First Day of Practical Training, Evening
The morning had been fraught with uncertainty—whether to leave the area immediately, risk our lives combating the monster outbreak, or simply brace ourselves for the worst.
But that tension had finally lifted.
The fall of Rattatosk.
In truth, most people hadn’t even realized that the massive figure reshaping itself within the mana barrier had been Rattatosk.
To them, it simply looked like a Wolf Boy attempting to transform into a monstrous beast, only to be obliterated by the scorching wind magic of Marchioness Ludvecia, an S-rank Grand Mage.
The boss monster had been defeated and slain.
With the outbreak concluded, the hunters could finally breathe easy and began to gather their nets.
For what purpose?
Looting!
-The remaining cores are mine!!
Though the mana stone dropped by the boss monster was officially Marchioness Ludvecia’s reward, there were still wolf beasts left behind—beasts that the boss hadn’t absorbed.
Their numbers were far fewer than during the earlier mana-bread-induced mob hunt, but even so, C-rank beasts were a lucrative opportunity. Earning money this easily didn’t come by often.
Thus, while the hunters set about cleaning up the aftermath of the boss battle, we left the task in their hands and returned to the Ludvecia Marquisate.
Partly because the Marchioness had fainted and needed rest, and partly because we, as trainees, had no reason to interfere with the hunters earning their livelihood.
And so, we arrived at the Ludvecia estate, where the household attendants graciously allowed us to rest.
Now, here I was, soaking in a bathtub attached to one of the guest rooms, taking my well-earned respite.
“Phew…”
Even though my body was an ether-forged construct powered by mana, soaking in a tub filled with warm water still relieved my fatigue.
Though I hadn’t expended a significant amount of mana, participating in the battlefield nonetheless demanded proper rest.
[Why’re you groaning so much when you barely lifted a finger?]
You’re one to talk.’
I flicked the forehead of Kim Fenrir, who lounged smugly in the tub with me, her form overlapping mine.
[Ow! Catching that Rattatosk thing was all thanks to me!]
Kim Fenrir hissed, sharpening her claws as if ready to retaliate.
‘Yeah, yeah.’
I raised my hands in mock surrender, leaning back lazily as she sprawled atop me, purring contentedly.
Of course, she wasn’t physically here.
Kim Fenrir only existed in my perception, a phantom lying atop me.
To an outside observer, I appeared to be soaking alone.
[Ahh, now this is the life!]
…If it seemed like we were sharing the tub, it was because Kim Fenrir could sense everything I did.
She clung to me now, in a position resembling lovers entwined in a bath, mimicking her old habits from the Demon World.
But there was no actual body, nor could there be.
This was a guest room in the Ludvecia Marquisate, and I was the only one here.
If anyone saw me seemingly embracing invisible air, or if the water shifted unnaturally as though an invisible figure was present, suspicions would arise.
Suspicions that were already building among the Ludvecia household.
[Mystique is fine, but you’re so mysterious that people are starting to lose their patience.]
‘That’s true.’
The abilities I had displayed so far had made both the household and even my fellow classmates from the class cohort wonder, ‘What is he, exactly?’
[Crafting bait tailored specifically for the monsters in the outbreak was one thing, but amplifying the Marchioness’s SS-rank magic? That’s pushing it.]
‘It was necessary to eliminate Rattatosk entirely.’
It was, quite literally, unavoidable.
For other monsters, I might have delegated to Esta or carefully strategized. But Rattatosk? That creature held a deep grudge against me.
[So, do you think you’ve severed that grudge?]
‘It’s not me I’m worried about; it’s the Habsderk family.’
Rattatosk’s curse.
More specifically, the ‘Curse of Habs’.
While carrying the unconscious Marchioness Ludvecia back to her estate, I had burned the remnants of Habs’ curse from her body with my mana.
Now, the Marchioness was no longer bound by the curse’s compulsion for incestuous devotion.
She could remarry, live independently, or even fall in love with someone new—all without being obsessed solely with the Habs bloodline.
[Hehehe. Is that really so?]
‘Stop jinxing it.’
[Fine! Here’s my curse instead: The person Ludvecia favors most will be…you!]
‘Oh, give me a break.’
And so, I fell victim to Kim Fenrir’s curse.
[By the way, I eavesdropped on her servants. Apparently, it’s been ten years since any man has had physical contact with the Marchioness. Congrats!]
In truth, it was less about Fenrir’s curse and more about Rattatosk’s curse skewing her affection.
[Oh, and the head maid said the Marchioness pretended to faint so she could cling to you. Cute, right?]
‘Figures.’
Perhaps it was typical of mages with overflowing mana pockets. Like Yunia, the Marchioness subtly sought physical proximity under the guise of indifference.
…Even permitting my hand beneath the hem of her black mourning dress, a privilege she’d granted no one else. And, as if playing a damsel, she allowed herself to be carried in my arms.
Question.
Was her fondness the lingering effects of Rattatosk’s curse? Or was it genuine goodwill I had earned as Regif Habsderk, the new Phoenix of the Academy?
Tonight, the truth would be revealed.
While I was here, leisurely teasing Kim Fenrir and relieving my fatigue, others were practically tearing their hair out in confusion.
[Who exactly is Phoenix?]
Kim Penril eavesdrops and tells them what they are talking about.
Currently.
A dozen or so people are gathered in Marquis Ludwiglia’s living room.
They all told me that they were taking a break, but everyone who is involved in this monster crisis is gathered in the living room and discussing it.
[We need to know his identity for sure.]
They questioned my existence.
Exploiting the ambiguity of my past, they sought to discern how best to use me.
* * *
“Frankly, gathering everyone here might have been unnecessary, but as the representative of hunters operating within the Ludvecia Marquisate, I must ask something.”
The head of the Ludvecia branch of the Hunters’ Union, A-rank hunter [Starving Fox] Haksis, cautiously opened the discussion.
Her pink hair and fox ears twitched as she exuded confidence, her mana reserves visibly brimming.
Despite being less prominent than the mana pockets of the Phoenix cohort girls, she carried an undeniable presence.
“Is Academy Student Phoenix truly 17 years old?”
“…”
“According to the profile provided by the White Sword Saint, he’s listed as 17. Can the Academy confirm this?”
“Who knows.”
Esta replied indifferently, arms crossed, from her seat opposite Haksis.
“The Academy doesn’t go out of its way to dig into a student’s past if they’re trying to hide it. You’d know that as a graduate.”
“Still, the Academy must have conducted a minimum level of investigation. From what I’ve heard, his background is ‘unknown’, correct?”
“…”
Esta’s silence spoke volumes.
Haksis glanced around at the other Vermilion Bird class students present.
“Who exactly is that man? His sudden appearance, his activities at the Academy, and now his role in responding to the monster outbreak… Hah. He was as composed as a veteran specialist hunter.”
Though there had been no formal command structure, it was fair to say that Phoenix had effectively led the raid against the monster outbreak.
“And what about that ‘magic enhancement through physical contact’ ability of his? Was it called [Hand of the Sun]? In this industry, we’d call it [Mana Boosting]. Such an ability is beyond conventional standards.”
“…”
“A person like that—whose origin, age, and hidden abilities remain a mystery—shouldn’t simply be treated as just a ‘student’.”
“Then?”
“To be honest, he’s too valuable to remain a student.”
Esta’s tone grew sharp as she countered.
“He could quit the Academy right now and excel as a hunter.”
“So that’s your goal? You point out his unclear past as if he shouldn’t remain a student, but in reality, you just want to pull him out of the Academy to use him as your comrade?”
“Precisely. How reassuring it would be to have such a supporter? To become stronger than one’s limits or enhance one’s power several times over just by offering up a bit of one’s chest.”
“W-what do you mean ‘just’!”
Yunia, who had been silent, shouted.
“It’s not something you let someone touch lightly! It’s because the situation is dangerous, and it’s the most efficient way!”
“What I’m saying, Yunia, is that we can’t just let someone capable of herding monsters just by touching you remain in the Academy studying.”
“If a student wants to study at the Academy, why are field operatives—!”
“Because—”
“Enough.”
In the midst of the heated conversation, a woman appeared at the entrance.
“…Marchioness Ludvecia?”
Still with black hair and gray eyes, dressed in a black dress akin to mourning attire, but her skin now had a healthy glow, as if warmth had returned.
“It seems that under the circumstances… I have no choice but to reveal his identity.”
“Marchioness Ludvecia. He is—”
“He is my son.”
“…?”
“That is, actually.”
Marchioness Ludvecia raised a hand to her cheek and smiled sheepishly.
“My son, who was thought to be dead… Regif Habsderk.”
* * *
“?”
What.
[Seems like she’s bluffing?]
‘She’s bluffing, but it’s the truth.’
Marchioness Ludvecia had told a lie to protect me, a lie she blurted out without even consulting me.
But it’s the truth.
