Even though they are children, their evaluation is merciless.
The problem is that that means sincerity.
There was not a trace of affection in his eyes when he looked at his daughters.
Not only to Catherine, but also to Joanna.
“… … .”
“… … .”
The reactions of the two were different.
Catherine didn’t move as if she was used to it, and Joanna tried not to show it, but it was obvious that she was hurt.
‘… In fact, Catherine is also hurt in the same way. I’m just forcing myself to think it’s okay.’
Actually, it was none of my business.
Anyway, these wounds will become the foundation for growth for both of us.
But, is it because he has been tainted by the Black Flame Dragon’s foolishness?
I said something I didn’t need to say.
“That’s not it.”
“Hmm?”
“I think both of your daughters are brilliant talents who will become stars.”
Joanna and Catherine gave me surprised looks.
But, it was true.
‘Because both of them have the potential to grow into ascendants. In Joanna’s case, it’s a story about not falling behind.’
Not all 16 main characters could become ascendants. Lv. 8 or even Lv. There were also protagonists whose growth limit was 7.
In that respect, it was natural that Catherine was a two-top Jinju artist, and Joanna could also be said to be an outstanding talent.
“Kukkuk, it’s been a while since we last met, and you seem to be good at flattering. I think the boy next to you is much better. “There is something disturbing coiled up inside.”
It was a Rebel story.
There was greed in Duke Alfonso’s eyes.
“Child, won’t you become my adopted son? “If you want, I will make you my ‘real son.’”
The hall was buzzing.
Master magic families had a custom of accepting outstanding talents as ‘adoptees’.
However, it was only a symbolic meaning of becoming a member of a famous magic family, not the true child of the family head, but they were going to give him exceptional treatment.
‘It might not be bad for Revel.’
I’m sorry to say this to Revel, but the two are ‘of the same class’ with many similarities, so they might be a surprisingly good match.
However, Liebel showed an unexpected reaction.
“Well, I refuse.”
“Hmm? “If you become my child, you can receive my teachings directly?”
“There’s no need for that.”
Liebel spoke clearly.
Without any stuttering like usual.
“The person who will teach me is Professor Ban.”
A faint glow of madness flickered deep within Ribel’s eyes as he spoke like that.
‘… No, I’m just a professor in charge of a temporary class for two months? Bye-bye in two months?’
Ignoring my cold heart, Duke Alfonso nodded as if he understood.
“If you had seen the class first, it would be worth thinking about.”
“That’s too much praise.”
“That’s not excessive praise. Even now, I am so jealous of you that it is difficult to bear it. “It almost makes me want to tear you to death right here and now.”
The somewhat soft atmosphere suddenly became sharp.
Duke Alfonso smiled brightly with eyes full of madness.
“If things continue like this, one day he may come back to his senses and try to kill you. Oh, I’m serious. No, in times like this, should I just say it’s a joke? hahahaha.”
“… … .”
“So what about this? So that I don’t kill you, we become family. Huam, you are that friend’s son, so we cannot adopt you… .”
Duke Alfonso then let out a crazy sound.
“You will be my son-in-law. “Marry Joanna.”
“!!”
An incomparable shock spread.
But, it wasn’t a joke.
The fake smile on Duke Alfonso’s lips also disappeared.
“If you marry Joanna, I will give you the position of the next head of the family. “It would be impossible for you, the third child, to inherit the Ecclesia family anyway, so this might not be a bad offer for you either.”
Joanna’s complexion, who was listening from the side, turned pale.
The story Duke Alfonso was telling now was a complete denial of her entire life of struggling to become the head of a famous magic family.
“Or, you seem to like Catherine, so you can choose Catherine. “Isn’t the age difference just fine?”
For reference, the two new students are 17 years old.
Van had just graduated from the academy and was 23 years old, so it was the perfect age difference to be a suitable marriage partner.
“If I refuse, I don’t know what will happen to me. I might end up cutting your head off right now. ha ha ha!”
I wondered what to do as the voice oozed madness.
‘You must refuse as kindly as possible without offending Duke Alfonso.’
If it weren’t for Duke Alfonso’s words, I would have said as much as possible.
“If I marry you, one of those two worthless children will be a great addition to the family.”
“!!”
The complexions of both changed.
Not only Joanna, but also Catherine could not pretend that nothing had happened this time.
I eventually made a statement that I regretted.
“Please stop.”
“Hmm?”
“This is a story about not letting your feelings of inferiority go to your children.”
“!!”
Everyone held their breath at my bombshell statement.
What surprised me the most was myself, who said something crazy.
‘What are you thinking?! Have you really been infected by the Black Flame Dragon?’
For your information, it was not the Black Flame Dragon that stepped forward.
It was an accident I did.
Even my craziness didn’t stop there.
“It is not those children’s fault that Your Excellency did not become an ascendant. “Don’t take out your anger for no reason.”
King of wizards.
This refers to Duke Alfonso.
However, there was definitely an additional modifier attached to it.
‘on earth’, ‘royalties’, ‘under the sky’, etc.
Because he was not an ascender to heaven.
The only way he could pretend to be a king was towards the wizards who had their feet on the ground.
His inferiority complex towards the truly great wizards who ascended to heaven made him so crooked.
‘Damn, why did you cause an accident? Of course, in the long run, stepping forward like this will have a positive impact on Joanna and Catherine, so it will be effective in saving the world… .’
No, no matter how you look at it, it was a loss.
No matter how much the look of the two downcast and shabby people reminded me of myself in the past, it was a crazy thing I should never have done.
‘Now that it’s like this, there’s nothing I can do. We need to get the situation under control.’
From Noble mtl dot com
One thing that is fortunate is that we have insurance prepared in case the situation turns out to be worst.
‘Now it’s almost time.’
“You really surprise me. How dare you say such fearless things to me? I’m impressed. It makes me even more greedy. Jealousy that wants to kill you, greed that wants to have you. “I don’t know what to do.”
It was a moment when Duke Alfonso was muttering eerily without smiling at all.
The ‘insurance’ I’ve been waiting for has arrived!
“hahahaha. Alfonso! This guy, it’s been a while since he came down to earth, and the jokes have increased. “Did you only practice humor on Sky Island, not magic?”
The sound of laughter disrupting Duke Alfonso’s spirit.
When I turned my gaze, there was a man wearing a bureaucratic uniform with a blade-like appearance standing there.
The father of this body was Duke Huam!
Unlike his cheerful smile, Duke Huam did not have a smile on his face at all.
“Moreover, they are married. My friend, you need to talk about this unfortunate situation through me. No way, you! Are you ignoring me, or rather, our Ecclesia family?”
“!!”
Paaat!
The momentum spread from Duke Huam.
His achievements are Lv. lower than that of Duke Alfonso. 7.
However, the force that weighed down the hall was not at all inferior to that of Duke Alfonso.
‘Indeed, the head of the most prestigious family in the empire.’
A thousand year old tree.
It was a nickname for the Ecclesia family.
The strongest of the four great dukes is not Ecclesia.
In terms of honor, it lagged behind the famous swordsmanship family, in terms of military power, it lagged behind the famous magic family, and in terms of wealth, it lagged behind the Duke of Rafalte.
It has always been like that throughout history.
There was always a family that overpowered the Ecclesia, but it was always the Ecclesia that survived.
While many other dukes were replaced, he was the only one to survive and maintain his dignity.
If you ask who the strongest ducal family in the empire is, the answer will always be different, but if you ask who the ‘best’ prestigious family is, the answer will always be Ecclesia.
“I hope the story told today is a joke I learned on Sky Island. “I don’t want to blush with you, my old friend.”
“… I’m sorry if I was rude. I did it because I was jealous of your son. I can’t believe he grew up so wonderfully. “I envy you.”
Surprisingly, Duke Alfonso took a step back!
Duke Huam smiled.
The frosty air became softer.
“I’m jealous. It’s still not enough. “Thank you for looking at me so favorably.”
Duke Huam winked at me.
“What are you doing? Without thanking you for your hospitality?”
“… thanked.”
In the meantime, Duke Huam did not offer an ‘apology’.
I drew a line by saying that the magic family was responsible for the chaos I caused.
“It’s been a while since I saw you, Duchess. “My younger brother’s story was sad.”
“… no.”
“Thank you for your broad understanding. After all, she is a prestigious lady. “My younger brother will also be happy to receive the punishment for his sins.”
It was a threat telling me not to get involved because my younger brother would be punished.
Duchess Bess clenched her fists, but unlike what she had done to me, she did not raise her voice even an inch.
“you’re welcome.”
“hahahaha, I guess I’ve caused too much trouble. “Then, let’s go.”
“Please wait a moment, father. “I have not yet received a proper apology from the head of the famous magic family.”
Everyone’s eyes were on me.
My heart was pounding, but I held back.
‘I have something to aim for. ‘I can’t hope for anything other than the current situation.’
Indeed, Duke Alfonso was not angry because his father was with him.
“So, how do you want me to apologize?”
“Please allow me to visit ‘Vortex Island’ owned by a magic family later.”
“Hmm? I understand. “Will that be enough?”
“That’s enough.”
‘it’s okay!’
I cried out in joy.
There was a hidden piece on Whirlpool Island.
It will be a great help to me, who is insensitive to mana.
‘It’s dangerous, but you must clear it. There is a clue to getting to the second star.’
2nd rank!
It’s a level that dogs, cows, and even students can easily reach, but for me, who has insensitivity to mana, it was a distant achievement.
‘Even if you only become level 2, you will be much stronger than you are now.’
Duke Huam cleaned up after himself.
“Then we will really go. Alfonso, see you next time. “Don’t stay on Sky Island too much, but come down to the ground often.”
“okay.”
Our group left Duke Klein’s residence.
Everyone only looked at Duke Huam.
“Ban, can you make time? “Let’s talk for a moment.”
“… All right. You return to the Free City through the portal.”
‘I’m going to get scolded. ‘I had an accident.’
This is something I was prepared to do from the moment this incident first occurred.
However, Duke Huam said something unexpected.
“Are you drinking these days?”
“… I drink it sometimes. “Why is that?”
“Okay, then let’s go. “Get in the carriage.”
“??”
The place Duke Huam took me was to a bar in downtown the capital.
Normal.
It’s not noisy, but it’s not luxurious either.
“It’s a place I come to occasionally. Ron and Mariam have both been here several times with me. “This is my first time with you.”
As I sat down, Duke Huam poured whiskey into my glass.
“Why are you doing that?”
“Good job.”
“… yes?”
“I brought you here to give you a drink as a compliment. “It’s a tradition since your grandfather.”
I thought I heard wrong, but I wasn’t.
Duke Huam, no, ‘father’ was looking at me with somewhat happy eyes.
“I’ve been hearing every single bit of news about you. doing well. “It’s amazing.”
I’m crying.
The moment I heard that story, my heart unintentionally shook.
Praise from ‘Father’.
In the past, it was something I had never heard of.