Chapter 102

Marcel stood facing Eddie, holding his wand.

With a tense expression, Marcel looked down at his own wand.

The reason he was now facing Eddie was to learn a single spell.

It was ‘Tracker,’ one of the long-range tracking spells.

Eddie had told Marcel that he could prove the corruption of the Kirhausen family that he claimed existed.

However, he added that this proof was only possible if Marcel followed his instructions.

After much deliberation, Marcel accepted the condition.

The first step was, as Eddie had said, not going to Shainborough during this holiday.

The second step was ‘Tracker’.

Marcel would cast Tracker on Eddie to listen in on everything Eddie heard and said in Shainborough.

It was the most certain way to witness the family's true face.

However, this method required practice.

Tracking magic itself was a high-level spell, and Marcel had never handled it before.

With his current capabilities, he was naturally not skilled enough to properly manifest Tracker.

It was also difficult for Eddie himself to maintain it.

Once he met with Furas, he would have to focus solely on dealing with him.

So, Eddie came up with a method through improvisation.

“To put it simply, I will maintain Tracker until I enter Shainborough, and from the moment I enter, you will maintain it, Young Master.”

“And when I’m maintaining it, I’m to drink the mana-enhancing potion I received from Professor Lener?”

It was a division of the Tracker spell.

Aside from the fact that the linking process had to be delicate, this method was the most appropriate.

“That's right. However, you must not drink the entire potion at once. You should drink it a little at a time whenever you feel a significant drain on your mana.”

“Right, if my mana is suddenly enhanced too much, I won’t be able to handle it.”

“Besides, if it’s a potion prepared by someone of Professor Lener’s caliber, its potency will be considerable. You must control the amount carefully.”

The method Eddie devised for maintaining Tracker was as follows.

Just before leaving for Shainborough, Marcel would cast Tracker on Eddie.

Until arriving at Shainborough, Eddie’s mana would maintain the Tracker, minimizing Marcel’s mana consumption as much as possible.

After arriving at Shainborough, Eddie would conversely conserve his mana.

Since he would be feigning the effects of the Well and Deer spell, this passing of the mana baton would arouse less suspicion.

Of course, even so, it would be a difficult task for Marcel.

The final preparation to supplement that was the mana-enhancing potion.

This was a preparation made possible thanks to the elder professors who would do anything for a connection with the Kirhausen family.

Especially Anton Lener, “If you have any inconveniences or needs while attending the academy, please tell me anytime.”

had said, acting as if he had forgotten that he was above Marcel at the academy.

He acted as if he would give up his liver and gallbladder, so a potion would surely be something he’d readily provide.

The reason Eddie had left Anton alone despite his eyebrow-raising behavior was precisely for this kind of usefulness.

‘There’s no need to come up with a complicated reason. If Marcel says he needs it, Anton will give him anything. And the best quality at that.’

He was helpful, but he was a snob whose intentions were transparent.

Thinking this, Eddie raised his wand.

Marcel then followed Eddie, raising his wand and tracking his movements with his eyes.

The full-fledged Tracker manifestation training had begun.

.

.

.

Fortunately, Marcel’s Tracker training was smoother than Eddie had expected.

Initially, he fumbled, unable to get the hang of it, but Marcel quickly identified the problems and began to improve.

Furthermore, he quickly accepted the feedback Eddie gave him, as if to belie his past condescension.

Thus, within three hours of starting the training, a Tracker of full potency was manifested.

His upright character, which allowed him to objectively see his own shortcomings, had shone through.

“Hoo……”

Eddie caught his breath and released his mana circulation posture.

Following Eddie’s lead, Marcel, who had been sitting in the same posture, also relaxed and sat comfortably.

Eddie nodded as if satisfied.

“At this rate, your Tracker will be able to produce sufficient power by the day after tomorrow. Fortunately, you’re a fast learner.”

“Is this the end of practice for today? Is it okay not to do more?”

“Magic proficiency doesn’t necessarily improve just by practicing a lot. It’s important to practice with the correct method when both your stamina and mana are sufficient.”

“…I understand. Then let’s train again tomorrow at the same time.”

“Let’s do that. When will you be visiting Professor Lener?”

“Tonight would be good. The grading period starts tomorrow, so it would be prudent to be careful about meeting a professor separately.”

“I understand.”

Eddie nodded and placed his wand in its case.

However, Marcel’s expression as he watched Eddie put away the wand seemed somewhat regretful.

Eddie pretended not to see his expression and finished putting away his wand.

But inwardly, he wore a very faint, triumphant smile.

‘He must feel a sense of loss since this is the first proper magic training he’s ever received. A good sign.’

Marcel had unknowingly revealed his regret.

And magic begins to develop from such a longing, from the desire to take ‘one more step’.

Until now, Marcel had only used prescribed magic in the prescribed way, as ordered by his family and the school.

And now, without realizing it, he was slowly starting to break out of that mold.

Eddie saw a glimmer of hope in that appearance.

The hope that he might be able to obtain Marcel’s full cooperation in uncovering the corruption harbored by the current Kirhausen family.

And furthermore.

The hope that perhaps this boy alone could walk the right path in the current Kirhausen family that was destined to be shattered to pieces.

Of course, it was laughable that he, who was trying to destroy Marcel’s world, would harbor such a hope.

Wasn’t his wish for Marcel to walk the ‘right path’ ultimately for the purpose of collapsing the current Kirhausen from within?

‘Yes. It’s just as Rakan said. I’m just using him and endlessly scheming for my revenge and my will.’

Eddie remembered the sharp words he had heard from Rakan and smiled bitterly.

Yes.

The word ‘wish’ was more appropriate for his thoughts than ‘hope’.

The wish that Marcel, who still had a chance, would walk a ‘different path’ from his father or grandfather.

The wish that he wouldn’t have to destroy Marcel as well.

And the wish that he, along with Noah who would reawaken, would forge a path as the new Kirhausen.

Eddie briefly imagined a future where such wishes came true.

* * *

That evening, Marcel visited Anton as Eddie had suggested.

As expected, Anton willingly complied with Marcel’s request for a potion.

On top of that, without being prompted, he spared no praise for the midterm exam.

“You received high scores not only in the written exams but also in the practical exams. You will achieve a top-tier rank, which will greatly please Lord Furas.”

Saying so, Anton gave a gentle smile.

Like a veteran elder professor, he showed no servility in his expression even while flattering.

It was a scene of corruption as natural as breathing.

One of the bad habits of the academy’s elder professors, like cutting in line for appointments.

They would find out the scores of the children from connected families first and give a heads-up to the family beforehand.

That way, the head of the family could decide in advance what stance to take regarding their child’s grades at social gatherings.

“The academy’s midterm exam must have been easy this time. My child was disappointed, saying it was a piece of cake.”

-by boasting and dampening the spirits of other family heads.

“Our child wasn’t in good condition this time, but I’m proud that they finished the exam regardless of the score.”

-it became possible to lay the groundwork for poor grades.

Therefore, not only Marcel’s but also Alexein’s grades had already been delivered to their families by the elder professors.

And this, along with the mana-enhancing potion, was one of the ways Eddie was using Anton.

The fact that Marcel’s dueling exam score was good would create the illusion that Eddie was functioning properly as a Well.

Using Derrick’s note, which was his trump card, during the midterms was also part of such a deception.

“……”

Eddie stared blankly at the potion placed on Marcel’s desk.

Although he was gazing silently with a blank expression, Eddie was actually quite satisfied.

It wasn't just because the plan was proceeding smoothly.

It was because just a moment ago, as Marcel placed the potion on the desk, he had heard him mutter-

“I wish they would stop such unnecessary exertion of pressure……”

Although it was a wish and a greedy thought, even the smallest sign of Marcel becoming righteous was pleasing to see.

In any case, the plan was proceeding as scheduled.

Eddie quietly closed his eyes and imagined.

The events that lay ahead.

The current Kirhausen family, who still thought he was Marcel’s Well, preparing accordingly.

‘You will be greatly disappointed, Furas von Kirhausen.’

The reaction they would show when that illusion was shattered.

* * *

The next day, and the day after that.

Eddie and Marcel devoted themselves to Tracker manifestation training.

Marcel’s Tracker became more and more proficient, and he also excellently managed the maintenance link with Eddie.

His acquisition of the skill was much faster than Eddie had anticipated.

Marcel certainly had a high understanding of magic manifestation.

Moreover, his mana sensitivity and mana circulation abilities were also excellent.

Only one thing was lacking.

The inherent capability that comes from the amount of mana itself.

No matter how much Eddie gauged it while teaching Tracker, Marcel’s capability was merely that of an ordinary magician of his age.

Although he had known this fact for quite some time, Eddie was still puzzled.

They shared the same Kirhausen bloodline, so why was Marcel the only one born with such low mana?

Fundamentally, all magicians of the Kirhausen family possessed mana that far surpassed the average.

It had been that way since the time of Riode von Kirhausen, the father of Edmund and Ivan.

Edmund and his bloodline were a given, and although they paled in comparison, Ivan and his family also possessed excellent mana, as befitting of Kirhausens.

In particular, the youngest, Furas, had mana that Edmund in his past life had taken note of.

But ironically, only Furas' son was an exception to the Kirhausen talent.

Eddie fell into thought as he watched Marcel take a deep breath.

‘Looking at the face that’s the spitting image of his father and grandfather, it’s certain he’s their biological son… Then why.’

Eddie, who was about to speculate on the reason, gave up and shook his head.

If he knew the reason, Furas wouldn't have resorted to a spell like Well and Deer.

Besides, that wasn't a problem to think about now.

Eddie shook off his thoughts and approached Marcel, saying.

“Let’s do the final rehearsal now. I’ll walk to the academy’s main gate with Tracker on, so try to maintain it for as long as you can.”

It was the final maintenance training, increasing the distance between the caster and the target.

Marcel nodded with a determined expression.

The look in his eyes as he raised his mana and looked at Eddie was a fifty-fifty mix of ‘passion for magic’ and ‘anxiety’.

* * *

After the two-day grade correction period following the midterms, the holiday finally began.

The students, relieved that the exams were over, held their luggage and chatted while waiting for their family’s transport ships.

The same was true for the commoner children gathered in front of Archimedes.

Having done well on their exams, they conversed cheerfully with even lighter hearts.

Just as the transport ship landing field was bustling with noise.

“Oh, it’s here.”

Everyone’s attention focused on a student who had entered the landing field.

It was Eddie, who had appeared alone without any luggage.

Eddie, walking calmly amidst the numerous gazes.

Luggage wasn't the only thing he was without.

Although he was Kirhausen’s tail, he had appeared alone, without Marcel.

Which transport ship would Eddie take, and where would he go?

Even those who were boarding their transport ships stopped and watched Eddie.

And at that moment.

Whoooooooosh-

With the sound of a cool wind, a transport ship entered the sky above the landing field.

It was the Kirhausen family’s third-class transport ship, ‘Paolo’.

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