My name is Idhir.
Until just a moment ago, I was a student at the Royal Knight Academy, but I was happily expelled and had now just become Idhir.
Well, I had no objection to being expelled. I knew for a fact that I wasn't a good student.
I aimed to become a knight from the moment I was born. I was born into a noble family of fairly good lineage, and also a famous knight family.
My father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and all of my ancestors before them were knights, and since I was born into such a family, it was decided from birth that I would also become a knight.
Due to these circumstances, it was pretty much decided that I would enter the Knight Academy, and I myself had no doubts as I completed the military academy and enrolled in the knight academy.
When did it start? What made you start to question your life?
Once doubts began to creep in, it was impossible to stay focused, and the grades that I had managed to maintain up until then plummeted.
The Knight Academy was, so to speak, an elite training institution. Because they prided themselves on being the "chosen ones," their attitude towards those who fell behind was particularly harsh.
"He's expelled, that dropout..."
"At last. In fact, it's too late..."
"To think that you were born into a distinguished military family, yet were blessed with absolutely no talent..."
"I can't believe that he is the younger brother of the genius Lord Zectwalris..."
"What a fool who truly disgraces the honor of knights. His very existence is a mistake..."
"It's not enough to just be expelled. I wish he'd just disappear not only from the academy but from the world as well..."
I had wished that they would at least speak where the person in question couldn't hear them. However, since what they said was mostly true, I didn't feel inclined to argue.
I left the academy building with a simple gratitude, "Thank you for taking care of me." I wanted to believe that my feeling of relief wasn't just being stubborn.
Thus, I was relieved from this oppressive position. Now, I was in a free position, no longer bound by any title or affiliation. But before I could fully enjoy this newfound freedom, there was still one more task I needed to complete.
I felt a heavy burden, but I knew I had to fulfill my obligations.
I returned home briefly to inform my family of the fact that I had been expelled from the Knight Academy. To my parents.
"You useless piece of trash." (Father)
The reply came as expected. That was the response I received regarding my expulsion.
By the way, it was my father who said that.
"Out of all my talented sons, why are you the only one who is so useless? The Zirahar family has been a lineage of knights for generations. My father, grandfather, and grandfather-in-law were all renowned knights who were loyal to the king." (Father)
"Yes" (Idhir)
I knew.
"But you were not blessed with any talent as a knight, and you are a useless person who can't even hold a sword. If you could at least graduate from knight school, I would have at least a small amount of pride to show for it. But you can't even do that and come back here like this. How much more do you have to smear shame on your father's face, you trash!" (Father)
My father was the current head of the prestigious Zirahar family.
As the descendant of a distinguished family of knights, my father was once a knight himself, but he had now retired. Instead, his many sons were born, all of whom showed great talent and achieved great success.
I believe that nothing brought him more joy than being in the spotlight as the father of his brilliant and talented children.
Therefore, he could never forgive. The only dropout among the brilliant siblings. A troublesome presence that marred the perfection...
"Do you know? My eldest son, Zectwalris, has been appointed as the new Knight Captain. Although he is still in his mid-twenties, he will be the youngest person to assume this position in history. I am truly proud of my son." (Father)
"Congratulation" (Idhir)
"My second son, Exarga, graduated at the top of his class and was ordained as a regular knight. That's a fair bit of progress. So why is it that only you, the third son, have grown up to be such a failure...?!" (Father)
I am truly sorry.
"Enough now." (Father)
"What do you mean?" (Idhir)
"When I think back, ever since you were little you have always been a child who betrayed my expectations. You can't even swing a sword properly. My eldest and second sons were strong enough to defeat adults even when they were young, but you could barely keep up with people your age. You couldn't even become the top student at the junior school. You couldn't even maintain decent grades at the Knight Academy, and you were expelled and came home!" (Father)
……. Well, everything was true. For my proud father, my very existence must be unbearable.
"A useless person like you has no right to be my son... my Zirahar family! I disown you! You are no longer my son, and I am not your parent anymore!" (Father)
"..." (Idhir)
"I should have done this sooner! We don't need a useless incompetent person like you in our home! Get out! And don't ever come back! I won't allow you to call yourself a member of our family! You should consider your ties with us severed!" (Father)
"Yes" (Idhir)
It was an expected response.
To him, a son who could not become a knight had no value. I was, of course, prepared to be disowned. Personally, I didn't feel like staying at home after hearing that.
"Understood. I hereby relinquish the surname Zirahar." (Idhir)
"..." (Father)
"Thank you for taking care of me until now." (Idhir)
"..." (Idhir)
My father just stared at me in silence the whole time. Had he already exhausted all his insults? I thought there might be a final farewell word, but even that did not come.
I found myself thinking that and couldn't help but laugh at it. Did I still have such expectations of my father? Having those expectations betrayed was just what he needed to sever my lingering attachment to this house.
Since I was still at home, I said my goodbyes to my mother and my younger siblings.
My mother was a timid person, unable to voice any complaints to her husband. Although she was in tears because I had been disowned, she didn't seem to do anything to change the situation.
And then there were my younger brother and sister. My youngest sister also cried and was reluctant to part with me. She was such a kind-hearted child, and that genuinely filled my heart with joy.
My younger brother openly showed his contempt.
He was also an excellent student and had the potential to graduate at the top of his class in the elementary school. He was expected to continue achieving high marks in the knight school and eventually debut as a distinguished knight. Therefore, it seemed that a failed older brother like me didn't matter.
My eldest and second eldest brothers were already official knights and were away on duty.
After saying my farewells to the two of them, I left the house I was born in, never to return.
Honestly, I felt a great sense of relief.
From the time I was born, I was burdened with excessive expectations and pressured to have no future other than becoming a knight. Similarly, when I gave up the path of knighthood and I was forced to become a wizard instead.
After repeatedly betraying my father's expectations, what I finally obtained was the freedom to make my own decisions. By giving up and saying, "I don't care anymore," I was finally able to decide on my own where to go and what to do from here.
When I realized this, I was surprised at how light my body felt. It felt as if all the mud that had seeped into my body, even to my very bones, had been washed away in an instant.
Now, what should I do now? For now, I guess I'll just head back home, huh?
There was a place where I could be myself without having to worry about anyone else.
It was the Adventurers' Guild.
Even while I was failing at knight school, I didn't just indulge in idleness. Even though it was forced upon me by my father since childhood, training myself had become a habit.
The Adventurers' Guild, which oversaw adventurers, handled troubles that occurred among civilians, and protected the peace of towns and villages.
The guild was a good fit for me as I could behave freely without any formalities, and it was the perfect escape for me, who was living a cramped life at the knight academy. Without telling my parents or the academy, I joined the Adventurers' Guild and completed quests every day to earn my own living.
Thanks to this, the lodging arranged by the guild had become my main place to sleep. Recently, my attendance at the Knight Academy had been severely lacking because I was busy completing quests for the Adventurers' Guild.
The people of the Knight Academy and my father probably thought I would be left wandering aimlessly after being kicked out, but they were sorely mistaken. I was able to make a sufficient living from the rewards I earned by continuously taking on quests at the guild.
There's no longer any need to sneak around in fear of my parents or the academy finding out. Let’s proudly march forward on the path I want to take!
Today is my new birthday!
Now that I had attained true freedom, there were many things I wanted to try.
The rare magic taught to me by a suspicious bard I had met at the guild.
Translator's Note
Since this series is already completed, there's no need to rush. So, I think I'll do only 1 chapter per week. But for this month only, I'll try 2 chapters per week.