Chapter 20
After clearing away the broken teacup on the floor, Erciel brought the tea again.
Taking a sip of black tea, she looked at my hand.
Whirrr!
“Surely, my power has strengthened.”
The power, casting speed, and the amount of mana used in the magic were all enhanced.
Given the numerous pathways I had pierced through, everything felt significantly different from yesterday.
If it were in Korea, this would have been unimaginable.
Even if I came across a miraculous elixir, the best it could do would be something like ginseng, and consuming it wouldn’t lead to effects as astonishing as this.
So this must be why the people here are so eager to find elixirs.
Huf.
Even the bitter black tea felt sweet, given the results I was experiencing.
***
Could it be because of the two hundred survivors?
The rumors about what happened to the hunting squad that returned in tatters spread quickly within a day.
People who heard the rumors mourned for the baron, knights, and soldiers who valiantly fought against the Twin-Headed Ogre.
And then,
Even though such a monster appeared, they began to praise me for confronting it without retreating even a step.
“I had heard things had changed, but I didn’t realize it was true.”
This reaction alone was remarkable.
“It must be true that the Fourth Prince has really turned over a new leaf. If it were his original disposition, the soldiers wouldn’t be praising him like this.”
“By the way, I heard the Fourth Prince’s magic skills have truly reached the heavens. He’s really overcome Hermemu and is becoming a mage known throughout the empire.”
Responses like these were rising with each passing moment.
Thanks to this hunting squad, my reputation was skyrocketing.
In reality, it might have been expected.
The numerous feats I displayed were simply unbelievable for a mere first-circle mage.
A first-circle mage is essentially a novice.
It felt like I was a newly hatched chick that had just taken its first step into the field of magic.
For such a chick to perform like an eagle, it was only natural for expectations to soar.
Theory is far less important than practical experience.
No matter how high the circle, if one cannot demonstrate their abilities in real combat, they are no different from a flower in a greenhouse.
However, I had proven my practical skills during this hunting squad.
My achievements were sufficient to warrant the title of a pure combat mage.
Perhaps they saw in me the shadow of a magical genius with a promising future.
In fact, every time I passed by the annex, the gazes of the attendants were markedly different from before.
Whereas they previously regarded me with merely positive feelings about the changes, the glances directed at me now contained a growing sense of awe.
That must be why they looked at me like that.
Is it finally time for this rascal to be treated as a human being and even receive respect?
Despite such a change in reputation, my daily life remained the same.
Exercise, meals, and the study of magic books.
I never skipped those three.
After finishing my routine, as I returned to the annex, Erciel approached me.
“Young Master.”
“Yeah?”
“Lord Abel has come to visit.”
“…My big brother?”
“Yes. He’s currently waiting in the room.”
“Okay. Got it.”
As I opened the door,
Abel Seltarion.
The thirteen letters of this name came into view.
Perhaps because he was an expert-level knight, what appeared above his head were only his name and favorability level.
To my surprise, Abel’s favorability level was not low.
0.
To put it simply, it was a neutral state.
“Big brother?”
“Oh, Kyle! It’s been quite a while since I last saw you. I heard you went out, so I was waiting.”
“Did you wait long?”
“No, it was just about thirty minutes. The tea is quite delicious. You have a good maid. Thanks to this tea, I lost track of time.”
Thirty minutes is quite a long time, to be fair.
Looking at Abel’s smiling face, he didn’t seem to think it was long at all.
“I’m sorry for making you wait. But what brings you here?”
“Ah, I wanted to see your face after such a long time. I heard you made a significant contribution during the subjugation forces. So I got curious.”
Curious, huh.
Is my performance enough to spark his curiosity?
I thought I should at least talk to him.
“Would you like some more tea?”
“Ah, I’d love to. It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, and I’m sure there’s a lot to discuss.”
With that, Erciel poured the tea in front of me and Abel. As Abel blew on his tea before taking a sip, he looked at me.
“Kyle.”
“Yes, big brother.”
“To be honest, this is a bit difficult to say…”
Abel scratched the back of his head.
“The reason I came to visit isn’t purely because I wanted to see you. Of course, I can’t say I didn’t have that thought at all, but more than that, I wanted to know about you, the magician.”
What an honest man.
To admit he came to find not Kyle the person, but Kyle the magician.
“… So I’m a bit sorry about that. We’re practically like brothers, after all. But I felt I needed to speak frankly. Since it’s been so long since I last visited… I thought you might understand somewhat.”
Sorry? For what?
Just the fact that he don’t have a negative affection for this scoundrel is enough to be considered a good thing.
If I put myself in his shoes, if I had a scoundrel like Kyle as a younger brother, all affection would have flown out the window. Naturally, my feelings would have plummeted into negative figures.
“It’s fine. I understand that you’re quite busy right now, big brother.”
“No, even if I’m busy, it’s only right to come and visit at least once. On my way to find you today, I realized that I’m quite a materialistic person. If your news hadn’t spread, I wouldn’t have come at all.”
It’s better to be this straightforward.
Adolf.
That guy was just too much of a snake.
Abel and Adolf.
While Adolf might be more capable, if I had to choose, I’d naturally prefer the former. At least this guy wouldn’t stab me in the back.
“My conduct until now hasn’t been very good. I understand that. By the way, may I ask what your business is?”
“I wanted to talk with you.”
“What kind of talk?”
At my question, Abel’s expression hardened.
“Honestly, I’m a bit worried.”
“Worried… about what?”
“… About Adolf. He’s my brother, but I don’t know anything about his thoughts. Sometimes, when I look into his eyes, I get a chilling feeling.”
That was quite an unexpected topic.
I thought he might try to win me over, but I never expected him to bring up his grievances about Adolf right away.
Adolf.
That guy is more powerful than Abel, and he has built a solid power base as well.
He could currently be seen as a strong competitor.
From the imperial palace to the nobility of the empire.
When selecting a successor, they didn’t always choose the eldest son.
“Considering history, that’s actually quite natural.”
The history of the Alton Empire.
When the first humans gathered to form a nation, there were records that their forces were quite weak, suffering invasions from various monsters and races.
In unstable times, the most important virtue required is—
“Ability.”
During a period when survival was regarded as the highest virtue, personal traits such as kindness or disposition were set aside; what mattered most was the capability of the individual who was chosen as the leader. This mindset has been passed down since the era of empires. While it is typical to select the eldest son as the successor, if there exists a more competent younger sibling, that sibling may be chosen as the heir instead.
“Unfortunately, I am not one of them.”
If I had entered this chaotic world three years earlier in this reckless body, there would have been a chance. But now, it’s honestly too late; only about two months remain until the succession ceremony.
It would be much more efficient to support Abel and gather various resources to build my own power. I couldn’t tell whether I was hesitating to voice my concerns about the succession because I feared the threat posed by that other individual or because I sensed something ominous about him.
Meanwhile, Abel, who had been silently observing my face, gave a bitter smile.
“I might come off as an unworthy brother trying to undermine my younger sibling. But… it’s true. I have nothing else to say, as I genuinely feel this way.”
His serious tone suggested he might genuinely perceive something unsettling about Adolf.
“…Is that so?”
“I think so. Every time I see him, I get an ominous feeling.”
Abel’s instincts were sharper than I had anticipated.
What should I do? I pondered briefly whether to mention that Adolf is actually a villain, but decided against it.
“That would be premature.”
Making unfounded accusations against someone who seems fine isn’t a good strategy. Besides, if my words were to reach Adolf’s ears, he would never let me off the hook.
Thus, keeping my suspicions to myself was the best course of action. After all, there would surely be an opportunity to bring him down if I just waited.
I thought it would be best to dance around the topic a bit.
“…It is true that our second brother’s temperament is somewhat ruthless.”
At my words, Abel’s eyes widened in surprise.
“…You knew that?”
“I felt it a few times when I was younger. Childhood memories tend to be vivid, don’t they? That’s why I said so.”
“I see… So that’s how it was.”
A silence enveloped us for a moment. Abel, lost in thought, slowly began to speak again.
“Kyle. I heard you are a promising magician. Can you lend me your strength?”
“Strength?”
His direct approach to scouting was rather blunt.
At my response, Abel’s expression turned serious.
After a brief moment of contemplation, he began to speak with a firm resolve.
“…Kyle. I possess a peculiar ability.”
“…Excuse me?”
“…For reasons unknown, before any bad incidents occur, an ominous feeling always stirs within me, as if it’s a warning. Even now, that feeling is growing stronger by the day. It might sound absurd, but… it’s true.”
With that, Abel locked his gaze on mine.
“…If you help me, I believe it could be a tremendous asset. I have a gut feeling about it, which is why I brought this up.”
“No way.”
I stiffened at his words.
The fact that he was sensing something ominous about the villain who was hiding his true strength, along with his sudden expression of intuition, was—
“Does he have some talent related to intuition?”
Intuition.
It is a talent akin to a sixth sense.
In simple terms, it can be regarded as a form of supernatural ability. If he has a high-level talent related to that, his reaction would make sense.
I tilted my head slightly, observing Abel.
In “Fantasy Defense,” Abel did not possess any talent related to intuition.
If he had, I would have known about it long ago.
It must have been mentioned at least once in the community where users gather.
“Could this be a change brought about by the merging of reality and the game?”
Well, worrying about it right now won’t yield any answers.
I needed to think about how to respond.
My decision came quickly.
I did intend to assist Abel eventually, but not at this moment. Taking action now could invite Adolf’s wrath.
“It’s difficult to give you a definitive answer right now. It’s been quite a while since I last met you brother, and the second brother has made a similar proposal, so it’s not a decision I can make on the spot.”
If I were to help, it would have to be done discreetly.
And I needed to ensure my value was appraised at its highest.
For now, navigating between both sides and increasing my worth would be the best option.
—
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