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Chapter 20
…The moment I thought that, Iliad suddenly jumped to his feet and crawled under the table.
I was startled, but since Grandfather, the family head, was watching with a hearty laugh, nobody said anything.
“Here we go!”
“…!”
A few seconds later—
I stared blankly at Iliad, who was grinning confidently while holding up the enormous dining table above his head.
No explanation was needed.
His monstrous strength spoke for itself.
* * *
“I’m going to become a Vice Admiral someday.”
A little later, I switched seats with Uncle Nein.
I chatted with the twins, Iliad and Naiad, while Uncle Nein talked with the Admiral.
“Cool, right? Micard hyung will probably become the Admiral, so I’ll support him from his side.”
“Micard oppa is stronger?”
“Of course. Micard hyung is amazing. He’s seriously incredible.”
Iliad excitedly began explaining all about Micard.
But Iliad had just lifted an entire dining table.
How could someone be even stronger than him?!
“Well, I’ve never beaten him.”
“Hey, I almost beat him once.”
As soon as Naiad made a sharp comment, Iliad immediately argued back.
Still, he didn’t say he had actually won.
“I’m curious about Micard oppa.”
Did he know he had a new little sister?
Would he like me?
Elgen oppa and I were at least a little close.
“He’ll be back soon. He went all the way to the edge of Mount Radum, so it’s just taking some time to return.”
“Mount Radum?”
“You know the mountain at the western edge of Pasayen territory? The one connected to Bellarion.”
Come to think of it, I felt like I had seen it on a map.
I wasn’t very interested in geography, so it took me a moment to remember, but eventually I understood.
“I bet he wants to come home quickly.”
“Yeah. If he were alone, he’d be back already. But he has other people with him.”
I should ask him about the mission later.
Though… would I be allowed to ask?
“Then… will I get missions too someday?”
“Well, that depends on what kind of ability you awaken.”
Iliad answered cheerfully.
Then he held up three fingers.
“Look. Micard hyung and I are suited for close combat. People like us often get solo missions too. We’re called tanks.”
“Mhm.”
“But for group missions, you also need people who support from the rear. People who use long-range weapons or support-type abilities. They’re called dealers.”
As he spoke, Iliad folded down two fingers.
“Then the last one?”
“Healers. If a Resonator is present, Pasayen is unbeatable. We’ve never lost a territorial war.”
“Wow.”
Come to think of it, I had heard that the current Resonator was Grandmother.
Though I had never met her.
“But a Resonator isn’t supposed to leave the territory easily. Since we never know when a territorial war might break out, they’re the most protected person in Pasayen.”
“Mhm.”
“So when we go on group missions, we bring awakened people with healing abilities. You could become one of those healers.”
I wonder what kind of ability I’ll have.
My heart swelled with excitement.
‘I want missions too.’
I wanted to help the family.
“If I become a healer someday, I’ll protect everyone who ate together at this table.”
“Aww, you will, huh?”
When I clenched my fists and made my declaration, Uncle Nein smiled brightly and fussed over me.
The Admiral’s lips curled upward slightly too.
“That’s right. Protecting this land and sea as an awakened one, and as a member of Pasayen, is an honorable duty.”
“Yes!”
“You’re already thinking about fighting enemies. That’s admirable.”
Of course, it would be best if there were no fights at all.
Making peace would be even better!
But if I had to fight until the very end…
I wouldn’t hold back.
“I won’t let them get away with it.”
“That’s right. Enemies who don’t know their place must be defeated. Like this.”
Bang!
It happened in an instant.
So fast that my eyes couldn’t even follow it.
“Ah, I was going to handle that!”
“Stay put, Iliad. This isn’t your turn yet.”
Iliad complained while Uncle Nein scolded him.
I blinked repeatedly, unable to understand what had happened.
It seemed Angela was just as confused.
“Tsk. Why is it so troublesome just to have a meal?”
At that moment, Grandfather clicked his tongue quietly.
Then he looked somewhere with a stern expression.
I followed his gaze.
“Huh?”
There lay a person dressed entirely in black, wearing a black mask.
Someone who looked like a villain no matter how you looked at them.
Actually, there were three of them.
The Admiral was stepping on one of their heads.
When our eyes met, he casually moved his foot away.
[The Fire Spirit King “■■■■■” explains that those men had been hiding in the shadows since the meal began.]
‘Eek, really? I had no idea!’
[The Water Spirit King “■■■■” reassures you that the adults have already handled everything.]
‘Then they’re villains?’
[The Fire Spirit King “■■■■■” says it was an enemy attack.]
Thanks to the glowing letters, I finally understood the situation.
“They say you shouldn’t even disturb a dog while it’s eating!”
When I shouted that while watching the masked men being dragged away, the frozen atmosphere immediately broke apart.
Grandfather burst out laughing.
“That’s right! They’re rude fools who don’t know basic manners. That’s what the Bellarion lot are like.”
It seemed Pasayen and Bellarion didn’t get along very well.
Scratching my cheek, I reached for the dessert I hadn’t finished.
Getting startled had somehow made me hungry again.
“Shuperty.”
Just then—
Grandfather suddenly called my name, and I hurriedly swallowed my food.
“You seem to have become friends with Iliad and Naiad. I’ve also heard that you’ve met Elgen. That means the only one you don’t know here is Angela.”
Uh, not exactly.
‘Angela and I already had a small fight.’
But Angela stayed silent, so I stayed silent too.
“That child is Angela. She’s your older cousin.”
“Yes.”
Was he going to tell us to get along?
Everyone, however, already seemed to know what he was about to say.
“As all of you know, Pasayen has far fewer awakened ones than other families.”
Grandfather shifted his gaze away from me and looked around the room solemnly.
“While the sea serves as a natural fortress protecting us from foreign invasions, disputes still occur along Pasayen’s borders near the capital.”
“……”
“Every single awakened one is precious in these times. Never forget that. No matter their origin, any awakened child adopted into Pasayen is equal to those of you who carry Pasayen blood.”
Grandfather looked directly at Aunt Chesilia.
She frowned slightly, looking uncomfortable, but she did not argue.
“Angela, you’re closest to her in age. Cherish your younger cousin and guide her well.”
“Yes, Great Grandfather.”
Angela answered obediently.
And with that, the dinner ended.
* * *
The Pasayen Successor Training Hall.
There were currently seventeen children attending it.
Including adopted children, all of them were either grandchildren of the family head or grandchildren of his siblings.
Every single one either possessed a Bijou position or had already awakened a Bijou.
Those who were not awakened had to receive separate education from private tutors at home.
After all, classes were not the true purpose of the Successor Training Hall.
Traditionally, each generation’s Class President became the next successor.
The Class President led the other awakened children.
At the same time, they were someone everyone admired.
And a rival.
Simply by existing, they became both the standard and the pillar of that generation’s awakened children.
Because they naturally took on leadership roles from a young age, the family could continue operating smoothly even when leadership changed and a new family head took over.
Then what was the role of the Vice Class President?
They acted in place of the often-busy Class President and learned how to lead others.
Awakened children were assigned to important positions within the family as soon as they turned fifteen.
To lead organizations effectively, they needed leadership experience.
That was the long explanation.
But honestly, it could all be summarized in a single sentence.
A battle of the adults’ pride!
Also known as—
The “My Kid Is Better” Competition!
