Chapter 37

Anyas Sears was the youngest daughter of Cristan Sears, an elder of the Sears family.

However, unlike most youngest daughters in noble families, she did not grow up pampered with her father’s unconditional love.

There were two major reasons for this.

First, Cristan Sears’ personality was far removed from the type that cherished family warmth and affection.

Cristan’s interest was solely focused on having the child he bore win the succession competition, claim the position of family head, revive the family with his own hands, and seize the honor that came with it.

Of course, Anyas was also Cristan’s child, and her innate talent was quite exceptional as well…

Second, Cristan’s eldest son, Derek Sears, was so talented that he was currently competing for the 1st or 2nd position among all disciples.

Unfortunately, just when Anyas had achieved the 2nd Circle at a very early age and was showing promise as a rising star, Derek Sears achieved the 5th Circle, causing all of Cristan’s attention to shift entirely to Derek.

“Dad! I worked hard and already achieved the 2nd Circle…”

“What did you say? Derek achieved the 5th Circle? Really?! Hahaha! Yes, I knew it! Derek, you’re truly my son! Hm? What is it, Anyas?”

“Well… I was trying to say that I also achieved the 2nd Circle…”

“I see, you’re doing well compared to your peers. Keep working hard.”

“…Yes.”

Doing well compared to your peers.

It was certainly praise, but the atmosphere and expression were completely different from when he praised Derek.

— I want to catch father’s eye too… I want to be acknowledged.

But since Derek’s talent was objectively exceptional, it seemed too difficult to catch her father’s eye through ordinary methods.

Moreover, Derek had already shown results by reaching 5th Circle.

Even if Derek and Anyas had similar innate talents, if an elixir came into Cristan’s hands or a good opportunity arose to improve skills, Cristan would unhesitatingly give everything to Derek.

If she remained idle, the gap would only widen further.

So the method Anyas came up with was this:

The way to catch her father’s eye was to become a disciple who appeared to have “explosive growth potential when supported” more than Derek.

So after moving up to the 2nd floor, Anyas deliberately skipped classes or showed poor attitudes during lessons.

While pretending to slack off, she secretly studied theory and practiced magic alone in private training rooms.

— The instructors are required to regularly report educational situations to the family head and elders.

Even though she was living so carelessly as to skip classes, her results were good.

If her father learned of this fact, he would surely take interest in her.

So Anyas acted the part of a lazy genius.

— If I can achieve the 4th Circle faster than Derek did…

When she achieved the 3rd Circle and caught a snow bear on her own, she briefly caught Cristan’s attention, but this wasn’t enough.

— I’m sure Derek had trouble once when moving from the 3rd to 4th Circle, hitting a wall.

Even now, Derek had been experiencing a stagnation period at the 5th Circle for several years.

If Anyas could quickly overcome the wall of the 4th Circle at this time…

— If that happens, won’t father look at me?

With such thoughts, Anyas continued to study alone and train by herself repeatedly.

However, no matter what, building one’s realm alone while appearing lazy to others was not an easy task.

Perhaps because of this, Anyas hit a wall even faster than Derek.

— What should I do? Even if I show a diligent attitude now… Should I focus on somehow achieving the 4th Circle alone?

Just when Anyas was wavering like this—

“What exactly are you holding?”

“It’s a snow leopard’s head.”

Cain, who had been secluded for three whole years, revealed himself.

And quite spectacularly at that.

— At first, I thought he was the same type as me.

She thought he had deliberately pretended not to know magic at all to catch his father Blake’s eye, struggled to achieve the 2nd Circle for three years, then drew everyone’s attention with one decisive move.

But soon Anyas realized this wasn’t the case.

The Cain she saw in the training ground had become strong enough to seem evenly matched even if she herself fought him right then.

— How is that even possible? Did he get some secret manual or incredible training method?

Anyas secretly observed Cain, Ed, Fon, and Bolio doing strange training together as she passed by.

— Other disciples laugh it off asking what that is, but…

Anyas saw that their skills increased little by little, but certainly, every time she looked.

— That crude and rude Bolio is trying to break through his shell.

She didn’t know what great opportunity Cain had obtained.

But she thought that if she used that method, she too could quickly overcome her wall and achieve the 4th Circle.

— They run around the courtyard until exhausted or keep holding onto one small magic spell – it must be a smokescreen.

There’s no way such simple things could make magical skills improve rapidly.

Or it might be some kind of preparation process for a real secret training method.

Either way, Anyas wanted to find out that secret.

— But suddenly going on an escort mission?

She heard that once you go on this escort mission, you have to stay away for at least a month before returning.

— Minimum means it could take even longer.

For Anyas to achieve the 4th Circle by this test or the next, she needed to overcome the wall before her eyes as quickly as possible, or at least find clues to overcome it.

— Cain might have a method that could help me overcome that wall… I can’t just wait around.

Moreover, while they’re away on the mission, Cain and the other three might suddenly become much stronger through that training method and return.

It probably won’t happen, but if she were to be overtaken by someone like Bolio later…

— Just thinking about it is terrible.

Normally, she wouldn’t have even glanced at such long-term additional escort missions.

But now the situation was different.

— I need to join them.

Some people might question why Anyas, who was acting as a lazy genius, would suddenly volunteer for a mission.

— If anyone asks, I’ll say I’m going to legitimately skip classes.

Since her attendance was barely meeting requirements before the test, she could say she was going on escort duty to legally skip classes.

Since Anyas’ usual behavior was capricious and selfish, that much would serve as an explanation.

— The problem is I need permission.

Anyas went to the treasurer and family head saying she wanted to join the escort mission.

But the response was “Ask Cain.”

Since the authority over mission operations belonged to the person who secured the mission, Cain, who had proposed additional escorts to the treasurer, had the decision-making power.

— But if I ask Cain directly, he’ll obviously say no.

Cain had gone to the snowy mountains with Bolio and was close enough to help with training.

There was no way he would easily accept Anyas, who didn’t get along with Bolio.

So after spending several days hovering around, wondering whether to approach Cain or not, Anyas finally made the choice to brazenly show her face.

“I want to go too. On that mission.”

She at least aimed for when Bolio wasn’t around, and prepared several strategies to try persuading Cain in case he refused.

Anyas looked up at Cain with bold eyes, repeating her next words in her mind.

But then—

“Alright. Got it.”

“I thought you’d refuse… Huh?”

Cain surprisingly gave permission far too easily.

The reason was simple.

“Having one more 3rd Circle mage would help with the mission.”

“Ah, y-yes, right? It would help, right? Then we’ll go together…”

“But there are conditions.”

“Conditions?”

Cain held up his fingers and said:

“First: Don’t cause discord with other members during the mission. Second: During the mission, you must absolutely follow all my instructions as leader. If you promise to keep just these two things, you can accompany us.”

Not causing discord with Bolio wouldn’t be difficult as long as he didn’t pick fights.

But being told to “absolutely” follow instructions meant taking away even the minimal autonomous judgment rights typically allowed.

And this was being said to Anyas, who was in the same floor and had even arrived first.

Anyas’ eyes darkened slightly.

“Absolutely follow? That’s the kind of thing you say when taking disciples who are at least one or two Circles below you.”

“That’s true.”

At Cain’s straightforward admission, Anyas’ eyebrows twitched.

“You seem to have gotten cocky from beating Hayden, but I could beat that Hayden who only uses crude Flame Lords too. Of course, I wouldn’t lose to you either.”

When Anyas snapped, Cain tilted his head.

“Do you really think that?”

“What?”

“Then that’s disappointing. I heard from Bolio that you had quite a bit of talent.”

Cain continued:

“If you truly think that after watching my duel, it means you’re a mage who can’t objectively assess an opponent’s abilities. If you’re saying it out of stubbornness despite knowing better, it means you’re a mage whose pride comes first. Either way, you’re not suitable types to work with in actual combat.”

“…”

“If you can’t accept it, we can have a duel here. But if I win the duel, whether you accept the conditions or not, I’ll refuse your company. Of course, if you win, I’ll accept you without conditions.”

“Aren’t you being overly confident?”

“Since time is short, I’ll finish the duel within ten seconds.”

Ten seconds.

It was practically an insult.

“Hah…”

Anyas sighed.

— Cain. He’s no pushover.

Even Cain couldn’t have been serious about finishing within ten seconds.

— He’s testing my reaction.

With a little thought, Cain’s duel proposal was an extremely clever and shrewd question posed to Anyas.

It was a question that could definitively filter out both the “mages who can’t assess opponents’ abilities” and “mages who are stubborn despite knowing better” that he had just mentioned.

Getting angry at the ten seconds comment and agreeing to duel would mean immediate elimination.

On the other hand, backing down here would prove that she didn’t fall into either of those categories.

— So he deliberately made unnecessarily insulting remarks.

Since she understood the intention, there was no reason to be stubborn.

Anyas’ purpose was clear.

“…I’ll accept the conditions.”

“Good. Then pack your personal belongings and come to the plaza.”

Anyas sighed once more and soon disappeared toward her quarters.

Her shoulders seemed somewhat drooped.

Watching this, Cain nodded.

— Perfect.

While he had planned to finish within ten seconds, having a formal duel within the family would require getting permission from an instructor and borrowing protective artifacts, even if it wasn’t an official match.

Not only did he avoid such troublesome procedures, but he gained one more 3rd Circle mage who would help with the mission.

— Besides, it will be stimulating for the other guys.

Because Cain’s magic was so perfect, Ed, Fon, and Bolio had long since given up the idea of competing with Cain.

When someone who seemed relatively reachable appeared at such times, it would provide even more motivation.

— It worked out well since we’re spending a long time away from other disciples anyway.

Cain headed to the plaza with a satisfied heart.

“All the snow leopard hides are loaded!”

“Confirmed!”

“No problems with quantities here either!”

When Cain arrived, the work of loading cargo onto the merchant trade caravan was almost finished.

“Cain!”

“Oh, you’re here.”

“That guy really comes right on time.”

Ed, Fon, and Bolio were already there.

Seeing the actual trade goods being loaded in large quantities, they seemed to finally feel the reality and chattered while looking at the wagons.

“Whew… Seeing these huge wagons makes me a bit nervous. We have to protect these. Whatever might come out.”

“I-I’m nervous too.”

“Ugh, cowards. Let all the monsters come! I’ll sweep them away.”

“Still, with Cain here… If the four of us gather, it should be enough.”

Then Cain added as if it was perfect timing:

“Not four, but five. It’s a decision that was just made, but one more person is joining us.”

“H-huh?”

“There’s someone else besides us who wants to go on the escort mission?”

“Who is it?”

Bolio asked as if genuinely curious.

And just as Cain was about to answer—

Seeing behind Cain, Bolio’s expression hardened.

“Cain, hey… That’s not… right?”

“That’s right. It’s me. Got a problem?”

At Anyas’s words sounded as she walked over with one corner of her mouth raised, Bolio grabbed the back of his neck.

“That b-brazen wench!”

“Brazen? You’re the most obnoxious one. Looks like you still haven’t achieved the 3rd Circle – what are you going to do being both obnoxious and talentless?”

“What? Are you done talking?”

Bolio’s face turned red as he shouted and looked toward Cain.

“Cain! You saw that, right? If you bring in such a brazen, awful person, the future is obvious! Wouldn’t it be better to kick her out even now?”

“Well, if someone has to leave, wouldn’t it be better for me to stay since I only lack luck out of talent and luck?”

When Anyas shot back without backing down, Cain finally spoke:

“Anyas. Didn’t you agree to accept the conditions? Stop causing discord.”

“That’s unfair. Your condition was not to cause discord ‘during the mission.’ The mission hasn’t started yet, so it doesn’t matter now.”

“Look, Cain! Already nitpicking words shows she’s hopeless! Say something!”

Cain immediately nodded.

“You’re right. Then fight a lot before the mission starts. After it begins, both of you are forbidden from any discord-causing words or actions.”

“Oh no, this is so frustrating!”

“Heh. You heard? Don’t pick fights with me after the mission starts.”

“Y-you… Grrr!”

“Bolio, get a grip!”

“C-calm down.”

While Ed and Fon supported the staggering Bolio, Cain turned his head toward one side of the plaza.

Clank, clank.

A group of mercenaries with weapons hanging from their waists or backs was approaching the wagons.

The mercenaries originally in charge of escorting the merchant trade caravan seemed to be returning after taking a break during the loading time, as it was about time to depart.

“Hahaha! That’s right.”

“Exactly. That’s when that bastard Henry drew the card next to him… Hm?”

The mercenaries who had been talking among themselves while walking with a swagger discovered Cain and the children standing near the wagons.

“What are those brats?”