Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family - Chapter 6

But what she said was not wrong.

Because I am good-looking.

Even I think I look good.

Silver hair, large eyes, prominent nose, and a beautiful jawline.

Saying this might sound a bit dubious, but I look so good that my past self can’t even compare.

And so I also replied with words Leila was expecting.

“You’re pretty, too.”

Leila’s eyes lit up and she replied, “Thanks. Actually, it feels nice to look at someone good-looking. Be it a man or woman. That’s why I felt good just now. Honestly, I don’t really like following my father everywhere, but I think it was a good thing I came here.”

“That’s good to hear. Our territory is peaceful and a great place to be.”

Leila responded as if she was envious.

“It does seem so. Our Thermion territory is always so noisy. Every single day nobles come to grovel at my father’s feet. Sometimes even the imperial family drops by. Whenever that happens, I have to always wear a dress and come out to greet them. Even though I’d rather be dressed comfortably and swinging a sword.”

After saying that, Leila made a quick swing with the sword in the air.

The moonlight reflected off the sword’s blade.

“What about you?”

“I’m fine with it all since this isn’t a noisy place like the capital. But I also look forward to touching the spear every day.”

“Spear? Ah, that’s right. Count Sogres’ nickname is ‘Blue Whirlwind.’ I heard about him a few times from my father. My father said he is an incredible man.”

My lips curled into a smile subconsciously.

“The same can be said for Duke Thermion.”

“That’s right. My father is incredible. And that’s why… thoughts like ‘will I be able to be as strong as my father?’ creep into my head.”

This wasn’t a worry a seven-year-old child should be having, but she was serious about it.

“Oh. Does that mean you train in the spear?”

“For now, at least.”

“Then your goal is entering the academy, too, right?”

I shook my head.

“No. That’s not the reason I’m training in the spear.”

“Why not? Of course we train to get into the academy! It’s so difficult to get in.”

“I’m not training to get into the academy. But, if I do end up entering the academy, I would train even harder.”

Was what I said too complex for a seven-year-old?

It looked like Leila did not understand me.

“And if that means you can’t get into the academy?”

“Then I’ll have to try again. And if I fail, then that path is not meant for me.”

“…Aren’t you afraid of disappointing your family?”

I tilted my head in thought.

“Well, I’m not really sure.”

My father, mother, sisters, and of course, anyone else, never said I must attend the academy.

Rather than an expectation that I needed to do well on my own, they were far more interested in imparting their own specialty to me.

But that did not seem to be the case for Leila’s family.

“I envy you… my family would not tolerate failure… Ah, pretend you didn’t hear that just now.”

Leila hung her head in embarrassment.

I shrugged my shoulders as if I didn’t hear and said, “Ah, it looks like the wind’s blowing harder than before.”

I would like to think I am not so petty as to tell someone the mistake she had made.

Leila looked at me blankly and then laughed with a smile.

“Thanks. In return, do you want to take a look at my sword skill? You won’t be able to see the Thermion swordsmanship just anywhere.”

That would explain why she was so shocked earlier when I let my presence be felt.

It was a family secret of sorts?

Truthfully, I had seen countless sword skills from families who took pride in being famous for plowing through battlefields without rest, so at this point, I did not have much interest left.

Of course, the majority of warriors or knights were extremely reluctant to have someone take a peek at their training. While some could be embarrassed by it, it was because swordsmanship was their livelihood.

Although I did get a peek into hers earlier, I did not want to deflate this kid’s pride.

“Sure. I’ll watch.”

I took a seat by the fountain.

Leila began to display her swordsmanship with her eyes sparkling.

Woosh woosh!

Her swordsmanship was truly good.

The swordsmanship was pretty impressive considering it was in the hands of a seven-year-old.

You can tell the transition from offense to defense was natural and her timing for exploiting a weakness was excellent.

Even I, who was quad-class ten years ago and had the potential to challenge hexa-class, could tell it was excellent swordsmanship.

At some point, I saw that Leila’s swordsmanship had begun to be strangely off.

Her swordsmanship had looked very stable but began to slowly distort. It had effectively become no different from wildly swinging.

However, I waited for her to finish her form.

“How was it?”

“It looked great.”

“Tch. Is that all?”

“It looked really great. It was nice to look at.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. But… starting with your third sword form, it looked like you kept moving half a step too much forward?”

“Huh?”

Leila was bewildered.

Did she really not know?

“Me?”

“That’s my conclusion from comparing it to the existing forms. Whether or not it was supposed to be like that from the start, I don’t know. But it may be the reason all your sword forms after looked a bit off.”

Leila looked dumbfoundedly at me.

Was I too severe with my criticism?

I think I made a big oops. I was pointing out something not about my own family’s swordsmanship, but another family’s. And as a daughter of nobility, her pride is sure to be strong.

“My apologies if that displeased you. It’s been so long since I got to see swordsmanship, you see…”

“That was it.”

Leila let out a gasp.

“That was what I couldn’t figure out all this time!”

Then she suddenly ran up to me and hugged me.

I swallowed subconsciously.

It was not because I could feel my heart skip a beat in the kid’s embrace.

“Thanks so much! Dane Sogres!”

“But could you put down your sword…”

“Oh oops!”

Leila quickly stepped back and hurriedly put her sword back in its scabbard.

I felt like my life could have flashed before my eyes.

If things had gone badly, she could have killed someone.

“So that was why my forms felt so off after the fourth one. Thanks, Dane Sogres. I’ll remember this.”

It would be fine if you don’t remember it, too. I just wish you would approach me after putting your sword back in its scabbard next time.

“Ack, I’ve been gone for too long. Then I’ll see you later at the celebration!”

And with that, Leila rushed back, disappearing without a trace.

I did consider if I should follow her or not, but I figured she would make her way back to the celebration somehow.

Mm.

Should I have brought my spear with me, too?

I feel like I had missed out on an opportunity a bit.

* * *

Reaper Scans

[Translator – Kyuri]

[Proofreader – Alissa]

Join our discord for updates on releases! https://dsc.gg/reapercomics

* * *

“Dane, you were here?”

I turned my head to the familiar voice.

I don’t know when she approached me, but my mother was standing there.

As expected of a former assassin.

“You came to find me, Mother?”

“It was getting close to the time for your present opening, but you were nowhere to be seen.”

It seemed like my mother was in a good mood.

“Seems you have made a friend in the meantime, so I’m in a good mood.”

“So am I.”

It was an unexpected meeting but that made it even more fascinating.

“That seemed to be one of the Thermion family’s children. What were you two talking about?”

“Oh, just swordsmanship and the academy…”

I followed through with what I had in mind earlier and did not mention the verbal slip Leila had made.

I was not sure whether my mother had heard it or not, but she wasn’t the kind of person who would bring it up without me asking.

I suddenly asked her about the academy.

“But, Mother. Is the academy a place I must attend?”

“I’m not sure. I did not attend it myself,” she laughed.

“While my friends were all going to the academy, I was receiving assassin lessons from your Grandfather.”

My mother is certainly more fearsome than my father.

“Of course, I also wanted to go to the academy to be with my friends. But it turned out that assassin skills were fun once I began learning them.”

“Ah…”

“Dane, don’t worry. If you were to truly learn assassination skills, it would be happening much later—If you were to have an interest at that time. What you are learning now are skills like stealth, infiltration, and tracking which are not necessarily assassination, but will still be helpful to you.”

What she said was true.

The battlefield is not solely about full-scale war.

Various missions like infiltrating enemy territory to acquire information or sniping key figures if needed were also performed.

“But, since today’s the first day of festivities, you should just go enjoy yourself.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Ah. Don’t you think it’s too bad your sisters could not make it?”

I shook my head in response.

“I would have been bothered if they had to miss out on their mid-term examinations because they had to come to my birthday.”

My mother had a look of mixed feelings on her face at my reply. She then bent her knees to reach down and pat my head.

“Dane. You don’t need to always respond considering others. You’re still young. If you want to see them you can say so.”

After contemplating for a bit, I slowly nodded my head.

“I do wish they could have made it.”

“Right?”

“Yes. I want to see my sisters.”

Honestly, I did want to see them.

Because even if my memories as Argrik were still intact, I am currently living as Dane Sogres, the youngest son of this family.

I was just subconsciously trying to act like an adult.

It would be stranger if I did not want to see my older sisters who would dote on me and chatter during the days when I could not speak.

Also…

This was the picture of the ideal family that I had always longed for in my previous life.

“I’m sure they’ll come when they get a break from school because no one loves you more in this world than your sisters.”

It seems like I will be able to live happily as a young child until I have to grow up.

My mother and I went back to the celebration area.

“Oh! The star of today’s birthday has arrived. Hahaha!”

“Young lord Dane, please try this stew. It’s very rich in flavor.”

I went around a few of the tables, ate a few dishes, and encountered Leila who was now acting like a quiet lady as if nothing had happened earlier.

She did, however, exchange glances to see what was being discussed with her father, Duke Thermion.

I took a quick look at Duke Thermion.

His appearance was naturally very different from the time he had killed me.

I could feel his dignity as a noble but he did not smell of blood.

I was curious.

Would he remember me?

All of a sudden music could be heard and at one end of the celebration space, a stage had been set. The long-awaited gift presentation ceremony was taking place.

“Dane! Hahaha. Come over here.”

My father looked to be in a rather good mood.

Given he possesses six mana cores, there would be no way he could get drunk, but even without being drunk there are days he can be in a good mood.

Today was one of those days for my father.

“Dane, I sincerely congratulate you on your seventh birthday.”

My father had already presented a short-staff to me as a gift.

And that is why my mother handed me a present.

It was a small chest that was well-wrapped.

“Congratulations on your first mana core. And I truly congratulate you on your birthday, Dane.”

I could see my mother’s refreshing smile.

“Hurry and open it.”

After unwrapping it, I could see a brooch made with the crest of House Sogres.

A snake coiled around a golden lion.

I already knew about this beautifully embossed brooch.

My two older sisters had received this for their seventh birthday and had bragged about it to me.

“Take good care of it, Dane. This brooch will now serve as proof of your station and honor.”

I nodded my head.

This gift was more precious than anything in the world.

My mother whispered, “If you learn your lessons well, I’ll give you a weapon like your father did, so don’t be disappointed.”

There was no way I would be disappointed given that I received such a precious gift as this.

My mother took the brooch and pinned it to my chest. Applause broke out among the audience.

“Young lord Dane! Congratulations on your birthday!”

“Grow up to be as great as the Count!”

Even though I was already a member of House Sogres, the moment I received this brochure, I gained the ability to actually use the name of Sogres.

It’s not that I’m only acknowledging it now. Rather, having it in hand makes me feel more like I can proudly flaunt the name.

“Thank you Father and Mother.”

My parents beamed widely at me.

If my sisters had been here as well, I would have seen twice as many bright smiles.

And it was right then, just as the thought came to mind…

Ka-boom!

The entire celebration area immediately shook as if an earthquake had hit.

Silence fell. Then screams rang out everywhere.

An earthquake was occurring right in the middle of the celebration grounds.

“Everyone, please calm down! Guards, your weapons!”

You could hear the sound of swords being drawn.

Everyone moved quickly. My father and the guards gathered around the very middle of the grounds.

I subconsciously swallowed when…

Ka-bo-oo-oom…

As the earthquakes became more frequent, suddenly a teleport gate appeared in the air. And the person who stepped out of it was…

“Dane! Am I late?”

My eldest sister.

My eldest sister, Arabella, who was studying hard for her mid-term examinations at the academy.

“…”

“…Ah, so it was Lady Arabella?”

“It…does look that way?”

Everyone was at a loss for words and looked at my eldest sister.

Even my father and the guards who had been tensed up with their weapons drawn were similarly at a loss for words.

Only my mother exclaimed, “Oh, my!” quietly covering her mouth.

“Eh? Did I make too flashy of an entrance?”

Yes. It was flashy.

Extremely so.

“Did Lady Arabella use teleport magic just now?”

“My goodness. 5-chains can barely create a tiny gate!”

“This genius is our lady?!”

She was indeed a genius.

Who would have imagined a teleport gate would be opened in the middle of the celebration grounds.

And all for congratulating her youngest sibling on his birthday.

“But I didn’t have much of a choice! If I wanted to open a gate at this far of a distance! I spent an entire year collecting enough mana for this day! Without anyone knowing!”

I ended up bursting out laughing.

It was the brightest laugh in the world.

But that was not the end of it.

“Screeeeech!”

Outside the celebration grounds, a monster could be heard.

Everyone could see the moment they turned their heads towards the window.

A giant wyvern, and…

The younger of my older sisters riding atop the wyvern.

Boom!

The wyvern’s landing could definitely be heard and the doors to the celebration grounds opened.

“Oh, my lord! It’s a wyvern!”

“I-it’s Lady Clare!”

It was a gray wyvern with its wings spread out.

After landing lightly, we could see the younger of my older sisters striding dignifiedly over.

“Even Lady Clare has come…”

“As expected of a genius summoner!”

“Is Lady Clare 16 years old?”

My sister was at the opposite end and saw me near the stage. Her hardened expression finally melted into a smile.

“Dane.”

She, too, was supposed to be at the academy but had come.

“Congratulations on your birthday, little brother.”

To say that one sentence.