Chapter 4: Brisley Royal Academy
"Pack all of this for me."
Boao, upon hearing this, was struck with disbelief, even questioning whether he had misheard.
"Young Master Rien, what did you just say?"
Rien repeated himself with calm composure.
"Pack all five of these cabinets for me."
Boao's eyes widened, staring at Rien's smiling face, which, to him, now appeared almost demonic. He then turned to Pantheon, whose expression mirrored his own shock, silently hoping for a solution.
Pantheon, sensing Boao's anxious gaze, quickly suppressed his surprise and, with some confusion, addressed Rien.
"Young Master Rien, may I ask… why do you need so many treasures?"
"To use them, of course. Otherwise, I could always sell them."
Pantheon, flustered, didn't know how to respond. After all, Rien was one of the only two direct heirs of the Stan family. Though it was impossible to take everything, much of it could indeed be taken. But given Rien's unpredictable nature, Pantheon felt uneasy.
He would have to consult the family head, but the head was en route to the royal palace, making him difficult to reach.
After a brief pause, Pantheon decided on a compromise. Noticing Rien's recent promotion to a First-tier Mage, he contemplated for a moment before speaking.
"Young Master Rien, to take everything, I would need the head's authorization, which I do not currently possess. However, I can certainly take charge of gathering the treasures that are useful to you at this time."
Rien didn't object. After all, taking everything was indeed difficult. His initial suggestion had been made in the heat of the moment. He gave a small nod to indicate his approval.
"Fine."
Pantheon, relieved that Rien did not erupt in anger, sighed quietly. It seemed that Rien was in a good mood today. Otherwise, in the past, Rien would have surely left disappointed and furious.
Pantheon gestured to Boao, who nodded in understanding and went to find other staff members to gather the items that Rien could currently use.
Watching the staff begin their work, Pantheon led Rien back to his room.
Once inside, Pantheon excused himself, and Rien resumed perusing his magical books.
Although his rank had recently risen to that of a First-tier Junior Mage after his insight into the Abyss, his magical ability was still lacking. His previous incarnation's laziness had left him with little combat magic to wield.
Thus, Rien now desperately needed time to hone his skills.
After about an hour, the warehouse staff arrived, bringing a pile of treasures to Rien's room. Rien calmly stored them all in his magic ring.
Stretching his shoulders, Rien called out to the door.
"Roland."
Moments later, a maid, who Rien had never seen before, entered, speaking hesitantly.
"Y-Young Master Rien, Roland has taken the day off. She will return tomorrow."
Rien nodded. "What's your name?"
"You may call me Mave, Young Master."
"Alright, Mave, come give me a shoulder massage," Rien said, lying back on the soft bed.
Mave, slightly nervous, kicked off her shoes and climbed onto the bed to begin massaging Rien's shoulders. Her touch was gentle, neither too strong nor too light, providing Rien with great comfort. As he relaxed, his gaze wandered to her fiery red hair.
"Mave, where are you from? Your hair is beautiful."
Mave, initially tense, gradually relaxed as she worked, thinking to herself that Young Master Rien didn't seem as cruel as the rumors suggested.
At his question, she quickly replied, "Young Master, I'm from the capital. My hair is naturally red. I'm glad you like it."
Rien, amused, mischievously pinched Mave's soft, slightly plump thigh.
"Ah!"
Mave gasped, her face turning crimson as she glanced down at his hand.
Young Master Rien... you're quite naughty.
But despite her flustered response, Mave couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. As a maid, it was the greatest honor to be noticed by Rien.
However, Rien only teased a bit, not taking further action. He still preferred someone a little more mature.
The hour passed in playful teasing, and Mave's gaze softened as she found herself developing feelings for Rien. She even began to act more coquettishly, as if challenging the rumors of his ruthlessness.
But Rien remained indifferent, and Mave eventually left the room with a small pout.
Now fully relaxed, Rien picked up a magical book and resumed reading. When he grew tired, he took out some of the treasures for meditation.
The treasures delivered at noon numbered fifty-three, most of them first-tier artifacts.
Rien gave half of them to the ancient book, keeping the other half for himself. The fifteen items he absorbed provided him with 487 points of "Source Energy."
As Rien flipped through the ancient book, time flowed like a river, and the setting sun greeted him once more.
The insight gained from the ancient book allowed him to finish reading through the small pile of magical texts, resulting in a comprehensive improvement in his magical skills—fire magic, lightning magic, ice magic, and even healing magic.
Stretching lazily, he rubbed his temples and stood from the desk.
The day of study and insight had drained him mentally. He didn't call Mave to assist him with washing up; instead, he simply turned off the lights and collapsed onto the bed, quickly falling into a deep sleep.
The Next Morning
Rien was stirred from his sleep by Roland's clear voice.
"Young Master, it's time to wake up, or you'll be late."
Rien opened his bleary eyes and, with some confusion, looked at Roland.
"Late? Late for what?"
"Your father lifted your house arrest last night. You need to go to the academy today."
Rien, still drained from yesterday's mental exertion, sluggishly allowed Roland to help him dress in his academy attire. Then, Roland hurriedly wheeled in a food cart.
Gradually, Rien regained his bearings and hastily ate his breakfast. He grabbed Roland's cheeks playfully, causing her to squeal, before heading downstairs to the carriage that would take him to Brisley Royal Academy.
Brisley Royal Academy
True to its name, Brisley Royal Academy was a prestigious institution where only the children of the wealthiest or most noble families were permitted to study.
While commoners did attend, it was no surprise that every commoner student had a noble patron supporting them.
In short, Brisley Royal Academy was a true aristocratic academy, founded at the beginning of the empire's rise.
The carriage, drawn by a unicorn from the Elven Forest, rumbled down the road, bearing the distinctive lion crest of the Stan family. Other carriages nearby slowed to make way.
As a marquis family, the Stan family held considerable influence, making lesser noble families avoid confrontation.
Upon arriving at the academy, the coachman set a small stool at the door, knocked, and announced, "Young Master Rien, we have arrived."
Hearing the call, Rien stepped out of the carriage, taking in the imposing gates of the academy and the procession of students—sons and daughters of nobles—disembarking from their luxurious carriages.
For a moment, Rien felt as though he had returned to his student days.
As he entered the gates, he observed the academy, which occupied one-fifth of the capital's total area. The campus boasted lecture halls, libraries, duel arenas, wizard towers, and many other buildings.
"Rien, you foolish layabout, how dare you confess to Sophia?"
Rien turned toward the voice.
It was Damon Mick, a First-tier Intermediate Warrior, and one of Sophia's most fervent admirers.
The Mick family had long been allied with the Westia family through marriage, and Damon was among the most talented in his family. He was also one of the few with a real chance of marrying Sophia.
Already provoked early in the morning, Rien's mood soured. He raised his middle finger and coldly replied, "Shrimp."
Without another word, he turned and walked toward the wizard tower.
Though Damon didn't fully understand Rien's gesture, he felt it was far from friendly.
Frustrated by Rien's disregard, Damon's face darkened as he withdrew his sword and pointed it at Rien.
"Rien Stan, I, Damon Mick, challenge you to a duel in the name of a warrior!"