Kleio Asel registered at age 17 (1)
“No, I won’t run away even if you don’t use magic.”
“Oh, stay still. [I wish our words were an old secret!]”
The magic formula [Soundproofing][Shielding] enveloped Kleio and Dione, illuminating the room. Behemoth scratched his stomach with his hind legs and looked at the magic circle.
“Meeeoooow (Talking about some great national affairs?)”
Inside the magic shield, Dione shouted.
“Are you now on Prince Arthur’s side? Are you completely determined?!”
“How did you…”
“The three princes are rushing about, but I didn’t know why.”
Kleio lost his words as he looked away, but Dione jokingly bumped her head against his.
“What are you looking lost for? I didn’t say I was against it.”
While the gesture was cute, it felt quite painful. Kleio rubbed his tingling forehead. He couldn’t hide it from his partner Dione.
“You know better than me, but it’s a dangerous road, to be frank. The third prince lacks power and wealth. And so far, there is no justification.”
“I hate politics, so I jump in with the biggest fish. Do you know that your words and actions are out of sync?”
“…There are times when that will happen. I’m not very happy either.”
“Well, was there anyone who thought Phillipe would be king twenty-seven years ago?”
“…I always think it, but you have a bold attitude, Lady Dione.”
“You have to walk big to win big. Besides, I have something to believe in.”
“Something to believe in?”
Instead of answering, Dione let go of his hands, causing Kleio to slam back onto the floor. Then, she grabbed his right hand and held it tightly. Dione pushed in her ether and confirmed the shape of the rectangle that was now clear on the back of Kleio’s hand.
“This. Is this related to your prediction? You used the expression ‘until now’ a little while ago. If so, does that mean justice doesn’t exist now but will in the future?”
‘Why is everyone so keen? Digging out ten words from one thing, I said… ugh.’
It was a different guess from reality, but he had to nod. Because in the current situation, that was the only convincing explanation.
“Wow, my business partner is a prophet. There’s no one more reliable.”
“It’s not that you can know the future for sure. There are many times when the details are wrong, or the result is different.”
“If you knew everything, what fun would that be?!”
She turned off the magic formula. Dione, retreating away, continued to talk as he was recovering.
“So, how would you like to respond to the gift?”
“For now, I have to write a thank you letter. As formal as possible.”
“And your father?”
“Will you tell him about this?”
“There are many people in the mansion who know how to contact him even if I don’t. Telegrams go quickly.”
“Then, say I received it without knowing what it is.”
“That means you have no countermeasure!”
“Let’s say it’s a flexible plan.”
***
The clock tower amidst the dense forest, the dorm built on the riverside… returning to the school after two months made it look new.
Ding-Ding- Ding-
The bell rang in the distance, the same as it had the first day he woke up in this world. Now he knew the bell was a specialty of Lundane. The school’s clock tower bell was made of magic ore that made its ring sound clear even from far away.
‘I kind of missed it…’
So much had happened during vacation that it seemed like two years had passed instead of two months. When the door of the carriage opened in front of the dorm, Behemoth jumped down and vanished into the forest to inspect his territory that had been neglected. Kleio hurried to his room, moved his safe into his closet, and left the wine in his suitcase. After that, he asked Dean Zebedee for a meeting. Now he had to be in the same grade as Arthur. The dean showed regret, but he also seemed joyous at having a student who achieved level 3 during the summer vacation. It was already dinner when he left the dean’s office. The dormitory restaurant was already busy with the students who didn’t leave for home, so he took a corner seat and ate a bowl of warm beef stew.
‘It feels like it’s been a while since I ate here.’
The mansion’s colorful food was delicious, but the stew served at the cafeteria had a unique and simple taste. Eating about half the stew, he opened up the evening newspaper that the dormitory servant had brought him. His hands stopped after the newspaper opened, the spoon falling out of his hand.
‘!!!’
-Announcement of the construction plan for the railway extension linking the city of Dubris and the capital-
-East of Lundane, a new terminal will be constructed in the Orails district-
-Prince Melchior has decided to convert the royal estate into a train station-
-The business world raises welcoming voices-
Kleio’s eyes scanned the article with enough speed that the paper might tear apart. His concentration didn’t last long, however, as tiny hands pulled at his hair.
“Kleio, you look like an uncle.”
“Mister.”
“Why read the newspaper while eating?”
“Father does as well, but Kleio is still only seventeen.”
It was the twins, Lippi and Leticia. The two girls placed their meals down beside Kleio’s and poked at him.
‘While it’s true that I’m indeed an uncle to you, but…”
“You’ve said too much…”
“What’s that?”
Lippy grunted as she fixed the ivy leaf headdress she wore. Both sisters had nicely tanned skin and a fair bit of muscle in their arms.
‘Hey, I feel like I’ve gotten stronger, but these kids…’
“Did you have a good vacation?”
The two girls pouted at his question.
“How about you?”
“We only practiced swordsmanship.”
“School is better than at home.”
According to the manuscript, the Angellium family had a long history in the southwest. The twins, who appeared to have spent a busy vacation at home, expressed their honest feelings at the same time with a frown.
“Only Novantes was fun. We ate a lot of delicious things and didn’t practice swordsmanship.”
“Why did we even go back then?”
His chance to read the newspaper had passed. The twins already trapped Kleio.
“This work is urgent… Guys, let’s finish eating, then we’ll talk.”
“Yes.”
“Yes. Well, I see.”
“Now that we’re in school, we won’t be able to get out of it.”
Only then did the twins begin to eat their stew. They had excellent posture as they ate, their backs kept upright, and their movements smooth. Indeed, they had received some rigorous education.
“Why do you talk to me so much? I haven’t done anything for you…”
“You’re magical.”
“The [Wind] magic formula that time was the most powerful level 2 magic I’ve ever seen in my thirteen years!”
“Strong is cool.”
“It’s great.”
“That’s the only reason?”
Kleio’s shoulders drooped as the twins continued to eat, disregarding his feelings.
“The only thing Angellium cares about is that the strongest child should be the successors. For them, strength is the most important value.”
Cel laughed as she placed her tray across from him.
“Why do you think your complexion has grown worse?”
“The vacation was so long, wasn’t it?”
“Hey, if you had so much time to buy land, you should’ve gotten some sun.”
“The news has arrived fast.”
Cel reached out over her tray and pointed to the headline on the folded newspaper.
“Fast. Now, is there anyone in the capital who doesn’t know the news of the train station? Even I have to act as a messenger now.”
“A messenger?”
“My mother wants to see you.”
“Really?”
“There’s no reason to lie. Why are you laughing?”
“Because it’s news that I like.”
Kleio had a happy smile on his face. Cel, her arms folded arrogantly across the table, felt like an angel who came to deliver him.
“Do you know what the news is?”
“I think your mother will only have one thing to say to me.”
Cel’s eyes narrowed as she observed him. Seeing Kleio, who remained proud under her measured gaze, she finally gave up and let out a laugh.
“Hah, I couldn’t believe it when my mom said she found the real owner of the Orails site… To think that behind that face hid such skill… You are clearly an Asel.”
He asked Dione to hide who bought the land as much as possible, but it would’ve been impossible to fool Katarina.
‘Not that I wanted to lie to or cheat Katarina.’
“Haha, say whatever you like. So, when is the meeting?”
“As soon as you’re ready.”
“Where will we meet?”
“I will tell you once you’ve accepted. My mother will contact you.”
“Don’t wait.”
Forgetting his stew, Kleio sipped at his red wine. After eating, the Angellium twins began to scream, asking him to demonstrate his magic formula and his circle.
“Can’t you use the [Wind] from the final exam once more?’
“Originally, we wanted you to in Novantes!”
The olive-colored eyes of the two girls sparkled in anticipation. Now it turned out that they had sought him out just because of that.
‘What are these kids, really…’
He was now a level 4 wizard. [Wind] and [Floating] weren’t difficult to use, considering they took only half his magic slots.
“Well, that’s it. Shall we go to the training center after we finish eating?”
“Wow!”
“Woahhh!”
“You’re the best!”
‘It’s like that!’
Because of Katarina reaching out to him, Kleio’s heart had widened. The two girls walked around Kleio, wriggling as their braided hair fluttered behind them. Kleio was in a relaxed yet odd mood as he moved with them.
“Good?”
“It’s good.”
“There weren’t any wizards at our estate. It’s amazing.”
“Thank you!”
“Thanks!”
The girls were so cute Kleio’s mental walls shattered.
‘What… these two kids are too cute. I haven’t even been married, but it’s funny how well we get along.’
Kleio brought forth his circle to lift the twins’ bodies. Their laughter didn’t cease until late into the night.
***
The first class of the second semester was Magic Basics II.
“Did you all have a good vacation?”
The students sitting in the front row, like the Angellium twins and Isiel, returned quick answers, but the students in the back row did not. That was Arthur, Kleio, Nebo, etc. Kleio, who had been dragged around by the twins just before bedtime last night, was nodding off without answering. Sitting right next to Kleio, Arthur was breathing regularly as his head was resting on the desk. Professor Zebedee clicked his tongue.
“The guys in the back row are lazy. I bet you haven’t taken a single look at magic formulas throughout the vacation.”
Zebedee showed off his displeasure, gearing up to give them a huge amount of work.
“No, sir. Please don’t give us any surprise assignments.”
Nebo, his own eyes half-closed, begged him loudly.
“You want to do more assignments?”
“Eh-.”
“First of all, before the start of class, I would like to introduce the students who will study with you this semester. If you don’t practice properly, they might surpass you. Wake up, Francis Gabriel Hyde-Wight!”
‘What? Francis?’
Kleio suddenly came to, at the name that he could remember, causing his textbook he was using as a pillow to fall over.
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