The Genius Mage Was Reincarnated Into A Swordsman Family

Chapter 53 - 53

Rick stared at Klaus in disbelief, his dumbfounded expression a mirror of the collective astonishment in the hall. The patriarch himself had stood and applauded Klaus, a gesture of respect rarely witnessed, especially for someone of such a young age. However, Klaus remained seemingly indifferent, ignoring the patriarch’s acknowledgment.

{{|You little...!! Bow your head towards the patriarch before he decides to behead you for a lack of respect towards him,|}} Rick sent an angry telepathic message towards Klaus, perturbed by the apparent disregard for the patriarch.

{{|Why should I?|}} Klaus’s telepathic reply only deepened Rick’s shock. The abrupt response prompted Rick to take two steps back, unable to comprehend how a twelve-year-old possessed the ability to send telepathic messages.

{{|Just what are you!!|}} Rick’s telepathic inquiry carried a tone of heightened surprise, his gaze fixed on Klaus with a mix of bewilderment and disbelief.

Ignoring Rick, Klaus addressed the crowd with a voice loud enough to reach most ears. "What is the next test?" he inquired, locking eyes with Rick, who cleared his throat before responding.

"We have to wait for the other trainees to finish their tests first. You can go sit there in the meantime," Rick directed Klaus towards the section reserved for the direct line members.

"I see," Klaus acknowledged and walked in the opposite direction, seemingly unfazed by Rick’s instructions.

"Where are you going? You can go sit there!" Rick pressed Klaus to follow the designated path, pointing towards the section reserved for the direct line.

"Why should I? Don’t you see where my parents are sitting?" Klaus retorted, his eyes shining with a menacing blue hue, leaving Rick momentarily speechless.

"Ah," Rick uttered, unable to form any coherent response.

Klaus started walking towards the commoner section, capturing the attention of everyone in the hall.

"Why is he coming here?"

"Is he not a member of the direct line?"

"Heck, he should at least be a member of the collateral line."

"Or at worst a member from the vassal families. Why is he walking toward this section?"

"Yeah, there is no way that kid is a commoner."

"But why is he walking toward this direction then?"

Speculation and confusion rippled through the spectators in the commoner section as Klaus ascended the stairs leading to their seats, defying expectations.

The members of both the direct and collateral lines observed the unfolding spectacle with deep frowns etched across their brows. Klaus’s apparent disregard for family prestige and his decision to head toward the commoner section stirred a tempest of disapproval among the privileged onlookers. The notion that a commoner might dare to surpass the patriarch’s lineage and set new records was a bitter pill for the Lionhart elite to swallow.

Roman Lionhart, patriarch and leader of the esteemed family, didn’t conceal his displeasure. His booming voice, laden with a subtle but undeniable anger, reverberated through the expansive Lion Arena, creating an uneasy tension that hung in the frigid air.

"Klaus Lionhart! Just where are you headed to? Aren’t you seeing the seat that your instructor is pointing at you?" Roman’s voice was laced with authority, and the temperature in the arena seemed to drop further, sending a collective shiver through the spectators.

Klaus, seemingly undeterred, halted in his tracks. Infusing a hint of natural mana into his voice, he responded with a defiance that resonated in his gaze. "I did see where he wanted me to sit, but as a child proud of his parents, I must sit where they are sitting," Klaus declared, his words carrying an audacity that few dared to display within the Lionhart estate.

Roman, though initially angered, found himself somewhat impressed by Klaus’s boldness. The audacious act of meeting his gaze directly evoked a rare flicker of respect from the patriarch. The air hung heavy with a sense of tension, and for a brief moment, Roman contemplated a smile.

"As far as I know, none of your parents are commoners, so why are you heading that way?" Roman questioned, unaware of Ludovic’s current location.

"But there they are, sitting in the commoners’ section despite their origin," Klaus replied, pointing towards where his parents were seated. Roman’s eyes widened in disbelief.

"What!?" Roman exclaimed, his gaze now scrutinizing the commoners’ section. He spotted his son, Ludovic, among the commoners. The sudden realization sent a chilling wave through the entire Lion Arena. The spectators, caught in the throes of the unexpected revelation, felt an intense cold descending upon them, manifesting in frostbite appearing on exposed body parts.

The crowd, initially disapproving of Klaus’s actions, now watched with bated breath as the tension escalated. Klaus’s defiance had injected an unforeseen drama into the prestigious family’s affair, and the atmosphere crackled with anticipation, leaving the spectators on edge for what would unfold next.

Roman Lionhart’s cold gaze shifted toward Rick, the instructor who found himself at the center of the unfolding drama. Panic flashed across Rick’s face, and in a reflexive attempt to absolve himself of any responsibility, he raised both his arms in the air, as if physically distancing himself from the implications of the seating arrangement debacle. The gesture was a desperate plea for Roman to understand that he bore no culpability in the oversight.

"I-I-I’m n-n-not the one that arranged the seats, my Lord!!" Rick stammered, his voice trembling with fear. Roman, in response, shifted his cold gaze to his son, Raoul Lionhart, who lowered his head, fearing his father’s wrath.

Roman exhaled a chilling breath before addressing Klaus with an unexpectedly calm tone, "They did make a stupid mistake and will be punished for it. You are all allowed to go and sit where those foolish sons of mine are sitting."

In response, Klaus offered a very polite bow to Roman and replied, "I appreciate your concern, my Lord, but the humiliation my parents have faced is already done. Changing their seats will not erase the disgrace they endured."

Perplexed, Roman inquired about Klaus’s intentions, "So what are you proposing?"

"If I rank first for the entire test, I would like to face any direct line members of their choice who are at least six years older than me. If I win the duel, I want the person responsible for humiliating my parents to kneel and then bow to them as an apology," Klaus proposed, his tone unwavering.

"And what if you lose?" Roman asked, a sense of satisfaction creeping into his demeanor at Klaus’s resolute stance.

"Then I will face whatever punishment they want me to endure," Klaus replied with a composed expression, seemingly unafraid of the consequences.

Elisabeth attempted to interject, expressing her concern, but Ludovic gently held her hand, signaling her to stop.

"Aren’t you worried for him?" Elisabeth asked Ludovic, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Just trust him; he knows what he is doing," Ludovic replied with a calm and soothing voice.

"But..."

"Just trust our son," Ludovic insisted, calming Elisabeth’s anxieties.

"I hope you are ready to handle your words!" Roman warned, further dropping the temperature inside the Lion Arena.

"I am, my Lord," Klaus replied, bowing his head further, his resolve unwavering in the face of the chilling atmosphere.