Arc 1: The Birth of Incubus

Chapter 1 – Conferment Ceremony

The imperial capital was filled with bustling that night.

Today was the day of Holy Birthday that was celebrated once a year.

It was an important national holiday when children who turned 14  years old that year were to be blessed with <Gift> from heaven.

<Gift> was that person’s talent itself that was awarded to them from heaven.

There were a lot of variety of Gift like <Swordsman> or  <Blacksmith>. That person’s life would be decided by what kind of  <Gift> was awarded to them.

The children who turned 14 years old this year were lining up in the  plaza in front of the church at the center of the capital. <Gift>  was awarded to them one after another.

「Uu, I’m feeling nervous.」

I, Erio Scarlet was also among that line. My heart was beating really hard while waiting.

Everyone else must be feeling worried too, but I think that my nervousness must be bigger than anyone here.

After all my family was a noted family that was prominent even in this capital. My family was a duke house.

There were a lot of people from Scarlet House who got awarded with  the Gift of Holy Knight (Sei Kishi). Because of that our family was a  sacred noble house that was charged with the protection of this imperial  capital.

Naturally, as a member of that family, I also had the expectation of  being a Holy Knight riding on me. I had received a lot of teaching from a  first class teacher who had been assigned to me since I was little. It  made me trembling when I imagined receiving a weird Gift even after  receiving all those privileges.

「You don’t need to be that nervous, Erio.」

Tou-san (father) said that while putting his hand kindly on my shoulder.

Tou-san is the current head of Scarlet House. He laughed in good humor and continued speaking.

「Perhaps I shouldn’t say this but, Scarlet House already has your two  big brothers receiving the Gift of Sword Holy Knight before this. There  is no problem with the succession in our house. Recently there has been  some stories about nobles who easily banished their own children just  because they received strange Gift, but I’m not someone heartless like  that. No mater what kind of Gift my children obtained, I will still love  them as a father. That’s why go receive your Gift with your head held  high.」

「Y-yes Tou-san.」

Tou-san was so cool and dignified, and yet he was also kind. His words lightened the burden on my shoulder.

「OOOOOOOOOOOOH!」

Then, loud cheers rose from the front for some reason.

When I turned over there in curiosity of what was going on,

「Amazing! It’s the Gift of Sacred Knight (Shinsei Kishi)!」

The citizens were making a ruckus. I got dumbfounded 「S-Sacred Knight!?」 when I heard what they were saying.

That was a top class Gift that surpassed even the Sword Holy Knight that my big brothers had.

It was even said that anyone who received such Gift would carve their  name in history as the strongest warrior of their time without any  exception…….

Who in the world received such extraordinary Gift? When I stood on my tiptoes to look,

「Hoo……it’s the youngest daughter of Blueaiz House. She has been  extraordinary since the beginning but, to think that she would receive  that kind of powerful Class……」

「Eh……a daughter of Blueaiz House? So it’s Alicia!?」

I jumped after hearing Tou-san’s words……certainly there was Alicia at the center of the commotion.

She was the youngest child of Blueaiz House, a house of marquis. Her  blue eyes and silver hair with their otherworldly beauty really stood  out.

She was my childhood friend who was often together with me since our childhood.

Alicia was receiving the praises from her surrounding with her usual  expressionless face. As usual, I couldn’t really understand what she was  thinking from her face.

Certainly Alicia had been exceptional in sword technique and studying  since the beginning. I was always feeling frustrated because of that  but……to think that she would receive such amazing Gift now.

Looking at Alicia, I fired up myself 「I’m not going to lose……!」 with rivalry. Tou-san looked down at me with an amused smile.

「Gift is often decided by genetic. As a house charged with the  protection of this imperial capital, I really hope that she can join our  Scarlet House. I’m counting on you for that, Erio.」

「W-what are you saying Tou-san……!」

I objected with a red face.

For some reason Alicia was often staying close to me since we were little. Because of that the people around us easily got that kind of misunderstanding about us.

That was why I was used to this kind of teasing.

……And yet, I couldn’t stop getting flustered when teased like that with how pretty Alicia has become recently.

On top of that Tou-san’s eyes looked really serious, so I couldn’t find any good reply to say back.

「Erio Scarlet! Come forward!」

My turn came while we were having that kind of conversation.

Most children had also finished their Gift awarding, so the attention  to me who was a member of Scarlet House was in a different level.

The heavy pressure that Tou-san had just lightened up was weighing heavily on my shoulder once more.

I’m not asking for something at Alicia’s level, but please at least give me a proper Gift……!

I prayed like that while presenting myself in front of the priest.

Then I felt something like a heat forming inside my body.

(This is the feeling of Gift conferment……but, eh? For some reason, it feels like my lower body also feel strangely hot……

I was bewildered but, during that time the Class conferment was apparently finished.

The priest read out loud the Gift that I received.

「Erio Scarlet! Your Gift is……? ……!?」

The priest’s reaction seemed strange for some reason.

He looked really bewildered. Just from looking at him it was clear that he was at a loss for words.

I-I wonder why…….

「What’s wrong priest? What is my son’s Gift? Just say it. I don’t mind at all even if it’s not a Gift for combat at all.」

Tou-san asked in my place.

「T-then I shall announce it. Erio Scarlet. Your Gift is──」

Then, after seriously hesitating, the priest announced my Gift loudly just as the custom dictated.

「Your Gift is Incubus! Your initial skill is……Peerless!」

「………………………………………………Ha?」

My word was the last sound heard before the Conferment Ceremony’s venue fell silent as though time had stopped.