MDRH 49

Chapter 49

It was Serdian.

As the children split to either side, Serdian walked forward and stopped before Tessian.

Tessian’s gaze tilted slightly upward.

They were clearly the same age. The first time they’d met at the Grand Duke’s residence, Serdian had been shorter and slighter than him.

But now…

When did he grow this much?

In less than a year, Serdian had shot up and was now looking down at him.

Moreover, his body, honed through training, appeared far more solid and imposing than Tessian’s own.

It’s not like I’ve been neglecting training either…!

But what had truly changed wasn’t just his appearance.

Serdian’s crimson eyes—and the aura radiating from them.

Those eyes no longer wavered with the inferiority complex of a low-born, nor endured others’ scorn in silence.

They carried an overwhelming pressure, befitting the heir of the North, something no one dared defy.

Tessian unconsciously swallowed hard.

While he had stagnated, trapped in petty jealousy and resentment, that boy had been growing into a monster, hidden from sight.

“Didn’t you hear me? I said let’s switch spots—you take mine, I’ll take yours.”

Serdian had been assigned to Team 3. A simple, safe purification mission. The most coveted assignment of all.

Grinding his teeth, Tessian looked back at the special team list posted on the board.

Irenel, Kaelin.

He had thought that even if he himself left, he could easily sway the remaining teammates to corner Lucillea.

But if Irenel was there, it changed things.

Kaelin would no doubt join in tormenting Lucillea with just a little coaxing.

But Irenel? Never. He showed no interest in others’ affairs, and above all, despised anything dishonorable.

If Irenel refuses, Kaelin won’t dare join either.

So in the end, if Tessian wanted revenge on Lucillea, he had to remain on the special team.

And yet…

That’s the last thing I want!

So far, real-combat training had always involved being stationed at outposts, purifying the northern borders.

His plan had been to lure clueless Lucillea into the middle of swarming monsters during such a mission.

But the subjugation of the Northern Mountains? That was on a completely different level.

Pity… but crushing those two will have to wait. There’s still plenty of time.

Staring at the board, Tessian slowly turned back toward Serdian.

Acting as if he were granting a favor, he shouted loudly:

“Fine! I’ll switch with you! But remember, you’re the one who begged me for this. If anything happens because of it, I won’t take responsibility. And you owe me one—got it?”

“…”

Serdian looked at him with cold disdain before replying flatly:

“Enough nonsense. Just go tell the instructor I approved the switch.”

Looking relieved, Tessian turned away. Only the children left behind near the board stood in the thickening tension.

At that moment, Lucillea, too small to push through the crowd and forced back, clutched her head with both hands as though tearing at her hair.

What?! Special teeeeam?!

What on earth had just happened?

Even after being swept out of the crowd, she couldn’t shake the shock she’d felt in front of the board.

She had heard about real-combat training from Mei.

“Kind of like a midterm exam, I guess.”

Children’s achievements were judged through the process and results of these trainings, and rewards or punishments were assigned accordingly.

But Lucillea hadn’t even been at the Grand Duke’s residence for a full month.

It was like pushing a toddler who had just learned to walk into a sprint.

And to be assigned to guard His Highness the Grand Duke on top of that?

What even is the Northern Mountain monster subjugation?!

She had no idea what those monsters looked like or how they threatened people.

Let alone guarding Elbadin, she hadn’t even learned a single offensive spell yet. How could she possibly be part of such a mission?

And I haven’t even chosen an attribute yet!

Only after selecting an attribute did one begin learning offensive and other advanced spells.

Lucillea was still in the process of discovering hers, and for now was only learning basic beginner-level magic from each element.

What do I do? I need to find my teacher immediately and ask to learn the spells necessary for subjugation first, right?

Otherwise, she might really end up as dead weight. What if others were hurt or killed because of her?!

Wow…

So this is the world of the Grand Duke’s house.

In the wild, predators didn’t spare you just because you’d only recently been born.

If anything, it made you easier prey.

The Grand Duke’s house—yes, it was like a wilderness. A vast wilderness where you had to prove yourself and survive on your own.

A wilderness where the real worry was being devoured by monsters!

Lucillea stifled a long sigh.

No time to wallow.

The die was cast. Whether she liked it or not, she was on the board now.

I knew this from the start.

She’d never once thought she could live idly in the Grand Duke’s residence.

If I can’t avoid it, then I need to prepare.

First, she had to research what kind of monsters roamed the Northern Mountains.

And find out what battle magic I can learn right away.

She would prepare as much as she could within her limits.

Firmly setting her lips, Lucillea spun on her heel and dashed toward the library.

“Why did you do that?”

“What?”

Jedd was asking Serdian about switching teams.

Serdian answered calmly, as though it were nothing special.

“I heard Tessian was plotting something.”

Jedd’s expression grew even more confused.

Tessian had bullied Serdian for a long time. But this time they had been placed in separate teams—if Serdian had done nothing, there would have been no involvement.

Understanding his doubt, Serdian nodded slightly and explained further.

“Not just me—Lucillea was also his target. It’s obvious what he would have done. In the chaos of fighting monsters, he’d have tried to get rid of her.”

But since Serdian had switched teams, that plan couldn’t be carried out. At least, not for now.

“…Excuse me?”

Jedd looked startled.

“Did you really… become friends with Lady Lucillea?”

Serdian nodded.

“Somehow, yes.”

“…”

At that moment, Jedd saw a faint smile tug at Serdian’s lips.

He really meant it…

Serdian was not someone who opened up easily.

Part of it was his childhood circumstances, but also the things he’d endured since entering the Grand Duke’s residence.

Most of the other children kept their distance from him. The heirs of other houses looked down on him with contempt.

And when Elbadin had declared him heir, even the cadet and vassal houses began openly opposing him.

Jedd recalled the day he first met Serdian, when he’d been appointed his aide and gone to him.

—“If you get involved with someone like me, you might end up treated the same way. I’ll tell His Highness myself—go back. …I don’t need an aide.”

Serdian had warned him that being near him would bring only trouble. And it had been true. Jedd had nearly died several times, and suffered many humiliations.

Yet he had never resented Serdian.

If anything, he’d only admired him more for persevering through all that opposition.

That’s why this feels so strange.

The very boy who so strongly resisted keeping anyone close… had suddenly chosen to keep Lucillea near.

Of all the children who had entered as part of the elite selection, the only one who had run up to him asking to be friends was Lucillea.

Perhaps her boldness and persistence had moved Serdian’s heart.

Jedd frowned slightly, then steered back to the point.

“So… you switched teams because of Lady Lucillea?”

Serdian stopped walking and looked out the window on the way to the training grounds.

“Better to have her where I can see her than to be anxious with her out of sight. And more importantly…”

He paused, then added:

“Once a friend, always a friend—that’s what they say.”

“…”

“I don’t want to be the kind of trash who abandons a friend.”

“…”

Jedd realized then that something had happened between Serdian and Lucillea he wasn’t aware of.

And at the same time, he understood—Serdian, for the first time in his life, wanted to protect someone.

Not out of duty or responsibility as heir to the Grand Duke’s house.

But simply as a boy, clumsily but sincerely stubborn about guarding his small friend.

A faint smile spread over Jedd’s lips.

This is good.

The small breeze that had finally stirred in his master’s empty heart—Jedd didn’t dislike it one bit.

A week later.

At last, the day of real-combat training arrived.