Kays Translations

Chapter 7: Cedric is Hated

The forest was located just outside the Ebern Honorable Viscount House.

Though monsters inhabited the forest, none of them were particularly powerful. Regular adventurers would enter and thin out the population, and Rest, for the sake of magic training, would occasionally hunt there. As long as they stayed away from the deep parts of the forest, it wasn't too dangerous for pre-adult boys and girls.

"Alright, let's go! Follow me!"

The group of five boys and girls entered the forest. Leading the way was a red-haired boy named Cedric Ebern, confidently wielding a short staff in his right hand. Following him were two male friends who were acquaintances from lower noble families.

Then there were the two girls: a blonde girl with a ponytail named Viola and a silver-haired girl named Primula. Despite their age, they retained a youthful appearance and possessed radiant beauty. They appeared more dignified and aristocratic than the three boys.

Naturally, as the daughters of Marquis, they were born into a much higher social standing than the three boys.

"Viola nee-san..."

"It's alright, Primula. I'm with you."

Viola, the blonde girl, and Primula, the silver-haired girl, were twin sisters born into the Rosemary Marquis family. They had visited the Ebern Honorable Viscount House with the aim of establishing a friendship with Cedric and others. Their father, Marquis Rosemary, served as the Chief Court Magician and was the superior of both Rest and Cedric's father. With both the superior and subordinates having children of the same age, it was only natural to create opportunities for socializing before they entered the same academy next year.

(Cedric Ebern. I've heard he has incredible magic talent, but as a person, he's quite unpleasant. It's so obvious he's leering at Viola and me.)

(Cedric-san is somehow scary. His gaze towards Viola and me is unsettling, and he keeps bragging about himself. I can't become friends with someone like him.)

However, as a result of this budding friendship, Cedric had become thoroughly disliked by the Rosemary sisters.

Cedric had been instructed by his father to somehow charm one of the sisters. Marrying one of the daughters of the Chief Court Magician would undoubtedly contribute to social advancement. Cedric himself was fond of the beautiful sisters at first sight and was considering ways to make them his own. Cedric's insistence on going into the forest with the three boys and two sisters, where monsters roamed, was part of this plan. He hoped to impress the sisters by elegantly defeating monsters with magic.

"Gee, gee!"

"Oh, goblins! Alright, I'll take them down with my magic!"

As they walked through the forest, they encountered monsters. The creatures were small, humanoid beings with green skin, no hair, and a child-like physique – goblins.

"Fireball!"

"Gyaaaaaaaaah!"

Cedric pointed his staff at the goblin, casting a spell. A fist-sized ball of fire hit the goblin, engulfing its small body in flames. The goblin struggled and writhed on the ground but soon succumbed to death.

"Hahaha! Easy peasy with a goblin like that. I took it down with a single hit!"

"As expected of Cedric-sama! Amazing magic!"

"We can't use magic like that at all!"

"Hahahahahaha!"

Cedric, triumphant, stepped on the charred corpse of the goblin. His two noble-born friends praised him.

Meanwhile, Viola and Primula watched with slightly unimpressed expressions.

"... ..."

Cedric glanced at the sisters from time to time, but Viola and Primula had cold expressions.

(Nee-san, that guy...)

(I know, Primula. You mustn't trust him.)

The sisters whispered to each other. As daughters of the marquis, they were often scrutinized with calculating and impure eyes, so they were sensitive to such malicious intentions. Both of them keenly felt that Cedric harbored unsavory feelings towards them.

(Let's inform Father not to get involved with the Honorable Ebern Viscount House. It's better to maintain minimal contact even after entering the academy.)

(He seems to be skilled as a magician, but... his personality is frightening. I don't want to get closer.)

Cedric's attempts to appeal to the sisters were completely backfiring. From defeating weak monstersand getting carried away to joyfully trampling on their corpses, everything Cedric did only made the sisters uncomfortable. However, Cedric, who had lived a self-centered life, remained oblivious to such reactions. Instead, he pointed deeper into the forest, suggesting that he needed to show off more.

"Goblins aren't even good practice! Let's go deeper!"

"Well, even if this forest is peaceful, there might be stronger monsters deeper in, right?"

"Y-Yes, Cedric-san. I think we've gone far enough..."

"You're annoying! What's the point of defeating weak monsterss over and over!? Don't worry, I'm here, the genius magician!"

Cedric proudly sniffed and marched further into the forest, with his noble friends hurriedly following him.

"Sis... what should we do?"

"Well, there's some truth in what he's saying. There might not be many strong monsters in this forest, so it should be fine."

Even though they disliked Cedric, leaving him to go to a potentially dangerous place seemed morally questionable. The Rosemary sisters, feeling like guardians responsible for dealing with impulsive and cheeky children, followed the three boys.

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter