Since When Did You Have The Illusion That You Don’t Have Magical Powers?! - CH 7

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Sapphiras Perfectio, 2nd son of the Earl of Aldridge

Percival Belisario, 3rd son of Margrave of Vanderwall on the Eastern Frontier

A few days after I was disowned, I took the scholarship certification exam, which I passed with flying colours.

I was a little nervous about the paper, but the reading I had done during my confinement had helped me a lot. Although they didn’t give me anything, the dusty, yellowing books that had been left in a remote corner of the house were still a treasure trove of knowledge.

The former family should have looked at those efforts of Sapphiras. It’s too late to say that now, because it’s already over.

Not to mention my practical magic skills. I showed them my magic without reserve. The teachers were open-mouthed, as if they had already lost their souls.

If you were to be shown one high-level magic after another without chanting, you would have that kind of look on your face.

Mufufu. I inadvertently enlarged my nostrils and laughed.

In my previous life, I was a much-lauded great magician, but when you die over something trivial, you die. That was already easy. I should have quickly eaten my favourite meat, which I had saved for later at the banquet. No matter how much I treasured it, I wouldn’t be able to eat it if I died. When I remember that meat, I still regret it.

So, even if I die tomorrow, I think that in this life, I must live every day to the fullest so that there will be no regrets. Of course, Fortis also lived his life to the fullest, but he never dreamt that he would die so easily, so he had a lot of unfinished business.

In rare cases, if you show too much power, the bad guys will take advantage of you, or you’ll be kidnapped and forced to work for the bad guys, but I don’t have to worry about any of that.

In my 2nd life, I’m not a 14 year old kid, I can judge right from wrong based on my beliefs gained from 25 years of life experience, and I’m strong enough to fight off anyone who tries to use me.

So I became a scholar without any problems, and I had a meeting with His Excellency the Duke of Bloomfield, who was willing to be my patron. I used to have audiences with royalty, but now I’m just a kid who was confined up until recently.

I take a full-body view of my appearance in the mirror and check that there is nothing wrong with my uniform.

I’m a student, and above all, I was treated coldly, so I don’t have much clothes. When I was wondering what to do, the principal told me that since I am a student, I can wear a uniform. If it’s a uniform, I don’t have to worry about anything. I just have to wear it properly.

According to Percival, His Excellency the Duke is a noble and strict person, but he is a man with flexible ideas. Looking at Aurora, who behaved like an aristocratic daughter and actively tried to get involved in things that would make ordinary ladies frown, one could somehow get a glimpse of the Duke’s educational policy.

“Is everything alright?”

“Un, well, somehow…….”

Worried about me, who was unusually nervous and left breakfast, Percival escorted me to the front gate.

The Duke of Bloomfield’s family is a family that has a long history in this country. He seems to have a considerable voice in the aristocracy, but even though he has that much power, he does not hold a position related to domestic affairs. (According to Percival)

It is difficult to move around if you have a position in the public eye, so they are probably only managing their own territory……Aurora’s father must be called a mastermind or a shadow.

As I waited to be picked up with a heavy stomach, a magnificent black carriage with the ducal coat of arms arrived shortly afterwards and slowly came to a halt in front of us.

“……”

“……”

Isn’t it strange? A 4 horse carriage to welcome a mere 14 year old?

I thought we would be picked up in a smaller, less conspicuous carriage, but this is very conspicuous. The students who happened to be around were also looking at us to see what was going on.

4 horses are not needed to carry one child, no matter how you look at it. If you’re going to take a commoner’s child on board, you might as well use a donkey wagon.

As expected, even Percival was at a loss for words when he turned his gaze to the side. I thought he was always unflappable, but he’s surprised at times like this.

“You’re Sapphirus sama, aren’t you? I’ve come to pick you up.”

The attendant opens the carriage door fluidly and urges me to get in.

“……Ji, I’m off then.”

“Ah, be careful.”

Unlike an omnibus carriage, this carriage was comfortable and didn’t shake at all, and I headed to the Duke’s house.

I arrived at the Duke’s residence in half an hour, unable to relax into a seat that didn’t hurt my bottom. The ducal residence was in an area known as the South Upper, which was inhabited by higher nobility than in the area where Aldridge’s mansion was located. It is said that nobles with royal bloodlines also have residences in this area. Percival told me this as a preliminary knowledge.

When the attendant opened the door, I was led into a splendid reception room, with no time to shut my open mouth due to the magnificent house that stood before me, as expected of a Duke’s house. The Perfectio mansion is nothing compared to this. The heavy furniture gives the impression of the weight of the history and the family name, yet the room is bright and welcoming.

I sat down fearfully on the bouncy sofa and while being taken aback, the Duke of Bloomfield appeared. I rush to my feet, closed my open mouth and bow deeply at the waist.

I’ve been neglected since I was 5 years old after the magic appraisal, so I haven’t learned any manners or etiquette at all. All I can do now are the movements I acquired in my previous life. The audience with the king was like this, and since I don’t remember being particularly condemned, I would like to think that there is no problem.

“Thank you for coming, Mr Sapphiras. I am August Steinfeld, head of the Bloomfield Ducal family.

“It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Excellency Duke. My name is Sapphiras. As I was recently abolished from the register of Perfectio, I no longer have a family name and am now a commoner. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your assistance.

“Raise your head, Mr Sapphiras.”

When I looked up, the Duke stared at me. Like Aurora, he is a handsome man with golden hair and purple eyes. I am sure he must have caused quite a stir among the ladies when he was young.

“I see, you are just as Aurora said.”

“?”

“At the age of 14, you look as if you’ve been through a lot. Very interesting indeed……Well, sit down and make yourself comfortable.’

His Excellency Duke Steinfeld looked at his maid as I sat down on the sofa. The Duke’s able-bodied maid rushes out of the room.

“Let’s skip the pleasantries, I actually sent one of my men to watch your examinations. Even though it was my daughter’s recommendation, I was curious to see how good is the student our ducal house was going to support.”

“……So, how was my assessment?”

“My men said you were the second coming of Fortis the Chantless Magician.

That’s……not wrong. It’s definitely Fortis on the inside.

“I think that is an overestimation.”

After all, I can’t say that I was actually Fortis in my previous life, so I’ll just be blandly modest. I won’t restrain my magic, but I’m Sapphiras now, so I’m going to live my life regardless of my previous life. I don’t want to bring up my previous life poorly and get into trouble.

“Is that so? You have only just entered the academy. And yet you can manipulate magic at will without incantations. I, for one, really like your unfathomable talent.”

Saying that, the Duke stared at me. I don’t feel at ease, like I’m about to be seen through and can’t calm down.

“I’m afraid so.”

“But why did the Earl of Aldridge abolish a brilliant son like you?”

You’re still curious about that as expected.

“…… I was declared by the temple to have no magical powers during the 5 year old magic appraisal, so…”

“Ah, I’ve heard about that.”

My lack of magic is a well-known story in the world because Casey has been going around spouting it. For my father, it’s a shame and a serious situation to have a person without magic power out of a venerable Magic Earl family. My father was furious when the world found out about this thing that he had kept hidden from the world and never wanted the world to know about it. In view of the system in this country, there is no way they can keep a single child hidden forever. Perhaps he was planning to lock me up, wait for the right moment, and then make me disappear through illness or accident.

With that in mind, it wouldn’t be strange to think that it was a miracle that I was able to attend the academy safely, or perhaps it was the blessing of good luck given to me by the goddess.

“However, I am able to use magic without any problems, because until the day I turned 14 and attended the academy, I was isolated in a remote place and taught myself about magic. I lived a life without any contact with my family, so I don’t think Earl Aldridge was aware that I could use magic.”

“……Why did you keep silent about being able to use magic? If you could use magic, you probably wouldn’t have been expelled?”

“Well, because my family and I had different values. I thought that I would not be able to live the life I wanted if I stayed in Perfectio. Fortunately, the Earl family has an excellent older brother and younger brother.”

“I see. So what is it that you want to do?”

“I want to become an adventurer in the future. I want to travel around on my own and master my magic.”

“You don’t want to serve your country or the nobility?”

“I love this country so much that I have no intention of moving to another country. But if I become an adventurer, I may eventually lose my life somewhere else. But my soul, which has lost its body, will return to this country in search of rest. However, as long as I can walk on my own two feet, I want to travel the world and see more of it.”

“……Hmm, well, I see……I understand your thoughts. Then I will help you with your future, Mr Sapphiras. I will be generous with my support for that. Study to your heart’s content at Creare for the path that you are aiming for.”

His Excellency the Duke smiled broadly. It seems that he has decided that I am a good student and worthy of his support. I am sure that Aurora also told him that I want to become an adventurer in the future. Today’s interview may also have been a way of assessing whether the Duke’s support would bring about a strange sex appeal.

The Duke did not change his attitude when I told him I was aiming to become an adventurer. If I had been forcefully asked to become a magician of the Duke’s family, I would have refused the scholarship and quit the academy, but for now that doesn’t seem to be a concern.

In that case, I’ll live up to that expectation. I can’t serve, but I’ll do what I can to benefit the Duke of Bloomfield’s family. I will repay you double for the favour you have done me. That’s my creed.

Incidentally, I’ve just changed my mind and will return enemies with four times the amount.

“……Thank you.”

As I bow deeply, the Duke rings the bell on the table. With a clear tinkling sound, the maid who had just left the room returns pushing a wagon with a tea set on it.

With fluid movements, she places a cup of tea and a gorgeous tart with colourful fruit on top in front of me. Amazing, I’ve never seen such an extravagant pastry.

Even so, with the carriage and good tea, he treats a commoner kid very politely. His Excellency the Duke is a good man.

“That pastry is my daughter’s favourite. I like them too.”

A tart that not only Aurora, but also the Duke likes, is served. In other words, I’m pretty sure he likes me as much as this favourite tart.

“Now, don’t hesitate to eat it. The custard is not too sweet, it is refreshing and is really delicious!”

The Duke then immediately took a bite of the tart.

The Duke immediately put his hand on the tart. A man of the aristocracy, who is so strict, is eating the tart with such relish. Somehow, he is a person with quite a gap1. But beware of this kind of person. You have to be careful not to turn them into enemies.

As expected, I was still nervous, so I wasn’t in the mood to eat anything, but I’m sure it’s not every day that I get to eat such a high-class pastry. I should eat it as one of my life experiences. However, this is not the Academy’s café terrace, so I carefully put the tart in my mouth, trying not to be too greedy.

The moment I put it in my mouth, I was overcome with emotion.

The right amount of sourness, mild sweetness and smooth cream! What is this! I’ve never eaten a pastry like this in my previous life! It’s so delicious, I feel like I’m going to collapse.

As expected of the Duke’s family, the pastries they serve are first-rate as well. I want to eat 10 more of these tarts.

I was so engrossed in the tart that I forgot that I had no appetite, but I never noticed that the Duke was looking at me as if he were looking at a young child.

The Duke offered me a lift home in his magnificent carriage, but I politely declined. I couldn’t bear the thought of being driven back to the academy in that 4 horse carriage again.

The Duke was quite surprised when I told him that it would only take a moment to return by transfer. I told him that if I myself have been to a place once, I can transfer accurately, and although there are restrictions, I can also transfer people and things at the same time, so if necessary, please call me.

The Duke gave me that tart as a souvenir, telling me to eat it when I got back. I can’t believe I’m eating something that good again! I reverently accepted the box of pastries from the maid, thanked her politely and left the room.

Returning to my room, I immediately opened the box. Inside were four shining fruit tarts. The Duke’s family is of a very high standard to be able to prepare such a large number of rare pastries.

I took the box of tarts and went to Percival’s room.

“Welcome back, Sapphiras. Are you all right?”

Percival looked relieved to see me. He seemed to have worried a lot.

“I’m all right, I’m all right. I was properly welcomed.”

“Is that so, I’m glad to hear that.

“Well, he certainly seemed like a strict man, but he did eat the tarts with relish.”

“What?”

“The Duke gave me that this as a souvenir, let’s eat it together. It’s out of this world, it’s so delicious!”

When I said that, Percival laughed happily. That’s right, that’s right. Because you can eat delicious tarts.

“…… Then let’s brew some tea.”

“You can brew tea?’

Even though you’re the son of an aristocrat? I thought and I guess it showed on my face.

“Ah, if you camp on an expedition, you’ll have to do everything yourself.”

Percival brewed the tea in a steady and familiar manner, and he placed the cup in front of me.

“Heh, you’re really used to it.”

While drinking the tea that Percival brewed for me, I stuffed my mouth with the second tart of the day.

Up until now, Sapphiras had no interest in sweets at all. I had one meal a day, just enough to keep me from starving to death, and of course I was never allowed to eat sweets.

In my previous life, I travelled with Urla and the others and enjoyed the local specialties and delicacies. It’s a good opportunity, so from now on, I’ll also enjoy eating. Besides, I want to do something about this dead branch-like body. First of all, let’s improve my diet.

melon: phew, another long chapter.

broad term describing any character whose appearance, behaviour, interests and/or lifestyle contrast with the initial impression that they make.