Chapter 8
2. Extras Don’t Need Obsession Either (3)
The dinner that felt like it would give me indigestion continued.
The duke roughly grouped and explained the family members to me and Hiakin. All the while, the duchess focused intently on not just cutting her steak but practically mincing it, without uttering a single word.
“Your rooms will be prepared in due time, so for now, use the guest rooms that Blair showed you to.”
“Thank you for your consideration. But I think only Hiakin needs to switch rooms.”
I poured all my effort into keeping the appropriate distance, just as the duke wanted.
He was testing me with every single word. This time, too, he insisted on preparing separate rooms for us, but…
‘After all, I’ll be leaving in half a year anyway, so why bother?’
When I politely declined instead, the family head nodded while stroking his chin. It seemed my response had passed muster.
“Yes, you mentioned you’d return to Estra in half a year.”
“Yes, so I hope you won’t trouble yourself on my account. Just looking after Hiakin is more than enough for me.”
With a bright smile—the kind that’s pleasant for others to see—it had been a while since I’d put one on. Back in the day, I’d often used it while begging to scrape by.
The family head, clearly satisfied with my demeanor, wiped his mouth with a napkin before responding.
“If that’s what makes you comfortable, I can’t force the issue. I hope you rest easy until it’s time to go.”
“Yes, thank you.”
Finally, this stifling meal was over.
The family head rose from his seat and extended a hand to the duchess, who still hadn’t touched a single bite of meat and was busy carving her steak into tiny pieces.
“Let’s head up.”
“……”
“……”
A desolate silence hung in the air, courtesy of the duchess glaring wordlessly at the family head.
After a moment, she obediently took his offered hand. I found myself absently watching their retreating figures but quickly turned away.
‘What’s the point of prying into other people’s family drama? Our own matters are far more pressing.’
With the two of them leaving first, the rigid atmosphere finally seemed to ease a little.
But now, a new voice chimed in.
“Your act is really something.”
It was aimed at me. I pretended not to hear, calmly spearing a grilled mushroom and popping it into my mouth.
“I’d never even heard your name before, but it looks like you’ve been living quietly like this, just pandering to everyone’s whims. That’s a talent, if you ask me.”
As I thought—he wouldn’t know me.
“I don’t particularly like drawing attention.”
“Is it that you couldn’t even if you tried?”
How childish. It was exhausting to engage, so I didn’t say another word.
But Cassiel’s jabs didn’t stop there. He muttered something else that was hard to stomach, but I let it go in one ear and out the other.
Cassiel is a fellow student on leave, just like me.
The difference is that he abruptly submitted his leave-of-absence form shortly after the semester began and vanished, which stirred up quite a buzz for a while.
Of course, I know why he suddenly fled school.
I calmly swallowed what was in my mouth. It was about time to wrap up the meal.
‘It was because of Claire.’
Back then, I had no idea why Cassiel had taken a sudden leave, but now it wasn’t hard to piece together.
The timing of his leave aligned perfectly with the death of Claire Brondearn, the S-class transcendent from Brondearn and Cassiel’s twin.
Losing a family member you’d been born with must have been unbearable. On top of that, the incident was quietly swept under the rug by the royal family to conceal the dangers of an S-class going berserk.
Officially, Claire Brondearn was listed as having died in battle.
‘It must have been disillusioning. Sending a barely adult kid to the front lines just because she was a high-level transcendent, and then driving her straight to her death.’
I couldn’t be entirely sure, but there might well be a deep-seated resentment toward this country lurking at Cassiel’s core.
Before I knew it, a cold silence had settled over the entire room.
‘Ah.’
Maybe because he’d been ignoring me this whole time, but when I looked up, Cassiel’s face was twisted like a demon’s.
“Hey.”
But it’s odd, isn’t it? He’s so full of hostility toward me, yet it feels like he’s trying hard to hide something by putting on this tough act.
Maybe it’s because, ever since I learned the true nature of this world, I’ve started keeping a slight distance from the people here. That’s why I could stay composed even in the face of Cassiel’s raw animosity.
“Sorry, I was lost in thought for a second and didn’t catch that.”
I’d only told the truth, but Cassiel couldn’t hide his flushed, furious expression as he barked a short command.
“…Get out.”
…Oh.
For someone with his temper, issuing a dismissal only now meant he’d held back a lot.
I had no idea why he hated me so much, but at least this got me out of dinner. I stood up first, subtly signaling to Hiakin with my eyes.
‘You stay a little longer.’
However, unexpectedly, Hiakin stood up with me.
“…His Highness.”
Hiakin grabbed the hem of my clothes tightly, preventing me from leaving first. The touch transmitted through the fabric was trembling.
“He said he’d arrange a real noble family for you, not some vulgar aristocratic house like the Lorein Count’s, so don’t worry. But to me, I can’t tell what’s different between there and here.”
“What?”
“I’m sorry. I’ll go ahead.”
With a half-hearted nod, Hiakin didn’t release the hem of my clothes but instead gripped my wrist firmly and dragged me out.
And as soon as we stepped outside, I flinched at the torrent of Hiakin’s nagging pouring down on me.
“Are you an idiot?”
“No, why….”
“Liliope Ortis.”
It’s been so long since this kid called me by my full name like this while getting angry. I was a bit dazed.
“Is this why you turned Leadman Lorein into that mess? To bring me here?”
“Well, I can’t say no….”
“To show me you being ignored right in front of me?”
I clamped my mouth shut.
‘I didn’t intend for this, but he’s really mad.’
As I rolled my eyes around, wondering how to soothe him, Hiakin seized the moment and unleashed his pent-up frustration.
“Listen carefully. Whether I manifest or not, no matter what my rank turns out to be, if you have to endure this kind of treatment because of it, then I don’t need this damn family either.”
“No, you have to. I plan to get you enrolled within half a year.”
“Enrolled? You came here because of my manifestation? Then use my name and act all high and mighty. Why stay quiet when they’re openly ignoring you? You caused a huge scene in Lorein, so why are you being so meek here!”
That’s because in Lorein, I was confident I could handle the aftermath, but not in Brondearn. Anyway, here, no matter what I do, it’s obvious I’d be subdued in less than a minute.
Knowing this, I just stood there blankly, saying nothing.
Even though I was trying to look apologetic in my own way, Hiakin’s anger showed no signs of subsiding.
“Anyway, I’ll let it slide today because of this.”
Saying that, Hiakin pulled not the wrist he had originally grabbed, but the opposite one. It was the hand with the control stone bracelet.
The spot burned due to the bracelet’s unauthorized mana control.
It seemed like the management office had given emergency treatment while I was unconscious, but that was about it. As Hiakin’s hand touched over the bandage, the pain surged up again.
“If I see the same thing happen next time, I’ll take you and leave this place that very day.”
“…”
“Let’s go treat this first. It’s supposed to be a prestigious family, so they must have some healing potions lying around.”
Those words stirred a bit of emotion in me. No matter what, this kid is the only one for me.
When we were very young, I stubbornly held on, thinking I was the only one who could protect Hiakin, buot now this guy has grown a little and is trying to protect me. That feeling made my heart swell.
As Hiakin led me deeper into the corridor, he asked.
“But why enrollment? You said you hoped I wouldn’t manifest if possible.”
“Actually, I have a feeling you will manifest…. I felt it at the count’s house. The mana reacting and moving toward you.”
“You were so concerned about whether I’d manifest or not, yet you show up out of the blue without even a single letter?”
“That was because I thought giving you false hope would only make things harder for you….”
“Stop with the excuses.”
Contrary to his curt words, Hiakin’s expression darkened in an instant. It was because he had understood why I said that.
Naturally, cadets go to the battlefield as soldiers upon graduation.
For me, living as a guide was the only option. But I didn’t want my little brother to jump into something where life and death were uncertain.
‘And I hoped he wouldn’t take an interest in the military academy for no reason….’
That’s why I cut off all letters and everything. Feeling awkward, I brushed my hair back and made an excuse.
“Now it’s hard to just ignore your situation, so I came. Since it turned out like this, it’s better to be together anyway.”
Considering that abnormal reactions had already appeared, and recalling that in the original story, all transcendents had manifested without fail when such reactions occurred….
Hiakin will awaken as a transcendent soon. Even as I spoke, I felt a bit bitter.
“If you manifest within this year’s registrant period, you’ll become a cadet at the military academy too. Though only three months are left.”
If he doesn’t get recognized as a manifestant within three months, he’ll have to be left alone in the capital again. Hiakin’s face turned ashen.
Still, when I playfully poked his arm a few times, his anger seemed to have eased quite a bit compared to before. I spoke seriously to the now somewhat softened Hiakin.
“Hiakin, I don’t mind being ostracized here since it’s expected, but you be careful too.”
“With what?”
“You probably figured out what kind of personality the duke has earlier. He’s someone who obsesses over ranks and achievements. People like that usually chase visible results and end up breaking the people around them.”
So I emphasized the importance of keeping distance repeatedly.
If Hiakin were to live as an ordinary person, that would be one thing, but now that abnormal reactions have shown, if he stands out greatly in the sponsoring family, he’ll continue to attract the royal family’s attention.
In that case, it’s better for him to go to school with me so I can help. To that end, we need to borrow this family’s power to manifest quickly.
“Receive help for manifestation as sponsor and sponsored, but there’s no need to dig into unnecessary secrets or the underside. It’s part of the national policy anyway. Don’t think you’re indebted to Brondearn.”
Did that prince really connect Brondearn and us out of pure goodwill?
‘No way.’
There must be ulterior motives behind it all. This was advice, counsel, and a warning.
“I don’t want you to get caught up in the duke’s greed and die like someone.”
The duke’s twin, who was never mentioned as if he had never existed from the beginning.
The authoritarian family head and the silent duchess. Kasiel, who sharply guards against outsiders.
Acteon, who observes us without showing emotions.
Especially in Acteon’s case…. It was at that moment when I was subtly trying to convey the information I knew to Hiakin.
“So, for the sake of your peculiar sibling affection, you casually mention other people’s family matters.”
It was a chilling voice. Acteon’s voice came from the corridor we had passed through.
Thud thud, footsteps that were disciplined like a well-trained soldier were approaching step by step.
“‘Like someone,’ huh. You seem to know a lot about this place.”
Ah, damn. Why is he out already?
‘Did he follow us? He didn’t notice something, did he?’
He had been watching us the whole time since we first arrived, so maybe he found something suspicious?
But right now, more important than that was the fact that he had overheard what I said. There’s no way Acteon wouldn’t know who I was referring to.
I gently pushed Hiakin’s back, who might get unnecessarily involved.
“Hiakin, go up first.”
“What?”
“I’ll talk a bit and come. Don’t worry.”
Hiakin tried to resist leaving but reluctantly nodded at my firm gaze. He hesitated but disappeared up the stairs.
Once we were alone like that.
“My family could end up the same way, so wouldn’t it be okay to be a little cautious?”
I turned around to face Acteon.
At the same time, an suffocating pressure emanated from Acteon.
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