NOVEL NEXT Chapter 12 - Family Head's Test (2)
Family Head’s Test (2)
I couldn’t help but stiffen my expression when I heard that the family head was calling for me.
… No matter how I thought about it, it didn’t seem like they had called me for a positive reason.
‘Not only did I use the family’s forces without permission, but I also managed to make an enemy of the rapidly growing Heaven God Cult.’
It’s clear that they called me to hold me accountable for this.
I let out a light sigh as I realized the significant repercussions of my actions.
‘Then, what would be the best course of action?’
Ideally, it would end with a light punishment like house arrest.
But since it didn’t seem likely to end at just that level, I needed to prepare for various scenarios.
As I was contemplating which of the cards I could play would be the most useful.
“Young master, shall we go then?”
The butler politely led me.
*
Upon arriving at the family head’s office.
I see the family head engrossed in paperwork, not even sparing me a glance.
As I was gauging how angry he was by listening to the rustling sound of the quill pen.
“You’ve made quite a spectacular mess this time.”
The family head slowly put down his quill pen and began to speak.
As I was thinking about the best way to escape from those words that seemed certain to lead to a severe scolding from anyone’s perspective.
Deren said something completely unexpected.
“Well done.”
“……?”
This must be what it feels like when your head is full of question marks.
Wondering why it wasn’t a reprimand but praise, I deliberately put on a puzzled expression.
He looked at my face and answered briefly.
“You ranked first. And you got perfect scores in both theory and practice, all by yourself.”
While I was thinking that there were more important things than exam scores, which is funny for me to say.
He continued speaking to me in a calm voice.
“Is there anything you want? I’ll grant it within reason.”
I couldn’t understand the atmosphere at all, far from being scolded, he seemed to be offering a reward.
So when I silently looked at Deren, he met my eyes and said.
“… Don’t forget that you are a member of the Lercier Family.”
That one sentence meant that all of this could be forgiven because I was a member of the Lercier Family.
While I was feeling uncomfortable, thinking that this was quite far from common sense.
Deren picked up a quill pen and continued speaking.
“Make sure you maintain that position. If you can’t, I’ll have to hold you responsible for the things that were forgiven simply because you were a member of the Lercier Family.”
The responsibility for karma. To avoid bearing that responsibility… or more precisely, to postpone bearing it as much as possible.
I nodded in partial agreement with the idea that stronger power was needed.
‘Well, whatever happens, I guess this means I can do as I please as long as I maintain my grades.’
In fact, until now, I had been restraining myself from crossing the line in many ways, adjusting to the common sense of Earth.
Now that I’ve been told I don’t have to keep that line anymore, I feel liberated.
“Then I’ll look forward to the next time as well.”
Expectation. It’s a word I haven’t heard in a while, and it makes me feel strange.
I smiled awkwardly at those words and said, “I will do so.”
* * *
After meeting with the head of the family, I headed to the guest room where Rumi was staying to check on her wounds.
But there was nothing in the room except for maids cleaning.
The moment I saw this, I sensed that Rumi had returned home and let out a sigh.
‘… She doesn’t want to be a burden, huh.’
It would be better if she were a burden, but it’s just frustrating that she keeps trying to run away like this.
Of course, I know that these actions are unavoidable due to the brainwashing by her adoptive parents.
Having seen in the novel how acting like this eventually led to falling into a deeper abyss, I wanted to forcibly stop this if possible.
I sighed, holding my increasingly complicated thoughts.
Then, shaking my head, I decided to stop thinking about Rumi-related matters for now.
‘… I’ve assigned bodyguards, so nothing serious should happen.’
Even if something does happen, I’ll know right away, so there shouldn’t be a problem.
So, thinking that I should focus on my own growth now, I looked at the newly purchased magic books.
‘Should I start with research first?’
Since I finished all the basic magic research last time.
From now on, it would be better to focus on learning magic that can be used in actual combat.
I organized the necessary elements based on my previous battle to determine the most suitable combat magic for me.
‘I had no magic for long-range attacks, no magic to deal with variables, and no magic that could be used immediately in emergency situations.’
Furthermore, apart from stealing the opponent’s magic, I had no magic to create variables.
After identifying and organizing the numerous problems I had in my mind, I decided on the magic I needed to learn first.
‘Long-range attack magic.’
I decided to research long-range attack magic first, which could compensate for my lack of offensive power and keep opponents in check, and I rolled up my sleeves.
*
‘At this rate, I might die from overwork rather than being killed by Rumi.’
Although research is fun.
I stretched, thinking that not getting proper sleep for days on end was taking a toll.
‘It’s fortunate that the possessed body is young… otherwise, I might have fainted already.’
Honestly, I feel like I could pass out at any moment, and I looked around the classroom with heavy eyes.
The classroom was about half empty, feeling desolate.
I realized that all the absent students were because of me and smiled bitterly, when Rumi, who was next to me, handed me a small note.
Wondering what it was, I checked it.
[I’d like to talk for a moment after class.]
That’s what was written on the note.
As I looked at her questioningly, she had a rather serious expression on her face, then quickly turned away looking like she might cry at any moment.
Worried that something might be wrong, I quickly checked my body, but there were no signs of injury.
‘I guess that’s a relief. It doesn’t seem like she’s hurt anywhere.’
Thinking there must be some problem, I decided to talk with her after the lecture ended.
*
As soon as the lecture ended, Rumi took me to the hallway and spoke to me with a hesitant expression.
“Don’t, don’t worry about me anymore.”
… What is she suddenly talking about?
I briefly replied while looking at Rumi, who was speaking with a tearful voice in front of me.
“Why.”
At those words, Rumi dropped her head to the floor and spoke in a crawling voice.
“I… I don’t like being with you. No, I don’t really dislike it… ugh…”
Because she’s going back and forth, I have no idea what she’s trying to say.
Looking at Rumi’s expression, which seemed like she was about to burst into tears at any moment, I could roughly sense what the situation was.
‘It’s obvious she’s trying to push me away because she thinks she’ll be a burden if she’s around.’
Since childhood, her adoptive parents repeatedly destroyed and shattered everything Rumi was interested in or liked.
As a result, Rumi had a tendency to push away anything that became precious to her.
‘And then, watching it from afar and trying to be happy inside as much as possible became a habit.’
She had a strong tendency to push people away when she developed some interest or affection.
As I was contemplating how to handle this Rumi, just then.
“If you dislike your fiancé so much, may I take him away for a moment?”
A calm and elegant voice was heard from the side.
Hearing the unexpected word ‘fiancé’, I looked to the side and saw a somewhat familiar figure.
Sky-blue hair reaching down to the waist and blue eyes.
Although she had an unusual hair color rarely seen on Earth, it suited her strangely well, this woman.
The student council president was approaching me, wearing an artifact that proved her position.
She greeted me with a face devoid of any emotion.
She addressed me in a subdued voice.
“Lord Deren. It’s been a while.”
“……”
Since the novel was progressing from Rumi’s perspective and emphasized certain aspects.
While it described Deren’s evil deeds in detail, it didn’t elaborate on Deren’s personal life.
So I had no idea he even had a fiancée.
I was frowning in disgust at Deren, who had tried to rape Rumi despite having a fiancée.
The student council president approached and continued speaking.
“How have you been lately?”
As I didn’t know what kind of relationship the student council president and Deren usually had.
The best I could do was to observe carefully while hiding as much information about myself as possible.
I nodded vaguely to acknowledge her greeting, and she spoke while adjusting the sword at her waist.
“I’ve heard some unpleasant news recently, so I stopped by briefly to check on you.”
The unpleasant news she mentioned must be referring to the Heaven God Cult incident.
Realizing that speaking about this in detail would embarrass Rumi, I deliberately kept my mouth shut.
The student council president tactfully changed the subject and continued speaking to me.
“… Originally, I was too busy and planned to just briefly check on Lord Deren’s face and leave. But remembering that we haven’t talked recently, I took the liberty of coming to see you despite the rudeness.”
Judging by her tone alone, it seemed like she was saying she was glad to see me after a long time.
But the actual atmosphere conveyed more of a feeling like, ‘I saw you talking to another woman instead of your fiancée, and it annoyed me, so I came to talk to you.’
Of course, I couldn’t be sure if this was accurate since I didn’t know the relationship between Deren and the student council president.
I could be certain that what she was saying and what she was thinking inside were different.
So, I was wondering how much I should go along with it.
At that moment, the student council president pointed to the hallway and said to me.
“Then, as your fiancé, please accompany me, Lord Deren.”