Battle Race in the Fantasy World

EP.5 The Youngest of the Jonathan Family

“Do you know there are various types of sorcery? Broadly speaking, it’s divided into three categories…”

“I know, but when sacrifices are made aside from belief, it becomes even more potent…”

“It’s not like sorcery where mana is consumed immediately, but there are other benefits to sorcery…”

Please stop. I might even develop a hatred for sorcery at this rate.

Throughout our journey to the academy, Tisha continued to elaborate on sorcery.

Perhaps because Kyle holds a rather positive view of sorcery.

It seems like meeting a good conversationalist after a long time has lifted her spirits.

“Even so, it’s not like we’ve been discussing just one topic for over a week.”

This would probably elicit a response from Jesus, Buddha, and Confucius alike, saying, ‘Wow, this is persistent.’

Not for a day, not for three days, but for a whole week.

Today, the absence of a teleportation circle at the academy was truly lamentable.

If only everyone had heard this story together, it might have been somewhat better.

Even if I had done something else for a moment, it wouldn’t have been so noticeable.

But Tisha and Ian were still in a cold war, and poor Kyle was caught in the middle.

Thanks to that, I had to bear Tisha’s entire story alone.

‘What is this guy even doing? He’s supposed to be the future boyfriend, yet he doesn’t apologize?’

Glancing over, it seems like he’s aware that he’s in the wrong.

The problem is this damn guy is so clueless about how to talk.

Even if he does apologize, it only leads to another provocation.

Would the best comment by episode 5 be something like, ‘It would be better if this guy shut his mouth’?

Seeing him constantly glancing towards Tisha might imply feelings of remorse.

Or maybe as a man, he has some affection for a woman, or at least there’s something there.

But they say if you don’t express your feelings, no one will ever know.

Just staring like this would never resolve anything.

“… ”

He’s not a constipated puppy, so what’s the point of whining like that?

He looks like he’s about to choke to death because he ate too many sweet potatoes.

I don’t care about other people’s relationships, but it feels like I’m going to suffocate for a while.

So, during break time, Kyle subtly approached Ian.

“Ian. Can we talk for a moment?”

While Tisha was focusing on stew, claiming she would demonstrate her skills for once.

Taking the first guy with him, Kyle moved to a secluded spot.

“…What’s up.”

This is the kind of atmosphere where you should say, “Stop eyeing my girl.”

With a fake cough, Kyle spoke with the sentiment of a crow being trampled by a couple.

“Are you going to keep this up?”

“What?”

“How long are you going to stay uncomfortable like this? Quickly apologize, say sorry. I was rude. Let’s end it like this. Do you plan to keep this up until we arrive at the academy in three days?”

I didn’t understand what he was saying, but I was prepared to hit him with a blank response.

Thanks to the protagonist buff, he should be grateful for having two girlfriends like that in his life.

Fortunately, or unfortunately for Kyle, Ian wasn’t completely clueless.

“…Apologize.”

“I said you were watching sorcery in front of Miss Tisha and said it was shamanic ritual. It’s like saying swordsmanship is only used for killing people in front of you.”

Ian then looked at Kyle with a very cold gaze.

Growing up wandering around, he had a rough edge to him.

Even wild animals would cower and run away from that gaze.

But for Kyle, it was just an unimpressive look.

‘Mother’s ‘don’t whine about side dishes’ look would be much scarier.’

Or perhaps it’s the older brother who stopped himself from running away without doing cardio.

Or it’s the older sister who looks at herself not wanting to follow the prescribed sets.

It feels like it has to be to the extent that your heart starts pounding.

“Am I wrong?”

“…No.”

“Then go and apologize quickly.”

“….”

“Please. Do you know how awkward it is for me between you and Miss Tisha?”

Although his tone is annoying, he’s not inherently evil.

If he were, he would have become the blonde tanned character trying to intercept the female lead, not the protagonist.

“Fine.”

“You promise. Go and apologize right now.”

“I will.”

“Then step up quickly.”

Before this damn guy starts spouting nonsense again, let’s end this quickly.

With that in mind, Kyle urged Ian back to the campsite.

“Just wait a bit! It’s almost done!”

A quite pleasant smell wafted near his nose.

Was she not only skilled in sorcery but also in cooking?

“Hey.”

Ian walked briskly towards Tisha.

Seeing him address her as “hey” instead of by her name, Kyle rubbed his temples.

Had his dating cells completely degenerated from years of wandering?

“What is it, Mr. Mule?”

Of course, he expected such a cold response.

From the tone alone, it was clear he wasn’t here to apologize but to pick a fight.

No wonder even Tisha would respond in kind.

Could he really apologize? At the moment, a slight sense of realistic worry crept in.

“I’m sorry.”

Well, at least he’s apologizing.

Though his voice still doesn’t sound like that of a genuinely apologetic person.

“What are you sorry for?”

Tisha isn’t one to be easily swayed.

She won’t just accept an apology right away.

“I misspoke. I didn’t mean it in that way.”

“If you didn’t mean it that way, then what did you mean?”

“…I was just talking without thinking, repeating what people were saying about sorcery as I wandered around. It feels like I just blurted it out without any thought.”

“So, you admit you weren’t thinking.”

“Yes.”

Guy number one admitting his mistake obediently.

Seeing this, girl number one seems somewhat relieved.

“…In the future, it would be better to think before speaking. While you may mean something a certain way, if you just blurt it out without filtering, others may interpret it differently.”

Such nagging, it sounds like something guys always hear. Think before you speak.

Standing at a distance with his arms crossed, Kyle observed the situation carefully.

Is it finally over? Do I no longer have to listen to sorcery stories on the way?

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good. Then let’s accept the apology, Ian.”

“Thank you. And I’m sorry once again.”

Ian, having said that much, left to gather his thoughts before returning.

Glancing back as he walked away, his face seemed slightly flushed.

‘Why is he blushing? Has he already fallen for her? At what point?’

Thinking maybe he’s already trying to be a couple from now on, Kyle quietly returned to his spot.

As Kyle quietly returned to his spot, Tisha spoke up.

“Is that your work?”

“Yes?”

“That stiff guy suddenly apologized.”

“Since he was in the wrong, it’s only natural for him to apologize, isn’t it?”

“Even though it’s natural, there are still many people who can’t even do that.”

Tisha’s pupils sharply turned towards Kyle.

A completely different look from the cold gaze she had when looking at Ian earlier.

It carried a very warm energy that made him slightly tremble.

It’s unsettling. This, it’s really unsettling.

“Thank you, Kyle.”

“No problem. I really didn’t do anything. There’s no need to thank me.”

“And I’m sorry. For making the atmosphere uncomfortable.”

“There’s no need to apologize. Ian was the one who made the mistake, so why is Miss Tisha apologizing?”

“But I reacted very seriously, didn’t I?”

“I see. I’ll quickly accept your apology and forget about it.”

Quickly accept it and honestly wanting to keep some distance were his true feelings.

Mentioned just once in passing in the novel, he was simply the Baron Jonathan.

As the youngest son of that family, he wouldn’t get involved in all sorts of affairs.

If anything, such matters revolved around the protagonists.

Not knowing anything about the free-for-all birthright, he avoids getting caught up in the whirlwind of events by sticking with the protagonists.

While they handle the incidents, he enjoys a blissful academy life.

This was the big picture Kyle dreamed of.

“But, Kyle.”

“Yes, Miss Tisha. What is it?”

“Think about it, we’re both trying to enter the academy.”

“That’s right.”

“We’re the same age.”

“That’s true.”

“So why don’t we just speak comfortably? How about it?”

However, it seemed that Tisha had no intention of simply accepting that picture.

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***

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A weekend, a treasure allowed for office workers for only two days.

Just when his wife went to her parents’, taking the kids along.

The Minister of Education, who had slept in, woke up late in the morning and was making coffee.

“Phew!!”

He spat out the coffee he had just sipped.

Through the magic communication device beside him, he heard a desperate voice.

“…Say that again. Who came? Who said they’re enrolling?”

[It’s Kyle Jonathan, the Baron’s son.]

Am I, damn it, dreaming right now?

I’ve already sent a rejection letter, so why would he come to the academy?

Even up to this point, it’s already a terrifying situation.

But the tragedy of the Minister of Education has not yet begun.

[Sir. It’s already been processed for enrollment.]

“…Why. How. What.”

[Don’t you have the recommendation letter from the Northern Lord Byun-kyung? He was just stamped with that.]

“I’m the Minister of Education? I didn’t get stamped? What am I?”

[Well, don’t you know? Originally, recommendation letters are skipped over and only presented to His Majesty the Emperor…]

– Crash!! –

Dropping the coffee cup he was holding, the Minister of Education was in despair.

Already, he could imagine the Financial Minister rushing in to press him for a title.

And that would happen from the goddamn Monday morning work hours, the worst time imaginable.

“Damn it….”

He didn’t want to utter such vulgar words in front of his subordinates, but tears blurred his vision, and the Minister of Education cursed sincerely.

In his heart, he wanted to write his resignation letter right away and run away.

But if he did, it felt like the Financial Minister would come running all the way to his house and kick him.

“…Prepare the list of new students and post it.”

[New students?]

“Yeah. Prioritize by importance, very meticulously and accurately.”

[May I ask what you’ll be using it for?]

With the voice of someone who had given up, the Minister opened his mouth.

“A list of evacuation priorities for contingency planning.”