"Why won't you answer my father's summons?! You were called through the headmaster! For a commoner, that's extremely rude!"
The moment we met, the son of Count Kensor immediately started shouting at me.
"Sorry, I've been busy studying. I'll head over when I feel like it."
"Don't provoke him, Alan! Ignoring a noble's summons is just…"
"Melty, I came here to study. I didn't come here to hang out with some noble brat. I'm planning to sit in on the advanced lectures soon, too."
"Alan, you're going to those already? We won't get to see each other much anymore, huh."
"Hey, don't you ignore me! My father said he's going to make sure you can't stay at the academy, so you better watch yourself!"
"Yeah, yeah."
◇◇◇
As soon as the lectures at the academy ended and I stepped off the grounds, I was attacked from behind.
I dodged a flying knife coated in deadly poison.
A man dressed entirely in black was perched on a nearby rooftop.
I activated [Dark Bind] without incantation and captured him.
I leaped up to the rooftop and landed in front of the assassin, who was thrashing about, trapped in the black hands that had ensnared him.
"Who's the client?"
I already had my suspicions, but seriously—attempting assassination just because someone didn't show up for a summons? How petty.
"Damn it, what the hell?! This isn't what I was told! Wasn't this supposed to be a well-paying gig just to kill one commoner kid?!"
"Worst cost-performance job ever. Oh, you've got [Self-Destruct]. [Slave Choker], go to your master's location and [Self-Destruct] for me."
"H-hey, what the hell kind of command is that?! I don't wanna die! I was forced into having [Self-Destruct] by the organization!"
Just a pathetic assassin with no real resolve.
"I'm busier than I look, you know. So let's cut this short. Off you go now."
Shortly after, a blinding flash of light illuminated somewhere in the noble district.
◇◇◇
The next day.
"Alan, did you hear? Apparently the head's room and the surrounding area at Earl Kenzoll's estate were blown to smithereens. The head himself is missing, or so they say."
"Is that so."
"Just between us, my father told me that Earl Kenzoll used to make all sorts of unreasonable demands, change orders mid-way through constantly, and on top of that, he was late on payments and had this really arrogant attitude about it."
"Sounds like he'd racked up quite a few enemies."
As expected of [Self-Destruct] — everything was apparently reduced to atoms.
And perhaps because the head was gone and the estate became inaccessible, after that, Earl Kenzoll's son was never seen at the academy again.
◇◇◇
"Hey, Alan! How've you been holding up? I heard from the headmaster — you're apparently quite the prodigy. So I'm gonna hook you up with a real good course."
An instructor approached me with a massive grin on his face — long golden hair... who was this guy again?
"I'm Instructor Klaus. I'll keep introducing myself as many times as it takes until you remember. My specialty is summoning magic."
This one... I should probably commit to memory, since forgetting would just be a hassle later.
"Instructor Klaus, what exactly is this 'great course' you mentioned?"
"Don't be so stiff — Klaus is fine. Try taking 'Magic Circle Studies.' All the talented ones just graduated, so the instructors have nothing better to do. You can learn to your heart's content."
"Alright then. Might as well take them up on it."
"Great! Make sure you put in a good word for me with Duke Giess, alright? Tell him the academy's got some real top-notch instructors."
That, I can't promise.
I won't say it out loud, though.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
Skills: [Reverse] [Divine Eye] [Sword God] [Gentleman Thief] [Dark Magic] [Rock-Iron Magic] [Holy Magic] [Space-Time Magic] [Scorching Heat Magic] [Frozen Ice Magic] [Magic Hand] [Temptation] [Pain Dampening] [Complete Status Ailment Resistance] [Protection of the Flame Spirit] [Phantom Demon] [Gale Thunder] [Protection of the Dark Spirit] [Uncanny Strength] [Thunder God Sword] [Great Fortune] [Clear Wind Magic] [Humility]
Rank: Silver (Alisa: Gold)
Thank you for reading every chapter😊