episode_0296

Several days have passed since the time travel incident. Having ascertained all the facts, we’ve begun full-scale preparations for war.

During my busy schedule, I took a short walk through a small garden within the royal palace. With each step, the thinly accumulated snow melts, seeping through my sandals.

A winter garden doesn’t offer much to see. The cold, dry weather isn’t ideal for plants. Even the winter flowers are mostly covered in a white layer of snow, less colorful than one might expect.

Still, it’s better than nothing. I walked through the snow-white garden and sat before a small hill.

Hoooo—

My white breath slowly dissipates, melting into the snow-white sky. The whole world is white. The stillness and tranquility of the scene calmed my heart.

「Naifrantz’s Hero, Grand Mage Lea Flora」

A tombstone inscribed with a date that’s the same as my birthday. A little snow has accumulated here, too. I used ether to create a warm wind, clearing the snow and wiping the tombstone clean.

“…I miss you already.”

Mother is truly gone. No, she’s someone who died over 20 years ago; it’s strange to have her feel so close. I should say she’s returned to where she belongs.

She lived for centuries, far exceeding the lifespan of a human. Even though she was utterly exhausted, she left behind a few words just for me. I can’t arbitrarily hold onto her.

Surrounded by flowers, as befitting her name and buried in the garden as per her past life’s name, my mother. I wish her endless happiness, knowing she will be reborn someday into a new life.

I clasped the locket containing my mother’s picture, offering a prayer. Even though she doesn’t exist in this world, somehow I felt she was watching over me from somewhere.

After scattering ether throughout the garden, I left and returned to my office.

Only Nix was waiting for me.

“Where are the others?”

“They’re all busy. Aspi’s with the Royal Knights, Lulu’s with the Court Mages. Yuri went to assist the Lumina Holy Order according to her tier.”

Yesterday, Archmage Leonardo Price officially announced Lulu as his successor. Following the wishes of the next Archmage, the mage tower will also cooperate with the Court Mage Corps to contribute to the war.

The Royal Knights have been consolidated. With a major overhaul of troops, exceptional superhuman individuals were gathered to form a new-look Knights, led by Aspi, who has been appointed as their Captain.

Those who were not selected, including the former Knight Commander Karmoer who resigned, have become commanders utilizing their experience in the Knights. The Royal Army, with Second Prince Evan as Supreme Commander, is ready to deploy at any moment.

All preparations are going smoothly. Soldiers and citizens alike are united in their determination.

Perhaps I’m the only one who’s not at peace. I still have no idea how to save Eve, who is tainted by dark magic.

Miracles don’t come easily. My path ahead is long and arduous.

I sat at my desk and glanced at Nix.

She’s become a supercomputer for the war preparations. She hasn’t moved from her spot, processing countless amounts of information.

“…….”

I realized something was off about Nix.

Normally, no matter how much work she had, she would be smiling faintly, lost in thought. But now she’s intensely serious, seemingly troubled by something.

I moved through the black fog, standing before Nix. She slipped away from me like a cat avoiding a butler’s touch.

Something’s definitely wrong. It’s unimaginable for Nix to refuse physical contact with me. I had to use ether to catch her as she dodged me.

“…Let go.”

“I don’t want to. Let’s take a break.”

“I have a lot to do. I’m busy.”

“That’s why let’s take a break.”

Glowing brightly, I’m invincible. It’s like a cliché from a shonen manga. Nix, the spirit, cannot escape my ether barrier.

I cut off Nix’s spellcasting and pulled her into my arms. A magically created human heart was beating rapidly.

“Let go, my lord… I have to work. The others… the others are all working hard for everyone, but me…”

“You’re working hard too. You are contributing just as much as everyone else.”

“Anyone can do this kind of paperwork! Just sitting still thinking… I’m no different from a computer…”

“If a computer this pretty existed in my past life, I would have definitely emptied my treasury to buy it.”

I pulled Nix in tighter. Seeing her agitated, I gathered it wasn’t just the work piling up. I delved deeper into her embrace.

“Something else?”

“That time… when I fought with Eve. Even then, I couldn’t do anything. Even though I knew there was something about Eve, I didn’t tell you.”

“Nix, I’ve said this many times, that was my choice. Even if you told me something, I would have acted the same way.”

“That’s… that’s not something you know for sure.”

Why is this usually carefree girl so anxious? I found it unlike Nix.

She’s lost herself.

*Chuckle—*

I laughed. For some reason, it felt like a similar thing happened a long time ago. Suspecting people, suspecting people, and eventually losing trust in herself.

Of course, that person and Nix are different. There’s a Nix-specific way to comfort her.

“You’re done. Forced vacation with me today.”

“What…? No… there’s still a lot of work that came in today…!”

“It’s okay~ things will somehow manage for a day, right?”

I immediately dragged Nix outside.

.

.

.

Nix, whose spirit has inhabited a magically created body, is sensitive to physical sensations.

This is because she’s a spiritual being composed solely of mana, lacking a physical form. Even though Nix has started to get used to the human world, she’s still less than a year old in human terms.

Moreover, she has had little emotional interaction with other spirits. To be honest, she’s a loner.

Seeing Nix interact with people other than me gives off a very otaku vibe. She only talks about what she wants to, can’t answer questions properly, and gets excited when her favorite topics come up. She has all the otaku characteristics. Why I know this so well is a secret.

My strategy for dealing with Nix focuses on two main things: emotion and sensation. Stimulating both will quickly improve her mood and restore her to her usual self.

The first is a shower of praise.

Even if I praise her, she’ll think it’s only because I care for her. Therefore, I need to use objective public opinion instead of my subjective opinion.

I immediately walked down the hallway and encountered two courtiers in charge of accounting.

“Oh, hello!”

“Are you feeling better, Your Highness?”

“Yes. After sleeping for a few days, all my injuries are gone. Want to see for yourself?”

“Uh, uh…”

The man’s eyes widen. Fortunately, he had a capable female colleague next to him, who immediately gave him a backhand slap, bringing him back to his senses.

“And you…”

“It’s Nix. It’s my first time meeting you in person. Nice to meet you. I’m Tiffany, in charge of accounting in the royal palace.”

Upon receiving greetings from two perfectly normal people, Nix became completely stiff. Fortunately, she had a capable companion next to her, so she was immediately given a backhand slap and snapped out of it.

*Slap—!*

“H-hiik! N-nice to meet you… I’m Nix, the spirit of darkness…”

Her mumbled self-introduction scored about 3 out of 10. She wouldn’t even make eye contact.

However, the two courtiers weren’t interested in Nix’s personality. There was a more important topic.

Tiffany grabbed Nix’s hand. Overwhelmed with emotion, she was already on the verge of tears.

“I… I really wanted to meet you, Nix.”

“Y-yes…?”

“How is your accounting so fast… You processed the documents we haphazardly submitted in just one day.”

“T-that’s… it’s just simple calculations…”

Tiffany’s eyes shone even brighter.

“Those war materials documents required checking the price of each item… Could it be that Nix knows the prices of over hundreds of items by heart?!”

“W-well… yes…”

“Please come to our accounting department…!! Please! Your talent will shine brightly in the accounting department—!!”

She kept shaking Nix’s hand and praising her. Nix, who initially looked unsure, gradually started to smile. She seems to be feeling good, whatever it is.

After that, I passed several more people.

“Thank you so much for helping with the improvement of the conscription law!”

“The land survey was completed quickly, allowing us to immediately focus on transporting war materials!”

“Could you help us out a little with the reorganization of the royal capital’s southern sector?”

Countless people praised Nix’s contributions. They genuinely completed tasks that would have taken months thanks to Nix.

When the war is imminent, anxiety leads to mistakes. In that sense, buying time is invaluable.

Nix’s work has been just paperwork as she claimed. But what if her work quality exceeds professional standards and her speed surpasses machines?

Nix said she only knows how to cut carrots, but it’s no different from cutting hundreds of magical beasts. She’s already a hero.

“Nix, long live!”

“Long live!”

Walking the path of flowers towards the royal capital, Nix, having forgotten her worries, had a wide smile. There was no need for complicated plans.

After discreetly giving a thumbs-up to the courtiers, I went to have lunch with Nix.

Delicious food is Nix’s second weakness.