Chapter 19
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Talent
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Scene 019 Talent
Mondri looked at me with a horrified expression.
H-How do you know that name, Count?
Knowing Myohails identity meant knowing the Cremont familys secret.
But Myohails expression didnt change in the slightest.
Heh heh. I never imagined someone from the secular world who remembered the name I used back then would still be around.
The Cremont family, the oldest among the empires seven great magical noble houses.
Myohail was its first head and the legendary mage who was the very first to receive the title of Sage.
Having become a spirit beast, he was still enjoying life to this day.
But its been ages since I discarded the name Cremont. The imperial family wanted to put this old man in the university presidents seat, but it was such a hassle that I dumped it all on this worthless disciple of mine.
Master! Dont say it like that! Im hurt!
Mondri bristled at those words.
Why not? Werent both the Cremont head and university president positions ones you wanted?
I earned both through my own abilities!
You little fledgling! Did you end up becoming a Sage or not?
Well, no, but
Myohail clicked his tongue.
Tsk tsk I can tell at a glance. Youve gotten a bit older and dont even do your magical training anymore, do you?
Pardon? Oh, no, for someone of my rank, doing magical training is a bit
Hey now! Magic dulls the less you use it! Thats why I couldnt help handing over the Cremont head position, but I even tried to give the presidents seat to Millium.
An unexpected name popped up.
That guy who couldnt even use a single spell as university president! On top of that, he was younger and far less experienced than me!
Hmph. That boy was my prized disciple too. Are you saying my eyes were wrong?
Master! Thats not what I mean!
Millium was Myohails disciple?
This was news to me.
Since Millium didnt appear in the original story, there was a lot of information even I didnt know.
And that boy had a better eye for people than you.
Huh?
If it had been him, he wouldve selected students without needing useless magical tools like that.
At this point, I almost felt sorry for Mondri.
The sight of a white-haired old man cowering before a cat was utterly bizarre.
Myohail clicked his tongue.
Tsk But dont worry. Even if we went back to that time, I still wouldve handed the presidents seat to you.
Huh?
That boy had a big problem
Myohail slowly approached me.
Millium judged the world by value alone. He was efficient and never took a loss. But there were no emotions in it. He was like an empty shell.
Pumpkin-colored eyes stared intently at me.
They gleamed like those of a wild beast.
Isnt that right? Count. No, son of Millium.
Myohails long mustache twitched.
He was probing me.
Having lived over a thousand years in both human and cat form, his animal instincts were sharply sensitive beyond imagination.
He could read even the faint fragments of emotions with his senses alone.
But I had no intention of showing even a hint of agitation to Myohail.
Likewise, my trait Pride wouldnt allow it.
Trait: Pride
Rank: SS
Details: You are superior to anyone else. You are the greatest.
Thus, you never show any openings, no matter the time or situation. Even when your life is on the line, you never bend your pride.
This trait shines even more against those stronger than you.
You can remain the greatest in this world right up until the moment of your ruin.
This trait is one of the seven deadly sins.
You are using Pride!
Thump.
How dare.
A displeased emotion welled up.
A suffocating tightness, like I was being strangled.
You.
I met Myohails sharp gaze head-on.
The legendary mage and Sage.
Even if he saw through my identity, I wouldnt care.
I wouldnt teach him a thing.
He was older than me.
He was inferior to me.
He was lesser than me.
He wouldnt dare do anything to me.
You are using Patience!
Your Pride is suppressed by Patience.
Easing on the brakes with Patience, I said,
Is this part of the test you mentioned?
Oh? Well, well My apologies. This old cat sometimes stares off into space blankly Heh heh heh.
Myohail stroked his mustache with his cat paw.
Then, as if he knew nothing, he shamelessly changed the subject.
Heh heh. The examination will be done by me and Mondri. Probably no other panel this luxurious exists, right?
Do as you like. Wendy.
Y-Yes!
I slowly approached Wendy.
Up until then, her big eyes hadnt avoided mine.
If you fail, Ill kick you out.
Eek?!
Are you not confident?
C-Can I be honest, sir?
....
.
Isnt the very fact that youre asking that mean you lack confidence?
Youre right This school is for all the high nobles Someone like me doesnt belong here at all
Wendy sniffled.
Sniff Im so inadequate to serve you up close I make so many mistakes And I cry all the time like this Sniffle.
Saying that, Wendy hung her head low.
I already knew.
Character Profile.
Name: Wendy.
Age: 12.
Occupation: Exclusive maid of the Ruelverta Count family.
Traits: Crybaby, Klutz, Frail, Misfortune
A truly pitiful set of traits.
A crybaby klutz whos frail and misfortune-prone maid.
A girl with absolutely no redeeming qualities.
On top of that, a walking death flag for me.
But the reason I made her my exclusive maid wasnt just to keep her by my side and protect her from dying.
It was a waste.
Wendy was too valuable a character to treat as a mere discard card.
The original author Sora had once told me,
-Every character in a story exists for a reason. There are no characters without a reason.
Right. I agree with that.
Thats why I loved this story so much.
Because there are no characters to throw away.
Even Tristan was an indispensable villain in the story.
Wendy
Y-Yes. Sniff
She might look like a useless character hidden by her traits, but Wendy was a named character too.
She had traits for a reason.
She was alive for a reason.
Thats what I believe.
Dont act spoiled.
Sniff!
How did you climb the Stairway of Truth earlier?
T-That was because you helped me, Count
Wrong. You climbed it with your own two feet.
B-Before you grabbed me, I couldnt even stand up! Im such a scaredy-cat crybaby
I sighed.
Recalling a line Id once said to her.
You cry at the drop of a hat, youre always sickly, skin and bones with no strength, tripping all the time and breaking plates left and right.
Sniff Im sorry
But even then, without me picking you up every time, didnt you always stand back up on your own?
Y-Yes?
Thats your talent, Wendy.
99
Silence followed.
At last, Wendy spoke in a trembling voice.
All I can do is that much?
I know.
A-All I can do is that one thing?
Yeah. Thats fine.
R-Really? Is that really okay?
I wont say it twice.
Sniff Heh heh heh heh
Wendy laughed, her face a mess of tears and snot.
She wiped her tears with her coat collar and said,
I-If you say so, Count, then it must be true
And with a smile Id never seen before, she said,
I-I believe in you, Count!
Do as you like.
Yes!
-nya -nya
Uh oh
At that moment, Myohail slipped between us, chucklingI had no idea when hed shown up.
Little miss, are you ready?
Yes!
Full of energy, I see. And with the Count here too, let me explain the exam. The special exam is
Myohails eyes curved like crescent moons.
To compete directly with that one. Heh heh heh.