The Duke’s office was filled with books he was seeing for the first time, most of which seemed to be foreign publications brought in through maritime trade. Distracted by the books, it took another of the Duke’s questions for Raymond to prick up his ears again and turn his head.
That question went like this:
“Say it nicely, tell me who took the exam in your stead.”
“It was my own ability.”
“…You really don’t intend to talk, do you?”
“What do you want me to argue about when I have nothing to say?”
To think the first thing his so-called father asked Raymond was this. Raymond was greatly shocked.
Does he really think his own son had someone take the exam in his place?
Did he think that without cheating, his mediocre eldest son who he had given up on couldn’t have passed?
Raymond looked up at his father’s flaming red hair.
His eyes were a deep green containing the spirit of the meadows, completely different from Raymond’s turquoise eyes taking after his mother.
“I see.”
Even in the face of his father’s interrogation, Raymond remained confident. Even if he had committed a crime, he didn’t intend to give a truthful reply, but this time, there was genuinely no falsehood. That was why Raymond could stand up to his father with his head held even higher.
However, there was the ‘fear’ of my father that had seeped into this body which the current me couldn’t do anything about yet.
Although my mind was intact, the owner of the body that had lived in this world was still only a 16-year-old, useless eldest son.
Duke Terrian also didn’t seem to appreciate Raymond’s overconfident attitude. Terrian Spurling, the master of House Spurling, rose from his seat, placing the quill back on the parchment. As Terrian Spurling slowly walked over and stood in front of Raymond.
Although Terrian didn’t have an overwhelmingly dignified air with his lanky build, he had an overwhelming aura emanating from his eyes alone. He took off the white gloves he was wearing as if rudely stripping them off. As if remembering such situations, Raymond’s body reacted reflexively by trembling.
“You know you have no talent for magic, right?”
“Y-Yes, that was probably the case.”
“You also know magic was required for this exam. Weren’t you able to use magic, Raymond?”
“….”
“That’s why I advised you to abandon that path early on. Adrian can inherit the family, so I told you to just stay put quietly! Without drawing attention! So your incompetence doesn’t reach anyone’s ears!”
Is that so? I didn’t know.
“But recently, you’ve been getting more and more greedy ideas. Taking the Foreston exam on your own accord and swaggering back.”
“I had no choice.”
“Is it hard to just play around the mansion? Am I saying it’s difficult to just read books in the mansion and blow money left and right?!”
“Y-Yes… it’s hard….”
“Go play!”
“…I can’t.”
“Stay holed up in the mansion playing!”
“…I said I can’t…”
Raymond clenched his teeth tightly.
‘…X your father. If not for this system, I’d love to.’
Meanwhile, Terrian Spurling was shocked.
Is this squirt trying to pick a fight with me really my eldest son?
Terrian was confused. Although Terrian hadn’t looked after Raymond properly, that didn’t mean he had forgotten the existence of his first son. Rather, he believed he was protecting Raymond.
‘When I told that kid to walk the path of a scholar since he’s smart, he won’t listen and insists on becoming a mage even if it kills him. He even buys some strange medicine saying they’ll make a circle for him. When I said I’ll support him in any way if he stays holed up in the mansion, he started refusing to even have meals with the family?’
And now suddenly he goes to the Foreston exam site, and comes back after passing the entrance exam?
To Terrian, Raymond passing the entrance exam could only be by luck or through some strange means.
“With what you know and what you’re good at, how did you pass the Foreston exam that requires magic to enter?”
But of course, the current Raymond wouldn’t know about such thoughts running through Terrian’s mind.
A father who noticed his son’s incompetence from early on and told him to play in the mansion? That’s very ideal.
But the problem was his tone.
‘But… the more I listen the more he says it, why does this father of mine talk like this?’
Blood from Raymond’s clenched molars inside his cheek oozed onto his cheeks. To think, instead of a word of praise, this geezer is just criticizing his 16 year old eldest son from an esteemed family who is diligently growing up alone.
“We have a lot of money in the family, so when you wanted to call in the royal mage to receive education, I didn’t stop you. And yet you who gave up on even the royal mage, now you want me to believe that you passed the Foreston exam with your own ability?”
It was admittedly a rational doubt, but to a 16-year-old, it felt somewhat cold-hearted. Since the lie detection skill didn’t activate either, it seemed he wasn’t lying now. He sincerely believed that his eldest son had cheated on the exam and didn’t have the ability to enroll in Foreston.
“But I really did pass. You should be more proud-.”
“Don’t raise your voice! As the eldest son of a house! Causing trouble inside the mansion and outside are different things, Raymond!”
That Raymond, Raymond! Does just calling my name make you a nice guy? That won’t make you a kind, amiable father of a ducal house! Raymond glanced over him indifferently. However, Duke Terrian Spurling didn’t look like he intended to yield to his eldest son at all.
“I’ll ask one last time. Speak.”
“No.”
“Speak.”
Passing the Foreston exam wasn’t everything in living as a noble house’s eldest son. Fearful that after enrolling, his eldest would reveal his incompetence and bring disgrace to House Spurling before being banished from noble society forever, Terrian grew even more irritated.
Just the family knowing how weak and useless his son was, was enough. To that extent, he could properly hide it. So no one would insult his son, he could protect him.
‘….Fine, let’s say he doesn’t believe my words.’
As Raymond stared at Duke Terrian with his resolute expression, he let out a sigh. Brushing back his messy hair, he thought.
‘Anyway, I have to go to Foreston.’
His deep ocean blue eyes conveyed resolute determination.
‘I don’t want to be dragged down.’
Raymond spoke.
“Then what…”
“….”
“What should I do for you to believe me?”
After looking as if he was thinking for a moment, the Duke continued speaking.
“Foreston selects 50 freshmen every year. This semester, rank within the top 5 among those 50. Then I’ll acknowledge you. If you can’t even get grades that high, there’s no need to wander outside. Come back home. Stay home and do whatever you want.”
“Yes, I understand.”
“Raymond!”
“Didn’t you hear me? Then I have no choice.”
“…Sigh. Enough, just go already.”
Without answering, Raymond deeply bowed his head and sharply turned his body.
Stomping his feet noisily, he flung the door wide open. With tears brimming his eyes, Raymond’s vision blurred and he couldn’t see properly ahead, which resulted in him smacking his face hard against the door he had just opened. Unable to catch his toppling son who let out a groan as he fell backward, Raymond just crashed onto the floor.
“….”
With his bright red stinging cheeks, Raymond arduously stood up before giving a deep 90 degree bow and leaving.
Terrian didn’t chase after that eldest son.
‘….He must be the most embarrassed himself.’
And as mentioned before, those grades were achievements that his son who couldn’t handle magic would never be able to attain. His head was good so he’d do well on the written part, but he’d fail on the practical part.
Magic was talent. Effort couldn’t surpass talent.
“Haa.”
On the table made of ebony. After slipping on the neatly placed white gloves again, Terrian returned to his seat.
There was much work left to do. To endure the piercing pain spreading through his heart, he took the document on the very top of the stack and lifted it up.
***
A guy like him is a Duke and my father?
Rubbing his swollen cheek that got smashed on the door with his palm, Raymond muttered.
“…I’ll get my revenge at the end.”
His eyes even brimmed with tears, perhaps because the door was so painful. The tear ducts in this body were too delicate. What kind of man cries after just bumping into a door? If you cried like that, you wouldn’t have survived, you spineless fool.
‘And he should record himself saying those thoughtless words and listen to how annoying it is.’
It’s nice that he gives me money. I want to play around the mansion and mooch off of him too, but what can I do when I absolutely have to enroll in Foreston right now. After getting accepted into that prestigious academy, instead of being happy for me, it’s… a proxy exam?
Raymond wanted to immediately smash the Duke’s shins, smash his head, punch his stomach once, then in the end, grab sensitive information that could be used against him before handing it over to the enemy.
But he had two reasons why he couldn’t do that.
One was that the damn guy was now his ‘Duke’ father who would be his backer.
The other was because of the damn status window blinking in front of his eyes.
[To avoid death, your father’s ‘recognition’ is absolutely necessary.]
[Without ‘his recognition’, the possibility of your death rises by about 60%.]
[You cannot obtain ‘his recognition’ through ‘lies’. This also applies to the King candidates.]
[In other words, it means that lies enabled by Skills cannot obtain true allies.]
‘…Then why give me this Skill?’
Anyway, Raymond needed the Duke’s recognition to survive, so he had no choice but to suppress this anger.
‘Right. For now, I’ve succeeded in enduring it, so I just need to get good grades after enrolling, right? Ah, I should just kill– no, endure it. Endure, endure it, Raymond.’
The moment Raymond, who had barely reined in his anger, arrived in his room, Nicole jumped high enough to reach the ceiling before running over to his Young Master.
“Good heavens! What is this?! Please wait a moment, I will bring medicine right away!”
“…Nicole.”
“Yes, yes. What is it?”
If it were normal times, he would have retorted saying ‘It doesn’t hurt at all?’, but today he couldn’t do that.
“It hurts so bring it quickly.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Nicole hugged Raymond tightly. Raymond also hugged Nicole back firmly. It didn’t feel bad.
***
Nicole headed to the drawer cabinet saying to wait for a moment and bring the first aid kit. With the battered visage of a gang leader returning from a fight, Raymond sat down and waited for his attendant. As Nicole looked for the first aid kit the whole time, he couldn’t even curse his lord the Duke, only repeating comforting words for Raymond’s sake. Raymond quietly listened to his chiding affectionately.
Right then,
Knock knock.
“I’ll go see.”
At the sound of someone knocking, Nicole briskly headed to the door. It wasn’t the Duke since he would have entered without knocking. Nicole looked down with a surprised expression on his face. Excluding Raymond, there was only one person in the mansion with such a drastic height difference compared to Nicole.
“Young Master, it’s Young Master Adrian.”
“…Tell him to come in.”
Even though his brother had come to visit, Raymond didn’t get up from his chair or tear his gaze away from the garden outside the window.
“Brother.”
“….”
“I saw you coming out of father’s office.”
The moment Raymond heard those words, he covered his face with his hand.
‘So you saw me sniveling pathetically?’
If I was in my original body, my fingers could fall off and I wouldn’t cry.
‘My soul within refuses to show such an appearance before this 14 year old brat.’
Raymond briskly turned his swollen face towards the window. But it was futile. Adrian had already seen Raymond’s face in its entirety, including the scene where he was yelling loudly in the hallway in anger.
Adrian cautiously asked.
“Did father say something?”
‘No, I stupidly bumped my face on the door when I opened it.’
As if not reading Raymond’s thoughts at all, Adrian slowly approached little by little.
“Your cheek was very swollen.”
“…You don’t need to worry. I’m fine.”
“I was wondering if this might help you, so I brought some medicine. Will you accept it?”
In both appearance and personality, Adrian didn’t resemble the father of this family one bit. Rather than spitting hurtful words like “You ignored me, this serves you right!”, he was an outstanding child, considerate enough to bring medicine for the brother who had ignored him all this time.
‘That’s why you get all the love in this family.’
Raymond let out a resigned sigh before turning to face Adrian, his swollen cheek fully visible. Seeing Adrian whose height was similar to his own, Raymond thought ‘If you don’t grow diligently, you’ll surely catch up to me.’
With sparkling eyes, Nicole looked Adrian up and down as if he was a delightful sight. It was somewhat creepy when this muscular dude acted like that. What if he suddenly hugs the kid and crushes his neck?
“For Young Master to even prepare medicine himself. I was struggling because I didn’t have any medicine, such perfect timing!”
Nicole concealed the medicine he had taken out from the first aid kit and accepted Adrian’s medicine instead.
“Nicole, don’t lie. There’s ointment in the first aid kit.”
“Young Master!”
“But I think your medicine will be more effective, so I’ll gratefully accept it.”
“Thank you for that.”
“I should be the grateful one.”
“…Then, I’ll get going. Please rest.”
Just like that, Adrian swiftly left the room like a squirrel after only handing over the medicine. Raymond stared blankly at the high-quality ointment in Nicole’s hand. What a really funny kid.
“Since Young Master received his greeting, Young Master Adrian seems to have gained some courage as well.”
“Just from that much?”
“There wasn’t even ‘just that much’ between you two before!”
The medicine Adrian gave really was very effective. By the next morning, the swelling on Raymond’s stinging cheek had completely subsided.
***
“Hello.”
“Hi.”
Adrian’s change was surprising. He came up and greeted Raymond anytime there was a chance, and even started eating meals together. By the day before Raymond’s enrollment, their relationship had rapidly grown closer.
“The leaves of the azure aparea will probably be hard for you to obtain. If you need any materials for your studies, let me know and I’ll procure them for you. Father doesn’t intend to support you, brother. And to even go so far as to hit you like that…”
It seemed Adrian was firmly mistaken about the events of that day. Of course, Raymond didn’t bother to correct that notion either. It was more beneficial to him that way.
Adrian also asked him to tell him right away if he needed anything at the academy.
To think a mere 14 year old would say this much. Why did I ignore such a smart, nice younger brother?
“If you say you need it, I will get everything for you.”
“Thanks.”
“It’s fine. You have to go to Foreston tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah. Take care. I’ll come play during vacation.”
“Me too.”
“?”
“I’ll aim to enter early.”
Enter early? Raymond almost spat out the black tea he was drinking in surprise. He did spit out a little.
Although Foreston did have an early enrollment system, unlike the regular enrollment with just one exam, entering through special admission required passing 3 exams including an interview.
You’re gonna try doing that? Of course, since you’re smart and talented, it does seem possible. But is there really a need to study ahead of time?
After pondering for a moment, Raymond said,
“You should play more instead. You’re still young, you know.”
But Adrian shook his head.
“If I enter early, I can study together with you for at least one more year, brother. I’ll work hard. Since I know you’re smart, I’m sure you can accomplish father’s conditions as well.”
“Nicole. I haven’t achieved much until 16, but I seem to have raised my brother very well.”
He could vaguely hear Nicole’s whispered words saying – Young Master hasn’t done anything! Young Master Adrian grew up well on his own! – but Raymond decided to ignore it.
Raymond leisurely leaned back on the sofa, sipping another cup of the mana replenishing black tea brewed for Adrian’s sake. It definitely had more of an astringent taste compared to the chocolate perfumed tea Nicole had brewed.
The day before enrollment, there wasn’t a single book left in the mansion that Raymond hadn’t read.
***
“This one too?”
“Yes. Young Master Raymond has read every book in the mansion.”
“I see.”
Adrian, who had been handed the book on the very top shelf of the bookshelves, quietly muttered to himself. As expected of my brother. A faint blush crept up the chubby cheeks of the still young Adrian.
There were over 500 magical texts contained in the three rooms the size of studies located in the corner of the left corridor on the first floor of the mansion. And the higher up the corner one went, the more difficult the theses and essays in the books became. This book was one of the most difficult among them. Clutching ‘A Collection of Theses from Pendil Isaac’s Personal Circle Research on Total Mana Capacity’ tightly to his chest, Adrian smiled and said,
“I want to take this book too.”
“Young Master, this is an amazing book by an amazing person indeed, but I think it’ll still be too difficult for Young Master to read yet.”
“It’s symbolic.”
“Symbolic?”
His slender hands like fern croziers hugged the book that was thicker than his torso.
“Symbolic that I will catch up to my brother.”
Adrian formed a small smile.
***
“Young Master! Did you pack everything? Good heavens. You haven’t packed anything at all!”
“That’s your role, Nicole.”
“That’s so true. So very noble-like.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Although Nicole grumbled aloud, contrary to his grumbling, he efficiently packed his luggage without any carelessness before presenting it to his master. Without feeling an ounce of guilt, Raymond sat on the windowsill, cackling, watching his attendant descending the stairs with the luggage. As compensation, he spread open ‘his’ diary that he had received.
He started reading the last page of the diary again. Looking closely, the last page hadn’t simply been erased. Someone had deliberately torn it. It was evident from the rough, jagged seam looking as if it had been ripped off.
‘The handwriting is definitely Raymond’s. Did the dead Raymond write in this book? No, that’s impossible. Since future events are recorded here.’
Raymond wrote down his own name in the empty corner of the paper. Raymond Spurling.
His current handwriting was astoundingly identical to the handwriting in the diary.
“Young Master! The carriage has arrived! It’s Foreston’s carriage! Let’s go down quickly!”
Nicole’s capable voice could be heard from the open room door. Carrying another burgundy suitcase when he descended the stairs, Nicole was waiting for him in the mansion lobby. It was full of the servants who had come out to send us off.
“Although you’ve become gloomier, you’re as still as handsome as ever, Young Master. Congratulations on your enrollment.”
“Don’t let yourself be ignored there either.”
“Young Master, when you move up in Grade, you’ll also be able to formally invite knights to the academy. Please be sure to call for me then.”
Seeing the steward and even the Captain of Knights coming out to welcome him, Raymond felt quite proud.
Basking in admiration of his thick connections, the last person to send Raymond off in the end was not the Duke or Duchess, but their son Adrian.
“Please be sure to come back during vacation, brother.”
Raymond placed his hand on Adrian’s head and ruffled his hair. His sparkling, quite moved eyes were even cuter than he had expected. Yeah, since I’ve been reborn already, I guess I can do this much. I need to go through him when I have any future requests anyway.
Just before departing, Raymond looked up at the curtained right window on the 2nd floor where his father’s office was located. It seemed he had no intention of seeing his son off at all.
Well, it’s irrelevant. Raymond coolly boarded the carriage.
Unlike the mansion’s twin carriage, Foreston’s magical four-wheeled carriage slowly started turning its wheels without any horses or coachmen to pull it.
***
The carriage gradually left the mansion behind.
Although incongruous with its white body, the ostentatious carriage generously embedded with red rubies drove through the town before heading somewhere. Since it wasn’t going directly to Foreston, it stopped in front of some shabby house.
Thud-
The carriage door automatically opened, revealing and greeting the boy that came out from the inside. And Raymond recognized that kid. With his low-lying grape peel-like purple hair and sharp features, he was definitely the top-scoring student who had left the exam site first.