“Wait, just a second!”

“No.”

“You didn’t even let me speak!”

“Just be quiet and stay there. I haven’t sorted out my thoughts yet.”

As soon as the class ended, Raymond desperately fled, with Yuta in pursuit. Unsurprisingly, Yuta caught up with him, thanks to Raymond’s poor physical condition.

“Panting… Panting…”

This damnable stamina. The status window claimed my stamina had increased, but is this all it amounts to?

Yuta waited patiently for Raymond to catch his breath before expressing his gratitude for the earlier advice.

• Magic is forbidden, but a one-on-one fight doesn’t have grounds for punishment in the school rules.
• …What?
• I said to call him out for a fight.
• What’s a fight?
• It’s where you hit each other directly.
• That’s clever.

Even if they were punished, at least the whole class wouldn’t suffer. That’s what Raymond was aiming for. However, Yuta interpreted his advice differently.

‘He’s thinking about the well-being of the entire class rather than his own safety. And he memorized all the school rules in such a short time. Raymond… truly has the makings of a great wizard.’

Yuta followed Raymond’s advice to the letter. Just as the noble’s brat was about to activate magic with his mass-produced wand, Yuta pulled out his own handmade wand and whacked the guy. It was a victory solely by physical force, without using magic.

“You, you coward-!”

Thump.

“Ow, that hurts-“

Following Raymond’s suggestion, Yuta emerged victorious. Soon enough, Parisha and other class presidents arrived, but the fight was already over.

“So, what now?”

Finally giving up on escaping from Yuta, Raymond sat down on a bench in the academy garden. As Yuta, standing beside him, asked with a sly smile, Raymond replied with a grin.

“I just wanted to say thanks. Who would’ve thought of using a wand to hit another student?”

“Yeah, yeah. I always did enjoy beating others.”

“I wonder why I never noticed someone like you, a noble’s son. Hmm, but anyway.”

Yuta, squinting like a snake, rubbed his chin as he looked down at Raymond.

“Why didn’t you step in yourself?”

“……”

“I didn’t want to burden you, but usually kids want to stand out.”

After a brief moment of surprise, Raymond quickly regained his composure and addressed Yuta’s concern.

“Well, Yuta, I think it’s about perception. You see, using physical force in that situation may have seemed like the only option at the moment. It’s true that resorting to violence can give off a tyrannical vibe, but sometimes actions are necessary to prevent worse outcomes. It’s a fine line between assertiveness and tyranny.”

Yuta nodded thoughtfully, considering Raymond’s words.

“I get your point. It’s about choosing the lesser of two evils, right? Still, I can’t help but worry about how it reflects on me as a prince.”

Raymond leaned back, thoughtfully tapping his chin.

“Here’s a thought. Instead of worrying about how it looks, focus on why you did it. Your intentions were to protect someone and uphold what’s right. It’s about your principles, not just the action itself. People respect those who stand up for others, even if it means getting their hands dirty. It’s the intent and the outcome that truly define the act, not the act itself.”

Yuta seemed to brighten up at this, a new sense of understanding dawning on his face.

“Thanks, Raymond. That actually makes a lot of sense. I guess I was too caught up in the action itself and not the reason behind it.”

Raymond smiled, pleased to have helped.

“Just remember, it’s all about balance. Don’t lose sight of who you are and what you stand for, no matter the situation. And hey, we’re here to learn, right? Mistakes are just another part of the journey.”

As they continued their conversation, Raymond couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in his ability to guide and advise, even if it was walking the line of a crafty courtier. In the world of magic and intrigue, sometimes the best spells were the words spoken at just the right moment.

Raymond, wide-eyed like a startled rabbit, waved his hands dismissively.

“I’d rather not become famous through such chaos. I’m not you, why should I seek others’ attention? Unless there’s another motive.”

Yuta blinked in response to Raymond’s tone, then let out a hearty laugh.

“Ha ha, got it. I understand.”

Raymond too had gained something from the commotion. A slight change appeared in the description of his [Conscience is Trash] trait.

The phrase ‘might fail’ had changed to ‘very low chance of failure.’

Whether it was the advice he gave to the royal, or the fact that he just advised and then fled the scene, something had evolved his trait. Whatever it was, he was advancing on the path of an excellent trashy advisor. It seemed, however, not to be the path of a magician.

After some time had passed since Raymond finished speaking, Yuta finally broke the silence.

“But don’t you think it’s a bit off… for a prince to be hitting people?”

“What do you mean?”

Yuta shrugged.

“It’s kind of tyrannical, isn’t it? Resolving everything with violence.”

…You’re worried about that? Raymond looked surprised.

Just like the prince candidate I chose. Well, he hadn’t officially registered as a candidate yet, but still.

Judging from the fact that the [Intuition] trait hadn’t triggered, Yuta seemed to be sincere. Raymond thought for a few seconds before responding.

“No, a royal needs to be firm at times. Not always, of course. Think about it. If you hadn’t ended it decisively there, it would’ve left a bad impression of Forestun Academy, leading to a complete loss of affection for the class. You prevented that.”

Raymond spread his arms wide, exaggerating his point. In the end, you did well.

“Is that so?”

“Of course, but you can’t always do that. Violence isn’t always the answer. It’s just necessary, not a must.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Yuta’s lips curled slightly. Hey, hey. The carrot and stick approach really does work.

“For the greater happiness of many, you did your duty as a student of Forestun.”

“You… are really kind.”

“I have my moments.”

Image-making, check. Now, I’ll appear to Yuta as ‘a competent, sharp, and kindly guy who doesn’t hold back advice.’

“But, can I ask you one thing?”

“Go ahead.”

“Where did your knight go? He’s from the royal palace, right?”

The situation in the lobby. The standoff between just the two of them. Raymond had always found it odd. Nicole was always glued to his side, but Yuta’s knight was conspicuously absent. Last time he saw him, he was stuck like a pet dog, so where did he go?

“Oh. I sent him on another task.”

“What kind?”

Yuta Steadium Stern remained silent, then smiled radiantly. His silver hair and red eyes were a striking combination. Depending on the situation, the silver-haired boy with crimson eyes could look innocently pure. Surely, as he grew older, his royal beauty would shine even more, potentially influencing the power of his kingdom.

After observing Raymond intently, Yuta turned away without answering his question, his red eyes and lips still vivid in Raymond’s mind.

“Alright, Raymond. The next class is on the second floor, so it’ll take some time to get there. Let’s go.”

“…Sure, okay.”

Well, it was not like he would share so easily. The time for building deep trust had been too short.

Still, this was not a bad harvest.

Comforting himself, Raymond followed Yuta up to the second floor.

***

The second period was a wand development class. As Parisha had mentioned, it was time to create their wands. Everyone was given free time, and they could sit and visualize the wand they wanted. The materials were varied too. Some brought a cherished branch of their favorite tree, while others brought flower petals.

There are too many dreamers in this world. Raymond clicked his tongue and took out his prepared materials. First, iron powder. Then, an alcohol lamp. And finally, a wooden bracelet.

“…Are you insane?”

Onyx, who had been quietly observing Raymond’s materials, asked seriously. In front of him lay high-quality oak leaves, tree branches, and feathers from Upe, a bird that only inhabited the Barthalbach Duchy, shining in rainbow colors. To Onyx, his materials seemed the most standard for making a wand. 

While a wand was important, the one made in the first year didn’t last a lifetime, so the conventional choice was to make a wand that was most manageable for magical use. But iron powder?

“Who in the world makes a wand with iron powder?”

“And you’re one to talk, making a wand with feathers?”

“There have been wands made with leaves, like Parisha’s. Feathers are possible too, especially Upe feathers, which are famous for being able to pierce through metal.”

“Then iron powder should work too.”

As Raymond and Onyx bickered, Professor Chacha clapped her hands and spoke.

“Now, everyone has placed their materials, right?”

Upon witnessing Raymond’s astonished expression, Yuta Steadium Stunn turned away without answering his question, his red eyes and lips contrasting sharply against his silver hair.

“Come on, Raymond. The next class is on the second floor, so it’ll take some time to get there. Let’s go.”

“…Alright, fine.”

Raymond realized that it wouldn’t be easy to get a straightforward answer. Their relationship wasn’t deep enough yet to foster such openness.

Nonetheless, he considered this a decent achievement.

Comforting himself with this thought, Raymond walked alongside Yuta towards the second floor.

***

The second period was Wand Development, where students got to create their own wands. Professor Chacha, a charming individual with round glasses and a petite stature, emphasized that embedding one’s magic into the wand was crucial. She advised that it wasn’t about the amount of magic, but distributing it evenly throughout the material was key to forming a cohesive final product.

“Just think of the final form and imbue each material with your magic. Since you’ve already succeeded in infusing paper with magic during the entrance exam, focus is all you need. Now, let’s begin,” she announced.

With a round of applause, the class commenced.

Raymond focused on his materials laid out on the desk.

‘First, imagine. Then, infuse with magic.’

He had spent his time at the mansion practicing to freely flow magic into objects within a circle. Daily, without fail, he honed this skill diligently.

As a result of his consistent practice, Raymond successfully spread his magic evenly across the materials. In the final moment, he envisioned the complete wand. Creating a wand was challenging because picturing the final form was particularly difficult. However, Raymond managed to accomplish this with relative ease.

Bang!

With a puff of acrid smoke, Raymond’s wand was complete.

“Wow!”

Holding the finished wand, Raymond allowed a rare, proud smile to spread across his face. Onyx, who was accustomed to Raymond’s usual stoicism, widened his eyes in surprise at this uncharacteristic expression.

Raymond gazed at the wand he had just created, now fashioned into a bracelet on his wrist. Humming a tune, he set off for his next class, but the good news didn’t stop there.

—You’ve successfully built a bond with the character ‘Yuta’.

—Your intimacy level has increased, resulting in a reward.

—Once intimacy reaches zero, the candidate for king is disqualified.

Reward? Intimacy?

The status window blared with noise.

—Advice – Given the history of the royal family, Yuta cannot ascend to the throne.

Raymond’s steps slowed as he strolled through the central corridor.

‘What does this mean?’

The advice from the status window only complicated Raymond’s thoughts.

The reasons why Yuta, as he was, seemed unlikely to become king were plentiful. He was a discarded child, his mother not even of nobility. Moreover, he hadn’t received the usual ‘name given by the royal scribe’ that royal children were entitled to.

However, the 6th king had ascended to the throne despite similar conditions, and even the 1st king was technically an illegitimate child if his birth was scrutinized. So, Yuta’s path to kingship wasn’t entirely closed. But why say he couldn’t become king?

‘Wasn’t he the most qualified? Despite lacking conditions, he could still become king, hence the statement.’

But according to history? If, according to history, Yuta couldn’t become king, then Raymond revisited all he had read. The reason was singular.

‘But that reason should absolutely not apply to Yuta?’