The news of my head's success soon became known to everyone in the house.

　The result.
　The dinner became luxurious.

''Wow........''

　Wow, there's a whole piglet.
　I don't know how you could have done that today.

Good for you!　This is to celebrate Seika-kun.

　I get an earful with a smile from Yifa, who was helping to serve the food.
　It's frustrating to be told that.

　But anyway, I wish you had prepared it yesterday.
　No, I don't care about my birthday.

It looks like my son has done a great service today.

　As we began to eat, my father spoke up and said, "I've never seen Elder Newt like that.

I've never seen an Elder Newt like that before. It's probably an old one from deep in the mountains. It wouldn't have been easy for even the most seasoned adventurer to defeat it.
'Seika was brave, father. He went to help his handmaid, who was standing by the side of the house.

　Oh, Luft complimented me. My brother used to stay out of my business, albeit a decent one, so I'm kind of impressed.
　But wait a minute, Glei is giving me all kinds of stares. I'm sorry you're having trouble with my work.
　And my mom won't even look at me. Well, it's the least I can do.

Thank you, my dear. Father, brother.
''Tonight's ingredients are a celebration from the Chamber of Commerce. At a later date, the Council of Counselors will give you a certificate of appreciation and the Adventurer's Guild will give you a certificate of defeat and a medal.
'Really? It's a great honor.
So, Seika. How did you defeat that monster?　Will you let my father hear it?
'Yes. He didn't seem to have a problem with fire, so I used fire magic.
....

　What's that?
　Is that suspicious to you?

Well, the rest of it was selfless, so I didn't think too hard about it...
''That's right, Elder Newt is a water-based monster, but he's actually vulnerable to fire.

　After a short pause, my father returned it as if nothing had happened.

'You knew it well,'
I've read about them in the books. And I also heard that your father once fought them off with fire magic.
"Good decision. And you've been studying hard. But Seika, don't be proud of this. The next time you face the same monster, you may not be able to defeat it in the same way. If you don't have to fight, think first of escaping.
Yes, Father. I feel lucky too, I guess.

　That's right. I could have fought that man a thousand times and lost at least once and that was as good as it got.

But that was a noble effort. I'll have to reward you. Seika, is there anything you want?
Father, in that case. I would like to ask a favor.

　I'll cut to the chase.

I don't have magic. But even so, I couldn't give up on magic, so I practiced on my own for a long time. It's because of this that I'm now able to use my magic, albeit only briefly.

　He took out his wand and lit a blue-white flame on the end of it.

"I can do magic. But this experience has given me a different kind of desire, a desire to use my magic to help more people. But after this experience, I have another desire within me, a desire to use my magic more for the benefit of others.
....
What that will look like is still to be determined. But I, too, want to contribute to the Empire with my abilities as a great magician and son of the prosperous Lamprog family. Therefore, Father.

　I pause and say, "Please admit me to the Imperial Academy of Rhodonea.

"I would like to attend the Imperial Academy of Magic and Wizardry of Rhodonea.

What?

　I ignore Glai's surprised voice and continue.

I've heard that the Magical Academy produces many famous magicians. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to hone your skills and find your way there too. I'm still inexperienced, so I'll start at the elementary school. If possible, I'd like to start next spring.

　It was his best speech to himself, but my father remained silent for a while.
　The dinner table was silent.

　But I wasn't worried about it.
　I had done such a good job. Even if I had some feelings about it, I'd have to admit to a certain degree.

Well, okay. Very well.
What, Dad?
But you're not exempt from the examinations just because you're an earl. You pass it on your own, that's the deal.
'Yes father. Thank you. I'll start studying for my exams tomorrow immediately.

　I add, "And I have one more question.

"And could you do me one more favor?
What?
I'd like to have Yifa there as a squire to help me get to school.
What, me?

　Yifa is flustered, but my father nods without saying a word.

''That's fine. As long as we get it out of the estate, it would be better to transfer the owner to you. Think of it as a parting gift.''
''Thank you. In addition........would you also allow Yifa to attend the academy?
What?

　My father frowned this time.

'I can't do that.'
Why?
'Neither her father nor her mother had a talent for magic. It's rare for a commoner's blood to possess great magical power in one generation. There's no point in attending a school. Give it up.
That's no problem. Yifa is already revealing her magical powers. I'll show you now.

　I got up from my seat and opened the big window in the dining room.
　Then I walked over to Yifa.

Seika-kun, I...
This way.

　Then he takes Yifa to the window.

Yifa. "Yifa, if you want to come with me, you can shoot the flames of human souls out of the window with all your might, and then you can say the Flame Flame Note. When you do, you can say, "Flame Note".

　I whispered and handed him my wand.

　Yifa looks at me for a while, but then she turns her attention out the window.
　Quietly, I point to the sky with my wand.

　It's more of a magic wand.
　Like a command staff held by a commander...

Furemu no To...

　Gosh.
　A pillar of orange flame pierced the sky as the sun began to set.
　It stretched and spread everywhere, illuminating the landscape outside with a reddish glow.

''Huh!''
''The Flame Note is a medium-grade fire magic... but how powerful is it...''

　Glei and Luft sit up and are aghast.

　It's an old flame.
　The False Fox's flame technique is enough to burn a mountain, but that one now must have had four tails of class.
　The improvement is fast. I knew Yifa had a talent for using spirits.

''What do you think, father?　Yifa used fire magic to protect her handmaid from Elder Newt. She was fortunate enough to be born with a talent for magic. It would be a shame to let this talent linger in the dark.

　My father was silent for a while, as if surprised, but eventually he huffed his eyes down and said

''........Fine, do what you want. However, the condition remains the same: if you pass the exam. Alright?
Of course. Thank you, Father.

　I turn to Yifa.

I'm sorry I went ahead with the mission. Yifa said before that she wanted to leave the territory and go to various places, so I was wondering if you'd like to follow me.
Uh-huh. Seika-kun, I...
'Not yet. I have to pass my exams. I'm going to study hard from now until spring.
'Yeah, I'll do my best!　Ah.........If you're going to be a squire, you have to use your words properly, right? Se, Seika-sama.
All right, we're good.
But....
'It's kind of weird, and we're going to be classmates in the spring.

　And you don't want to do that because you'll be covering yourself with Yuki.

Oh, really?　Okay.....
I don't understand.

　Suddenly, Glai banged on the table, causing a loud voice to echo through the dining room.

'Father, what are you thinking?　They don't just admit magicless dropouts and even slaves to the Imperial Magical Academy!

　Yifa shrank back as if frightened.

'And Father!　The Lamprog family would not have let their siblings follow the same path for generations!　I'm transferring to Magical Academy next spring!　It's not worth breaking tradition to get this guy in!　You should have done it with the army!　Isn't that right, Father!
That's right, Glei.

　Blaise replies quietly.

'In the Lamplog family, we will not allow our brothers to follow the same path in order to serve the Empire at large with their magical talents. And I have no intention of breaking that tradition in my generation.
All right, then!
"That's why Glai - you must join the Imperial Guard.
What...?

　Grye's eyes widened, and this time he was immensely disappointed.
　It's doubtful he even knows what was said.

'You have the physical strength and talent with a sword. I'm sure you'd be good at it. You remember your cousin, your uncle Petrus, don't you?　He should be stationed along the eastern border as a commander now. I'll let them know that they can take care of you there after you enter the army.
Why?

　Grye gasps out the words.

'Why me?　Oh, I'm the second son, and unlike him, I have magical powers!　And yet.....
So I have to ask you, Gry. What have you been doing all these years?

　Grye is speechless again.
　Yeah, that's what it would be if you said that.

''Did you make any new discoveries during the period when you should have been studying at the school's primary school?　Did you try anything?　Have you worked hard to improve yourself?　Glai, I've only ever seen you playing around in the streets with a bunch of graceless people, with your sword in your hand.
.........
'Do you know what qualities a researcher needs most?　Willingness. I can't feel it from you.
But, but...
Seika, on the other hand, worked hard and showed results. That's all that matters.

　Grye, who had been told of the dopey argument, peeled his eyes away and shushed him.
　His complexion is no longer purple.

''..........a duel.''
Hmm?

　Gry suddenly shouts at me, pointing at me.

I'm sorry!　I challenge you to a duel!　My bet is a path to the school!
Gly, I told you not to...

　Luft stops him, but Glai doesn't listen.

'If you lose, get out of my house right now!　You know what I mean!
'Well....'

　No, it's your old man who pays for the school.
　When I look at my father at that thought, Blaise opens his mouth with a pained look on his face.

Seika, are you good with that?
Blaise!

　My mother, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke up.
　When I looked in that direction without thinking, she quickly looked away.
　Hmm....?　What is it?
　I answer my father, confused.

"I don't mind.
Glei, that makes sense to you too, doesn't it?
Yes, Father. I'm going to prove to you that I'm better than you at magic. And when I do, you'll allow me to become a researcher.
All right.
Glei!　Don't do anything stupid. A brother-in-law duel...
You will shut your mouth.
Sir!
'Yes, mother!　This is between me and the Seika. There's something I can't give up either.
Then we have a deal.

　My father gets up from his seat.

''The time and date is tomorrow at noon. The rules will follow the official etiquette of the Empire, but the use of seriousness and attack magic of medium or higher rank is forbidden. I'll be the one to witness it. I'll rest first today.

　With that, my father leaves the dining room.

　Before I knew it, it was dusk outside the window.