Favored by the Family That Will Become the Strongest! - Chapter 58

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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“Is that so?”
Diena’s eyes widened as she laughed. Romie spoke in a sharp tone.
“Don’t you find it amusing when you think about it? Just because someone close to you becomes an Ability User doesn’t make you one, does it? Yet here you are, puffed up with confidence over this…… It’s pathetic.”
Cassian reached out then, grabbing Romie’s arm as if to stop her.
“Romie.”
Even as he shook his head slowly, her face flushed crimson in an instant. She seemed only angrier at his restraint.
“Why? I’m not saying anything wrong, am I?”
Romie wrenched her arm free and glared at Diena. “Now that Bianca’s become an Ability User, she’ll spend time with people suited to her level. Just like Cassian and Dietrich did.”
Cassian’s body visibly stiffened at those words.
“By then, you’ll want to come back to our House too, won’t you? Once you realize that Bianca’s favor—the very thing you believe in so much—is utterly worthless.”
“But most of the world consists of Non-Ability Users. And there are Non-Ability Users who live well, aren’t there?”
Romie let out a mocking laugh at Diena’s words.
“Who? The usual case is they live miserably, unrespected, and die that way. Non-Ability Users naturally rank below Ability Users! It’s always been rare for them to gain recognition. In short, you’re beneath me.”
Romie’s words were true. Non-Ability Users had always been treated as inferior to Ability Users.
The only occasions when they could stand above Ability Users were when they became Grand Mages or High Priests—or when they possessed the ability to create Side-Effect Suppressants that controlled darkness.
Even then, they couldn’t be mediocre. They had to be capable of manufacturing Side-Effect Suppressants usable by Supreme-Level Ability Users to escape ridicule.
That was why Romie, an Ability User openly inferior to Cassian, could carry herself as if she stood above him.
‘Because House Rothwell is close with the Temple that produces Side-Effect Suppressants.’
Later, the reason House Rothwell was regarded as the strongest was precisely that. By ultimately controlling the distribution of Side-Effect Suppressants, they dominated the Five Great Houses.
Diena knew that both her past life and her present Cassian were acutely aware of their gaze.
But that didn’t mean she had any intention of defending Cassian.
Diena admitted it readily.
“You’re absolutely right, Romie. It really is difficult for a Non-Ability User to gain the recognition of an Ability User. There are only a few who manage it.”
At that, Romie looked at Diena with a peculiar expression. She hadn’t expected her to concede.
“Mages and High Priests who lack Abilities but can create Supreme-Level Side-Effect Suppressants seem truly remarkable. Don’t you think? And if they control the distribution besides, well, that’s genuinely worthy of recognition.”
“I suppose that’s fair enough……”
Diena, who had been speaking in hushed tones until then, suddenly raised her voice.
Romie was forced to nod reluctantly. To deny it here would be to curse the High Priests favorable to House Rothwell as well.
Diena laughed softly and continued.
“Yes, remember that sentiment. No matter how much of a Non-Ability User one is, people like that are truly extraordinary—more gifted than a mediocre Intermediate Ability User like you.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“You’ll understand by the time the Ceremony concludes.”
Just then, a trumpet blast signaled the beginning of the Ceremony.
* * *
The Ability Measurement Ceremony had begun. All eyes converged on a single point—the man who had just appeared in the center of the reception hall.
Ardin Lumines.
He wore ceremonial dress embroidered with golden thread marking the Imperial Family. This was the reason he had come to stay with House Cardian.
Every Winter Banquet required the attendance of one member of the Imperial Family, and this season’s guest was Ardin. Sevar had been assigned to escort him by imperial decree.
Ardin raised his goblet and began to speak.
“This winter has been unusually long and harsh. Yet the walls of the Empire have not frozen once. I firmly believe this is thanks to the Ability Users gathered here.”
Ardin paused to collect his breath before continuing.
“However, beyond the Purified Zone, the world still endures a bitter, cutting wind. I would ask that you not forget this is a trial we must overcome one day.”
The atmosphere turned cold as Ardin finished. Several nobles and Temple officials were openly uncomfortable. Discussion of the world beyond the Purified Zone was taboo among the aristocracy.
Ardin disregarded their reactions, slowly meeting the eyes of each prospective Ability User before him. One by one.
And for a fleeting moment, his gaze fell upon Bianca, who stood out with an air distinctly foreign among the young nobles. His lips parted once more.
“For some, this Winter Banquet will be a rite of passage they take for granted. For others, it will be a long-awaited stage of proof.”
Ardin’s hand rested lightly on the hilt of the sword at his waist as he declared, “I hereby proclaim the commencement of the Ability Measurement Ceremony.”
As Ardin’s speech ended, the nobles began stepping forward. Among them, Bianca wore an expression of considerable tension.
Despite her mental preparation, the nervousness persisted. It was likely due to the weight of all those watching eyes upon her.
As Ardin called names, people came forward one by one. The method of judgment was straightforward: a red glow from the Measurement Orb indicated a Non-Ability User; blue indicated an Ability User.
And the brighter the glow, the more powerful the Ability. Most of the participants were nobles, and all were identified as Ability Users.
“Haah, haah.”
Bianca breathed heavily as she watched. It was the moment she had always dreamed of. As it drew near, she couldn’t help but feel the tension mount.
At last.
“Bianca Cardian.”
Finally, it was her turn. Every eye in the room fixed upon her. Bianca stepped forward, and her hand came to rest upon the Measurement Orb.
And from the Measurement Orb erupted a blue light brighter than any before it.
* * *
Diena watched Romie’s face before her. She stood transfixed, staring at Bianca.
“Romie, what do you think? Our young lady just lit up like that—she’s awakened as a Supreme-Level Ability User, hasn’t she?”
“……”
“So Miss Bianca is more gifted than you are?”
Diena clapped her hands with an innocent expression. Romie said nothing, her fists clenching tightly.
The shock of being surpassed by someone she had dismissed must have been considerable.
‘I remember wearing that same expression when I awakened to my Ability in my past life.’
A satisfied smile was playing at her lips when Romie suddenly turned her head, glaring daggers at Diena.
“You useless Non-Ability User……!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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