I was being treated by Aletus's household in a way that was a bit difficult to handle. Of course, they definitely treated me as Elysia's master. But sometimes, they'd bring cookies during our lessons and say something like, 'Here's the teacher's share, too.'
Of course, I wasn't offended at all and ate them happily. In reality, I'm ten years old; why would they treat me like some ninety-year-old madman obsessed with magic? I'd rather not be treated that way.
But it seemed I could no longer expect such service.
"Benefactor Jern, please wait in the drawing-room. I will inform the master and the young lady of your visit shortly."
"Ah, yes."
It was treatment beyond just being cordial. But refusing hospitality that I deserved would also be a nuisance. I acted naturally, without showing any discomfort.
As I followed the line of butlers to the drawing-room– with no time to wait, my Tide Sense caught something. Sighing, I moved slightly to the side just before the door opened.
"Jern-!! Huh?"
Bang!
The moment the door flew open, Elysia, who had charged in like a lion starved for three days, hugged the spot where I had been standing. It was, of course, empty air. Before Elysia could hit her head, I grabbed the nape of her neck from the side to stop her and gently chided her.
"What are you doing? That's dangerous."
"Uuu... I was just happy to see you..."
As I carefully helped Elysia up, I ended up with the same result. Elysia hugged me tightly, squeezing me as if applying a wrestling hold, and then she felt my face all over with a puzzled expression.
"That witch teacher kept you locked up for three months! You didn't get eaten anywhere, did you??"
"... Witch? Are you referring to my Master?"
"Yeah! She's always in her room, never comes out, and she looks so gloomy!"
A child's insight can so easily uncover a deeply hidden truth. Then, realizing Aletus was watching this whole scene, I cleared my throat and went to sit on the opposite side.
"My apologies, I've shown you an unsightly scene."
"Hm? No, it's fine. I'm just glad to see you look healthy, more than anything."
Fortunately, Aletus didn't seem displeased. In fact, he seemed pleased. The strange thing was that even after three months, he still had a bandage wrapped around his head, as if his external injuries hadn't fully healed yet.
Even Elysia had completely recovered. Aletus seemed to notice my gaze and brought it up himself.
"Ah, I hope you won't worry needlessly. This bandage... yes, you could say it's for protecting you."
"?"
"I'll explain that in due time. First, I must offer my thanks... Thank you again, truly, for saving my daughter."
Aletus bowed his head deeply. It wasn't something a noble would do for a commoner child, but I said nothing. As I've said before, if I were to refuse his thanks here, it wouldn't be humility but an insult, as if his daughter's life wasn't worth that much.
Only after waiting for Aletus to raise his head did I clarify the facts.
"I merely happened to stumble upon the situation while following my Master. If there is a reward, it should go to my Master..."
"Hehe..."
Before I could finish, Aletus smiled.
"Ah, forgive me for interrupting. Your master said the exact same thing."
"Pardon?"
"I went to see her a while ago after my wounds healed to offer a reward. But she said she did it for her disciple, so if I had a reward to give, I should give it to her disciple... You two are truly a like-minded master and disciple."
So that happened. I tried my best to ignore Elysia, who was stuck to my side, rubbing her shoulder against mine, and asked.
"Did my Master say anything else?"
"Hm? Nothing like that. She seemed to be busy with something, so our conversation was brief."
"... I apologize."
"It's because of that personality that we survived. You don't need to be sorry."
"She called for me, though?"
"She did? What did she say?"
"Uhm... she told me to try using your ability! I did, and then she nodded her head and told me to leave, so I asked to see Jern, but she said he needed to rest and told me to leave, and I said I'd be quiet so please let me just once, but she just glared and told me to leave..."
"Aha, so that's what happened."
After the first part, she just went on about herself. As I was humoring her, Aletus cleared his throat, stopping her endless chatter.
"Ahem, daughter. Would you step aside for a moment? It seems we need to have a somewhat serious conversation now."
"But we just met after three months! No!"
"I'll visit every day from now on instead."
"Okay!"
She was still young and easy to handle, but I wonder what she'll be like later. As Elysia scampered up to her room, Aletus, holding his head, unwrapped his bandage as if he had a headache.
"We've gotten sidetracked, but I am sincere when I say I cannot thank you enough. However... the situation has become a bit urgent, so I must speak of that first."
"Yes, please speak."
After clearing his throat, Aletus spoke with a serious expression.
"An official announcement regarding the heart-realm mages is being prepared. The official term will be what they call themselves, the 'fallen ones,' and the response... will be a massive hunt, without any compromise."
So it came to this. I expected it, but I felt my heart sink a little as I asked for the details.
"Has the proclamation been made?"
"Not yet. The moment they get my consent—I've been staying secluded using the excuse of being ill—messengers will start galloping across the entire Empire."
"I read it in secret; the methods for identifying them were written in great detail. It seems they've thoroughly combed through ancient texts to find all sorts of facts."
It was the scenario Red Lotus had predicted. It's unsettling that everything is going as those bastards wish, but it can't be helped. Even if the Empire knew this was Red Lotus's goal, they would have announced the same policy.
Red Lotus wants the heart-realm mages, the fallen ones, to gather. All while spouting dog-shit nonsense about saving the world. And looking at the current situation, that's what will happen.
The fallen ones who have been surviving somehow in hiding will see Red Lotus running rampant and wonder how they overcome the burden. They will be forced to choose one of two options: be killed by the Empire, or entrust themselves to Red Lotus. It seemed it wouldn't be easy for me to escape that current either.
"For now, I can also use regular magic."
I showed him a wind blade. Seeing the star settle in my eye, Aletus nodded his head in surprise.
"That is a curious thing. But doesn't heart-realm magic not use mana?"
"That... is correct."
"Then it will eventually become obvious. It would be a different story if there were extensive research data stating that fallen ones absolutely cannot use regular magic, but right now, they have to rely only on old records. There's a good chance you'll just be considered a peculiar fallen one who can use magic."
"You have a point."
I racked my brain. The ones who know I'm a fallen one are Aletus, Dersia, and as for Elysia, I'm not sure if she knows or not. And the Elders of the Black Magic Tower.
They didn't seem to care much. I don't think they would go out of their way to snitch to the Empire. Other than them...
I did show my magic during the exam- There weren't many people close by. I'm certain the children wouldn't have been able to tell the difference. However, there is one thing that worries me.
'Princess Lumia...'
For one, unlike the other children, her talent is immense. And I beat her so badly with the Deep Sea that she nearly died. After being beaten that badly, she's likely to have noticed something was strange. ...
It couldn't be, right? In this situation, I can only pray that it's not the case. If the princess rats me out, I'm finished in more ways than one.
"I have already shown my magic in public on many occasions. The exam, for one."
"Perhaps that can be overlooked due to the special circumstance of you being Dersia's disciple. But the problem is what comes after."
"If you are later seen using heart-realm magic without mana, that, combined with the witness accounts from that time, could lead to who knows what, so it would be best to refrain from it as much as possible."
"I think so as well."
Looks like I'll be suffering because of the shit Red Lotus stirred up. As I was sighing, Aletus scratched his head and replied.
"It's a bit odd for me to say this after bringing it up, but don't worry too much. Your master, Dersia, will surely have some way to resolve this."
"That... about that? A slight problem has arisen."
"?"
I explained it to the bewildered Aletus in the mildest terms possible. I said that my Master had gone somewhere far away, her return date is undecided, and in the worst case, she could be gone for years. Aletus asked back with a look of disbelief.
"What, so she... left her disciple behind?"
"Well, I'm not sure if 'left' is the right word. Yes."
"That's, um..."
After pondering for a moment, Aletus, looking as if he'd made a decision, called for a butler.
"Clean a room on the top floor. It is where our benefactor will be staying, so take the utmost care."
"Yes, my lord."
"Is that perhaps for me?"
"Please do not refuse. At the very least, if rumors spread that you are staying in this mansion, no one will be able to easily raise suspicions, even if they have them. To do so would be to doubt my integrity."
"It is dangerous for you."
I said bluntly.
"I must constantly challenge things to survive, and in that process, there is no guarantee I won't be exposed as a fallen one. A problem that should end with me would then spread to you, Lord Aletus."
"I have not fallen so low as to fear being tainted by the blood of my benefactor. And I am not one to be brought down by something so trivial."
When he himself showed such strong will. In truth, with the weight of Aletus's name, weaker nobles wouldn't be able to attack me on suspicion alone unless I used it blatantly. So, I simply bowed my head.
"Thank you."
"You've taken the words right out of my mouth. Is there anything else you need?"
"Uhm. Perhaps..."
I hesitated for a moment before throwing it out there.
"Could you introduce me to a trustworthy knight?"
"A knight?"
"Yes. A knight to whom I can reveal I am a heart-realm mage and ask for help."
"Hmm..."
Aletus seemed to be recalling something as he fell into thought.
"I know it's an unreasonable request, so..."
"Ah, it's not an unreasonable request at all."
Aletus said flatly.
"It's a bit embarrassing to say it myself, as if I'm gilding my own lily, but I know many knights who can keep a secret. I was just pondering whom to introduce you to."
As expected of a noble. As I was thinking that, Aletus suddenly looked as if something had occurred to him and began to contemplate.
"Hmm..."
"Is something the matter?"
"I might be able to find one a bit sooner."
"Ah, you can take your time."
"No, with things like this, the sooner the better. He should be here now... I'll be gone for a moment."
"Understood."
Aletus left the drawing-room with a confident expression. It seemed the matter with the knight would be resolved well. I wasn't sure what it was, but a knight vouched for by Aletus wouldn't spread my secret, even if Red Lotus had been spouting complete nonsense.
With this, I've done everything I can for now. I am worried about what measures will be decided upon to persecute the fallen ones, but that's not a problem I can solve by worrying about it now. What's left is- these magic books, I suppose.
I used the spare time to take out the magic books from my bag that Dersia had said 'I would learn them all' and spread them open. I had come in a hurry before the sun set and had only received them from Ciel, but they were all beyond difficult; I couldn't even understand them.
Of course.
I'm only a 1-Star. To learn these things, I must expand my enlightenment and move to the next stage. ... I wonder if anything's changed?
"Ignite." -Fwoosh!
I raised my hand and created a flame. I stared at it for a moment before quickly extinguishing it.
Not yet.
If I keep looking at this, something bad will happen. This means I cannot advance to 2-Star. I can't progress.
I can't learn these kinds of magic. I put the magic books back into my robes. I don't know what Dersia was thinking, but at least I couldn't fathom her intentions.
How on earth did she intend to teach me something like this? As I was sighing and drinking my tea, Aletus returned. He was not alone, but with a white-haired old man who had a foul look about him.
Aletus looked at me with a slightly uneasy expression and said.
"This is the boy."
"Hmph."
The old man waved Aletus away with his hand. From that alone, I could tell he was no ordinary knight. I looked at Aletus and asked.
"Is this person... the one?"
"That's right. He is the commander of my family's knight order... and also the man who was my swordsmanship master. He is still distinguished."
"Rather than distinguished, it looks like my spine is about to break."
Wow.
As I was slightly astonished at the sight of him talking back so boldly to the family head, Aletus earnestly requested.
"Karin. As I said, the secret must be kept strictly."
"This old body has no one to talk to. You don't need to worry needlessly."
The old man called Karin approached and examined me. For a knight, he was too old and frail-looking. Just as a bit of prejudice was starting to form, he tapped my shoulder with the cane he was holding.
"Turn around."
"... Pardon?"
"I need to check your back, you whelp, so I'm telling you to face the other way."
"Karin..."
Hearing Aletus's sigh-filled voice, I quickly turned around, and his wrinkled hand touched my back.
"Hrmmmmmm............."
Karin hummed as he felt my back here and there. An uncomfortable time passed.
"That's enough."
Karin took his hand away, and without giving me a second glance, went to Aletus and snapped at him as if in disbelief.
"He'll be dead soon. Where did you find a squire like this?"
"... I didn't bring him here to be a squire. More importantly-" "What do you mean, I'll be dead soon?"
This was about me. I took a step forward and asked. Karin answered, waving his hand in annoyance.
"Don't you know? Your body is rotten to the core. I don't know which knight abused you, but he must be a bastard without a human heart."
"?"
"I don't serve any knight."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Karin retorted as if looking at a child spouting nonsense.
"Anyone can see that your body is that of a squire who's been excessively steeped in the process of training body-reinforcement due to a knight's greed. It'll start rotting away soon."
I blinked.
It seemed there was another burden I was unaware of.