Chapter 173 : Chapter 173
Chapter 173. It’s a Very Good Ability But
“I think I got caught.”
The 4th Princess, Estina Mecure Cretian, bit her lip.
It was rare for her, who always maintained a cool composure in everything, to show such anxiety.
“Because that guy kept saying strange things……!”
Normally, this wouldn't be something to get so shaken about.
But the words the 8th Prince spat out as if he had realized something during the duel weighed on her mind.
Things like saying Estina hated magical beasts, or that it felt like he was dealing with a monster. As if he knew what Ability she had been hiding.
“Information hasn't been leaked, has it?!”
When Estina shouted, her follower Kier calmed her down.
He was the closest existence among Estina’s followers.
He was also the second son of the Iern Earldom, which had produced the Imperial Knight Commander for generations.
“That cannot be. If that fact were revealed, would the Mecure Earldom sit still?”
Kier was right.
The ones most intent on hiding Estina’s Ability were her maternal family, the Mecure Earldom.
Only royal family members who manifested an Ability could become Emperor, but even then, it depended on the Ability.
Leaving a good impression on others was also crucial for becoming the next Emperor.
The Mecure Earldom spared no support behind the scenes for Estina. They willingly handled unsavory matters and dirty work.
It was all support for Estina to become Emperor.
That included creating a perfect image for Estina.
Estina ground her teeth.
“Of all things, an Ability to transform into a magical beast!”
Her Ability was indeed the power to change her body, just as others knew. The problem was that it was an ability to change her body not into substances like metal or diamond, but into the body of a magical beast.
Of course, mythical creatures with noble appearances were also a type of magical beast, but the forms she could transform into were only hideous monsters.
“Something like this Ability…… I didn't want it.”
As a child, she had felt pure joy at possessing an Ability. However, as she gradually grew up, she learned that her Ability was both a blessing and a curse.
Because the ability to transform into a terrifying magical beast was bound to be a flaw in the competition to become the next Emperor.
The Mecure Earldom constantly emphasized that point to Estina.
How the ability to transform into a magical beast would appear in the eyes of others.
That was why Estina had lived thoroughly hiding her Ability.
Whenever she used her Ability, Estina thoroughly hid the traces of the magical beast. She controlled her Ability precisely so that scales would not be revealed on the outside of her skin.
Perhaps thanks to such efforts, people outside only knew Estina’s Ability as simply changing her skin into steel or making it hard.
As a result, she was able to come this far.
The current her was one of the strongest candidates for Emperor.
“Even if he found out, we just have to kill him. After all, he is someone who must disappear for Lady Estina to become Emperor.”
Her follower whispered from the side.
He was right.
Estina nodded.
“Yes, I will have to kill him next time.”
The image of the 8th Prince came to Estina’s mind. If only there hadn't been any witnesses, she would have killed him cleanly.
Her pupils slit vertically, and long claws grew from her hands.
Estina smiled fishily.
If they met next time, there would be no more mistakes.
* * *
Radel returned to the Black Falcon Dormitory.
The wounds he received at the Combat Magic Workshop had healed completely without a trace.
Thanks to Senior Shartea and Professor Lilian taking the unconscious Radel to the Treatment Room in the Academy and waiting until he recovered properly, he was able to wake up safely.
Although he received an absurd question from Professor Lilian as soon as he regained consciousness.
‘How was it? The spar was fun, right? Don't you feel like majoring in Combat Magic right away?’
‘……Professor, no matter what, making a first-year who has not even chosen a major spar with Estina is too much.’
‘You have to do that much to improve your skills quickly, you know?’
‘Haa, Professor…….’
The scene of Senior Shartea protesting to Professor Lilian was quite a novel sight.
‘Professor Lilian has a bit of a strange side, but she is not a bad person.’
Radel recalled that the professor in charge of the Red Wolf Dormitory was Professor Lilian, seeing Senior Shartea defend Professor Lilian even while doing so.
‘I hope you major in Combat Magic. I am sure you will grow quickly.’
Senior Shartea even subtly promoted the major before leaving.
“Prince.”
“Hey, are you okay?”
As Radel entered the dormitory lobby thinking of Senior Shartea and Professor Lilian, Inette and Gusto came running out.
“I heard you got beaten by the 4th Princess at the Combat Magic Workshop and were carried to the Treatment Room!”
“How is your condition?”
Radel raised his hand to signify he was fine.
“I am fine. It is not that serious.”
However, Inette was extremely agitated.
“I told you to be careful, didn't I? I had a bad feeling from the moment you met the 4th Princess!”
“She was not very friendly towards the Prince.”
Gusto also nodded and agreed with Inette’s opinion.
It was rare for Inette and Gusto to agree like this.
“What is going on with you two? Did your hearts connect?”
When Radel asked, Inette and Gusto’s faces crumpled simultaneously.
“It is because of you! Since you are a royal, be more careful!”
“I agree with this matter. Prince, you need to be more cautious than you are now.”
The three moved to the dormitory lounge while talking.
Inette, who had been nagging Radel, sighed as if relieved.
“Phew, still, it is fortunate it ended at this level. Do not run into her in the future. She is not an easy opponent.”
“Are you telling me to avoid her? Inette, that is not like you.”
“Indeed. It is unexpected.”
When Gusto and Radel teased her, Inette raised her eyebrows.
Her attitude showed she was dumbfounded.
“Do you think I am some kind of fighter? You wouldn't know since you haven't clashed with the 4th Princess until now, but she is no joke. The 2nd Prince plots gloomily behind the scenes, but she just charges in recklessly.”
It seemed Inette had also gone through a lot to survive in the Imperial Capital.
Radel nodded.
Certainly, the 4th Princess seemed to like handling things herself. After fighting her, it was understandable. The 4th Princess was incredibly skilled.
He learned a lot from this spar. His Health increased, and he gained information about the 4th Princess’s Ability.
However, in Inette’s eyes, Radel’s spar seemed nothing but reckless behavior.
“How can you even think of fighting her head-on? Even swords don't work on the 4th Princess. Her skin is as hard as steel, you know?”
“I have heard that too. That the 4th Princess has skin like diamond and blocks any attack. I also heard rumors that she is the shield protecting the Empire.”
At Inette’s words, Gusto added as if he remembered too.
Listening to their conversation, Radel pondered deeply.
The 4th Princess’s Ability seen up close was not simply changing her skin into a substance.
To Radel, it felt closer to mimicry.
Eyes that read human movements even in smoke.
Skin as hard as a carapace yet elastic.
Even the change in her hands seen at the end.
The ability to transform into a magical beast's body.
That was the 4th Princess’s true power.
‘But why does she hide it?’
It’s a very good Ability but.
Listening to Inette and Gusto, it seemed the true nature of the 4th Princess’s Ability was unknown.
He couldn't understand why she was hiding such a good Ability instead of revealing it.
If he followed what the library spirit told him, was it because she hated magical beasts?
“We didn't know because we had no reason to run into her all this time.”
At Radel’s words, Gusto nodded.
“It couldn't be helped. The 4th Princess went to subjugate monsters during the first semester. I heard from seniors at the temple that you can go on external training as major practice.”
“Hmph, what monster subjugation. Didn't she just leave the Academy because she didn't want to study?”
Inette grumbled and pouted.
If one went on external training for a semester, one could skip both midterms and finals.
“She looked like she would hate studying at a glance, anyway.”
“Perhaps she went on the subjugation because she hates magical beasts?”
At Radel’s guess, Inette scoffed.
“Anyone would hate hideous magical beasts. Maybe if it were a Unicorn or a Pegasus, but there is no way she would like gross magical beasts, right? Unless they are Cryptozoology majors.”
When Inette spoke nonchalantly, a few students in the dormitory lounge flinched.
And they whispered in angry voices.
“To not know the beauty of magical beasts!”
“Is it okay to say such rude things openly?”
“Hideous? Magical beasts are so cool!”
It seemed there were hidden aspiring Cryptozoology majors even among the first-years…….
While Inette was startled upon discovering them belatedly and Gusto apologized on her behalf, someone walked into the lounge.
Radel recognized his brother whom he hadn't seen in months and greeted him.
“Leon! Did you have a good vacation?”
However, Leon’s face was dark as if something had happened.
Furthermore, when Radel spoke to him, he showed signs of great displeasure.
He answered coldly.
“Don't act friendly.”
It was a much pricklier reaction than before the vacation.
Leon passed by without even giving Radel a glance.
“Why is he being like that again?”
Seeing Leon’s cold attitude, Inette said from the side as if dumbfounded.
Clearly, he thought their relationship had improved a little before the vacation.
Radel scratched his head while watching Leon’s retreating figure.
“I know, right. Did something bad happen during the vacation?”
* * *
Stupid guy.
A guy who doesn't know his place and is carefree.
Leon clenched his molars while looking at Radel.
Seeing Radel greet him as if nothing was wrong made his stomach churn.
He had been at the Silvert Dukedom throughout the vacation.
And there, he had to undergo rigorous training all day long.
Later, he squeezed out so much Magic Power that the dragon’s Magic Power he had sealed away was wriggling up.
Leon desperately suppressed the dark red Magic Power trying to take over his body and endured the splitting headache.
‘Second place? That guy took first place, but you!’
His maternal grandfather, Duke Silvert, tore up the report card in front of Leon.
And as if his anger hadn't subsided even after that, he locked him in the training room.
‘To be worse than a half-wit who manifested his Ability late. Realize what you did wrong there.’
It wasn't that he hadn't expected this result.
When Radel took first place, when he became the Grade Representative, when he beat other Academy students.
Leon had to be angry every time he saw the exploits of the brother he thought was inferior to him.
Why appear now!
‘If only that guy didn't exist.’
Everything had been a mess since Radel manifested his Ability.
Him running wild without knowing how to use a single spell properly, him greeting him nonchalantly every time he saw him, him pretending to know when he didn't know anything.
He hated seeing all of it.
Now he couldn't leave it alone anymore.
Especially this semester, he had to get ahead of that guy no matter what.
Only then could he avenge his mother and meet the expectations of his maternal grandfather, Duke Silvert.
Leon made a vow as he passed Radel.
That guy is an existence worse than a stranger.
I will not be shaken anymore.