“Wow… so this is the capital.”
Aira leaned against the window, eyes sparkling.
“At this rate, I might end up living here forever.”
Soft sunlight poured in.
Beyond the wide window, neatly tended flowerbeds and a garden spread out in calm order.
Rynel quietly sipped his tea,
while Monero, without a word, picked up a cookie.
“You like it that much?”
Monero asked with a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.
“Of course! Flowers outside, snacks in my hand, sweetness on my tongue… perfect.”
Aira popped the cookie into her mouth and closed her eyes.
“This is… happiness itself.”
The door opened quietly.
The familiar old butler appeared, bowing his head.
“Excuse me. Lord Stailer will be arriving shortly.”
“Oh?”
Aira jolted upright.
“Didn’t you say he’d come around the afternoon?”
“Looks like he returned early.”
Rynel set his teacup down and nodded.
“Then we should go greet him.”
Monero was already standing, a hand resting at his waist.
The three of them straightened their clothes and walked slowly toward the mansion’s front gate.
On the way, Aira whispered,
“What kind of person is Lord Stailer?
I’m imagining… like a cool prince!”
Rynel chuckled.
“If he’s Mr. Pyrug’s relative… maybe he’s more easygoing.”
“No.”
Monero shook his head, firm.
“Anyone with a mansion this big is probably a ridiculously strict noble.”
“Ugh… neither of you has dreams or romance.”
Aira grumbled as she headed down the steps.
When they reached the gate, a large carriage was approaching from far off, moving slowly.
Servants lined up at once, and when the carriage stopped, they all bowed in unison.
Pressed by the atmosphere, the three of them lowered their heads as well.
Small footsteps came down from the carriage and approached.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The old butler lifted his head and greeted them.
“Welcome back. These are the guests Lord Pyrug wrote of.”
Rynel was the first to raise his head.
“···I’m Rynel. I came here by Mr. Pyrug’s introduction.”
“I’m Aira! It’s nice to meet you!”
“Monero. Just traveling with them.”
All three looked up together.
And then…
they couldn’t find their words.
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“······Huh?”
“W-wait… what?”
“…What, that’s a kid?!”
Standing before them was a boy who looked barely ten,
dressed like a young noble.
Neatly combed blond hair.
A high-quality coat.
A mischievous smile.
The boy beamed.
“Welcome! I’ve heard so much about you.”
Aira whispered as if talking to herself.
“…T-this is… Lord Stailer?”
Monero glanced to the side, clearly thrown.
Then, from behind them, a low, deep voice spoke.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you all.
I am Stailer Depolse Daimar.”
All three turned at once.
Beyond the gate, along the flower-lined path, someone was walking toward them at an unhurried pace.
Faded gray hair, a gentle smile.
Refinement in his gaze, ease in his voice.
When he stopped, the old butler added smoothly,
“This is Lord Stailer’s son, Lord Kaier.”
“Ah…”
Rynel murmured in quiet admiration and nodded.
Aira let out a breath and said softly,
“For his age… he’s really composed.”
Monero lowered his gaze and added,
“Yeah… definitely feels like a noble’s child.”
Stailer lifted a hand lightly and smiled.
“Welcome. You must be tired after such a long journey.”
Even if he didn’t know every detail of why they had come,
he greeted those who had traveled far with proper courtesy first.
“We can speak at length later.
For now, let’s go inside.”
With that, the three naturally followed behind him.
◇
“Aaah~!”
A child’s footsteps rang down the corridor with clear laughter.
Maids hurried after him, flustered.
“Young master! You mustn’t run here!”
While the mansion buzzed with that noise,
the reception room was the opposite.
Silence sat heavy in the air.
Lord Stailer calmly turned a page of documents as he began.
“I’ve gathered the gist of your situation from the letter.”
Without lifting his eyes, he continued in an even tone.
“You intend to enroll in the Kingdom Adventurer Academy.”
Rynel nodded quickly.
“Yes, sir.”
For a moment, the room’s mood dipped—subtly, but clearly.
Monero and Aira exchanged an awkward glance and sat straighter,
faces tight with tension, unsure what would be said.
“Um… is there a problem?”
Rynel asked carefully.
Only then did Stailer raise his head.
“No. There is no need to worry.”
He nodded once, then spoke with quiet composure.
“Until your enrollment, House Depolse will fully support your stay.
Everything you need for daily life will be provided.”
A breath of relief passed through the room.
“Until you are admitted, you may remain here in this estate as you have been.”
As Stailer finished with a final nod,
Monero whispered under his breath.
“Whew… thank gods. For a second I thought we were getting kicked out…”
“Seriously, your face was so serious I almost had a heart attack.”
Aira let her shoulders loosen and laughed once.
The three of them tidied themselves and rose quietly.
“Then we’ll—”
Rynel started to bow and leave.
“Mr. Rynel.”
Stailer’s voice stopped him.
“Would you have a moment?”
Rynel paused and turned.
A hesitant look—then he nodded.
“Yes. I do.”
Stailer led the way down the corridor in silence.
Only their footsteps stretched on.
He stopped at a wide indoor training hall set to one side of the estate.
Stailer spoke at last.
“According to Mr. Pyrug’s letter… you use telekinesis.”
Rynel gave a small nod.
“···Yes.”
Stailer didn’t miss it, watching with quiet interest.
“After years of research in the capital, I naturally found myself curious about such power.”
For a brief moment, something that didn’t match his gentle smile flickered in his eyes.
Curiosity—and a persistent need to confirm.
Rynel drew in a measured breath.
“…Understood.
But how, exactly… do you intend to verify it?”
Stailer clapped twice, short and crisp.
Clap. Clap.
Heavy footsteps sounded beyond the door.
A broad-shouldered man entered the hall in silence.
Stailer introduced him.
“This is Mr. Urs.
He is a fairly well-known magic user even within the capital.”
Then, in the same calm tone, he continued.
“I would like to see you exchange a few moves with him.
In particular… I’d like you to respond using your telekinesis.”
Stailer asked quietly,
“Mr. Rynel… do you not use any special equipment?”
It sounded like a simple question,
but the edge at the end was sharp.
Rynel looked down at his palm for a beat.
Then he raised his eyes to Stailer and answered.
“No. I don’t require any equipment.”
Stailer nodded, as if satisfied.
“Very good.”
His gaze shifted to Urs.
“Please be careful. Do no more than what’s necessary to avoid injury.”
Urs bowed toward Rynel without speaking.
His face was blank, but his posture was seasoned.
Rynel bowed slowly in return.
A subtle tension spread between them.
Stailer stepped back a pace and said,
“Then… begin.”
Whoosh···!
A golden aura rippled across Urs’s body.
The next instant—
Snap!
“···Fast!”
Urs surged in, Rynel’s vision flashing.
A spinning kick packed with heavy rotation,
whipping straight for the back of Rynel’s neck.
Condensed mana gleamed along the toes like metal.
“Tch···!”
Rynel’s eyes flared with blue.
With his gaze, the world’s texture changed.
‘Defense first.’
Shraaa—!
A telekinetic barrier, formed from blue mana,
spread in a rounded shell from his center.
Clang!
A sound like steel striking steel.
Urs’s foot slammed into the barrier, and the floor of the hall trembled faintly.
Thud—
Urs landed and dropped low.
“I’m continuing.”
Tss—!
With both hands drawn behind him,
he gathered blazing mana in an instant.
Fwoooosh—!
Two massive flaming fist-bolts burst from his hands.
“Tch···!”
Rynel kept the barrier up, tightening strength into his fingertips.
KWAANG—!!!
Telekinetic wall and flame collided with a roar,
and smoke rolled thick across the training hall.
‘My vision—’
Boom!
“···What?!”
From beneath the smoke, Urs’s fist snapped out,
hammering into Rynel’s abdomen.
Thud—!
“Ghk···!”
Rynel’s body lifted off the ground.
The mana hidden under the floor—he hadn’t fully read it.
Tss!
Urs followed with a powerful leap, springing up after him.
Midair, he twisted, setting up another crushing strike—
But in that instant—
Rynel’s eyes flashed again.
“Push back.”
Sssrrrr—!
A thin, transparent telekinetic veil spread wide and fast.
Shraaa—!
Urs rebounded in midair as if he’d hit a solid wall,
launched back.
Bang!
He hit the floor, losing his form.
Crack···!
Rynel pointed his hand downward.
“Press.”
With the second command,
the formless force became pressure and slammed into Urs.
KWAANG···!
“Guhk···!”
The floor caved slightly as dust surged up.
Urs threw both arms up, resisting.
“Hah…!”
He pulled mana into his hands, trying to shove the pressure off—
Grrrrk···
Deeper. Heavier.
Like an invisible hand pinning his back, the pressure intensified.
“Ghk… the weight…!”
Just as Urs’s knees began to buckle—
Snap.
From the edge of the hall, Stailer flicked a finger lightly.
“That’s enough. We’ll stop there.”
Whoosh—
The blue light in Rynel’s eyes faded,
and the taut air settled back into calm.
Rynel’s body, which had been hovering slightly, lowered,
his toes finding the floor.
Tap.
A landing so quiet it didn’t disturb the air.
Then Stailer began to applaud, slowly.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
“Excellent.”
His tone held genuine admiration.
“Precise, strong, and without wasted motion.
Above all… the way you applied your telekinesis was deeply impressive.”
Rynel let out a short breath.
“Thank you.”
“There is no need for such modesty.”
Stailer looked at Rynel with a deep, measuring gaze, then added,
“Even from that brief demonstration, I could feel the potential of this power.
In the capital, you will gain valuable experience.”
At that moment, Urs approached slowly.
Brushing dust from his clothes, he stopped in front of Rynel and bowed.
“That was excellent.”
Short—but sincere.
“Telekinesis… it’s far more overwhelming than I expected.”
He rubbed his arm and gave a small laugh.
“As expected, there are many strong people in the capital.
Feeling it firsthand… makes me glad I came here.”
Rynel lifted his gaze, slightly surprised, then nodded.
“Mr. Urs, you were strong as well.
If I’d been even a little slower… it could’ve been dangerous.”
Urs smirked.
“I still have much to learn.
Today’s match was a valuable experience for me as well.”
With that, Urs stepped back quietly.
It was brief,
but their eyes crossed once—an acknowledgment of each other’s skill.
