chapter_0015

15 – What She Desires

15 – What She Desires

KWA-AAAAAAANG!!!!!!!!!!!!

The flames could be seen even from the distant Lion territory.

A tingling reaction of magical power that could be felt by those who could wield it.

Then came the explosive sound, the gust of wind, and the mushroom-shaped cloud that appeared.

Noah’s sunglasses, which he had left behind, were worn by Lagos as he watched the scene with a calm face, astonished.

‘(Hmm… should I prepare to run away?)’

Lagos thought of himself as strong.

He had fought and won against magicians before, and he believed that no matter how strong a magician was, he could win depending on the response.

But that was on a whole different level.

A human could not defeat a typhoon, the sun, or a drought.

That was the level of power he was witnessing.

‘(But I’ve already received too much money to run away… what should I do?)’

Lagos had no sense of knightly honor, but he prided himself on his credibility as a mercenary.

When he thought about it, he had received too much money from the Lion Family to just flee.

‘(Hmm… what should I do?)’

In general, large-scale area attack magic like that was rarely used in war.

Magicians, being human, have moral burdens, and the moment magic is permitted, a hellish scene of large-scale slaughter begins to unfold in each other’s territories.

But there are always exceptions.

For example, if a mad lord invades another’s territory without justification to plunder and massacre, both the Magic Tower and the lords would somewhat tolerate the use of magic in response.

Lagos, who was well aware that his lord was included in that category, felt grateful to be alive.

Cron’s brat… no, Lord Calix had sent knights to deal with the monsters and could have sent that magician against them.

But he did not.

He chose the path that would minimize casualties, and thanks to that, Lagos was still alive.

Many knights of the Lion Family, who had likely grasped the situation upon seeing that flame, were probably thinking similar thoughts.

As Lagos pondered what actions the lord would take and how he should act, a booming voice came from behind.

“Everyone retreat!!!!!”

Hadem shouted so that everyone in the camp could hear.

He calmly mounted his horse and said,

“It seems Lord Calix has dealt with the monsters properly, so we will return to the territory.”

“Is that alright, my lord?”

Lagos approached Lord Hadem and asked.

For Lord Hadem, retreating like this was a tremendous disgrace.

However, surprisingly, Lord Hadem casually replied to his subordinate.

“A wise lion knows when to fight. Let’s go back!!”

At his words, the knights of the Lion Family sighed in relief and prepared to return.

Most of them were just glad they hadn’t been slaughtered by that flame, while Lagos was thinking differently.

He recalled his lord’s words.

Lord Hadem never acknowledges defeat against someone he does not recognize.

In a good sense, his words acknowledged Calix, while in a bad sense, it declared that he would regard Calix as a proper adversary.

‘(Lord Calix, I wish you good fortune.)’

Hadem believed in the logic of cruelty and power, but he was by no means a fool.

He had the strategy to manage a territory and lead his family to victory in numerous battles.

The fact that such a being recognized Lord Calix as an adversary brought Lagos a sense of solemn consolation.

After Sharen’s magic annihilated the Deep Rock monsters, the work proceeded swiftly.

The remaining Deep Rock monsters were hunted by the knights, and perhaps intimidated by Sharen’s magic, the Lion Family retreated immediately.

Having resolved all issues, I prepared for the festival with Noah.

Once everything was settled, it was naturally time for that.

It was none other than… the festival.

“Everyone worked hard!!! To Cron!!!”

[ “Cheers!!!!!” ]

With my words, everyone raised their glasses and shouted as the festival began.

The city, which had been engulfed in fear just yesterday, was now filled with the laughter of the citizens and delicious food, as if nothing had happened.

This was also the reason I was holding a festival.

After feeling fear, people need a luxury for their hearts.

And the most suitable thing for that was this festival.

It was not because I wanted to hold a festival.

“Everyone did well. Have a drink.”

“Thank you! My lord!”

I went around distributing drinks to everyone.

I served the knights who had worked hard and the clerks who had struggled to evacuate the people, and everyone involved in the efforts.

This was also a performance to show that as a lord, I cared for everyone and acknowledged their hard work.

It was certainly not because I enjoyed the gatherings from my previous life.

“My lord, please let me join too!”

“Noah, you worked hard as well. Thanks to you, the Deep Rocks were able to gather in the valley.”

“Thank you.”

Noah, leading the treasurers and merchants, had prepared the necessary items for this plan, including wild boars.

I poured her a glass of her favorite white wine.

After serving everyone, I searched for the most important person.

The greatest contributor to this plan and a walking nuclear bomb.

As I wandered looking for Sharen, I spotted her quietly watching the festival alone on a hill.

“There you are, Sharen.”

“My lord…”

She was gazing at the festival with a slightly dazed expression, her red hair flowing in the breeze.

When I spoke to her, she finally looked at me.

I was once again amazed that this delicate woman had used such tremendous magic, and I sat beside her.

“May I pour you a drink?”

“Of course, my lord. I will drink gratefully.”

I poured her some wine.

She received the drink politely, took a sip, and continued to gaze at the festival.

“It’s beautiful…”

“Is it?”

To me, she looked even more beautiful reflected in the moonlight.

With her red hair flowing, she resembled a goddess of flames, truly beautiful.

“Yes, among all the places I’ve been, this place, Cron, is the most beautiful.”

“That’s flattery. There are many territories that are wealthier and more splendid than ours.”

Calix was a native born and raised in Cron.

However, from the information I had seen in my previous life, there were many territories that were wealthier and more extravagant than Cron.

There were systems in place, and the Black Rose family was also famous for being wealthy and splendid.

But shaking her head as if to deny my words, she said,

“Those places are splendid. But they are not beautiful…”

She gazed at the territory.

Looking at the joyful, laughter-filled festival, she smiled and said,

“People smiling, holding onto hopes for the future, and the Spirits looking down with smiles upon them… I believe that is true beauty.”

I had heard that the emotions of elves were quite different from ours.

They say they see and feel many things through conversations with Spirits that people cannot perceive.

Yet, at least I understood what it meant to say that this scene was beautiful.

And I agreed with her words.

“If that’s the kind of beauty you’re talking about, then I’m a bit confident in our Cron.”

“Yes, Cron is truly the most beautiful.”

After a moment of silently watching the festival with Sharen, I spoke to her.

In fact, the reason I had sought out Sharen was also because of this.

“Sharen, do you have any wishes?”

“Wishes?”

It was about the reward for Sharen.

There was no reward money for a magician of Sharen’s caliber in our territory right now.

To be precise, there had been before, but I had used it all in reinvesting for the citizens.

So I was thinking of giving her a reward that wasn’t money.

“Yes, it is the duty of a leader to reward those who have contributed. You have made a contribution. Although I cannot give you much due to the expenses going out of the territory, I want to hear what you wish for within my means.”

“What I wish for…”

Sharen pondered over Calix’s words.

What did she wish for?

Until recently, Sharen’s only wish had been to help people completely.

But after coming here, she seemed to have found what she truly desired.

Sharen didn’t just want to do good deeds.

She wanted…

“I wish for you to make all the territories of the Empire like Cron.”

“W-what? All the territories of the Empire?”

“Yes…”

In her very early childhood, she had grown up in a village where elves and humans coexisted.

It was a small village created by fugitives of humans and elves, where she was born to an elven mother and a human father.

Though it was a simple village made of huts, it was a peaceful and happy place where everyone helped each other and worked hard.

Just like here in Cron.

Coming here and recalling those memories, she had truly found what she wanted.

She didn’t just want to help people.

She wanted to create “that place.”

“If my lord grants my wish… if you could turn the Empire into a paradise like this…”

Sharen stood up and approached Calix.

Then she knelt before him and kissed his hand.

It was a kiss that a vassal gives to the lord they serve.

“The flames of Crimson Sorceress Sharen will forever blaze for you, my lord.”

Sharen’s eyes were burning with sincerity like never before.

Was Sharen like this!?

I was taken aback by her unexpected sincerity, and I felt my poker face might break.

No, it was understandable; anyone would be surprised if a seemingly pure half-elf magician suddenly asked for world domination.

I decided to say the most neutral thing to navigate this situation.

“Ah… I understand. I will try my best.”

“Yes… thank you.”

The night of the Cron festival deepened.

And my worries deepened as well.

A word from the author (Author’s Note)

[Anonymous Supporter] Thank you for your support!!!!

I will continue to work hard and serialize interesting works!!!!!!

[Bokbokki_533] Thank you for your support!!!!!

I will repay you with more interesting and good works!!!

??? : Make a wish.

??? : Please unify the world.

??? : Can’t you just give me money?