Precedence System: I Take My Rewards In Advance

But there was another memory she liked far less. It was when somebody had kidnapped her. Even now, years later, people in the capital remembered what happened afterward.

Elinox had already possessed enough talent and status to make taking her an insane decision, though the people responsible had believed they could use her against House Holmes.

They had underestimated her family.

More specifically, they had underestimated Ernest Holmes.

At the time, he had already become Crown Marshal.

His wife had been dead for years already, and she had been the only woman he ever loved. And after losing her before they could have children of their own, Ernest never remarried. He had never shown interest in doing so either.

His brother’s children became the closest thing he had to his own.

Among them, Elinox was the only girl.

That had been enough.

When word of her kidnapping reached him, Ernest Holmes had nearly turned the capital upside down.

The King himself had ordered him to calm down.

Ernest had ignored him.

His Mana had spread across part of the noble district while he searched for everyone involved, and the pressure alone damaged buildings several streets away. When one group attempted to block his path, a single stomp shattered the ground around him and sent fractures spreading across several kilometers.

The destruction might have become far worse if Duke Holmes had not arrived.

Everyone during that time watched her father maintain defensive barriers over civilians and nearby estates while shouting at his brother to stop destroying half the district during the rescue of one child.

Ernest had shouted back that the district should have thought about that before allowing someone to kidnap his niece.

The people who had taken her had surrendered soon afterward.

Some had been more afraid of being found by the Crown Marshal than they were of whatever punishment awaited them under Olmost law. It became one of the most infamous incidents involving the Holmes family.

Ernest did not regret it. Not even slightly.

Elinox sometimes thought that was the frightening part. Her older brothers had complained about the difference in treatment when they were younger.

Ernest loved all of them, though everyone in the family knew Elinox received the most attention from him.

Their jealousy had eventually faded.

Part of it came from growing older.

The other part came from realizing that competing with Elinox in anything related to talent was exhausting.

She had surpassed them in Mana development, combat ability, military accomplishment, and rank so early that the comparison seemed ridiculous if it continued.

The fact that she had no interest in inheriting the Ducal title helped. None of her brothers needed to fear that Elinox would suddenly decide she wanted their father’s position.

She wanted something else entirely.

The military.

And eventually—

Her eyes returned to Ernest.

His position.

The Crown Marshal noticed the look and grinned. ”Thinking about taking my seat already?”

”Someday.”

”Good.” Ernest patted her head again.

Elinox glared. ”Stop that, uncle!”

”No.” Ernest shook his head.

”I’m a High General.”

”You may be a High General, but you’re still our Little Noxi.”

Her glare became sharper. ”Don’t call me that inside military headquarters.”

”Nobody can hear us.”

”That’s not the point!”

Outside the soundproof office, Zishan had no idea that the terrifying Crown Marshal he had met several minutes earlier was currently arguing with his niece about whether he was allowed to pat her head.

He had found another problem to occupy himself with. It was the guards. Zishan stood between the two soldiers with both hands inside his pockets, looking from one to the other.

Neither had spoken since he came outside.

The silence lasted for a while before Zishan finally got tired of standing there without saying anything.

”So...”

The soldier on his left looked toward him.

Zishan glanced at the closed doors. ”Does the Crown Marshal even need you two here?”

Both guards stared at him.

He continued, ”I mean, he’s already strong enough to defend himself.”

Neither answered.

Zishan thought about it. ”Well, I guess you still need to stop people from barging inside.”

One guard’s expression suggested that Zishan had finally understood their job. However, he ruined that progress several seconds later. ”But wouldn’t barging into the Crown Marshal’s office be something only a complete noob would do?”

The soldier’s expression changed.

Zishan leaned against the wall. ”If you’ve been stationed here for this long, be honest with me. Who would actually dare?”

The guards exchanged a glance.

Zishan waited for an answer.

None came.

”You guys don’t talk much.”

The man on his right finally spoke, ”We’re on duty.”

”Ah.” Zishan nodded. ”Very professional. Commendable!”

The soldier seemed relieved.

Zishan looked at the door again. ”Still seems unnecessary, though.”

The relief vanished.

”If someone attacks the Crown Marshal, aren’t you guys technically the ones who would need protection?”

One guard stared straight ahead. His partner tightened his jaw.

Zishan continued thinking aloud. ”Also... I get that he doesn’t need protection, but who would even be able to kill that man?”

Both soldiers looked toward him again.

Zishan spread his hands. ”Look at him! He’s bulkier than the fortresses outside.”

The guard on his left went pale. ”Sshhh!”

Zishan blinked.

The other soldier raised one finger to his lips.

”What?”

”Lower your voice.”

Zishan frowned. ”Why? I’m telling the truth.”

The two soldiers stared at him as though he had just volunteered to test whether the Crown Marshal could kill someone through a wall.

Zishan looked between them. ”What?”

Like before, neither of them answered.

His eyes narrowed after that. ”You guys are being weird.”

The left guard glanced toward the office door.

Zishan followed his gaze.

His face changed. ’Wait...’

Something from his earlier conversation returned to him.

Ernest Holmes. Crown Marshal. Magic.

’Don’t tell me...’

One of the soldiers whispered, ”The Crown Marshal possesses the Sound Mana Affinity.”

Zishan’s eyes widened. His hands slowly came out of his pockets. ’Fuck.’

The guard beside him looked almost sympathetic now.

Zishan stared at the door. ’Sound Mana Affinity means...’

[The Host has finally reached the obvious conclusion.]

’Don’t.’

[The Crown Marshal can manipulate and perceive sound far beyond ordinary Human capability.]

Zishan swallowed. ’Even through walls?’

[Yes.]

’Through thick walls?’

[Yes.]

Zishan stared straight ahead and said, ’Maybe he wasn’t listening.’

The System did not reply.

’That’s right. He’s talking with High General Holmes. Why would he care about what I’m saying outside? Right? R-Right...’

A voice entered the corridor. ”So this is the boy you told me was peculiar, Noxi.”

Zishan stopped breathing.

The guards stiffened.

The voice came through the closed door with perfect clarity. ”Indeed. He is very strange.”

Zishan’s face slowly lost color.

’Noxi?’

That part almost distracted him. Then, the Crown Marshal spoke again. ”Kid.”

Zishan went completely still.

”Get back inside here.”

Both guards turned away from him.

One of them looked like he was fighting for his life not to smile.

Zishan stared at the door. ’Fuck.’