Chapter 153
Chapter 153
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Father and Son (1)
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“You’ve got the count, don’t you?”
“Ah, it’s got nothing to do with my father.”
Lennon flinched but continued speaking.
“I know all about it. You’re planning to pass on that amazing breathing method, right? Teach it to me too. I don’t want to lose to that kid!”
“But who’s this punk raising his voice in front of?”
As Jamie moved to flick Lennon’s forehead again, Lennon screamed and fled backward.
The sight brought a slight smile to his face.
He’s got an inferiority complex toward Ann.
A few days ago, Ann had come asking questions about magic circles. And Lennon had personally witnessed her instantly synthesizing the layer technique and a three-dimensional magic circle.
That must have been when it started. When he began harboring an inferiority complex toward Ann’s brilliant mind.
What to do.
Rivals were necessary for growth.
Lennon would make a perfect rival for Ann. And the same went for Lennon.
Lennon possessed excellent talent. Not on par with Jamie himself or Siegfried, but if he grew up, he could certainly become a grand mage.
“Please! I want to get stronger!”
Lennon pleaded in an earnest voice.
He had seen Ann’s talent and despaired. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t born with magical aptitude.
With brains like that, he figured he could overcome any lack of talent.
Right now, he was ahead, but he knew better than anyone that this lead was only temporary.
But what if Jamie became her teacher?
It’d be over in an instant.
He didn’t want to go through that bitter experience again.
So if she learned it, he would too!
That was why Lennon had followed Jamie.
Of course, the choice was Jamie’s. Lennon looked at him with a tense expression.
Jamie scratched his raised chin with his finger, putting on an arrogant face.
“Disciple, huh...”
Lennon had talent.
Though his twisted personality had nearly buried it, now that he’d come to his senses, he had reached a considerable level for a nine-year-old.
Taking him as a disciple would be rewarding to raise.
Since he’d already half-decided to take Ann as one, adding one more wouldn’t be an issue.
And with Lennon, he could handle him a bit more roughly, which might even help relieve some stress(?).
But the problem was his father, the Simon Count.
Jamie made his decision.
“This isn’t for me to decide.”
“Huh?”
“Go get permission from the count first. You’re leaving your family, and the count is your magic teacher. Taking you under my wing would be no different from disrespecting him. Honestly, haven’t you ever thought that even this conversation is an insult to him?”
“Th-that’s...”
Lennon couldn’t respond.
Because Jamie was absolutely right.
Blinded by jealousy, he had acted emotionally. Without realizing it was tarnishing his father, the Simon Count’s, reputation.
“I’ll get permission from Father and come back. Please wait.”
Lennon said that and left the spot.
What a funny guy.
He wasn’t even saying he’d give up.
He really didn’t want to fall behind Ann.
“The count’s teachings should be more than enough. But teaching is another matter altogether.”
The Simon Count was an incredible mage, but he had never taken a disciple in his life.
It wasn’t certain, but Lennon was probably his first. Jamie doubted such a man knew how to teach well.
“I should head back and think about how to teach him.”
Jamie returned straight to his lodgings.
Lennon looked up at the five-story building with a tense face. The entire structure was the Simon Count’s laboratory.
They called it a lab, but he’d heard that the mages following the count lived and ate here.
He had come here after Jamie told him to get permission, but his feet wouldn’t move easily.
What if he doesn’t allow it?
Permission wasn’t the issue.
He might get angry. Call him ungrateful and disown him from the family.
All of this was an overactive imagination, but to Lennon, the Simon Count was such an existence. A god who could do anything!
But he wanted to learn Jamie’s Mana Breathing Method. It wasn’t just because he hated falling behind Ann; he was excited by how it differed entirely from conventional mana breathing methods.
Just mastering it would undoubtedly accelerate his growth.
Would he really disown me?
No.
He was his son, after all. One of only two.
Surely... with two, maybe he thought one could be spared? But he was better than his older brother Alf, so he wouldn’t be discarded.
But the Simon Count was a man who could ruthlessly cast him out if he deemed this request crossed the line.
As wild delusions chained together, his eyes started spinning.
“What brings you all the way here?”
At that moment, a very familiar voice—one that required mental preparation—came from behind.
Lennon flinched and slowly turned around.
There stood a red-haired middle-aged man who looked like he was covered in blood.
“F-Father.”
It was the Simon Count.
He asked his second son, who had unexpectedly shown up here.
“I ask again: what brings you all the way here?”
The count didn’t like repeating himself.
Lennon knew that, but he was too flustered to answer the first question immediately.
He hurriedly opened his mouth and explained the reason.
“I-I came because I have a request to make.”
“A request?”
“Y-Yes...”
Lennon always shrank in front of his father.
The Simon Count didn’t like seeing his son like that, but knowing why, he didn’t point it out.
“Follow me.”
The Simon Count walked past Lennon into the building.
Lennon watched his father go ahead and slowly followed behind.
The Simon Count held no positions in the mage world except for elder.
There were various reasons, but the biggest was that he didn’t want to be tied down here.
In truth, he’d have abandoned the elder role too if he could.
He was only holding it reluctantly because of the king’s orders.
“Welcome back, Count. And this must be your son.”
As the Simon Count headed to the top floor, a mage approached. He greeted the count politely, then smiled at the boy following behind.
The count called the mage’s name.
“Mion. Bring tea to my office.”
“...I’m not a servant.”
“If you don’t like it, you can leave my lab.”
“I’ll bring it right away.”
The mage called Mion grimaced and headed to the kitchen.
The count watched his back, then asked Lennon.
“What do you sense from that guy?”
“...He looks young, but his level is high.”
“He just turned thirty this year. Fifth class. And sixth is right around the corner.”
Thirty, on the verge of sixth class.
Lennon’s eyes widened. He himself was third class at nine, but from here on, progress became seriously stagnant.
He’d stay at third class for quite a while, and even reaching fifth might take him longer than this Mion fellow.
Yet he’d grown up hearing he was a genius. How much of a genius was this Mion?
“But the world mocks that talent as nothing special. Even among the Seven Elders, some are around his age.”
Mion’s talent was extraordinary, but Siegfried was already an elder in the mage leadership.
Mion’s impressive talent suddenly felt insignificant.
“And Jamie Welton makes even that Siegfried seem like nothing.”
“...”
“Do you understand what I’m getting at?”
“Yes.”
The Simon Count continued as he climbed the stairs.
“I can guess why you came. I won’t tell you not to covet greater talent than yours. I’m the type who believes jealousy and inferiority complexes make humans stronger. I’ve lived with that mindset myself. However.”
Pausing once, the count turned to his son and said.
“Don’t become consumed by it. Otherwise, you’ll just turn into a worthless monster.”
“...In my class, there’s a kid who understands things I’ve only seen once with ease.”
The word ‘kid’ didn’t sit well on his tongue, but he couldn’t say ‘that guy’ in front of the count.
“At the academy, which I thought was worthless, seeing talent surpassing mine makes my chest tighten. I’m still ahead for now, but imagining the moment she catches up keeps me awake at night. I want to win somehow. I want her to be so far ahead that she can’t even chase my tail.”
The count was slightly surprised by Lennon’s demeanor.
Excluding the fear he always showed toward him, the boy never revealed other emotions.
Even during the brief family training, Lennon trained silently. Never complaining no matter how hard, clinging desperately to magic.
He knew why. It wasn’t personal ambition; he just wanted to look good to his father.
But now?
He’s expressing emotions in front of me.
It meant the kid Lennon spoke of was that remarkable.
A smile tugged at his lips unconsciously.
The Simon Count chuckled softly and turned his head forward again.
They had arrived at the office. He sat in the head seat and gestured to the opposite one for his son.
“Sit. So, what’s the reason you came?”
“Well... it’s not anything major, but...”
“Speak like a man.”
At the count’s firm voice, Lennon gathered courage and looked straight at his father.
He had never met his gaze like this before.
It took tremendous courage for Lennon. He clenched his jaw, gritted his teeth, took a deep breath.
And spoke.
“I want to learn magic from Teacher Jamie Welton. I came because I thought I should get your permission first.”
Upon hearing that, the Simon Count’s expression hardened menacingly.
“Black. Do you think the Simon Count will permit it?”
Kreek—
Jamie had summoned Black to systematize the incantation for the Full Body Breathing Method he had improved.
Maintaining the Full Body Breathing Method while moving freely was possible only because of Black.
No one else could sustain this method.
Unless they had a familiar on Black’s level, which was impossible to create with human power now.
If one existed, it would have been made by a dragon or high elf.
“You think he won’t? Why?”
Kikik!
“Too cold-blooded? Treats even his son without mercy or tears?”
Kreek!
“He might even strike him from the family register if he’s lucky?”
Jamie burst out laughing at Black’s words.
The guy must have seen the Simon Count from long ago as pretty ruthless.
Still, he’d been quite gentlemanly in front of them.
Kreek—
“That feels even more elitist?”
Kind to humans on his level, but mercilessly discarding those he deemed inferior.
Jamie somewhat agreed with Black’s assessment.
“But I think differently.”
Kyaek?
“He’ll probably permit it.”
He couldn’t be certain.
The Simon Count was a hard man to analyze. But he had listened to Jamie and taught Lennon.
And even pushed for the mage world exchange program. Because he saw potential in his second son.
“Like you said, he’s a twisted elitist, but that’s exactly why he has no choice but to permit it.”
Kreek—!
Black nodded vigorously as if understanding.
“Right? He’s a family-first supremacist. His pride might be hurt by Lennon’s request, but if it makes Lennon worthy of leading the house, he’ll be satisfied.”
So Lennon would return with the Simon Count’s permission.
Or else.