The Adored Daughter of the Disliked Duke's House: My Magic Power Increases Every Time I'm Praised, So I've Been Perfecting Cuteness Since Infancy! - Episode 8

“Huh, what do you mean?”

When I inadvertently asked while still in the position of having slid off the chair, the old man with the white beard groaned, “Hmm, hmm,” but somehow it sounded a bit amused.

“There are hardly any records of cases where innate magical power increases.”

“Huh?”

What on earth.

So, what does it mean that my magical power keeps increasing every day?

“I can’t say for certain that it doesn’t exist. There may have been wizards in the past who unconsciously increased their own magical power.”

However, at least…

I met him for the first time.

Seeing Mr. Caleb laugh happily with a “fo fo fo,” my cheeks twitched.

“On top of that, to be blessed with the ‘Talent of Clairvoyance’ as well.”

“Is it a curse?”

“Those eyes, indeed.”

Mr. Caleb pointed at my eyes.

Eyes that can perceive everything related to magic visually.

A wizard with such talent is so rare that they are born only once every few hundred years.

“Then, can ordinary people not see it?”

That’s how it is.

Anyone can see phenomena caused by magic, such as flames bursting into life or water springing forth.

However, it is not possible to visually perceive something that has not yet taken shape.

Wizards train their other senses through practice, separate from sight.

“Whoa~”

I couldn’t help but let out a voice.

“Then, can you not see this gem either, Sensei?”

When I pointed to my chest, Mr. Caleb shook his head.

“Even though we know that the source of magic is there, we can’t see its form.”

“Well then, how much magical power is there here?”

“I don’t understand.”

In other words, the fact that I can see the gems within a person’s chest and gauge the amount of magical power they contain is quite a special ability.

“Teaching magic to a talent like you… is a bit too much for me.”

“Don’t say things like that, just teach me the basics.”

“Hmm”

“I want to be able to use magic!”

After thinking for a while, Mr. Caleb nodded once.

“Indeed. If it’s the very basics, it would be better if I teach you.”

“Let’s call the appropriate masters in order, considering the timing.”

While saying this, Mr. Caleb lowered his gaze to the floor at his feet.

Then, gently, gently, warm light began to rise.

That mysterious light floated gently around the area before disappearing quietly.

“Hmm. Everyone, you also agree with that, don’t you?”

“Everyone?”

In this room, it’s just me and Mr. Caleb.

To my tilted head, Mr. Caleb smiled gently.

“When the time comes, we will meet.”

Thus, leaving a few mysteries unresolved, the class with Mr. Caleb began.

“Hey, are you already learning magic?”

A few weeks after I started taking Mr. Caleb’s class, that scheming… Al came to visit again one afternoon.
Moreover, this time, he will be staying for a few days with his mother.

Since both of your fathers are going to work far away, they said they would stay at our place during that time…

Why go out of your way!

As long as Al is here, we don’t have classes!

There’s no point in complaining inwardly. This is my father’s decision.

By the way, it seems that the two mothers get along well and enjoy chatting happily while doing embroidery.

Since children are with children, Al and I ended up spending time together in the children’s room.

Al is peering into the book on basic magic theory that I borrowed from the library, grimacing. It seems he doesn’t like studying.

“The teacher said it’s better to start early.”

“As expected of the Rosenford Duke family. I’ve only just started swinging a wooden sword.”

Al and I have both just turned three.

Indeed, it does feel a bit early to start learning magic and swordsmanship.

“I also want to start using a real sword soon, and I want to be able to use magic too!”

Al, with a slight blush on his cheeks, pretended to swing a sword.

I feel a little warm inside from that childlike gesture.

(Even if they are scheming, a child is still a child.)

Seeing my expression, Al immediately became flustered and awkwardly looked away.

“Just now, I meant that I also want to quickly try fighting monsters!”

Either way, it’s a childlike way of thinking. I couldn’t help but smile.

What is a monster?

It’s about the creatures with magical powers that exist in this world.

The magic and magic swordsmanship used by humans have developed to defeat magical creatures, you see.

The reason for this trip by the fathers is the same.

They are heading out to defeat the powerful monster that has reportedly appeared in the Great Western Forest on the outskirts of the capital.

(Still, to have summoned two heads of the Fourth Duke’s family, it must be a really powerful monster that has appeared.)

Suddenly, that thing caught my attention.

(…I hope nothing happens)

The bad feeling I had at that time turned out to be spot on three nights later.

It was midnight.

I felt a presence and suddenly woke up.

(What?)

My heart is pounding like a drum, and a cold sweat is running down my back.

My whole body senses that something is about to happen.

When I got up and looked around, I saw the flame of the night lamp at the corner of the room flickering softly.

It was that moment.

──Snap!

The lamp’s light went out, and the room was enveloped in complete darkness.

At the same time, all the hair on my body stands on end.

“Who are you!?”

I can’t help but shout, but of course, there’s no response.

I don’t know what happened. Objectively speaking, it’s just that the lamp went out.

But I understand.

Something has entered the mansion!

I hurriedly got out of bed and groped around for the bedside table.

The lamp shines on my fingertips.

Furthermore, I fumbled around in the drawer, took out a match, and tried to light it.

However.

“It’s not working…!”

Even though I can definitely feel the sensation of striking the match, it just won’t catch fire at all.

“…It’s magic.”

No doubt about it.

Even now, I can sense something prickly and oppressive hovering over my back in the room.

There’s a magical presence.

By someone’s magic, the “light” of this mansion was taken away.

Unless that spell is broken, no light can be lit within this mansion.

Gulp.

Without thinking, my stomach growled.

“It’s a monster.”

The monsters are coming.

Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible.

Not only is there a wall built around this capital, but it is also protected by magic, so monsters shouldn’t be able to invade in the first place.

Moreover, this mansion is also protected by powerful magic.

In other words, the monsters attacking us now have broken through those protective spells.

(It’s impossible. But there are also monsters that can do it.)

I learned in Mr. Caleb’s class that there have been many incidents where wizards have been killed by monsters that invaded the capital.

However, it’s not something that just any ordinary monster can do.

Moreover, I have some familiarity with this magic.

It was written in an old document.

Hundreds of years ago, a monster that wielded magic to steal light destroyed a nation…

No way, a legendary monster like that is here?

Even while I was thinking, the presence of someone’s magic kept growing stronger and stronger.

Soon, there will probably be others who have noticed the strange occurrences.

My mother and Al’s mother are both witches.

Right now, they must be taking action for the countermeasures.

If I just stay here like this.

Help will surely come.

When I think about such things,

──Giiiiii.

With a sound, the bedroom door opened.

Surprised, I involuntarily jump up.

“W-Who are you?!”

“……Lily?”

“Al!?”

Al is staying in the next room.

I must have groped my way here through the pitch darkness.

“Don’t move, I’m coming over there!”

I somehow managed to reach Al, relying on the memory of his voice and the layout of the room.

When I hold his hand, he grips back with unexpectedly strong force.

“Injury!?”

Apparently, he rushed over because he was worried about me. Despite his dark side, he is indeed the son of the strongest swordsmanship family, the Forsten ducal family. It seems that the spirit of chivalry has been properly inherited.

“Thank you. I’m fine.”

“That’s good to hear. …What on earth is happening?”

“It’s magic. Monsters are attacking.”

“Monsters!?”

“Yeah. I’m sure of it. But it’s okay. If we wait here, I’m sure the mothers will figure something out.”

Indeed, is that really the case?

What if the attacking monster is truly a user of the “Light-Draining Magic”?

My body trembled.

Al tightly hugs my shoulder like that.

“It’s okay. Absolutely, don’t leave my side.”

His voice is trembling too. He is scared.

It’s only natural to be scared; Al is only three years old, after all.

No matter how cheeky or sly he is, he’s still just a small three-year-old boy.

(I have to protect it)

I embraced Al’s body in return.

The next moment.

──Hyuun.

Something cold passed by the side of my face and hit the wall behind me with a thud.

A few moments later, a pain shoots through my left cheek.

“Get down!”

I cradled Al’s head and crouched on the floor.

“What the heck!”

“We’re under attack!”

“What!?”

Muwari, the presence of magical power grows stronger.

I’ve never felt such evil magic before in my life.

“Oh my? To avoid my blade…”

It’s a sinister voice that seems to crawl on the ground.

That voice vibrated my eardrum, sending a chill all over my body.

“A perceptive kid… It seems like it would be better to kill him early, just as that person said.”