Chapter 72

The Viscount's Magic Genius - Chapter 73 (72/324)

73

The kid swallowed hard when he saw my Fire Arrow.

"…Are you really going to keep your promise?"

"Yes. Didn't we make a contract? It's only natural that there should be some benefit for you to understand."

"I have one question."

"Go ahead."

"It seems you're planning to supply magic through the Duke's family. Why did you make such a contract? There's no need to reveal your magic to all the mages, is there?"

Why indeed.

The current level of the continent's people is too low.

If I can significantly raise the average level, it could be a great help in the future.

Even if they can catch one more person instead of just one, it would be a significant gain.

Of course, I can't explain this to the kid, so I plan to modify my answer a bit.

"Because I wanted to spread my magic widely."

"…Then why don't you do it yourself? Why have the Duke's family do it for you?"

Iris.

She may be smart, but she's still a greenhouse flower, having grown up only within the viscount's family. That's why she's asking such a one-dimensional question.

"I may have reached the 2nd Circle, but there are many stronger people in the world. If I go around publicly revealing magic formulas, do you think they would just stand by?"

"Who would stand by the Celation Viscount's family…"

"The Viscount's family is strong, but I am not."

"…"

"Do you understand?"

"…Sort of. I can't really understand why you want to spread magic, though…"

Indeed.

It's not like she's spreading it at a tournament or something; she's just handing over magic to the Duke's family.

It might be hard for her to understand from her perspective. But I've explained it to her to some extent.

"Let's have the lesson in my room."

I still need to keep it a secret that I'm in the 2nd Circle, so I can't teach magic in an open place like the training ground.

Adolf's spies are still moving around.

The safest place is still my room.

"Let's start. Do you know about Fire Arrow?"

"Of course."

"Let's start by drawing a picture."

After activating my Third Eye.

I drew a picture similar to her mana circuit and began to explain magic slowly.

* * * * *

Two hours.

It was the first time she used a Fire Arrow with the hybrid activation method.

It's definitely more complicated to activate than a 1st Circle spell, so it took quite a while.

Whoosh!

She finally managed to activate the 2nd Circle spell without any issues.

"Done!"

"Good job."

"I want to try it…"

"It's not possible right now. Go back to your family and try it there."

The kid's face pouted at my words.

"Why?"

"Didn't I say? Most of the people in our family still think I'm a 1st Circle mage."

"What does that have to do with anything? I'm the one using the magic."

"It's problematic for you to go outside and randomly cast the magic I taught you."

"…"

Iris started to look at me with a blank expression.

She seems upset.

That's why teaching kids is so troublesome.

I think I need to give her a little more incentive.

"In return, I'll teach you one more thing."

"Magic?"

"No. Advice on Fire Arrow. It's currently in the hybrid activation state, right?"

Then an arrow appeared above my hand.

"Here, if you rotate the mana in a specific way and make it collide…"

Whoosh!

The flames began to rise much more vigorously than before, and Iris's eyes widened.

"This way, the firepower is much stronger. And when you launch the arrow, you can make it as fast as a real arrow."

"Really… as fast as a real arrow?"

"Yes."

"What's the method?"

"If you promise to test the magic I taught you today when you return to the viscount's family, I'll tell you."

The kid nodded frantically at my words.

"Alright. First, rotate the mana…"

That's how the advanced lessons on the theory of a great mage began in my room.

Advanced course.

This was much more difficult than applying the hybrid activation method. You have to rotate the mana in a certain direction while simultaneously causing a collision.

The process was quite complicated.

Two hours.

It was the time when the kid, who had been struggling for a long time, started to look exhausted.

"…It's not working."

"Of course not. I also struggled a lot when I first applied it."

To be precise, I had to pour a lot of mana into it.

Then the kid, who had been staring at me, asked quietly.

"…How long did it take you?"

"What exactly are you asking?"

"How long did it take you to apply what you just taught me?"

"About a day? I think it took roughly that long."

After discovering the original text and understanding about 10% of it.

It took roughly that long to absorb the entire content of the original text using the mana stones I obtained from my negotiations with Adolf.

The kid's eyes started to show surprise at my answer.

"…Are you really not a monster? You applied this in just one day?"

"Monster? That's a term used when you see a monster."

"No. It doesn't make sense."

"Why doesn't it make sense? It's just that your magic skills are lacking."

"…"

"And you don't have to do it in just one day like me. Here, take this."

What I handed over was a book I had transcribed from the part of the original text that contained the secrets.

A method to increase the speed and firepower of magic.

It was a condensed magic book with my focused interpretation.

The kid, who read the magic book, started to stick out her tongue.

"Isn't this too difficult?"

"It's difficult, but that's why the power increases. This is your homework. Until the next time you come, try to activate the magic using the theory written here. Shall we eat now?"

"My stomach isn't…"

Rumble.

Before the kid could finish her sentence, the sound of a stomach growling started.

There was no need to guess who the culprit was.

Whoosh!

The kid's face turned red as if from a cartoon.

"It's already been six hours. You need to eat."

"…How long are you going to teach me?"

"After dinner, I'll teach you until night. I have some work to do in the morning."

"…Hurry up and give me food."

"Alright."

Perhaps because I had already told Ersiel.

The food was delivered almost instantly.

"Thanks. I'll eat well."

"You're welcome."

The kid, who had been staring at me and Ersiel, asked a question.

"…Is she a maid?"

Oh, right.

I haven't introduced my maid to her yet.

"Yes. She's my personal maid."

At the end of my answer.

The kid looked at the maid.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Iris Neron. What's your name?"

"My name is Ersiel."

In response to Iris's question, she bowed her head slightly and said.

Well.

Ten years old and eight years old.

An age where they could easily get along as sisters, but the visible difference in status.

The kid, who received the greeting as if it were natural, started to scan Ersiel as if she were a scanner.

Then.

"I'll eat the food well. You can go now."

She immediately issued an order to leave.

Wow.

It felt like a conversation between a rich girl and a waiter.

Of course, since it's a natural way of speaking in this world, I had no intention of stopping it.

No matter how much I've been influenced by democracy, it's practically impossible to overturn the class system here.

Even if I could.

'There's no real need to do so.'

Unless you're on the side that doesn't benefit, there's no need to overturn it when you're on the side that benefits greatly.

Even though the kid's order to leave had been issued, Ersiel didn't move.

She was just staring at me.

"Didn't you hear me?"

"…My master is Kyle."

"Damn."

Then the two kids' eyes met.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

It's not like they were having a conversation with their eyes.

What was surprising was Ersiel's appearance.

A kid who would normally have turned her eyes away immediately was still looking at the other kid.

The ten-year-old was expressionless, and the eight-year-old was smiling sadly as they looked at each other.

It was far from a warm and friendly atmosphere.

Then the kid's face started to turn red. She had probably been holding back her anger, thinking three times before getting angry.

If I leave it like this, something might happen.

"Since the greetings are over, let's eat."

I intervened between the two.

I gave Ersiel a subtle nod.

"…Enjoy your meal, young master."

"Thanks."

Creak.

Then she left the room.

The kid, who had been sitting near me, started to rant.

"…Damn. Is she really a maid? She acts like she's something! Isn't she too arrogant…"

"Stop."

"…What?"

"She is a maid, but she's not just a simple maid. And what she said isn't wrong. As my maid, she should follow my orders, not yours."

Ersiel.

Her status is a personal maid, but her value is far more than that. She is a precious S-class talent, more valuable than a hundred mediocre knights.

She's a talent on par with Iris.

Moreover.

Even though I've adapted to the class system, I don't intend to apply it harshly to my subordinates.

I plan to raise my maid's status to a minor noble in the future.

Iris's expression showed confusion at my words.

After a moment.

"…You don't mean to tell me you've given your heart to a mere maid?"

She asked with a look of genuine confusion.

The jealousy in the kid's eyes was unmistakable. Is my appearance that appealing?

Anyway.

An eight-year-old kid asking a ten-year-old if she's given her heart to a maid.

Is this a fantasy?

Even though it's common for people to get married in their early teens here, that's just the local custom.

I need to clear up this misunderstanding.

"That's not it."

"Tch! What do you mean it's not? She looked pretty earlier. That's what it is. If not, there's no reason for you to stop me over a mere maid."

If I don't clear this up, the misunderstanding will persist.

Since I plan to include this kid in my party, it's better to give her a hint.

"That kid is an elemental mage."

"…An elemental mage?"

"Normally, there aren't many talented people with a gift for elements. Ersiel has a talent that can be counted on one hand among elemental mages."

"…Is that true?"

"Yes. In terms of magic, she has talent on par with you. That's why I plan to raise her status to a minor noble when the time comes."

Perhaps because of the mention of an elemental mage.

I added a bit more to the kid, who seemed to perk up her ears.

"Besides, she didn't respond incorrectly. It's not wrong to make eye contact."

"…"

"Please keep her being an elemental mage a secret. I only mentioned it because I trust you."

"…Tch! I'll keep it to myself."

"Since you're both around the same age, I hope you can get along well."

"…I don't know."

It seems it will take quite a while for them to get along. But now that she knows Ersiel is a talented elemental mage, she won't treat her like a mere maid.

She'll at least show some respect.

That's how Iris and I started our late dinner.