“Huh?”

In a situation I didn’t expect, I couldn’t help but look dumbstruck at what he did. He was trembling like a scared little animal while kissing my shoes.

I wanted to smack him with the cane but the situation was so ridiculous that I couldn’t move.

“What is the heir of the Rosenberg household doing?”

“Did Clyde Astley do something to him?”

“Despicable.”

‘Why are you misunderstanding this situation!?’

The people looked at me as if I was trash. It was like I did something to the guy. However, didn’t this bastard do something to me? What is this shitty development? Was he doing that on purpose to gain public pity?

Rage caused me to blurt out: “Get up, you dumbass! Why are you clinging onto me!?” I tried to step backwards but he kept crawling towards me.

The guy was like a persistent bug.

‘Kuh...’

The eyes of the people were getting more and more hurtful. I looked like a bully and he was the victim. Wasn’t I the victim!?

This third rate villain—who usually appeared to make the protagonist look cool—appeared out of nowhere and started hitting me back then. Sadly, I couldn’t make myself look cool. I looked like a punching bag instead.

After being humiliated like that, the first years thought I was easy pickings and started annoying me as well. I couldn’t bother to count how many times I had to put them in their place. Now they were frightened little puppies whenever they saw me.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I won’t do it again!”

“G-Get off!”

The guy was staining my pants with his snot and tears. He hugged my leg like a koala while crying.

“Get off!” I blasted him with a gust of wind which sent him flying into a nearby table. All kinds of foods fell on top of his head.

“Ryan!”

“Eek!”

The roar of a certain man interrupted me when I was about to throw him out. Ryan’s shoulders jerked up.

“The duke?”

Hendrick Rosenberg pulled his son by the collar and glared at him with a face full of rage. It looked like he would punch his own son. Since he was in public, he couldn’t do so.

“What the hell are you doing!? Can you not see this is a formal event?” He dusted his son off and looked back at me. “I apologize for this, earl Bentinck.”

“...? Yeah, it’s not a problem.”

I was confused over why he called me earl but since I was the heir who will succeed Mason one day, it made sense. I waved my hand casually.

“I’d like to point out that your son started it first.”

“Yes. Yes. I heard his nagging that someone took his position of Her Highness ,Charlotte’s knight so he tried to sort you out. Once again, I apologize as his father.”

It seemed that Duke Rosenberg respected the Bentinck household. It was one of the most influential noble houses in the kingdom, after all. Since old man Mason was part of the Northern Duke faction, the guy in front of me acting so polite was a little weird. I thought he’d use some tactic to make the heir(me) look bad.

‘Just goes to show how formidable old man Mason is.’

“Let’s go, Ryan.”

He dragged his son by the arm.

“Well, that was something.” Erica appeared at my side. “Isn’t it nice of him to apologize for what he did?”

“Err...Yeah.”

“Little shit listened at least after my training.”

“Did you say something?”

“Ah, right!” Erica clapped her hands and ignored my question. “The third song is coming up.”

She grabbed my hands and pulled me forward.

“Let’s go~!”

◇

In the end I danced with a bunch of girls after I finished dancing with Erica. The day was slowly turning into night. The mood and music of the venue changed completely.

People energetically danced whichever moves they chose. They laughed with each other and mocked the moves of others. It was like looking at a high school prom.

The time finally came to wish the birthday boy; namely, me.

I sat there with my head lowered in humiliation as everyone sang. No one wanted to be sung for on their birthday. It was just too much cringe.

–Happy birthday to you~ Happy Birthday to you~ Happy birthday to Clyyyyde~! Happy birthday to you~

‘Please....the cringe...kill me now...’

-May Goddess Sol bless you today. Bless you always. May she bless you and keep you. Happy birthday to you~~~!

CLAP, CLAP

Everyone was standing around the big table in the middle of the banquet hall. Diane was at my side, applauding with an expressionless face. Erica sang the hardest as if she enjoyed it. I could see Artoria in the crowd as well. She was giggling at my red face.

My little sisters, Jessica and Chloe were both singing along with everyone.

Both of them looked so cute when they clapped their hands.

Jessica and Chloe were wearing completely different dresses. The former was wearing a cute pink dress with her hair done into pigtails, while the latter was wearing something similar to a red gothic Lolita dress. She was even wearing matching black boots.

“Happy birthday, Big brother!!” Jessica climbed on top my lap and kissed my entire face. I couldn’t resist her cuteness and gave her a big hug. She returned it with a giggle.

Chloe wished me as well by giving me a firm hug. However, she didn’t kiss me like a maniac as Jessica did. Rather, she was reserved instead.

With a red face, she whispered in my ears.

“I-I got you a present as well.”

“Oh? I can’t wait to see it.”

‘I hope it’s not sand muffins.’

Kids tended to give weird stuff as presents.

“Everyone!” At that moment, Mason tap his glass with a fork. Everyone’s attention shifted to him.

“As this is an important event in this boy’s life, I think it’s only fitting that his father—and not me—give a speech.”

“.....”

My father—who was laughing with the crowd—turned stiff. Mason gestured for him to talk.

“Ah...Gosh, I’m not very good with words.” My father came towards me and cleared his throat. “Son...”

“....” I looked up at him. I decided that if he screwed this up then I’d make fun of his later.

“T-There comes a time when a boy is no longer a boy; he becomes a man.”

My mother face palmed herself. George coughed again and reiterated his words.

“...What I mean is that you are officially leaving our nest. I feel like it’s pointless to have this ceremony as you have been like an adult all your life. Arielle told me something before she left that morning. I asked her: ‘How did everyone hold up being in such an unfamiliar place?’”

“.....”

I silently listened. The same went for everyone else.

“She told me: ‘It’s funny how I and Charlotte were supposed to be the eldest yet we couldn’t keep our group together. It was the first time any of us had experienced something like a disaster so we were quite frightened. But Clyde was the one that kept us together. Charlotte gained a powerful ally with his help. I battled the girl first hand so I know of her abilities. If she wasn’t with Charlotte now then she might’ve been gone. He always told us everything was going to be okay and that he’ll protect us. Seeing him like that reminded me why I fell for him. He was brave, strong, kind and mature.’ She was right. My baby boy was mature since a long time ago. He fearlessly battled against those knights and even stood up against a bandit leader. Everything Arielle has said was the truth.”

“....”

“Now, listen son. You’re still a child. Don’t take such responsibility, ensuring everyone is always alright. Lean on those around you as well. There are bound to be people who can help you too. In fact, I see quite a few of them around you.”

George looked at Erica, Diane and Artoria.

“...father...”

George’s eyes were beginning to tear up.

“Just know that we’ll always be by your side no matter how old you are. Even if you turn 50 years old, you’ll still be my precious boy. Both of us made mistakes when we were young. We don’t want you to make the same mistakes we did.” My mother chimed in and rubbed my father’s shoulders.

“Both of us love you.” They hugged me while crying. Heck, I was crying as well.

When was the last time I cried?

‘They’re right. I should live my life as a kid and not act like an adult.’

I might’ve been 25 when I first came to this world but that didn’t mean I was mature. Was it because I was born in this world that I started being responsible?

Maybe...

Now I understood why I dared to fight those knights when I was a toddler. I felt like it was my duty, since I had the power to fight them.

◇

“Let’s cut the cake!”

The doors to the kitchen suddenly opened. Everyone made way for a giant chocolate cake. I wasn’t exaggerating. The cake was so big that it took four servants to keep it steady on the cart. They gently pushed it onto the table after it was cleared of anything else.

“Do you like it? Your mommy spent quite a lot for them to make this cake.” Eleanor said with a smug smile as she looked at me.

‘How much did this giant thing cost...’

It was as unnecessary as a birthday party for a toddler.

“Now then! Time for Clyde to blow his candles!” Mason put his hand on my shoulder. “With this, the age of coming has been completed.”

I nodded. However, I didn’t blow the fifteen candles.

Instead....

“Mommy, look at the ponies!” A little girl shouted with sparkling eyes.

“Wow!”

“They’re dancing!”

The people were surprised when they saw me take all the flames from the candles and making different shapes with them. I added fire spirits to make more of them.

They flew around in the air before landing before me. I gathered wind in my hand and blew them out.

Using the light in the room, the particles created a myriad of colours.

Everyone applauded.

“What amazing magic control!”

“Isn’t this level of control difficult for even elite mages with 6 stars?”

The crowd was astounded as they all reacted differently. Their eyes changed as well.

“Gyahaha! Can all of you agree that it was a good decision to make him my heir? Not only is he going to be the vice president of the academy, he has been chosen as one of the ten candidates to succeed the Head Mage!”

“What the hell...”

“S-Seriously?”

“If I remember correctly, lady Viria should be getting ready to enter the Red Abyss. If she isn’t teaching her successor then who?”

“I presume that she may have found someone capable of teaching the ten of those children.”

“Who would qualify to teach the next Head Mage? Such a person doesn’t just fall out of the sky, you know?”

“Perhaps chairman Rezar or Light?”

“No. Impossible. The chairman quit being a professor a long time ago. He only gives materials for the teachers but he doesn’t teach directly. That Light guy is too mysterious.”

“Then maybe someone of the same standing in the Magus city? I doubt the Magic Empire would send a professor of their own.”

“Hmm....”

The nobles spoke amongst themselves. Each of them came up with their own conclusions.

‘How the hell did you know that last one, old man?’

The academy kept all of their affairs that happens inside the school grounds a secret. It wasn’t particularly a bad thing but they preferred everything to stay within the school grounds. That included exam papers and thesis’s.

I could feel Diane’s gaze on me as well. I briefly glanced at her and noticed how dumbfounded she looked. Well, her eyes and mouth were open only a little. Other than that, her expression wasn’t exaggerated.

Mason looked satisfied at their reactions. He clinked his glass once more.

“We have come to the high of the night now. Since this is Clyde and Diane’s night, the two of them should cut the cake together. How about it?” Mason folded a piece of cloth around his glass.

“Sir Clyde.”

Diane was already holding the knife in her hand. She held it out to me. I put my hand on top of hers. We nodded at each other.

With a countdown, the two of us sliced a piece of the cake.

Her father broke his glass by stepping on it after throwing it on the ground.

“The engagement has hereby been decided! To my son-in-law and heir to my seat!”

“Here! Here!”

The people held their glasses in the air while shouting.

Everyone gulped down their wine. Diane and I crossed our arms with the glasses in our hands and drank our wine while linking arms.

The night hadn’t ended yet, however.

The presents were finally brought forth. I wasn’t sure which of the presents were mine so Diane and I opened them all together.

As expected. I received a massive dowry from Diane. The other things I got was a box filled with rare sweets from one of the young groups. There was a carriage which was already parked outside, plus a rare breed horse. Someone even gave me a bunch of expensive robes with ridiculous fashion sense.

I received a lot of other stuff as well like jewellery, watches, suits and magic books. The nobles were really generous. I made a mental note to build connections with them in the future.

“Huh?”

When I opened the gift brought by Charlotte’s maid, I couldn’t help but get cold sweat. Charlotte sent a big jar with golden liquid inside. Not just any liquid.

The rare ingredients used only for high grade magic potions. And not just any high grade potion.

The Divine Elixir.

‘What the hell, Charlotte...’

Luckily, no one recognized what is was. I quickly put it in my storage bag. Thankfully, it went inside without any issues.

‘I know she said she’ll send me a gift I’ll like but isn’t this overkill?’

I was indeed lucky to have a potion that was far better than the Pope’s creation which was the current elixir on the market. If the pope caught me with that liquid then I would be interrogated for sure.

The fact that she gave me such a massive gift was a little weird. Of course, I was grateful.

Maybe she thought of me as a person important in her life.

“Excuse me.” At that moment, a man dressed in clothes of a messenger walked towards me. He was sweating profusely as if he ran as fast as he could to where I was.

He went on one knee and gave me a package and an envelope with both hands.

“Who are you?” Mason appeared at my side and stared down at the man. “This is private property. I could have you hanged for coming uninvited. Knights.”

The two knights standing by the door hurriedly made their way over. The messenger took off his mask.

“W-Wait! I come to deliver this to...” He looked at the envelope again. “A person named Clyde Astley.”

“...Hm?” I took what he offered and stared at the envelope.

“!!!”

My entire body shivered. It felt like my breath was caught in my throat because I couldn’t breathe.

Was I hyperventilating? Even my hearing was blocked. All I could hear was my heart beating faster.

“...Clyde?” At that moment, I saw Artoria, Eleanor and George’s faces in front of me. Brielle was also next to them. It seemed that she was able to finish dressing herself in time and arrive at the venue without any issues.

George spoke up first.

“What made you look like that?”

He, too, looked at the envelope. And as expected, even he froze.

“Honey...” He took the letter from my hand and showed my mother.

“...Huh?”

“It can’t be...?"

Brielle and my mother were both dumbfounded.

“Annette has finally responded to us...” I muttered.

Sender: Annette Astley Sent from Salvesteer city post office.