Chapter 4
1. The Male Lead Doesn’t Need Trauma (4)
At those words, the count’s body flinched. But he wasn’t one to back down easily.
“Ha, assault right now? Did you say assault?”
“Count, it would be better for you if I don’t get any angrier.”
“Then is it something we can just overlook when a manifestor attacks a non-manifestor! Hey, overseer! Arrest that crazy woman right now!”
At the count’s roar, the other two overseers approached and handcuffed me.
My wrists were already sore from the control stone, and now with the handcuffs tightening around them, it hurt quite a bit.
“Liliope Ortis, unauthorized use of mana is a serious crime, no matter the reason.”
At the overseer’s stern words, Count Lorraine smirked. But that smug expression didn’t last long.
“However, the reason you mentioned deviates from the national law established by His Majesty the King.”
The overseer continued, gazing at the count with a chilling look.
“From today onward, until orders come down from above, no one from the count’s household may leave the estate, and we will immediately investigate the truth of the accusation made by Liliope Ortis.”
With just those words, the count visibly wavered.
If they dug even a little, the way the count’s family had treated Hiakin would come pouring out.
Especially if the place was full of spineless types like that servant, who just feared and followed those in power.
“If it proves true, we will strip you of your count title, confiscate all your assets, and sentence you to a minimum of five years imprisonment, up to the death penalty.”
At the overseer’s declaration, the blood drained from Count Lorraine’s face.
“W-what are you saying! I’m doing this for the royal family! This guy still shows no signs of manifestation…!”
“Even a pre-manifestor is clearly included in national assets, yet the count seems unaware of fear? Daring to blemish His Majesty’s property without a care. But before that.”
I nodded indifferently at the overseer who turned back to me.
“Liliope Ortis will be detained directly at the Manifestor Management Agency.”
No sooner had her words ended than the other overseer holding me infused mana into my control stone bracelet.
I suppose I’ll lose consciousness for a bit now. Hiakin will probably be shocked, but well, this won’t kill me. Besides, I’m confident I won’t face severe punishment anyway.
Yet, despite the overseer’s words, the moment Hiakin heard I’d be detained, his gaze changed.
It was very subtle, but I sensed an unusual energy.
As a guide, I was the most sensitive to a manifestor’s mana. It was a strange oppressive feeling, as if the surrounding air was being sucked toward Hyacinth.
‘…An abnormal reaction?’
But it was odd. Why did it seem like the other overseers hadn’t noticed it yet?
‘But it’s clearly the sign of an abnormal reaction?’
Pre-manifestors before their first manifestation can vaguely gauge their potential rank in advance.
Just like now, with this abnormal reaction that seems to draw in the surrounding mana.
This is a phenomenon caused by the body of an esper that attracts mana. It’s common in high-rank espers…
And it was none other than Hiakin showing this abnormal reaction.
‘As expected, Hiakin has a high chance of manifesting as a high-level esper, just like in the original story.’
Seeing my own brother so agitated and showing ominous signs, I quickly met his eyes.
“Hiakin, calm down.”
“But you…!”
“It’s okay, so you can calm down.”
I reassured Hiakin without much worry. Though the situation didn’t allow me to explain leisurely to him.
‘Who would dare mistreat the sister of an S-rank esper.’
Looking at the overseers’ expressions, it seemed they had now noticed the mana reaction around Hiakin too.
Well, I’ll probably face some formal questioning and interrogation.
But this matter will definitely be reported to the higher-ups, and soon the royal family will step in to suppress the count’s house and protect the two of us. So, I’d prefer if he didn’t worry about me.
Whether he knew my thoughts or not, Hiakin, fueled by rage, caused a commotion trying to pull the overseers away from me.
Watching that fierce display, I muttered again.
“No, I said calm down…”
I wanted to say something to stop him, but my body wouldn’t cooperate. The bracelet’s heat grew increasingly intense, and suddenly my vision spun.
At the same time, as my consciousness flickered out.
‘…He hasn’t gone dark already, has he?’
I saw Hiakin kicking the overseer and running toward me.
* * *
Even if it seems like I’m acting thoughtlessly, I actually have a plan for everything.
If Hiakin is scheduled to manifest as an S-rank esper anyway.
I’d rather turn that tremendous potential into a means for him to protect himself even before manifestation.
…But.
“Hello?”
“Um, hello.”
The moment I opened my eyes, right in front of me sat a disgustingly handsome man, waiting for me to wake up.
‘He looks like a big, yellow golden retriever…’
With his soft features, the curly, bright honey-blond hair blended well with his mature face.
He wore an earring only on one side, peculiarly, and the blue gem in it made his amber eyes stand out even more, though it didn’t seem like mere decoration.
“I came after receiving a report of unauthorized magic use and an abnormal reaction, but why was the info that the suspect is such a beauty left out?”
What nonsense is this? I stiffened, instinctively putting some distance between me and this unidentified man.
But the room was surrounded by control stones on all sides, and with handcuffs on both wrists, I wasn’t free to move.
On top of that, they’d added a control stone anklet to one leg, making my movements as sluggish as if I’d been anesthetized.
It was a special solitary cell designed for awakeners.
“Who are you to start flirting out of nowhere? I’ve already had enough of that boring leering just before this.”
When I interrogated him with an unwelcoming tone, he smiled.
“Ah, I’m the prince of this country. Call me Izador. My humble older brother is the crown prince—do you know him, by chance?”
And he added,
“For your reference, if some unfortunate accident were to befall my brother and he dies, or if there’s a major issue with his succession to the throne, I’d inherit the first right to it.”
Ah, I see.
“Nice to meet you, Your Highness. That was quite witty just now.”
My reflexive response popped out at his deadly serious explanation, which didn’t sound like a joke.
“Pfft….”
“I’m glad Your Highness finds my banter entertaining. What a relief.”
“No, pfft, you’re way too brazen.”
Are you enjoying this? Because I’m just confused.
A prince, out of the blue. Is it because the original Hiakin was adopted as the crown prince’s son?
I was pondering what connection there might be, rummaging through my memories, when our handsome Highness spoke.
“Flirting with you would be fun, but this doesn’t seem like the time for jokes. Shall I get straight to the point?”
“Please do.”
“Is there a particular reason you deliberately blew this up into a big incident?”
Whoa, sharp.
Maybe the crown prince shouldn’t be the one, this guy should inherit the throne next.
No, politicians who don’t use their wits get killed off quickly, so this is probably normal?
He seemed to have figured out why I’d openly made an enemy of the count’s family.
“What’s your little brother’s projected grade?”
He asked with a faint but sly smile, like a cunning old fox.
And I felt a bit relieved. The prince’s involvement, of all things. What a golden spoon backing.
It looks like the count’s family will pay a harsher price than expected for messing with my brother.
* * *
Naturally, it’s impossible to find out the projected grades of all potential manifestors.
‘And it shouldn’t be possible.’
If it were, this country would surely gather only the high-grade potential manifestors from childhood and brainwash them into loyalty to the royal family.
What a insane setting.
It’s a good thing it’s technically impossible when you think about ethics and morals.
‘But sometimes it happens. Cases where you can gauge a potential manifestor’s projected grade.’
Like the abnormal magic reaction from just before.
The phenomenon that rarely occurs even before awakening, like what Hiakin almost caused at the Lorraine Count’s estate.
Transcendents, who innately draw in external magic directly, manipulate it with their bodies, and unleash miraculous abilities.
Their bodies, literal living miracles, are specialized for handling this magic.
‘But precisely because of that, even before the first manifestation, there are cases where they unconsciously manipulate magic.’
I’m planning to use this setting mentioned in the original to make use of our prince.
Using Hiakin’s abnormal reaction as evidence to claim that our kid shows potential to manifest as a high-grade transcendent.
‘It’s not bad to have a powerful figure backing us. No, for Hiakin, it’s absolutely necessary.’
But first, I need to check if I can trust this person.
I deliberately kept my mouth shut, pretending to ponder, and the prince kindly leaned in with a soft voice.
“Ortis, I’m not trying to use your brother. In fact, I want to protect him.”
Usually, people who say that treat others like suckers and suck them dry to the bone. I thought this to myself without saying it out loud.
“Protect, you say.”
“Yes. It’s curious, isn’t it? Not at any other time, but you suddenly applied for leave mid-semester and came to see your brother. Why is that? Did you abruptly learn about his abuse? If so, how did you find out?”
He smiled as if he’d already read my thoughts.
It’s just because I realized I’m possessed as an extra in a novel and I’m about to die.
Unaware of this, the prince was kindly imprinting misconception keywords onto me, a mere extra.
“You knew your brother would awaken as a transcendent, didn’t you? I don’t know how you found out about the Lorraine Count family’s deeds, but you must have judged that leaving him in that situation could lead to big trouble.”
“….”
He tapped his temple with his index finger as he spoke.
“Transcendents’ minds are as fragile as glass, after all. So, as soon as you learned of the atrocities committed by the count’s family, to prevent any possible accident… yes. You rushed here to protect your unpredictable little brother.”
“….”
“Oh dear, are you shocked because it’s spot on? Your grade as a B-grade guide isn’t high, but it’s not low either.”
“Your Highness….”
“For someone like you to urgently seek out your brother like this, it’s obvious. Your brother must be at least your equal or higher in grade. Something too burdensome for you to handle alone…. Right?”
“To that extent….”
I couldn’t close my mouth in astonishment.
As my lips parted, the prince chuckled, admiring his own brilliant mind, but what shocked me was something else.
To that extent….
Thank you for misunderstanding so thoroughly. I’m utterly grateful that you’re providing plausibility on your own.
This means I don’t need to spin elaborate lies with agitation and fabrication.
To interpret everything so perfectly for this extra.
Without me directly revealing the grade, our prince, sunk deep into the swamp of misconceptions and misunderstandings, was already convinced that Hiakin would be A-grade or even S-grade.
“I won’t make you say your brother’s projected grade out loud. You seem to have affirmed it already.”
I didn’t, though. But he is S-grade.
“Therefore, I intend to connect you and your brother to a family of more suitable status.”
What’s this now?
To my bewildered self, the prince interlaced his fingers, rested his chin on them, and smiled.
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