Under a giant tree, the Anderson family sitting there with 2/3 have concerned faces while the youngest member smiles and sightseeing.
"I-I'm so sorry, Mistress! My hand was moved on its own!"
Julia's instinct acted before her brain could process it, she just saw her young master in danger and jump in immediately.
"No, you did good, Julia. What would happen if the pastor successfully attacked my precious boy ...."
Just to think how much Ark could be hurt by the pastor's attack, Velvet can't stop herself from hugging her son.
"Mother, Please… I, not a big deal, besides he is technically half correct that I was the reason the orb broke."
"You did what?"
His mother suddenly froze.
"Remember Adeline? The girl that almost dies. It was because the magic test with zero reliability tried to predict her future that forced her to mimic my skill. So I decided the system has to go and so I did"
"?? What ??"
Both Velvet and Julia can't process what Ark just said. It was unreal for both of them that a 5 years-old kid has such deep thought and skill.
Especially the skill.
"Ark, where did you learn how to destroy the orb?"
In the household, there are only 3 magic users, Velvet, August, and Albert.
But she never teaches Ark any magic skill, and she doubts that August even cares.
That left Albert, no, it must have been Albert.
"But Albert is only an expert magic user, the orb is a relic that is custom made by master level from the holy empire, I doubt he can do such a feat. Even if he can, Ark simply can't do it, what relic let a 5 years-old destroy it."
The more she thinks, the more she finds it unusual.
"Mother, I think you think too much about it, It's just a relic, not a weapon. I just needed to fire a few magic circuits inside and it goes boom"
Ark lies as naturally as he breathes.
The relic is full of fail-safe mechanisms, he just needs to cancel them all.
"Ark! You are such a bad boy! Mother will need to find a time to punish you!! You can't just break an important relic because it makes someone feel pressured!"
"Why not? I broke the relic is somehow worse than determined future of hundred or even thousand children and ruined their progress because some stone said so?"
Ark's answer makes Velvet shunned, she had never seen it that way before.
Normally the noble use the stone to determine how many resources one child will get, so they didn't waste a resource on unworthy children.
But isn't it wrong to do such a thing?
What kind of parents chose to support their children by their test scores and not support them wholeheartedly?
"I-I"
Velvet stuttered, in all her life, she was a noble, of course, no one would be brave enough to speak about a flaw in their system.
"It's ok mother, you were once a victim too. And I didn't say it because I got a low score, I said it because I wanted to."
Ark didn't care how much mana he has, he has the skill to make a 5th-level spell as potent as a 9th-level spell.
No, he didn't even need a spell, his skill is far beyond that.
"Ark, did your father secretly raise you behind my back?"
All of his shown behavior is looking closer to becoming like his father every day.
At first, she is proud that Ark has grown a lot and in a good way, but on second thought, she fears that if something happens to their marriage, Ark would choose his father.
"No, I just read a lot of books."
Ark did read a lot of books, but this answer comes from his accumulated personal life experience.
No one should be judged until the time has come.
May it be time to face the reality of life or time to decide the fate of the world.
In the past, He had to struggle a lot because he was a farm boy but tried to be the savior.
There is no destiny or any bloodline to back him up, all he got is pure determination and conviction to push forward. And that makes him realize it is all someone needs to become better.
Including finding a good teacher and being ready to change morals.
Sometimes you need to do what must be done to get stronger.
"Young master, are you ok?"
Julia notices Ark suddenly seems to be distracted.
"Oh, I just thought of some book, no need to worry about it."
Living in a peaceful time and mind go wonder.
Ark normally needs to focus himself on the goal, so he never relaxes.
But after being reborn, his mind is such a mess. Old memory has poked out a lot.
"Ok… Mommy still thinks what you did was wrong, property damage is a no-no and illegal. But the reason you said was right, so no punishment."
Velvet releases her son from her hug and stands up.
"It's almost afternoon, I have an appointment to attend to. But there will be a traditional battle on the battleground after this, if you want to join, Julia can be your caretaker for a day. Or you want to go home?"
"Battle seems exciting, I think I chose to stay. But are you ok to stay here, Julia?"
He's a kid so he got time, but how about Julia?
"Me? Whatever you say, young master! My job is to take care of all of your desires!"
Ark glances his eye at his mother with confusion.
"Ahem, I think I DID forget to explain. From now on Julia will be your maid."
At first, she was kind of scared about leaving Ark with Julia, considering Julia's background, but after seeing how her son is far more mature than he looks, she feels she can trust Julia to look out for her son while she is off working.
Or even the opposite may happen.
"Good, I like her."
Ark smiled at Julia.
'She is fast, has good precision, may lack social skill and self-control but for the personal bodyguard while my body is still growing, she is pretty good for the job.'
"Young master! I'm just a lowly maid! You can't think about me like that…"
Julia's face turns red in frustration
"Don't worry about it, Julia. I didn't think about you that way."
Before she could think any further, her fantasy got shot down by Ark's word of truth.
"Oh… Ok"
She seems to be a little disappointed.
"Julia, Ark is still only 5. Please at least wait another 10 years to have that kind of thought or I have to fire you..."
All in all, Ark was still a kid, she banned him and anyone to have that kind of feeling for him.
"Yeah… you're right, sorry mistress."
Julia almost forgot Ark is a child.
He seems like a short man more than a kid, and it makes her confused.
And it didn't help that she is a slow-headed person.
"If things are settled, then I will leave now. Julia, remember how to use a public carriage right?"
"Yes, mistress."
"Ok then, take care, you two! Muah~!"
Velvet kisses Ark and Julia's forehands and then leaves.
"So, the battleground huh?"
Ark ponders.
"If a young master joins, I'm sure you will be the winner!"
"That's what I'm afraid of, fighting other kids doesn't seem fair…."
What kind of hero he is to hurt kids!
"Young master! Please do it for the mistress, she got verbally assaulted by those nobles in the church!! Let's show all of them how strong you are as her son!"
Julia can't register by herself so she tries to persuade her young master.
Many hash words had been thrown at Velvet while they watched the test, she wanted to avenge her mistress's pride.
"Let go and have a look first, their parent's words aren't their fault."
Ark bears no hatred toward children, yes, even annoying ones like Rory Westrich.
'Let's see how noble kids act in general. I hope all of them aren't behaving like Rory and Adeline.'
Ark stands up and walks to the battleground to check if his thought is true.
He hopes that those two are oddballs and the other will be a nice and polite kid.