Chapter : 133

When Theo headed to the General Affairs Office, unaware of the negotiation, bordering on a threat, unfolding between the two fathers, he felt a twinge of pity seeing Yuno working with sunken eyes.

However, his own sense of injustice took precedence, so he confronted him.

"The work you gave me yesterday, it was actually a month's worth, wasn't it?"

There was no reply.

Theo genuinely wanted to grab Yuno by the collar and shake him.

Why did you do that to me!

Half of him wanted to demand an answer, while the other half thought, he must have had his reasons.

Right... hate the sin, not the sinner.

Clinging to his rapidly shattering composure, Theo faced Yuno.

"Who was it that finished it all in one day?"

It was me! Theo wanted to tear his own hair out.

His mistake was thinking he had to finish all the work he was given in one day.

"Then you could have told me today."

"Come to think of it, I believe someone was late today."

"Haha, what a disappointing thing to say."

Theo quickly approached Yuno and grasped his hands firmly.

Let go of my hand, won't you?

Yuno threatened with his eyes, and Theo obediently released his grip.

His opponent was in a position of power, one who would determine Theo's grade.

Theo clenched his fists, knowing he couldn't curse him out, no matter how much he wanted to.

"From now on, I'll only give you half."

"A fortnight's worth of work?"

"Half of a half."

"I'll work hard!"

It was a choice made under the rash judgment that even a week's worth of work wouldn't be that much.

He didn't know that even that was part of Yuno's calculation.

In any case, there was a limit to the work that could be assigned.

His opponent was a student from the Academy on an internship, and a successor who would one day become the lord of another fief.

The calculation was that about seven times the amount of work a normal intern did would be just right.

Unaware of this fact, Theo was currently cheering that his workload had been reduced by a quarter.

He really is young. Yuno suppressed a chuckle.

"I'm sorry for deceiving you."

"In any case, the work must have been hard for you too, Yuno."

At Theo's words, which seemed to understand him, Yuno was momentarily at a loss for words. This made him feel a little sorry.

Yuno remained silent for a moment before patting Theo's shoulder.

"Thank you."

"By the way.

You're not the illegitimate child of some noble family, or something like that, are you?"

"Why do you ask that all of a sudden?"

"In novels, characters like you usually have a sad backstory about being the illegitimate child of a noble family."

"If you were expecting something like that, I apologize.

I was born into a perfectly normal family.

I'm not an orphan, nor did I start working as an administrator to avenge a parent lost to some noble house."

Ah, usually 'that kind of thing' would be more interesting.

Was this too much of a cliché to include? Or maybe it turns out an administrator in our fief is like that.

"I don't know what you're expecting, but nobles usually kill off their illegitimate children cleanly."

"That's not clean at all, is it?"

"Because it's a headache if they come back later and cause trouble."

"Geez, that's too much."

To kill for such a reason. How could they do that to their own child?

At Theo's continued mumbling, Yuno's eyes widened slightly.

It was a very surprising statement, and at the same time—

"That's not something a noble would say."

"That's..."

Isn't it because I'm a possessor?

Theo pondered the question alone before letting out a soft laugh.

Then again, to say he wasn't completely noble-like, he had just flaunted his status as a noble to his heart's content at the House of Mercy right before coming to the Viscounty of Loren.

Theo swallowed an awkward laugh.

In any case, even if it was for Lucian, the deed was done and couldn't be erased.

He also wondered if he hadn't just attached the pretext of 'for Lucian's sake' to an act meant to relieve his own anger.

Seeing Theo clam up, Yuno asked.

"Why? Did you remember something unpleasant?"

"Is it that obvious?"

"Your emotions tend to show on your face."

At Yuno's explanation, Theo quietly fidgeted with his face.

As if he didn't understand, Yuno spoke firmly to the still-moving Theo.

"But, if possible, it's better to live while showing your emotions like that."

"Why?"

"When you're expressionless, the atmosphere gets a bit murderous."

Finding the words difficult to comprehend, Theo decided to give up on understanding. A day would come when he would understand.

"I understand."

"Then let's stop the chatter and get to work."

It seemed the presence of one more person made a big difference.

To be able to chat during work.

Ah, was it that there was no one to chat with before, not that there was no time?

Yuno, who had become solemn for a moment, picked up his quill pen as if nothing had happened.

Theo followed Yuno's lead and started working.

* * *

In any case, I had a lot of work today, so I worked overtime and left before Yuno.

On my way out, I stopped by the kitchen again to pick up snacks for Albedo and Lou, along with a late-night meal for myself.

As I returned to my room, I heard Lou's loud chirping from outside the door.

Is he fighting with Albedo again? I threw the door open, and saw Lou dancing fluffily on Father's palm.

"Father?"

"Is the work manageable?"

"The work is manageable, I suppose."

"For someone who says that, you're getting off work a bit late."

The explanation would be a bit long.

As I stood there with an awkward expression, Father strode over and gently stroked my hair.

"As long as you look healthy, that's all that matters."

While he smiled faintly, Lou flew over and settled on my head.

"I heard this is a bird you've started raising."

"Yes, it just happened."

"He looks smart, so he should be fine."

Seeing Father's satisfied smile, I chuckled lightly and gave Lou and Albedo their respective jerky and dried sweet potato strips.

Leaving the two beasts to diligently eat their shares, I looked at Father with a slightly nervous expression.

"I've spoken to Viscount Loren, so from now on, you can learn magic at the castle's watchtower from 10 p.m. to midnight.

The person in charge should have been notified as well."

It was a good thing I had talked to Yuno about his future work schedule in advance.

If I hadn't, I would have felt sorry for him.

It would be much better from Yuno's perspective if I adjusted the work myself.

"Are you getting off work at this time?"

"I had overtime today. I'll finish early starting tomorrow."

I felt a little happy reading the worry in Father's eyes.

Even if I was no different from a sunfish, I wasn't that weak.

In any case, there was no reason to feel bad about someone worrying about me, so a smile naturally spread across my face.

"If you say so."

As Father lightly snapped his fingers, the view of the room instantly changed to the castle's watchtower.

My eyes widened in amazement at the greatness of teleportation magic.

Using teleportation magic as a skill was a real pain.

"Could you teach me teleportation magic?"

"That might be very difficult."

"I know, but teleportation magic is useful for running away."

Father must have known that I could do something similar to teleportation magic through some means.

However, being able to use something similar and actually using magic were two completely different things.

Moreover, I had a history of making the excuse that I taught the Emperor teleportation magic, so it seemed much better to actually know how to use it.

As I stared at Father with sparkling eyes, he slowly nodded his head.

"If you say so, there's no reason I can't teach you.

However, before that, today I must tell you about your 'eyes'."

"My eyes?"

"Yes, there is something you must keep secret from others."

Father's mumbling face was not very bright.

"Have you heard the word 'Simunan'?"

"No? I don't think you've ever mentioned that word in class."

Father's hand suddenly touched the corner of my eye.

His touch was so cold that it sent a shiver down my spine.

"Is it important?"

"Yes, it is important, if I must say. But the reason I didn't mention it in class is... because it doesn't appear very often."

"So why does that matter?"

What does that have to do with me? Could it be...?

"You were born with that rare talent."

He was serious.

At the same time, the status window, which had been quiet for a few days, chimed, ting.

[You have realized the truth. You have gained access to information related to Simunan. Would you like to view the information?]

Don't they usually tell you this kind of thing a bit earlier?

Was it too soon for me to know before?

I didn't feel great about it, but it wasn't the first or second time the system had hidden information from me. It wasn't even surprising anymore.

I'll check this later and focus on Father's explanation.

"What on earth is this Simunan that I have to hide it?"

"It is an eye that sees the flow of all mana."

As Father gently spread his hand, a small magic circle appeared clearly on it.

Within it, I could clearly see a flow like that of blood.

So, you're saying that this flow of mana, which looks so natural to me, is invisible to the average person?

"It is a rare and precious talent that has not been seen for decades, sometimes even centuries... I also have Simunan."

If this 'Simunan' was something entirely good, Father wouldn't look so dead, right?

"Does that eye run in the family?"

"No, it's not hereditary. Yes, it is not."

It wouldn't be just my illusion to think that he looked as if he thought it would have been better that way, would it?

Father was genuinely sorry to me.

How could I even think of blaming someone who was so sorry, so very sorry that he was at a loss for what to do and had even lost the words to say?

"Is there something bad about it?"

"If it becomes known that you have Simunan, many will try to kill you."

That's a bit scary.

"Are there any other bad points? Like, do you die young or something."

"That's not it. Rather... it's also proof of the qualities of a great mage.

Not all great mages have Simunan, but there has never been a person with Simunan who was not a great mage."

The story was that as long as I wasn't killed, becoming a great mage was guaranteed.

Isn't this an incredible talent?

I suddenly wondered if the system knew that Theo's eyes were special and had me possess this body.

"I'm sorry to have passed on something so dangerous."

"It's not even a hereditary talent."

Besides, the fact that it was an incredible talent was a truth that no one could deny.

If anything, it was something I should be grateful for, having received it thanks to Father.

"I'll survive somehow and show you myself becoming a great mage."

I smiled nonchalantly and gave Father a thumbs-up.

Pleased with my answer, Father smiled brightly and stroked my hair once more.

"Please do."

"Yes!"

"Then, shall we begin our lesson in that spirit?"

...Ah, so that's how the story flows.

I had a gut feeling when I saw the fervor burning in his eyes.

Ah, I'm f*cked.