episode_0009

The Tower of Agnis, the central empire’s mage tower.

At the top floor.

In the study of the tower lord of the 100th floor, Roan.

Roan, who was sitting on the sofa studying chess alone as usual, put down the bishop he was holding in his hand at the sound of a knock on the door and said towards the door.

“Come in.”

Click!

As if waiting, the door opened, and a crimson silhouette entered Roan’s study.

Grand Knight Rose Esweil.

Meeting her for the first time since the meeting a few months ago, she bowed her head slightly and naturally took a seat on the opposite sofa.

“You came early, Lady Rose.”

“Yes. Thanks to the country-moving magic circle developed by Roan.”

“Haha, it’s embarrassing.”

As Rose said.

Roan’s invention magic announced to the world a year ago.

It was a country-moving magic circle.

Teleportation magic circles within a country were common, but Roan was the first to invent a magic circle that could move long distances between countries, even with a large number of people.

If Rose was a genius as a spirit knight, Roan was truly a genius of magic.

“It’s best to get to the point, right? Lady Rose, I know you don’t like dragging out introductions.”

“Indeed, you’re different from the old generation, Lady Rose.”

“I may not be as young as you, Lady Rose.”

After a short exchange of jokes, Rose took something out of her arms and placed it on the table in front of Roan.

Roan’s eyes widened at the sight.

“This is…”

“Yes. Remnants of a lower tree spirit. I brought it to discuss with you before presenting it at the next joint meeting.”

Remnants tainted by dark magic… emitting a faintly ominous aura.

Roan showed interest.

Soon, Rose spoke.

“While the Eclipse Church has turned humans into ghouls before, there have been no cases of turning spirits into undead.”

“Indeed, it’s a first.”

Roan, staring intently at the remnants of the tree spirit, pondered deeply.

“Now I see the true purpose of the Eclipse Church. Experimenting to turn higher beings, such as spirits, into powerful undead for control.”

“Yes, that’s why I came to inform you. I also have some questions.”

Frowning, Rose continued.

“…What will their end be, in the end?”

“Hmm, the end, you say.”

Humans, then spirits.

After passing through them, and through higher beings.

What will the ultimate being be in the end?

A brief silence passed between them.

Roan closed his eyes, deep in thought.

Rose waited quietly until he spoke.

Finally, Roan spoke.

“I don’t know what the end will be, but spirits are higher beings spiritually than humans. So… could the next step be experimenting on higher beings with physical bodies?”

“Higher beings with physical bodies?”

“Yes, like demons.”

“….!”

Demons?

Rose felt a chill.

She had a bad feeling about it.

***

The next morning.

Rose’s mansion.

The first day of swordsmanship training with Gerald.

“Go to the academy.”

“…?”

As soon as they met, Rudy didn’t understand Gerald’s words to go to the academy.

‘What the hell is this sudden bullshit?’

Didn’t he say he had decent talent for a 17-year-old yesterday?

Doubting his ears, Rudy asked Gerald.

“Why?”

“I’ve been thinking since last night, it’s a waste to let your talent rot alone. It wouldn’t be bad for you to come to our family.”

“….”

That was more frightening than going to the academy.

To put pressure on my family and ruin it.

To come into the house of the daughter who is currently under prosecution?

In a way, Gerald, who had been a heroine’s father who expelled Rudy, who was doing well at the academy.

Made him work hard for a few months after dropping out.

Entering his house was not something that could be done easily, not even if one were to use all their wit and cunning.

“Damn it. Who am I doing all this for right now…?”

Anger and defiance boiled up from within his chest.

After taking a deep breath, Rudy calmed himself down and responded to Jerald.

“I apologize. It seems that the family will not allow it.”

“In that case, you must go to the academy.”

“Even Lady Rose agrees, why are you forcing me to go to the academy?”

“As the head of the Swordsmanship Clan, it is regrettable to see a skilled swordsman go to waste. And that lizard-brained fool, how can he not improve? Every time I see him, he seems more incompetent.”

Jerald was very curious about Rudy’s face.

Using a wild and beastly swordsmanship technique.

Achieving the rank of 3 stars at the age of 17.

And being the naive disciple of the knowledgeable Rose.

…Rudy silently accepted Jerald’s words.

“If you were like him, would you give up?”

Rudy’s face had already been sold.

Although he had fallen from grace now.

He was the second son of the former Swordsmanship Clan, Pafnir.

He had even been mentioned in the Imperial Gazette a few times, so Jerald couldn’t possibly be unaware of him.

“Huh? Why isn’t everyone in class and doing something else?”

Just as Rose returned from her outing.

She looked puzzled seeing Rudy standing confidently and Jerald looking uncomfortable.

“Is there a problem? Jerald.”

“It seems like sending him to the academy is the right thing to do, but he keeps refusing.”

“…Is my disciple really that untalented?”

“No, quite the opposite.”

Jerald gave Rose a meaningful look.

Understanding him, Rose nodded.

“Wait here for a moment.”

Leaving Rudy, who seemed to be in a bad mood for some reason, Rose led Jerald to a secluded corner of the backyard.

“It shouldn’t be heard from here. What seems to be the problem, Jerald?”

“Listen well. You don’t really know what you’ve picked up.”

“What?”

Rose tilted her head in confusion at Jerald’s words.

You don’t really know.

“What are you talking about?”

The power to nullify the dark magic of the Lunar Sect.

And exceptional swordsmanship beyond his age.

Was there something else?

Jerald noticed the anxiety in Rose’s trembling pupils and nodded.

“It’s not a bad thing. You’re envying Rose too much to the point of being excessive.”

“Envy… me?”

“That kid called Phantom. I don’t know if he’s a genius, but he definitely has extraordinary talent.”

“….!”

Rose was taken aback.

“Are you saying that from the mouth of Jerald with his high nose?”

This wasn’t just a normal compliment.

Having seen many geniuses until now.

It was the highest praise that could be given as the head of the Swordsmanship Clan.

“That’s why he should be sent to the family or the academy. Honestly, if it weren’t for your disciple, we would have forcibly recruited him into our family.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Rose pondered deeply.

She knew Rudy’s swordsmanship was exceptional compared to his peers, having seen it with her own eyes.

But to think that his talent was of that caliber.

As a genius herself, Rose couldn’t just overlook it quietly.

Although she had graduated early, she had absorbed a lot from the academy professors.

Practical experience from exams, theory, politics, and more.

If Rudy was truly a genius, it was indeed a problem to leave him to rot alone without sending him to a specialized institution.

“I tried to make him capable of protecting himself even after teaching him, but it seems he’s already there.”

“Understood. Let’s try to have a conversation with the disciple in the future.”

“Alright.”

After sending Jerald, who had no intention of teaching swordsmanship anymore, away,

Rose approached Rudy, who had been left alone, and asked him.

“What did you do to make him react like that?”

“I didn’t do anything. I just followed his instructions to try and defeat myself.”

“And did you defeat yourself?”

“No. Are you crazy? Just estimating, it looks like a 7-star, how can I win? And you’re calling me the head of the Swordsmanship Clan.”

“…First, let’s get rid of that lizard head and go into the mansion.”

.

.

.

.

Not the living room of the mansion, but Rose’s study.

In other words, Rose’s room.

The walls were decorated with numerous flowers as part of the interior design.

The occasional scent of flowers helped to calm the mood.

The maid handed Rose and Rudy their tea at the table and then left the room.

Once the door closed, Rose finally spoke.

“Stop sulking and let’s go to the academy.”

“….”

For the same reason as last time, Rudy couldn’t go.

“I’m not going.”

“Why?”

“….”

How should he put it without sounding pathetic?

He had attended the academy diligently, only to propose to the 4th Princess with no response, leading to rumors and subtle ostracism. Eventually, the angry heroine’s family pressured his own, leading to his resignation and the downfall of his family!

He even faced a lawsuit, putting him at risk of being publicly shamed by the Empire’s knights.

In reality, it was all a misunderstanding!

It almost sounded like the excuse of a criminal.

“Are you just going to keep your mouth shut like that?”

“….”

“Ugh, frustrating!”

Rose said with a serious look in her eyes.

“Have you forgotten that I owe you a favor?”

“I haven’t forgotten.”

“Then spill it. What’s the problem?”

“….”

“If going to the academy will make you stronger, why aren’t you going?”

Frustrated, Rose pulled out a document from a drawer and showed it to Rudy.

“This is the document for clearing the debt I paid to the government.”

And then.

“If you don’t trust me, then I can’t trust you either. I could easily make this debt disappear.”

“….!”

She dropped a bombshell.

‘That’s not possible!’

Even if he had paid off the debt by looting gold from the Pafnir underground warehouse, Rose had paid off the remaining debt of a whopping 40 million gold.

If that debt were to be demanded back, he would have to work as a laborer for the next 10 years, repeating the same cycle of labor and adventuring.

He wouldn’t be able to afford a balanced meal outside the mansion every day.

“Tell me your secret. I’ll try to understand whatever it is.”

“….”

Understand?

Even if he claimed innocence, there was no one who believed him…

Rudy hesitated at Rose’s words.

At the same time, Rose continued to push the debt clearance document in front of Rudy’s face.

A pressing situation.

Rudy truly pondered his decision.