Chapter 17

Blaze Lamprouge closed the book he had been reading at his desk.

In a room of a high-class inn in the capital.

Unlike the cheap inns on the second floor of taverns, this room was clean and quiet, but now he couldn't concentrate on his studies.

Today was the day Seika would set off for Rodnea.

By now, she might have stopped at the first town and taken a room.

Was his decision the right one?

He couldn't help but think about it.

****

Seika is not Blaze's own child.

Twelve years ago.

A mysterious woman in a black robe brought the infant Seika to the mansion.

She said the child was the son of Blaze's younger brother, Gilbert.

Gilbert was unusual even to his older brother, Blaze.

He was free-spirited and lacked any semblance of nobility. After graduating from the academy, he became an adventurer, eager to see the wider world. It was probably only Gilbert who became an adventurer from the prestigious Lamprouge family, renowned for their expertise in magic.

However, Gilbert was also exceptionally talented.

He graduated top of his class from the academy. As an adventurer, he quickly rose to the upper echelons. Many in the family didn't approve, but as an older brother, Blaze was secretly proud.

So, at first, he couldn't believe it.

When he heard that Gilbert had disappeared in the demon territory one day.

A few years later, when the mysterious woman brought Seika.

Blaze didn't think of sending the child to an orphanage.

Even if it might all be a lie, he felt it was a kind of destiny.

His wife suspected that Seika might be a demon's child.

While Blaze thought it was absurd, he understood her suspicion. Seika was undoubtedly a suspicious child.

But still... the woman had mentioned Gilbert's name with such urgency. He couldn't bear to abandon the child.

To those who would be suspicious, he said Seika was the child of a mistress. Of course, he didn't tell the truth to his two sons.

But as time passed.

Blaze's suspicion that Seika might have demon blood grew.

Her black hair and eyes were rare in this country. That was not all.

From the age of one, Seika began to display magical power.

It was a primitive ability to move objects, not of any particular attribute—something that should have been impossible.

Magic and language are closely related.

Even for a mage who has mastered spell-less casting, this remains true.

Therefore, it is impossible for a child who cannot speak to use magic.

Unless the child is a demon, born with the ability to use magic.

Seika's magic grew stronger over time.

By the age of two, she could not only move objects but also destroy them.

From small objects to larger ones, and eventually, living things.

Seika destroyed toys, beds, insects, and birds without any joy or interest, as if merely confirming her abilities.

He kept Seika's magic a secret from everyone except his wife and a few servants.

His sensitive sons must have sensed something from their fearful mother.

Luft began to fear Seika.

Gry, on the other hand, began to show hostility.

Blaze wondered how much magical power Seika possessed.

When he had her tested at the age of three, the results were unexpected—she had no magical power of any attribute.

This was also strange.

Without magical power, one cannot use magic.

Of course, there are exceptions. But those are cases where someone with negligible magical power can perform trivial magic.

This did not apply to Seika.

Strangely, after the night of the ceremony, Seika became visibly more normal.

She stopped using destructive magic and began to converse more normally.

At times, she seemed more mature than Luft.

He thought she might grow up to be a normal child.

But this idea was shattered when Seika turned seven.

The fire magic she demonstrated during magic practice.

It was not a fireball.

Before considering its power or color, that fire was not magical.

It was probably the combustion of some mineral.

In other words, it was a completely different kind of magic.

Despite being kept away from magic, Seika once again showed her unique magic.

Furthermore, the recent monster incident was also strange.

He examined the corpse of the Elder Nut, but it was clearly not killed by fire.

There were too few burns and external injuries. It was as if it had been poisoned.

Additionally, the mid-level magic shown by the slave girl, Eifa, was peculiar.

She did chant the spell, but it was subtly different from the Flame Spear.

Her father is an excellent man but has no talent for magic. Her mother, who died a few years ago, was the same.

Eifa has been getting along well with Seika recently.

It's hard to believe there's no connection.

There are things about Seika that even her father, Blaze, cannot understand.

That's why.

That's why when Seika said she wanted to go to the academy, he thought it was convenient.

Sending Seika to the military would be too dangerous.

The imperial army is essential for national defense. There must be no risk.

He feels bad about what he did to Gry.

He is an excellent child who can use mid-level magic at his age. He could have achieved results at the academy... but there was no other choice.

He intended to gauge Seika's true nature in the duel with Gry.

Gry would not have been a match for her. So, if there was any danger, he would have intervened immediately, and if necessary—considered killing Seika.

Fortunately or unfortunately, that did not happen.

But... perhaps this was for the best.

His wife is still afraid, but the current Seika is a kind child.

She treats commoners gently and forgives slaves who make mistakes with a smile.

She no longer kills living things indiscriminately; she even gently picked up a spider in her room and released it out the window.

She gets along well with Eifa.

Recently, she has also become closer to Luft.

And she treats Gry the same.

The night before the duel, Seika defeated Gry without a scratch.

No one knows how she did it, but the result alone is enough.

The result that his son is still alive and well.

If surrounded by good people, Seika could become a hero who protects the country.

But conversely—if she is met with betrayal or destruction, she could become a demon who destroys people.

That's what he can't help but feel.

Gilbert once said the academy was a good place.

He hopes—still hopes—that it is.