'Leonard Wittelsbach.'
An individual who had the greatest influence on the protagonist's victory and was deeply involved in Luca's story.
Born into a family renowned for magical medicine for generations, Leo succeeds in creating a core enhancer from his brother's poison.
While the ingredients are surprisingly simple, I need to create connections within the school to obtain the medicinal herbs without the family's help.
'He's the same age as the protagonist and Luca.'
I began writing down my memories of Leo beneath that note.
When I was about to fill up an entire notebook, I checked the time. There was still more than half a day left before departure.
'Shall I look for something to do next?'
Just by properly setting the target earlier, I had achieved one-third of the task. If it could help me in any way, it was likely to be generously approved.
'It would be good to raise some points.'
Raising my stamina or impression points right now isn't appropriate.
It would be better to test the skill categories that I can access before departure.
I stepped out of the room to search for the library, aiming to familiarize myself with the house's layout.
As soon as I left the room, the murmurs and soft laughter abruptly ceased. The servants who were walking down the corridor carrying tasks stood against the walls, stiff and silent.
The exclusion Luca experienced in the novel was now happening to me.
'It's refreshing to experience it firsthand.'
I didn't particularly feel bad.
They were avoiding Luca, not the real me.
I enjoyed the fresh experience while recalling the novel's content.
The servants weren't behaving this way because they were trying to gain favor with my father or brother. If that were the case, there would be no reason to avoid a person.
Moreover, my brother is so adept at acting that most don't doubt his brotherly love.
The reason Luca became a target of avoidance was due to the rumors my brother had fabricated over a long period.
He had long spread rumors linking me to Pleroma.
Pleroma is a religious group that believes in absorbing others' magical power through blood to maintain eternal life.
Most of its members died long ago but were resurrected about ten years ago, claiming they had been chosen by the gods to be revived.
'Up to this point, they are just crazy people.'
To expand their power, Pleroma killed living people and revived them.
Most of the revived corpses failed, but occasionally, a corpse would revive with its consciousness intact.
These revived corpses and Pleroma members absorbed others' magical power to sustain their bodies. To reduce the damage from direct absorption, they consumed blood mixed with magical power. It was an unsettling group in many ways.
My brother had spent considerable effort creating various incidents, from minor controversies to murders, to let people imagine my abnormality.
Finally, he succeeded in spreading scandals without dirtying his mouth.
Once a lie was created, it spread nationwide in an instant. My brother performed with all his might to protect Luca from the imperial investigators and the press that stormed our territory.
That was almost ten years ago.
For ten years, my brother continued to build lies, driving his brother's image to the grave.
Throughout this process, he never forgot to cultivate his good character.
As a result, he successfully deceived everyone, including my father, the entire population, and even Luca himself. The servants were no exception.
'It's rather good.'
If they openly harm me like this, it's welcome.
It doesn't mean they won't interfere with everything I do, but at least it's better than meddling in every matter.
As I turned the corner and passed the stairs, the servants all reacted the same way.
Among them were frightened sneers as a defensive mechanism.
The strange sensation of my existence drifting away and becoming isolated did not fade.
Luca's memories blended with mine, reviving the emotions he felt, making the servants' attitudes more vivid.
However, unlike Luca, I did not feel anxious.
'What does it matter?'
Should I just disappear?
The more they act this way, the more I want to brazenly show my face.
But now is not the time to get irritated. It's not the right time to mock them as I please.
After wandering around the house for a long time, my stamina was nearly exhausted when I finally entered the library on the first floor.
I wandered through the library, pulling out books on history and magic.
Ding―!
Chapter 1 Special Reward
Turn your knowledge into skills! Perfectly embody the knowledge you acquire now. (0/1)
'Hmm?'
They give this too.
Though I was relaxed, the situation itself was not one to be taken lightly.
I quickly thought it over.
'That number 1 bothers me.'
It means there's only one chance.
I looked over the books piled on the desk.
I can't waste this opportunity on something like a history book. I can just memorize that myself.
I need to choose a field where the knowledge and results often don't align, requiring countless practice sessions.
I pushed the history books aside and laid out the magic books.
'Introduction to Basic Magic.'
Of course, this is useless.
I can study the basics on my own.
'50 Practical Combat Spells.'
This is a bit intriguing.
But I can find a better option. I can learn these in school anyway.
I piled all the books on one corner of the desk and moved to the bookshelf where the magic books were.
'Change Your Life with This Knowledge – Easy Study of Practical Magic Pharmacy.'
Even if I know it, my life likely won't change.
'Absolutely Forbidden Cursed Arts.'
Considering the rumors that I'm involved with a cult drinking human blood, there's no need to reinforce that.
And since this passed the imperial censorship and is in this mansion, it's unlikely to be proper cursed arts. Probably just a cultured book.
'Let's think for a moment.'
I can learn regular magic on my own.
I need to choose something that is difficult for me to master, requiring significant time, effort, and opportunity costs.
Then there's only one answer.
I immediately moved to another section.
After searching through the books, I finally found a useful one.
'Study of Divine Power as Authority.'
It detailed special magic using divine power.
Divine power is processed magical energy, fundamentally similar to magical power.
However, since it's processed magical power, users proficient in divine power can handle both divine and magical power, but those who use only magical power struggle with divine power.
'Though divine power is mainly needed by clergy…'
Now, I need it too.
Especially for this.
My eyes were drawn to the mind-control magic in the table of contents.
I needed to learn how to control people's minds to keep them silent for any potential issues.
This magic places a significant strain on the caster's stamina and mental strength and has many restrictions, so even if I learned it, I couldn't use it on my brother….
'But I can delay any news of my changes from reaching my brother's ears.'
*In short, I can expand my range of actions.*
More importantly, mastering divine power allows me to learn not only mind control but also various special magics derived from divine power.