Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: The Greatest Talent (2)
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On the final day of the grand ball, the last banquet had come to an end.
The nobles were exchanging farewells with their close friends and allies.
"Big Brother."
"Oh, there you are."
The Welton family was no exception.
A man with sharp, falcon-like features approached Count Welton.
The count welcomed him with a rare smile.
Jamie had seen the man a few times before and recognized him.
'Viscount Valle.'
He was one of the less than ten senior spiritists in the entire Sellam Kingdom—and the father of Rebecca and Ash.
Jamie glanced around, wondering if the sisters had come along, but it seemed they hadn't.
"I should have visited you yesterday, but I held off since you must still be troubled by it all."
"It's fine. It was understandable. Jamie, come here. You should greet your uncle."
At the count's gesture, Jamie stepped forward and bowed to Viscount Valle.
"It's been a while, Uncle."
"You've grown so much. About the same height as Ash now, I'd say."
The viscount chuckled and ruffled Jamie's hair.
It was quite unpleasant, but Jamie didn't let it show.
"I should have brought the girls along. They could have said hello."
He still had no idea that Jamie already knew his daughters.
Jamie saw no reason to mention it. The inevitable follow-up questions would just be a hassle. The sisters would handle it themselves later.
"Haha. How are the children doing?"
"Kids grow like weeds, don't they?"
"True enough."
"And how's your wife?"
"She's not feeling well at the moment."
"Can't blame her."
Viscount Valle gave a wry smile as he glanced at Jamie.
The incident from yesterday had sparked a major dispute among the adults.
Though handled discreetly, it had nearly turned the ball into a coliseum brawl, splitting the nobles into the Simon and Welton factions.
Fortunately, Sears's decision allowed Count Welton to close the matter. In apology for defying the Weltons, Count Simon offered a cart full of gold as compensation.
It had wrapped up well in the end, but as the mother of the child involved, Sears was now laid up with a headache.
"That said, you were impressive yesterday. I knew from your father that you had talent for magic, but seeing it myself... incredible."
"All thanks to my parents."
"Humble, too."
The viscount seemed pleased with Jamie's response and roughly tousled his hair again.
"I'll visit the estate in Hice soon."
"Bring the girls."
"Of course."
"Safe travels."
"Don't worry."
Viscount Valle returned to his group.
Jamie smoothed down his messed-up hair and called to his father, Count Welton.
"When do we head back?"
"It's about time for us, too."
Count Welton grinned and hoisted his son onto his shoulders.
Jamie didn't particularly enjoy being lifted like this, but he burst into delighted giggles as if he loved it.
Deep down, he prayed fervently for all these ordeals to end as soon as possible.
Jamie watched the coachmen and servants loading the luggage onto the carriage.
The schedule was finally over. Time to go home.
Before coming here, he'd thought home was exhausting enough, but after experiencing the outside world, he'd concluded that Sears's barrage of kisses was preferable by comparison.
Not that he wanted those kisses, of course. They were exhausting in their own way.
"You look bored."
"What else is a kid like me supposed to do?"
Jamie replied nonchalantly to the sudden voice beside him.
Count Simon smirked at Jamie's listless expression.
"Shame we never got a proper chance to talk."
"I was looking forward to it a little. Disappointing."
"We could still do it now."
"Right now, I'd rather go home and rest. I'm exhausted."
"I can imagine."
Count Simon nodded in understanding.
"The mage world has started keeping an eye on you."
"Hm."
"Not as surprised as I expected?"
"I knew it was coming eventually."
Jamie wasn't some clueless child unaware of his own talent. He was the greatest black sorcerer in history, who had once stood at the pinnacle.
He knew exactly how capable he was, and unless the current mage world was full of idiots, they wouldn't just sit idly by.
"Fair enough. You know your own worth. If only you were my son. What do you say? Become my adopted heir even now."
"Why bother?"
Count Simon's eyes widened at the blunt "why bother."
Then he burst into roaring laughter.
"Puhahaha!"
Anyone who knew the cold-blooded count would faint at the sight of him laughing like this.
"You're right! With Count Welton being a great Sword Master, no need to switch families."
That wasn't the only reason, but Jamie had no desire to explain at length.
And crucially, Count Simon was mistaken.
"Not the eldest, but the second son."
"You mean Lennon?"
"I punished him."
"Figured as much. He's been acting like a madman since yesterday."
"You're not mad that I punished him?"
"He paid for his own mistakes. Why would I be angry?"
This man was definitely not entirely normal, either.
Jamie clicked his tongue inwardly but continued.
"He has decent talent for magic. You should teach him."
"I know his talent better than anyone. It's not enough to impress me."
"It's suppressed. That's blocking all his potential."
While trapping him in the abyss yesterday, Jamie had gauged Lennon's true talent.
Not a once-in-a-generation genius, but with consistent training, he could reach his father's level someday.
"You sure?"
"It's all your fault, Count."
"My fault?"
"You ignored them because their talent seemed lacking, so both ended up warped. Alf, I don't know, but Lennon was twisted from the start, dragging his talent down with him."
"Hm."
"Nothing to lose, right?"
Count Simon met Jamie's steady gaze. There was no hint of doubt in those confident eyes.
Even he, at the 8th Class pinnacle, hadn't fully grasped his own sons' potential. Could a child, no matter how gifted, truly see through another's talent?
'Beyond that... how can he be so certain?'
It felt like facing a great mage.
Even knowing it was absurd, the count couldn't help but be awed.
To such a count, Jamie offered one more piece of advice.
"Who knows? His help might break through the wall you're stuck at right now."
"......"
"Just ignore it. It's just some kid babbling."
Jamie flashed an innocent smile, as if oblivious to the world.
"Still a shame."
Count Simon turned and walked away.
His figure soon vanished.
An old man adjusted his glasses while eyeing the stack of documents on his desk.
"So damn much to do."
"That's what being an elder in the Magic Association is like."
"When did you sneak in?"
Grumbling, old Raymond Flores Shan scowled at his uninvited guest.
"Is this a place I can't visit?"
The intruder was none other than Marquis Linmel.
"Not at all. You're the Second Elder here, after all."
"Quit with the formal 'Second Elder' nonsense. Should I start calling you Fourth Elder?"
"Don't nitpick over stupid stuff. So, what's up? You're not one to drop by on a whim."
Raymond removed his glasses and leaned back comfortably in his chair.
"When did the Sellam Kingdom's Magic Association get so stuffy? Can't a guy just visit?"
"Since when are you so patriotic about 'our' association?"
"Eh, nothing major. You know what I'm here about."
"I do?"
Marquis Linmel nodded and leaned in toward the desk.
"Jamie Welton."
"Now that's an interesting topic."
A smile tugged at Raymond's lips just from hearing the name, before the conversation even began.
"A boy with historic-level talent, right?"
"I was actually going to take him as a disciple at the count's request."
"What?!"
Raymond shot to his feet in shock.
"Is that true?"
"Historic-level is an understatement."
Marquis Linmel briefly recalled Jamie, whom he'd seen with his own eyes.
Talent that even "historic" couldn't fully describe.
"The pinnacle of mankind. Maybe even of the world."
He continued with unwavering conviction.
"What happened at the Eastern Nobles' Ball was no exaggeration. I guarantee it."
Many nobles had witnessed the power Jamie unleashed on Alf.
Naturally, mages were among them, and most mages in Sellam Kingdom belonged to the Magic Association.
It was inevitable that word of Jamie reached them. But most assumed it was exaggerated.
How could a mere seven-year-old boy pull off such a feat? Still, they agreed he had exceptional talent.
Now, the Second Elder, Marquis Linmel—a pillar of Sellam Kingdom's Magic Association—was vouching for him.
"You're serious?"
"Why would I lie?"
"Fair."
Raymond nodded.
Then a question arose.
He squinted one eye at Linmel.
"But why didn't you take him as your disciple?"
If Jamie's display was real, calling him mankind's greatest talent wouldn't be excessive.
Even Linmel, who had less interest in disciples than other elders, would have been tempted by such a genius.
But Linmel's answer was shockingly blunt.
"Because no one can handle him."
His voice was firm and certain.
"What do you mean?"
"Jamie doesn't need a master. He'll grow on his own—at an insane pace. What do you think happens then?"
Raymond had no reply.
He understood exactly what Linmel meant.
If true, taking him as a disciple would mean being chased down at breakneck speed. Then, like a lie, the boy would surpass the master's realm and vanish into the distance.
Could any mage accept that?
"At least, I couldn't."
It wasn't talent that needed a teacher, and greedily taking him on risked becoming a mental wreck.
"Mm... but the other elders might think differently."
"That's why I'm telling you. Don't let it happen."
"Here to warn me, huh."
"Even if I warn them, plenty won't listen. He can enter the Magic Association at age eight. Next year. They'll scramble to claim him as a disciple."
"Chaos incoming."
To become an elder in Sellam Kingdom's Magic Association required at least 6th Class.
Mages 6th Class and above were treated as high mages, powerful enough to be classified as high-risk threats.
Such figures competing for mankind's greatest genius...
But Linmel just laughed.
"Well, first they'll have to clear one big hurdle."
"Hurdle? Ah—ahaha!"
Raymond burst into laughter upon realizing what he meant.
"Convincing the monster at the apex—the natural predator of all mages. That's the key."
No 8th Class mage could defeat a Sword Master.
And Jamie's guardian was among the elite of Sword Masters—an unparalleled superhuman.
"Next year should be fun."
"One hell of a show."
The two elders exchanged amused grins.