The main residence of the Frenzel family was remarkably similar to their secondary residence located in the royal capital, Yeluvia. Whether it was the layout or the decor, there wasn't much of a difference between the two; the only distinction was that the former was larger, appearing more luxurious.
The main residence also boasted a vast courtyard, complete with two pavilions and much more upscale landscaping compared to the secondary residence.
There were three fountains in this residence, rumored to be custom-made using magic-related technology. Even during the snowy half of the year, they never freeze over, continuously spouting water with a constant flow.
After spending about an hour in his assigned room, Riezel couldn't resist and made his way to the courtyard.
Along the way, he encountered many maids, servants, and guards, even several knights. Each of them respectfully bowed to him, displaying better manners than those in the second residence in the royal capital.
However, to Riezel, this wasn't just a matter of distance; it was an excessive display of formality.
'Did Yuri grow up in this kind of place?'
He couldn't help but think he had discovered the reason behind Yuri's peculiar personality. Living in a place like this year-round would undoubtedly make one feel suffocated.
He had never been to the Frenzel family's main residence and didn't know what it was like here before, but now that he was here, the atmosphere in this place was undeniably heavy and solemn.
'Formerly fallen noble, huh...?'
Thinking back on the history of the Frenzel family, Riezel shook his head and headed toward a pavilion.
He wasn't here to practice swordsmanship.
Although he hadn't trained with his sword during the three days on the ship or the day traveling from the royal capital to Trantia, totaling four days, he couldn't help but feel a bit itchy. But right now, instead of focusing on swordsmanship, he wanted to focus on his magic.
Of course, Riezel still brought his wooden sword, leaning it against the side. If things went smoothly later, he planned to practice with it again.
"Decompose."
Riezel muttered as he raised one of his hands.
Soon, a crimson vortex emanated from his palm, causing the surrounding air to tremble and convulse. He gazed at the crimson vortex in his palm for a moment before suddenly directing it off to the side.
*BOOM!*
As the crimson vortex surged forth like a flash, it unexpectedly slipped from his hand, crashing onto a nearby rock and blasting it into a cloud of smoke.
'Sure enough, decomposition magic can still work from a distance. My hunch was right.' Riezel sighed with relief.
The ability to launch distant attacks would directly determine the practicality and versatility of decomposition magic. If it couldn't be cast from a distance and required physical contact to take effect, its utility would be greatly diminished.
However, there was no need to worry now.
'Just as Yuri said, as one delves deeper into the study of decomposition magic, its versatility becomes exceptionally high. It can not only be used for long-range attacks but also various aspects...'
Riezel remarked inwardly, and once again, unleashed decomposition magic, creating a crimson vortex.
However, this time, he didn't raise his hand, nor did he concentrate the magic in his palm. Instead, he released it from his entire body.
Instead of a crimson vortex, this resulted in crimson waves enveloping his entire body, giving him the appearance of being engulfed in flames. Crimson waves, resembling tongues of fire, danced around his body, creating an impressive and magnificent spectacle.
Unfortunately, such a spectacle came with a price.
*Crack!* *Rumble!* *Rumble!*
After a while, successive rumbling sounds rang out.
These sounds emanated both from his body, shrouded in decomposition magic, and from beneath his feet. Soon, his clothes began to tear and disintegrate, followed shortly by the ground under his feet, which dissolved and disappeared.
"Crap!"
Riezel hurriedly ceased the use of decomposition magic, preventing further disaster. Looking at his now-tattered clothes and the two connecting craters beneath his feet, he felt a sense of guilt.
Fortunately, he had deliberately restrained himself from exerting too much power; otherwise, he might have gone naked, and there would have been more than just two small craters on the ground.
Since decomposition magic didn't affect the user, Riezel had been careless, thinking that experimenting a little wouldn't hurt, which resulted in his current sorry state.
If it was him in the past, he would need to sneak back to his room to change clothes, apologize to Yuri, and ask her to send someone to repair the ground.
But now? Not anymore.
Riezel placed a hand on his body, recalling the original appearance of his clothes in his mind before using a certain magic.
The next moment, with a flash of light, his tattered clothes miraculously repaired themselves.
This was a structure system magic he had learned from Yuri, capable of creating clothes. First, he used magic to create fabric, then he modified it midway to shape it into clothes.
Finished with his clothes, Riezel pressed a hand onto the floor and activated another kind of structure system magic.
This magic was used to create stone materials, following the same principle as before, creating them halfway and then shaping them according to the impression in his mind, thus producing stones of different shapes and sizes.
As a result, the ground was also repaired by using magic, restoring it to its original state.
'No wonder Yuri didn't seem to care at all when her mansion was burned down.'
With magic like this existing, wanting to rebuild a mansion would be easy if one disregarded any concerns about the amount of magical energy needed.
'This world is quite interesting...'
Riezel gained a deeper understanding of the magic in this world.
Although the magic in Danmachi was diverse, it was mostly magic closely related to combat and adventure. In there, people never used magic in their daily lives; they only used it in battles and adventures, which seemed impressive.
Nevertheless, he felt that the magic in this main world was on the right path. Regardless of the type of invention or the power of the magic, the ultimate goal was convenience, enabling people to do more things more easily.
This world's magic had already shown a tendency to be integrated into daily life. With such development, a civilization with advanced magic technology was bound to emerge in the future.
'So, what's next...'
After Riezel repaired his clothes and the ground, he turned around, ready to continue studying the application of decomposition magic, when suddenly—
"Are you the man Elder Sister brought back?"
A very unfriendly voice suddenly interrupted Riezel, breaking his train of thought.
Riezel frowned, turning back to look at the source of the voice, but upon looking, he saw nothing.
"Where are you looking?! Down here!"
The unfriendly voice began to show irritation, directing Riezel's line of sight downward, toward his own feet.
Finally, he saw the voice's source.
It was a little boy.
He was about a meter tall, looking around seven or eight years old, dressed in very luxurious clothes, his face full of pride, resembling a scion of a major noble family.
"...And who might you be?" Riezel was taken aback and began to ask.
"Rude!" the boy shouted at him. "When meeting a noble, commoner should bow. Don't you know this common sense?"
"Well, I do..." Riezel blinked his eyes. "But isn't it also common sense to be polite when talking to adults? Don't you even know this?"
"...You have a point."
The boy suddenly realized, immediately straightening up his body. As he was about to bow his head, he suddenly came to his senses, stomping his foot in irritation.
"Wait! You're a commoner! I'm a noble! You should be the one who bows to me, not the other way around!"
"So, who are you then?" Riezel ignored the boy's frustration. "You say you're a noble... Are you from the Frenzel family?"
"That's right!" The boy raised his head proudly. "I am Isaac Frenzel! The fifth son of the Frenzel family!"
Upon Isaac's self-introduction, Riezel remembered the situation at Yuri's family, as she had told him before.
According to her, her grandparents had passed away, while her parents were already separated. Her mother returned to her home and took her elder sister along. It had been about two years since they last visited.
In this generation, there were a total of five children—two sons and three daughters, with Yuri being the third child.
Yuri had an elder brother who was four years older and an elder sister who was two years older. Her elder brother stayed with her father, while her elder sister stayed with her mother.
There were also two younger siblings—a younger sister and a younger brother, with the younger sister being three years younger, now fourteen years old, and the younger brother being eight years younger, now nine years old.
It was quite obvious that the little boy in front of Riezel was the nine-year-old younger brother.
"Fifth son, huh?" Riezel couldn't help but murmur to himself. "So, this boy is the youngest then..."
"Youngest my ass!" Isaac suddenly seemed as if he had been pricked, starting to jump around and shout in anger. "I'm not the youngest!"
"What?" Riezel exclaimed, surprised. "Does your family have more younger siblings?"
"Huh...?" Isaac's voice became hesitant, but he still answered in a roundabout way. "My parents are still young, having two or three more children is definitely not a problem!"
In other words, this Frenzel family's youngest child believed that he had a few 'reserved' younger siblings.
"Hou? Really?" Riezel narrowed his eyes, saying with no hint of politeness. "But aren't your parents separated? Is it even possible for them to have more children?"
"I... No... Ugh..."
Isaac immediately had a constipated expression, wanting to refute but unable to, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
Not long after, tears began to well up in his eyes.
'Bruh, you can't be serious...' Riezel's eye twitched slightly. 'Is this brat about to cry?'
Just as he was thinking like that, Isaac somehow held back his tears.
"You rude guy! How dare you bully me! You leave me no choice! I challenge you to a duel!" Isaac shouted angrily and gritted his teeth.
"..."
His declaration echoed in the silent courtyard for a long time.
Riezel fell silent, while Isaac still had a teeth-gritting appearance.
After a while—
*Thud!*
With a fist knocking on Isaac's head, the so-called duel came to an end.
"I win." Riezel calmly withdrew his fist, his expression tranquil like a still lake.
"Wuaaaa—!!!"
The fifth and youngest child of the Frenzel family finally let out a loud cry.
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Isaac's magnificent crying eventually caused a commotion within the Frenzel family.
Upon hearing the cries, the knights rushed over, each one taken aback to see Isaac holding his head, squatting in front of Riezel, and sobbing uncontrollably.
"Young Master Isaac!"
"Someone attacked Young Master Isaac!"
"Quick! Surround him!"
Without hesitation, the knights drew their swords, encircling Riezel, and assigning a few to protect Isaac.
"Charge!"
The leader of the knights immediately ordered, ready to lead the charge and capture Riezel, but, just as an unnecessary conflict was about to erupt, a sudden voice stopped everyone in their tracks.
"You shall not be rude to my elder sister's guest!"
With that rebuke, all the knights came to a halt.
Riezel also lifted his gaze, looking toward the source of the voice.
Walking briskly from the manor's gate was a figure, a figure of a young girl.
She bore a striking resemblance to Yuri, with bright silver hair cascading down her shoulders, swaying gently as she walked, giving off a sense of standing tall against the wind.
However, unlike Yuri's ever-changing demeanor, sometimes innocent like a child, sometimes cold like a queen, and sometimes elegant and noble like a noble lady, this girl's expression was overly serious, her gaze too stern, giving off an impression of early maturity.
"Young Lady Mediste!"
Seeing the approaching girl, the knights one after another kneeled on one knee.
"El-Elder Sister Mediste?!"
Isaac, who had been crying heavily, abruptly stifled his tears, as if he had seen something terrifying.
The girl, known as Mediste, reached Isaac and showed a severe look.
"Isaac, what trouble are you causing now?" Mediste asked with a severe tone.
"I-I'm not causing trouble!" Isaac shook his head like a tambourine, then pointed at Riezel, complaining and arguing. "It's all because of him—"
Before he could finish his sentence, however, she slapped his hand away from pointing at Riezel.
"I don't recall teaching you to point at guests." Mediste glared at her younger brother. "It seems you need to retake some etiquette classes, Isaac. Make sure to free up some time tonight."
"No, please, Elder Sister Mediste!" Isaac cried out loudly, tears streaming down his face once again.
"A man isn't allowed to cry at the drop of a hat!" Mediste said mercilessly. "Can you still call yourself a member of the Frenzel family by acting like this?! Alright, you must clear the schedule for tomorrow night too!"
Upon hearing that, Isaac rolled his eyes and collapsed to the ground, feigning unconsciousness.
Ignoring her younger brother's playacting, Mediste turned to Riezel and gave a nod of respect.
"Sorry for this inappropriate display."
She spoke with her tone now notably different from before. It wasn't stern or harsh but rather carried a sense of openness and grace. Her manners were impeccable, neither too formal to make Riezel uncomfortable nor too casual.
It was evident that this etiquette was honed through rigorous training, showing her dedication.
"You're Yuri's little sister, right?" Riezel finally spoke, his voice softening a bit as he looked at the seemingly mature young girl.
"Greetings, I'm Mediste Frenzel, the fourth daughter of the Frenzel family." Mediste nodded reservedly. "Our family head, Yuri Frenzel, is my elder sister. And this boy lying here is my younger brother. Sorry for the trouble he's caused you; I'll make sure to give him a strict lesson and make him apologize to you later."
At the mention of a 'strict lesson', Isaac, lying on the ground, couldn't help but twitch involuntarily, followed shortly by trembling, resembling someone trapped in a nightmare.
This made Riezel cast a slightly sympathetic glance at the boy on the ground, but it only lasted a moment before he withdrew it.
Truthfully, this boy was too arrogant.
While it could be attributed to youth and immaturity, displaying such an arrogant demeanor at such a young age made him wonder if this boy might grow up to be a spoiled brat like those Chinese young masters in wuxia novels.
So with that in mind, he decided to 'bully' the boy a bit, perhaps to let him experience some of society's harsh realities and understand its complexities.
However, witnessing Mediste's stern attitude toward Isaac, Riezel realized he might have been worrying unnecessarily. With an elder sister like her, if this boy still managed to become a spoiled brat in the future, he would actually be impressed.
Nodding inwardly at Mediste's stern attitude, Riezel smiled faintly before responding to her apology.
"No need for apologies. Young Master Isaac is right. I'm just a mere commoner, so a noble like him doesn't have to apologize to me. Please, Young Lady Mediste, just educate him properly."
'Then I'd rather apologize!' Isaac, lying on the ground pretending to be dead, roared in his mind.
Unfortunately, Mediste couldn't read her younger brother's mind.
"I will..." Mediste nodded earnestly as if she had taken on a sacred mission. "But please don't call me 'young lady'. You are the guest of the family head, my elder sister. So, please, just call me Mediste."
"Is that okay?" Riezel asked with a raised eyebrow. "I'm just a commoner, y'know?"
"It doesn't matter if you're a commoner or not..." Mediste shook her head. "You are considered a valued guest by my elder sister, and so far, you're the first. In that case, we cannot be disrespectful to you."
Upon hearing that, Riezel understood.
This fourth child of the Frenzel family, Mediste, seemed not only intelligent and attentive to etiquette but also deeply respectful of Yuri.
No, it wasn't just Mediste; Isaac, the youngest child, was the same.
Otherwise, why would Isaac immediately question whether he was a man brought back by his elder sister? Upon closer inspection, his unfriendly tone at that time did indeed carry a hint of jealousy.
Could it be that this boy, out of admiration for his elder sister, imagined that she might be taken away by a bad man, and out of jealousy, came to pick a fight? If that were the case, Riezel couldn't help but think that this boy was much cuter than he had imagined.
But—
"You said I'm the first guest Yuri has ever brought home?" Riezel raised his brows.
"Yes." Mediste confirmed without hesitation. "There have been plenty of guests who came to visit her on their own initiative before, and they've been treated well by her as well. But it's the first time she has brought someone home like this on her own initiative."
As she spoke, Mediste couldn't help but sneak a glance at Riezel.
When she first found out that her elder sister had brought someone home, especially a young man, she was equally surprised. But after the initial shock wore off, she became intensely curious about this man.
What kind of man did his elder sister bring home?
Could he be her future brother-in-law?
If so, that wouldn't be too bad.
After all, this man looked pretty good. Despite being a commoner, he showed no signs of subservience or flattery when facing a noble. He remained calm throughout, even managing to subdue Isaac, who was quite a troublemaker. This kind of composure surely indicated competence.
Since her elder sister said this man was her schoolmate, it meant he was a student at Spriller Academy.
Being able to attend one of the top four academies in the Akasha Continent, suggested he had significant potential as a magician. He might even have the potential to become a Tactical-Class Magician. Once a magician reached this class, they would immediately be recognized by the royal family and become a noble.
Even if he were just a minor noble like a viscount, not comparable to major nobles like the marquis family of Frenzel, given his young age, it wouldn't be difficult for him to earn merit on the battlefield and be promoted to a count later on. Moreover, once he became a count, he would be a genuine major noble, only one rank below a marquis.
With such qualities, he could be considered suitable for her elder sister.
At this moment, Riezel was unaware that he was being analyzed and evaluated by Yuri's younger sister, whom he had just met, with even his future prospects being considered.
If Mediste hadn't concealed her thoughts well, Riezel might have suspected that he was being treated as Yuri's secret boyfriend, being judged and evaluated by her family members.
He simply silently took note of Mediste's words, gaining a deeper understanding of Yuri's oppressive life at home.
Yuri, who seemed to enjoy chatting in front of him like a friendly lady, really seemed to have no friends.
Riezel sighed inwardly, then turned his gaze to Mediste's face.
"In that case, I'll just call you Mediste directly, and you also don't have to use honorifics with me. I don't like that kind of formality."
"Uhh... Okay." Mediste wanted to refuse politely, but seeing his calm gaze, she paused and softly agreed. "Since it's your request, I won't be formal anymore."
She was not only intelligent but also adept at reading people.
Riezel's evaluation of Mediste rose another notch.
Meanwhile, on the ground, the pretended-dead boy was quietly squirming, evidently intending to leave this troublesome situation behind.
"Isaac." Mediste calmly and composedly spoke.
"Yes!" Isaac straightened up instantly, as stiff as a bamboo pole. In his eyes, his elder sister seemed like an executioner.
"Clear your schedule for the night after tomorrow as well, understand?"
"I... understand..."
At this moment, Isaac felt the urge to run away from home.
In the next moment, a maid suddenly appeared and quickly approached the three of them.
"Young Lady Mediste, Young Master Isaac. Master and Young Master Sefaz have returned." The maid informed respectfully while bowing her head.
Unexpectedly, after the maid finished speaking, the somewhat relaxed atmosphere immediately shifted.
Isaac fell silent, while a gloom passed over Mediste's face.
"I understand..." Mediste said with her head lowered. "We'll head over right away."
After saying that, she flashed an apologetic look toward Riezel.
"No need to worry about me, just go ahead." Riezel said, nodding with a gentle smile upon noticing her expression.
Mediste apologized briefly before leading the hesitant Isaac away.
Riezel watched them leave, lost in thought.
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