Around that time, Duke Astra ascended the stage.

At his appearance, all the family members stood up.

The children from the beginner training class present in the training ground, as well as the other kids who came to watch the combat training, bowed their heads.

The Duke took his seat.

Only then did the two-year-olds sit down and the three-year-olds raise their heads.

The Marquis Debussy, who accompanied the Duke as an observer, spoke.

“Begin the match.”

Deng─ Deng─

The bell rang twice, and the teacher acting as referee took his place in the center of the training ground.

The match had begun.

The training ground was transformed into a small forest by magical devices.

This forest was where we would compete.

Adults could watch us through broadcasting magical devices placed here and there.

The rules were simple.

‘It’s another treasure hunt.’

The professors here seemed to really like treasure hunts.

It was inevitable.

Matches safe enough for kids aged three to eleven to participate in were limited.

The referee teacher unfolded a paper with the victory conditions and read it aloud.

“The side holding the amethyst until the match ends will win.”

The children buzzed excitedly.

“So we just have to find the amethyst, right? Good thing we have someone with the Gaho of smell.”

“Do gems have a smell?”

The kids rushed off to find the amethyst.

Joffrey’s group also began to move.

Liantin and Dionera watched Joffrey’s group anxiously.

“Uh, what do we do? Joffrey’s group has someone who can control insects. If they release bugs in the forest, they’ll find it quickly.”

Dionera said hesitantly with furrowed brows, and Liantin responded.

“I have a special-type Gaho too!”

Now that I think about it, what was Liantin’s Gaho?

It had never been mentioned in Ice.Dark.Hand.

“What kind of Gaho?”

“I—!”

Liantin shouted and waved her hand.

Her wrist was wrapped with several layers of threadlike light.

“...What is that?”

“Yes! What do I do now?”

“...Stay still.”

Liantin pouted.

“Sh-shouldn’t we hurry and find the amethyst too...?”

“No.”

“Huh?”

The victory condition was to hold the amethyst until the match ended.

Even if you found it, if you couldn’t hold on to it, you couldn’t win.

‘They want us to fight while holding the amethyst.’

I took Dionera and Liantin deep into the forest.

Dionera, being a well-behaved child who listened well, followed closely.

As for Liantin...

‘She’s surprisingly tame.’

It seemed she thought I was a step above her since I had entered the rank group.

We crouched side by side deep in the bushes.

“What are we doing?”

“Yeah. I wonder what we’re supposed to do...”

“We’re resting here.”

Dionera and Liantin looked puzzled.

The adults watching the match ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) through the magical screen frowned.

The three girls had gone deep into the forest and showed no signs of coming out.

“What are those girls doing there?”

“Maybe they’re scared of the match because they’re girls.”

Laughter burst from the stage.

Some kids froze and didn’t move, scared during the live combat training.

A five-year-old boy from another group started crying loudly as the match began and was disqualified by the referee.

In contrast, Joffrey was darting around.

[“Found the location? Hurry up!”]

[“Uh, looks like it’s up in that tree...”]

[“Fabio, climb up the tree.”]

[“Huh?!”]

[“You’re the tallest.”]

“Joffrey is skilled at command.”

In truth, it was closer to bullying, but they praised it as such to flatter Joffrey’s father, Balderic.

Balderic laughed heartily.

“Since I’ve taken him everywhere since he was young, he must have learned on his own.”

“Smart kid. He must take after his uncle.”

“Everyone says they look exactly alike.”

Balderic gave Duke Astra a pointed look.

Then he raised his voice as if boasting.

“He scored very well on today’s test too. The professor praised him so much I felt embarrassed.”

Liantin’s father, Deconz, frowned.

“That brat...!”

Liantin had clutched her books the whole break.

“Why don’t you take it easy?”

“This time I’m definitely getting into the rank group. Don’t disturb me, Dad!”

She had worked so hard...

Deconz grumbled and shifted his weight, but his wife grabbed his arm and whispered.

“Honey.”

“But dear, just listen to him...”

“I know. I’m frustrated too. But there’s no other way right now.”

Though calm, his wife tightly gripped her skirt.

Deconz lowered his head with a sullen expression.

[“Found─”]

[“Give it here!”]

Joffrey quickly snatched the amethyst found by his teammates.

“That Joffrey, he found it already. Hahaha!”

Balderic was extremely pleased.

When he was young, he was overshadowed by his older brother Grimier and second brother Daymond.

But now?

The eldest, Grimier, had no children and was unacknowledged.

Daymond’s daughter was stuck in a corner playing alone.

Meanwhile, his own son dominated the field and was the first to get the amethyst.

Of course, other groups also aimed for the amethyst.

[“There’s the amethyst!”]

[“Take it! Attack!”]

A skirmish broke out from attacks by other groups.

But since they were kids, they didn’t use their Gaho power strongly.

The greatest effect was restraining one of Joffrey’s group with threads extended from their hands.

[“They’re annoying!”]

Joffrey’s Gaho was called .

It allowed him to transform his lower jaw into the teeth of beasts like wolves or crocodiles.

But Joffrey hadn’t developed it beyond a certain level, so it only transformed into dog teeth.

[“It’s Wolf Fang! Aaargh!”]

[“Son of a—!”]

Still, it was enough to threaten the kids.

After ten minutes of brawling, the other groups trembled and backed off.

Balderic wore a satisfied smile.

He glanced at Daymond, who watched the magical screen with an indifferent face.

“Brother, how is it? Isn’t Joffrey better than your twins?”

“The match isn’t over yet.”

Compared to other groups, Joffrey’s team had higher-level members.

They were the oldest kids and had useful Gaho for this match.

So it was natural for them to be ahead.

“You’re being harsh with your evaluation. Meanwhile, your daughter isn’t doing anything.”

“Balderic.”

“Well, I understand. What can a kid with Gaho to read ancient language do in real combat?”

“You—”

“Yes, yes, it’s probably wiser to hide like that. Our Joffrey’s cries would drive us mad.”

Balderic burst into laughter.

[“There she goes!”]

Erilot, who had been idly watching in the forest, finally stepped out before Joffrey.

People gasped and focused their magical screens on Erilot.

‘Now?’

There were less than ten minutes until the match ended.

What was she going to do now, stepping out?

“A childish tantrum.”

“But isn’t it dangerous? How could Erilot, who reads ancient language, handle Joffrey who has an attack-type Gaho...”

Then—

[“Dionera unnie!”]

Just as Erilot shouted, Dionera kicked the ground fiercely and closed the distance to Joffrey in a flash.

And—

Bang─!

Her punch narrowly missed Joffrey and struck a tree, which crashed down with a cracking sound.

[“You damn crow! Are you crazy?!”]

Joffrey yelled, and Dionera flinched.

[“J-just give the amethyst... I’ll go...”]

[“Who do you think you are! Fabio!”]

Fabio, a member of Joffrey’s group with Gaho, stepped forward quickly.

Fabio created a barrier in front of Joffrey.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Dionera’s punches cracked the barrier like breaking glass.

[“Uh, uh-oh?!”]

Dionera’s Gaho was strong but not enough to break Fabio’s barrier.

“Has Dionera’s Gaho grown stronger?”

“Until now, no one said that! How on earth...”

One of the two-year-olds stood up suddenly.

“The kids in Joffrey’s group can no longer maintain their Gaho!”

Kids can maintain Gaho only for about ten minutes.

Joffrey’s group had exceeded ten minutes while fighting others.

‘Wait a minute, then...’

[“What are they doing?”]

[“Yeah, I wonder what they’re doing...”]

[“They’re resting here.”]

Resting here...

...Until Joffrey’s group can no longer use Gaho.

Those who noticed Erilot’s strategy took a deep breath.

“No way. This is a three-year-old’s command?”

“Impossible. Must be coincidence!”

[“Those unlucky girls─!”]

Joffrey shoved a useless teammate and stepped forward.

Growl─!

He barked and lunged to bite Dionera.

[“Liantin unnie!”]

Erilot shouted again, and Liantin tightly closed her eyes and rushed before Joffrey.

Light flashed around her wrist.

[“Aaah!”]

A burst of light poured out, and Joffrey quickly retreated.

Losing balance, he staggered and fell on his backside.

“They’re timing it perfectly to use Liantin’s Gaho.”

“No way. Are they really commanding, not just coincidence?”

All eyes on the stage turned sharply to Daymond.

At that moment, Erilot dashed toward Joffrey in the magical screen.

Daymond’s hand tightened as he watched.

‘Now’s the time.’

Clenching her fist, Erilot slammed it down hard on Joffrey’s head.

[“Stop fooling around.”]

Joffrey’s face, battered, returned smoothly to its usual expression.

Then—

[“Uhohoh! Dad—!!”]

Balderic’s face twisted with fury.

‘That idiot...!’

He hurriedly looked at Duke Astra.

The Duke was stiffened, staring at the magical screen.

“Is that even possible?”

To his question, Marquis Debussy chuckled dryly.

“Well, I’ve never heard or seen anything like it. But one thing’s clear.”

“...”

“There was a genius in this factory that we didn’t know about.”

Hearing the two, Balderic clenched his teeth.

Daymond twisted his mouth looking at Balderic.

“What can you do? The one crying is not my daughter.”

“...!”

Balderic’s face turned bright red.

The match ended.

When Erilot handed the amethyst to the referee, the training ground, transformed by the magical devices, returned to its original form.

Liantin was the first to rush out.

“Mom! Dad!”

Deconz and his wife hurried down the stage stairs.

“Did you see? I knocked down Joffrey!”

“Yes. Very well done!”

“You were amazing.”

While Liantin smiled brightly between the couple,

“Miss—!”

“Miss—!!”

Enzo and soldiers from Daymond’s jurisdiction shouted loudly, rushing over.

They surrounded Erilot, ready to toss her up in celebration.

Daymond’s soldiers were known for their individual strength.

They could easily handle a small country if elite.

But even they weren’t well regarded in Astra.

They were outmatched by capital investments and troop numbers.

Eventually, Daymond’s jurisdiction was mocked as a paper tiger.

Yet this little girl defeated the heirs of much larger jurisdictions, claiming victory outright.

The slick soldiers of other jurisdictions had no words.

“Smart!”

“Wise!”

“Proud of you!”

“Ugh... uncomfortable...”

Erilot struggled, caught in the tight circle of soldiers.

Through that, an arm slipped in and lifted the child up.

“Abami.”

“You were wonderful.”

Erilot raised her arms and shouted,

“Yes!”

Soon, the twins who had been watching from the stage ran over.

“Baby, I saw you beating up Joffrey’s head! I saw it!”

“Me too. That was awesome, Erilot.”

The twins were ecstatic about their sister’s performance.

“I want to be held too!”

“Balzac is careless and will drop you. Give her to me.”

“She’s my daughter.”

While the celebration was in full swing,

“Father!”

Joffrey hurriedly ran toward his father Balderic.

“This is... well, what happened was...!”

“Quiet.”

“No, no, it’s just... I couldn’t focus!”

Joffrey shouted.

Only then did Balderic look at his son.

“What nonsense?”

Joffrey rolled his eyes and suddenly remembered a good excuse.

‘Right, that was it.’

Something hidden in that unlucky girl’s room.

“The fountain pen Father gave me! It went missing, so I couldn’t focus on the match!”

“Fountain pen?”

“Yes. Someone must have stolen it. I saw it until morning classes. One of the beginner class kids.”

“What?!”

“It must be one of the latecomers. Liantin, Dionera, or me... no, Erilot!”

Joffrey pointed at Erilot and loudly accused her.

The training ground grew noisy again.

Joffrey smirked.

“Liantin and Dionera wore clothes without pockets. Erilot carried a bag.”

“...”

“You can at least fit a fountain pen in a bag.”