Chapter 37 : Millennium Height (11)

There is a saying, “If you want to make friends, be a friend.”

This means that if you want to make good friends, you first have to be a good friend.

But when do you use this phrase?

You use it in situations like this: “Order whatever you want. I’ll treat you.”

“I’m not giving you any magic.”

Hayes sat down and ordered a mulled ale.

Mulled ale is, in simple terms, the beer version of mulled wine.

It’s a drink made by warming beer and adding spices, fruits, and sugar.

Naturally, it was one of the common foods in Happy Medieval Land.

“Even though you’ve stayed at the royal palace for a long time, your roots haven’t disappeared.”

“I thought Hayes was going to abandon us and go to Uptown.”

“You’re using soundproof magic, right?”

“No?”

“Hey.”

“I’m joking.”

I ordered a honey liquor and asked again, “Weren’t you running errands? Is it okay to stay here?”

“It’s just having a drink while waiting for the food. This much is fine. And how did you know I’m from the bottom?”

“Because your hands are rough.”

“All inspectors have rough hands.”

“But they’re different from Inspector Leon’s hands.”

“Who’s Leon…?”

You don’t know Leon, the ultra-handsome boy who not only captivates people but even seduces men?

“That’s disappointing.”

“You’re disappointed about everything.”

Hayes took a sip of his mulled ale and spoke quietly.

“Unfortunately, the title is gone.”

“Exactly. If I were that disappointed, I would have cried rivers of tears.”

“Talking like that, you don’t look disappointed at all.”

“In reality, I’m not disappointed. I’ll get it back someday.”

“Against the prince?”

“Nothing has meaning in front of a 9th-tier mage.”

“Even an 8th-tier mage loses meaning.”

Hayes chuckled, resting his chin on his hand and looking at me.

It was a very familiar gaze.

Back in middle school, before my reincarnation, when I was holed up in the library instead of going to school to learn magic, I met a classmate who had that same expression on her face.

It was the expression of someone seeing a strange creature.

“I’m not a mythical creature.”

“What are you gathering magic for?”

“Whenever they see me, they ask that. I’m not gathering it for anything in particular. I just want to gather it to use.”

“Is that so?”

Hayes rolled his eyes.

He didn’t understand what I meant, but that was understandable.

This was something most people couldn’t relate to.

It’s the same with people who collect stamps.

They mistakenly think that I have the same mindset as them, but strictly speaking, I was far from a collector.

I treated magic in a deeper, more focused way than they could imagine.

“What tier is it?”

“3rd-tier.”

“So, if I were to give you magic, how would you receive it? You’re not learning it, right?”

“It’s a super secret. But since you’re a VIP, I’ll tell you specially.”

Creeak.

Something grabbed my hand.

It was as if someone had suddenly cut out a piece of the world and pasted it without warning.

“This…”

“With this, you can permanently transfer Hayes’s magic to yourself.”

“Is it unique magic?”

Hayes immediately reached the correct answer, despite the strange explanation that made it hard to believe it was magic.

The idea that you could transfer someone else’s magic could only be possible with unique magic.

“Anything is possible?”

“Yes.”

“Even unique magic can be transferred?”

“Someone has already made a trade and is satisfied.”

“Then my specialty magic, Silent Shadow (寂影), should obviously work.”

Hayes let out a short laugh.

Even though he was a knight, he had raised his magic to the level of specialty magic.

He immediately realized how absurd it was to “trade” magic.

“Could you transfer someone’s elemental affinity or even their talent?”

“Not that.”

“At least there’s some humanity left.”

In fact, elemental affinity doesn’t get transferred, but it naturally grows.

This wasn’t exactly the same as gaining talent.

Strictly speaking, it was closer to increasing one’s potential.

So, growing a new elemental affinity required more effort than when I had to struggle to awaken the fire element affinity.

But it was still better than having no affinity at all, so I had no complaints.

“You’re even more amazing than I thought.”

“It’s not me; it’s my master who’s amazing.”

“Master?”

“I got this magic from my master.”

“It’s strange for a 3rd-tier mage to have unique magic, but you really have a great master…”

Hayes made a subtle expression.

I could read his thoughts from his ambiguous reaction.

“Is your master an amazing person, Hayes?”

“Absolutely amazing.”

Hayes smacked his lips and put down his beer glass.

“You probably know my master. He’s the empire’s strongest swordsman.”

“So, you have Vallion Dragomil as your master. He really is an incredible person.”

“Someone not suited to be my master.”

Hayes fiddled with his glass.

It looked so familiar to me.

Whenever Kelton mentioned his master, Adelián, he would act like that.

“Hayes.”

“Yeah?”

“The reason Baron chose Haze is because there is a reason for it. My master was also chosen by Adellian, you know? And my master was always puzzled by it. He said he wasn’t worthy of being a great mage’s disciple. But look at the magic my master left behind. Isn’t it the kind of talent that an 8th-tier mage would choose?”

Haze closed his mouth and fell into thought.

I delivered the finishing blow to him.

“In my opinion, the reason you haven’t achieved the results you want, Haze, is because you’re trying to do both swordsmanship and magic. Give the magic to me. Then, everyone will be happy.”

“If you hadn’t said that last part, I would have been touched.”

“That can’t be helped.”

Perhaps I harvested too quickly before the fruit ripened.

I should have waited a little longer.

“Here are the roasted chestnuts.”

“Thank you.”

Haze took the packaged roasted chestnuts and left the shop.

I stood beside Haze and walked down the street with him.

Haze spoke.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“Why are you following me?”

“I was wondering if there was anything else I could help with.”

“I told you, I’m not giving you magic.”

“You never know.”

If the customer doesn’t want something, I’d go and try to change their mind.

That’s my motto.

“Sigh.”

With a long sigh, Haze threw one of the freshly roasted chestnuts.

When I caught it, Haze gave a short nod.

“I’ll give you this, so go now. I need to go back too.”

“There’s nothing else to buy?”

“This is enough. Actually, it’s too much. The princess probably won’t even finish half of it.”

“What about the leftovers? Will you eat them, Haze?”

“Throw them away.”

Haze neatly wrapped the packaging and slowly asked.

“How long are you staying in the capital?”

“Why do you ask? Are you planning to give me magic?”

“I’ve said six times already, no. How long are you staying?”

“I don’t know either, but I’ll probably leave for another place soon.”

“Really?”

Haze answered quietly, then casually said.

“Try to leave the capital as soon as possible.”

“Why?”

“Just leave. I’ll go now.”

Haze waved his hand and left.

I stared at him as he walked away before turning my body around.

I should go back to the inn and play with Jerry.

***

“…Here’s the promised reward.”

“I told you I wouldn’t take it.”

The next morning, I sat face to face with Muran at the inn.

Muran placed a bag full of gold coins on the table, and even just glancing at it, it was a huge amount.

I took a pipe and tilted my head.

“As for the theft of the castle, it was also my responsibility for moving the castle without any care. Since it was a mutual mistake, I won’t hold the Alchemy Guild responsible. That’s what we agreed on, right?”

“…Even if the customer brags about their items and makes a request, it’s not the customer’s fault. But losing the entrusted items is always the Alchemy Guild’s fault.”

“Hmmm.”

At this point, I should either give up or just throw the coin bag and leave, saying “Do whatever you want,” but Muran kept coming back persistently even though I kept refusing.

It was clear.

The Alchemy Guild would follow me to the ends of the continent if I kept rejecting them, begging me to accept it.

That wouldn’t do.

I exhaled smoke towards the ceiling and raised a finger.

“If you really want to reward me, do it with magic.”

“…Magic, you say?”

“I have no aptitude for alchemy magic. Find someone who will permanently transfer their alchemy magic. If you can’t do that, I won’t accept it.”

“…A transfer of magic, that’s impossible… I see. I’ll find someone.”

Muran, who was slightly confused, soon stood up.

I waved to Muran as he left the inn and put a piece of bread in my mouth.

It was delicious.

“Luina, I have a question.”

“Are you a shadow now? Do you just secretly light a cigarette and disappear without anyone noticing?” Jerry said.

“Go ahead.”

“I’m not sure myself.”

I didn’t know why Jerry was acting like this.

Ask him yourself.

I put out my pipe and fell into thought.

With that, my business in the capital was done.

Thanks to Muran, a new task came up, but that would be solved quickly anyway.

Finding an alchemist who was retired and wouldn’t use alchemy magic anymore wouldn’t be hard for the Alchemy Guild.

Maybe someone would come with the person by this evening?

That being said, there was only one thing that confused me right now.

Why is the royal family so disorganized?

The reason all kinds of items that extend lifespan are gathering in the capital?

It was obvious.

The royal family was looking for them.

The reason the second prince rashly stole the castle was also part of that.

The royal family was searching for those items for some reason, so the second prince desperately stole the castle.

Then there was the warning from Haze, who was related to the royal family.

The castle, the royal family, the warning.

Those three kept swirling around in my mind.

Something seemed like it was about to come to mind, but it didn’t.

“Luina? What’s wrong?”

Then, seeing the face of the succubus, a thought suddenly passed through my mind.

Succubus.

Concubine.

Imperial succession struggle.

Could it be that the emperor is in critical condition?

If so, staying in the capital any longer would definitely be a bad idea.

Even if the emperor dies, nothing major will happen, but things could get unnecessarily complicated.

I calmly parted my lips.

“We should leave tomorrow.”

“Why so suddenly? Didn’t we decide to stay a few more days?”

“I was going to, but I think it’s better to leave as soon as possible.”

“I don’t mind, but what about Leon and Jerry?”

“I don’t mind.”

“Me neither.”

It was decided.

I stood up from my seat.

It was to prepare for the journey.

“Everyone, get inside the house! Immediately!”

And then, with a sudden shout, I stopped.

It seemed like just simple intimidation at first, but the person behind it felt unusual.

“They’re from the southern army. Why are they here?”

Jerry muttered, and the southern army spoke up.

“From now on, we’ll close the castle gates and block all traffic! Anyone who doesn’t follow the orders will be treated as rebels!”

“What’s going on?”

“Is there a problem?”

People murmured.

They couldn’t figure out what was happening.

But I knew.

Rebels.

That terrifying word made me realize.

The emperor is dead.

And the second prince drew his sword.

A deadly magic sword that won’t stop until someone dies.