7 – To the Moon (3)

Wonderland. The worst criminal organization in the Kingdom of Justina.

They were famous for hunting nobles.

They brought down the great noble Pishi, who wielded immense influence in the kingdom, and they’re notorious terrorists with enormous sway in the underworld.

In this world, there’s one absolute indicator called Existence Value.

You could say it’s the influence an individual can have on this world—reflecting their strength, knowledge, power, prestige, etc.—publicly announced by the Royal Justina Existence Measurement Institution to the press at the beginning of each year.

It goes in order of Rare, Heritage, Hero, Legend, Myth, Unique, Transcendental.

They rank and classify everyone, from high-ranking officials to vicious criminals.

Of course, people like me who aren’t famous aren’t measured.

Maybe next year my Existence Value will be announced too, but that wasn’t the important thing.

‘Red Riding Hood.’

The worst criminal, measured as ‘Unique,’ of which there are only two in the country, alongside the King.

Nob AI said that the letter was written to me by Red Riding Hood, the leader of Wonderland.

“Hmm.”

『I recommend not getting involved with them.』

Frankly, I was shitting bricks.

That such formidable criminals might have their eye on me… it seemed impossible.

I had no desire to be a criminal.

I’d intended to live a peaceful, uneventful life, and die quietly of old age.

‘Let’s just pretend I never saw this letter…’

I looked through the other correspondence.

Thankfully, aside from the Wonderland missive, there were no others from notorious criminals.

The lower-ranked letters were mostly from mages.

Those in the 800s to 500s range detailed requests to assist with their research, or invited discussions about magic.

‘Ignore this one.’

The letters from the mid-to-upper ranks offered me a sum of money to join their organizations; the usual recruitment pitch.

Some of the offers were actually quite tempting.

I received scouting proposals from national institutions operated by the kingdom and from renowned legions.

The chance to become, shall we say, a ‘salaryman’.

For someone like me, aiming for a humble existence, it might be a golden opportunity.

However, I was currently in the middle of the Successor’s Exam.

Accepting any offer would necessarily require Porto’s permission, and well…

Would Porto really grant that permission in the current situation?

In this world, the head of the family’s word is absolute for its members.

Especially so in a prestigious aristocratic family like the Tristis.

This is because the head of the family holds power equivalent to a king within their owned territory.

There’s a reason Felix, despite being of age, became a soldier without offering any resistance to Porto’s commands.

No matter that I have the title of genius scion who solved the Millennium Prize Problems.

Unless I want to be at odds with Porto, accepting these proposals would be difficult.

Having lived as his son for fifteen years, I can attest that the lives of those who are Porto’s enemies seem exceptionally weary.

I didn’t want to be disliked right now, nor did I have a reason to be.

Because from the start, I had no intention of leaving this mansion.

My ultimate goal, after all, was to be a freeloader at the Tristi mansion.

Not yet.

There was one absolute reason I couldn’t leave the mansion.

Of course, if Porto intended to mold me into a soldier, then that would be a different matter altogether.

“Young Master.”

“Hmm?”

Dalphy, returned from organizing the letters, called out to me.

“You *are* actually reading those missives, aren’t you?”

“Diligently reading.”

“To my eyes, you resemble someone staring blankly at the ceiling. Your eyes are half-closed, and you look on the verge of sleep.”

It was only natural to feel drowsy when using one’s phone in bed.

“Haaah, I’m fine….”

I’m really not sleepy at all.

“To be able to look at them all day like th….”

In an instant, my consciousness nearly fled.

It was because the cozy, warm temperature of the blanket had assaulted me.

“…….”

Dalphy lifted me up.

“Eek….”

And forcibly sat me at the desk.

“Young Master.”

Dalphy spoke in a serious tone.

“Although, Young Master, you accomplished the feat of solving the Millennium Problem, it was due to an alignment of good fortune.”

The successor trials were not yet over.

I thought I knew what Dalphy was trying to say.

“Young Master, you are still lacking compared to the other young masters and ladies. Even with a friend who imparts transcendent magical knowledge, you currently cannot even use basic magic. Your etiquette is dreadful, and your physique is feeble.”

“…….”

“If a situation were to arise where you could not rely on that friend, what would Young Master do?”

Dalphy’s nagging felt sharp and stinging.

It was true.

“I wish for you to be happy, Young Master. To be happy, one needs strength. And perhaps now is an opportunity to cultivate that strength.”

Dalphy had never spoken to me so earnestly.

I felt gratitude towards Dalphy, who had set aside his playful nature and was filled with concern.

“So, you’re saying to treasure the present?”

“Yes, exactly.”

I offered a faint smile.

“Thank you.”

“Compared to the grace you’ve shown this young master, this is nothing at all.”

“Have I really helped you that much?”

Dalphy blinked her eyes, a quick flutter.

Then, a playful smile danced on her lips.

“Perhaps… seeing you, young master, striving so diligently even when your own family disregards you and treats you like a parasite, has been a little comfort to me?”

Even today, this impudent maid pricks at my insecurities.

But it was the truth, so there was no retort to be made.

“Krk…”

“Hehe, I shall bring out some refreshments and tea.”

“Please do.”

‘With Dalphy cheering me on so earnestly, I can’t just approach this half-heartedly.’

Certainly, I had access to Nob AI, but it was undeniable that I was lacking compared to my other siblings.

If the next heir trial involved something like ‘Demonstrate truly astounding magic directly before Porto,’ or ‘Win a Mak’gora duel against your other siblings,’ then even with the help of Nob AI, I’d be miserably defeated.

I needed growth.

Not enough to become the head of the family, but I needed to possess at least a decent amount of skill.

At the very least, if I didn’t fail outright, I might be able to avoid becoming a soldier.

And so, I diligently returned to reading the letters.

『1. A letter from the Red Magic Tower Lord.』

『3. A letter from the Captain of the Iron Lion Knights.』

The performance of Nob AI was remarkable.

Synthesizing all the letters, these two were the most compelling.

The contents of the letter from the Red Magic Tower Lord were as follows:

『To the young star of Tristia.』

『I am Erphs, Lord of the Red Magic Tower.』

『Your magical comprehension, in my estimation, holds the potential to ignite an innovation within the magical world, which has stagnated until now.』

『I am aware that, due to circumstances I cannot fully comprehend, you have been unable to utilize proper magic until now. I do hope you will understand that I must meet you in person to fully ascertain the nature of these circumstances.』

“I wish to coax your magical talent to bloom by your side. I desire only the revolution that a matured Esther Tristi will one day ignite.”

“Should you accept this offer, seek out Aria, professor of Fire Elementals at Tristi Academy. She will guide you on the path to the Crimson Magetower.”

In a word, they wanted to take me as a disciple.

I possessed no magical talent.

The reason was simple.

Not even a sliver of mana existed within me – not enough to conjure a simple match flame from my fingertips.

Once, I attempted to wield rudimentary magic with the aid of Nob AI, but received only the response that it was currently impossible.

“Mana does not currently exist within Esther-nim’s body. However, there are methods to overcome this, even when the user possesses no mana…”

The answer that followed was too convoluted for me to comprehend. I asked them to put it simply.

“Consistent assistance from a powerful mage is required.”

The Crimson Magetower Master fulfilled this condition.

And there was another, greater reason why I needed to meet the Master.

I wished to inquire about Haniel’s condition to the Magetower Master, whose medical knowledge was also renowned.

The offer from the Azure Magetower Master, located just below, was similar, but contained a clause that would make me a mage of the Azure Magetower.

Therefore, I was drawn to the Crimson Magetower Master’s proposal.

‘The only thing that nags at me…’

Is that Nob AI, not I, solved the Millennium Problem.

Well, no matter, it shouldn’t be an issue.

Furthermore, I intended to accept the proposal from the commander of the Steel Lion Knights.

“Currently, the Knights are struggling to breach the barrier in the Swamp of the Deceased.”

“This barrier is a protective ward guarding the Necronomicon, the worst of artifacts, containing methods to awaken the dead. If this object were to fall into the hands of the demonic tribes, the most dire consequences may arise.”

“Even the legacy-grade mages assisting the Knights could not easily unravel the barrier. The situation is urgent, and we are compelled, with great embarrassment, to send this letter to Tristi’s Young Star, who solved the Millennium Problem.”

“The following contains the magic formula constituting the barrier.”

“…”

“…”

“Our Knights will await your reply for a fortnight. Should you resolve this, we will inform His Majesty the King of your achievements and take measures to ensure ample compensation…”

The reason was simple.

“★★Nob AI can solve it★★”

According to Nob AI, this was the number one easiest magic problem – like eating rice cakes lying down.

It wasn’t a bad thing, after all, helping to do good.

Come to think of it, if I solved these kinds of problems and solidified my position, Porto would think twice about sending me to the front lines, right?

『I will interpret the magic formula.』

『The optimal process for solving the magic formula is as follows.』

With Nob AI’s help, I began to draft the letter.

“Master, tea and sweets…”

Dalpi watched me work diligently, then gently stroked my hair.

“Suddenly treating me like a child?”

“Aren’t you still a minor? To my eyes, you are a child.”

“There isn’t that much of an age gap between us, really.”

As I devoured the tea and snacks Dalpi prepared, the letter was completed even faster.