Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family - Chapter 19

6. So, What Do You Do? (3)

The Forest of the New Moon is essentially a forbidden area.

No one can enter without permission, and those who do almost never come out alive.

This is why there is a forest ranger specifically assigned to the area.

Sidraine must have entered a part of the forest that the ranger couldn’t monitor.

It happens occasionally.

But usually, the trespassers are found as corpses.

Sidraine was incredibly lucky.

“A tower master, so he must be an expert in magic.”

“Indeed. From what I know, he’s an eight-chain mage.”

“Eight chains? That’s higher than Miss Arabella.”

Hermann found the story intriguing when I told him what had happened today.

Whoosh!

The sword I picked up after two days sliced through the air.

Thanks to the early formation of my magic core, my strength and physique were far more developed than my peers’.

The short sword I once found challenging now felt as light as a fork.

“Then, young master, you owe a debt to a highly skilled individual.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Magic towers are so independent that they are almost like their own countries.”

Well, who would have guessed he was a tower master?

“Why was a tower master wandering in the forest?”

“Maybe it’s something we don’t understand. Even my eldest sister seems to get a lot of stress from being a mage.”

“I will keep this from Miss Arabella.”

“Thanks.”

I gave a nonchalant reply to Hermann’s consideration and resumed swinging my sword.

The blade heated up as I continuously attacked an imaginary enemy, stabbing and slicing.

It was because of the magic I was infusing into it.

“The blue glow on the sword always looks impressive.”

“Does it?”

“Yes, very impressive.”

Additionally, I kept practicing gathering and releasing magic.

I thrust my sword and released the accumulated magic in a burst.

The air shimmered where the sword halted, and a crack formed on the tree trunk before it.

Magic Burst Sword.

“Done.”

A technique from my previous life.

It wasn’t perfect, but I could use it without issue now.

It was more terrifying than a real explosion.

With proper use, it could break an opponent’s weapon on contact.

This technique had saved me from death countless times and allowed me to defeat stronger foes.

“Is that the technique you mentioned? Are you perfecting it?”

“Well, it’s getting there. It’s not perfect yet.”

“For your age, it’s incredible.”

I smiled at the familiar praise and sheathed my sword.

It’s about time to part with this sword.

It feels too light and short now.

It’s time to get used to a longsword.

“I need a new sword.”

There are many good swords in the castle.

Most are war trophies my father brought back from battles.

In my previous life, I didn’t care much if my sword broke, but now I wanted something better.

I recalled the blacksmith’s mark Duke Termione gave me on my seventh birthday.

It’s been seven years since then.

Time has flown by during training.

Maybe I should get a sword made with that mark.

Well, I’ll think about it when the day to go to the capital is confirmed.

“From tomorrow, I’ll prepare practice longswords.”

“Thanks. Let’s finish the training.”

After finishing the sword training, Hermann and I each took a tart he always prepared.

Ah, the sweet taste.

These tarts after training are like heaven.

No, they’re delicious any time.

Without my past life’s memories, I’d probably get fat just eating these tarts.

“Thanks to you, I get to enjoy delicious desserts every time.”

“If there’s anything you want, just let me know. By the way, are your siblings doing well?”

“Yes, both Ria and Agnes are healthy.”

“Good. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“Thank you.”

Just as I was about to finish training, my father appeared in the training ground. As always, he greeted me with a warm smile.

“Dane, you’ve been training hard today as well.”

“Father. You said you had business outside the castle, but you’re back early?”

“Yes. It ended sooner than expected. Plus, I had a reason to return quickly.”

“Is it because of the tower master?”

“Yes, that’s part of it.”

My father seemed concerned.

There are so few mages that everyone knows each other, even if just a little.

“You never know. He might be of help to Arabella.”

My father was likely considering if the tower master could help my eldest sister in some way.

Knowing her personality, though, she wouldn’t care much about what others think.

“Anyway, well done. You saved a life. Your mother is very proud.”

“I just did what I had to.”

“Not everyone can do what you did. You did something great.”

I felt a sense of pride at my father’s words and nodded.

“Arabella and Clair seem busier these days. It’s hard to see them.”

My eldest sister is selecting a magic tower to join after extending her academy term. She’s aiming to become a royal mage.

My younger sister was offered an assistant professor position in the summoning department before graduation.

So, both are still at the academy.

“Once you leave, this castle will be much quieter.”

“I’ll visit often. I promise.”

“Your sisters said the same. They left so excitedly.”

My father sighed regretfully.

The time for me to leave is approaching.

As my father said, it’s time to face the world.

I’ve prepared well.

From my father, I learned the basics of spear techniques.

From my mother, the basics of assassination.

From my sisters, the basics of magic and summoning.

“I’m also curious about how the world will receive someone with your five talents.”

Including the sword, that makes five talents.

Which one will stand out the most?

“I’m curious too.”

My father smiled again.

“You’ll do well, son.”

“Of course.”

“When we get to the capital, I can’t wait to see Duke Termione’s, or Vaut’s, reaction.”

Vaut Duke Termione.

It’s been a while since I thought of him.

I want to spar with him again someday.

I wonder how Layla is doing.

We exchanged letters over the years, but I haven’t seen her since my seventh birthday.

I think the last letter was a year ago.

Well, I’ll see her when I get there.

No need to worry about a little gap in letters.

* * *

About three days after receiving the antidote and regaining his senses, Sidraine was able to get out of bed.

That, too, was after insisting to Count Sogress’s physician that he was fine.

However, he couldn’t use magic for a while.

His mana was still unsettled, and the toxins hadn’t fully cleared from his body.

He also had traces of ancient magic from the forest to deal with, so Sidraine was essentially “recuperating.”

“It’s been a while since I couldn’t use magic. Not bad.”

Sidraine, being his restless self, wandered around.

He went up and down the guest tower multiple times and disappeared for hours, only to be found in the garden, staring at flowers.

“Wizards are either geniuses or lunatics, tsk tsk.”

“Did you hear? The person young master saved is a very important wizard.”

“I hope Miss Arabella is okay.”

Despite the concerns of the estate’s residents, Sidraine continued exploring without caring about their opinions.

“I wonder who the landscaper is. These flowers have such potent magic. I should learn their gardening secrets.”

Sidraine fully enjoyed the serene atmosphere of Count Sogress’s estate.

“I came to check on your condition, and here you are.”

In this setting, Dane found Sidraine.

Sidraine slowly stood up and looked at Dane.

“Ha, worried I might run away?”

“I’m concerned since you’re the first person I’ve detoxified.”

Sidraine waved dismissively.

“Of course. Hmph. It doesn’t hurt much.”

In truth, it did hurt a bit.

But a tower master couldn’t show weakness.

“I planned to stay until fully recovered anyway. As a tower master, I can’t die pitifully out there.”

Sidraine turned his gaze to the flowers.

The magic seemed even stronger now.

‘A sign my body is healing.’

The effects of mana backflow and ancient magic were terrifying to those who hadn’t experienced it.

There’s no more helpless feeling for a wizard.

“This is a nice place. Now I understand why nobles flock to the south for holidays.”

“It’s a wonderful place. The best to live. I’m sad to be leaving soon.”

“Leaving?”

“Yes. I’m heading to the capital soon.”

Sidraine tilted his head.

‘Leaving such a good place…’

It probably meant going to the academy.

The dream of many noble teens.

But he didn’t seem particularly excited.

Most noble teens would be dreaming when talking about the academy.

“Hmm. With your talent, you’ll do well. Your sisters are at the academy, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then academy life will be comfortable.”

Sidraine, meanwhile, carefully drew a tiny amount of mana.

Just enough to not be affected by the mana backflow.

‘I’m curious about his talent.’

To gauge this intriguing boy’s abilities.

Sidraine used the concentrated mana to sense Dane’s body.

‘Such dense mana…’

He was astonished.

The density of Dane’s mana was incredible.

The flow was overwhelming.

If other talented teens were like streams, Dane was a raging torrent.

A dam ready to burst.

Yet, Dane seemed perfectly calm.

He should be unstable with such mana, but he wasn’t.

‘Unbelievable.’

There were two conclusions.

He had immense talent to control such mana.

And…

“No matter how high your status, assessing someone’s mana without permission is rude.”

As if he noticed what Sidraine was doing and remained unphased.

His mana affinity was beyond comprehension.

Sidraine chuckled at Dane’s disapproving look.

“Haha…”

“Is that what tower masters do?”

“Ahem. I apologize. That was rude.”

Sidraine realized.

‘So, the increasing magic I felt…’

It wasn’t his recovery.

It was because of Dane’s immense mana approaching.