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

"Um, why are we training in a place like this?"

"I don’t want to be seen by others."

I’m Esti, and today I’ve come to the Jimru Mountains with Alfis-sama and Rucelle-san. I was selected from my class as a candidate for the guard selection exam, so Alfis-sama is going to train me. I never expected that someone like me would be trained in such a remote mountain, and the thought of it made me quite nervous.

But as I am now, I’m not fit for combat. Compared to Alfis-sama and the others, I’m still weak, so I need to train. Since the top students from other classes are also taking the exam, I can’t afford to fall behind.

"We’ve finally arrived. Esti, can I ask you again why you’re taking the guard selection exam?"

"Yes. After seeing Alfis-sama fight, I wanted to fight too. Ah, of course, it’s presumptuous of a commoner like me to think such things…"

"Is that really all there is to it?"

"Huh? Y-yes, that’s all."

Alfis-sama’s gaze pierces through me, making my heart race. This won’t do. I’m just the president of the fan club—such thoughts are off-limits. Meanwhile, Rucelle-san is glaring at me from the side.

"Esti, let me make this clear. If you’re thinking anything weird, I won’t forgive you."

"I don’t have any impure or inappropriate thoughts!"

"W-who said anything about inappropriate?! You’re so shameless!"

"Ah, I’m sorry…"

Rucelle-san’s face turns bright red as she gets angry. I want to make sure I don’t disrespect Alfis-sama’s attendant.

"Alfis-sama! Why are you bothering with someone like this?"

"Well, there’s the matter of her being a burden, but I’m also just curious. Esti, you can see the flow of energy, can’t you?"

I’m caught off guard by the sudden question. But given Alfis-sama’s serious expression, I can’t come up with a poor excuse.

"The flow of energy, you mean? I did think I could see something strange."

"Can you see this?"

"Yes. A pale aura is coming from Alfis-sama’s fingertips."

"I thought so. Esti, let me explain the flow of energy."

I’m taught about the flow of energy. It’s different from magic, and I can’t believe I have such a thing. However, when I check my own hands, I don’t see anything like that.

"But I don’t have any flow of energy…"

"You definitely can see it. Back when you fought Dale at the start of school, you were moving by seeing the flow of energy. That’s why he couldn’t land a hit on you."

"I was so caught up in the moment that I don’t really remember."

"Teaching you the basics of combat now would only be a stopgap. So, until the exam, I’ll train you to consciously see and manipulate the flow of energy."

This has turned into something really big. The flow of energy is something everyone has, but only a few can draw it out and use it or see it. The fact that I’m training with Alfis-sama, just the two of us—no, the three of us—makes my heart race.

"Alfis-sama, is this okay? Isn’t the flow of energy supposed to be kept secret?"

"Rucelle. It’s worse to have power and not know about it. That only leads to misfortune."

"That might be true, but won’t your father get angry?"

"He might, but his hands-off approach works in my favor. He probably won’t even notice what I’m doing."

Hearing this unsettling conversation makes me want to go home even now. But Alfis-sama’s special training begins immediately. First, to understand the quality of my flow of energy, I’m told to meditate.

They say that being in a natural, primal environment makes it easier to feel your true power. After closing my eyes and meditating for a few minutes, I faintly see something in the darkness. It’s a monster behind Alfis-sama and Rucelle-san—

"Alfis-sama! Behind you—"

Before I can even shout, Alfis-sama turns around and slices the monster apart with his sword. At that moment, my heart pounds loudly. My blood rushes, and my breathing becomes ragged. It’s just like that time.

"I see. Let’s continue a bit longer."

"Y-yes."

I close my eyes and resume meditating. This time, I see a flock of birds flying overhead. Then, right after, I hear the sound of their wings flapping.

"Huh…?"

"Did you notice something?"

"I thought I heard the sound of birds flapping, and then it really happened…"

"That settles it. The quality of your flow of energy is precognition. You probably saw a few seconds into the future."

Alfis-sama says this so calmly. It’s such an outlandish idea that all I can do is blink repeatedly.

"Alfis-sama! Is it true that her flow of energy is precognition?!"

"Yeah, it’s almost certain. To be honest, it’s ridiculously strong. She’s still inexperienced now, but with training, she might be able to see further into the future."

"W-wow, that’s practically invincible!"

"I wonder what Leorg would think if he found out."

My hands start trembling now. Precognition? Why me? I can’t stop shaking from the sheer magnitude of it, but at the same time, something wells up from deep within me. It’s like my blood has heated up, and I can’t stay still.

This feeling is the same as when Alfis-sama saved me. Back then, I was faced with such a gruesome scene that it felt like my head was boiling, as if I were in a dream.

"Esti?"

"Ah, sorry. I was spacing out…"

"Then let’s move on to training, but I’ll say this first. Precognition is indeed powerful, but nothing in this world is flawless. There will be situations where even if you see what’s coming, you can’t do anything about it. Keep that in mind."

"Yes…!"

Alfis-sama sternly warns me not to get carried away. His kindness strikes my heart, and I feel that thump again. I really do admire Alfis-sama—

"Ahhh—! No, this is wrong! I’m the president of the fan club—!"

"Whoa! W-what’s wrong?!"

"Ah, it’s nothing…"

"It’s clearly not nothing, but can we move on?"

"Yes!"

I reply energetically, but I’m worried if I can make it back without losing consciousness. After all, I’m here in the mountains with Alfis-sama, just the two of us—

"Esti, if you’re getting any weird ideas, let me remind you. I’m here with Alfis-sama."

"R-right."

That’s true. Rucelle-san is here too. But why do I feel so disappointed? Is this what Rucelle-san always calls "shamelessness"?