Reborn as the Head of the Stolen Magic Family

Chapter 4

“Phew…”

Emerging from Sylvia’s memories, I mustered my mana one last time.

Having obtained the necessary information, it was time to plant a manipulated memory.

“A boy named Eddie Summerson came to Shainborough with pure intentions, despite his bold temperament. Foolishly, this boy believes that by becoming a tail and entering the academy, he can eventually become a great magician.”

“…”

My low, steady voice echoed in Sylvia’s mind.

Her mouth parted slightly as new memory scenes played in her head.

“This boy will be a loyal dog to the young master until he graduates from the academy. So he won’t even dream of scheming against the family.”

Trickle.

A stream of blood dripped from my nose. The strain of overusing Reverse was starting to overload my body.

As expected…

-------.

The golden glow in both Sylvia’s and my eyes began to fade.

“So, if anyone asks about Eddie Summerson, answer that he’s a suitable candidate for the young master’s tail.”

“…”

With the final sentence of the hypnosis, the mana dispersed into the air.

The golden light in both pairs of eyes vanished.

“…”

“Teacher? Why did you drop the teacup…?”

“…Uh… huh?”

“Oh, is it because of my nosebleed…?”

“Oh…”

I wiped my nosebleed again, gesturing toward the teacup on the carpet.

Still dazed, Sylvia followed my gesture, slowly lowering her gaze.

“Oh my, why is this…?”

She hurriedly picked up the teacup and placed it back on the table.

“The conversation was enjoyable, Teacher. Thank you for listening to my story.”

“Oh.”

Sylvia blinked her large eyes, trying to recall the ‘story’ I mentioned.

Then, she successfully connected the memory planted in her mind with my words.

“I enjoyed it too, Eddie. I hope you achieve your goals.”

Sylvia flashed a charming smile.

Facing her, I, too, curled my blood-stained lips into a wide grin.

.

.

.

Leaving the parlor, Sylvia asked a servant to bring me a wet towel.

When the servant returned with the towel and opened the parlor door, they flinched.

The amount of blood from my nose was far worse than Sylvia had described.

But I sat there, lost in thought with a stern expression, seemingly unbothered by the nosebleed.

‘Why does that kid have such an intense look for his age…?’

Watching me wipe my nose with the towel, the servant felt a slight chill.

“Thank you.”

“Uh… yeah.”

For a moment, the air in the parlor felt heavy…

But the servant dismissed it as their imagination and left.

Alone in the parlor, I sat in silence.

“…”

I had located the secret techniques.

They were stored in a pocket dimension with a formula to break the restrictions. And the artifact, the key to that dimension…

‘It’s on the rooftop.’

Of course, not all the secret techniques might be in the pocket dimension.

Some were unusable by anyone but me, even if the restrictions were lifted.

‘Some might have been sold on the black market.’

But one thing was certain.

The secret technique I needed most right now, the Seed of Infinity, was definitely in that pocket dimension.

The elixir Seed of Infinity was one of my secret techniques that Ivan Kirhausen coveted his entire life.

So, no matter how many decades it took, Ivan would have tried to break its restrictions.

‘Absolutely! That elixir will never fall into your descendants’ hands, Ivan.’

My eyes narrowed as I stared into the void.

I had found the secret techniques’ whereabouts.

Now, what remained was understanding the family’s internal affairs.

“Haa…”

Pressing my throbbing head, I let out a sigh.

The shocking scenes from Sylvia’s memories resurfaced.

Using Insight not only on other families’ butlers but even on low-ranking mansion servants.

That alone showed how filled with distrust and suspicion the current Kirhausen family was.

The reason they sent me to Sylvia was likely the same.

And that wasn’t all.

The short note the deputy butler scribbled on the identification certificate for Teacher Patman.

It probably read, ‘His fierce temperament is concerning, so use Insight to uncover his true intentions.’

They must have thought an unknown kid could be a petty thief or a spy for another family.

But that line of thought led to a new question.

If the Kirhausen family was so wary of outsiders, why were they recruiting tails in the first place?

Did it mean the current heir’s magical abilities were that poor?

‘Well, I’ll find out in time.’

I wiped my face with the wet towel again and stood up.

Then, I walked to the parlor’s window.

“…”

Outside, hundreds of people still lined up in front of Shainborough’s gate.

The ‘great magical family’ Kirhausen recruiting ‘tails.’

It was a sight unimaginable in my Kirhausen.

So, there was only one way to end this absurd situation and reclaim the family.

‘By becoming that tail myself.’

As I was lost in thought, the parlor door opened.

“Is this the boy?”

“Yes, Butler, sir.”

A tall, elderly man in refined attire entered.

It was the Kirhausen family’s butler.

Accompanied by several servants, his presence was distinctly different from the deputy butler’s.

As expected of the butler serving closest to the head, the servants treated him with particular respect.

The butler strode toward me.

“Hmm.”

Adjusting the glasses on his nose, he leaned slightly to examine the small boy before him.

The distinct scent of high-quality fabric hit me.

The butler scrutinized me through his glasses.

“…”

“…”

Despite my shabby appearance, my clear, lively eyes.

My boldness in facing him despite the blood-stained nose.

The butler’s wrinkled eyes narrowed.

“…If Teacher Patman says so, I’ll trust her.”

Fortunately, my Reverse had worked perfectly.

Seemingly satisfied with Sylvia’s report, the butler nodded slightly.

“When the children for the final selection are decided, bring this boy to the main hall.”

“Yes, Butler, sir.”

“Send someone to Delphonso Orphanage to thoroughly investigate.”

“Yes, understood.”

After giving brief instructions to the servant beside him, the butler turned to leave.

I watched him go, recalling the look in his eyes from moments ago.

‘He’s sharp. I’ll need to be careful.’

The butler hadn’t cared about my tattered appearance or the blood on my face.

He focused solely on my temperament.

If I hadn’t masked the hostility in my eyes, he likely wouldn’t have let me advance to the final selection.

Whether his visit to check on me was due to seasoned instinct or not, I couldn’t tell.

But one thing was certain: the butler was someone to watch out for in this mansion.

***

Hours later, I followed a servant into the main hall.

At the center of the grand hall stood a waist-high, conical structure, exuding an imposing presence.

‘As expected… a Glaciator.’

An item that stores a mana user’s mana and allows it to be drawn out for magical use as needed.

The Glaciator seemed to be the tool for the final selection of tails.

‘And…’

Flanking the Glaciator were two groups of people.

Seated on luxurious teal sofas were members of the Kirhausen family.

On the opposite side stood three nervous children.

They were the candidates who had made it to the final selection for enrollment assistant.

“Over there.”

Following the servant’s gesture, I stood beside the three children.

Finally facing the core members of the current Kirhausen family.

I examined each one closely.

‘The First Knight Commander and the Director of Pasquier.’

Those seated on the left sofa were identifiable by their attire alone.

A middle-aged man in a leather uniform embroidered with the Kirhausen emblem.

Judging by his shoulder epaulettes, he was likely the First Knight Commander.

Next to him sat a middle-aged woman.

She wore a white coat also embroidered with the family emblem.

She was the director of Pasquier, the empire’s top magical tower and a research institute under Kirhausen.

“…”

My gaze shifted to the right sofa, where the tutors sat.

Sylvia, whom I’d already met.

And beside her, a male tutor who appeared to be a magician.

After glancing at them, my eyes moved to the large sofa at the center.

Seated there, exuding an air of arrogance…

‘The heir.’

It was Marcel Kirhausen, the son of the current head and the next in line.

“Haa…”

A quiet sigh escaped me as my eyes met Marcel’s.

His face bore an uncanny resemblance to his grandfather, Ivan.

It felt like facing a young Ivan again.

On the other hand…

‘What’s this guy doing?’

Marcel frowned as he met my gaze.

Unlike the other three children, who couldn’t even lift their heads from nerves, I stared directly at him.

Marcel’s eyes slowly scanned my tattered appearance.

And his reaction…

‘…Contempt?’

Feeling Marcel’s gaze, I swallowed a bitter smile.

Of course, I didn’t expect a naive child to understand much.

But the way he looked down at me, as if I were insignificant, with that indifferent stare… Marcel, the descendant of my despised half-brother.

Behind the bitter smile I swallowed, anger and a thirst for vengeance fueled a raging fire within me.

Thump.

If not for the Circle resonating strongly near my heart…

‘…!!’

My body reacted before my mind.

A presence slowly approaching the door from the corridor.

My gaze naturally followed its flow.

‘He’s here.’

The door hadn’t opened yet, but I knew.

The unique aura of a seasoned magician was as distinct as a fingerprint.

Click.

The main hall’s door slowly opened by the servants.

At the same time, those seated on the sofas stood in unison.

Step, step, step.

A middle-aged man entered slowly, hands clasped behind his back.

His presence instantly shifted the atmosphere of the hall.

“You’ve arrived.”

The family members, including the heir, bowed in unison.

At the center of the lineup, seated at the head.

Crossing his legs slowly was…

The youngest son of Ivan Kirhausen, who surpassed his siblings to succeed his father as the head of Kirhausen.

Furas von Kirhausen.