Late Again

In a wide, grassy expanse, a muscular middle-aged man with golden hair glared at a black-haired boy who had knocked out his son's teeth with a punch.

The boy was Kyle. He had just turned 15 a few weeks ago, and today, finally, he had awakened his talent—that determined everyone's magical potential.

The moment someone awakened their talent, they could embark on a new path filled with extraordinary abilities.

Kyle stared back at the man, then coldly glanced at the 15-year-old boy with golden hair standing behind him.

"Why should I apologize? It's Sen's fault!"

He shouted, while his father, Baron Ohan, who stood beside him, looked at him with concern. The tall, muscular man in front of them was named John. He was someone they couldn't afford to confront, as he was far stronger than they were.

Ultimately, all Ohan had was the meaningless title of 'Baron' that he had acquired after assisting some nobles.

'I can't let anything happen to my son!'

He lowered his head and apologized on his behalf because he was too weak to fight for him. If only he could, he would have fought this man with everything he had.

Kyle's eyes widened at his father's actions, but then he realized something. He looked at John with a blank expression.

'Ah... they're too strong. We can't do anything.'

His heart sank as the harsh reality of the world they lived in finally dawned on him. It was a world ruled by the powerful, where magical power was everything, and he was just an ordinary person. He firmly grasped his father's shoulder, determined to take responsibility for his actions.

"I was the one who hit your son. I will apologize for my mistake."

He said with a steady voice, but his fists were clenched, and his eyes were cold.

Sen looked at him with disdain before leaving with his father. As they walked a small distance, the boy glanced back at Kyle and muttered under his breath.

"Tsk, weak ants."

Once they were gone, Ohan looked at his son with an apologetic expression. He had failed him as a father and couldn't stand by him when he needed it.

"My son..."

However, Kyle shook his head with an expressionless and calm face. He knew that his reckless actions of punching Sen in public had put his family in danger.

"Don't worry. I am fine."

He said this, but the brilliant light in his eyes had dimmed. That boy had called him an ant, and the words echoed in his mind, reminding him of the vast gap between him and Sen. His talent was inferior to Sen's. So, even if he worked hard or tried his best, he would never be able to bridge that divide.

'What's the point of getting angry when I can't even reach him in this lifetime?'

***

One year later, in Nyan City, a black-haired old man sat in the dining hall of a decent house, accompanied by his two older sons. It was Ohan, enjoying breakfast with his family after a busy week.

The dining table was filled with a light yet delicious morning meal, but unfortunately, one chair remained empty even as they neared the end of their meal.

At that moment, a boy entered the hall, rubbing his eyes and yawning. It was Kyle, the youngest son of Baron Ohan.

Like his dad, he had dark eyes and black hair, but for some reason, the tips of his hair had turned silver. Nodding at his dad, he approached the dining table and began eating without a care in the world.

Ohan sighed as he examined his hair. Last month, the tips of Kyle's hair had abruptly turned silver. At first, he was worried about this peculiar change, but after inquiring with others, he could not find any health issues. So, he decided to let it go. A warm smile appeared on his face as he gazed at Kyle.

"Late again?"

"Sorry, father. I overslept."

Noticing Kyle's lackadaisical attitude, Ray, Ohan's eldest son, shook his head. It had become quite common for his little brother to be late for breakfast or even skip it altogether due to his lazy disposition.

While Kyle was munching on a piece of pancake, his second brother, Neon, gazed at him with a mischievous smile.

"My little brother, tomorrow the Royal Academy is holding a test to find young talents. You should give it a shot."

The Royal Academy was a renowned institution recognized by everyone on the East Continent for its prestige and history. It held the title of being the top academy in Kingdom Escalante. Moreover, the principal of the academy was the strongest human in the entire kingdom.

Every year, the Royal Academy conducts a test to discover and nurture new talents. As long as an individual is not a criminal and is aged between 16 and 17, they are eligible to participate. Turning 16 this year, Kyle was the perfect candidate according to Neon.

Kyle nearly choked on the piece of pancake, his eyes widening as he looked at Neon.

'Are you talking to me?'

Even Ray, their older brother who possessed an impressive (A)-Rank talent, had failed to pass the Royal Academy test a few years back. How could he, with his (B)-Rank talent, stand a chance?!

On the Blue Planet, where various races coexist, humans, elves, dwarves, and all other races can awaken their talents—defined as their capacity for growth and development—once they turn 15. Talents are ranked from the lowest (F)-Rank, then (E)-Rank, to the highest (SSS)-Rank.

Each rank is further divided into three sub-ranks, such as (F-), (F), and (F+).

Once an individual has awakened their talent—potential for growth—they start at the (F-)-Rank, gradually becoming stronger until they reach the pinnacle of their talent.

Kyle, unfortunately, possesses only a (B)-Rank talent, and even after a whole year, he was still at the (F-)-Rank! This is why he has no desire to become a warrior or mage. In fact, he would prefer to keep his distance from anything related to fighting!

Ray glanced at his blank expression, a smirk forming at the corner of his lips. He eagerly chimed in, wanting to see his lazy brother face a bit of hardship.

"That's a great suggestion, Neon! Little brother, you should participate. Even if you fail—well, you're bound to fail anyway—you'll gain valuable experience from it."

Ohan looked puzzled, but upon seeing the signal in Ray's narrowed eyes, he hurriedly nodded in agreement. As a merchant and a (B)-Rank individual himself, he understood the harsh realities of their world, where the weak often faced adversity.

Both of his eldest sons had experienced setbacks, but Kyle, being the youngest, was carefree and lazy. He had never been angry with him, but he hoped for Kyle to mature and venture into the outside world.

Ohan knew that the entrance test of the Royal Academy was challenging, but he wasn't worried. Unlike other academies, the Royal Academy had never had any death casualties during its test. They made sure to keep all the participants alive.

Kyle glanced at his father and then at his two older brothers, feeling the urge to cry at their serious expressions. He attempted to convey to his father that he was unhappy, but his feelings were completely ignored.

With anger in his eyes, he shifted his gaze toward Neon, the one responsible for his misery. A few years ago, this jerk had also awakened a (B)-Rank talent, just like Kyle. However, he chose to apply to a local academy instead of the Royal Academy!

'Why do I have to endure the harsh test of the Royal Academy?'

He grumbled. Kyle liked the calm and lazy life he had been enjoying with his family.

From a young age, he had never been a competitive person, and after his mother's death, he became even more withdrawn.

At the age of 15, he awakened a (B)-Rank talent, which exceeded his expectations, but he found himself facing Sen, someone his age with even greater talent. Due to Sen's presence, the few friends he had left him, making it difficult for him to connect with anyone outside of his family.

He never told his family the truth; instead, he claimed he just didn't like making friends to avoid worrying them.

'Well, I would not call them friends. They were just passing through my life.'

Ultimately, he gave up on making friends and settled into an ordinary existence. He reluctantly practiced basic sword moves due to Ray's constant nagging, but that was the extent of his efforts.

Kyle never pushed himself because it felt like too much of a hassle. After all, what was the point of working hard when he already knew the limits of his talent?

Now, all he wanted was to live a laid-back life. In fact, he had already mapped out his future. In a few years, he planned to start a business in the city and enjoy a normal life.

He let out a sigh. His dreams of living a normal life were shattered all because of his annoying brother, who was currently stuffing his face right in front of him.

'I wish you'd choke on that food!'

Neon, who was eating, felt a shiver run down his spine. He looked at Kyle, the only one who could be responsible.

"Are you cursing me internally?"

Kyle blinked innocently and looked around before pointing his finger at his own nose.

"Who, me?"

Neon felt the urge to throw a punch at his innocent face, but he took a deep breath to calm himself and went back to eating.

'I wil see him suffer tomorrow, anyway!'

Meanwhile, Kyle narrowed his eyes as he looked at Neon again. He was cursing again. But it seemed like he didn't have much of a choice in this matter.

'It's not like I'll pass the test. So, trying it for the sake of experience isn't a big deal...'

He wiped his invisible tears.

'The only problem is whether I can make it through the entrance test with all my body parts intact and in the right places! Shit!'