......

  ......

  Crackle!

  Sparks flew from the burning firewood in the fireplace, fizzling out into ash before they could reach the floor.

  Hulim Heyerar had been staring at the flames for days on end.

  “Where exactly are the fire elements?”

  “Mother said the concentration of elements varies with the environment. This should be the place with the most fire elements... so why can’t I see them?”

  Just as Hulim knelt motionless before the fireplace,

  Armen approached hesitantly from behind her.

  “Uh... hey, Hulim,”

  “What is it, Brother Armen?”

  Hulim turned to look at him, her eyes still fixed on the flames.

  “It’s just... y’know, could you maybe not use the fireplace in this weather? It’s so hot. Seriously, it’s sweltering in here!”

  Thud!

  At that very moment, a massive fist landed squarely on Armen’s head.

  “Ow! That hurts!”

  Armen clutched his head, collapsing to the floor with a groan.

  Behind him stood Rezelian Heyerar, his fist clenched and his expression fierce.

  “What was that for, Dad?!”

  “For complaining, that’s what! I didn’t say a word, and you’re over here grumbling like a kid!”

  “Hulim’s being so diligent, trying to learn magic—and here you are, not setting a good example at all! Instead, you’re just being a nuisance!”

  “Huh? When did I not set a good example?!”

  Armen looked utterly wronged, then muttered under his breath,

  “Besides, it’s totally normal for a beginner to take half a year just to get the hang of magic! She should take it slow—what’s the rush, anyway? It’s not like rushing will help......”

  “Huh?!”

  Armen’s words struck Hulim like a bolt of lightning, jolting her to the core.

  Half a year... just to get started?

  For a moment, Hulim felt her head spin. The image of Semiris Pan Gine rolling around laughing by the lake popped unbidden into her mind.

  She’d been tricked...

  Hulim realized with a sinking heart that Semiris had definitely known how hard it was to learn magic, and how long it took. She’d been making a fool of her the whole time!

  Seeing the stricken look on Hulim’s face, Rezelian shot Armen a glare so sharp it could cut glass.

  “Shut your trap, you brat!”

  Then he turned to Hulim, softening his tone as much as he could.

  “Don’t pay any attention to him, Hulim. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about! Speaking of fireplaces—oh, right! I’ve been craving grilled meat lately. Guess what someone sent us today?”

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  “It’s a huge slab of Holbiwiro steak!”

  “Really?!”

  Armen perked up instantly, the pain in his head forgotten.

  Even Hulim’s attention was momentarily diverted by the mention of delicious food, her worries about magic fading into the background.

  ......

  In the courtyard.

  Laurent the butler had already set up a wooden picnic table.

  Hulim sat around it with her family, the warm sun shining down on them.

  Next to the table stood a basin of glowing charcoal, with a grill balanced on top. Slices of Holbiwiro steak sizzled on the grill, their surfaces turning a golden brown. Fat dripped from the meat, hitting the charcoal with a sizzle and releasing an irresistible aroma that filled the entire courtyard.

  “Dinner’s ready!”

  It wasn’t long before Jessica placed the first batch of grilled steak on the table.

  Lilia immediately divided the meat onto the plates in front of everyone.

  “Hehe, dig in~!”

  Rezelian laughed heartily,

  “The village ranch on our fief did amazing this year! We’ve got plenty of steak to go around today!”

  The Heyerar family currently held three village fiefs. One village specialized in growing fruits, which were made into wine each year, bringing in a steady income. Another village grew ordinary grain crops, supplying the Heyerars with fresh produce annually.

  But the third village was the true backbone of the family’s wealth.

  This village boasted vast pastures where countless Holbiwiro were raised—gentle herbivorous creatures, and one of the main sources of meat for people’s daily lives.

  Selling Holbiwiro meat and livestock brought the Heyerar family a substantial income every year. It was this that allowed them to maintain the bare minimum of a noble’s lifestyle, despite their meager holdings of just three villages.

  Once, the family’s founder—Olubert Heyerar, a Paladin of the Realm who had been granted the Hereditary Honorary Knight Title—had held fiefs comparable to those of a Count. But sadly, in this world, it was never easy for nobles to hold onto what they had.

  Unlike the mighty Olubert, who had stood at the very peak of Rank A strength, his descendants had never possessed such talent. Over the Heyerar family’s three-hundred-year history, only a handful of members had managed to reach a modest Rank B—briefly reviving the family’s fortunes during certain eras. Most had been nothing more than unremarkable Rank C.

  Decades ago, the Heyerar family had been on the verge of losing even their final manor. It was then that the family’s head at the time—Rezelian’s grandfather—had made a bold decision. He had abandoned everything that had become a burden and petitioned the Empire to allow the family to relocate to the Frontier Lands to participate in the colonization efforts.

  History had proven that decision to be the one that saved the Heyerar family from extinction.

  The development of the Mentor Mining District and the subsequent founding of the frontier villages had gone smoothly. For their contributions to the colonization effort, the Heyerar family had been granted a single village as a fief.

  Since then, through the efforts of two generations—Rezelian and his father—the family’s fiefs had grown to three villages.

  Compared to the glory of their founder’s era, it was a pitifully small holding. But it was a chance for rebirth that many noble families—even founding heroes—had never been given, fading into the mists of history without a trace......

  “Wow~!”

  At Rezelian’s words, the Heyerar children erupted into cheers.

  They wasted no time, picking up their knives and forks and diving into the steak on their plates.

  “Delicious~!”

  “This is amazing!”

  “Jessica, your cooking is the best!”

  “Hehe~!”

  Flushed with pride at the compliments, Jessica rubbed her nose, then rolled up her sleeves, her eyes shining with enthusiasm.

  “Of course it is! As the daughter of an innkeeper, cooking is second nature to me! Leave the rest to me—I’ll grill you all the most delicious Holbiwiro steak you’ve ever tasted!”

  Jessica set to work on the next batch of steak with renewed vigor.

  Hulim carefully cut off a small piece of steak and popped it into her mouth.

  “Mmm~!”

  A look of pure bliss spread across her face instantly.

  “So good!”

  “It’s like a party dancing on my tongue! I feel like I’m floating on air!”

  The delicious food swept away all the frustration Hulim had felt earlier, leaving her feeling lighter and more relaxed than she had in days.

  She cut off another piece of steak, savoring the blend of the flames’ lingering warmth and the meat’s tender, juicy texture. Hulim closed her eyes happily, a smile tugging at her lips.

  “It’s... it’s so delicious~! It feels like the whole world is brimming with joy!”

  Her senses flooded with the taste of the steak, Hulim felt as if the world around her had transformed—brighter, more vibrant, alive with energy. Even the flames in the charcoal basin seemed to leap higher, their red glow dancing and swirling...... dancing?

  “......”

  Hulim’s eyes snapped open, her gaze fixed on the charcoal basin. She rubbed her eyes hard, blinking repeatedly.

  Then, finally, she saw it.

  Hulim Heyerar had beheld the true form of Mana Essence.