Chapter 22
Just like Yulit, the protagonist, my situation was a bit unusual.
I had to master the depths of black magic as someone born with a white core—a rare hundred-magic power without the foundation of a dark core.
Unless someone had deep understanding of both white magic and black magic, teaching me would be almost impossible.
And such a person… exists in the Hallroren main house.
That was one of the reasons I wanted to go back there.
I thought I should at least meet that teacher and polish my black magic under their guidance.
I took the handkerchief from Father’s hand and rubbed my eyes.
The moment I grounded myself with such practical thoughts, my tears stopped.
Honestly, I wanted to use that excuse to bury my face in Father’s chest and hug him tightly…
But it was far too embarrassing.
Truth be told, I was just as awkward with physical affection as he was.
I blew my nose with a loud honk and then laughed sheepishly.
“Shall we finish eating, then? Dad, open wide.”
“I suppose… I should eat…”
“Of course you should.”
When I urged him, Father reluctantly picked up his spoon, fumbling a little, and finally ate.
This really felt like I was the one raising him.
Not that I dislike it.
Just imagining that in the future I’d get to share this kind of daily life with Father at the main house already filled me with joy.
Of course, the upcoming General Assembly is the real problem…
Now that the proposal to bring me to the main house was on the Hallroren agenda, it was likely my enemies would make their moves to block it.
I lifted my head.
“By the way, Dad.”
“Yes?”
“About tomorrow…”
If they were going to come at me, wasn’t it only fair for me to throw the first punch?
Father wanted to stay with me longer, but the rules were strict: after a demonstration, outsiders weren’t allowed to remain in the Tower of Command.
They had only made an exception because I collapsed. Now that I was fine, I couldn’t keep him here.
“Still… we’ll see each other soon…”
“Mm-hm!”
I waved to him as he climbed into the carriage.
When I returned alone, the other children flinched at the sight of me and quickly averted their eyes.
They must have already heard about Bupior and the downfall of the Feydel family.
And that I was going to the main house.
You were the ones who sided with Bupior to torment me…
Did they really think I’d just let that slide?
Just then, Grandfather entered the hall, preparing to leave for the main house.
“Oh, little lady. You’re feeling better after collapsing yesterday?”
Andromalius, who had come with him, waved cheerfully.
“Yes, it doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“I see. Then we’ll meet again at the main house.”
“That would be wonderful!”
Grandfather, who had been silently observing, finally spoke.
“To lose consciousness after casting something so trivial… you still have a long way to go, child.”
That’s what you say to a granddaughter who just fainted and got back up…?
No wonder Father dislikes him.
Maybe it was for the best that Father left first, so they wouldn’t fight.
“I’ll work hard so I won’t collapse again!”
“Good. That’s the spirit. I told you to bring a Kraken’s leg, didn’t I? Boil it and drink the broth. Tsk, for one so young to already have such feeble energy.”
“……”
“And it would be good to add a Bicorn’s horn as well. Wasn’t there one left in the main house’s storeroom?”
“Yes, I think there should be.”
“Then send that to the tower too.”
“Yes, sir.”
It was essentially a health tonic. But for someone like me—a saintess—it was really just a bundle of black mana I had no desire to consume.
Not to mention how revolting it sounded…
And when Grandfather suddenly shows kindness, doesn’t it always mean he has some scheme? That’s what’s scary.
But rare medicine was still rare medicine. I bowed my head politely.
“Thank you.”
“It’s nothing to thank me for. More importantly… child.”
“Yes?”
“Because you collapsed, you weren’t able to receive the prize for the second day of the demonstration. Do you have something you want?”
“Um…”
Just like the first day, the second day’s winner also received a reward.
But unlike the unspoken rule of giving Behemoth grapes on the first day, the second day’s winner was allowed to make a small wish.
Of course, one had to know their place.
Usually, the request was something modest, like medicine (say, that Kraken leg or monster horn Grandfather just mentioned) or a black-magic-related tool.
Well, in my case, there’s really only one thing to say.
Feeling the furtive gazes of the children sneaking glances at me, I spoke.
“In that case…”
Should I ask him to punish those brats?
Unlike Bupior, their guilt was less clear, and honestly, Grandfather wouldn’t care.
If I whined about being bullied, I’d only end up looking like a spoiled, unreasonable child.
So instead…
“I don’t particularly want anything.”
“Again? Some people may consider a lack of desire a virtue, but I believe greed is the most important quality for a black magician to grow.”
“But you’re already giving me Kraken leg and Bicorn horn. Even if I were greedy, that’s already more than enough.”
“Hm…”
“I think I already said what I wished for on the first day.”
“…Didn’t you say you had no wishes then as well?”
“There was one, wasn’t there?”
I smiled.
“I asked you to always deal with things according to the rules.”
“Just… follow the rules?”
“……”
“You’ve already bent them once for me. From now on, Grandfather, you just need to handle everything by the principles. No matter what happens.”
Grandfather’s eyes, which had seemed uninterested, suddenly lit with amusement.
“I’m the youngest one in this tower, after all.”
“……”
“You understand, don’t you?”
Grandfather let out a booming laugh.
In stark contrast, the surrounding air froze into something utterly tense and chilling.
“Hahaha! I see, I see. What a cheeky little girl.”
“I hear that a lot.”
“I still think you’re sloppy and naive… but fine. I’ll handle things by the rules.”
“……”
“So then, do your best to crawl your way up to the main house.”
I bowed.
As he walked toward the entrance, Grandfather asked the acting steward:
“Among the children currently in residence at this tower, Kalmia Hallroren is the youngest, correct?”
“…Y-Yes. That’s right.”
The steward trembled like a leaf as he answered.
“Then once she goes to the main house, dismiss all the older ones who are useless.”
“……!”
“That’s the rule, isn’t it?”
No one dared to speak against him. They only bowed their heads in silence.
Grandfather left the hall without a backward glance.
Once the door closed, silence settled heavily over the room.
I smiled brightly and started walking back toward my quarters.
“Y-you… you there!”
The children swarmed over, blocking my path.
Ah, so it’s Bupior’s little sycophants—Bell #1, #2, and the rest of the extras.
“What.”
“Y-you… you’ve lost your mind! This can’t be happening!”
“What can’t?”
“Kicking us all out of the tower in one night, that’s what!”
“Yeah! It’s insane!”
“M-my mom said it’d be fine!”
“……”
The rule of the Tower of Command:
When one child is chosen to move on to the main house, all older children must leave.
If they were older yet still showed no exceptional talent, there was no point investing in them further. A harsh rule indeed.
But in reality, it had never been enforced so strictly.
Of course not. Take me, for instance—I supposedly awakened quite late.
Early bloomers aren’t the only geniuses. Even those who are slow at first can achieve greatness later.
So usually, when a child was sent to the main house, the tower would quietly thin out the group, dismissing only the ones with no promise at all.
Even the current Patriarch, Meitenche, had turned a blind eye to that custom for years, so it was never a problem.
Until now.
These kids had clearly believed they’d be spared, only to be blindsided.
But what does that have to do with me?
I hadn’t forgotten a single thing they’d done.
The fear of being cast out by the family, the despair of tumbling into the catacombs like I was falling into the abyss—that was something none of them could ever understand.
I met their eyes directly and spoke slowly.
“You’re the ones who’ve been useless trash all this time, unable to make it to the main house. Who do you have to blame but yourselves?”
“…!”
“Still unawakened, still without a dark core… pathetic trash.”
“The only thing that matters in the Tower of Command is skill. If you don’t have it, why cling here like parasites?”
Their faces flushed red and pale by turns.
Guess it hurt, having their own words hurled back at them like a boomerang.
But could it possibly hurt as much as it had for me, the one who endured it in silence all this time?
