Chapter 8: Chapter 7: Arrogant Cunt- I Mean, Count!

“I’m late!!!” Alicia shrieked as the sun shone through the open window on a late spring morning. It was the day of her mage examination.

John, being the workaholic dad he was, wasn’t there to wake Alicia up. He had to serve as a guard for the count’s daughter, who would also be attending the mage ceremony.

Alicia dashed through the door, wearing the white robe John had prepared for her the day before. She jogged across the field and into the plaza. The town was bustling with activity since it was the day of the ceremony. Alicia had to snake through the crowd to reach the center of the plaza, joining the other kids who stood in line.

“After seeing how you bragged about being a mage last week, I can't believe you dare be late for the ceremony, Alicia,” Anne muttered mockingly.

“Sorry. I couldn’t sleep last night. Besides, I am not late. The ceremony hadn't started yet.” Alicia huffed while lining up with the others. She really had screwed up. Fortunately, she wasn’t that late—the priest and government official hadn’t arrived yet. About twenty to thirty children were lined up. Since she was late, Alicia had to be the last one.

As the sun rose higher in the sky, a fancy carriage with a royal insignia painted on its side trundled along the paved path to town. The white horse pulling the carriage neighed as it stopped a few meters behind the crowd. The coachman hurriedly disembarked and opened the door while kneeling. Alicia frowned as she saw his nice trousers getting dirtied with dust. Then, two people stepped out of the carriage—one carrying a glass ball, the other holding a large book and a quill pen.

The old priest in a white robe walked onto the stage and up to the pedestal, with the young official in a black uniform following closely behind him.

“Children. Today we are here to test whether you have mana or not. Those chosen by mana will become mages. On their shoulders shall this country rest. If mana chooses you, you shall be honored, and in return, you shall serve,” the priest said.

Alicia almost yawned as she listened. The lazy Alicia, true to her nature, not only lacked intelligence, she also lacked manners.

After a long speech about the importance of mages to society, the official stepped up to the podium while the priest placed the glass ball on the pedestal.

The priest declared, “Let the chosen children of Mana be determined now!”

“May the children of ten years step forward!” the official announced as he opened the book.

One by one, the children came to the glass ball, nervously touching it, hoping something would happen. Nevertheless, the ball stayed silent for all.

“Sorry. You are not the one,” the priest said, motioning for each child to step off the stage.

Tears began rolling down their cheeks as the cruel reality crushed them. They were not chosen.

The chance to become a mage was fair to all, but out of a thousand, only one was chosen.

When it was Anne’s turn, the ball flickered for a moment before its flame went out.

“Sorry. You are not the one,” the priest said.

“B-but the ball did something,” Anne whispered.

“You are a rank two mage. Mana was certainly near you, my child, but they didn't choose you. If you study hard, you may one day light a candle. However, it would be too much of a burden to expect someone below rank three to serve society.”

“The ball lit up for a moment! I am a mage! Papa said if the ball lit up, I am a mage! Why did you say I’m not?” Anne cried.

She touched the ball again, but this time, it didn’t light up. Losing all strength in her legs, she knelt down in despair.

The test would only acknowledge someone as a mage if the ball remained lit for at least a few seconds.

A mere flicker of light did not count—they would have too little mana to be of any real use to society.

Alicia felt her pain.

It was akin to getting a 59 on a national exam and being held back a year because the standard was 60.

While silly Alicia may have been correct—this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—moreover, since it was all boiled down to luck, the pain was even deeper.

The priest then eyed a soldier standing nearby. The soldier swiftly came up to the stage and carried Anne away while consoling her.

“The ball lit up. I swear,” Anne kept repeating.

Such events were the norm.

Level one and two mages had so little mana that they were barely of any use.

Out of a hundred people, one might become level one or two.

They had mana, but it was too little to actually serve society.

Many grieved at the fact that their talents were not acknowledged.

As the solemn ceremony continued, the crowd suddenly parted as a man in a black tuxedo approached with his daughter.

He was the noble ruling this land.

He looked dignified—arrogant, even—a behavior that suited his noble status.

The soldiers motioned for the masses to make way, interrupting the solemn ceremony.

The petite daughter who came with him had blue hair and red eyes that seemed to peer into your soul.

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Alicia glanced at her.

Suddenly, she felt an urge to kill the girl, as if she had just smashed Alicia’s precious laptop.

I wanted to say Alicia wanted to kill her as if she had murdered Alicia's parents—but that wasn’t true.

In reality, Alicia wouldn’t have even cared if her parents had died in her previous life.

She had mostly been left alone, not even close to them.

The immoral Alicia cared more about her gacha characters than her parents, so the analogy didn’t fit.

Alicia blinked—and the feeling vanished.

“Test my daughter and be done with it,” the old man ordered the priest as he came onto the stage.

“Father… you are being impolite,” Elidranthia said, staring at Count Shadowstep in shock.

She looked around and found the villagers’ eyes less than welcoming.

Nevertheless, they still knelt after the soldiers prodded the masses.

“We are nobles, my daughter. We should not mingle with commoners. You, hurry up,” the count ordered the priest as if he were one of his lackeys.

Alicia looked at Count Shadowstep, tilting her head.

This Count Shadowstep was far more arrogant than she remembered.

She had forgotten most of the details—it had been over a year since that arc—but Alicia had read most of the novels, including the chapters involving the conflict in Elidranthia’s home.

Still, she couldn’t recall encountering such an arrogant character.

“As you wish, milord,” the old priest said, then brought the glass ball and knelt before Elidranthia.

The count didn’t expect much—he didn’t think Elidranthia would be a mage.

The chance of being chosen was fair to all, even nobles.

But when Elidranthia touched the glass ball, it emitted a dark golden light.

It gleamed with the rustic bronze hue of old gold coins.

“Ahaha. Amazing. This intensity... hmm... this is bronze, not mere gold or brown. There’s a hint of purple, too. That means your affinity is earth, life, and dark magic.

This intensity—amazing! You are at least a triple-elemental rank six mage. May I know your name, child of Mana?”

The priest bowed deeply and then knelt before her.

Elidranthia was shaken, scanning her surroundings like a startled rabbit.

She hadn’t expected Repeara to give her multiple elemental affinities.

She thought she would only have one.

“I am Elidranthia,” she said, glancing around.

Alicia watched her curiously.

She was just as cute and intimidating as the books had described.

She fidgeted under the mass of staring eyes, clearly self-conscious.

“We shall welcome a new child of Mana—Lady Elidranthia of House Shadowstep,” the priest and the officials said, breaking into hearty applause.

"Hahaha! Our house has finally birthed a mage! This is the first mage in our bloodline—and a level six, no less! We will have a party!" Count Shadowstep was so elated that he forgot his usual arrogant manner and hugged Elidranthia.

In that moment, he no longer looked like an evil businessman, but a loving grandfather.

Remembering where he was, he turned to the masses and proudly raised his daughter before them.

"Hahaha! All of you!

I, Count Shadowstep, am in a good mood.

You do not have to pay any taxes this month!

Moreover, we shall organize a grand party for everyone in the near future! All of you must celebrate! If I find any of you moping, You will be punished! Hahaha! Come home, my child!

I shall give you anything you desire!" Count Shadowstep said, striding proudly toward his home.

Alicia knew she often acted on impulse—but knowing was different from preventing it.

When she saw Elidranthia leaving, she felt she had to do something.

Wasn’t she planning to ask Count Shadowstep to employ her?

What better time than now, when he was in such a good mood?

According to the webnovel, Alicia was supposed to be Elidranthia’s most trusted friend.

(Not really—Alicia was certainly Eli's friend. They were close, but not that close.)

"Wait! Elidranthia! Please let me be your maid!" Alicia shouted.

Alicia was never the smartest kid, but she certainly hit a new low today. Not only did she shout against a count, she didn't even address them with their nobility title.

The joyous mood instantly turned silent.

The masses and Count Shadowstep all turned to look at her.

"Huh? What the hell are you talking about, peasant?

You wish to be my daughter’s maid?

Know your place!

Look at your dirty rags—do you truly think you are worthy of my child, who is both a noble and a mage?" Count Shadowstep spat.

"Count yourself lucky that I am in a good mood, or I would have had your useless head cut off."

"I'm going to be a mage too! Aren't you going to recruit every mage you find?" Alicia said proudly.

"Bah. You, becoming a mage? Ridiculous!

Well… alright, if you really are a mage, then you may serve my daughter.

If you are not, then I shall have your head," Count Shadowstep spat.

Such a ridiculous demand.

To him, the deal was weighted to his favor from the start.

Even if he lost—and Alicia really was a mage—he would have had to recruit her one way or another.

The chance of becoming a mage was one in a thousand; it was unlikely for Shadowstep County to produce another after Eli.

The odds were astronomically low.

"Of course!" Alicia puffed out her growing chest.

She had proven to herself that she was a mage.

She didn’t know how high her ranking would be, but she was sure she had mana.

"Go on, touch the ball then, I shall let my soldiers execute you soon after." the count smirked.

He had already planned how to punish her.

The count wouldn’t actually execute her—this was, after all, a day of celebration—but he had certainly planned to give her a lashing or two.

The pitiful priest offered Alicia the glass ball.

He might have been dressed in a fancy white robe, but alas, he was just an ordinary priest—and so was the official behind him.

The official was merely a scribe from the capital, tasked with recording the names and identities of the mages found within Shadowstep.

None of them were nobles.

Alicia then skipped toward the glass ball.

Now that her employment was secured, she just had to prove herself.

The priest looked at her worriedly, unsure what to do.

He didn’t want the joyous mood of finally finding a mage to turn into a funeral.

Alicia, oblivious to the worried glances of the villagers and priest, simply placed both hands on the ball.

Light exploded outward—the brightest it had ever been.

The brilliance was so intense that the priest couldn’t even tell how many colors there were.

Crack

The ball shattered, losing all its luster at once.

"...You-You broke the mana device!" the count shrieked.

He might have been a count, but his territory was impoverished, and he knew how expensive a magic device was.

"It's not my fault! I just touched it like everyone else!" Alicia defended herself.

"You dare shout against a count? Such impertinence! I will execute you for your insolence! No. I will sell you to a slave trader for destroying an important magic tool!"

"Father, I plead with you to reconsider. She might be rude, but she is a mage. You have to keep your word to employ her as my maid. Priest, she is a mage, right?" Elidranthia said. The priest nodded.

The last thing she wanted was to have people executed for badmouthing her.

She could feel her own neck was on the line—tyranny would only hasten a coup.

"But Elidranthia, my dear, this wench has no manners!"

The count swapped his speech to a polite tone, though he had no qualms about using curse words against Alicia.

"So, Father, are you going to be a noble who breaks his word? Regardless of her attitude, she is a mage—and I don't mind her," Elidranthia said.

She didn’t know Alicia was a reincarnator; all she knew was that Alicia was a mage.

After a few lessons with Brexford and Laura, she understood just how crucial mages were to society.

It was not an exaggeration to say that society revolved around them.

Mages handled water reservoirs, construction work, forges and ovens, and even served as doctors.

Without mages, famine, disease, and environmental collapse would rampage through the land.

No food, no doctors, no engineers.

"Very well. You are wise, my daughter. Thank you for stopping me.

You are right—I should keep my word.

You, bring your parents to the estate tomorrow. We shall discuss your employment," the count huffed away. "You, remind me to tell Laura to teach her some manners!"

Alicia was starting to worry about her future, working under such an arrogant count.

Elidranthia seemed nice, but Alicia also knew—from the books—that Elidranthia had psychopathic tendencies.

Alicia and Elidranthia stared at each other.

A connection seemed to form between them.