Chapter 77

"Did I win..."

Seeing Legal unconscious, I feel relieved.

I, who had always been a failure, managed to defeat Legal, the top student in school.

I am happy about it.

Still, I shouldn’t be satisfied with just this.

I aim to reach the heights of a mage.

More specifically, I might aim to become the world’s greatest mage, the 'Titled Sage.' I once admired this goal, but I had a setback. Now, I might be able to aim for it again.

"I can't just leave him here."

Legal is lying in front of me.

I held back, so I don’t think he’ll die if I leave him here, but as a sign of respect for his fight, I should at least take him to the infirmary.

"Oof."

The moment I hoisted him, a heavy weight pressed down on my entire body.

I need to put in some effort to carry him.

"What happened? Big brother?"

Suddenly, I bump into my sister Nene in the hallway.

She looks surprised, probably because I’m carrying an unconscious Legal.

"Well, I found him lying there, so I thought I’d take him to the infirmary."

I decided not to mention the duel to avoid worrying her. She nods, seeming to understand.

"Is that so? Do you need help?"

"Sure, that would be a big help."

With her help, we carry Legal to the infirmary.

"By the way, you haven’t been coming to school much lately. I was worried."

"Well, a lot has been going on. If I made you worry, I’m sorry."

"It’s okay, as long as you’re fine."

We have this conversation and leave the infirmary together.

"Hey, can I come to your place again next time?"

"Sure, no problem."

I’d welcome my sister anytime, so she doesn’t need to ask, but...

"Come to think of it..."

"Recently, you haven’t been coming over much, have you?"

At first, she used to visit often after I was disowned, but not so much lately.

"Well, I thought I might be in the way."

Her face seems a bit red as she says this...

"What do you mean?"

I don’t quite understand, so I ask her to clarify.

"Because, you know, it would be bad to disturb you and your girlfriend, right?"

Ah, I see. My sister seems to have misunderstood that I’m dating Closel and has been considerate about it.

Hmm, but I have no relationship with Closel at all.

"Actually, I don’t have a girlfriend."

"Liar! If you didn’t, it would be weird to bring a woman home!"

She had seen Closel and Fokalor at my place before. It seems difficult to clear up this misunderstanding.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, my sister exclaims as if she’s realized something.

"Hey, why are you at this school?"

I turn to see Dimit.

Dimit, the former commoner adopted by my father to be the heir in place of me, who can’t use magic.

I’ve run into this troublesome guy.

"Anyway, I’m going home now."

"Hey, don’t run away, Norman."

Dimit calls out as I try to leave the scene.

"Do you know why you were disowned from that house?"

It sounds like Dimit himself disowned me.

In reality, it was my father who did it. But thinking back, my father did seem to be following Dimit’s wishes when he disowned me.

So, it might not be wrong to think Dimit disowned me.

"Because you were an eyesore. Despite being incompetent, you were still receiving the benefits of a noble. If you stayed in that house, the servants would take care of everything for you. It’s a great life. The thought of you, an incompetent, enjoying it was unbearable. So, I had you kicked out."

I don’t quite understand what he’s trying to say.

But for some reason, I feel a sense of inferiority towards nobles in his tone. Is it just my imagination?

"So, why are you still coming to school so casually after being kicked out?"

"I haven’t given up on mastering magic."

"Hahahaha!!"

Dimit bursts into laughter, his mouth wide open.

"Whatever. Even if an incompetent attends school, they’ll remain incompetent."

After laughing for a while, Dimit says this.

Then—

"Hey, you’re going to participate in the 'Final Feast,' right?"

Ah, right.

It’s that time of year.

The 'Final Feast,' a major event at this school held before graduation.

To put it simply, it’s a battle to determine the strongest student at the school.

Depending on your performance at the 'Final Feast,' you might be offered a scholarship to an excellent academy.

Therefore, it’s a significant event, attended by teachers and parents from other academies.

"I’ll participate."

Graduates are obligated to participate, so I would have participated anyway, even without saying it.

"Good, then. I’ll be able to crush you there."

Dimit nods, looking satisfied.

"My father will be there too, so it’ll be fun."

Having said what he wanted, Dimit leaves.

So, my father will be attending the 'Final Feast' too. Well, it makes sense.

"Are you okay? Dimit is the strongest in this school, despite appearances."

My sister expresses her concern.

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Huh? Why are you smiling now?"

Only then do I realize I was smiling.

"Maybe because I’m looking forward to it..."

If I was smiling, that must be the reason.

"Did you hit your head or something?"

I brush off her comment with a wry smile and think to myself.

What kind of magic will Dimit use, and how will I fight against it?

I can’t wait.

I should be grateful to the demons who taught me that magic can be fun.