Chapter 6

"Earlier, you said, 'How dare you return to this house, you useless one without a blessing.' But I do have a blessing. Do you know why such a judgment was made?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You must have bribed the priest to give a false appraisal, right? Didn't you say it yourself when you pushed me off the cliff?"

"What? You're making up stories to frame me. Dad, this guy is not only useless but also a terrible liar! He's trying to make me look bad because he doesn't want to be exiled! The fact that his blessing hasn't awakened is the best proof that he's lying—"

"Ice Magic, activate."

I released a sharply pointed blade of ice, aiming just beside Adam's face.

"Huh?"

Adam blinked several times and slowly turned around. Seeing the statue by the wall shattered to pieces, he swallowed hard.

"If it had been just 5 millimeters off, you would have been the one like that."

"Wh-what... wha... wha..."

"My blessing can be used, as you can see. Thanks to you pushing me to the bottom of the abyss, I was exposed to life-threatening danger, which awakened my blessing."

"No way... No, even if you can use your blessing, it just means the priest made a mistake in the appraisal...!! I didn't bribe him at all!!"

"The sins of the priest you colluded with were all exposed by the acting high priest. As a result, he was ordered to leave the temple by the acting high priest. He's probably still packing his things. Should I call him here?"

"..."

"What... Dio, you can use Ice Magic? You have a blessing!?"

Pushing aside the still dazed Adam, my stepfather—Bryce—approached me.

"Great job! Great job!!"

He patted my shoulder happily. I grabbed his hand and quietly moved him aside, causing Bryce's expression to stiffen slightly. He cleared his throat to cover his awkwardness and turned to Adam.

"Adam, do you understand what you've done!? The useless one is you, not him!! And to think you bribed a priest...!! You've disgraced the family name!!"

Adam seemed to realize he couldn't talk his way out of this anymore.

"Damn it. But if that's just a basic Ice Magic, my Fire Magic should be stronger...! Dad, compare us and see who is more suitable to be the heir!"

Seeing Adam begin his incantation, Bryce's eyes widened.

"Idiot, what are you doing in the house—!?"

Ignoring Bryce's frantic voice completely, Adam continued his incantation.

"Dio, Dio, Dio, Dio!! I'm the eldest son, so I'm definitely better than you!! Take this!!"

With a scream, Adam released his Fire Magic.

Sigh.

"Poor you, Adam."

I raised one hand and activated my Ice Magic. The difference in power was clear. Adam's all-out Fire Magic was easily swallowed by my Ice Magic and vanished instantly. The backlash sent Adam flying into the wall, where he collapsed.

Lying there in a heap, Adam groaned in pain and looked up.

"Wh-what... How can someone like you use such powerful Ice Magic...!?"

"I've proven that I'm not without a blessing. Do you still insist you're right? If you want to fight more, I'll make sure to finish this properly."

"Ah! I understand!! I was wrong!! I admit to framing you, so please forgive me...!!"

"Alright. Then get out of this house right now."

"What!? I can't survive if I'm kicked out of the house...!! I apologize for trying to kill you, so please forgive me!!"

"Would you prefer to be blown out of the house by an Ice Blizzard or pack your things and leave on your own?"

"Both are terrible options...!!"

As Adam collapsed on the floor and started crying—.

—Clap, clap, clap.

Hearing the deliberate clapping, I turned to see Bryce with a broad smile.

"Hahaha! Dio, well done!! Being able to use two types of magic! Now I can make you the heir without any complaints! —What are you doing, Adam? You're in the way. Get out of this house as Dio said!"

"You should be the one to leave."

"Huh?"

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