“They’re coming!”
“Release the eastern gate’s barrier!”
“Yes!”
Whooom.
The eastern gate’s barrier was released precisely timed with the Bederman family’s arrival.
“Open the castle gates!”
“Yes!”
Creak creak creak.
The massive castle gates swung wide open just as the carriages passed through the barrier zone and arrived in front of the castle.
Thanks to this perfect timing, the Bederman family’s carriages were able to enter the fortress without stopping even once, passing through both the barrier and the gates.
“Phew. That was perfect timing.”
The gatekeeper, having closed the gates again after all the carriages had entered, wiped his chest in relief.
Watching this scene, Cain inwardly sighed.
‘Perfect timing, my ass.’
Even if they were a supporting family, to immediately release the barrier and throw open the castle gates without any identity verification procedures or even minimal inspection…
In Cain’s previous life as a family head, such a thing would have been unimaginable.
If, by any chance, the visitors were external hostile forces disguising themselves as the Bederman family, the Sears family would have just welcomed their enemies with open arms.
‘Or they could have launched an attack from the opposite side, taking advantage of the weakened barrier cohesion when part of it was released.’
If Cain were still the family head, he would have severely reprimanded them and strictly ordered them to thoroughly follow entry procedures.
But the current family head wasn’t Cain, but Blake Sears.
‘No matter what, the family head wouldn’t have voluntarily simplified the procedures himself…’
Obviously, the Bederman side must have repeatedly requested simplification.
Looking at Blake Sears’ already tired expression, it seemed he had been quite troubled by this for some time.
“Yes, yes. How nice it is to enter so quickly without all that bothersome procedure. The weather is terrible too.”
Sure enough, Richter Bederman, the head of the Bederman family stepping out of the carriage, looked at the gatekeeper with an arrogant smile.
“Y-yes, sir!”
The gatekeeper answered at attention, trying his best not to make eye contact.
Soon Ray Bederman and Hayden Bederman also got out, following Richter Bederman.
As Richter stepped forward, Blake Sears, who had been waiting, also took two steps forward and bowed.
“I greet the head of Bederman.”
“I greet the head of Sears.”
While both seemed to be showing proper courtesy based on their words, their attitudes were starkly different.
Richter barely lowered his head before straightening it stiffly again and swept his gaze around the inside of the family grounds.
“Still quite desolate. How have you been faring lately?”
“As you can see, we’re managing well thanks to the Bederman family’s support.”
It was a pointed response to Richter’s casual criticism about the lack of grand welcome preparations—essentially saying they lacked the resources because the other side had reduced their support funding.
At these words, Richter chuckled and looked directly into Blake’s eyes.
“Haha! How admirable that you’re managing well in such harsh snowy mountains. Other families wouldn’t have survived this long.”
“Once again, I thank you for your support.”
As Blake appropriately bowed for a beat, Richter smiled slyly and brought up the next topic.
“The demand for White magic stones seems to have increased a bit recently. We’d like to receive and distribute about 20% more than the amount you’ve been supplying…”
At these words, Blake Sears’ expression darkened slightly.
“Let’s discuss such matters after we go inside. It’s not a conversation to have while standing in the cold wind.”
As Blake tried to stall for time, Richter shrugged as if he had expected this.
“Well, let’s do that then.”
“Then, right away…”
“However.”
Just as Blake was about to guide Richter to the north hall, Richter interrupted him.
Richter’s gaze was directed behind Blake Sears, toward the disciples standing in orderly rows.
More precisely, it was directed at Cain, who stood among the direct disciples in the front row.
“It seems one very important matter I mentioned last time hasn’t been observed… Could you explain what’s going on, Family Head?”
The smile he had been wearing until just now had completely disappeared.
And at the same time, a sneer appeared on Hayden’s lips behind Richter.
‘Finally…!’
Hayden had been waiting for this moment since earlier.
Initially, he had naturally thought Cain would have been expelled and wouldn’t be present, so he was angry to see Cain boldly standing among the direct disciples.
But remembering Richter’s promise to definitely have him expelled, he had waited patiently.
‘Father was right that the family head over there really does dote on Cain.’
Looking at how the direct disciples beside him weren’t openly looking at Cain with contempt, it seemed his influence was indeed strong.
‘But that ends today.’
Fifteen years old. If someone had even the slightest talent for magic, they should have formed a circle by that age.
The probability that someone who couldn’t cast even the most basic magic until now would suddenly gain enlightenment and become able to use magic within a month was close to zero.
‘Actually, this worked out well. I’ll get to witness that bastard Cain’s expulsion.’
While seeing Cain’s annoying face was unpleasant, if he could witness Cain being shamefully kicked out with nothing but the clothes on his back, he could certainly endure a moment of unpleasantness.
‘I’m already looking forward to it.’
Blake Sears would probably start making all sorts of excuses about interpretations of family rules and such.
‘Then Father will… I’m not sure exactly how he’ll do it, but he’ll definitely make sure Cain gets expelled!’
Thinking this, his shoulders almost started to shake with excitement.
‘How dare you, with your lowly status, lay a hand on the face of the future head of the Bederman family? Today you’ll pay the full price for that.’
Hayden swept his gaze over the back of the lined-up disciples.
He could see the servants and maids waiting at the very back.
Among them, Hayden immediately spotted Alice.
‘When that bastard Cain gets expelled, his personal maid will have nothing to do either.’
Once the obstacle was gone, bringing Alice over would be a simple matter.
Hayden suppressed his inner laughter.
And watched the situation unfold with expectant eyes.
But contrary to his expectations, Blake Sears asked Richter back with a composed face, as if asking what he meant.
“An unobserved matter? What do you mean? Aside from the White Magic Stone matter we’ll discuss later, I’ve prepared all the items you mentioned in advance in the correct quantities.”
At this, Richter frowned.
No matter how much he was the head of a supporting family, directly telling him to expel a member of the other family’s direct bloodline in such a public setting would be improper conduct.
Richter judged that Blake was using this fact to pretend not to understand and avoid the situation.
‘But today, I can’t let this slide.’
Richter decided to play a stronger hand.
“I know that the Family Head dearly cherishes his son. But surely you understand that you can’t indefinitely ignore the rules that apply to families across the continent and keep protecting an unqualified disciple.”
With Richter’s words, the surroundings became completely quiet.
While he hadn’t explicitly said to expel Cain, this was enough to make it difficult to continue evading the issue.
However, contrary to Richter’s expectations, Blake Sears smiled and quickly agreed.
“Ah, of course. Although it’s not a mandatory rule, as the traditional Sears family, we cannot keep embracing unqualified disciples. You speak absolutely correctly.”
At this, Richter’s expression twisted.
“That sounds as if you’re saying there are currently no unqualified disciples.”
“Our proud direct disciples are all learning flame magic appropriate to their level and diligently training every single day. Not one is left out.”
“If this is a joke, you’d better stop. Isn’t Cain Sears over there still unable to even form a circle?”
When Cain Sears’ name was mentioned, Blake smiled broadly as if he had been waiting for this.
“Ah, I forgot to mention. Our Cain recently learned flame magic and officially entered the east hall. He’s receiving education just like the other disciples.”
“…What?”
Though informal speech slipped from Richter’s mouth, Blake Sears continued without concern.
“Actually, rather than explaining, it would be faster to show you directly. Cain, cast Fire.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
Cain stepped forward, extended his hand, and cast Fire.
“Fire.”
Whoosh—
A small but clear and neat flame bloomed above Cain’s palm.
“What…!”
Richter’s eyes widened.
‘It’s not like someone nearby cast it for him.’
Richter wouldn’t be fooled by such clumsy trickery.
Cain was clearly casting and maintaining Fire magic with his own power.
“What, what’s this? That guy?”
“Did he really learn magic in that short time…?”
Not only Hayden, but even the servants behind them whispered quietly at the unexpected situation.
Even Ray, who had been standing quietly with an expressionless face, looked somewhat surprised as he stared at Cain’s magic.
“Quiet!”
When Richter shouted, the murmuring immediately stopped.
“Cain, you’ve proven yourself, so that’s enough.”
“Yes, Family Head.”
Only Blake Sears smiled at Cain and told him he could cancel the magic.
Seeing this, Richter gritted his teeth and raised the corners of his mouth.
“Ha, haha! I wondered what you were going to show me… A direct disciple turning sixteen who succeeded at mere Fire magic is what you call proof? Our family’s direct disciples are at least 2nd Circle by sixteen…”
“Oh, is that so? Cain, then this time show them Fire Arrow.”
“Yes, Family Head. Fire Arrow.”
Whoosh!
“……”
“……”
Richter, who had been about to continue his attack, was momentarily speechless at the unexpected situation.
Not missing the opportunity, Blake Sears added:
“Hehe, that would indeed be the case. I also agree with the Family Head’s words that a direct disciple should be at least 2nd Circle by sixteen to be qualified.”
“This…!”
At Blake Sears’ words that flowed as smoothly as if from a script, Richter finally realized he had been deceived.
‘From the beginning, even though he could cast Fire Arrow, he deliberately cast Fire first.’
Expecting that Richter would find fault no matter what Cain showed, Blake had deliberately made him cast basic magic first.
Seeing this, Richter had said with his own mouth, ‘Our family’s direct disciples are at least 2nd Circle by sixteen.’
In this situation, if Richter didn’t acknowledge Cain, it would be like saying even the Bederman family’s sixteen-year-old 2nd Circle direct disciples were unqualified.
‘Blake Sears…!’
Richter glared at Blake Sears, who maintained a relaxed expression.
‘2nd Circle in two months? What the hell happened?’
No, that wasn’t what was important right now.
He needed to find a way to break this situation where he could neither acknowledge Cain nor refuse to acknowledge him.
‘I need to find something to criticize…’
While thinking this, he heard Hayden’s small muttering from behind.
“Fire Arrow… Even so, that bastard probably couldn’t properly catch a single Snow Rabbit in actual combat…”
Actual combat? Snow Rabbit?
Suddenly, the image of Snow Rabbits attacking the carriage in the snowy mountains and the appearance of the Ice Troll flashed through Richter’s mind.
‘Ice Troll…’
Originally, he had planned to bring up this story after entering the north hall.
He had intended to claim that the family’s carriage was unnecessarily hindered by Snow Rabbit attacks, and that Hayden nearly got hurt by a suddenly appearing Ice Troll, in order to extract more White magic stones.
But.
‘This wasn’t the time to use it for that purpose.’
After thinking briefly, Richter immediately suppressed his anger.
Then he showed a smile.
“Indeed, to achieve 2nd Circle in such a short period. Honestly, I’m surprised by such rapid achievement. I’m interested enough in Cain’s ability and talent.”
“…?”
When Richter readily acknowledged and praised him, this time Blake’s expression became strange.
“If he’s achieved such rapid progress, he would surely show excellent ability in actual combat as well. I’d like to verify this once.”
“Verify, you mean…”
“Today, on our way here, our carriage was attacked by over a dozen Snow Rabbits. Even though we hadn’t left the path.”
“Such a thing…!”
Blake’s expression hardened. If Richter’s words were true, regardless of the cause, the Sears family, who managed the magical beasts of the snowy mountains, bore responsibility.
Blake quickly said:
“We’ll immediately dispatch personnel to investigate the cause…”
But Richter cut off his words as if he had been waiting for this.
“How about entrusting that very matter to Cain this time?”
