episode_0205

This is the royal throne room of Balharat Castle, the capital of Aethius County.

Yuuri, who stiffened for a moment upon hearing that a wizard had appeared, heard a woman’s voice.

“Yes. It is said that he appeared in the process of suppressing a rebellion within Serpina County and then launched a huge fireball.

The main voice is Epinel Rosencross.

He was the second-in-command of the Aecious Army and an outstanding general with the greatest influence within the Aecious Army, excluding Yuuri.

“Did you hear what kind of person he was?”

“They said she was a young woman with pink hair.”

Yuuri, who was receiving Epinel’s report, turned his head and trembled slightly when he heard the keyword ‘pink hair’.

‘If it’s pink hair, it’s definitely… … ‘Aren’t you Jinor’s adoptive daughter?’

The only person in this country who was introduced to her by Jinor was himself, the monarch.

Since the existence of the wizard was kept a top secret from the beginning, she also did not tell anyone.

He said that his adopted daughter had the potential to become a ‘wizard’. The moment she entered the battlefield, she was confident that she could change the situation, drive out the Brans army, and become the loser of the central continent.

As for Yuuri, he half believed it, but half did not believe it. Because it wasn’t her style to bet on something that wasn’t certain, whether it would work or not, or when it would happen.

He supported Jinor and gave her money for various reasons, but that was it. It was safe to say that I didn’t have any special expectations. So, even when Jinor left, the keyword wizard did not exist in her mind.

but.

There was clearly a being called a ‘wizard’ in his hands who would shake up the continent… …

Unfortunately, he had fallen into the hands of Serpina von Eingart, the bitter enemy of his colleagues and himself.

‘wait for a sec. Jinor’s adoptive daughter was commissioned into the Serpina army?’

Isn’t that a bit strange?

As far as I know, Jinor originally belonged to the Empire. This means that if he had remained in the Serpina Army, he would have easily been guaranteed a great position.

It was very difficult to imagine the sight of him going under Serpina. So why on earth is she there?

The answer to that question was resolved very simply by Epinel.

“And… … They say there are circumstances where a white-haired man helped Reika using magic next to her.”

‘… … Swen?’

“Probably Swen. As soon as I heard that he created the fireball in the first place, I thought it might be Swen. But they say it was the woman who used the magic. Why is it with Swen? Or is it that Swen used it and disguised it to look like she was using it? … There may be a variety of cases, but in any case, this is going to be very difficult.”

“A difficult situation?”

“Don’t you remember? We told you that Serpina would take Swen and kill him. But it has been revealed that he is alive. Of course, the only thing they have in common is hair color, and there are many cases where Swen begs for his life, so it’s not like something can’t be resolved somehow… … It’s rare to see a man with white hair at a young age.”

Epinel said that and let out a long sigh.

“Anyway, you don’t have to worry too much, Yuuri. I already talked to Emma and Anima about the settlement. In the first place, even if Swen is alive, I’m not really wrong, and those who were dissatisfied have all left, so even if the fact becomes known now, we won’t be in a very confusing situation.”

“Wait a minute. What do you mean, it’s not wrong?”

“Well, Swen consumes life every time she uses a magical ability, right? Serpina doesn’t think about Swen’s circumstances at all and ends up just pushing him around. So, in a way, the assumption that he has a grudge against him is correct. I think he’s probably being threatened.”

‘… … .’

no.

Epinel, who clearly didn’t know anything about wizards, could guess that, but Yuuri himself, who had heard some of the story from Jinor, knew that wasn’t the case.

If Swen’s abilities are no different from those of the currently appearing pink-haired wizard – that is, Jinor’s adopted daughter… … It is not that life is shortened.

Although I couldn’t feel it, I was just consuming the power called mana that definitely existed on this continent.

Of course, that was Jinor’s lie, and in fact, it might be right to shorten one’s lifespan.

It’s not like I’ve ever verified it, and even if she was a daughter, she was just an adopted daughter who had adopted an orphan.

However, there was one more piece of evidence to prove that Swen did not shorten his lifespan.

In some ways, this was more conclusive evidence.

The general who was at the forefront of the battle was known… … This is because it was Irene Juliette, a red-haired female knight known as a siege specialist.

Yuuri still clearly remembered the first day he met them.

The two had a very special relationship. In particular, didn’t Iren look at Swen with a really lovely expression?

In the first place, after betraying the Brans army together, he crossed the line of death and became a naturalized person –

The moment she abandoned Swen, Irene betrayed the Aishous army without a moment of hesitation and joined Serpina army where Swen was.

There was no way a woman who cherished Swen so much would calmly watch her lifespan being cut short, right?

Crucially, he didn’t really hand over Swen in the first place after being threatened by Serpina.

Serpina gave herself a choice. I remember that no matter what her suggestion was, whether to decide on it or not was entirely up to me.

That decision.

The unprecedented choice of virtually selling Swen… … It was a decision he made with the thought that he would take on all the responsibility himself, just to save Anima.

and.

After thinking about it that far, I naturally realize one thing that I really don’t want to admit.

“!!!”

A white-haired man, and Jinor’s adopted daughter who resigned from under him as soon as the man left.

Yuuri easily figured out what that meant, and felt cold sweat running down his spine.

――Could it be that because I sold Swen, the magician that was in my hands passed into Serphina’s hands?

If you look at the aspects of the battle, it was a series of absurd events.

No matter how many rebels were stationed at the fortress, only about 3,000 soldiers annihilated about 10,000 troops in a short period of just a few days.

It is said that the damage suffered by Serpina is close to 0, so anyone can easily see how meaningless this battle is.

All of this was possible because the wizard was there.

A being with that level of ability. The overwhelming power that made it possible to become the power of one’s country, even if only for a moment… …

‘… … no.’

of course.

Yuuri has no regrets.

If the same moment comes again and again, I will make the same decision. I feel sorry for Swen, but from their perspective, Anima was something they could never lose.

This may not have been a wise decision for a monarch, but… … Nevertheless, Yuuri could not give up on Anima.

Nonetheless, just one decision.

It was only then that I vividly realized that I had lost so much just by making the decision to throw away the man named Swen.

Jinor, who was his country’s counselor, Reika, the adopted daughter and wizard he raised, Irene, an outstanding female general who led a battle with an incredible number of troops to a great victory even if it was due to magic, and countless others who left his side due to incomprehensible decisions. Even soldiers and armed forces.

At one time, they were all under the flag of the Aishous Army. He was a comrade who shared his blood.

The fact that beings who could create the miracle of defeating an army of 10,000 with 3,000 men might have been his strength made Yuuri even more chilled.

I didn’t regret choosing Anima at all, as I just thought… …

I thought that perhaps that decision at that time might have been an important decision that decided not only myself, but the future of Aishus County.

Yuuri, for the first time at that moment-

It was truly a realization of the cost of his choice.

* * *

The rebels were subdued, and peace continued for a while.

Serpina has now regained her previous condition, with even the small wounds remaining completely healed.

Everything is back to how it was before.

Except for one thing.

“Then, I’ll come back… … !”

“Please go, everyone.”

That is, now all three of us left the mansion every morning with no one left behind.

“What do you think, Miss Reika?”

“Me? that… … Well, I think it was worth it. The task of organizing old books seems quite worthy… … The co-workers are also kind. Hehe.”

Reika, wearing a robe with the Eingart family emblem on it, smiled shyly.

When she had nothing special to do, she seemed to spend her time as the manager of the Eyngart Library and organizing the place.

It may be an insignificant task to be assigned as an armed force, but it is a job that someone has to do, and he seemed to be very suited for it.

In any case, if Reika used magic in battle, it would be enough for more than one person.

Since he has the ability, it can be said that even if Serpina accommodates him, there will be no particular complaints from those around him.

Moreover, because she used a lot of magic, it was difficult for her to use her body or do busy work since she needed absolute stability.

In any case, since he was recognized as a talent by Serpina, he was enjoying quite a lot of convenience.

“I’m glad you seem to have adapted well.”

Irene looked at her with a kind smile.

Seeing Reika, whom I took good care of like a younger sibling, doing well seemed to calm my mind quite a bit.

Even on her chest when she says that… … It was clearly drawn. A pattern symbolizing the Eingart family.

of course.

The same pattern is drawn on the brooch on the cloak I am surrounded by.

All three of us had become humans who ate the rust of the Eingart royal family.

‘… … .’

I swallowed hard, feeling like something like a rock had been placed somewhere in my heart.

“Then, let’s see it in the evening.”

“You two, cheer up… … !”

After seeing them off, I immediately walked to where Serpina was working.

What will happen today?

I closed my eyes and thought about the time I spent with her recently.

After that day, Serpina never explicitly asked me to be together.

There was no need to even mention the marriage proposal. But I could tell by the atmosphere.

That doesn’t mean you’re giving up, but that you’re calmly waiting for my answer.

Instead of such conversations, we mainly talked about state administration and internal affairs.

She gave me advice using my 100 intellect ability, which I firmly believe is called ‘mind’s eye’.

It was something a state agent would do, but Jenna was still away.

But this too will end soon. She will finish her inspection and arrive at Eingart Castle again around next week.

What should I do in the future?

When I arrived at her location, hoping that today would pass without any trouble.

‘… … uh?’

As I looked at Serpina’s trembling expression with her eyes wide open in contemplation―

“… … Swen.”

“Master?”

“An unbelievable thing… … I woke up.”

―I sense that the clock of this continent is running strictly toward a predetermined future.