smile.
The binder's title read as follows.
Submitted by: Extremism Dean Agerik and five others.
It wasn't from a single author.
Extremism Dean Agerik and five others.
All the major academy deans had signed on.
What's this 'rotational education' nonsense?
I skimmed the contents quickly.
In essence, it was a ridiculous proposal to shuttle me around each academy for a year at a time, for "fair" education.
A hollow laugh escaped me.
Did they think I was some rentable training dummy?
"Ridiculous."
"Exactly. Utter nonsense. Even the family head can't force a transfer of enrollment. But..."
Leonir chuckled softly, pausing for effect.
His ominous words followed.
"The family head partially approved it. Just a tiny bit."
"Pardon...?"
"Check the last page."
I flipped through the binder.
The final page held Rohbark's curt reply.
It started by lambasting the deans' drivel—
But astonishingly, the end considered adopting part of the proposal.
Rohbark's finally lost his marbles!
Hierniorn was fuming, calling it a violation of Kirchheis family rules.
But a closer read showed otherwise.
"In short, if you want, you can join other academies' curricula."
"......!"
Leonir explained.
Rohbark had used the deans' suggestion as cover to let me customize my schedule as I pleased.
Hmm, as expected of Rohbark. This one always believed in him.
Ignoring the senile phoenix, I pondered.
Custom curricula was a huge advantage.
Whatever Eternalism lacked, I could source from elsewhere.
"The other deans must be fuming. They'd teach you nothing and lose everything."
"Yeah..."
No downsides came to mind.
So why the unease?
Maybe because I knew Rohbark wouldn't favor me without reason.
"Anyway, the other academies do covet you. Envy and jealousy are aimed your way."
Leonir warned me gravely.
"Be careful. Some might destroy what they can't have."
"Even with me becoming your adopted son?"
"Especially then. You might not realize it, but my influence is weaker than you think. I've practically abandoned magic."
True enough.
Leonir had devoted himself solely to the sword, while the Kirchheis family favored mages like Rohbark.
In magic and politics, second son Garnas held far more power.
"Now, next matter."
Leonir's tone grew heavier.
He stepped to the center of the lab, muttering.
"The Seven Great Problems. I heard you're challenging them. True?"
"......"
Even Leonir knew.
Is there no such thing as secrets at Eternalism?
"How did this get out, Archmage?"
"Ahem..."
I shot Elman a frown.
The old mage cleared his throat cautiously.
"When someone like you shows interest in the Seven Great Problems, I deemed it worth reporting. Embarrassing as it is for a researcher like me to say, that endeavor is..."
"Overly idealistic."
Leonir cut in.
Then spat bitterly.
"To be frank, it's delusional. No one in Kirchheis history has solved one."
"No one? Didn't the Holy Hero solve Gluttony?"
Were they excluding Ulfrik from humanity?
Music to my ears, if so.
But Leonir and Elman chuckled.
"He's the exception. A genius who won't come again."
"Perhaps the goddess gifted him to save mankind."
Awe in their eyes.
I struggled to hide my grimace.
Accepting humanity's betrayer as a great hero was still tough.
"That's exactly why I got interested. I want to emulate Ulfrik."
"Kirian."
At my words, Leonir scratched his forehead with a sigh.
He bowed slightly to Elman for permission.
Then spoke more sharply.
"I won't allow you to touch the Seven Great Problems. If not as your uncle, then as your prospective father."
"Uncle."
"No arguments. Research banned."
"......"
"Promise me here and now. No wasting time."
It felt like he'd halt the adoption otherwise.
If Leonir, the party involved, put the brakes on, it could all fall apart.
But I shook my head without hesitation.
One realization from the mansion basement:
If I can unearth what's hidden here properly, it'll be huge against Ulfrik later.
Tomb of Books and Swords, Asin's tombstone, Factor of Eternity, restricted area and Dumroad...
All exceeded expectations.
Above all, fate demanded I forge my own path.
Following orders wouldn't surpass Ulfrik.
So my answer:
"Uncle, I won't make promises I can't keep."
"What?"
"I'll solve the Seven Great Problems."
"You're saying you'll waste time even forsaking the heir's seat?"
Leonir scowled and threatened.
But I stood firm.
"That seat wasn't what I wanted. Hard to negotiate with."
"......!"
Leonir's face hardened in shock.
He alternated glances between me and Elman, speechless.
"That's..."
"I know it sounds harsh, but I won't change my mind, Uncle."
T-Tiberian? You're really kicking away that seat... right?
My tone was too firm; even Hierniorn whispered anxiously.
But I had no intention of fully abandoning adoption.
So I broached it thus:
"That said, if you'll allow it, I'll prove I'm not wasting time."
"Prove...?"
"Yes. I'll show steady progress so you won't worry. Separate from the research, of course."
Leonir's expression softened slightly.
He liked the idea.
"And if I'm still worried? If your progress doesn't satisfy me?"
"Then ban the research. I won't complain."
He chuckled.
Not mockery.
More like a father fondly eyeing his cheeky son's scheme.
Just what I wanted.
"Kirian, as one who's devoted his life to the sword, I'll demand you learn it to some degree. You're not saying you'll juggle swordsmanship, magic, and research at once, are you?"
"......I'll do it."
"You underestimate the sword."
Swordsmanship, huh.
Couldn't breach the Noble Wall, but my past life's 6-star peak was doable.
Leonir wouldn't demand 7-star or higher.
Enough to buy time, I figured.
But—
"Fine. Then I'll make you a Swordmaster."
"Pardon...?"
"Promise to follow my sword succession training without complaint. Then I won't interfere with the Seven Great Problems. Your way."
"......?"
Leonir topped my proposal with his own.
As I gaped blankly, he shrugged with a grin.
"Starting tomorrow. Oh, if you're not up for it, we can pretend this never happened."