Chapter 37
Anias Siers was the youngest daughter of Cristan Siers, an elder of the Siers clan.
However, unlike the youngest daughters of other prominent clans, she did not grow up cherished and doted upon with her father's unwavering love.
There were two main reasons for this.
The first was that Cristan Siers personality was far from one that valued familial warmth.
Cristan's sole interest lay in his own child winning the succession battle, seizing the position of Clan Head, and thereby restoring the clan with his own hands, earning the associated honor.
Of course, Anias was also Cristan's child, and her innate talent was also quite outstanding...
Herein lay the second reason: Cristan's eldest son, Derek Siers, was so exceptionally talented that he currently vied for the top one or two ranks among the disciples.
Unfortunately for Anias, just as she reached the 2nd Circle at a very rapid pace and showed promise as a rising star, Derek Siers reached the 5th Circle. This caused all of Cristan's attention to be completely focused on Derek.
-Dad! I worked hard and already reached the 2nd Circle...
-What? Derek reached the 5th Circle? Is that true! Hahahaha! Yes, I knew he could do it! Derek, you're truly my son! Hmm? What is it, Anias?
-Um... I was also going to say that I reached the 2nd Circle...
-Yes, you're doing well compared to your peers. Keep up the good work in the future.
-...Yes.
Doing well compared to her peers.
It was clearly praise, but the atmosphere and expression were completely different from when he praised Derek.
'I want to get into Father's good graces too... I want to be acknowledged.'
However, Derek's talent was objectively outstanding, so getting her father's attention through ordinary means seemed too difficult.
Moreover, Derek had already shown results by reaching the 5th Circle.
Even if Derek and Anias innate talents were similar, if Cristan obtained any powerful elixirs or good opportunities for skill improvement, Cristan would undoubtedly give everything to Derek without hesitation.
If she remained still, the gap would only widen.
Therefore, the method Anias devised was this:
The way to get her father's attention was to become a disciple who seemed to have 'explosive growth potential when pushed' more so than Derek.
So, after moving up to the 2nd floor, Anias deliberately skipped classes or showed a poor attitude during lessons.
And while pretending to slack off, she studied theory and practiced magic alone in a private training room.
'The instructors have to periodically report the training situation to the Clan Head and the elders.'
Even though she acted like she was just lazing around enough to skip classes, her results were good.
If her father found out about this, he would surely pay attention to her.
So Anias played the role of a lazy genius.
'If I reach the 4th Circle faster than Derek did...'
She had briefly caught Cristan's attention when she reached the 3rd Circle and hunted a Snow Bear on her own, but it wasn't enough.
'Derek definitely struggled and hit a wall once when he was going from the 3rd to the 4th Circle.'
In fact, Derek had been stuck in a plateau at the 5th Circle for several years now.
If Anias could quickly overcome the 4th Circle wall at this time.
'If I can do that, Father might finally look at me.'
With that thought, Anias continued to study and train alone.
However, no matter how talented she was, it wasn't easy to build up her skills while appearing lazy in front of others.
Perhaps that was why.
Anias hit a wall even faster than Derek had.
-What should I do? Even if I start showing that I'm working hard now... No, should I just focus on reaching the 4th Circle on my own somehow?
As Anias was wavering like that.
-...What in the world is that you're holding?
-It's the head of a Snow Leopard.
Kain, who had been holed up for a full three years, had made an appearance.
And it was quite a dramatic one.
'At first, I thought he was like me.'
She thought he had deliberately pretended not to be able to use magic to get into his father Blake's good graces, then stubbornly reached the 2nd Circle over three years, and then gathered the attention of the clan with a surprising display.
But Anias soon realized that wasn't the case.
Kain, whom she had seen in the dueling arena, had become so strong that he seemed evenly matched even if she fought him right now.
'How in the world is that possible? Did he get his hands on some secret manual or incredible training method?'
Anias would occasionally sneak glances as Kain, Edward, Fohn, and Bolio did some strange training together.
'The other disciples just laugh it off, saying what is that...'
But Anias saw their skills improving little by little, and definitely, every time she looked.
'That ignorant and rude Bolio is trying to break an egg.'
She didn't know what great opportunity Kain had obtained.
But she had a feeling that if she used that method, she could quickly overcome her wall and reach the 4th Circle.
'They run around the training grounds until they're exhausted or keep focusing on one small magic spell, it's probably a smokescreen.'
There was no way their magic skills would improve so drastically with just that.
Or perhaps it was some kind of preparatory process for a real secret training method.
Either way, Anias wanted to find out that secret.
'But suddenly, an escort mission?'
She had heard that this escort mission would take at least a month once they left.
'At least means it could take longer.'
If Anias wanted to reach the 4th Circle by this exam or the next, she had to overcome the wall in front of her as soon as possible, or at least find a clue that would allow her to do so.
'Kain might have a method that could help me overcome that wall... I can't just keep waiting.'
Besides, while on the mission, Kain and the other three might suddenly become much stronger with that training method.
It was unlikely, but if she ended up being overtaken by someone like Bolio later...
'Just thinking about it is dreadful.'
Normally, she wouldn't have even considered such a long-term additional escort mission.
But things were different now.
'I have to join them.'
There might be people who would question Anias, who was acting as a lazy genius, suddenly volunteering for a mission.
'But if anyone asks, I can just say I'm going so I can legitimately miss classes.'
Her attendance before the exam was precariously low, so she could just say she was going as an escort to legally skip classes.
Anias's usual behavior was already capricious and self-willed, so that explanation would probably suffice.
'The problem is getting permission.'
Anias had gone to the Finance Minister and the Clan Head to tell them she wanted to join the escort mission.
But the answer she received was, "Ask Kain."
The authority to manage the mission lay with the person who had secured it, so Kain, who had proposed the additional escort to the Finance Minister, had the deciding vote.
'But if I ask Kain directly, he'll obviously say no.'
Kain had gone to the snowy mountains with Bolio, and they were close enough for him to help with training.
There was no way he would easily accept Anias, who didn't get along with Bolio.
So, Anias, who had been hesitating for several days about whether or not to talk to Kain and had just been circling around him, finally...
"I want to go too. On that mission."
She had no choice but to brazenly show her face.
She had at least aimed for a time when he wasn't with Bolio, and she had also prepared a few strategies to persuade Kain in case he refused.
Anias looked up at Kain with bold eyes, mentally rehearsing what she would say next.
However.
"Alright. Understood."
"I thought you'd refuse... Huh?"
Kain surprisingly agreed too easily.
The reason was simple.
"Having one more 3rd Circle mage would be helpful for the mission."
"Oh, th-that's right? It would be helpful, wouldn't it? Then I'll go with you..."
"But there are conditions."
"Conditions?"
Kain held up his fingers as he spoke.
"First. Do not cause discord with the other members during the mission. And second. You must obey all my instructions as the leader during the mission. If you promise to abide by these two things, you can come along."
Not causing discord with Bolio wouldn't be difficult as long as he didn't start anything.
But being told to 'absolutely' obey his instructions meant she would be deprived of even the minimum autonomy that was usually allowed.
And that was being said to Anias, who was in the same Circle, and had even reached it earlier.
Anias's eyes narrowed slightly.
"'Absolutely' obey? Isn't that something you only say when taking disciples who are at least one or two Circles lower?"
"That's true."
Anias's eyebrows twitched at Kain's readily admitting answer.
"You seem to have gotten arrogant just because you beat Hayden, but even I can beat Hayden who uses such crude Flame Roads. And of course, I won't lose to you either."
As Anias snapped at him, Kain tilted his head.
"Do you really think so?"
"What?"
"Then that's disappointing. I heard from Bolio that you were quite talented, though."
Kain continued.
"If you sincerely think that even after seeing my duel, then you're a mage who can't objectively assess an opponent's skill. And if you know that but are saying it out of stubbornness, then you're a mage who only cares about their pride. Either way, you're not the type that's suitable to work with in a real battle."
"......"
"If you can't accept that, you can duel me here. But if I win the duel, I'll refuse to let you come along, whether you accept the conditions or not. Of course, if you win, I'll accept you without conditions."
"Aren't you being overly confident?"
"Since we don't have much time, I'll settle the duel within ten seconds."
Ten seconds?
That was practically the same as openly ignoring her.
"Haa..."
Anias sighed.
'Kain. He's not someone to be taken lightly.'
Even if it was Kain, there was no way he had meant to finish a duel within ten seconds.
'He's probably trying to gauge my reaction.'
If she thought about it for a moment, Kain's duel proposal was a very subtle and clever question directed at Anias.
Because that question was a sure way to filter out the 'mage who doesn't understand their opponent's skill' and the 'mage who's being stubborn even though they know better' that he had just mentioned.
If she got angry at the ten-second remark and said she would duel, she would be immediately disqualified.
On the other hand, if she backed down here, she could prove that she didn't fall into either of those two categories.
'So that's why he deliberately made those unnecessarily insulting remarks.'
Now that she understood his intention, there was no reason to be stubborn.
Anias's goal was clear.
"...I'll accept the conditions."
"Good. Then pack your personal belongings and come to the plaza."
Anias sighed once more and then disappeared towards her residence.
She seemed a little dejected.
Kain nodded as he watched her go.
'Good.'
He had intended to finish it within ten seconds anyway, but either way, to have a duel within the clan, even an informal one, he would have had to get permission from an instructor and borrow protective artifacts.
He had not only avoided that troublesome process but also gained a 3rd Circle mage who would be helpful for the mission.
'And it'll be a stimulus for the other guys too.'
Because Kain's magic was so perfect, Edward, Fohn, and Bolio had long since given up even trying to compete with him.
At times like this, if someone appeared who seemed relatively within reach, it would be even more motivating.
'It's good timing since we'll be away from the other disciples for a long time anyway.'
Kain headed to the plaza with a satisfied feeling.
***
"All the Snow Leopard hides are loaded!"
"Confirmed!"
"The quantity on this side is also correct!"
When Kain arrived, the work of loading the trade goods onto the merchant caravan was almost finished.
"Kain!"
"Oh, you're here."
"That guy really does arrive right on time."
Edward, Fohn, and Bolio were already there.
Seeing the actual large amount of trade goods being loaded, they seemed to finally realize the reality of the situation and were chattering as they looked at the wagons.
"Hoo... Seeing such a huge wagon in person makes me a little nervous. We're supposed to protect all of this, no matter what comes out."
"I-I'm nervous too."
"Tch, you cowards. Let all the monsters come! I'll sweep them away."
"Still, since Kain's here... the four of us together should be enough."
Then, as if it were perfect timing, Kain added,
"Not four, but five. It was just decided, but one more person will be joining us."
"H-huh?"
"Someone else wants to go on the escort mission besides us?"
"Who is it?"
Bolio asked, genuinely curious.
And just as Kain was about to answer.
Bolio's expression hardened as he looked behind Kain.
"Kain, hey... That can't be... No way, right?"
"Yeah, it's me. Got a problem?"
At Anias's words, who walked up with one corner of her mouth raised, Bolio grabbed the back of his neck.
"Th-that brat!"
"Brat? You're the most ill-omened one here. Looks like you still haven't reached the 3rd Circle. What are you going to do, being so unlucky and untalented?"
"What? Did you just say all that?"
Bolio shouted with a reddened face, looking towards Kain.
"Kain! You saw that, right? If we take that nasty brat, the future is clear! I think it's better to kick her out right now!"
"Well, if someone has to leave, wouldn't it be better for me, who's only unlucky among talent and luck, to stay?"
As Anias retorted without backing down, Kain finally spoke.
"Anias. Didn't you agree to the conditions? Stop causing discord."
"That's unfair. Your condition was not to cause discord 'during the mission.' The mission hasn't started yet, so it doesn't matter right now."
"See, Kain! Just look at her nitpicking already! She's hopeless! Say something to her!"
Kain immediately nodded.
"That's a fair point. Then fight as much as you want before the mission starts. After it starts, both of you are forbidden from any words or actions that cause discord."
"Aigoo, this is so frustrating!"
"Pfft. Did you hear that? You better not start anything after the mission begins."
"Y-you... Ugh!"
"Bolio, snap out of it!"
"C-calm down."
While Edward and Fohn supported the staggering Bolio, Kain turned his head towards one side of the plaza.
Clink, clink.
A group of mercenaries with weapons hanging from their waists and backs was approaching the wagons.
It seemed that the mercenaries who were originally in charge of escorting the merchant caravan had taken a break during the loading time and were now returning as it was almost time to depart.
"Pwahaha! That's right!"
"I'm telling you. That time, that Henry bastard drew the card next to him, and... Huh?"
The mercenaries, who were approaching with swaggering steps and chatting amongst themselves, discovered Kain and the others standing near the wagons.
"Who are these little brats?"
