Chapter 431 141 - The meaning of obligation (part 1)

Chapter 431 141 - The meaning of obligation (part 1)　　The following day was a snap back to reality with its normality of everyday life – but as the normal life contained a copious amount of magic, maybe it wasn't so bad.

Although Zoemi was feeling pretty tired after getting only a literal wink of sleep before his biological clock made him wake up even before dawn, he felt incredibly happy.

Although it should be a while before he would be able to see his parents as they went on a well-deserved vacation-honeymoon two-in-one, it didn't' change the fact that his little dream about having a big family was being fulfilled step by step.

Zoemi wasn't using mana at all in recent days so he felt good enough to have some proper training is – of course just the body one.

Judging by the time, Burushi was still dead asleep so the black-haired boy didn't feel the need of notifying his attendant about his plans.

Just in case anybody's wondering- the blond heroine didn't have problems with getting up early – even before when she was still a student, she didn't have an attendant on her own so she had to do everything by herself. It was just that she wasn't used to getting up THAT early that it still counted as night for most people.

After washing off the sleepiness with cold water, Zoemi dressed up and went out of the dormitory, to train in the back of the Academy.

It has been a while since Zoemi trained at such time, back then he still despised Grazio so much that he changed his normal routine just to make sure to avoid the red-haired capture target.

That being said, Grazio training in the morning was a thing that Zoemi remembered only after seeing another person taking a training sword from the Academy's storage shed – that person being of course the young lord Victureo.

"Zoemi...? Ah...! I mean – lord Banemor! Good morning!"

Grazio – who was using his own flames to make up for the lack of proper lighting in the shed gasped as he was turned around to check who had approached him from behind.

"Hello. I would say that calling me Zoemi is good enough, but I expect that you would be angry at me for giving your family false hope during the tournament."

Zoemi looked at the red-haired boy in front of him and lowered his head with an apologetic expression.

Graizo flinched and hesitated for a moment, even biting his lip while thinking deeply about a proper response.

"It... it wasn't actually your fault, was it though, Zoemi."

"...!"

His friendly and for some reason almost apologetic response surprised the black-haired boy who would have literally fallen down if not for the support from his crystal cane that he carried with him just in case, even though his body was fine.

"I want you to know that I don't believe in those ridiculous rumors about your involvement with all those kidnappings either. My family is trying to look into it all and although the initial results aren't looking all that promising... It would appear that whoever is trying to frame you knows how to buy people in a way that doesn't leave a trail. Most of the ruffians that get captured actually believe that they are working for you..."

Grazio added with a heavy sigh even though Zoemi didn't prompt him to do anything of the sort – still, another report about the case that was done by different people than the ones he had at his disposal was always welcomed.

...even if they didn't bring anything new to the table...

"Of course, they would be like that – after all the matter of succession is at the stake here."

"Huh...?!"

Zoemi only smiled and shrugged, moving past the shocked Grazio and taking out a training sword for himself.

"Do you mean that the newest rumor going around the Academy is that you are actually planning to use your status as an heir of the Banemor family to put yourself up as the third candidate?!"

The red-haired boy gasped, straightening his back as his eyes widened.

"I see that my little slip-up spread like a wildfire..."

Zoemi snickered, nodding his head and resting the training sword on his shoulder while elegantly walking away from the storage shack while supporting himself on a cane.

"But no, I do not. The whole thing was a very roundabout way of getting nobles' attention towards a possible third candidate that is right there in plain sight. I hoped and still hope that even though some of the students might not catch up on the true purpose, their parents or other members of their families would. Because if that happened, a lot of things would suddenly start making a lot more sense for them."

He revealed while leading towards the red-haired capture target.

"What do you mean? And why are you being so vague?"

Grazio furrowed his brows and asked with a concerned expression.

"I am taking such a roundabout way because being accused of conspiring in order to perform a regicide is not a laughing matter and also not something I would like to happen to me or anyone remotely close to me."

Zoemi shrugged his shoulders and revealed lightheartedly – so lightheartedly in fact that for a moment Grazio did not realize what has been told.

"...hold on...! R-regicide?!"

When it finally clicked, the red-haired boy flinched and took a few steps back as if even being near someone who uttered such an outrageous phrase was dangerous.

"Say, since you basically said that we are on good terms still, is it okay for a little sparring? Let's say just a training duel – no magic."

"...!"

The black-haired boy wasn't worried at Grazio's reaction – mostly because it was a reaction that he both expected and basically caused to begin with – and instead he simply look over at him and reached out towards him with the training sword in a non-threatening manner.

"Also... even though indeed my absence during the final duel of the tournament wasn't something I planned or wished for in any way shape or form, I still feel inclined to apologize as I get yours and Ehmi's hopes up..."

Zoemi added, seeing that just because he wasn't meaning any harm and simply wanted a change of subject, his action had made the red-haired boy quite anxious.

"...huh...? Oh...! No, no! No, I'm serious, Zoemi. Even if you would win that fight, the sudden appearance of lord Vanterl would have resulted in the same outcome no matter what... Even my older sister didn't dare to face him and she is also a sage!"

Grazio shook his head, finally able to push the very dangerous implication that Zoemi casually intertwined into their conversation, and waved his free hand in denial.

"...if you say so..."

Zoemi raised his brows and agreed, not knowing why would that be the case.

|Didn't Burushi say the same thing – that Ehmi didn't seem to want to fight that guy, even though she was the natural-born sage and can absorb fire? That is quite odd, don't you think?|

Zoemi thought to himself before glancing down at the two dots trailing behind him at a spot that would normally have his shadow.

"(Maybe she wasn't confident enough?)"

"(The difference in experience...?)"

His two sentinels responded immediately...