"…" [Moro]
"Tell me Moro, even with your current strength do you think you could escape from a room guarded by the angered Blue Lotus, Andria Cobalt?" Asked the duke to his loyal butler.
After Moro thought for a while, "No… master, That's an impossible feat even with my special trait abilities. But, master if I may presume according to Andria herself, she gets distracted during the test."
"Moro, did you know why I agree with Andria to do the test?" asked Jacob
"Didn't it teach young mast…" [Moro]
"No, Moro. He has already learned everything since he could read." Interrupt the duke himself.
"From the start, Angus is smarter and mature than ordinary kids of his age. Actually a few years ago, I wanted to give him some kind of 'push' to change his lazy behavior but the moment I pay attention to him, the more I marvel about my sons." [Jacob]
'At first glance he is doing everything like a lazy person. But, during my observation there is actually no waste movement at all in his stature.'
'Even for me this kind of feat is really hard, I even got some inspiration just by paying attention to his movement.' While Jacob remembers the scene from one year ago.
Remembering that, 'Come to think of it he also notices me despite my attempt to erase my presence.' Thought Jacob inwardly.
After being silent for a while, "At that time, I realized that my son is actually too genius to be comprehend by normal common sense."
"I also know that his mind already passes our imagination. All he needs is just a little bit of push for him to reach a greater height." Said Jacob enthusiastically about his sons.
Looking at his master speech so passionately, Moro could only change his judgement about Angus silently.
"Still from the Andria report his capabilities are very low compared to other nobles." [Jacob]
"That's true. With young master current strength, the test result will be low. He may even get bullied inside the academy. Perhaps, I need to arrange some shadow guard with him?" [Moro]
"No need, tomorrow I will accompany him myself. At that time let's see who still dares to bully my son." Said Jacob while smiling evilly.
'At least this way, I could repay him for helping me break through my shackle and advance my grade.' Thought Jacob.
One year before Angus's test, Angus just did his routine as usual, skipped his lesson and lay below his favorite tree in the garden.
After trying various positions to make him more comfortable, he finally couldn't help but look at the nearby corner where Jacob hid himself for a second before going back to his position.
Knowing that his cover's blown, Jacob immediately comes out while hiding his surprise expression.
Jacob tries to calm down but his urges to know more about Angus's fine control movement get his interest. "Angus, how did you do that kind of movement?"
But, Angus only looked at his father expressionlessly for a while before tilting his head.
'Great Job Jacob! Now, you look like some kind weird man in front of your son by suddenly asking him a strange question.' Lamenting Jacob inwardly.
"Father, What I see and what you see are different things." Said Angus in a serious tone.
At that time, like a burst from the tight dam, countless memories and scenes flashed in Jacob's head. Jacob immediately shouted, "Shadow Guard!! Prepare the basement training room and don't let everyone disturb me." Before Jacob walked away from his spot.
Before he truly went, Angus said in a soft voice, "Good Luck, Dad" that only Jacob could hear using his enhanced perception. On that day, Jacob managed to break his shackle and advance to higher grade.
To battle against monster hordes, civilized races utilize mana to protect and fight for their life. From continuous fighting through life and death situations, both sides become much stronger by breaking past their limit.
As many people continued to break through, they started to classify the threshold by measuring their power. Each threshold represents their mana core grade.
Each time someone passes their current limit and breakthrough they will advance to a higher grade of mana core. All the grades are measured by number from one being the lowest.
With each grade they advance, their control and quality over mana will increase by leap bound. Some races even get some special ability each time they advance their grade.
However, mana core grade is not the only one that decides the winner for battle. There is a race that mostly consists of low mana core grade people but higher combat capability than the other races such as beast-kin race.
There are also races that are born with high mana core grade people like the demon race and elf race.
As for the human race, they have average power strength regarding their mana core grade. But, their combat capabilities are very versatile enough for them to survive countless battles.
Likewise, the higher the grade, the more difficult one to upgrade their mana core. Especially for Jacob that already arrived at the grade five.
Normally, at his age he will have a very small chance to upgrade his grade further. But, by getting some epiphany from Angus's 'tip', Jacob managed to breakthrough into grade six before the age before 50 which made him the youngest grade six of the human race.
Now, only few people still could contend with him beside the emperor himself who already reached the realm of legendary himself, grade seven mana core.
If during this time, there is anyone that tries to bully his sons especially Angus who helps the duke breakthrough. Then, only trouble that will follow them. This is also the reason why Jacob thought highly about Angus despite his low combat strength.
As a seasoned fighter, Jacob knows that people like Angus are the one that could move the world around.
Despite all of this, Angus still remains oblivious about his father's thought. More than oblivious he feels like ignoring him and doing what he wants to do.
Both Angus and Jacob seem like they have a sort of tacit understanding to never bother with each other over the years. But, they are ready to help each other in a perilous situation.
This is also the reason Jacob agreed with Andria's test. He wants to help Angus to stimulate his passion to maximize his truly hidden potential through Andria's test. But, his 'potential' is much deeper than he thought in the first place.
'Well, he will 'learn' more at the royal academy anyway.' Thought Jacob while he was back doing his own work with Moro support nearby.
The next morning, inside Angus's bedroom, Angus immediately opens his eyes and catches the throwned clothes.
"I see… As sharp as ever. Now, hurry up and get ready." Said Jacob while looking at his son with a bright smile.
"F-Father.. Why are you here?" asked Angus confusedly
"Why?? Of course to accompany you through your first day of school." Replied Jacob happily.
"EHHH!!!" [Angus]