chapter_0220

219 – It’s Suspicious

219 – It’s Suspicious

The next morning.

Snowy highlands on the border of the Republic.

“Is this it? The place where that weirdo lives?”

At his subordinate’s words, Biloff, an intelligence agent for the Republic, wiped the sweat from his brow.

He wasn’t sure if it was because of the hiking clothes he was wearing or because he had struggled to climb the mountain, but despite being surrounded by snow, heat dominated his body.

“Yes. But refrain from calling him a weirdo. The weirdo in question doesn’t like it. Remember that he likes to be called a Grand Magus.”

“…Grand Magus?”

In an era where magic had almost lost its effectiveness, except for a few special abilities, a Grand Magus?

Even the title of Magus had faded into the past, so the term Grand Magus was simply perplexing.

“It’s surprising that there are people who still adhere to magic in this day and age. What’s even more surprising is that the government classifies such a weirdo as a person of interest.”

“That’s because you don’t know. He may be a weirdo, but his skills are definitely top-notch.”

“Really?”

At his subordinate’s question, Biloff nodded as he walked through the snowfield.

He thought that since the subordinate would soon take over his role, there was no need to hide anything further.

“Do you remember the Al Repimel assassination case?”

“Of course, I remember. He was a member of the Politburo who rebelled against the Supreme Council Comrade in the past. He was a traitor to the nation who conspired with the military to plan a large-scale coup.”

“Then you also know that Al Repimel’s death is shrouded in mystery.”

“Yes. Al Repimel was paranoid at the time and issued orders to his subordinates from deep within a bunker. But one day, without any warning…”

The subordinate stopped talking.

He understood why Biloff had suddenly brought this up.

The person who had broken through the heavily guarded bunker, killed Al Repimel, and slipped away unnoticed.

That was the weirdo they were about to meet.

As the subordinate swallowed hard, realizing that this was a bigger figure than he had thought, Biloff chuckled softly and looked ahead.

“We’re almost there.”

In front of them, a three-story building stood on a cliff.

The subordinate tilted his head, noticing that the building seemed somehow unbalanced.

“That’s a strange building. It’s amazing that it hasn’t collapsed yet.”

“You’re free to think that, but don’t call it a strange building in front of him. Apparently, that weirdo calls his house a ‘Magic Tower.’”

“I see. Understood.”

After hearing his subordinate’s reply, Biloff walked to the three-story building and knocked lightly on the door.

The door then opened inward on its own.

As his subordinate looked on in wonder, Biloff shrugged.

“I don’t know the principle, but apparently, it’s magic. Anyway, follow me closely. Don’t touch anything inside.”

With those words, Biloff entered the building.

The interior of the Gothic-style building was cluttered with all sorts of objects, things he couldn’t even begin to guess the purpose of, so he didn’t dare to touch them.

Biloff, as if familiar with the scene, used the spiral staircase in the center of the room to go upstairs.

Ignoring the second floor, which was full of fish tanks, Biloff went up to the third floor and saw him.

The weirdo, draped in a flowing robe, was looking up at the sky through a telescope.

The subordinate, who belatedly entered the third floor following Biloff, muttered involuntarily at the sight.

“Why is he using a telescope when it’s morning…”

Whether he heard the subordinate’s words or not, the weirdo replied indifferently.

“A true star knows how to flaunt its presence even through the veil of light. A pebble like you, scattered on the street, wouldn’t understand even if I explained it a hundred times.”

His tone was somehow sharp.

Biloff glared at his subordinate once before placing his hand on his chest and bowing his head.

“A humble being dares to meet the Grand Magus Serail. Please, with your generous heart, forgive my subordinate’s rudeness.”

“I have no choice but to forgive. It’s not like you pebbles make mistakes only once or twice.”

“Thank you for your great generosity.”

Serail shrugged lightly at Biloff’s apology.

“So? What brings you here to bother me this time?”

Hearing that he should get to the point, Biloff took a deep breath and opened his mouth.

“…Has the Grand Magus perhaps heard the news that Count Caledra was recently defeated in Penbarch?”

“Of course. The stars whisper it to me. I heard he was defeated quite disgracefully?”

“Regarding that defeat, Count Caledra and our Republic’s Supreme Council Comrade have a request for the Grand Magus.”

Serail adjusted the angle of the telescope slightly and said.

“To eliminate Daniel Steiner?”

He was so direct that Biloff was momentarily speechless.

Biloff, glancing at Serail, nodded.

“Yes. Count Caledra has offered to provide Etherium conversion stones for the Grand Magus. Our Republic’s Supreme Council Comrade has also said that he will provide as much convenience as possible.”

“Hmm. Is that so? I thought both the Republic and the Allied Nations knew that I had helped them in the past. It seems they have no conscience, asking for help again.”

Was it a rejection? As Biloff sweated, Serail chuckled softly.

“Alright. I’ll help. I’ve also become interested in this man, Daniel Steiner. Of course, not right away. Wait a few months. Watching the stars is more fun right now.”

Thanks to that, Biloff breathed a sigh of relief.

“On behalf of the Supreme Council Comrade, I express my gratitude for your decision to save the nation. Our Republic will provide all material resources to the Grand Magus Comrade in exchange for your help.”

“Of course, you should. But what kind of person is Daniel Steiner exactly? I’d like to know in detail who he likes, what food he prefers, and what he dislikes.”

Serail, taking his eyes off the telescope, turned around.

“I need to know what kind of person he is…”

A thin smile hung beneath his blood-red eyes.

“Because it’ll feel good when I kill him.”

*

“Really? That must have felt great, right?”

At Namerias’s words, Lucy hurriedly looked around.

Fortunately, no one was passing by in the hallway, so Lucy could breathe a sigh of relief.

“Namerias. Your voice is too loud.”

Lucy, her face subtly flushed, spoke softly, and Namerias crossed her arms.

“Why? It’s not like I made anything up, right? Brigadier General Daniel Steiner is a man in his prime, isn’t he? Lady, you’re objectively beautiful, so there’s no way he would dislike kissing you.”

The reason why Namerias was saying these things was simple.

Namerias, who had been granted freedom in the mansion thanks to Lucy, was on her way to brew coffee for the Imperial Army staff when she happened to run into Lucy in the hallway.

Since they were going the same way, they were chatting about various things when the topic of romance naturally came up, and Namerias, recalling a romance novel she had read in the past, asked Lucy if she had ever kissed a man.

Lucy was silent at the question.

She didn’t want to blab about the fact that she had kissed Daniel.

But even if she kept her mouth shut, she couldn’t hide her unstable gaze and her flushed face.

Namerias, who knew that Lucy loved Daniel, said, ‘You must have kissed Brigadier General Daniel?’

Lucy initially denied it, but when Namerias continued to persistently press her, she had no choice but to reveal the truth.

She then expressed a concern, which was the question, ‘Wasn’t it a terrible thing to do to the Brigade Commander, swept away by the atmosphere and emotions?’

From Namerias’s point of view, that was absurd.

“If you’re really curious, you could ask Brigadier General Daniel himself…”

“Ask what?”

“Hiek!?”

Namerias, startled by the sudden deep voice, looked ahead.

There stood Daniel, neatly dressed in his military uniform.

They had run into each other while turning the corner of the hallway.

While Namerias was calming her surprised heart, Daniel tilted his head.

“…Were you talking about me?”

Daniel looked at Lucy with an expression asking for an explanation, but it was the same here.

She was stiff and couldn’t make eye contact.

Daniel, puzzled by that, had a vague realization.

“Adjutant.”

Daniel stared at Lucy with a worried expression.

“You don’t look well. If you’re experiencing any side effects from the incident in the lab, tell me anytime. I’ll provide as much convenience as possible.”

“Ah. That’s not it…”

Daniel, looking pitiful, suddenly grabbed Lucy’s hand.

“You don’t have to hide your true feelings from me. No matter what others may think of you, I alone will support you.”

Thanks to that, Lucy’s face turned even redder.

Lucy, with her eyes tightly closed, was suppressing the urge to whine.

Namerias, who had been quietly watching the two of them, thought.

‘Why is he so good with words? Brigadier General Daniel, could it be….’

Namerias narrowed her eyes with disbelief.

‘Could he be a playboy?’

From Namerias’s point of view, who didn’t know the details of what the two had gone through, Daniel Steiner somehow seemed like a lecher.

Author’s Note

Thank you, Haedaljoa-nim, for the 10-coin donation! Thank you for the donation! I hope you enjoyed it today too…! I don’t know what to do, you not only read it but also donate every time. Thank you always!

Thank you, Early Bird-nim, for the 500-coin donation! Heoeoeoeok…! Teacher, I don’t know if I can receive such a large amount…! I will accept it as a meaning to work hard on writing and do my best! I will use the money you sent to buy coffee, which I always use when writing…! Thank you again!

Thank you, Blue Mirror-nim, for the 100-coin donation! I feel energized that you are cheering me on! I will continue to do my best, so please watch over me! Thank you for the donation!

Thank you to all the readers who read my work!

Today is Friday! I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Then I’ll see you again tomorrow! Thank you always for reading!