Chapter 44: Chapter 36: Heartwarming Daily Interactions

"Aaaargh!!!"

The next day, Isaac writhed on his bed with a guttural roar. After a final shudder, he slowly climbed out of bed and let out a huge yawn.

"SQUEAK SQUEAK~"

"Good morning."

Though he didn’t know what Shushu was saying, Isaac replied subconsciously. He was about to walk to his desk out of habit when he suddenly slapped his forehead. He cast a Magic Spell to tidy up, then headed out of the lab.

’Father’s back. I can’t stick to my old routine and start my research right after waking up. I need to go eat breakfast first.’

’And I have to strictly follow the etiquette of the Nobility...’

At this thought, Isaac couldn’t help but sigh. ’This is the worst part about being home...’

’And it’s not like I can just skip it...’

’Gaia is a High-level Knight. Catching a fledgling Wizard like me would be child’s play, wouldn’t it?’

’So, rather than wait for the old man to drag me out, I’d better be sensible and go on my own.’

"SQUEAK SQUEAK?" A bewildered Shushu was grabbed by Harmon and placed on Isaac’s shoulder.

"Let’s go eat."

Shushu, as bewildered as ever, gave no response.

Harmon seemed to sigh at the rat’s dazed expression. What a waste! An entire night of studying for nothing!

Though, to be fair, it had only ever been studying the first page...

...

To the surprised gazes of the guards, Isaac took a pumpkin carriage to a small castle behind the fortress. This was where Isaac and his family lived, and he had a room here as well.

In previous years, he would be brought here to live during autumn and winter, but he had never been allowed out of the castle before.

Although he had now moved out to live on his own, the room was still kept for him. After all, his was the family of a top-tier Viscount on the cusp of becoming a Count; they could certainly afford to keep a room for him.

However, Isaac didn’t stay in the room this time. It wasn’t that he minded anything. The main reason was that commuting between the castle and his Mage Tower every day was a hassle that wasted his research time.

After arriving at the castle, Isaac slowed his pace, timing it so that when he reached the dining hall, everyone was just taking their seats. He was the last to arrive.

Just like before.

Sitting down at the dining table, Isaac looked at the breakfast before him and raised an eyebrow. Compared to his own meager breakfast, the breakfast here was much more lavish—a pile of roasted meat and exquisite pastries!

The exquisite pastries were for him and his eldest sister. The roasted meat was for his father, eldest brother, and second brother. As Knights, they had strong digestive systems, so eating greasy food for breakfast was no problem. Furthermore, their energy requirements were enormous. Unlike Wizards, who could utilize Magic Power with extreme efficiency, Knights derived most of their body’s necessary energy from food.

Therefore, when it came to raising a Knight, the greatest expense wasn’t the Knight’s Secret Medicine for training. That stuff was optional if one wasn’t seeking to advance. A Knight’s biggest expense was food! 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Not only did they require large quantities, but the quality had to be high as well. Ordinary food was simply not enough; it had to be specially prepared, high-energy Demon Flesh.

Forgoing the Secret Medicine merely resulted in little to no progress. But if a Knight didn’t eat enough, their strength would decline at best. At worst, they could even starve to death!

The noble Wizards, however, were different. Compared to Knights, their physical constitution could only be considered average. But they could also draw sustenance from Magic Power, so they only needed to eat normal daily meals. They could even skip eating altogether.

Therefore, Isaac and his eldest sister’s breakfast consisted of only light, exquisite pastries.

They were truly exquisite, even having little animal patterns on them.

Shushu watched as Isaac swallowed the small cake decorated with its portrait in a single bite. Its small, beady eyes went wide!

’He ate it!’

’He actually just ate it!’

’Without the slightest hesitation!’

"SSSSS-HA~~~"

Watching the shocked and trembling Shushu on Isaac’s shoulder, Harmon emerged from behind Isaac’s head. It pointed a finger at Shushu, its palm splitting open to let out a hoarse, mocking laugh.

Isaac smiled slightly, tapped Shushu’s head with his finger, then handed it a piece of cheese, also imprinted with a mouse-head pattern.

Shushu hugged the cheese, staring at its own portrait on it. It opened its mouth several times, but finally, unable to resist the tempting aroma, it clenched its jaw, shut its eyes, and took a bite!

"SQUEAK~"

Then it let out a squeak of enjoyment~

"HISS!"

Seeing this, Harmon was displeased. It floated in front of Isaac, discontentedly opening the bloody maw that spanned its palm.

Helplessly, Isaac shook his head. He pulled over a plate of roasted meat from his second brother and poured it straight in.

Watching Isaac’s interaction with the Demon Claw and the rat, Gaia and his children stared, completely stupefied. Their eyes told them the scene was horrifying, yet their hearts felt a strange sense of warmth...

’Our third brother isn’t much like you were when you became a Wizard, is he?’

’Duh! I’m an Arcanist! A Truth Mage who believes in the Truth! Not one of those perverted Legendary Mages!’ Cheryl rolled her eyes, having received Caesar’s pointed look.

Gaia’s mouth twitched. He was starting to worry about Isaac’s psychological state...

As for the second son, Remington...

He was right next to Isaac, watching the interaction between Isaac, the Demon Claw, and the rat at point-blank range. His composure had completely shattered, and he was just sitting there, staring blankly into space...

Normally, Gaia would have reprimanded Isaac for bringing pets to the table and snatching food from others, perhaps even dishing out a small punishment. But the combination of the creatures and the gentle smile on Isaac’s face was so surreal that by the time Isaac bowed and left the dining hall, Gaia and the others were only just beginning to snap out of it.

"Father... in the future... we should give our third brother a separate dining room... For their sake," Caesar said with a sigh, glancing at the terrified servants. A few of the more timid ones already had the whites of their eyes showing; only sheer professionalism was keeping them on their feet.

Gaia fell silent for a moment. He glanced at the horrified servants, particularly the few who had already lost consciousness. His mouth twitched, and he gave a silent nod, making a decision that went against all family tradition.

’He had no choice!’

’Hadn’t he seen how badly frightened even the high-status maids and the butler were?’

’They might get used to it over time, but they could also end up like Isaac, developing some... strange psychological quirks.’

"...No wonder the Eldest Princess insists on living on her own... Legendary Mages... are so terrifying~"

"Is the Eldest Princess... as bizarre as our third brother?" Remington asked, his mouth twitching as he finally snapped out of his daze.

"The Eldest Princess is also a Legendary Mage, so of course. The minds of Legendary Mages aren’t exactly normal, and Mad Witches are even less so. Unfortunately, from what I’ve heard, the Eldest Princess is a Mad Witch, just like our third brother," Cheryl said with a helpless shrug.

Upon hearing this, Remington’s mouth twitched again. ’What incredible luck they had... to share a country with this pair of budding geniuses...’

’Is it too late to get the hell out of here?’