Calamity (1)

While managing the territory, Shuriel hadn’t neglected the duties of an Executor.

However, after the news spread that he was acting as the representative of the Lecante territory, he received assignments other than direct subjugation dispatches. Namely, the somewhat abstract and difficult task of managing the Northwest, including Lecante.

Lecante, a wasteland, was a trash land infested with dangerous monsters and devoid of any byproducts.

But it was clearly imperial territory, and although old and close to ruins, it had a number of cities and towns, making it a painful finger that had to be reached out to in any case.

To manage such a land was, in effect, the Holy See’s unspoken pressure to not think of anything else and focus on the main mission. He couldn’t bring in his main family’s forces to protect land that wasn’t even under his jurisdiction.

‘If I hadn’t been here, I would have been called back to the main family right away.’

The only reason Shuriel could stand firm here was thanks to me.

Because a magic city was being built in Lecante, and the imperial palace’s position was to watch the situation slowly, the Holy See’s movements also became cautious.

And to the Holy See, which didn’t know the details, it only seemed that Shuriel was doing a good job of fulfilling the mission he was assigned.

He cleaned up the vagrants and eradicated the monsters, completely eliminating any potential risks that could arise.

He perfectly carried out the mission that was thrown at him to prevent him from having any foolish thoughts.

95% of it was thanks to me, but I didn’t intend to nitpick. Thanks to that, I was able to have a ‘good time’, wasn’t I?

But.

I had no intention of continuing to manage the territory and play around. I had to leave for the North according to the wishes of the Executor who wanted a full-scale war with the Demons.

“…Did you hear the news?”

And this place now was-Talleon, the heart of the Empire.

We visited the capital for Aileen’s entrance into Astra and Shuriel’s transfer of duties.

“You can stay in the North for a long time. The Demon of Incineration, Pluton… There’s no accurate information on how strong that guy is or what abilities he has, so an investigation period is needed.”

“Don’t worry! Don’t think Mom is going to die somewhere… um. You won’t, right?”

“…Maybe.”

Pluton is a high-risk Demon with a history of failed subjugations. Since Angrid’s first failure, the Holy See has been tracking him with their eyes wide open, so his activities have been infrequent recently, but he appears every now and then to turn the North into a sea of fire.

So there was a lot to prepare.

We had to keep in mind that he might run away like the Twin Demons, and we also had to consider other casualties, like the Red Moon that drove the Aein mad.

Naturally, I had less time to meet with Aileen.

“…I’m sorry for coming after so long and starting with this.”

“It’s okay. So, Mom and Dad are going to catch bad guys, right?”

“Yeah. Roughly.”

Aileen smiled warmly and shook her head.

“Anyway, I’ll be busy for almost a month. There’s the joint representative oath, and I have to prepare for the dormitory…”

I look at Aileen, who smiles awkwardly while worrying about me.

She wasn’t wearing her usual dress or the revealing Elf casual wear. A long blue skirt that covered below the knees, and a white uniform with a fancy star-shaped metal badge on the chest.

It was the student uniform of Astra, the only and best academy in the Empire.

There weren’t many procedures required for admission.

Aileen was someone who had fame, skill, and recognition.

As Chroniche, the vice-chancellor of Astra, who had noticed Aileen’s talent and offered her admission, said, as soon as she expressed her intention to enter, the chancellor directly approved it.

There was a formal exam. Even if there was a letter of recommendation, it would be unfair to just pass her.

Well… the result was obvious.

It was perfect.

She lacked nothing in practical skills or theory.

Yes, perfect.

That was the only word to describe Aileen.

“Perfect score! Hehe. I’m the top student!”

Aileen puffed out her chest and spread her fingers. Her fingers were pointing to a huge bulletin board installed in front of the entrance to Astra’s East Hall.

I moved my steps and approached the bulletin board.

The bulletin board listed the ‘excellent students’ from 1st to 50th place.

The so-called Hall of Fame.

The stars of the Empire, whose admission was almost confirmed and who had excellent talent and knowledge.

Aileen proudly took first place among thousands of competitors.

It was a bit disappointing that it was a tie for first place, but it couldn’t be helped since this class was said to be so tough that it was called the Golden Generation.

‘…I think the co-valedictorian is the grandson of the Blue Tower Lord.’

Coincidentally, they’re in the same magic department.

The Blue Magic Tower is famous for being old-fashioned… I just hope he doesn’t get the wrong idea and try to compete with Aileen.

I turned my head and asked Aileen.

“When is the official entrance day?”

“The entrance ceremony is exactly two days from now! They say it’s the day when the sun is brightest this month? Ah, I’m going to be staying in the East Hall’s women’s dormitory.”

It felt strange that Aileen was going to school.

If there’s anything to worry about, it’s being swayed. Too much power is just right for being swayed. Black intentions disguised as goodwill.

To prepare for that, Alpenris stuck close and explained the major family scions…

“Um… Did anyone from the imperial palace come down, or anything like that?”

“Don’t worry. I controlled my strength. There are already people who are trying to take me, but… I refused them all.”

Aileen’s magic skills are so extraordinary that I was worried that she might attract attention from strange places, but fortunately, she didn’t reveal her power thoughtlessly.

Just about a high-ranking magician directly under the imperial palace.

This level was already jaw-dropping, but when I thought about her true abilities, I could only laugh.

It was probably a consideration for me and Shuriel.

Aileen chose everyday life over attention. I respected Aileen’s choice and just sent her off.

I raised the corners of my mouth with a commendable feeling and said.

“Is there anything difficult?”

“Hmm… I’ve been to many places, but the air isn’t very good.”

“It’ll be the same wherever you go. This isn’t Kardrasil or Lecante.”

“Hing.”

Aileen, who was born in Kardrasil and raised in Lecante, didn’t like the dirty air compared to before.

I tried to pat Aileen’s head for her hard work… but I had to jump to barely reach her, so I gave up neatly.

I ignored the laughter around me.

Some of them recognized that Aileen was the top student and were whispering.

But they couldn’t easily approach, and that was because of the huge man standing like a bodyguard next to me and Aileen.

Was that all? The golden horns on his head gave him the feeling of being a different race.

“Shuriel, don’t you have anything to say?”

Shuriel.

Said to Aileen, who was smiling brightly.

“Be careful.”

Aileen smiled at her father with cat-like eyes. I felt a strange chill from that gaze, so I hurriedly changed the subject.

“Really, we won’t even have time to see each other in two days, and that’s all you have to say?”

“Um, I have to unpack my luggage in the dormitory tomorrow, so today is the only day.”

“Anyway.”

• Haa.

Shuriel sighed and spat out a short sentence.

“I love you.”

“Hehe….”

The daughter, whose face was flushed, twisted her body and liked her father’s words of love.

Aileen became more obsessed as the time of separation, albeit temporary, approached. She begged him to say he loved her whenever she had a chance, and she didn’t hesitate to commit obscenities such as stealing kisses if she had the chance.

It was difficult for Shuriel, who had to be aware of his surroundings.

It was a blessing that she didn’t beg him to fuck her like before, but it would be troublesome if rumors spread that Shuriel was having a relationship with an Astra student. Especially if it was his daughter. As Aileen entered as the top student, they would have finished the background check.

“Shall we have a hug before we go?”

Aileen, who was close to Shuriel, stuck to him like a leech. She stands on tiptoe, raises her head, wraps her arms around his back with a seductive smile.

“The North must be cold… You have to be careful?”

“Hmph…. That kind of cold is nothing.”

“Huhu. I wish I could stick to you 24 hours a day and make you ‘warm’, but…”

She glanced at me, who was narrowing my eyes, and put her arms around her back in place.

“There’s plenty of time. Then, have a good trip, Dad♡”

It was a very meaningful statement.

Aileen and we talked for another twenty minutes before parting ways. Aileen headed to the East Hall’s women’s dormitory, and we headed to the meeting point promised with Angrid.

It was the beginning of the Demon subjugation that had been postponed.

* * *

The ‘Empire’, a product of the great unification of mankind, could be seen as four countries divided into East, West, North, and South. The accents, lives, and cultures are all extremely different in each region.

And that can be seen by looking at the virtues that each region pursues.

The West values ‘immediate profit’.

The East values ‘future safety’.

The South values ‘long-term trust’.

And the North.

‘Today’s survival’ is considered the greatest virtue.

The North has always been the land of those who want to survive.

The war with the Demons that occurred hundreds of years ago, the tombs of nameless warriors that contain the traces of that history. The land was twisted with magic from how much Demon blood it contained. And since humans, several times the number of fallen Demons, rotted and became soil-a strong death energy was intensely spread throughout the North.

The negative image of the North originated from these reasons.

Even if it was purified, the once-twisted land was dark and gloomy, and the air itself was gloomy due to the death energy spread throughout the area.

“…People in the North like tea leaves. It would be good to bring some.”

“Um, there are so many kinds that I don’t know which one to choose. Personally, I want to bring something to the Margrave…”

“…The Margrave likes undergrown Karal leaves.”

“Isn’t that a plant that only blooms in tombs…?”

To go to such a North, Angrid’s help was needed.

Me and Shuriel didn’t know the geography of the North.

Shuriel, who was suspiciously lacking in divine power for an Executor, had difficulty overcoming environmental disadvantages.

Like our first meeting… when he was poisoned by magic in the Twin Demons’ tower.

Because of that, Shuriel wasn’t often dispatched to the North.

Instead, Angrid, who could install a sanctuary on her own-and Prukaise, who rose to the ranks of Executor with divine power alone-were mainly called.

Among them, Angrid boasted the highest number of dispatches, so she was the best as a guide.

Now that she had horns and was immune to direct magic, she couldn’t let her guard down. Demons’ abilities are unpredictable, and there were many variables.

Just looking at the Twin Demons, they broke through the World Tree’s barrier and summoned the Blood Moon. If it was Shuriel’s horns, which had the same type of effect, I couldn’t be more relieved.

“Do you think we’re here to play?”

Shuriel looked displeased at us, who were picking out tea leaves before the North expedition.

“…It’s not bad to gain the favor of the locals. Pluton doesn’t have a residence like other Demons. We need as many… eyes as possible.”

“It’s a personal thank you. He wrote me a letter of recommendation, so it’s okay to repay him.”

“…The consort’s words are correct. If you have received a favor, it is right to return it.”

• Tch.

Shuriel clicked his tongue and leaned his back against the wall of the store.

There were no more words. He was wearing unusually thick clothes, and he fanned himself as if his neck was sweaty.

I said slyly, looking at Angrid, who had packed fifteen bags of tea leaves.

“Pawin.”

“…You can speak.”

“How did you miss Pluton?”

Angrid was the one who first discovered and reported Pluton.

She said she had a fierce battle at the place she discovered him, but the report only said ‘failed to kill’ simply, so it was difficult to infer the process.

Angrid narrowed her half-closed eyes and said.

“…When I arrived, the flames were already soaring. Black, hot flames… a terrible flame that burned even the souls of the dead….”

“The Demon of Incineration… you said?”

“…That’s right. If I had followed him, I could have had a life-or-death battle. But, but. The flames that soared until the soul disappeared continued to burn fiercely. That terrible thing that wouldn’t burn with ordinary wood was burning in the collapsed houses.”

Angrid said that and closed her mouth tightly. The hand holding the tea leaf bag trembled slightly. Then, she continued in a discouraged voice.

“…I don’t know if I made the right choice.”