Chapter 42 : Millennium Height (16)
by fnovelpia
The second prince’s rebellion was swiftly quelled.
Although the ringleader, the second prince himself, and his right-hand man, the southern commander, escaped, many of the remaining rebels were captured.
Particularly significant was that Roderick, the second prince’s confidant, was found to have taken his own life in a separate palace.
From the prince’s point of view, it was a massive loss.
The fugitive prince holed up in the southern commander’s territory and declared independence.
Thus, the empire had fallen into civil war.
“War only brings bloodshed. I feel sorry for the soldiers.”
I left behind a brief comment and took a puff from my pipe.
Sitting across from me was Myuran.
She looked me in the eye with a serious expression, but I shifted my gaze beside her.
There stood an old alchemist, silently.
“…I am the alchemist who will transfer the alchemic magic you requested.”
“So how exactly is the magic transferred?”
I activated the scales without asking the old alchemist any further questions.
Whether he wanted money or made some other deal — that was none of my concern.
What mattered was the magic itself.
“Thanks for your effort.”
“Hmph.”
The old alchemist, having transferred the alchemic magic, left the inn with a look that was both regretful and relieved.
I tapped out my pipe and savored the acquired magic.
This bittersweet taste—I had truly gained something valuable.
“…How is it?”
“It’s perfect. As expected from the trustworthy Alchemist Guild.”
“…I’m glad to hear that. Then, can I ask where we’re headed next?”
“Our next destination is… wait, why are you asking that, Myuran?”
It was so natural I almost answered without thinking.
Why do you need to know where we’re going next?
Who even are you?
I asked in confusion, but Myuran just tilted her head as if she was the one confused.
“…Because I’m going with you.”
“Did I ever request that you accompany me as part of the deal?”
“…No, but while alchemic magic is easy to learn, it’s extremely difficult to master. You absolutely need someone to teach you. You didn’t acquire the magic just to admire it, did you, Miss Luina?”
She had a point.
I wasn’t collecting magic to display it — I was gathering it to use it.
I lacked talent, which is why I struggled to master it.
Normally, learning alchemic magic was straightforward.
The difficulty lay in applying it to create results.
“So you’re offering to follow me and teach me?”
“…Yes.”
“And you don’t even know where I’m headed.”
“…It doesn’t matter. I made a promise.”
“Fine.”
Whatever else, the offer to teach magic struck a chord.
“I’ve been wanting to learn from someone. Studying alone was getting boring.”
“Huh? Alone? Weren’t you learning from me?”
“What are you talking about, Jerry? When did I ever learn magic from you?”
“Then why am I even here?”
Leaving the confused Jerry behind, I turned to Myuran to address the next matter.
“What about the royal seal?”
“…I inquired with the imperial family and just had it processed. Here it is.”
Myuran placed the seal on the table, along with a leather pouch.
“These are the ten gold coins we received as an advance. And I’ve decided to waive the commission.”
The seal had been compressed and crafted into the form of a lantern.
I stroked its star-like form.
My precious…
“Miss Luina? Your eyes are glazed over. Are you okay?”
“I’m always fine.”
“No, seriously, your eyes are totally gone.”
“I said I’m always fine.”
I carefully set down my usual lantern and floated the silver lantern into the air.
Then Kris spoke up.
“You’re not using both? I thought for sure you would now that you can float them with magic.”
“Due to a limitation I have, using more than one lantern doesn’t increase the effect.”
“otot.”
Whether I had one lantern or a hundred, I could only activate magic through one at a time.
No point in lugging around a bunch of them.
The silver lantern floated lazily in the air, then lightly bumped into Jerry.
Jerry flinched in surprise.
“Why me?”
“That wasn’t me. That was Sekyeong acting on its own.”
“But you’re the one who activated the magic!”
“Sure, I activated it — but it moves however it wants.”
If I gave it commands, it would obey, but otherwise it acted on its own judgment.
A fascinating magic, really.
“It’s a type of artificial personality magic.”
“Is that so.”
“Though the base personality is still mine.”
“Then it’s definitely your doing…”
But I only thought about it — I didn’t actually do anything.
Maybe my Sekyeong was still a newborn, curious about the world.
“Miss Luina.”
Leon spoke up in a serious tone.
I nodded.
“You want some milk, right? Go ahead and order.”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Ah, I see.”
Well, whatever.
It was about time.
I caressed my old lantern and spoke.
“Let’s drop this off at the storage and go meet the Witch of Wisdom.”
***
“Ugh.”
Valion Dragomil bit on his cigar, but then put it back in its case, as if he wasn’t in the mood.
“With my only disciple like this, how can I walk around with pride?”
“I’m sorry, Master.”
“No need to apologize. It’s all my fault.”
Balyon chuckled and asked Hayes a question.
“So, how’s the capital?”
“It’s chaotic.”
“Then why are you here? Go do your work.”
“I thought I should at least greet you. Things are mostly wrapped up anyway.”
Just as he feared, Hayes didn’t have to rely on Balyon for help, but a major incident—serious enough to warrant a report—had occurred.
Coming to report was the right thing to do.
“I heard you nearly died.”
“That’s right.”
“You’re not being prideful anymore. You’ve changed a lot.”
“I realized that kind of thing is completely useless.”
Hayes had learned a great deal this time.
One of those lessons was about pride.
“Insisting on useless pride in everyday life does no good in a crisis.”
“Took you long enough to learn that, my dull student.”
“I should’ve taken your words to heart sooner, Master.”
“Bah.”
Balyon clicked his tongue and scanned Hayes from head to toe.
Then, he pulled out another cigar and lit it.
“Your swordsmanship has improved in that short time. Had a change of heart?”
“We use magic for refining our bodies, but we’re not mages. I finally understood what that really means.”
“Another thing you’ve just now realized, you slow student. Don’t tell me you’re thinking of learning magic again?”
“Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t. I gave it up.”
“You gave up magic?”
“Yes.”
At Hayes’ cryptic words, Balyon furrowed his brow briefly, then laughed heartily.
“Just who did you meet?”
“I met the Witch of Vengeance, who can make even a crying child go silent.”
“Sounds like she really shut you up.”
“So, Master,”
Hayes spoke with resolve.
“I’ve decided to quit being a guardian knight.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Instead—”
Just as Hayes was about to say “I’ve decided to follow one person’s journey instead,”
Balyon grabbed his shoulder tightly, and Hayes blinked in surprise.
“Master?”
“Ever since I let you go, you’ve been picking up bad habits here and there. I was thinking of straightening you out anyway, and now you’re offering yourself up. Head to the training ground. I’ll work you to the bone.”
That’s not what I meant…
Wait, what?
Hayes was dragged off to the training ground by Balyon—against his will.
Sadly, following Ruina would have to wait until next time…
***
Meanwhile, Orphin slowly placed the crown on his head.
The item, once a symbol of his father, now belonged to Orphin.
Feeling the weight of it, Orphin entered the meeting.
As things were too urgent for a formal coronation, he had taken the throne in a simplified ceremony and begun fulfilling his duties as Emperor.
“Has the letter urging surrender and warning been sent to Isak?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I assume the reply was the same nonsense as last time. What’s the plan moving forward?”
“We’ve stationed troops around the rebel base. Ten territories, centered around Baron Darin Zetherion’s domain, have joined forces.”
As Orphin dealt with foreign correspondence, gifts, and various diplomatic matters, he arrived at the main and most important agenda of today’s meeting:
Meritorious awards.
It was time to reward those who had helped him appropriately.
When it came time to discuss today’s main contributor, Orphin stroked his chin.
“Her name was Ruina, right?”
“Yes.”
“Anything else known about her?”
“We’re still investigating, but so far…”
“She’s a third-tier fire mage.”
At the sudden voice, Orphin turned his gaze.
It was the 5th Prince, Kyren Eterno, who had spoken.
Orphin, intrigued, opened his mouth.
“Third-tier?”
“That’s what she claims.”
“That’s impressive. Anything else?”
“She has full-body burn scars.”
“I can see that. I meant besides that…”
“She had a mentor named Kelton. Though her registered hometown as a mercenary is Grape Town in Westshade, tracking her movements suggests she’s likely from South Clampwood.”
“She’s 17 years old and travels with a merchant named Chris, a holy knight named Leon, and a mage named Jerry. They appear to have strong ties with the Croft School.”
“Hold on, hold on, hold on.”
Orphin, flustered, stopped Kyren.
Kyren looked at Orphin with an innocent expression.
“What is it, Your Majesty?”
“How do you know all this?”
“I heard it by chance.”
“And you think this is something you can just ‘hear by chance’?”
It was absurd, but Kyren insisted so calmly that Orphin had no way to counter it.
“You sure know a lot for something you heard by chance. Anyway, what kind of reward would be appropriate for this Lady Ruina? Everyone, feel free to share your thoughts.”
“I suggest a large monetary reward.”
At one noble’s suggestion, Orphin’s brow twitched ever so slightly.
A huge reward.
At first glance, this reward seemed generous, but in reality, it was quite hollow.
It meant they were trying to compensate Ruina’s achievements with mere money.
Helping the Crown Prince — no, the soon-to-be Emperor after the former Emperor’s death — deserved far more than that.
“A reward, huh. Sounds good.”
“It’s best to give as much as possible. Mages spend a lot on research.”
The nobles chimed in together.
Watching the scene quietly, Orphin turned to Kairen and spoke.
“What do you think?”
“Chess?”
“I once played Arcana Chess with Lady Ruina, by chance.”
“Yes. I still remember the play she made back then.”
“What kind of play was it?”
“She used the exact same opening I had used earlier, and completely destroyed me with it.”
That was certainly an amusing playstyle.
“I also played chess with Lady Ruina,” said Princess Tashia.
“You too, Princess?”
“Yes.”
The 8th Princess, Tashia Eterno, shared her own experience.
“She deliberately used an opening that was at a disadvantage against mine, and still utterly crushed me.”
“I’m starting to get a feel for what kind of person she is.”
Persistent and relentless.
No wonder she came to confront the Second Prince over stealing the Emperor’s favor.
Orphin was a calculating person.
If something was the right answer in his calculations — even if it was morally questionable — he was willing to accept it.
That’s why, although he found the nobles’ shameless downplaying of Ruina’s reward disgusting, he still considered their opinions.
But from Orphin’s perspective, it was less risky to overrule them and give Ruina a proper reward than to offend a full-body-burned fire mage like her.
She had, after all, saved the Emperor.
Even the opposing nobles would find it hard to argue against that.
The decision was made. Orphin declared: “I shall grant Lady Ruina, who saved my life and made great contributions in suppressing the rebels, the title of Baron and land. This title and land shall be inherited by her successors. Any objections?”
“No objections, I see.”
To oppose it would be treason.
Saving the Emperor’s life carried that much weight.
As the nobles fell silent, Orphin smiled inwardly and asked Kairen another question.
“I’d like to offer her treatment for her burns as well. What do you think, Kairen?”
“She jokes around a lot despite her burn scars, but I do believe she wants to heal. I think she’ll appreciate it.”
“Good.”
Orphin gave an order to the chamberlain.
“Summon Lady Ruina to the Imperial Palace immediately.”
“Understood.”
And so, Orphin spent some time thinking about what to say to Ruina.
“She’s gone?”
“I’m sorry.”
Upon hearing that Ruina had already left the capital, his mouth hung open.
“What?”
As Orphin stood there, dumbfounded, he muttered quietly: “Who the hell saves the Emperor and just leaves?”
“I apologize.”
“Is there a way to contact her?”
“She has no known residence, and we don’t know where she went.”
“This is insane.”
***
“Lord Leon! Look! Our baby grew by 1mm!”
“Please refrain from calling magic your baby.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“Okay.”
A week had passed since I left the capital.
Today, as always, I continued learning magic.
Refinement magic… this is hard.
So difficult.
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