This Eroge Won't Make Me Fall!

A ball of water was currently floating in front of my eyes. It stretched and contracted, slowly breaking off into smaller fragments of different shapes as I tried to focus on not focusing on the water magic.

After being left alone in the room assigned to me, I went for a light workout session before switching to some mana control training. I was to meet with the Marquis much earlier, but due to the Mirxa guest coming in, it was pushed aside for now.

I wasn't worried about facing them anymore. I was prepared for most of whatever they could throw at me. Now I was just left with the real deal itself.

I yawned out of boredom, and one of the cubes of magic lost its shape and turned into a sphere.

"Tsk. Is holding up ninety-four mana threads that tough?!"

With a snap of my finger, the water moved to the bathroom inside my room and splashed away. It was just ninety-four tiny little shapes to bother with, why was I fucking it up so bad? Yujin used to be able to handle more than three hundred of them at once.

I sighed and blinked as another blob of water appeared before breaking off into many little shapes. It wasn't that I was weaker than I was as Yujin.

Though I had lost precious six years as a child here, my overall growth was almost the same if not better than what I was like as Yujin. Not only was I making great progress at compressing my Mana core into an Aether core, but I was also on the brink of making a breakthrough from Aura Ki to Projectile Ki.

As per Keith, the Ki alone put me in a higher spot than pretty much all noble children in the kingdom and most of the continent. I had also increased my casting speed vastly and could use apprentice-level magic with many different attributes and properties without needing a magic circle.

I was a jack-of-all-trades on the path of a master of all, unlike when I was Yujin and was a master of all trades on the path of a grandmaster. Hah.

My mind suddenly came up with a crazy good idea. I could stick all these blobs of water close to me and move around while moving them at the same time. It might seem easy at first glance, but with how different each muscle moved, I could exploit it well.

I quickly stuck all the water to myself and walked around. I did a few (hundred) push-ups, and squats, then I jumped on the bed. It was easy to manage when I was focused on it.

Now, to stop focusing on it.

I walked up to the door of my room and pulled it open.

Standing outside was the butler who was introduced as Bartholomew's second in command. He was going to temporarily attend to me. I hoped it was him since I had no way to verify it.

"Hey," I called out.

"Yes, my lord?" He answered.

"I want to walk in the garden, is that possible?"

The butler flinched. He looked at me with a strange gaze and nodded.

"It is possible, you—I mean, my lord. Please follow me."

I nodded and stepped out of my room. Before I left, though, the butler tilted his head at me.

"My lord, you will be going out like this? Might I suggest you put on a coat? It is rather cold outside."

Weirdo.

"Sure," I said, not in the mood to engage with this weirdo at all.

I went back in and came out with the same black coat over my white clothes before following the butler down the stairs to the courtyard. We moved over another of the grass paths as the scenery around slowly started to change.

Large trees filled my vision alongside rows after rows of the most exquisite of flowers in well-trimmed bushes. The butler stopped at the entrance of the garden and gave me a bow.

"Please find me here if you need me, my lord."

I nodded at him and walked inside the garden. Just as I stepped in, an enchanting breeze hit me, carrying the rich and lush scent of the flowers with it.

This place was magically enhanced.

I enjoyed the fresh breeze with the chirps of the birds as I walked on the path through the garden. The garden itself was arranged like a maze with only the path below my feet leading me to different sections inside while bushes and trees blocked my path.

As I went on, I stumbled upon a small field full of flowers of the same kind. The gorgeous petals that reminded me of a hyacinth and a rose at once swayed in the gentle breeze, their movements enchanting me.

Red, green, yellow, white, blue, and black, many of the flowers shared different colors forming a cascade that looked prettier than most jewels. I, though, had my gaze completely snatched by the one present in the least number.

At the edge of the flower bed was the most beautiful purple I had ever seen in my life.

Unknowingly, my lips curled up into a smile.

It was then, a few short whispers filled my ears.

I slowly turned to my side to see a group of people looking back at me.

There were two people, one man and a young girl next to him, while two more were behind them maintaining a short distance. Seeing as they were inside the garden and wore quite varied clothes, they must be guests of the castle too. Since I didn't know them, I thought I should give them a light smile and a nod.

The smile was still natural on my face, and I wasn't ready to wipe it away, so I nodded and ignored the group staring at me before turning back to the purple flower.

"Haah?" I heard an exasperated sigh from the sides, the words would have never registered in my ears like another's voice were it not for what followed. "Did that brat just ignore his father?"

Wow, what a rude kid.

What kind of kid ignores their father?

That person must have a lot of trouble with his child. I wasn't a father, but I was also not someone who couldn't feel empathetic.

"Hey, Eugene. Come here."

My ears perked.

I narrowed my gaze and turned to my side, only to see the regal young man beckoning me over with his hands.

Did he just mention a kid ignoring their father?

I was a kid, as much as I hated to admit it.

And I did just, kinda, ignored someone.

Just for good measure, I looked behind me on both sides. There was no one else.

Fuck.

That person was my father.