episode_0045

Made of a transparent material like glass, the figure attached to the bark of the World Tree was undoubtedly a spider.

Its size was roughly that of a human face.

Without realizing it, Aqua, who had transformed into the form of a lizard, approached the creature and pretended to sniff around.

With the sudden approach, the material of the spider, which looked like glass, soon transformed into something like a mirror.

Aqua, upon seeing his reflection in the spider, was surprised as he touched his face with his front legs.

Wint also transformed into a small whirlwind and began circling around the spider, inspecting every nook and cranny.

Soon, the epidermis of the spider, which had looked like a mirror, changed into a colorful stained glass.

Lac, appearing as a small human figure, emerged from the ground and gazed at a mysterious life form for the first time, shielding his eyes from the sunlight with one hand.

Although they were spirits encountering it for the first time, I knew what it was.

It was what Wiebleia had told me in my childhood memories.

Among the numerous spirits, a rare being without a rank, the spirit of time.

“Aitas.”

It was the only spirit that had made a contract with Wiebleia.

As I called out its name, it turned transparent like glass again and descended to the ground in the form of a rooster, flapping its wings vigorously.

It transformed back into a colorful appearance, darting around me as if it had discovered a lovely hen, then once again changing its form, this time into a chubby mallet while altering its material like a mirror.

“….”

Then, it transformed back into a glass-like material, standing erect next to my leg with two small palms pressed against its belly.

With closed eyes and slightly leaning forward, it seemed to be asking for a gentle touch on its belly.

Perhaps due to inheriting Wiebleia’s power, it felt a considerable intimacy towards me.

Therefore, simply scratching its hard belly a few times sealed the deal.

Suddenly, a yellowish aura circulated in the sky.

It was time to return.

“My most beloved son of Wiebleia, may you live the life you desire.”

After bidding farewell to the World Tree, I headed towards the blazing tower where the Archduke Aldor was located.

***

Seeing the prince in the midst of the enemy territory was a truly heartwarming sight.

“Oh, have you come…?”

Thus, Aldor, unknowingly using honorifics and surprising himself, was taken aback.

What should he say first?

Before he could resolve this dilemma, the prince spoke first.

“Pledge your allegiance to me.”

“….”

Aldor was once again taken aback.

What kind of allegiance was he asking for?

‘Surely not an oath regarding mana…’

A mage unfolds magic through their own beliefs.

Therefore, an oath involving mana was never taken lightly.

If one were to lie and deceive themselves, not only would they lose the ability to use magic, but their mana could explode, causing their body to burst and lead to instant death.

“….”

He couldn’t find an answer for a while.

If the oath demanded was about mana, it was no different from becoming a slave to the great Archduke himself.

“If it’s an oath…”

“Of course, it’s an oath regarding mana.”

The prince’s face bore a smile, but his green eyes contained an imposing pressure that naturally averted gazes.

Clearly, it was the composure of someone holding the reins of life.

It wasn’t unexpected, but hearing it was like a bolt from the blue.

It was merely a desire to switch from holding useless strings in Shurline Manor to being under the prince’s control.

There was no intention to become pitifully bloated like a slave for no reason.

‘Rather die than endure such humiliation.’

“Do you want to die?”

“….”

Upon reflection, he realized he didn’t want to die after all.

Now, it’s too late to throw everything away; there have been too many achievements.

But even though he had achieved so much, Ardor couldn’t help but feel that it might be better to die than to live as a slave, suffering and serving this prince who clearly didn’t have a normal temperament like most people…

“Most of the elves think you’re dead.”

“Most of them……”

If that was the case, then it meant that a minority of elves definitely knew about their own survival.

For example, it would be skilled individuals like kings, princes, or princesses.

Ardor rolled his eyes diligently.

“Yeah, I’m grateful for being spared, but……”

It was unnecessary to confirm whether the high-ranking elves would act when the prince’s words were rejected.

“Damn it.”

Whether to live as a slave or become a target of execution no less horrific than the one seen earlier.

Despite priding himself on being excellent at cost-benefit analysis, this time the calculation wasn’t easy.

“Mataup deliberately didn’t collapse. It just changed its appearance slightly; what’s inside remains almost the same.”

“Slightly? Just slightly?”

It was an unbelievable statement.

Several floors collapsed with a crash, and the walls didn’t twist and distort.

In a moment of rising anger, Ardor’s face turned red and blue, but the prince calmly spoke as if he knew your mind well.

“I don’t intend to treat you harshly.”

Pushed by the suddenly closer identical pupils, Ardor leaned back slightly.

For some reason, calculations weren’t going well.

The pressure of not knowing when he might die in the middle of enemy territory weighed heavily on his shoulders.

Moreover, since he had already decided to change sides significantly, making rational judgments was even more difficult.

“Is that really true?”

In such an unexpected act of mercy, there was no choice but for the heart to waver.

After nodding slightly, the prince whispered in Ardor’s ear.

“When I become emperor, I’ll increase the royal subsidy for you.”

After saying that, the prince spread his palm wide.

“F-five times?!!”

The prince smiled as if it was nothing special and nodded.

There was no need to hesitate any longer.

Ardor began to swear to the prince who was floating still in the air.

Even in his undergarments, sitting on a vine-covered chair high up in a tall tree.

***

As the burning resentment erupted like a blazing sunset that had been suppressed.

I set off into the forest bidding farewell to the royal family and countless elves.

Behind me, in addition to Elain and Astia, who received bows from Gartagon, ten knights were following from afar.

However, those knights were a problem.

Although unavoidable, using the loyalty necklaces on the royal knights.

If they were to be released and stumbled, it could be a significant blow to me, who already had a notorious reputation.

The merit of preventing war would add such a heinous reputation that it would be quickly overshadowed.

So, either commit mass murder or erase memories, one of the two had to be chosen.

Approaching the knights lined up in a row at the border between the forest and the plain, they all began to turn their heads uncomfortably, glancing around cautiously.

“From now on, do nothing. Execute.”

As I said that, Astia next to me chanted a spell.

Then black light began to emanate from the knights’ necks.

The loyalty necklaces were forcing their actions.

Still, killing ten people was a bit much, so I thought about testing the abilities of the Time Spirit Aitas.

According to the knowledge flowing through the connected consciousness, Aitas could erase the memories of the target.

Of course, there were limitations, so it couldn’t be used recklessly.

“Ugh…!”

As the spider made of mirror material crawled over his head, the knight trembled in fear and shivered, but he did not resist.

The moment he broke his name, the necklace of bondage would take his life.

Supported by six legs, Itas seemed to place two front paws on his forehead, then began to pull out a thin silver thread.

The thread being pulled out was the memory of everything the knight had seen and heard since leaving the Yellow Palace.

Of course, now a significant portion of my mana was rapidly draining away.

Erasing the memories of ten knights, a vast amount of mana capable of causing several natural disasters was swiftly diminishing.

Laying the knights who fainted due to memory loss on the ground, I called for the Matapju waiting outside the forest.

Not far away, summoning a magma golem and shooting flames into the sky, it flew through the air in less than five seconds.

Of course, the sight of Inspiration flying through the air, igniting flames all over its body, left nothing to be desired in terms of furrowing brows.

“Your Highness!”

Still, the sight of him smiling brightly and bowing before me was much brighter than before.

“Eos!”

Then came the voice of the white-headed eagle Aquila from behind.

His attitude had become quite cautious.

“I-I’m going…”

The burning sunset filled his reddish eyes with tears.

“I-I am Aquila of Wiblea!”

“….”

Initially, ‘So what?’ came to mind as a response, but just as I was about to answer, I felt like I might burst into tears, so I forcibly swallowed the words that almost popped out.

“Um, I… I could give you a ride if you want…”

Kicking the ground with a somewhat shy foot and looking elsewhere, he looked undeniably human.

“O-Of course, I don’t mean I want to give you a ride!”

Embarrassed and shouting alone, Aquila was indeed a very difficult beast to handle.

However.

In the faded memories, there was an undeniable longing for this eagle woven deeply into the stories Wiblea had told her son.

“Well, then, let’s go together.”

“Yeah!”

With Elaine and Astia, I headed to Tenafel Territory on Aquila.

At first, Aquila, who was confident, hesitated to go along after Astia, who held a sword, mounted, thinking it might be better not to go together. But when Astia smacked his buttocks with the scabbard, Aquila, startled, flew up.

***

“No, damn it, what do you want me to do!”

Glentino, left with ten fainted knights, shouted loudly as he watched the northern sky where the eagle disappeared.

Caw-caw-

But the only response he received was the solemn cry of a passing crow.