The Tower Master placed her hand over Ethan’s head and examined his mana.

After a long pause, the Tower Master tilted her head.

“That’s strange. Really strange.”

The Tower Master stared at Ethan intently, speaking quickly.

“Normally, when mana and divine energy meet, they cancel each other out. Of course, they don’t react one-to-one, and priests can still use their mana, but in your case, Ethan, it’s not like that at all. There’s no divine energy at all.”

“Huh? Then…”

“Really, it’s strange. You can’t even perform basic mana manipulation. It’s almost as if…”

Ethan let out a sigh, as if he had expected this.

And quietly spoke.

“I figured as much.”

His shoulders slumped.

“I’m the idiot who can’t even store mana in a seal, the son my father gave up on a long time ago. I knew this was going to be the result.”

Ah.

That explained why Uncle Pellide seemed so disinterested in Ethan.

So, Ethan couldn’t even store mana in a seal.

Something I, a mere apprentice, could naturally do…

If that’s the case, he couldn’t even handle basic duties as the family head.

That’s why Ethan was simply left to rot at the Count’s estate.

Hmm.

In the future timeline I knew, Ethan was undoubtedly going to become a Grand Mage.

But maybe that time hadn’t come yet.

Or perhaps something had changed in the reality I altered, causing a shift in the variables.

“I see.”

I grabbed Ethan’s arm and said casually, as if it wasn’t a big deal.

“…Haha.”

But Ethan laughed quietly and scratched the back of his head.

“Honestly… I had some expectations, ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) so this is a bit disappointing.”

“Huh?”

“Yulian, he’ll be great in time, and Zahid, well, he’s the head of Dyfenril after all… But isn’t it just me who’s the most useless around Rosy?”

“What do you mean by that?”

I kicked Ethan’s leg with my foot and glared at him.

“You’re Ethan. Don’t say nonsense like that. Now let’s go home. We’ll be hungry by the time we get back to the Count’s estate, how about we grab some late-night snacks?”

That was my sincere thought.

Well, it would be nice if Ethan became a Grand Mage and helped the Noart Count Family stand against the Temple when the time came.

But even so, Ethan was Ethan.

Yulian hadn’t taken me out of the Temple because he wanted something.

In fact, he didn’t expect anything from me.

That’s how I learned to deal with people, by observing Yulian.

Originally, the Tower Master had come to see if Ethan could find his talent early, thinking it might make him happier.

She didn’t have any fixed goal to force him to awaken as a Grand Mage.

“We can just talk about what we’re going to eat as we walk.”

I chatted casually.

“I grew up so lonely, so for me, having Ethan to share late-night snacks with is enough to make you a valuable cousin.”

When I smiled brightly, Ethan dropped his head.

Tears welled up in his eyes.

“…That’s something even my father never said.”

“Well, that’s because your father’s trash.”

Just then.

“Sorry to interrupt this touching moment, but could I say one more thing?”

The Tower Master intervened. I nodded, signaling it was okay, and she leaned forward to continue.

“Ethan doesn’t actually lack mana. The flow just isn’t smooth. It’s like something is blocking it. Usually, in cases like this, children often die before they turn three…”

The Tower Master smiled slightly as she looked at Ethan.

“If you don’t mind, would you like to stay at the Tower for a few days? The Tower has a lot of pure energy that’s beneficial for mana. If you stay here, we might be able to figure out why the flow is blocked.”

Ethan’s face lit up with hope instantly.

“And the fact that you’re still alive despite this blockage… if we can solve this, you might become an incredible magician.”

Ah, I see.

I realized on my own and silently marveled.

Ethan needed time at the Tower.

Before regression, Ethan had become a Grand Mage while working as a janitor at the Magic Tower. There seemed to have been a reason behind that.

“As a fellow mage, I’m really curious about your case, Ethan. So, I’d love it if you stayed here for a few days.”

That solves everything!

“Wow, Ethan! This is great!”

When I looked at Ethan with joy, he fiddled with his fingers, sighed, and answered.

“Sorry, but… I think I should just go to the Count’s estate.”

“Huh?”

The boy who had once wanted to become a magician was now shaking his head, smiling foolishly.

I blinked in confusion, and the Tower Master cried out desperately.

“Why though? What’s wrong with staying here for a few days? Don’t you like staying in one place? That’s strange… a magician wouldn’t say that…”

“That’s not it. I’m fine as long as there’s a magic book. I can live in the Tower without moving, for the rest of my life.”

“Right! Of course, that’s what a magician would say! So, you think the flashy nouveau riche Noart Count’s estate is better? That’s just because you don’t know what the Magic Tower is like!”

The Tower Master shouted desperately as she grabbed Ethan.

“The Tower is way bigger than it looks from the outside. Each floor is about the size of a village! That’s why most mages spend their whole lives there without ever stepping foot outside!”

“Oh, but that’s not it. It’s not about that…”

Ethan responded awkwardly.

“I need to eat late-night snacks with Rosy… and sit next to her at breakfast too, so… staying in the Tower is a bit…”

I couldn’t help but laugh out loud, shaking my head.

“What nonsense are you talking about right now? Are you crazy?”

“Ha, but Rosy? I’m sure just having a cousin who eats late-night snacks with me is enough…”

I grabbed Ethan’s hand tightly.

“Huh? What are you talking about, Ethan?”

I looked him straight in the eyes and said firmly.

“I think late-night snacks with a Grand Mage cousin would taste amazing.”

“…Ha, but Rosy promised to be my daily routine…”

“Being the daily routine for a Grand Mage would be even better.”

“…”

“I’d recommend staying close to the Tower, even if it means being a janitor.”

“…”

****

In the end, the three of us set off, but inside the carriage headed back to the Noart Count’s estate, I was the only one inside.

Shulva had gone to his new job, and Ethan had stayed at the Tower.

“If I really become a magician… maybe I could help Rosy, right?”

Ethan said that as we were parting.

“Well… if I can find a way to fix that fear of narrow, dark places… magic can make many things possible.”

In fact, Ethan wasn’t just going to be a magician; he was going to be a Grand Mage.

Still, I was thankful for his thoughts and simply nodded in acknowledgment.

“Well… hmm, don’t you want anything else, future Grand Mage?”

“Of course I do.”

“…You answered so quickly…”

“Stay in Noart, Ethan.”

“Huh?”

“That’s what I wish for.”

“…”

“No matter how much you become a Grand Mage, I want you to stay as Ethan Noart and never abandon the estate. I want you to keep being my cousin. That’s what I wish for.”

Originally, Ethan had planned to abandon the Noart name.

And when the Noart Count’s estate fell, he wouldn’t even flinch.

When I said that, Ethan awkwardly pushed up his glasses.

“…What kind of request is that? Who wants to abandon their own family name? Especially Noart’s…”

“…”

“I haven’t really done much for the family, but still, the wealth and power of the Noart Count’s estate are impressive. I know it’s not something just anyone can be born into.”

Ethan spoke with a slightly lonely look in his eyes.

“Actually, I’m grateful for you saying that. I’ve been waiting for someone to say that to me in the Noart estate for a very long time.”

At that moment, I couldn’t say anything because I could feel the sincerity in Ethan’s words.

Ethan wanted to be part of the Noart family.

How much must he have hated the estate to end up abandoning even his family name?

‘Originally, Ethan was supposed to leave the estate at fifteen…’

I thought about the future before regression and looked out the window.

‘After Grandpa passed away, it must have gotten even harder to live there.’

Before the year ended, Grandpa would start getting sick, and soon after, he would pass away.

‘Although I only heard this from Zahid before regression, I don’t know the exact date…’

Ethan had never been particularly loved, but he was the direct heir and had received a certain amount of respect in the Count’s estate.

For him to end up as a janitor at the Magic Tower…

I could guess how terrible the Noart estate had been, and my heart felt heavy.

Just then.

The carriage headed for the Noart Count’s estate suddenly stopped.

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