I opened the book and absorbed all the knowledge about divine power into my head.
I had to learn it by myself. Since I didn't fully understand it, I started by memorizing it blindly.
Ding―!
Chapter 1 Special Reward
Turn your knowledge into skills! Perfectly embody the knowledge you acquire now. (1/1)
The 'Divine Power' attribute has been added!
'Done.'
Just memorizing it counted as a success.
I smiled as I caught my breath.
*
I spent the night in the library, and when I heard the faint bell signaling the servants' waking time, I stood up. It was about time to leave for school.
"Young master."
Just then, the servant I saw yesterday came to find me in the library.
I walked behind the servant who was guiding me and fell into thought.
I know it's quite a distance to the school, so it might take about three or four days.
We probably can't use a teleportation tool since it works on a mage's core.
Luca was born a mage, but thanks to my brother's weekly medicine, which shatters his core, he can't do anything only a mage can do. Most likely, we'll take a carriage.
As we passed through many corridors and gardens and reached the outermost part of the building, a carriage was indeed waiting.
'As expected.'
It's no longer surprising.
I roughly nodded toward the carriage and asked.
"How many days does it usually take to the capital?"
"Oh, it took me just under three days. I haven't been here long, so I haven't heard how long it takes for you, young master."
Three days is three days. What's with "for you"?
I didn't expect my servant to be sharp, so I just boarded the carriage without replying.
"I'll see you next vacation, young master. Take care."
The servant who guided me here said farewell.
Recalling Luca's timid nature, I just nodded slightly.
Surely there were more servants attending to me, but no one else came to see me off.
If my brother's servants had acted this way when he left, they would all have been fired.
'Well, they will all be replaced next time I come, so it doesn't matter.'
I closed the carriage window with a sound and leaned back against the plush seat.
And the next day, I understood why the servant mentioned "your case."
The carriage bearing the family crest passed through other territories without a single inspection and arrived just outside the capital in a day.
'Having the family name really speeds things up.'
I closed the divine power book I had brought from the library and looked out the window.
The main road ahead was already filled with carriages. It was the start of the school term, and there was also a checkpoint, making it even more congested.
'This will take some time.'
I opened the book again.
As I scanned the last chapter and looked up, another surprising scene unfolded.
The carriages that hadn't yet passed the fork all simultaneously turned off to another road, clearing the previously crowded road.
Then, a shrill cry came from a passing carriage.
"Ah…!"
A child looking out the window saw me and slammed the window shut.
Wondering why, a reasonable suspicion crossed my mind.
'Are they avoiding me?'
I began to understand why the road suddenly cleared.
There's no reason for the Askanien family, known for its mages, to use a carriage. They could use teleportation magic.
So who could be in this carriage?
Obviously, me.
"...Hahaha!"
Knowing this made me laugh.
Not because I felt bad, but because it was absurd.
'Is this really necessary?'
Even if I did get off the carriage and blow up the road for a resurrection ritual, there's no need for this.
'...'
Thinking this way, it seems plausible from their perspective.
I quickly dismissed the thought and maintained my composure.
Anyway, I had already known that Luca was a pariah to the entire nation, but experiencing that outside the house, with more than just a few servants, was a whole different level.
'I'm looking forward to it.'
When I bring my brother down to my current position and rise higher than where he is now, what will happen to them?
How will my brother react to his completely reversed situation?
I closed the window and opened the book.
'Hmm.'
I've now memorized all the magical formulas and additional information about divine power written here.
Since I reached my destination early with nothing else to do, I had no complaints against them.
Ding―!
Did you get a sense of it? Keep going like this!
'Suggestion: Life is about taking initiative! Find what you need to do.' 2/3 achieved!
A new notification appeared.
Since I had already sensed success from the special reward at the library, it wasn't surprising.
However, the timing of its appearance was noteworthy.
'It showed up right after I mastered the content here.'
Besides gaining the new attribute, there might be other changes.
'Status window.'
Lucas Rene Askanian
Title: Empire's Biggest Fool
Stamina: -5
Mental Strength: -10
Magical Power: ?
Skill: +0.002 (+0.002)
Impression: -10
Luck: -9.998 (+0.002)
Attributes: Dawn777, Divine Power
The skill did increase, though insignificantly.
The rise was so minimal it was almost surprising.
'…Well, I expected this.'
Given that the mental strength and impression scores seem very reasonable, each category probably has a maximum of 10 points. They wouldn't give away a whole point just for reading a book.
I quickly accepted this and dismissed the window.
The increase in luck was more surprising. It seems to interact with other categories.
"We've arrived."
The coachman opened the carriage door.
In the distance, there was a building unmistakably a school, with students in uniforms walking around the plaza.
I grabbed my bag and got off the carriage, looking around the surrounding shops.
'Now I have something to do.'
Though it seems sudden, this might fulfill the last part of the 'suggestion.'
I need to cut my hair.
I ran my hand through my hair.
My waxed hair clumped together, covering my eyes and ears. I couldn't tell how long it had been since I last cut it.
Since my servants avoided me unless summoned by my father, the last time I cut it must have been before enrolling.
'The more the servants avoid me, the more assertive I need to be.'
Alright.
Luca had no choice but to grow up this way, so what can I do?
Since I left the library just in time, I had no complaints.
However, if I continue to look like this, I won't be able to gather any allies, so I need to tidy up my appearance.
'The problem is, I don't know where to get my hair cut.'
I stood still and looked around.
As soon as the family carriage appeared, the crowd in the plaza began to clear, leaving only a few people visible.
Among them, a student in uniform saw me, hesitated, and quickly turned into an alley.
'Hmm.'
I don't find it particularly irritating.
I don't feel bad either.
They're avoiding Luca, not me.
Still... it seems a bit irritating now. Let's just call it that for now.
I widened my stride and entered the alley. I grabbed the shoulder of the student in uniform.
"Excuse me."
"Ah!"
The owner of the shoulder jumped and slowly turned around. Judging by his reaction, he already knew who had grabbed him.
I softened my expression as much as possible and smiled gently.
The other person, as if unable to believe the situation, opened his mouth but eventually spoke in a small, crawling voice.
"Wh-Why…?"
"I need to ask you something."