The next morning, Egon finally opened his eyes. The incidents of yesterday clicked into his mind. His soul was so fatigued that he went into deep slumber.
When he went out after getting refreshed, he heard some noises from the lawn. He curiously headed out there.
There, in the open lawn, Luminaire was arguing with a few recruiters he had seen yesterday. His father was nowhere to be seen, and Catherine was fidgeting nervously by her side.
Egon stepped onto the lawn.
Miss Beatrice of the Royal Academy was at the forefront, her usual composure replaced by desperate frustration.
"Madame Delacroix, you cannot simply refuse the Royal Academy!" Beatrice's voice was forceful. "Your son is a state resource! Allowing him to run rampant with an A-Rank Grimoire is a crime against the Crown!"
Luminaire, though visibly strained, stood firm.
"My son is resting! He is a minor, and he has made no decision yet," Luminaire retorted. "You have no right to trespass on private property, Sorceress Beatrice!"
"No right?" Gomez from the Primus Academy sneered, stepping up. "We are offering a full scholarship! Delios Town can't even offer a proper training hall! Don't ruin your boy's future out of stubborn pride!"
John from Orion Academy stated nervously, "Mrs. Delacroix, your daughter is already enrolling in our Academy. So why not send your son to ours as well?"
The entire scene was a confirmation of Egon's worst fears: he was now a prize, and his family was trapped.
Egon finally spoke up,
"My decision has already been made."
The noise stopped instantly as all eyes snapped to the boy.
Egon stepped closer, placing himself squarely in front of his mother and Catherine. He channeled the raw, steady power of the Blood Berserker Grimoire, projecting an aura of physical maturity that utterly belied his age.
"I thank you all for your kind offers," Egon said, his eyes meeting Beatrice's cold stare. "But I will not be attending any of your academies. My destiny lies elsewhere."
Beatrice frowned. "And where exactly is that, prodigy? Are you saying you plan to refuse sorcerer training entirely? That would be foolish. No commoner has the resources to upgrade an A-Rank Grimoire."
Before Egon could answer, a shadow fell over the lawn. The air instantly cooled, and the remaining morning warmth seemed to drain away.
A single, imposing figure strode through the gate. He was tall, impeccably dressed in dark blue and silver armor that bore a prominent, complex crest: a stylized, lightning-bolt-pierced moon.
Though Egon didn't know it, others did instantly.
It was the symbol of the Noiré family.
And that's why they were surprised.
What was such a influential figure doing here?
The figure was a man in his late twenties with Luminaire's striking features stopped just behind the line of recruiters. His presence was so overwhelmingly powerful that the veteran recruiters instinctively took a step back.
"Excuse me, gentlemen! His training will be handled by his maternal family, the Noiré." The man's voice cut through the air like frozen silk.
Hearing him, Beatrice and other recruiters looked stunned.
"What kind of drama is this?"
"He is from the Noiré family? I never expected this."
"So that's why the boy's name is Egon Noiré Delacroix. At first I thought it was just a surname. Never imagined this small family would be connected to the Noirés. Really surprising!"
Ignoring their banter, the man looked directly at Egon, a flash of surprise registering in his eyes at the boy's composed demeanor, then looked at Luminaire.
"Aunt Luminaire," he said, bowing his head slightly in respect, "My name is Cardigan Noiré. I am here on behalf of the family head to bring you and your son back to our house."
"Ohh, You're Caius's elder brother's son?"
"Yes, I am."
"That's good to hear. You've grown into a brave man."
Listening to their exchange, Egon finally learned the truth about his mother's background, a truth that had been hidden from him for many years. Even so, the help had arrived exactly when he needed it.
His journey would not end in this small kingdom.
Oracle City, where the protagonist Veera currently lived, was only another minor power, no different from the Kingdom of Anos.
Far beyond them stood the true force of the western continent: the thirty-three kingdoms united under a single ultimate ruler, the Beliath Empire.
The destruction of Oracle City would begin in a week. That event would thrust Veera into a perilous opportunity, allowing him to obtain the Forbidden Grimoire. Afterward, he would enter the Imperial Academy. There, under the constant bullying of teachers and students alike, he would walk the path of darkness and vengeance, a path planted deep within him since the destruction of the family he once loved.
Egon wouldn't be able to stop any of it, even if he wanted to. For now, his plan was simple: gain admission to the Imperial Academy, avoid as many death flags as possible, and keep his family safe.
In his past life, he never had a proper family. Now that he finally did, he had no intention of letting them die. His greatest desire was survival—his own and his family's. If he had to fight against the plotline itself, then he would do so.
He was not a protagonist, nor a villain, nor even a supporting character. He only wished to live a peaceful life, which was nearly impossible to achieve without power and influence.
Back to the present:
Cardigan looked at Beatrice, his expression shifting to pure, cold dismissal. "I believe your jurisdiction ends here, professor. The Noiré family is a direct vassal to the Crown. We will handle the boy's affairs."
Beatrice smiled lightly, then added, "There's no need for hostility, Cardigan. The Noiré and the Crown have been allies for years. I'm sure the higher-ups will make the best arrangement with the boy's future in mind."
With that, she turned and walked away.
The other recruiters, terrified out of their wits, scattered as quickly as they had arrived. Everyone knew what the name Noiré represented.
"We should leave now," Cardigan said. "Your uncle and aunt are eagerly waiting for your return."
Luminaire stepped forward with a hope face. "Didn't they say anything about my husband, Cardigan?"
Cardigan shook his head, his eyes turning icy. "No. They instructed me to bring you and your son… and to kill your husband the moment I found him. He has tainted the Noiré bloodline, and I will not hesitate to carry out the order. Judging from the situation, he already knew this. That's why he fled like the cowardly rat he is," he added with a sneer.
Egon was stunned. "Mom… what's going on? Why is he saying Father ran away? Where is he taking us?" he asked, genuinely confused.
Luminaire broke into tears as she explained everything — how they had fallen in love, how they ran away and married against their families' wishes, and how Egon's father decided to leave so that Egon could have a powerful background.
Egon clenched his fists.
The man he called father might have been weak and ordinary, but his heart had always held the best intentions. He was a great father.
On that day, Egon made another vow to himself:
One day, he would give that man the proper respect he deserved.