âWhy did you allow the illegitimate child, Yuuki-dono, to participate in the examination?â
âThatâs rude. Kachel Mieghem-donoâ
âI donât need a soldier to tell me what to do!! You should know your place!!â
Kachel shouted at the soldier who had interrupted him.
âXellos Grossalia-sama is the one whose talent I brought out. Even I was astonished by his magic power capacity. Isnât it an insult to compare him to an illegitimate child?â
ââŚKachel Mieghemâ
said Princess Iris in a calm voice.
âWhat do you think this examination is about?â
âI believe it is for Her Royal Highness, Princess Iris, to see the results of my educationâ
âThe results?â
âThatâs right. Xellos Grossalia-sama, whom I educated, is brilliant and competent. He will break through even if faced with powerful monsters. I believe this is an opportunity for Her Royal Highness to see that I have raised someone of that caliberâ
âIs that why you recommended a dangerous mountain as the examination site?â
ââŚDangerous? Who told you that?â
âThose who went for a preliminary inspection said soâ
âItâs only because theyâre weak. Power is everything to a mage. Just like the âSanctuary Church, Elysium Templeâ!!â
shouted Kachel.
The air froze.
Princess Iris and the soldiers stared at Kachel with stiff expressions.
âOh. A slip of the tongue. The âSanctuary Church, Elysium Templeâ is tabooâ
âThe âSanctuary Church, Elysium Templeâ has been destroyed. Kachel Mieghemâ
Princess Iris took a few steps away from Kachel.
For a moment, this man who spoke so loudly seemed like a different person.
âThe âSanctuary Church, Elysium Templeâ was destroyed after using up the legacy of the great âCapital of Ancient Magic Civilization, Elysiumâ. The âLindbel Magic Guildâ was founded on the principle that we should not indulge in power, taking what happened to that organization as a lesson. Have you forgotten that, Kachel Mieghem?â
âI understand. I apologize if my remark offended youâ
Kachel kept his head down and kept a watchful eye on her.
âI was just thinking. What would I do if I had as much power as the âSanctuary Church, Elysium TempleââŚâ
âYou are here as a tutor for Xellos Grossalia-sama, correct?â
âYes, of courseâ
Kachel shrugged his shoulders and continued.
âYes, of course. I am dedicated to the proper education of Xellos-sama. Thatâs what my life is all aboutâ
ââŚI seeâ
Princess Iris nodded.
As she looked deep into the forest, she thought.
(I hope that this examination will end without incident and that they will return)
The expression on Kachel Mieghemâs face, as he gazed into the forest as well, was ominous.
Xellos nii-sama and I were running through the âKitralâs Forestâ.
Iâve gotten used to the bracelet with the âBody Strengthening, Boostedâ.
Iâm also slipping through trees at twice the normal speed.
If Dick had been around, he could have guided me along the shortest route, but thatâs not happening because it didnât matter whether I won or not.
So Iâve asked Dick and the others to wait outside the forest. I didnât call for them, but here they are.
âXellos nii-sama! I need to talk to you. Please listen to me while we run!â
I shouted.
Xellos nii-sama, who is running in front of me, didnât answer.
He must have noticed that I am right behind him. After all, heâs been looking back many times.
âDamn!! Why donât you listen to what I have to say for a change! Donât get mad on your own and lose your temper!!â
âShut upâ
Xellos nii-sama looked at me with cold eyes.
âI already know that you are trying to take over the Grossalia familyâ
âWho!? When!? In what month, day, hour, minute, and second did I plot such a thing!?â
âI heard the maids talking about it!â
âI know nothing as such!â
âKachel-sensei told me that youâve been bad-mouthing me to the maids!!â
âLike I said, when!?â
âMany times over! Every day!! Even the night before yesterday!!â
âI wasnât even in the mansion the night before yesterday!!â
I was at the inn in town with Martha.
Iâm sure Xellos nii-sama knows that, too.
âShut up, shut up, shut up!! I wonât let you have the Grossalia family!!â
âI told you I donât want it!!â
âThatâs why you always deny me!â
âAll right, I understand. Can I beat you up? Xellos nii-sama!!â
âIf youâre not plotting to take over the Grossalia family, then why would Her Royal Highness summon you!? Itâs strange, you know!? And how come Her Royal Highness knows about your existence, the illegitimate child!?â
âThen let me tell you the truth. But please, you canât tell anyone! Are you fine with that, nii-sama!?â
âAll right. I understand. So tell me, Yuuki!â
âI snuck out of the mansion the other day and went to the mountain behind the mansion. There, I found Clara-san and Barnes-san being attacked by monsters! I lent them a little help at the time!! I guess thatâs when she found out! That thereâs a child with black hair and black eyes in the Grossalia family!! But to summon me, the illegitimate child, I donât know what she was thinking. Thatâs all!!â
âReally!?â
âIf you think Iâm lying, ask Barnes-san, the one who has the axe!â
ââŚYouâre always like thatâŚâ
âWhat?â
âYouâre always doing things I canât do!!â
As he said that, Xellos nii-samaâs hands were making strange movements.