The Arrival Of Young Master Naiye Lycoris

Up to this point, the buildup was over.

The two Elemental Knight sisters already understood what Naiye was doing.

This young master was putting on a show of force!

Especially that Dark Knight—though as a private knight she had been looked down upon, her strength put pressure on all the knights present.

Before this, no one even really knew who she was………

Step, step.

At last, a young man in splendid, dignified formal wear—Young Master Naiye, the current head of the Lycoris family—slowly descended.

He wore a pleased expression, his eyes clear and deep, looking both noble and mysterious; his overly handsome face drew many gazes.

“Heh….”

But what surprised people even more was his physique, Fire Lina sneered with derision.

A hand resting on the smooth waist briefly flickered with a flame—scorching fire—yet her hand and waist remained white as jade.

Naiye Lycoris, this young master, was still so frail—so much so that he seemed weaker than even the weakest, most delicate knight trainees.

Of course, that was the difference between the female knights in this kingdom and everyone else.

“Welcome, Duke Lycoris.”

“Thank you for the welcome, President Meiyu Canster.”

The pale blue wings behind President Meiyu seemed to flutter slightly in pleasure; her delicate face remained with narrowed eyes, seeming both pleased and impassive at once.

She reached out gently and, before everyone’s eyes, took Young Master Naiye’s hand tenderly.

Then slowly, elegantly and composedly, as if a knight escorting a princess, she led Naiye onto the boulevard.

A simple but important greeting ceremony began; next he would meet everyone.

Naiye approached the representatives of the Four Great Knight Orders,

and the young, energetic female knights immediately stepped forward and saluted respectfully.

First was the Three Moons Knight Order of the Moon Knight family.

Naiye came before Rena, the Silver Moon Knight, and offered a brief greeting.

“Long time no see, Young Master Naiye.”

Rena placed her hand over her chest and bowed to Naiye with elegant formality.

“You too, Rena Silvermoon—congratulations on becoming a Silver Moon Knight.”

Rena smiled; she hadn’t started out as a knight of the Silver Moon Goddess—initially she was merely a believer of the Silver Moon.

“Yes, thanks to your guidance, I succeeded.”

“Ah, good thing it wasn’t a Red Moon Knight who became the leader—their madness would hardly be suitable!”

Such casual mockery was actually rude, but many people strongly agreed with Naiye.

The Red Moon Knight’s madness was notoriously infamous! That’s why she wasn’t present at today’s welcome.

Rena reluctantly wanted to say more, but compared to Young Master Naiye she was far more curious about the Dark Knight standing behind him.

But there wasn’t time to ask more; Naiye moved on to the next.

The Dragon Knight family’s representative was a relatively young dragon knight.

“Hello, I am Naiye Lycoris—are you the one from the Dragon Knight Order?”

The young boy waited nervously and expectantly for Naiye’s greeting.

“Good day, Duke Lycoris, I am Eren Dragonborn, the youngest in my grandmother’s line. I hereby represent the Dragon Knight Order in greeting you.”

“Hm? How old is Eiru that she’s a grandmother already? And you’re only calling her ‘grandmother’ by family convention, right?”

“Though she’s only 63 years old (21 by their count), she can already manage family affairs, while I’m still a minor—by family custom I must call her ‘grandmother.’”

Naiye looked at him in surprise—Eren was indeed very young, but couldn’t one tell he was still underage?

His crimson pupils examined the boy’s dragon horns closely.

“Oh! So you’re only 48 years old, which is 16 in human terms.”

“That’s right!”

Eren was pleased but also surprised—few people understood the Dragon Knight family’s ages; apparently his grandmother had spoken truthfully.

“Nice to meet you—give my regards to Eiru.”

Naiye waved his hand and ended the conversation with the Dragon Knight.

The Dragon Knight family was not a true giant-dragon clan; they were humans with dragon blood, living roughly three times the span of ordinary humans.

Their family was the smallest in number, but strongest in bloodline and cohesion; they had hardly experienced internal strife.

Family members were unfailingly loyal, and everyone from top to bottom obeyed a single voice.

Their family trait was the ability to raise giant beasts and dragon creatures.

Next was the third—the Skywing Knight family, which was a bit different.

They could be considered tentative opponents of the Lycoris family.

Because they were allies of the Church.

And the Church was fundamentally opposed to technologies related to machinery.

The Lycoris family was no different—no one in the household was religious.

Fortunately, the Skywing Knight family were allied by familial faith to the Light Church; at most they rejected some magical technology, but it wouldn’t lead to outright lethal hostility upon meeting.

“Long time no see, Miss Nia.”

“Ah… greetings, Young Master Lycoris—welcome back to the Auriel Knight Academy.”

Nia hesitated a little but still bowed to Young Master Naiye with grace and dignity.

“What’s wrong? You look a little listless.”

“Uh, no—it’s nothing. Please make yourself comfortable first; I’ll prepare afternoon tea for you to attend when you have the time.”

Naiye raised an eyebrow but said nothing more and moved on.

“………..”

President Meiyu, who had been following behind the Lycoris young master, kept her eyes narrowed in a kindly smile.

Naiye, of course, knew the situation.

President Meiyu’s grandmother was actually from the Skywing Knight family and had eloped from the family when she was young.

Meiyu’s mother was nothing special—an ordinary person.

But Meiyu was born with the Skywing blood manifesting as wings! This meant her Skywing lineage bore the highest-grade angelic wings.

After becoming a knight trainee, Meiyu rose to fame, cutting through obstacles from an ordinary knight all the way up.

She had become student council president and a knight of the Auriel Queen.

Throughout this, Nia had hoped Meiyu would return to the Skywing family, but she had been consistently refused.

There was a clear yet invisible rift between the two.

The last knight family was one Naiye Lycoris was well acquainted with.

The Elemental Knight family was the strongest among the Four Great Knight Families, and the Elemental Knight Order was the largest order in the Academy.

However, they shared a deeper, complicated grudge with the Lycoris family.

They were the family that originally opposed magical technology.

From opposing the grandfather to accepting the father, now in Naiye’s generation the young master could match the grande dame.

“Hi, Elder Sister Fire Lina of Fire—congratulations on successfully becoming captain of the Elemental Knight Order!”

Naiye dropped his solemn tone and spoke casually, as if teasing a sexy, beautiful older sister.

His crimson pupils unapologetically admired the patches of pale skin exposed on Lina’s body and her fiery red eyes.

He also glanced at the silent figure standing behind her—like an ice sculpture,Ice Tina, who had kept her eyes closed.

“………”

Lina originally didn’t want to pay Naiye any mind, but since he had at least congratulated her, to say nothing back would be a disgrace for the Elemental Knight family’s representative.

“I… I’m fine.”

Lina turned her face away, folded her arms, and gave a sideways glare at the face before her—unchanged from years ago: handsome but fragile.

“What about you, Young Master Naiye—why aren’t you staying home properly to study…”

Lina glanced again at the carriage and the two enormous Magical Automaton knights.

“What are these Magical Automata doing back at the Auriel Knight Academy? It’s a brutal place—your frail young master won’t be able to hold up…….”

Naiye kept smiling, but his words drew all the female knights’ attention.

“I indeed shouldn’t have come.”

Lina and Tina opened their eyes and looked at Naiye in shock.

“This time I came back to… return to school.”

“Return to school? Hmph!”

Lina grew impatient and shot Naiye an accusing glare for not telling anyone.

“Alright, thank you all for the warm welcome—I will go ahead inside!”

Young Master Naiye said this while signaling the two Magical Automaton knights to carry his luggage and follow.

“Afterwards I will…”

Young Master Naiye suddenly stopped.

Then.

Boom!!!