Earth's Greatest Magus

Immediately following the duel, Shinta made her way toward the Ouroboros South Palace, the residence of her father, Visla Ouroboros, the Prince Regent. With a confident stride, she passed through the gates and traversed the grand hallways of the palace, every person she encountered offering a respectful bow in acknowledgment of her status.

The crimson-haired female magus who trailed behind voiced her concerns in a hushed tone. "Do you have to see your father right now? Are you sure?" she whispered.

Despite understanding the implications of her question, Shinta remained resolute. "Well, auntie... I've just become Ouroboros's number-one genius. This news is too monumental to  delay."

The female magus let out a resigned sigh as they made their way towards the palace's main hall. Within, a multitude of people had gathered for a ceremonial event.

A guard captain intercepted their path, his demeanor respectful yet firm. "Please, Princess Shinta, the heir ceremony is currently in progress. I must ask you to wait..."

With a serious expression, Shinta said, "I have an urgent message for the Prince Regent! It's a matter of life and death! Clear the way immediately!"

The weight of her words, coupled with her royal status, was enough to command the attention of even the most disciplined guard, who swiftly stepped aside to allow her passage. Dozens of nobles who witnessed her entrance into the hall were taken aback, some turning pale at the realization that the princess's presence could only signal trouble.

The ceremony, intended for the blessing of a newborn male as one of the Prince Regent's heirs, featured a shaman standing at the center, chanting over the baby held in a woman's arms. Undeterred by the solemnity of the occasion, Shiva strode forward until she stood before her father, the Prince Regent, who was seated upon his throne.

"Father, I've come with great news!" she announced, her voice cutting through the hushed murmurs that had arisen in the wake of her disruption.

The Prince Regent's response to Shinta's interruption was marked by a heavy sigh. Meanwhile, the woman cradling the newborn boy contorted with anger and began to voice her protest, "Princess Shinta, this is outrageous! You are interrupting this sacred ceremony."

Shinta's interruption, delivered with a casual tone. "I apologize. I thought you had finished already... My mistake," she remarked nonchalantly, her demeanor betraying little concern for the gravity of the situation.

Despite her words, Shinta wasted no time dismissing the shaman and all other guests with a wave of her hand. "The ceremony is over. I have something important to discuss with my father," she declared firmly, her words leaving no room for argument.

The audacity of her actions bordered on insult to the noble families, leaving the woman who served as one of the prince's consorts visibly agitated. Turning to the Prince Regent for guidance, she sought his intervention, but he remained silent, his reticence prompting her to direct her attention back to Shinta.

"Princess Shinta, how could you do this? This baby boy is your brother... He is the heir..." she implored, her voice tinged with a mixture of frustration and incredulity.

Once more, Shinta interjected, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she quipped, "Yes, yes... I know... Is he number five in line? No, sorry, is it sixth? I lost count..."

Her words served as a pointed reminder to the woman of the seemingly endless line of heirs from other consorts, highlighting the relative insignificance of the interrupted ceremony.

"You! All other consorts may fear you, but not me! You will be punished for this!" the woman continued, her voice trembling with anger.

Shinta sighed heavily, her expression devoid of emotion as she remarked, "Even my father doesn't dare to punish me. Or are you thinking about going to the queen? You can try... Trust me, my grandmother would only know you as a two-digit consort."

The sharp words struck the woman like a blow, leaving her speechless with shock and unable to articulate her anger. Shinta remained indifferent to her reaction and continued, "So, can we please quickly wrap this up... Let's clear the room," she concluded dismissively.

Mentally shocked, the woman departed the room, leaving only the Prince Regent, Shinta, and the female magus in their wake.

Turning to the frowning prince regent, Shinta's voice softened as she posed a question. "Father, are you not going to scold me for this?"

Prince Visla let out another deep sigh, his weariness apparent as he responded, "One of these days, I hope you can get along with at least one of the consorts..."

Shinta met her father's gaze with a meaningful smile, her words laced with gentle reproach. "And one of these days, I hope you find one woman that you truly care about, Father," she remarked with a smile.

A heavy silence settled between father and daughter as the Prince Regent broached the topic. "So, tell me, what urgent news do you bring today? I hope it's worth all this mess,"

With a serene smile, Shinta proceeded to recount the events of the day at the High Serpent Hall, detailing her victory over Shura and her subsequent designation as the number one genius.

"I am now the chosen candidate for the Magus Academy," she announced proudly, her eyes shining with anticipation.

However, the news failed to elicit the wanted reaction from the Prince Regent, his expression darkening into a frown. "Why did you do that?!" a note of anger coloring his voice.

Undeterred, Shinta responded calmly "You don't agree? It wasn't easy, you know... I fought hard to achieve this,"

The Prince Regent's anxiety only seemed to intensify at her response, and he turned to the female magus standing behind Shinta, his voice fraught with emotion.

"Annara... Tell me exactly what happened,"

Annara, the female magus entrusted with Shinta's care, stepped forward and recounted the events of the duel in meticulous detail. With a brief glance at Shinta, she hesitated momentarily before finally revealing that Shinta had resorted to using a forbidden transformation to secure her victory.

The revelation struck Prince Visla like a bolt of lightning, igniting a fiery rage within him.

Despite her father's uncharacteristic outburst, Shinta remained steadfast in her resolve. "Why, Father? Can I not join the academy? This is an opportunity for me to explore the world beyond Ouroboros,"

"No. You are not allowed to leave. You must decline your placement immediately," Prince Visla retorted sternly, his tone brooking no argument.

"You are not making any sense, Father," Shinta countered, her irritation mounting as the heated exchange continued to escalate.

"No is a No! You will listen to me!"

Shinta was shaking as she said "Alright! I will listen to you.... only if you tell me the truth... Tell me, Who is my mother?"