Chapter 20

Duke's Magic Genius - Chapter 20 (20/324)

20

After cleaning up the shattered teacup on the floor.

Ersiel brought tea again.

After taking a sip of the black tea, she looked at my hand.

Whoosh!

‘It’s definitely more powerful now.’

The power, casting speed, and even the amount of mana used in the magic.

Perhaps because I had opened quite a few channels, everything was significantly different from yesterday.

If I were in Korea, this would have been an impossible dream.

Even if we talk about miraculous herbs, they would only be ginseng, and eating them wouldn’t produce such amazing effects.

This is why people here are so eager to find such miraculous herbs.

Sigh.

Even the bitter black tea tasted sweet due to the significant progress.

* * * * *

Was it because of the survivors from the village?

The rumors about what had happened to the returning extermination force, which had returned in tatters, had spread throughout the city in just one day.

People who heard the rumors mourned the brave viscounts, knights, and soldiers who had fought the Twin-Headed Ogre.

Then,

they began to praise me for standing my ground and fighting the monster without taking a single step back.

“I heard you’ve changed, but I didn’t know it was this real.”

Starting from this reaction,

“It’s clear that the Fourth Young Master has truly reformed. If he were still the same, the soldiers wouldn’t be praising him so much.”

“Moreover, the Fourth Young Master’s magic skills have reached the heavens. He has completely overcome Hermes and is now a renowned magician in the empire.”

Such reactions.

Due to this extermination force, my reputation has soared to the sky.

Actually, it might have been inevitable.

The numerous feats I had accomplished.

It was something that a mere 1st Circle Mage couldn’t have achieved, making it hard to believe.

A 1st Circle is essentially an apprentice mage.

It’s like a newly hatched chick, just taking its first step into the world of magic.

For such a chick to perform like an eagle, it’s natural for expectations to rise.

Theory is less important than practical experience.

No matter how high one’s circle is, if they can’t perform in real combat, they are no different from a greenhouse flower.

However, I had proven my practical abilities in this extermination force.

My performance was so outstanding that I could be called a pure combat mage.

Perhaps they saw the shadow of a future magic genius in me.

Indeed, the looks from the servants as I passed by the annex were completely different from before.

While they had previously looked at me with positive feelings about my transformation, now their gazes were starting to mix with reverence.

So, they are looking at me with such eyes.

Have I finally moved beyond being treated as a person and started receiving looks of respect?

Despite the changed reputation, my daily routine remained the same.

Exercise, meals, and studying magic books.

I never skipped these three things.

After finishing my daily tasks and returning to the annex, Ersiel approached me.

“Young Master.”

“Hmm?”

“Lord Abel has come to visit.”

“...My eldest brother?”

“Yes. He is waiting in your room right now.”

“Is that so? I see.”

The moment I opened the door,

Abel Celtarion.

The six letters of his name began to appear.

Perhaps because he was an Expert-level knight, only his name and affinity were visible above his head.

Abel’s affinity was surprisingly not low.

0.

To put it simply, it was neutral.

“Eldest brother?”

“Oh, Kyle! It’s been a long time since I last saw you. I was waiting, thinking you had gone out.”

“Did you wait for a long time?”

“No, it was only about thirty minutes. The tea was really delicious. You have a good maid. Thanks to this tea, I didn’t even notice the time passing.”

Thirty minutes is quite a long time.

But looking at Abel’s smiling face, it seemed he didn’t think so.

“I’m sorry for making you wait. But why have you come?”

“Ah, I just wanted to see your face after a long time. I heard you performed greatly in the recent extermination force, so I became curious.”

Curious.

Did my performance spark his curiosity?

I should probably talk to him and see.

“Would you like more tea?”

“Sure, that would be great. It’s been a long time, so we have a lot to talk about.”

Ersiel then placed the black tea in front of Abel and me. As Abel blew on the tea and took a sip, he looked at me.

“Kyle.”

“Yes, eldest brother.”

“To be honest, this is a bit difficult to say...”

Then, Abel scratched the back of his head.

“The reason I came here is not purely to see you. While I do have some feelings for you, I mainly came here to learn more about you as a mage.”

He was a very honest person.

To admit that he came to see me not as a person but as a mage, and to say it out loud.

“...I’m sorry. We are practically brothers, but I thought it was better to be honest. Since it’s been so long since I last visited... I thought you might have some idea.”

Sorry?

Just not having a negative affinity towards this troublemaker is enough to make him a good person.

If I were in his position and had a troublemaker like Kyle as a younger brother, I would have lost all my patience and had a negative affinity.

“It’s fine. I understand that you’re very busy.”

“No, even if I’m busy, I should have visited at least once. On my way here, I realized something. I’m just a materialistic person. If I hadn’t heard about your achievements, I probably wouldn’t have come.”

It was better that he was being honest.

Adolf.

That guy was too snake-like.

Abel and Adolf.

While Adolf is more capable, if I had to choose one, I would definitely choose the former. At least, this guy wouldn’t stab me in the back.

“It’s my fault for not behaving well in the past. I understand. By the way, what is the purpose of your visit?”

“I wanted to talk to you.”

“About what?”

At my question, Abel’s expression hardened.

“To be honest, I’m a bit worried.”

“Worried about...?”

“...Adolf. My brother, but I don’t understand his thoughts at all. Sometimes, when I look into his eyes, I get a creepy feeling.”

This was quite an unexpected topic.

I thought he might try to persuade me, but I didn’t expect him to immediately bring up gossip about Adolf.

Adolf.

He is more skilled than Abel and has a solid base of power, making him a strong competitor.

From the royal family to the nobles of the empire.

The successor is not always the eldest son.

‘Thinking about history, it’s actually quite natural.’

The founding history of the Alton Empire.

When humans first gathered to form a nation.

At that time, humans were very weak and were often invaded by various monsters and other races.

What was the most important virtue in such an unstable period?

If I had to pick one, it would be:

‘Ability.’

This was it.

In an era where survival was the highest virtue,

people chose leaders based on their ability, putting aside personal virtues and character.

This way of thinking has been passed down in the empire. While the eldest son is usually chosen, if there is a more capable younger child, they can be chosen as the successor.

‘Unfortunately, it’s impossible for me.’

If I had entered this body three years earlier, it might have been possible, but it’s too late now. The succession ceremony is only about two months away.

It’s more efficient to support Abel and build my own power base.

It’s hard to tell if he’s bringing this up because of the threat to the succession or if he genuinely feels something about Adolf.

During this time,

Abel, who had been looking at my face, gave a bitter smile.

“I might seem like a poor older brother trying to belittle his younger brother. But... it’s the truth. I have nothing else to say. I really feel this way.”

The serious tone in his voice.

It seems he genuinely feels something from Adolf.

“...Is that so?”

“I think so. Every time I see him, I get a very ominous feeling.”

Abel.

He is more perceptive than I thought.

What should I do?

I briefly considered whether to bring up that Adolf is actually a villain or something.

‘It’s too early for that.’

Making unfounded claims without proof is not a good choice. It’s no different from pointing at a normal person and calling them a demon.

Moreover, if this rumor spreads and reaches Adolf’s ears,

he won’t let me off easily.

So, it’s best to keep this to myself for now. Eventually, an opportunity to bring him down will come.

I should play along for now.

“...It’s true that the second eldest brother’s character is quite cruel.”

At my words, Abel’s eyes widened.

“...You knew too?”

“I felt it a few times when I was young. While he might not be like that now, the memories from when I was young are very vivid. That’s why I said it.”

“Hmm... I see.”

Silence filled the air between Abel and me.

After a moment of contemplation, Abel began to speak.

“Kyle, I’ve heard that you are a promising mage. Let me be direct. Can you lend me your strength?”

“Lend you my strength?”

The recruitment offer was very straightforward.

At my words, Abel’s expression darkened.

After a moment,

as if making a decision, he spoke with a serious expression.

“...Kyle, I have a special ability.”

“...Yes?”

“...I don’t know why, but before something bad happens, I always get an ominous feeling. It’s like a warning. It’s the same now. The longer it goes, the more anxious I feel. It might sound far-fetched... but it’s true.”

After finishing his words, Abel looked at me.

“...If you help me, it will be a great help. I have a feeling that it will be. That’s why I brought this up.”

‘Could it be...’

At the sight of Abel, my expression hardened.

From the bad feeling I got from the villain who had hidden his strength, to the way he spoke as if he had some supernatural power,

‘Does he have a talent related to intuition?’

Intuition.

A talent similar to a sixth sense.

It’s a kind of superpower, and if he has a high-level talent related to it, his reaction now makes sense.

At the sight of Abel, I tilted my head.

In the game, Abel didn’t have a talent related to intuition.

If he did, I would have known about it.

It would have been mentioned in the community where players gather.

‘Is this a change caused by the mix of reality and the game?’

Well, worrying about it now won’t solve anything.

I need to think about how to respond.

The decision was quick.

I was already planning to help Abel, but not right now. If I did, I might end up getting hit by Adolf’s hammer.

“It’s difficult to give a definite answer right now. It’s been a long time since I last saw you, and the second eldest brother also made a similar proposal to me before. It’s hard to decide right away.”

If I help, it will be secretly.

And in a way that maximizes my value.

The best approach is to walk a tightrope between the two and increase my worth.