The Extra is a Genius!?-Chapter 106: Towards Estermont (50GT Bonus - )

The academy grounds were nearly deserted.

Where once the stone paths bustled with students rushing to lectures or sparring in the courtyards, now only silence remained—punctuated by the occasional chirping of birds perched in trees just beginning to blossom.

Spring had arrived.

Soft buds peeked from the skeletal branches, painting the air with the subtle fragrance of new life. The breeze was crisp, still clinging to the final whispers of winter, yet gentle enough to carry warmth on its breath.

Noel stood near the southern gate, clad in a dark navy noble coat tailored for travel. Silver buttons lined the collar, and the Thorne sigil had been stitched discreetly onto the sleeve. He looked calm, but his eyes carried the weight of too many thoughts.

At his feet, Noir darted playfully between his boots, tail wagging as she circled him with energetic curiosity.

Noel sighed and crouched slightly, running a hand over her soft fur.

’Elyra told me to wait here.’

He wasn’t sure what he expected. Maybe a traditional carriage, or something overly luxurious. But he trusted Elyra enough to follow her instructions without question.

As Noir pawed at a fallen blossom, Noel let his gaze wander across the now-empty training fields in the distance. For most students, the spring break meant a return home. But not for him.

He had a home... technically.

But the last thing he wanted was to return there.

There were more important things now—urgent things. Things that couldn’t wait.

Noel straightened his posture and looked up toward the cloudless sky.

’Let’s get this started.’

Footsteps approached from behind, calm and familiar.

Noel turned just as Elyra arrived, her usual poise intact. She wore a travel cloak lined with fur over her academy uniform, and her long braid rested neatly over her shoulder.

"Hello, Noel," she greeted with a small smile. Her gaze dropped to the wolf pup circling his feet. "And hello, little girl."

"You knew she was a girl?" Noel asked, raising a brow.

"Of course. From the start. Didn’t you?"

"I did. I mean—yeah, I knew."

"Then why the question?"

"...No reason. Ignore it."

Elyra let out a faint chuckle. "Anyway, our ride should be here soon. Try not to be too surprised when you see it."

"Surprised by what? You said we’d take a transport, so I assumed a carriage or something."

"Yes. A transport," she echoed, cryptic as ever.

Noel narrowed his eyes at her but said nothing, turning his gaze skyward again.

A shadow passed over the sun.

He blinked, then looked again—this time more intently.

A massive shape was descending from above, wings wide like sails, stirring the trees below as it began to land.

"You’ve got to be kidding me," Noel muttered. "That’s not our ride, is it?"

"Of course it is," Elyra replied, almost too casually.``

The creature landed with a gust of wind that kicked up leaves and dust all around them. It stood tall—nearly twenty meters long from beak to tail—and its massive wings folded slowly, like sails furling after a long journey. Its feathers were a pristine white, with streaks of golden yellow that shimmered under the sun, making the beast look more divine than natural.

’It really is a Quetzal,’ Noel thought, awestruck. ’Or something even rarer.’

A compartment on the creature’s underside hissed open. From within stepped a tall man in a crisp black uniform—clearly a butler—carrying himself with practiced grace.

"Good morning, Lady Elyra," the man said with a respectful bow. "I trust you’re well?"

"I am, thank you for coming to get us," Elyra replied, stepping forward with natural authority.

"Allow me to take your luggage."

"Much appreciated."

Elyra turned to Noel and beckoned. "Come on."

The butler’s eyes shifted to Noel, and his expression tightened slightly with surprise. "I wasn’t informed you would have company, Lady Elyra. Had we known, we would’ve prepared something more suitable. May I ask who this is?"

Before Noel could open his mouth, Elyra spoke up first.

"My future husband."

"...What?" the butler asked.

"...What?" Noel echoed, staring at her.

"Yes, that’s right," Elyra said with a serene smile, brushing past both of them. "Now get in. I’m in a hurry. I want to see my mother."

"...Understood," the butler said, adjusting his posture.

Noel was still frozen in place. ’Did she just—what the hell was that?’

He cleared his throat awkwardly. "Uh, ladies first."

Elyra smirked without looking back as she stepped into the cabin. Noel followed, heart beating faster than he liked to admit.

The wind howled gently outside the reinforced windows as the massive Quetzal soared above the forests and hills of southern Valor. From this height, the world below looked painted in gentle strokes—soft greens of new leaves, rivers like silver threads, and distant mountains hazy in the light of spring.

Inside the spacious cabin, luxury surrounded them. The seats were thick leather, stitched with silver threads in a noble family crest. Polished wood lined the walls, and magic crystals embedded in the ceiling provided a soft, ambient glow. In the front, separated by a thin partition, the butler sat in a control seat, piloting the creature through subtle reins and whispered commands.

Noel sat by the window, resting his cheek against his knuckles as he watched the land roll by. Next to him, Elyra reclined comfortably with Noir curled on her lap. The little wolf gave a tiny yawn, her muzzle rising and falling with each slow breath.

"We’ll arrive in a few hours," Elyra said, her voice calm, almost sleepy.

"I see," Noel replied, eyes still on the sky. "I’ll stay in Estermont for a few days before heading to Iskandar. Once I get what I need... we’ll cure your mother. I promise."

There was a pause. Then: "Okay..." Elyra hesitated before adding, more softly, "And one more thing."

Noel turned his head slightly.

"What I said earlier," she continued, "I meant it."

Noel blinked. "About the... husband thing?"

She nodded.

"I see." He looked away again, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I mean, who wouldn’t want to marry the daughter of the most powerful family on the continent?"

"So... you’d be okay with it?" she asked, tilting her head.

"In theory, yes," he said. "But right now, a relationship would be... complicated."

Elyra’s voice held a hint of playful challenge. "Hmm. I can wait. But don’t make me wait too long."

"...Alright," Noel said quietly, feeling Noir’s warmth against his leg and the unfamiliar calm of the cabin around him.

The butler’s voice rang from the front: "We will be landing shortly, my lady."

Elyra nodded and stood, brushing a few strands of her dark hair behind her ear as she adjusted her coat. Noir leapt off her lap and padded to Noel’s feet, tail swaying in calm arcs.

"Time to meet the family," Noel murmured, rising. A small exhale escaped him as he looked out the window again.

Below them stretched not a simple estate, but an entire city.

The Estermont dominion was unlike anything Noel had seen before, even in the capital. Vast marble roads, elegant towers of stone and crystal, golden fountains and floating crystal lampposts that shimmered despite the early dusk. A silver river carved through the city like a flowing ribbon, with arched bridges connecting the districts.

In the distance, rising atop a mountain slope like a crown, stood the Estermont estate—a palace more than a manor. Kilometers of garden fields bloomed in spring hues, a breathtaking blend of discipline and magic. It was a city within a city, encased by towering walls and elemental wards glowing faintly in the sky.

’So this... is how real power looks,’ Noel thought, watching as the Quetzal beast descended toward the landing platform.

The creature’s wings opened wide to slow the descent, and its massive body settled with a controlled impact onto a polished obsidian circle bordered with platinum glyphs.

Dozens of attendants stood ready in tight formation, dressed in cream-white and gold uniforms. As the hatch opened, a gust of spring air mixed with cold mountain breeze rushed in.

Noel stepped down after Elyra, Noir at his side, ears twitching curiously.

From the edge of the marble platform, a man approached. His presence was immediate and forceful.

Tall with broad-shoulders. Dressed in a dark red formal jacket trimmed with golden lines that shimmered faintly under the evening light. His black hair was streaked with gray at the temples, and his short beard was sculpted with precision. At his side hung a ceremonial sword, but its edge was clearly cared for—sharp, clean, functional.

Elyra paused, then gave a slight, respectful bow.

"Father," she said. Her voice was calm, but there was a certain weight in her tone.

The man’s eyes flicked past her and locked onto Noel.

They narrowed immediately.

Noel gave a small, polite nod. "A pleasure to meet—"

"And this one?" the man interrupted, voice low and sharp like iron drawn across stone. "Who is he?"

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