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 Chapter 15: Formula Clan

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The next morning arrived.

Lucius descended to the dining room with a faint hope that the events of last night might have been just a dream.

As he opened the door, he was greeted by the faces of three people who were usually not present in the house.

—There's no way it was just a dream.

Sure enough, Olivia was seated at the dining table, glaring at Lucius.

Behind Olivia stood a strong-looking man with sharp eyes, likely her bodyguard.

And finally, there was another person—a dignified elderly woman emanating an unmistakable aura.

He remembered her face clearly.

"You're from the 'Appraisal Ceremony'!"

"Oh my, so you remembered me. I'm delighted, young lad from the Quartet."

The elderly woman's face blossomed with a smile.

She was the old woman who had accompanied the Siren during the "Appraisal Ceremony."

"Of course!"

For Lucius, witnessing the ceremony for the first time was a shocking experience he couldn't forget.

"You forgot about me!" Olivia couldn't hold her tongue any longer.

"Well, you've grown quite a bit," Lucius offered a feeble excuse.

"The old lady's face hasn't changed, huh?" The elderly woman with the Siren chuckled.

"Oh, well, um..." Lucius was at a loss for words.

He couldn't say whether she had changed or remained the same. Either answer seemed disrespectful.

"Guffel-sama, please refrain from teasing my son too much," Lucius's mother interjected, trying to smooth the situation.

"Apologies for that, my dear. You should have shown that intimidating face earlier, Dragon's Daughter. We are the Orléans family, the first in history to possess four magical cores. I couldn't help but be curious about you," Guffel said.

"Haah," Emily sighed, unable to argue any further when a sincere apology was offered.

Madame Guffel from the Orléans family?" Lucius asked.

"That's right. Just a branch of the Orléans family," Guffel replied.

The Orléans family.

Lucius had read about them in books—a prestigious ancient lineage responsible for the records and research of ceremonies.

Those born into this family were said to be obsessed with ceremonies, dedicating their entire lives to the study and documentation of them.

In this world, Formulas represented military power itself and had a significant impact on daily life. Therefore, the research of Formulas was considered one of the most crucial national matters, and the position held by the Orléans family, at the heart of it, was highly esteemed. It was incomparable to the impoverished baronial household in the countryside, at the very least.

Lucius recalled the expeditionary group he encountered in the capital after his appraisal, which was dispatched for research—a branch of the Orléans family.

Emily, rubbing her large belly, let out a sigh.

"Lucius, Madame Guffel is the former head of the Orléans family."

"Former head!?"

"I've already handed over the family estate to that foolish son of mine. I'm just a retiree now, waiting for death. And then this boy suddenly appeared. Life is unpredictable, isn't it?" The elderly woman looked at Lucius with eyes that seemed to sparkle like a crystal, as if observing a valuable guinea pig.

"Why is someone like her here in our house?"

"Well, let's discuss that after breakfast. It'll get cold otherwise," Guffel said.

At Guffel's call, the meal began.

Unlike usual, the maid Matilda wasn't seated. She adhered to proper etiquette by standing behind her master.

This only added to the restlessness in the air.

Amidst the superficial and uneventful conversation, everyone had their breakfast.

◆ ◆ ◆

In the rather modest entrance hall of the noble mansion, the inhabitants of the house gathered.

Lucius, his parents, the maid Matilda, the Count's daughter Olivia, the appraisal elderly woman Guffel, and Olivia's knight escort stood in a cramped space, making it quite uncomfortable.

As everyone gathered, the doorknocker on the entrance door made a loud noise.

The door opened slightly, revealing the face of a young boy.

"S-Sorry... may we come in?"

"Paul, speak more clearly! Say, 'Excuse me, may we come in? Father told us to come here!'"

"B-But, Kiell, if we speak too loudly, they'll know we're here!"

-No, you shouldn't just enter someone else's house without them knowing.

The twin brothers had come to the mansion. These twins were the same ones who accompanied Lucius to the Appraisal Ceremony before.

"Hey, Kiell, Paul," Lucius greeted, waving his hand. Paul approached Lucius in a flustered manner, as if seeking help.

"Lucius... F-Father told us to come here for something important."

"Is that so?"

Lucius confirmed with Kiell, the twin brother.

"Yeah, that's right. He said there was an important matter and we should visit the Lord's house at this time."

Kiell and Paul, the twins from Silverheart Village, were good friends with Lucius. They occasionally played together, and in reality, Lucius took care of the children to some extent.

Guffel spoke in her raspy voice. "These are the children from this village. We've been waiting for you."

Robel nodded quietly, exchanging a glance with Guffel. It seemed that upon Guffel's orders, his father, Robel, called the twins.

"Well then, shall we begin the contract with the Formula?" Guffel's voice echoed, and she raised her left hand, deeply engraved with wrinkles.

"Come forth, Siren."

Next to Gufell, a half-human, half-bird monster that I saw during the "Appraisal Ceremony" appeared.

"Hyaaah! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

Paul clutched his head and prostrated himself on the floor.

"Hey, Paul! Get up!"

Kiell, the older brother reprimanding his younger brother, had trembling legs.

Olivia's slender, white fingers were also trembling slightly.

- Well, it must be traumatic for a child.

Children imbued with magical power undergo an appraisal by the Sirens at the age of three.

Although Kiell and Paul, the villagers, underwent the appraisal in a different location from Lucius and the others, the appraisal method did not differ significantly.

Even if they didn't retain clear memories, that fear must have been etched into their hearts.

"She didn't do anything wrong during the ritual. Well, except for you."

Gufell looks at Lucius.

"Monsters are attracted to magical power. Your exceptional magic power brought out the true nature of the monster in her. Lucky you, you didn't get eaten."

The Siren wears a meaningful smile.

Lucius recalls the beautiful voice of the Siren during the "Appraisal Ceremony."

- Did it really mean "delicious" in its true sense?

"Now then, let's proceed with the appraisal, shall we?"

The old woman's eyes gleam.

"Hiii-"

- - - -

"You're growing up nicely."

Gufell, delighted, faces four children who are mentally exhausted.

The Siren's voice acts as a psychological shake-up.

Everyone struggles desperately, amidst a haze, to endure.

In any case, the results of the appraisal are as follows:

Lucius:

- Class 1 Rider Magic Core

- Class 1 Gunner Magic Core

- Class 1 Chanting Magic Core

- Class 1 Clairvoyant Magic Core

Olivia:

- Class 2 Rider Magic Core

Kiell:

- Class 5 Rider Magic Core

Paul:

- Class 6 Rider Magic Core

While holding his head, Lucius speaks to Gufell.

"I never expected to undergo the appraisal twice in my life."

"Well, naturally. The appraisal at the age of three confirms the presence of a magic core. The current appraisal is to determine which level of monster you should contract with."

"A monster to contract with?"

"The amplification of magical power stops around the age of ten. At that point, it's determined to some extent which monster you should contract with. The strength of the monsters is also divided into classes, ranging from Class 6 to Class 1. Although there are individual differences, it's generally recommended to contract with a monster of the same class. Well, even if you have Class 1 magical power, you can still contract with a Class 6 monster."

There was a hint in Gufel's words.

Lucius himself had been feeling that the increase in his magical power had been slowing down recently.

"I see."

And now, Lucius understood the reason why Gufel had bothered to come all the way to this remote place. It was to ensure that the children did not mistake their contracting partner.

However, the Orleans family was not idle enough to appraise anyone, anywhere, anytime. They would gather children of a certain age who were eligible for contracting and carry out the appraisal.

"But still, I can't believe your appraisal results remain the same. All magic cores being Grade 1... Are you into masochism or something?"

Gufel seemed to find it amusing.

"No, my preferences are perfectly normal. However, I read in a book that one needs magical power to become an esteemed baron, so I haven't neglected my training."

"Well, you're not wrong. The amount of magical power is important for nobles, especially for the Dragon family. I wonder what kind of magical creature you will contract with bozu."

Guffel's eyes were gleaming with excitement, far from those of an old woman.

As everyone's attention focused on Lucius, Olivia muttered in disdain.

"Hmph! I haven't lost yet! It's not just the amount of magical power that matters. Father has said the same!"

While carefully choosing his words, Lucius responded, as if advising her.

"Lady Olivia, the outcome of a competition between nobles is not important. What matters is whether one has the power for the sake of the people to live happily."

"I-I know that!"

Olivia was taken aback by Lucius's logical response.

Nobles are the privileged class.

That's precisely why they bear responsibilities and not use their privileges as an excuse to be complacent.

In this world, simply living is not easy.

Nobles are respected because they protect their subjects from monsters, natural disasters, criminals, famine, and disease.

"Well then, enough talk for now. Shall we move on to practical matters? I'll leave the rest to Baron Dragon."

Finally, it's my turn, thought Robel with a smile.

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