The Sleeping Devil

"...So, you see, while it's great that Licht could become a knight, I couldn't help feeling a bit frustrated."

"Yeah, it's amazing that you can maintain magic even while having such meaningless conversations."

I had grown accustomed to the sarcastic remarks, and I continued to conjure a flame in front of me, roughly the height of my own body.

This wasn't a spell; it was intermediate-level magic where I used my own name to chant. I had become proficient in all the basic attributes of magic, and I was currently training in its manipulation.

Today was the last day of the year, and I was attending a magic class before breakfast because Didier was supposed to return around noon.

"Teacher, Licht can't use intermediate magic with his new name. Is there any way to fix that?"

"If you undergo the Rite of Baptism once more, you can overwrite your name. Changing one's name seems to involve certain circumstances that can't be made public. Shall I assist you?"

"Is that okay?"

"If you're going to do it, the late afternoon today would be the best time. Everyone should be busy with festival preparations, so it shouldn't attract too much attention."

Right, doing the Rite of Baptism again might bring down another inconvenient column of light. When Didier returned, I'd also ask for help from Sergio and Hermes.

"Will the magic circle be ready in time?"

"Yeah, since I have some free time today, I'll draw it after the class is over."

"Thank you, Professor Julius!"

With a sense of anticipation for the upcoming events, I practiced magic diligently. Although the incantations were longer than spells, if I chanted the prescribed words correctly, the spell would activate. However, just like with spells, without the blessing, I couldn't use intermediate or higher-level magic. After the manifestation, it required imagination, concentration, and practice to control it.

After the class, I went to ask Sergio for permission to use the altar. I thought Julius would join me, but he declined, perhaps not wanting to be seen by the workers inside the castle. It might have been merely a matter of inconvenience for him to make the round trip.

After obtaining permission, I returned to the altar with Licht. Since I was about to draw the magic circle, I received some bread and apples for breakfast, wrapped them, and quickly walked to Julius's location. Although I had grown too big to be carried, the distance was significant for me to walk by myself. Despite the cold, snowy sky, my body was warmed enough to produce steam.

"Sheriel-sama, what exactly is this Rite of Baptism for?"

"If you undergo the Rite of Baptism once more, it seems you can overwrite your name with a new one. Licht, wouldn't you want your new name blessed by the gods?"

"Is that even possible? But to call a mage just for my sake..."

"My teacher is amazing. I'll help too."

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While I reassured the flustered Licht who trailed behind me, we finally arrived at the altar where Julius waited.

"I apologize for the wait. This is Licht. Also, we have obtained permission to use the altar. Can we proceed with the preparations for the ritual?"

"You're Licht? A former priest, perhaps? How old are you?"

"Nice to meet you, I'm Licht. I'm thirteen years old."

Without showing any particular surprise before Julius, Licht, as always, lowered his head with a humble demeanor. Julius scrutinized Licht from top to bottom as if assessing him, then fell silent, lost in thought for a moment.

"You, what's your schedule after this? If you have free time, would you like to help? If you can talk to me while drawing the circle, we can consider it as compensation for the ritual."

"My story... is that acceptable? I'd be happy to help."

Licht gave me a quick glance, as if to confirm whether it was okay to talk about this or whether there was a catch in this offer. I nodded slightly, trusting Julius. If Julius said it was okay, then talking would be the compensation. I was sure satisfying his intellectual curiosity was the best reward for him.

However, something didn't sit right.

"Teacher, I'd like to help too. I'd like to see the process of drawing the magic circle."

"Do you have time? Don't you have to welcome Didier later? Besides, there's no need for much assistance. You just need to keep him company."

First, Sergio showed interest in Licht, and now Julius as well. I was happy they were getting along, and it was undoubtedly good for Licht, but I couldn't help feeling a little left out. It felt like the peculiar kind of loneliness you'd feel when you found out that the friend you thought was your best friend had other close friends besides you.

"Well then, I'll rely on you later during the ritual."

With those words to Licht, I walked back to the castle.

After a quick change of clothes, I headed to the dining hall. It seemed that Hermes had some errands to run as he wasn't around. When I sat down to eat breakfast with Sergio and Dior, we heard hurried footsteps coming from the hallway.

"I'm back."

"You returned quickly, Big Brother. Is breakfast at the academy this early?"

"No, I skipped breakfast with the intention of having it with Sheriel."

Once Didier took his seat at his usual spot, his meal was promptly served. It had only been about two months since we last met, but he seemed to have grown a little more mature.

"It seems like you're getting taller and taller. Doesn't your body hurt?"

"High-ranking nobles typically go through a sudden growth spurt around this age, lasting about three years. I've heard about it, but my legs and spine are really creaking. It's the worst."

Oh, so the amount of magical power can make such a difference. That meant Julius might indeed be fifteen years old. When I first heard it, I thought it was like cat years, so I didn't think much about it, but Julius appeared much more mature than someone just one year older than Didier.

"That's right, Sheriel, I have a souvenir for you."

When Didier said this, his aide, Dirk, placed a wooden box on the table, large enough to hold with both hands. Prompted to open it, I gently lifted the lid to find miniature-sized potted plants that looked like someone had shrunk full-sized trees.

"I thought of bringing Alphonse-sama's head as a souvenir, but I thought I'd check with you first. These are magic flowers that we grew in class. If they grow well, they're said to summon fairies, so I'm giving them to you."

Uh, I think there was something I shouldn't just let slide in the first half of what he said. Maybe it's my imagination. While trying to distract myself with the thought that they look like wooden plants even though they're magic flowers, I couldn't ignore it.

"Um, when you mentioned Alphonse-sama's head..."

"I heard about what happened at the tea party. Apparently, a friend's younger sister attended it. She praised Alphonse's appearance, but that's not the issue, right? I was thinking of storming the palace right away, but I realized I don't have enough influence right now, so I was planning it properly. Then Dirk said that girls wouldn't appreciate a living head."

"Big Brother... I appreciate the thought, but a living head is a bit..."

Dirk, thank you. Thank you so much for preventing Big Brother's plan. When I sent him a warm gaze, he seemed to understand and nodded slightly before returning to Didier.

"I see, of course. You wouldn't want to see the face of someone you don't like, right? I'm glad I heeded Dirk's advice. But what should I do about Sheriel's precious hair?"

There wasn't any hint of anger or frustration in the air, but Didier continued to mutter something ominous. Amidst this, Sergio joined the conversation as if he had remembered something when Alphonse's name came up.

"That's right, speaking of Alphonse-sama, there was a proposal for marriage. What will you do, Sheriel?"

"Huh?" "Huh?"

My bewildered response overlapped with Didier's, and Sergio, who laughed and said, "You two seem close," caught our attention. Did Dior know about this? She frowned slightly, looking a bit displeased.

"Um, will my opinion matter?"

"I won't accept a marriage proposal like that."

"From the Beriard family's perspective, either one is fine. Dior seems to be against it, so Sheriel, you can decide."

"Then please absolutely decline."

"Of course, right? Regardless of the talk about my hair being cut or not, if we accepted the engagement as it was, it might lead to my dream coming true, which is a bit scary." Didier and Dior nodded in agreement. Given that it was a proposal from the royal family, it didn't seem like we could simply refuse it, but I got the impression that Dior wouldn't be on board with it. Thank goodness we're the Beriard family. I felt like we'd managed to avoid one crisis.

"But why me? There's Alicia-sama, and they're proposing marriage to me with this kind of hair..."

When I voiced my honest question, Dior, who had been silent until then, tore a piece of bread with vigor.

"I won't accept."

"The Senate should be supporting Lady Alicia. I imagine it's Lyra who's advocating for you. She might not want smart girls with power entering the palace."

"Sheriel is a Beriard, isn't she?"

"That's exactly why. They probably think you're a submissive, almost powerless, good-for-nothing despite being a Beriard. The Senate likely accepted it because they could place new restraints on the Beriard family."

I see. So that's why I'm being proposed to by the dream-like prince...

We had discussed sweets and business matters before Lyra arrived, and it seemed that my topic didn't come up afterward. Other nobles wouldn't intentionally recommend a daughter from another house, so they probably hadn't heard about it yet.

"In that case, should I send a refusal letter? After the blank festival ends, we'll leave the castle anyway, and they probably won't make a fuss."

In this world, a month has thirty days, and there's a five-day blank festival between the end of the year and the beginning of the new year. Once it's over, the new year begins. We had planned to travel north from the beginning of the new year.

Dior will be acting as the substitute lord and staying behind, marking the first time for a family trip.

"Speaking of which, is it okay to take a break from classes during the trip?"

"Oh, yes, we'll continue with swordsmanship training during the trip. As for classroom studies, you can take a break, but I'd like to take Julius if possible. I've never made a contract with a spirit or anything like that."

I wondered if they learned about making contracts with spirits at the academy, but it seemed that they mostly had vague information about it, like it happened when they happened to meet a spirit. However, they said that once you meet a spirit, you can immediately sense it.

After a lively breakfast in various ways,everyone except Dior and Hermes headed to the altar. Hermes seemed to be away until the evening, so we planned to have tea while watching Julius's work. The two, who seemed to want to enjoy tea elegantly while sitting next to Julius, who was drawing magic circles alone, had been asked to prepare by the servants, who were grinning.

"Professor Julius, what about the magic circle... huh?"

As I climbed a few steps up the low staircase leading to the altar, I saw that the magic circle had been almost completely drawn. I wondered how it was possible to finish it so quickly.

"I think it took me all night even with Dior's help, but isn't it a bit too fast?"

"Hey, you two were quick too. I'll be done in a little while."

After glancing back at us once, Julius started walking while outlining the outside of the circle with a large staff. Sergio and Didier followed him, carefully observing the surroundings as they walked around the circle.

I wished I could have observed it too.

"Professor Julius, did you have breakfast? Would you like to join us for tea?"

"I forgot to eat. I'll have it later."

A table was brought next to the altar, and a tea set was prepared. Sandwiches with meat and eggs between slices of bread, as well as light snacks like cookies, were laid out, marking the beginning of a midwinter picnic.

As hot water warmed by magic was poured into the teapot, Julius, who seemed to have finished drawing the magic circle, descended.