NOVPUBNo one expected that I was doing simultaneous interpretation.
Because they believed there was no way Grandfather would completely trust a granddaughter who came from the Temple.
There were merely rumors that he seemed to be learning something from his granddaughter who used to be a Trian.
“They say the Count’s been learning a few things from his youngest granddaughter lately.”
It was illegal for anyone other than a priest to teach the ancient language, but wasn’t it only natural to share a little knowledge among blood relatives?
And those rumors—I had spread them quite deliberately.
“At this level... I think it’s okay for me to attend the Academy now, right? These days, no one dares to speak the ancient language in front of Grandfather.”
That was because I couldn’t stick by Grandfather’s side forever.
The Academy’s opening date was drawing near.
The Academy was only for noble children, and it wasn’t mandatory nor long in duration.
Still, many children of noble families attended it for the sake of social networking.
Classes were held every three years for about three months, and the system admitted children between the ages of ten and fourteen.
So, twelve-year-old me and eleven-year-old Zahid were scheduled to enroll in this upcoming session together.
Thankfully, Grandfather was more cautious than ever, actively guarding the Noart Count Family. It looked like I could go without worrying about Julian or Grandfather.
<I’ll trust Grandfather to handle the Count’s estate. I need to go to the Academy this time. There’s someone I must meet there.>
There was something Zahid had said to me in the past.
“I’m going to destroy the Temple. I’ll be the one to do it. I’ve already found allies. Ray’s on the same page as me.”
Ray Lavendal.
The second son of the Lavendal Duchy, who possesses the Divine Beast of Water.
According to what Zahid told me before the regression, Ray was highly likely to become our ally.
<While I’m at it, it’d be good to draw in the Lavendal Duchy to our side quickly. He’s going to be one of ours anyway.>
Even before the regression, Zahid and Ray were close friends.
“Ray? He’s a really decent guy. He never gets angry, but he’s surprisingly cold and calculating. They say he’s got a similar personality to Julian Noart.”
“To my brother?”
“Yeah. Polite, but unreadable. Always smiling, but not easy to deal with. Kind, but never lets anyone get close.”
Apparently, the two of them became friends after meeting at the Academy.
<I wonder if I could get close with them too? That’d be really fun.>
Before regression, I once heard Zahid talk about the Academy.
And I had always thought—I want to go there.
Zahid must have noticed, because in the end, he said this to me.
“Go see the ocean you always wanted to. Now that you can read, you should try going to the Academy, make lots of friends...”
Grandfather laughed heartily and lifted me into the air.
“The Academy? Of course you’re going! What should this old man prepare for his youngest granddaughter heading off to the Academy?”
Over the past few days, Grandfather and I had grown very close.
I wasn’t scared of him like I used to be—in fact, I felt fond of him now.
“A deluxe fountain pen and parchment set, a planner, and the finest ink and other school supplies. Expensive stuff helps me study better.”
“Everything you use at the Academy—this old man will prepare the absolute finest versions packed with every function imaginable!”
Grandfather roared with laughter and spoke boldly.
* * *
“Ahem.”
The next day, at breakfast in the Noart Count Family’s estate.
As usual, Grandfather presided over the morning table like a general, keeping my uncles and aunts in line.
Then, during dessert, he brought up a new topic.
“It’s time to submit Academy applications. From the Noart family, should we register just Rosie and Ethan?”
“Ah, Father...”
Ethan’s father, Felide, blinked and replied awkwardly.
“Ethan... well, he can’t use magic at all... I’m afraid he might make a complete fool of himself if he goes.”
Ethan was still at the Magic Tower.
Of course, Felide had no idea. He simply assumed Ethan was there to read books or something.
“That’s for Ethan to decide. Send the application to the Tower. Let him handle it himself.”
Grandfather gave a cold order. Then he turned to me.
“Rosie, so that just leaves you. Shall we register you?”
“Yes! Thank you very much.”
“Good.”
Grandfather gave a slight smile.
“Go make lots of good friends. Just don’t get too close to Zahid. Once you grow up a bit, you’ll need to call off that engagement. My granddaughter is going to live here with me forever.”
“Nope? After I break off the engagement with that punk, he’s going to live with me forever, you know?”
Over the past few days, Julian had been sulking from being “replaced” in Grandfather’s eyes.
“Hahaha...”
That was when my eldest uncle Murlock cautiously chimed in.
“But isn’t Rosie still struggling to write properly? I’m just worried she might disgrace the Noart name by going.”
Since I’d been sticking close to Grandfather, it was now a well-known fact in this house that he was fond of me.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
Naturally, the other relatives didn’t feel too thrilled about that.
Murlock stroked the shoulder of his son, Roystan, as he spoke.
“Our Roystan came in second place in the last Academy session, you know.”
He practically spat with pride as he continued.
“Second place, from the Noart family—that’s something, isn’t it? I thought no one could mock us anymore for our short family history, but I’d hate to see that honor tarnished.”
Roystan grinned widely, showing his teeth.
Watching all this, Aunt Monica set down her fork with a sharp clink and interjected.
“It’s just a bunch of kids taking tests—no need to make a big fuss.”
Monica smiled sweetly at Grandfather.
“Let’s not forget, it was # Nоvеlight # our Theo who brought true honor to the Noart name at the Academy.”
Roystan’s brows knit together as Grandfather’s attention was instantly drawn elsewhere.
Monica kept smiling as she continued.
“Can you imagine how much a child must love studying to stay at the Academy and serve as a teaching assistant?”
Theo Noart.
Monica’s son. I’d never seen his face—he’d stayed at the Academy the whole time.
I heard he remained there because studying was his true calling, working as a teaching assistant.
Monica’s husband, who had been a professor at the Academy, had died rather early.
So Monica entered the Noart Count Family with Theo and gave him the Noart surname as well.
“Of course, he’ll return to the Noart family eventually. But for now, he says he wants to study. Isn’t that impressive?”
Monica’s tone was gentle as ever.
“He’s been at the Academy for so long, he has deep connections with noble households. When he comes back, he’ll be able to use that network to help Father immensely.”
“I see.”
Grandfather gave a vague reply as he flipped open the newspaper that had just been delivered.
I glanced at the headline.
Count Noart to attend next High Nobility Assembly as the fiancé’s family of the Dyfenril Duchy.
Grandfather’s lips curled into a satisfied smile.
The High Nobility Assembly.
It was a meeting he’d always longed to attend.
The Fire Duchy Dyfenril, the Water Duchy Lavendal, the Grass Duchy Orgon, the Earth Duchy Idra.
<The Grass and Earth Duchies are already controlled by the Temple—lost causes. But if Dyfenril and Lavendal, and even the Emperor, side with us... we might just stand a chance.>
I munched on my dessert with a pleased grin.
I recalled what the high-ranking priests had once said before regression.
“Communicate with the Divine Beasts! Find out what you must obtain from the Four Divine Beasts to become the true master of the Temple!”
They said there was an ancient text that explained how to become the true master of the Temple.
Apparently, it involved doing something with the Four Divine Beasts—but that part of the book had been damaged beyond recognition.
I, too, could only communicate with Fire on a very basic level, so I had no idea what it meant.
<But maybe, if I meet all four Divine Beasts, I’ll be able to figure it out.>
Maybe one of the Four Divine Beasts would bond with me on a deeper level.
<If that happens, I might be able to find the true master of the Temple... and overthrow the current High Priest.>
The Temple had once been a noble place—but ever since the current High Priest seized control, it had become unrecognizably corrupt.
He hadn’t aged or died in over a hundred years, maintaining complete control of the Temple.
Even if he were blessed by the gods, that was far from normal.
<First, I need to go to the Academy and befriend the Lavendal heir. Meeting the Water Divine Beast is the next step.>
And that very afternoon—
A letter arrived.
