Ch.30Lark’s Orb (2)

“Wait, just a moment! Let’s talk for a bit!”

“Why are you dodging so well…!”

Ruide was swinging his spear around. Since he was controlling it with mana rather than his own strength, it shouldn’t have been possible to miss…

Yet the orb was dodging skillfully as if it could predict the future.

“Surrender! I surrender! Please just listen to me for a moment!”

“…Talk?”

Ruide paused his spear swinging for a moment. The orb hummed.

“…Could you give me just one chance? I’ll stay locked up for about 200 years.”

Ruide shook his head.

“Why should I trust you?”

“I-I’ll make a covenant…!”

“I didn’t even notice you were there until now. Would a covenant even work? Besides.”

Although it hadn’t happened yet, Ruide knew what kind of things Rak did.

“You’re a villain.”

“What? A villain? Absolutely not!”

Rak seemed genuinely offended as the orb vibrated strongly.

“I’m a good spirit! This is unfair!”

“A spirit?”

“Yes! I’m a spirit! A Great Spirit!”

‘Talking nonsense about being a Great Spirit.’

Rak, the mage who wanted to live forever.

His numerous evil deeds were still passed down to the current generation.

They said he killed a million people to obtain children’s blood, or that he did terrible things because he needed virgin souls.

No matter whether Ruide was the type who didn’t care if a demon lord or hero appeared, it was right to clean up foul-smelling garbage because it was dirty.

“Really! I’m not that lich Rak, but a familiar that Rak raised…”

“I see.”

“Are you… believing me?”

Ruide nodded with an innocent face.

“Yes. Of course. But I’m curious about one thing…”

Ruide dropped his spear to the ground as if he no longer had any intention to attack.

“Yes! Ask me anything!”

Ruide stared into the distance for a moment.

“So…”

He gathered his ocean-like mana at his fingertips. He imagined the fallen spear piercing through the orb.

“Actually, that’s not true.”

Swoosh-!

The spear moved instantly and pierced the orb.

Crack! The orb split.

“You know, you identified yourself as Rak with your own mouth.”

[…..]

Rak’s voice, which had been speaking vividly until just now, was no longer heard.

Purple smoke leaked from the cracked orb.

Ruide silently extended his hand.

Thorough recycling.

That’s what makes a model citizen.

“Foul soul, be purified and pay for your sins.”

Pure white light burst from Ruide’s fingertips.

A dragon-like form of spreading light emerged and swallowed Rak’s orb along with the smoke.

Crunch!

White light flowed from the dragon’s breath.

Ruide lowered his hand.

Unlike before, the orb now had a pure white appearance instead of purple.

Ruide nodded with a satisfied expression.

“Repent.”

…For some reason, he wanted to play the role of humanity’s savior at least once.

“Now then, let’s play with the fox again.”

Ruide smiled peacefully as he picked up the fox and rubbed it against his face. The white fur tickled, but it felt nice.

But then.

Chomp—!

“…!”

The fox bit the orb that was behind it. The half-broken orb that had been floating in the air went straight into the fox’s mouth.

It happened so quickly that Ruide couldn’t do anything.

Ruide frantically shook the fox.

“T-that’s not for you, Jiji. Spit it out.”

“Yip, yip!”

But there was no way the fox could understand human language.

Ruide quickly tried to open the fox’s mouth to take it out.

“I-I’m telling you, I’m innocent. See? I wasn’t affected at all by that tremendous purification magic. That means I’m not an evil spirit.”

“…..”

Ruide froze with his hand still in the fox’s mouth.

“—!”

Ruide reacted with delayed surprise and dropped the fox.

Just now, the fox had spoken.

The fox lowered itself as much as possible in front of Ruide and bowed.

Its tail wagged back and forth.

“P-please spare me just once… I swear lifelong loyalty!”

Ruide’s eyes filled with shock and horror.

**

Hersy listens to the lecture with proper posture.

She believes that proper conduct and posture are necessary to become a good mage.

“That concludes today’s lesson. Hersy Minerva, thank you for consistently attending my humble lectures.”

The class Hersy is taking is an elective.

“Various Life Skills Using Magic” teaches basic construction, camping, farming, and other general life skills.

As a result, it’s a very unpopular subject, and it’s rare for high nobles like Hersy to attend. The professor himself being a commoner also contributes to this.

He worried that she might be coming to mock him, or simply to pass time.

But Hersy’s attitude in class was excellent. After just one lesson, it was clear she had genuine interest in the subject.

Hersy stood up with a bright smile and gave a slight bow.

“Not at all, I should be thanking you for teaching such useful knowledge.”

“I’m honored that it’s been helpful to Lady Minerva. This is the happiest moment of my teaching career.”

Hersy made an embarrassed expression. In truth, her former self would have considered spending time here “pathetic.”

The only reason she was taking this class was for one person: Ruide.

Ruide, who usually hung around Dellin’s Lake, seemed familiar with everything. Sleeping, eating—

But having lived her entire life being served by others, she couldn’t help Ruide even when she wanted to. That bothered Hersy. That’s why she was taking this class.

“Thank you for your hard work today.”

Hersy’s steps were light as she headed to Dellin’s Lake after class.

She was always in a good mood when going to see Ruide, but today she was particularly excited.

The cute Arctic fox they brought from the auction house.

It would be nice to play with it even when Ruide was sleeping, and most importantly, it was so cute that Hersy adored it.

‘I wonder if he’s already named it?’

The moment she stepped into the forest—

Hersy felt an enormous magical power and her eyes widened.

It was such massive mana that it could be distinguished even in Dellin’s Lake, where the mana concentration was already high.

“Snow…?”

Hersy absently reached her hand into the air. Large snowflakes touched her palm and melted.

“W-weather manipulation magic…”

Gulp. Hersy’s Adam’s apple moved.

What level of weather magic would this be?

Probably around 11th tier…

Was this magic used by Ruide?

It was an amazing magic that was hard to believe.

But Hersy soon had to nod.

‘Because it’s Ruide.’

She continued walking with a joyful heart.

The snow had accumulated about an inch, and at this rate, it wouldn’t take long to pile up to a foot.

“Did he make it snow because it’s an Arctic fox? Ruide is so cute.”

Hersy smiled brightly. Somehow, she felt like she understood what he was thinking. Wasn’t this a sign they were getting closer?

“Ruide!”

She had finally arrived. Hersy pushed aside a large leaf and waved her hand. She was certain he would be awake because she could feel the powerful mana.

“Get out of there!”

“Yip, yip!”

“Get out of my fox right now!”

“R-Ruide…?”

The Arctic fox was running tirelessly across the pure white snow. Behind it, Ruide was chasing it with a staff.

Hersy tilted her head.

‘…Are they playing tag?’

Then she nodded.

‘He’s playing with it.’

From her time spent with Ruide, she knew that telekinesis magic was as natural to him as breathing.

It seemed like he was deliberately not using magic to chase after it. Hersy watched them with a happy smile.

The running white fluffball was cute, but Ruide chasing after it in circles was equally adorable.

‘Cute things really are the best.’

While she was contentedly watching them—

“S-save me, human!”

The fox jumped toward Hersy while speaking.

Having caught the white fox by reflex, Hersy blinked.

The fox trembled and opened its mouth.

“I-I won’t forget this favor if you help me!”

Hersy slowly shook her head, denying reality.

“…No way.”

“It’s not a lie! Please, take me and run away!”

At that moment, Ruide pointed his staff at the fox while catching his breath.

“Hold it tight. An evil spirit has possessed my fox…!”

Hersy’s eyes spun.

She felt dizzy.

**

The Emperor, having finished another tiring day, entered his bedroom in comfortable attire.

An Emperor’s daily routine is exhausting.

The tight schedule is too much for one person to handle.

Without proper stress relief, it’s impossible to endure.

That’s why each emperor throughout history has had their own hobby.

Some enjoyed women, entertainment, feasts, or drinking.

And the 8th Emperor Lucius enjoys watching videos.

Every day, he lies comfortably in bed with his favorite red wine and cheese, floating a crystal ball to observe someone’s life.

He’s mainly interested in ordinary lives—a housewife’s day, a farmer’s life. He watches various people’s lives until he falls asleep.

And today, he has something special—a video of Ruide’s presentation, whom he’s watched since infancy.

The Emperor leaned halfway against the bed with a broad smile. He poured wine into his glass, took a sip, and played the video.

“That kid, really.”

The Emperor looked at Ruide in the crystal ball with a fond expression.

He had heard from the Academy’s president that Ruide had decided to fully open his presentation theory for public benefit.

Though he looked like everything was bothersome, the Emperor liked his generosity in sharing his theory for the public good.

“You’re working hard, surprisingly. Oh my, I should start thinking about what to get for your birthday.”

This will advance the Empire’s magical academia. It was already lovely that the child was growing up healthy, but to grow up so excellently…

In the crystal ball, Ruide was drawing a magic circle while standing on tiptoe. The Emperor burst into laughter.

“Haha! I should have invited him as a professor, not a student.”

The Emperor watched the video contentedly.

But at some point, his brow gradually furrowed.

“What is he so dissatisfied about?”

“What? Only nobles can use it?”

“Well, isn’t the magical achievement they’ve maintained for hundreds of years also effort?”

“Hmph, this guy thinks he’s the only one who’s made any effort in this world.”

The Emperor was angry as if it were his own business.

He didn’t like the commoner who was finding fault for no reason.

“This, this, this, until the end.”

The Emperor clicked his tongue.

Ruide made a gesture to conclude the presentation.

“Hmm, it’s over already? The video is short.”

The Emperor sighed with disappointment.

But then.

-How dare you! Worthless commoner!

“…Damon?”

The Emperor opened his eyes wide and snapped his fingers. The screen turned to show the back seats.

The complaining commoner had collapsed. From the circumstances, it seemed Damon had used magic.

“…That ruffian can be useful sometimes.”

The Emperor himself knew best that Damon was a ruffian.

In fact, he thought it was remarkable that it ended with just that. It was very mild compared to usual.

-Who do you think His Majesty would side with?

Damon sneered at the president. The Emperor nodded as well.

“You were somewhat useful this time, Damon.”

The Emperor focused on Ruide again. At that moment, Ruide stared directly at the crystal ball and said:

-I’ll tell His Majesty myself. That Damon ruined my presentation.

“……”

After silently watching that, the Emperor roared:

“Is there no one there?!”

The attendant who was on standby hurriedly entered.

“Y-you called, Your Majesty?”

“Summon Damon at once! I need to teach him a lesson!”