Exposed

*PENG!*

The tactical-class barrier finally shattered.

The sudden shattering of the barrier enveloping the Frenzel residence caught everyone watching outside off guard.

"What's happening?"

"Fire?"

"This heat and flames..."

"It's tactical-class magic!"

Various surprised scouts reacted one after another.

Without hesitation, they retreated from the Frenzel residence's perimeter to avoid any complications and needed to relay the information to their superior as soon as possible.

Unbeknownst to these scouts, several people had escaped from the other end of the Frenzel residence, leaving this chaotic place and the royal capital behind.

Apart from these people, someone else was actually stumbling and fleeing from another direction.

It was none other than Archie.

"I-I made it out...?"

Archie, looking at the flames chasing behind him, ran out while tears of joy streaming down his face.

"Yes! I made it out!"

Recalling the recent events, he still felt a lingering fear.

In his search to see Riezel and Yuri, he had sneaked into the Frenzel residence alone, narrowly escaping danger several times. What made it worse was he didn't get to see them at all, as all he encountered were only knights and slaves.

He first ran into some knights, then suspected of being one of the attackers, resulting in a pursuit. Shortly afterward, he encountered some slaves and they also attacked him without reason, forcing him to use magic to fight back.

As he fought the slaves and was pursued by the knights, both sides soon met and engaged in their own fight, dragging him into it as well.

Whether knights or slaves, they treated him as their enemy, wanting either to capture or kill him.

He had to fight back and explain himself at the same time, running in circles until he managed to escape the chaotic Frenzel residence.

However, in his escape, he witnessed an unforgettable scene.

'Riezel wasn't worthless at all!'

Recalling the last scene he witnessed, Archie found it hard to believe.

He saw with his own eyes Riezel appearing on the roof of the mansion. He also witnessed Riezel chanting powerful magic, unleashing the hellish red fire, blasting toward the entire residence.

Before long, the entire Frenzel residence fell into a sea of fire.

Archie himself narrowly escaped the pursuit of flames, almost getting burnt to ashes. Fortunately, he managed to escape and discovered this huge secret.

'What? His 'Gate' is damaged?'

'What? Can't be a magician anymore?'

'What a bullshit! He's not only unharmed but also grown stronger, becoming a Tactical-Class Magician!'

Archie felt he had a sudden revelation.

Why was Riezel looked upon favorably by the Frenzel family, even allowed to stay at their residence?

Obviously, because Riezel was a Tactical-Class Magician and thus recruited by the Frenzel family, becoming one of their people!

The reason Riezel pretended to be useless was merely to deceive the other nobles, to fool other factions, serving as a hidden trump card for the Frenzel family!

In the eyes of many nobles, this wasn't a rare occurrence. Many of them also secretly employed various means to enhance their family's strength without others knowing.

In Archie's view, Riezel was deliberately hidden by the Frenzel family, a card moved into the shadows.

Because of that, Riezel was declared a cripple publicly, yet still allowed to reside in the Frenzel residence as if he were just lodging there. His so-called practice of swordsmanship was also a facade, only meant to divert attention.

Now, with the Frenzel residence unmistakably under attack and a tactical-class barrier hinting at the involvement of a Tactical-Class Magician, it was only natural for Riezel, also a Tactical-Class Magician, to be dispatched to confront the enemy magician.

'I always wondered why that country boy got so damn cocky all of a sudden. Turns out, he's already become a Tactical-Class Magician. Damn him! Obviously, he doesn't feel the need to bow and nod to our relationship anymore.'

Archie felt both relieved and jealous.

If he were also a Tactical-Class Magician, he wouldn't have to worry about being abandoned by his family.

As for Riezel, if he had known that Riezel had become a Tactical-Class Magician, he shouldn't have thought Riezel was worthless before and ignored him. He should have taken advantage of that time to build a better relationship with Riezel. Perhaps he could make this Tactical-Class Magician his subordinate.

Who would have thought the outcome would be like this?

'Fuck, can't do it. I've got to make good use of this information.' Archie cursed silently and began to ponder. 'The guy who stayed in the Frenzel residence is actually a Tactical-Class Magician. If this news spreads, it's bound to attract the attention of major nobles and even the royal family, including my father...'

As a result, Riezel would be under intense scrutiny and would be thoroughly investigated by various factions to determine his origin.

When the time came, everyone would know that he used to have a good relationship with Riezel and they were in the same small group. They had even gone to the Royal Market together recently, chatting and laughing, which solidified the credibility of their relationship.

'In that case, considering I have a Tactical-Class Magician as a friend backing me up, who also has a decent standing in the Frenzel family, even if my father is super stubborn, he can't just brush off my feelings, right? He will undoubtedly have to take my feelings into account when appointing my elder brother as the heir.'

As he thought like that, Archie's eyes lit up.

'Yes! This is the way to go!'

'Then there's only one thing I need to do...'

'Spread the news about Riezel Brynhart being a Tactical-Class Magician! The wider, the better!'

With that decision firmly in mind, Archie quickened his pace, distancing himself from the chaotic scene.

Not long after, news that would drop the jaws of many in the royal capital began to surface, becoming known to all.

===

On this day, there were many hot topics in the royal capital, Yeluvia.

—The Frenzel residence faced an attack by rebellious slaves, suspected to have been incited by a Tactical-Class Magician from a foreign land, which sparked the entire incident.

—Marquis Frenzel, while engaging the enemy, fell victim to an ambush, sustaining severe injuries. Only with the protection of her attendants did she manage to narrowly escape the royal capital.

—Miraculously, all the knights and servants emerged unharmed, seeking refuge in the basement, with no reported casualties.

—During a critical moment, the one who bravely confronted the foreign Tactical-Class Magician and shifted the course of events was a Tactical-Class Magician named Riezel Brynhart.

Such pieces of news spread throughout the royal capital after the tactical-class barrier on the Frenzel residence was destroyed and reinforcements from various factions quickly entered the scene.

This news shocked the entire royal capital.

"Marquis Frenzel is seriously injured and escaped the royal capital?"

"Isn't this very bad?"

"Who did it?! Who dared to attack our country's Strategic-Class Magician?!"

"Who is this foreign Tactical-Class Magician?"

"Investigate! We must investigate as soon as possible!"

Various factions were shaken, feeling uneasy, and began to take action one after another.

The royal family, in anger, dispatched their kingdom knightly order and court magicians to both rescue Yuri and execute the audacious criminals.

Some also noticed that something was amiss, while others were astonished by the rapidly changing news.

"Frenzel family has a Tactical-Class Magician?"

"Riezel Brynhart, huh?"

"Isn't he the guy who had loads of rumors flying around not too long ago?"

"He's a Tactical-Class Magician?"

"This is seriously mind-blowing."

People expressed astonishment, disbelief, and contemplation.

For example, some noble children, especially Senna and Carrera, were truly shocked upon hearing this news and found it hard to believe Riezel's sudden identity as a Tactical-Class Magician.

"How can he be a Tactical-Class Magician?" Senna was unwilling to accept reality.

"No wonder..." Carrera seemed to understand something and sighed.

As for the mastermind behind it all, the eldest son and young master of the Basolo family, upon learning the news, was dumbfounded.

"No! Impossible!"

The young master erupted in anger, kicking a trembling steward, who knelt before him. 

"You son of a bitch! How dare you?! How dare you hurt her!"

The enraged young master continued to kick the steward, ignoring his pitiful cries, filled with both anger and fear.

"It's impossible! She's a Strategic-Class Magician, for fuck's sake! How could she get seriously injured by a bunch of useless slaves?!"

"This makes no sense!"

"No sense at all!"

As he shouted with anger and confusion, the young master began to grasp the severity of the situation.

Everything he had done was solely to prevent Yuri from leaving the royal capital and returning to her territory.

As long as she was unharmed, even if his family had to bear her wrath afterward, the royal family wouldn't investigate too deeply. His father could smooth things over, after all.

But now, with Yuri in trouble, the nature of the situation changed.

Attacking a marquis family could be excused as a mistake, but seriously injuring a Strategic-Class Magician was a crime. The royal family would not turn a blind eye to it.

Moreover—

"How could that damn commoner be a Tactical-Class Magician?! What the fuck is happening?!"

The young master's anger flared.

Initially, he was indifferent to Riezel's existence since he didn't consider a mere commoner with a damaged Gate a threat.

Did Riezel deserve Yuri? Certainly not!

However, as Riezel and Yuri's interactions became more frequent and their relationship seemed to improve, he started to feel uneasy.

Thanks to this, he planned to take advantage of the attack to bring back that lowborn commoner, deal with him properly, and make him understand that not every woman in this world could be touched, especially one already reserved by him!

Who would have thought that the outcome would be like this?

"Young Master!"

A servant suddenly rushed in, visibly terrified.

"Th-The people from the royal family ca-came! T-The Lord asked you to go over!"

'Ended...'

After thinking like that with despair, the young master suddenly felt his vision blacking out before collapsing to the floor.

""Young Master!""

The shouts of the steward and the servant echoed throughout the room.