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As we got out of the carriage, servants and armored warriors lined up on both sides.
The three of us passed through them and entered the inner castle.
"How many servants are there, anyway?"
"I don't know."
"Are the armored people a private army?"
"The private army is separate. Those people are just guards."
"Guards wearing armor like that?"
Is this the dignity of the Duke's family?
Davian suddenly became curious.
"Which was bigger, your family or the Raon family that was destroyed?"
Latia turned to Davian with a surprised expression.
"That's a family that committed treason. Can you just say their name like that?"
"They were framed."
"Even for you, Davian, you should be careful. Defending a family accused of treason? Karin is right next to you."
Davian turned to Karin.
"Are you going to report this too?"
"Not really. It's not like you're colluding with traitors. If I reported every time you talked with your friends, I'd be writing reports all day."
Davian turned back to look at Latia.
"She says it's fine."
"Anyway, they were a family of meritorious subjects who helped establish the kingdom. They were the first ducal family of Alkancia for a long time. Do you understand what I mean?"
"So they were bigger."
Mons, who was born and raised in such a family, is still pulling weeds in the backyard of Davian's residence today.
'Amazing, Mons. It must not be easy to live like that without showing it.'
Having been born and raised in such a place, he is perfectly fulfilling his duties as a servant.
This is possible because he has clear goals of revenge and restoring his family's honor.
'I'm glad I let Sara stay at home.'
If it's those two, who have clear purposes in life.
They will surely be able to track down the spy organization.
Also, when their full-fledged fight begins.
Both will definitely be a great asset.
While thinking about this and that.
We passed through a wide and long corridor and arrived in front of a huge iron gate.
The gate was decorated with all sorts of geometric shapes made of gold.
"What's this gate?"
"Only my family and registered people can open it. From here on, it's a space for the family."
Latia placed her palm anywhere on the iron gate.
Whoosh.
Bright light emanated from various golden shapes around the area where she placed her hand, and wrapped around Latia's body.
The light that wrapped around Latia once disappeared, and the huge iron gate began to open.
"It's a gate made so that people without magic can also register."
"Yeah. Certified servants and managers need to come and go, too. They can't use magic."
There are many magic tools that recognize and activate with the magic of a specific person.
But Davian had never seen a gate that could distinguish even people without magic.
This was the first time Karin had seen anything like this, either.
Karin clicked her tongue and asked.
"Isn't the Magic Tower the place where magic research is most actively conducted in our kingdom? I've been to the Magic Tower several times, but I've never seen or heard of anything like this."
Latia answered nonchalantly.
"Our family has been developing magic independently for a long time. It's meaningless to argue about who's better."
"What, what is that attitude, Latia? Are you admitting that the magic level of the Meridian Duchy is comparable to the Magic Tower?"
"I haven't compared them directly, so I don't know which one is longer."
"That's a great sense of pride."
As a secret project of the royal magic department, she could have refuted it.
But Karin didn't say anything more.
That's how surprised she was by the level of magic in the Meridian Duchy that she had experienced in such a short time.
On the other hand.
Davian was lost in other thoughts.
The warp magic circle that allows comfortable movement within the large castle can only be used by family members.
Not only is it large enough to require a carriage to travel from castle to castle, but it also requires passing through various gates.
There were dozens of heavily armed guards he had seen just getting here.
Not only that.
The pace of some people dressed as ordinary servants was excessively consistent.
'Those servants I saw earlier. They're definitely warriors who have received professional training.'
In addition, the iron gate connected to the family living space inside the inner castle can only be opened by registered individuals.
'It wouldn't be easy to hold a knife to the head of the head of the family without an internal helper.'
That means.
The person who targeted the head of the family may be inside the family.
The assassin was never caught, and the forces that instigated the murder of the head of the family were never revealed.
"Latia."
"Yeah?"
"Is this the only passage to the family living space?"
"No. There are several places."
"Then are they all blocked by gates like this that no one can enter?"
"Yeah."
"What is the range of family that can enter here?"
"Our family, and the direct families of my father's brothers."
"How many brothers does your father have?"
"Eight."
"Then, among your family, are there any who have trained in swordsmanship or something other than magic?"
Latia turned her head.
"Why are you suddenly so curious?"
Because I'm trying to save your dad.
"Yes or no?"
"Yes. Not everyone in the Meridian family only learns magic."
"Everyone's mana affinity must be high, so their swordsmanship must be quite good."
"I guess so?"
In the meantime, the servant led us to the dining room.
Creak.
The dining room door opened.
Dozens of people were already sitting at the long table.
The man sitting at the head of the table opened his mouth.
"Latia, you've arrived."
Latia bowed her head to show respect.
"I greet the head of the family."
The middle-aged woman sitting next to the head of the family smiled brightly.
Blonde hair and beautiful appearance.
Anyone could tell that she was Latia's mother.
"Welcome, Latia. It's been almost a year, hasn't it?"
"Yes, Mother."
Latia's younger brother was sitting next to his mother.
The boy raised one hand and greeted his sister brightly.
The three chairs next to him were empty, as if they were for the three people who had just entered.
Davian glanced at the people sitting down as he went to his seat.
The Meridian family's security was more complex and thorough than he thought.
That alone is not enough to be sure that there is a criminal or accomplice inside.
'I need to keep that possibility open as well.'
One of Latia's uncles asked.
"I heard you became the female student representative at Elton Academy?"
Latia answered.
"Yes, for now."
"For now?"
"It changes frequently."
A middle-aged woman opened her mouth.
"Isn't it natural for a Meridian family member to become a student representative? Rather, isn't it stranger that the female student representative position has been taken away by mediocre people a few times?"
Another woman continued.
"I heard she's not even the top student in the magic department."
"Really? The eldest daughter of the Meridian family couldn't even take the top spot in the academy's magic department? And she hasn't been the student representative all along?"
"I heard that's the case. Isn't that right, Latia?"
Davian slowly looked at the people who were speaking.
'They're the ones who have been gaslighting young Latia.'
When he turned his head, he saw Latia with her head bowed.
Her shoulders were trembling slightly.
At that time.
A middle-aged man's deep voice echoed.
"Latia is doing well enough. She is indeed worthy of being the proud eldest daughter of the Meridian family. It's just that there's an amazing student among her peers. She happened to accept my invitation and is sitting next to Latia like that."
He must be the uncle who invited Davian to the family.
"Nice to meet you, Davian Norn. I'm Inves Meridian. One of Latia's uncles, and I'm currently the head of the research lab at the Magic Tower. The performance you showed in the friendly match with Kanzar Academy was truly impressive."
Only then did the head of the family show interest in Davian.
"I've heard a lot about you. So you're the famous Davian Norn."
"Yes, Duke."
"Welcome. Eat, drink, and rest to your heart's content today. Can you show me your skills tomorrow? The rumors have been circulating all over the continent, so I wanted to see it. I also want to see how much my daughter Latia's skills have improved."
That's not why I came here to show off my skills.
Now that I'm here, I thought it was necessary to boost Latia's spirits.
"Yes, Duke."
Latia also readily responded to her father's intentions.
"Yes, Head of the family."
The next day, the backyard of the inner castle.
It's called the backyard, but.
It was a hill so wide and large that the end was not visible.
Most of the people I saw in the dining room yesterday were in the backyard.
Inves Meridian, who is in charge of the Magic Tower Research Lab, stepped forward.
"Now, let's see the magic skills of the eldest daughter of the Meridian family and her friends. I'm looking forward to seeing how much they've improved. Latia."
"I'm only at the level of a freshman at the academy."
"Don't say that. Humility doesn't suit the eldest daughter of the Meridian family, Latia."
One of the spectators asked.
"What kind of skills will you be looking at?"
Davian looked at the person who asked the question.
It was a particularly tall man.
Judging from his different facial features, he didn't seem to be of the Meridian family bloodline, and seemed to be a man married to one of Latia's aunts.
The man continued.
"They're almost eighteen years old, which is almost adulthood. We can't check their skills with something like creating magic fireworks in the air like watching children's talent show."
Inves Meridian asked.
"Then do you have any way you've thought of?"
"How about the cousins competing in a magic match for the first time in a while?"
The tall man gestured to a young man standing behind him.
The young man, who appeared to be the man's son, stepped forward.
The tall man looked around and made eye contact with a few people.
Then they gestured to their children to step forward.
They all looked much older than Davian or Latia.
"But she's the eldest daughter of the Meridian family, so we can't just put peers against her. We have to pick out some kids who are pretty good, right?"
As if there was something predetermined, three young men stepped forward.
Inves Meridian looked at the young men stepping forward.
"Aren't they all young people who are already active in their current positions? Latia is only a freshman at the academy."
Latia's father is not the head of the family because he is the eldest son.
The position of head of the Meridian family is held by the direct descendant of the previous head of the family who has the best magical ability.
Latia's father is the sixth of eight brothers.
Therefore.
Latia is the eldest daughter of the current head of the family, but she is not one of the oldest among her cousins.
The tall man grinned and replied.
"Are we having a death match or something? We're just looking at their skills. How much has Latia, the direct eldest daughter of the head of the family, improved since she went to the academy?"
Inves turned his head and looked at the head of the family.
The head of the family slowly nodded.
"Then, since Latia brought her friends, let's have a three-on-three magic battle."
"Let's do that."
"Latia, are you okay?"
"Yes, Uncle."
"Okay, everyone step back. We'll watch Latia and her friends' skills. We'll start a three-on-three magic battle with the cousins."
Karin, who was standing next to Latia, asked.
"What, a sudden battle? With those guys?"
Davian replied.
"Those guys? They all look like bachelors. They'll be upset if they hear that."
"If they're that old, they're all uncles. Latia, what do those people do?"
Latia answered.
"One is a defense force combat mage. One is at the Magic Tower, and one is teaching young children in the family."
"What, a military mage, a Magic Tower regular employee, and a magic teacher?"
"Yeah."
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