Book 1 Chapter 3
【3】2
“Oh, how wonderful would it be if the renowned Heroic Families visited our home!”
“Our house has already finished preparing a party for them!”
The students of Dellan showed excited reactions after class.
Starting today, the candidates from Rumerne Academy will begin their visit to Dellan.
The nobles of the Dellard Kingdom were desperate to host people from the Heroic Families in their homes.
Heroic Families.
It is an honorable title given to the greatest families who have produced heroes for generations.
Naturally, their chances of entering Rumerne were also high.
“Gulliver. Among the Heroic Families visiting our country this time, which one do you think has the highest reputation?”
“Hmph, of course, it’s the Gerdinger family.”
At Gulliver’s words, his friends began to chatter.
“The Gerdinger family will surely visit the Traden family, right?”
“Of course! Gulliver is the only talent in our country capable of taking the Rumerne entrance exam, isn’t he?”
Gulliver puffed out his chest, watching his friends fuss over him.
“Hoo… I’m already looking forward to discussing heroes with the people of Gerdinger, you know?”
“Kuhh! Hey! I’m so jealous! So jealous!”
“Gulliver! Can I come to your house later?”
“Why not?”
“Ohh! Thank you!”
“Gulliver! What are friends for? Me too!”
Gulliver Traden.
As the heir to the Marquis of Traden, he was called Dellard’s greatest magical genius.
At the age of fifteen, he was a 2nd Circle mage.
It was rumored that he was a talent who would enter Rumerne.
It had been 20 years since the Dellard Kingdom last produced a Rumerne entrant.
Because of this, the kingdom was paying attention to Gulliver.
While everyone was excited.
A student by the window gasped and shouted.
“Hey, everyone! Isn’t that the Gerdinger family flag?”
“Huh? Where? Where?”
“They’re already here?”
Students rushed to the window.
Meanwhile, Leo left the classroom as if uninterested.
Then he met eyes with Gulliver’s group who were about to leave the classroom.
“Hmph! Are you going to go impress them now? The Gerdinger family people wouldn’t be interested in someone like you, would they?”
Gulliver sneered at Leo.
Gulliver was a student regarded as the top honor student in all aspects.
Nevertheless, Gulliver was envious of Leo.
Because there was one class where he could never beat Leo.
That was combat class.
The professors blatantly favored Gulliver, so they didn't pit Leo and Gulliver against each other in practical exams, but the outcome was obvious.
Leo replied indifferently.
“I’m going home.”
“Hmph, you know your place well.”
“Yeah. Go wag your tail to the Gerdinger family as much as you want.”
“Don’t speak so carelessly. I’m just going to check on Celia Gerdinger as a competitor.”
Sparks flew from Gulliver’s eyes.
It was then that a chilling atmosphere flowed between the two.
[Announcement from the faculty office. All students are requested to gather in the banquet hall immediately. No exceptions.]
A magic broadcast echoed through the school.
The reason for the gathering was obvious.
It was to welcome the Gerdinger family.
‘This is why I tried to leave early.’
He grumbled inwardly.
Gulliver snorted and left the classroom.
The other students also rushed to the banquet hall.
Leo scratched his head and grumbled.
‘Oh, whatever. I’ll just skip it.’
“Huh? Leo, aren’t you going?”
“I’m going home.”
“What? It’s a rare chance to see people from the Gerdinger family?”
“I’m not interested.”
Watching Leo wave his hand and head in the opposite direction of the banquet hall, his classmate made a bewildered expression.
***
“It is an honor to have you visit, Lord Gis Gerdinger!”
Professor Jayden shouted with an flushed face.
The other students also looked at Gis with envious eyes.
“I’m overwhelmed by such a welcome.”
“This student is Gulliver Traden. He is taking the Rumerne Academy entrance exam this time!”
“Is that so? Coincidentally, my niece is also taking the entrance exam this time.”
The students’ gazes naturally turned to one place.
A girl standing with Gerdinger’s knights.
Celia Gerdinger.
The daughter of the Gerdinger family head.
She was a renowned sword princess not only in the Empire but across the world.
Celia straightened her shoulders at the students’ gazes.
Gulliver looked at Celia with a dazed expression.
‘Ah, she’s beautiful!’
Black hair and large ruby-like red eyes.
Her nose bridge was high, and her lips were red.
He had seen many noble daughters, but he had never seen a girl as beautiful as Celia.
“Celia, come here.”
At Gis’s words, Celia walked with confident strides.
And smiled sweetly at Gulliver.
“Are you also taking the entrance exam? Let’s do our best together.”
“Y-yes! Let’s have a good competition together. Hahahaha!”
Gulliver laughed confidently and extended his hand.
Celia stared at his hand.
Gis nudged her side with his elbow, and only then did she take his hand.
Gulliver grinned broadly.
“I will give you a leisurely tour of the school. Would you mind saying a few encouraging words to our students?”
“Huhu. I wonder if my words will be of much help.”
“Lord Gis Gerdinger’s words are of great help!”
He, known by the alias Flame Blade, was one of the few top knights in the Empire.
His heroic tales were known not only in the Empire but worldwide.
His words, from someone who was soon expected to receive the title of a hero, were immensely valuable.
“By the way, as for your stay…”
“We have already decided on a place to stay.”
“Oh, I see.”
Professor Jayden’s face clouded over.
“And about that.”
“Yes!”
“I would like to meet student Leo Plov.”
“Excuse me?”
Jayden showed a bewildered expression, and Gulliver’s eyes widened.
For a moment, he couldn't believe his ears.
‘How does he know Leo Plov?’
Gis didn't seem to know Gulliver, who was considered the top talent in the Dellard Kingdom.
But how could he know Leo?
“H-how do you know student Leo?”
“I heard from someone I know that he is an outstanding talent.”
“Lord Gis Gerdinger, perhaps you are mistaken?”
Gulliver slightly flared up when Leo’s name, whom he disliked, was mentioned.
“What do you mean I’m mistaken?”
“Leo Plov is my classmate. He’s certainly a brilliant student, but…”
Gulliver shook his head.
“He can’t even properly wield Aura.”
“Is that so?”
The officials of Dellan Royal School admired Gulliver for not being intimidated in front of Gis.
Gulliver also trembled with his own boldness.
‘Gis Gerdinger is listening to my opinion!’
Believing Gis’s nod to be an affirmation, Gulliver wore a proud expression.
But the Gerdinger people sneered at Gulliver.
Gis was in charge of guiding the blood relatives in the family.
Even the family head respected Gis’s opinion when discussing the children’s aptitudes.
So it was simply preposterous for a greenhorn, whose head hadn't even dried yet, to make disparaging remarks about someone as an opinion.
“So, where is Leo Plov?”
Gis asked again, not even glancing at Gulliver.
Gulliver was flustered, and Jayden hastily said.
“Student Leo Plov! Come forward!”
“…”
“Student Leo?”
A student cautiously raised their hand.
“Professor, Leo already went home by carriage earlier?”
“W-what did you say?”
Jayden’s mouth dropped open.
“Didn’t I clearly say all students should gather?”
“Well… he said he wasn’t interested in the Gerdinger family…”
The students murmured.
Celia made a bewildered expression.
Gis smiled gently.
‘As expected of my sister’s son.’
***
Having completed their schedule at Dellan Royal School, Gis and Celia boarded the carriage.
Those who came to see them off flinched at the sight of the carriage they were getting into.
‘A-a griffin?’
A carriage pulled by a mythical beast!
As people gasped in amazement, the carriage departed.
“Ah, where on earth will they be staying?”
“I’m so jealous, so jealous.”
While the students muttered.
Gulliver clenched his fists, watching the departing Gerdinger family.
‘If I enter Rumerne, I’ll study with girls like that!’
Indeed, it was a place fitting for a talented person like himself.
Confident, Gulliver’s eyes shone.
‘The entrance exam in a week! I’ll definitely pass it!’
Meanwhile.
Inside the griffin carriage, Gis asked.
“How were the students at Dellan Royal School?”
“They were a mess.”
Celia showed a disappointed expression.
For a short time, she listened to the heroics taught at Dellan Royal School.
To put it simply, it wasn't worth listening to.
Regardless of country or race.
Heroics, the study of past heroes, is a very important discipline for those aspiring to be heroes.
But the content of Dellan Royal School’s classes was all nonsense.
“And that Gulliver? He didn’t know his place and dared to argue with you, Uncle.”
“The family we are visiting now will be a little different.”
“You said it was the Plov family, right?”
Celia recalled what happened earlier.
Someone who had left earlier had supposedly said they weren’t interested in the Gerdinger family.
‘Hmph. What an arrogant fellow.’
Celia, who had an extraordinary sense of pride in her family, didn't like that attitude.
‘Besides, he seems to be aiming for the Knightry department, but he can’t even wield Aura at that age?’
Celia found no interest in Leo whatsoever.
She had no idea that the place they were going to was her cousin’s home.
Meanwhile, Gis took out a letter from his pocket.
‘My sister, who would have held a key position if she hadn’t left the family.’
The current family head, Sheld Gerdinger.
And Gis, Reina.
The three siblings were considered the future of the family.
Though she left the family due to an unfortunate accident, Gis knew Reina’s skill well.
And this was the nephew whom such a sister evaluated as a ‘genius’.
Moreover…
‘He can’t wield Aura?’
Aura is essential for children from noble families aspiring to be knights.
They learn Aura from a young age.
But Leo was said to be unable to wield Aura.
‘I wonder what kind of child he will be.’
***
Evening.
Leo, left alone in the training ground, closed his eyes and concentrated.
His entire body was soaked in sweat from having just finished his training.
“Hoo.”
He exhaled deeply.
‘The vessel is complete.’
The reason he hadn’t learned Aura until now.
Partially, it was to keep pace with his mother’s lessons.
But the biggest reason was to create a vessel.
If only martial aptitude was considered, his current body was better than Kyle’s body in his previous life.
However, his aptitudes for other abilities like mages and summoners were almost zero.
That’s why he hadn’t recklessly learned Aura.
In his previous life, Kyle was a battle-hardened warrior, a mage who wielded powerful magic, and a sworn ally of spirits and mythical beasts.
One by one, two by two.
The reason the subjugation force did not collapse, even as friends breathed their last, was because Kyle, who had mastered all extraordinary abilities, was there.
‘I was able to fill their voids somehow.’
Just before the final battle.
Kyle, left alone, still held the essence of his comrades’ powers.
Their entrusted will and hope.
‘I couldn’t properly handle them in my previous life, but in this life, I will perfectly master them.’
The moment Aura is accepted into the body, the physique naturally specializes in Aura.
In doing so, the opportunity to accumulate magic power and spiritual power completely disappears.
That’s why he had been building the foundation.
To carry on the will of his comrades.
Leo clenched his fist tight.
‘First, it’s Aura!’