* * *
The revelation of my divine power hadn’t changed my schedule much.
I thought I might at least start training with divine energy under Arthur Sothes, but that didn’t happen either.
“The empire was on the verge of unification, yet the imperial army was struggling. A series of fires had broken out in the grain warehouses, severely disrupting their food supply.”
In the warmth of the room, Arthur Sothes’ voice resonated clearly.
I took notes as I focused on the lesson.
Lately, we had been studying the history of the continent, particularly the rise of the Sinoa Empire.
‘Not gonna lie, it’s like listening to someone read a classic fantasy novel out loud. Kinda fun.’
It also felt like uncovering hidden lore from ‘From Transmigration to Hero’.
Some had dismissed it as a run-of-the-mill web novel, but I had genuinely loved it at one point.
I had read enough stories that the moment I heard the name “Pantheon,” I recognized it instantly.
‘I wanted to be Kim Minsoo.’
Waking up one day to find myself in another world, receiving the gods’ favor, rising to become a hero.
Gaining comrades, earning recognition, and ultimately ascending to the highest place of honor.
I just never expected my wish to come true like this.
I had let my thoughts wander too long. I refocused on the lesson.
Arthur Sothes had now reached the events leading up to the final war.
“This concludes today’s lesson.”
“Huh?”
I glanced at the time.
It wasn’t supposed to be over yet.
I looked at Arthur Sothes in confusion, and he cleared his throat.
“I’m not sure if I should be the one teaching this… but His Grace has ordered it.”
“…….”
“Apparently, I’m the most ‘objective’ choice for the subject. Hah. Really now.”
His voice was a bit too loud for a mere mutter.
Almost as if he was justifying himself to me.
‘What is he about to teach me?’
It was the first time Arthur Sothes had shown such an awkward side, and it made me both uneasy and curious.
He took a sip of water before speaking again.
“Young Master, allow me to ask just in case. Do you remember anything about Alphas and Omegas?”
‘Oh no.’
Why was he blindsiding me like this?
‘I had just managed to forget about that…!’
I briefly considered feigning ignorance, but my instincts warned me that doing so could spell disaster later.
Slowly, I shook my head.
“When I visited the imperial palace, His Grace gave me a brief explanation. That’s all I know.”
“I see…”
Arthur Sothes visibly looked disappointed.
I almost felt guilty for saying I didn’t know.
“Well, normally, this education starts around the age of twelve. People are vaguely aware of it from childhood, but since it’s technically sex education…”
“…Excuse me?”
‘Sex education? Right now? Here?’
Seeing my flustered reaction, Arthur Sothes gave a reassuring smile.
“It’s alright. I’ll teach you in a purely objective manner.”
I had a feeling the Duke of Pantheon made a bit of a mistake here.
But there was no way I could say that, so I simply nodded with a polite smile.
Arthur Sothes hesitated for a moment, as if bracing himself, before starting his explanation.
“Humans, on average, manifest as either an Alpha or an Omega around the age of fourteen. When this happens, Omegas gain the ability to conceive—regardless of their original sex.”
“…Right.”
No matter how many times I heard it, it was still hard to believe.
“Typically, manifestation occurs about three to four months after one’s fourteenth birthday. What’s interesting is that while late manifestations do happen, early manifestations have never been recorded—at least according to official reports.”
“……”
“Once a person manifests as an Alpha or Omega, their pheromones become highly active. Each individual has a unique scent, and through it… they communicate in a way beyond language.”
‘That sounds an awful lot like seduction via pheromones.’
“Well, in any case. Once they reach adulthood at eighteen, Alphas enter their Rut Cycle, and Omegas enter their Heat Cycle. Simply put… it’s a mating season.”
For a brief moment, I almost called for Noah.
‘What kind of insane nonsense is this?!’
Why would humans have a mating season?! Who the hell came up with this setting?!
“You’ll learn more details about Rut and Heat Cycles after you manifest. They are crucial to reproduction—ah, forget I said that. Since pheromones and these cycles are extremely sensitive matters, proper etiquette is required when dealing with them.”
“……”
“Young Master?”
“…Yes?”
“You are listening, aren’t you?”
“Yes. I’m listening…”
It’s just that my head is spinning…
“I… I understand everything you’ve told me.”
“Good. Then, to continue… Before manifestation, humans experience a unique fever called Manifestation Fever. The severity varies from person to person, but the stronger one’s traits, the harsher the fever. Traits are classified as either dominant or recessive… but being dominant doesn’t necessarily mean superiority, and being recessive doesn’t imply inferiority. That’s all you need to remember.”
I suddenly felt the need to organize my thoughts, so I raised my hand.
For a split second, I thought Arthur Sothes flinched, but maybe I was imagining it.
“…Yes, you may ask. However, if I deem your question too difficult to answer, I may refuse to respond.”
He spoke slightly faster than usual.
‘Ah.’
So he’s worried I might ask something troublesome.
Well, sex education tends to bring up awkward questions.
“So, just to confirm—there are Alpha and Omega traits, and within those traits, individuals are classified as either dominant or recessive?”
“Yes, you’ve understood it perfectly.”
Dominant Alpha… It sounded like a big deal.
Even in Korea, people used terms like “Alpha male.”
It was common to call the leader of a pack an Alpha.
Given that, it wasn’t surprising that dominant Alphas were idolized.
Arthur Sothes then went on to explain the physical changes that occur upon manifestation.
His tone was so dry that it felt more like a biology lecture than sex education.
Though some of the content was… rather disturbing.
‘If a man manifests as an Omega, his body develops organs for pregnancy?’
I wanted to pass out.
Right then and there.
‘I absolutely do not want to be an Omega. Please, just no.’
But why did I have a bad feeling about this?
A chill ran down my spine, and I had the sinking suspicion that things wouldn’t go my way.
“Wouldn’t Young Master Sean manifest as an Omega? A dominant Omega, at that.”
It was all because of what Crown Prince Hamuel said.
Even the Emperor seemed convinced that I would manifest as an Omega.
Sure, Sean—meaning, me—might look a bit… delicate.
But deciding my manifestation based on appearances?
‘Wait a second.’
I abruptly raised my hand.
“Ah, sir! I have a question!”
“Yes, go ahead.”
This time, Arthur Sothes didn’t flinch, but his expression was one of firm resolve.
I told him about what I’d heard in the imperial palace and the atmosphere at the banquet.
His brows immediately furrowed.
“They’re all delusional.”
‘Sir, you’re talking to yourself a bit too loudly today.’
Arthur Sothes took a sip of water before answering my question.
“The idea that one’s future manifestation can be predicted based on appearance is a baseless myth. There are actually many cases where a person manifests as a trait completely unrelated to their looks. Of course, after manifestation, some physical changes do occur, but nothing too drastic.”
Did he know that his words felt like a lifeline from heaven to me right now?
“There is something called pheromone level testing that can provide an estimate of one’s likely manifestation. However, it isn’t completely accurate. Still, among royalty and nobility, it is customary to conduct these tests during childhood.”
And just like that, my lifeline disappeared before I could grab it.
“Then… does that mean… I was tested too…?”
When I was at the imperial palace, Duke Pantheon said they couldn’t be certain because I hadn’t been tested yet.
“You probably… have been tested. If I recall correctly…”
Why are you hesitating?
“Hmm. I believe it would be best to ask His Grace or Her Ladyship directly about this.”
‘Ah…’
Why is it that my bad premonitions never turn out wrong?
I had heard that the Duke and Duchess were very close with the Marquis and Marchioness since childhood.
In relationships like that, people tend to make casual jokes, don’t they?
Like in Korea—“If my kid’s a girl and yours is a boy, let’s have them marry.”
‘Sean… was your test result Omega?’
Was Duke Pantheon’s statement back then just a bluff to keep the Emperor at bay?
The more I thought about it, the more absurd it all seemed.
“Ah, I suppose it’s time to wrap up our lesson. Oh, one more thing—the Empire hosts a Manifestation Ceremony every February in the capital, overseen by the Emperor himself. Since manifestation is considered a step toward adulthood, it is also a celebratory event.”
“R-right…”
“Originally, Young Master Raizen was supposed to attend last year’s Manifestation Ceremony. However, at the Emperor’s suggestion, it was postponed to this year. You will be attending alongside the Crown Prince and… the third son of the Luavis Ducal House.”
Arthur Sothes said this as if it was deeply vexing.
But my mind was preoccupied with something else entirely.
* * *
