Archmage (2)

Archmage (2)

“… It’s not entirely wrong, but how should I put this… It’s an unrealistic method.

Perhaps because the term Archmage refers to the greatest magician of the era.

Espin showed a sour expression the moment he heard me say I would take out the Archmage and take control.

It seems that even if it’s me, he doesn’t think I could capture an Archmage so easily.

Seeing Espin’s reaction, I briefly said.

“We’ll just have to find out.”

“……”

At my words, Espin tightly closed his eyes for a moment as if he had a headache.

Then, with a long sigh, he spoke as if slightly giving up.

“… Do as you please. It’s not like you won’t do it even if I try to stop you.”

I couldn’t deny that, so I smiled slightly and slowly continued speaking.

“In any case, in addition to what I asked earlier, please also investigate about the Archmage.”

At those words, Espin confidently puffs out his chest and speaks proudly.

“Just trust me. Unlike the Heaven God Cult, I think I can easily obtain information about the Archmage.”

I nod at his words.

Espin secretly pokes my side and then hums a tune as he slips out.

‘Then all that’s left is to prepare for the battle with the Archmage.’

I chuckle, thinking that when one research ends, another begins.

Then I decided to refocus on my research, steeling my resolve.

* * * * *

Chloe couldn’t help but express her bewilderment at the unusually tense atmosphere in the Magic Society.

Given the nature of magicians who spend long hours cooped up in their labs conducting magical research,

It was common for them to be extremely individualistic and closed off, indifferent to others.

But this was the first time she felt something so suppressed… or more precisely, a feeling of being ‘terrified’.

‘It seems to be due to the Archmage’s strange behavior… but even so, it’s odd.’

Even if the Archmage made such choices, it shouldn’t greatly affect the magicians belonging to the Magic Society.

It was somewhat strange that ‘all magicians’ wore expressions of concern like this.

When I asked the butler behind me why this was happening, I received quite an interesting answer.

“The Magic Society is planning to demote magicians with low performance soon. The problem is that the criteria are too high, so a considerable number of magicians will be demoted.”

“Really? That happened?”

“Yes. I suppose this information wasn’t relayed to you, Lady Chloe, as it doesn’t directly concern you.”

I was cooped up in the lab researching rapid freezing magic,

So it seems I didn’t receive any information except about the Archmage who is politically entangled with the Lercier Family.

As I was passing by, thinking about how quite an interesting event had occurred, the butler carefully approached and whispered in a low voice.

“And according to the rumors, it is said that this large-scale demotion was a situation created by a grand magician from a place called the Heaven God Cult.”

“A grand magician? They’re quite capable.”

“Yes. After checking, there are rumors that not only the grand magician but also most of the central government personnel have been recruited to their side.”

“Hmm.”

I decided to turn my attention away, not worrying about this as it’s something my father, the head of the Lercier Family, would handle anyway.

Based on long experience, I realized that getting involved in this incident would bring no benefit.

‘In any case, getting involved in these things only leads to more worries…’

It would be better to focus on research without unnecessarily interfering.

‘By the way, I wonder how our youngest is doing.’

Although I occasionally hear news from the butler, it’s far from enough.

If possible, I’d like to visit later, see their face directly, nuzzle it, and then randomly pat their head.

‘Of course, since I’m too busy right now…’

It’s just an unattainable hope.

It would be ideal if the youngest could come visit, but they’re busy in various ways too, so I have to be patient.

‘It might not be bad to forcibly bring them here after they graduate from the Academy.’

The Lercier Family will most likely go to the eldest son anyway.

Rather than getting unnecessarily involved in the successor struggle and wasting effort, it would be better to quickly bring them to the academic society and make them self-reliant.

Of course, I’ll include the method of random head patting in the process… but I nodded, thinking that’s a hardship our youngest will have to endure.

‘Hmm. That’s not bad.’

It was a rather pleasant imagination after a long time, and just as a smile was about to form on my lips.

In the distance, I spotted Saan, a high-ranking magician who was one of the Grand Magician’s trusted subordinates.

It wasn’t unusual to encounter high-ranking magicians like this on this floor, as they were scattered about.

However, the traces of self-collapsing mana near his body gave off a strange sensation.

An inexplicable sense of unease quickly overtook me.

‘Usually, when mana is collapsing, it’s one of two things. Either an abnormally powerful spell was used, or preparations are being made to use such a spell.’

In the former case, it would mean that a spell powerful enough to cause mana collapse had been used.

Normally, when such a powerful spell is used, strong mana waves occur, and some kind of ‘signal’ is bound to come.

Given that no such signal had come, it was more likely to be the latter case.

‘If so, how exactly? Usually, when preparing a spell, mana should be scattered around.’

Strangely, there was no feeling at all.

As I was frowning, thinking that this level of strangeness was a first,

Suddenly, a speculation began to quickly flash through my mind.

‘What if the Grand Magician is using magic right now?’

If that assumption is brought up, all the strange phenomena happening now make sense.

In addition to something powerful enough to cause mana collapse occurring,

The fact that mana waves remain calm despite the mana collapse phenomenon.

The moment I realized this, I quickly called for the butler and said,

“Prepare to return to the mansion.”

As the butler nodded and was about to turn around in response to my words.

It freezes in place, turning into a statue-like state as the entire body petrifies.

“……”

Judging by the fact that it was aimed at the butler and not at himself, it seems the goal was to capture him alive.

As he was thinking that he had avoided the worst possible scenario, glancing around warily.

An intense mana pushes away everything around him, clearing the area.

Just as he was quietly sending a distress signal to the Lercier Family in the suddenly quiet surroundings.

A man in pure white cult robes catches his eye, approaching slowly with a friendly smile.

‘… It must be the Heaven God Cult.’

Since they’re the only ones who can control an archmage.

It was obvious, as the Heaven God Cult were the only ones who would act against the Lercier Family.

‘I don’t know what they’re planning.’

Judging that the situation wasn’t good, given that the butler had been petrified, he briefly spoke.

“Seeing how you’re acting without knowing your place, I can clearly feel your lack of class.”

Despite the provocation, he shows no reaction and just keeps smiling.

Whether he’s suppressing his emotions or if such provocations don’t affect him is unclear.

One thing’s for certain: he won’t be an easy opponent, he thought as he looked ahead.

As he continued watching.

The man kept smiling, then suddenly took out a dagger from his robes.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he stabs his own neck, committing suicide on the spot.

Frowning at this utterly bewildering situation.

The murky red blood spilled on the floor begins to writhe.

The red mass slowly formed into a human shape and began to speak to me.

“Let’s make a deal with Deren’s life as the condition.”

“……”

The moment I heard Deren’s name, my mind momentarily went blank.

Quickly regaining my composure, I answered firmly.

“You don’t know your place. Get lost.”

At those words, the red human-shaped mass twitched its forehead and sneered.

“You’ll regret it.”

“Oh really? Everyone who’s said that is dead now.”

“I’ll make sure you pay the price.”

With those words, I felt an intense flow of mana from above.

An enormous amount of mana with high purity that I doubted I could ever reach even if I tried my whole life.

Faced with this magic that was beyond abnormal, bordering on surreal, I couldn’t help but lose my fighting spirit for a moment.

So at first, I tried to use teleportation magic to escape or use emergency rescue.

Whether they had prepared for everything or blocked it themselves, I’m not sure.

But nothing worked at all, keeping me trapped.

“…Hah.”

This must be what it feels like when they say a sigh comes out naturally.

Unable to overcome the feeling of futility, I closed my eyes tightly and continued to stack meaningless magical barriers.

Then, from far away, I began to hear a voice I wanted to hear but shouldn’t have.

As soon as I realized it was my youngest sibling Deren who had come, I tried to tell him to run away, but.

I had to close my mouth momentarily because there was something strange piled up behind Deren.

What could that be.

It’s incomprehensible, but it seems to be in human form and even wriggling.

It looks like living people… I was wondering why he brought such things when.

The Archmage, who hadn’t said a word until now, shouted at Deren for the first time in an enraged voice.

“… How dare you touch my family!”

His voice is full of anger, as if he’s really furious.

Deren sneered lightly at that voice and retorted briefly.

“Didn’t you touch my family first?”