My daily routine for a while now has been to look at the list that my father gave me of people of my generation who have magical qualities.
It was created by the Magic Association, and it can be said that this list is almost exactly the list of people who enter the Royal Academy of Magic.
However, there are exceptions. The name of the game heroine is not listed here. She is an unusual mid-term transfer, and her magical qualities are probably not recognized by those around her at this point.
Some of the names on the list are circled. This is a selection of children of famous aristocrats such as the Five Dukes and their branch families.
My selection was based on my prediction that people of high status would be more likely to become capture characters. I put a double circle around people who seemed to have particularly high potential.
However, there is no decisive hit.
(If anything, I would like people to learn from the Japanese people who take group photos…)
I remembered Wolfgang from the game when I heard his full name and saw his portrait. However, my father, who listened to my request and obtained the list after I said ‘I want to know a little about my fellow students at magic school.’ Would surely be disappointed if I also said ‘I also want portraits of each of them.
In fact, as a practical matter, it’s almost impossible. Even if photography were to be as popular as it is in modern Japan.
By the way, the name ‘Shade’ is not on this list.
There is no Shade of forms of it here, including the name that might be called as a nickname.
I’ve learned that it’s scary to fall behind, so I’m trying my best to stay afloat. But little progress has been made.
I’ve gone through the list so many times that every name has become familiar to me, so all I can to do is rely on inspiration.
(Since they are game capture characters, they must have a good face in common.)
Is it possible to obtain full-body portraits of boys who are known for their good looks? The number should absolutely be much smaller. The moment I ask for this favor, my father’s trust in me would fall to the ground, but I can’t change my heart. If there’s a chance of success, I’d give it a try…
As is to interrupt my half-hearted thoughts, grandma came to tell me that lunch was ready.
“…My father is coming today, right?”
“Yes. They’re waiting for you.”
“Does he have guests?”
There’s a pause.
“Yes, it’s a relative of yours. He’s the madam’s younger brother. Do you remember him?”
“Uncle Narcissus. I didn’t know he was coming today.”
“Yes. It’s an urgent matter. There is something he would like to discuss with the master.”
Is it a good thing or a bad thing that I’m disappointed? I rarely have a meal with other people.
“Hello Uncle. It’s been a long time. I’m Lycoris.”
After saying that, I bowed a little like a lady. There was a pause, and then my uncle looked surprised, as if he finally understood. He’s a bit dull.
“Lycoris! No, children change quickly before you know it. You’re starting to look a lot like my older sister.”
When people say that I look like my mother, I actually have a hard time answering. After all, she is someone I only know through her pictures.
“How are Krinum and my aunt doing?”
Krinum is a cousin who is one year older. Although we had exchanged letters, it has been quite some time since we actually met.
“Oh. Yeah. They’re fine. But Lycoris. How old are you?”
“I’m ten years old.”
“I see. And yet, you look quite mature. I guess that’s what children these days are like. That child is also a year younger than you, but he’s quite…”
“Narcissus.”
My father interrupted my uncle’s monologue.
I was surprised because his voice was a bit hard, which is unusual for my father.
“Let’s talk about that later, I don’t want to talk about it when Lycoris is around.”
“No, no. It’s okay, Kafir. It will be known someday anyway. I don’t care.”
Kafir is my father’s name. No one calls him by that name in this house so it’s a bit new.
Anyway, my father probably meant that he didn’t want me to hear ‘that story’. My uncle has always misunderstood things like that.
I decided to take advantage of that misunderstanding and satisfy my curiosity.
“Uncle. Who do you mean by ‘that child’? I think Krinum is one year older than me.”
“Ah. It’s not about Krinum, it’s about another cousin of yours. He’s the one I conceived outside…”
I was told something so unexpected that I immediately looked at my father.
My father probably already knew about the situation. He smiled at me, looking a little embarrassed.
“I recently took the child home. It’s a boy. His name is Shade.”
——————Eh?