I was Reincarnated as the Youngest Child of a Villainous Noble Family Who Controls the Kingdom from Behind the Scenes

"Who is it?"

In the dark, deserted alleyways of the royal capital, Erik, a first-year student at Seirland Academy, is startled.

After finishing his classes and before returning to his dorm room, he checked for any deliveries and found an anonymous letter.

The letter instructed him to come to this very alley in the third district tonight.

"What the hell, are there others here too?"

"You're a second-year girl, right? I've seen you before. You're Shemna, aren't you?"

The person who approached Erik was a female student with golden hair and tanned skin.

"You, I haven't seen you before, so you must be a first-year, right? Yeah, I'm Shemna. I'm your senior, so if you dare speak casually to me again, I'll kill you."

"My apologies. I'm Erik, a first-year."

Shemna looked down on Erik with a combative attitude.

Erik sighed at her rough demeanor.

Next to arrive was a male student with brown hair and droopy eyes.

"What's this? Don't tell me this letter was sent to  someone else  besides me?"

"Are you also a student at Seirland Academy?"

"Hahahaha! Isn't this what they call fate? Oh, I'm Muto, a second-year."

Muto acted playfully.

Erik was exasperated by the frivolous male student.

If not for this situation, Erik would never have associated with someone like him.

Since enrolling in the academy, Erik, the son of a duke, had been bored.

Boring classes, practical lessons that only taught routine movements, and ordinary classmates.

Although he had enrolled due to his father's wishes, Erik had feigned illness several times to skip classes.

Then, he received an anonymous letter.

The content was simple.

—You have the power to change your  boring days. If you're interested in summoning, come.

How did they know he was bored? Erik felt a chill run down his spine as he read the letter.

And the word "summoning"—it was forbidden at the academy, with no classes teaching it.

After the neighboring country's war, the nation had inexplicably regulated it, as Erik had heard from his instructor, which had frustrated him.

"How long does the sender plan to keep us waiting?"

"I'm already here."

"What!"

Behind Erik stood a hooded figure wearing a mask.

Erik tensed, but the figure didn't move an inch.

"Did I startle you? I'm the one who sent you the letter."

"How long have you been here?"

"You're more concerned about that than my identity? Hmm, just as I expected. You do have potential."

"Potential for summoning?"

"Exactly."

Erik eagerly conversed with the hooded figure.

Shemna remained wary of the suspicious figure, while Muto picked his nose.

"Erik, Shemna, Muto. If you're willing, how about becoming summon masters?"

"Nothing would make me happier. Please."

Erik answered immediately.

Shemna, however, was displeased.

"Hey, first-year. You're just going to obediently follow this obviously shady  person ?"

"Didn't you come here because you're interested too, Shemna?"

"Don't talk to me like that, or I'll kill you. I came here to beat the crap out of whoever sent this condescending letter."

"An unknown person? You might end up getting yourself killed."

Erik chuckled, and Shemna grabbed him by the collar.

Her physical strength, feared throughout the academy, surpassed even that of those enhanced by magic.

She had established the only female faction in the academy without using any magic.

But Erik didn't flinch, staring straight at Shemna.

"You're lying. You wanted excitement just like me, didn't you?"

"Huh?"

"Because you look utterly frustrated."

"Hey."

As Shemna clenched her fist, the hooded figure clapped his hands to draw attention.

"Alright, alright, save that for the academy. More importantly, what about summoning? Are you interested?"

"Hey, hey, what's in it for us with summoning?"

"Muto, a summon master borrows the power of summoned demons or magical beasts. Your basic abilities, including magical power, will skyrocket, and you can use the abilities of what you summon."

"Haha! Sounds fun! I'm in!"

Muto was the first to step forward, standing firmly in front of the hooded figure.

Shemna grabbed Muto by the scruff of his neck and pulled him back.

"Hey, stop. You have no idea what you're getting into."

"Why? Is there a reason to stop?"

"My late grandma used to say that summoning can destroy you depending on the contract. Like losing half your lifespan or being broke for life."

"That's nonsense. People who only believe in straightforward methods are so boring."@@novelbin@@

Muto spun around playfully.

Shemna raised her fist, but the hooded figure intervened.

"Let's not fight. Shemna, are you satisfied with yourself now?"

"What do you mean?"

"Even though the Deniro faction is gone, maintaining your faction in the academy without being able to use magic must be exhausting. Don't you feel like you've hit your limit?"

"What! What do you know about me!"

The hooded figure smirked at the enraged Shemna.

His eyes, peering from beneath the hood, seemed to see right through her.

"...A limit?"

Shemna thought of the faces of those who admired her.

She had wanted to live up to their expectations, but being called out by the hooded figure suddenly made her feel exhausted.

"I won't force you. The other two seem decided, so if this isn't for you, I'll take my leave. Come on, Erik, Muto, let's go."

"W-wait!"

Shemna shouted at the retreating figure.

The hooded figure stopped in his tracks and grinned.