Ch.75The Mysterious Young Master in the Forest (2)

“The sunlight is too strong, making it hard to fall asleep.”

In Amelia’s office.

Ruide spoke like Damon. Of course, with his youthful voice, he lacked Damon’s characteristic arrogance.

“I-I see.”

Amelia awkwardly smiled as she looked at Ruide lying on the sofa.

“It would be really nice if someone could draw the curtains.”

Amelia flinched at his listless voice.

“Um… Rui? Your sister needs to work.”

Currently, most of the Swordsmanship Hall’s work involved construction of the main building that Ruide had demolished.

There was also the matter of tracking down the Black Mages, but that was being processed to hand over to the Imperial Family.

Of course, Ruide wasn’t one to care about such things. He was the type to definitely take advantage when he had justification.

“I guess our sister doesn’t want to eat.”

Ruide spoke to Miho, whom he was holding. Amelia hurriedly drew the curtains.

“Is that better?”

Ruide smiled brightly.

Amelia glanced at Ruide nervously as she returned to signing documents.

‘I can’t see…’

Just then—

Whoosh.

The lamp lit up. Ruide had used magic.

“…Thanks.”

“Using magic makes me thirsty.”

“……”

During the previous main building explosion incident, Amelia had scolded him thoroughly.

To let it slide would be a failure as a younger sibling.

Ruide’s eyes sparkled.

‘If she scolded me so much when she had a little justification, I should return the favor, right?’

Above all, there was nothing more fun in the world than teasing his older sister.

**

The Imperial Knights had different divisions.

Among them, the ones being dispatched to the Academy this time were the Emperor’s direct guard, the Teuton Knights.

A total of 21 members. An invincible order of knights where each individual’s combat ability was rated as “Knight Commander level.”

With a long history, they enjoyed considerably more freedom than other knight orders. They only took orders from the Emperor. As a result, they were almost always off-duty.

The fact that such an incredible knight order was being dispatched showed how much trust the Emperor had in Ruide.

“His Majesty must really care for him.”

Karon, the Vice-captain of the Teuton Knights, remarked.

Aide Mikael frowned.

“I’m not sure if I should be happy about this or not.”

Serving by the Emperor’s side was a tremendous honor.

No matter how exceptional the youngest son of the Windsor family might be, wasn’t this clearly a demotion?

“Think of it differently, my lord. If he truly cherishes the young lord, wouldn’t he send the people he trusts most?”

Judith said, interlocking her fingers behind her neck. She was a female knight with quite sunburned skin.

“You think so?”

“Hehe. Of course, it could also be that Lord Mikael just sent us because he found it bothersome. His Majesty is quite unpredictable, isn’t he?”

Mikael became dejected.

Judith laughed heartily and patted Mikael’s shoulder.

“I’m joking, just joking. I’ve heard the Emperor’s aide doesn’t get vacations. The Emperor of the Empire can’t rest even for a minute. So, he’s probably sending you to get some rest.”

“Babysitting a kid… how annoying.”

The only mage among them, a man known as “Lazy Nolan” for his love of alcohol and gambling, yawned.

“Refrain from disrespectful remarks. This is His Majesty’s order.”

“You don’t like it either, Vice-captain, do you? The first order from His Majesty wasn’t ‘eliminate the Black Mages’ or ‘annihilate such-and-such baron’s family,’ but ‘guard the Windsor young lord.'”

The Teuton Knights had completed their generational transition five years ago.

However, due to their overwhelming strength and the peaceful era of the Empire, they hadn’t been deployed. This was their first order.

“……”

Karon kept his mouth shut. His silence meant that what Nolan said was correct.

“Honestly, guarding a kid? What knight would enjoy that? That’s not why I joined the Teutons—”

“Everyone seems dissatisfied. Have any of you seen the young lord?”

Judith asked with a twirling smile.

“…You talk as if you have.”

“I have.”

“What?”

Judith shrugged.

“So I can say with certainty. Lord Ruide is someone worth guarding. He has value.”

“Hey, Judith. Don’t cause any trouble.”

Galahad, with his striking red eyes, spoke menacingly.

“Huh? When have I ever caused trouble?”

“Didn’t you destroy one of the royal guard’s training grounds last time? If you have any conscience, stay quiet this time. Otherwise…”

Galahad’s eyes gleamed.

“You’ll crush me?”

“Huh? How could Galahad beat me? You’re joking, right?”

At her subtly irritating tone, Galahad’s eyebrows twitched.

“Hahaha! Just kidding, just kidding. Don’t get upset over something like this, man.”

“Judith!”

Galahad chased after Judith, who fled while radiating killing intent.

‘That’s the third time already.’

Mikael sighed deeply, his complexion already haggard.

These knights were incredibly spirited. They fought at the drop of a hat. Moreover, they were the legendary “Teuton Knights.” Even as the Emperor’s aide, he couldn’t treat them carelessly.

Mikael sniffled. He already wanted to go home.

**

They walked through Dellin’s Forest.

According to their inquiries, Lord Ruide usually took naps in Dellin’s Forest at this time.

“This forest has an uncomfortable amount of magical energy.”

“I never expected a place to hold so much mana. Can anyone actually sleep here?”

“The young lord napping in a mysterious forest… it’s like something out of a fairy tale.”

Karon surveyed the surroundings with an indifferent expression. He had heard that Black Mages had visited the Academy and that the second child of the Windsor family had fought them—it seemed this was the place.

He could simultaneously sense clear magical energy and an unpleasant, oily residue of magic.

“Amelia Windsor, huh…”

Karon unconsciously muttered the name of the knight who had faced the Black Mage.

“Come to think of it, while guarding him, we’ll also meet the Sword Princess, won’t we?”

Galahad moistened his lips with his tongue, as if excited.

He was a battle maniac who had to cross swords with anyone who seemed even slightly strong.

“Hey, this guard duty might not be so bad after all.”

His words carried a hint of madness.

“…It’s not bad. Especially since it’s the Windsors, not just any noble family.”

Mikael added.

“The Windsors always leave behind great achievements whenever they come to the capital, don’t they? Above all, they’re a family shrouded in mystery.”

“It’s certainly a rare opportunity. They’re people who never leave their northern castle except for succession trials.”

Judith said, finding it interesting.

And for good reason—the Windsor family had always been strong throughout generations.

Even the greatest noble families stumble occasionally, but the Windsors had never once broken their streak of talent.

There was no chance of manipulation either. They had left behind significant achievements throughout generations.

Many people in the capital were already anticipating what achievements the Windsors would accomplish this time.

‘Right, there’s no need to worry. Think positively.’

Mikael clenched his fist.

Rumble—

Just then, they felt vibrations shaking the ground.

Judith reacted first, drawing her sword.

“Powerful magical energy.”

“We can feel it without you saying so.”

“…Something might have happened to the young lord. Let’s hurry.”

Karon and the other knights also drew their weapons.

They lowered their posture and crept forward stealthily.

Mikael was surprised to see the knights, who had shown not a feather’s weight of seriousness before, suddenly unite as one.

‘Indeed, they’re not called the Teutons for nothing. They seemed as weightless as clouds before, but now they look like completely different people.’

Gulp. Mikael swallowed dryly. The enormous magical energy that even he, who could only use simple life magic, could feel.

What on earth was happening beyond there?

“Th-that…”

Mikael couldn’t hide his shock at the scene unfolding before him.

“The young lord…?”

Rumble—!

“Zzzz…”

Dellin’s Lake.

They saw a golden-haired beautiful boy sprawled out, sleeping carelessly.

The problem was—

The magical energy in the atmosphere was flowing into Ruide at an unbelievable rate.

With each breath, an absurd amount of magic was absorbed, causing the air to vibrate from the impact.

It was enough magic to be lethal for an ordinary person.

“Th-this.”

Naturally, their gazes turned to Nolan, the lazy but capable archmage.

“Is something wrong with the young lord?”

“…It’s dangerous.”

Gulp. Nolan, who cared about nothing except alcohol and gambling, broke out in a cold sweat.

“It’s mana poisoning.”

Mikael’s eyes widened.

Mana poisoning.

The most dangerous condition a mage must avoid.

The end result was either becoming disabled as circuits burned out or becoming a cold corpse.

It was a symptom that occurred when magic was used rapidly or when unmanageable amounts of magic were injected.

Magic circuits were like pathways for magical energy. Everyone had a predetermined size, and if something larger entered, the pathway would naturally collapse.

This phenomenon probably occurred because of Dellin’s Lake, which abnormally contained a lot of magic in the atmosphere.

“W-we must stop it! This could cause a major political issue!”

“I know that, damn it!”

They had received orders to guard him just yesterday evening.

If the young lord died in such a situation, they couldn’t escape responsibility.

No, beyond that, they couldn’t predict how the Windsor Duchy, which prioritized bloodlines above all else, would react.

Nolan hurriedly sat in front of Ruide and placed his hand on his head.

‘Hot.’

Perhaps more than half of his magic circuits were already dead.

But what was important here was to ensure there was no danger to his life. That would at least avoid the worst-case scenario.

Nolan closed his eyes and injected magic into Ruide.

There was only one way to overcome mana poisoning—

Directly guiding the magic of a mage who had lost consciousness.

‘His magic circuits are intact?’

After injecting magic into Ruide, Nolan immediately realized.

Ruide’s magic circuits were safe, and he hadn’t overused his mana circuits.

Feeling a sense of déjà vu, Nolan traveled along the circuits.

As he approached Ruide’s heart, Nolan’s mind reeled.

‘Im-impossible.’

It was a deep abyss with no visible end.

Magic had accumulated so densely that its depth was immeasurable. Nolan hurriedly fled from Ruide’s heart.

‘The magic… is normal.’

Then what was this phenomenon currently occurring—

‘This is… a normal rate of magic recovery?’

Nolan couldn’t hide his astonishment.

He couldn’t even imagine it. That this magnitude of magical breathing was “normal.”

Moreover, what he had seen was just the tip of the iceberg. He had only glimpsed the unfilled lake of magic.

No, was this even a lake?

This was an ocean. The deepest and widest ocean in the world.

‘Damn, a genius? This is a dragon. Not human!’

Nolan tried to withdraw his magic to report this fact immediately.

But at that moment.

“——!”

In Nolan’s vision, despite his closed eyes, he saw a pupil.

It was a large eye that seemed capable of devouring the world.

And it was—a remarkably clear blue eye.

Nolan instinctively realized that the owner of this eye was the young boy whose hand he was holding.

‘M-magic.’

Suddenly, Nolan’s magic began flowing into Ruide at an incredible speed.

Faced with an overwhelming force that he dared not refuse, Nolan’s consciousness faded.

**

Ruide stretched with a refreshed expression.

‘It’s been a while since I slept so well.’

How long had it been since he felt this way?

He felt as comfortable as if he’d slept for a week.

His head felt refreshed, and even the stiffness in his body felt good.

Ruide smacked his lips.

‘What was that?’

Even in his sleep, he had felt it.

The feeling of eating something incredibly sweet and delicious.

Unconsciously, he thought it was “heavenly.”

Ruide rubbed his sleepy eyes and opened them.

‘Oh my!’

Though his expression remained indifferent, he was shocked inside.

Because right in front of him—there was a man.

A man with sunken cheeks that made him look like a skeleton.

Behind him, five people were looking at him with expressions of relief.

It felt like being a monkey in a zoo. Ruide asked curiously:

“…Who are you guys?”