I Was a Royal Palace Knight, But I Turned Out to Be an Omega, So I Had to Resign (BL) - Chapter 31

When I turned around to see who was calling, I couldn’t believe my eyes — it was Adrian. His long reddish-brown hair was tied back in a single braid down his back, and he was dressed in his usual royal capital style.

“Adrian!?”

I couldn’t believe it. Adrian, who was supposed to be researching magic essence at the royal court, was here at my remote family home?

“Hey, Cyril! Long time no see! Practicing your swordsmanship?”

Adrian cheerfully raised one hand in greeting as he walked toward me.

“What are you doing here?”

I asked in surprise, and Adrian shrugged with a big smile.

“I’ll explain later… but man, I’m tired. I was supposed to get off the carriage at the town gate, but I ended up walking quite a bit. I didn’t expect to have to trek through the forest like this.”

He wiped sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief. Though his movements were elegant like a noble, his clothes were dusty and his shoes muddy. Seeing someone like him—usually only at the splendid royal palace—walking these country roads felt, if I’m honest, a little funny.

“Brother, who’s this…?”

Arthur quietly asked from behind me, so I whispered back.

“Ah, he’s a researcher working on magic essence at the royal palace. Also, a cousin of Prince Leonhart.”

Arthur’s eyes widened in surprise.

“He’s related to Prince Leonhart!?”

Arthur hurriedly bowed and said, “I’ll go get some water right away!” before running toward the house.

Once Arthur was gone, Adrian plopped down heavily on the chopping block I’d been using to split firewood. He really looked exhausted.

“Well, I’ll tell you why I came here later… but honestly, I just wanted to visit Glantz territory personally.”

Adrian looked around as he spoke.

“This countryside has nothing but fields and forests, right?”

I tilted my head. Glantz territory was truly a backwater. Not the kind of place people from the royal capital would be interested in.

“No, but for researchers like me, it’s not just that. For magic essence researchers, this land is very interesting.”

Adrian smiled and continued.

“You see, the doctor who treated you when you were hit by that poison arrow a year ago confirmed it was Rune Bane poison on the arrow.”

“Is that so?”

I was surprised at the sudden change of topic but nodded anyway. I had suspected the poison was Rune Bane, so it wasn’t shocking.

Adrian kept talking.

“So, you survived by some miracle even though there’s no treatment for that poison except an antidote. You probably have an unusually high ability to adapt to changing magic essence. And I think that has something to do with where you grew up…”

After saying this much, Adrian suddenly launched into more.

“The Glantz territory lies in a special area called a magic essence turbulence zone, where magic essence concentration changes rapidly. That means people raised here may develop strong resistance or adaptability to magic essence. Also, the magic essence here easily penetrates the human body…”

His words kept coming. I inwardly chuckled, waiting for the complicated talk to pass over my head.

Just then, Arthur returned carrying a pottery jug filled with water and a cup.

“Sorry to keep you waiting! Here, please have some water.”

“Thank you.”

Adrian gratefully accepted and took a sip.

“Tasty! Is this well water?”

“Yes, it’s from the well behind the house.”

“Cold and really good. Thanks.”

Adrian put down the cup with satisfaction and smiled at Arthur.

“Are you Cyril’s younger brother?”

“Yes, I’m Arthur Glantz.”

Arthur bowed politely, and Adrian returned the greeting, straightening his posture.

“I’m Adrian Waldheim. I work at the royal palace researching magic essence.”

Arthur’s eyes lit up.

“You’re a researcher?”

“Yes. I study magic essence at the royal palace.”

Arthur looked even happier. He seemed to admire researchers like Adrian, probably because he preferred studying to physical work.

I smiled quietly as the two talked, then noticed Adrian’s gaze fixed on me.

“Hey, Cyril, you have a cut on your cheek. What happened?”

Hearing that, I remembered Arthur’s sword technique had cut my cheek. Touching it, I saw some bl00d still oozing.

“Oh, Arthur cut me just now. His sword technique is strange — I blocked the sword, but somehow some wind sliced my cheek.”

At those words, Adrian’s eyes sparkled.

“Hey, can you show me that sword technique?”

Arthur shook his head nervously.

“No, I’m still not good enough to show anyone.”

“That’s not true! Your technique is good enough to impress your brother, who used to be a palace knight. Come on, please!”

Adrian’s eager request made Arthur shrug and give in.

“Okay, just a little…”

Arthur took up his wooden sword again. I stood facing him.

“Do it as usual.”

Arthur nodded and swung the wooden sword. Again, a strange wind seemed to come off his blade. I asked Adrian,

“Can you see it? There’s some kind of wind separate from the sword.”

Adrian watched closely, then suddenly raised his hand.

“Wait a second!”

He hurriedly pulled something from his bag — a round lens device I’d seen several times at the palace.

That’s a tool for measuring magic essence…

“Alright, try again!”

Adrian said, and Arthur and I resumed the sword practice. Adrian looked through the lens at Arthur’s sword movements.

When Arthur’s sword created the wind pressure, Adrian excitedly ran over.

“Awesome! This is… really amazing!”

Adrian’s eyes gleamed.

“Uh… what just happened?”

Arthur asked nervously.

“From what I see, you’re moving your own body’s magic essence into the sword! When you swing, you transfer your magic essence into the sword, and the sword’s magical power creates the wind pressure!”

Adrian explained enthusiastically.

“This is close to magic, but magic normally uses essence floating in the air and requires complicated spells. Using your own body’s magic essence like this? I’ve never heard of that before!”

Arthur looked confused.

“Is that… really something special?”

“Special? It’s revolutionary!”

Adrian spread his arms.

“In the Elkrest Kingdom, air magic essence is scarce, so people here have more magic essence inside their bodies than other countries. That’s why this country has more people with secondary s3x traits like Alpha or Omega. Also, because there’s little air magic essence, fewer people can use magic compared to other countries. That’s why your ability to use your own magic essence magically is an incredible talent.”

Arthur looked overwhelmed, even a little scared.

“When did you start being able to do that?”

Adrian asked. Arthur shook his head, unsure.

“I don’t know. I was just learning swordsmanship from my brother…”

Listening to Adrian praise Arthur’s ability, I thought for a moment. Arthur’s talent was an interesting discovery, but Adrian’s real reason for coming all the way from the royal capital to this remote place must be something else.

“Hey, Adrian.”

I spoke up as their conversation paused.

“Arthur’s story is interesting, but can you finally get to the point? Why did you come all the way here?”

Adrian suddenly realized he’d gotten carried away and looked a little startled.

“Right, right. Arthur, I want to talk with you more later. For now, could you show me somewhere quiet to talk?”

“Sure.”

Arthur nodded and led Adrian toward our home.