"That's what happened, you know? And it just worked perfectly! Amazing, right!?"
"I see...."
How many hours had it been already?
Watching Ern chatter away tirelessly, I felt my mental strength being chipped away in real time.
But perhaps there's no law in this world that says you must suffer to death.
About four hours after departing from the ducal estate, an unexpected savior appeared.
Thud.
At first, I wondered why the carriage was stopping at some village—perhaps to take a brief rest.
But then I sensed someone approaching from outside the carriage.
Creak....
I thought it might be an inspection, but the moment the door opened, I realized it was no such trivial existence.
"Seri!"
The instant Ern saw the woman who appeared beyond the door, his face brightened.
Blazing red hair and a moderately curved figure.
A form-fitting white formal uniform with no exposure whatsoever.
Sharp amber eyes that gave a somewhat fierce impression.
She was someone I knew very well.
"It's been a while, Valentine."
"It's been a while, Lord Argent."
Serifia Valentine.
Ern's fiancée and currently serving as a squad leader in the Third Knight Order of the Imperial Palace.
Squad leader in name, but treated almost like a vice-captain.
I remember Ern excitedly going on about how she'd definitely be promoted soon, as if it were his own achievement.
Even her family, while not quite on par with our Argent household, was a fairly renowned martial family in the Empire.
Honestly, she wasn't someone I should be speaking casually to, but because Ern had talked about me so much, she insisted I drop the formalities, arguing that as Ern's senior disciple, I was like an uncle-in-law to her.
She was the epitome of a proud lady knight who seemed like she wouldn't bleed even if pricked, and her personality matched that image....
"What brings you here?"
"I was on leave, and since Ern was heading to Arcanel, I waited nearby."
"Do you have business in Arcanel?"
"No, I simply wanted to see Ern."
"......"
As you can see, she's just... well, should I call her devoted to her husband? Or wife-devoted?
Anyway, when it comes to Ern, she doesn't just disarm—she's practically stripped bare, showing a doting side.
"Seri, it's been so long. You've been busy with knight order duties lately, haven't you? I'm sorry I couldn't visit."
"No, Ern. Just knowing you thought of me makes me happy. More importantly, is that a new dress?"
"Yes. I just bought it. Does it suit me?"
"It's pretty. Magnificent. As always."
Somehow she manages to say such cringeworthy things without changing her expression.
She even embraced Ern's head, busy stroking it.
As I watched this scene with an impressed look,
"...Why are you staring so intently, Lord Argent?"
"It's nothing."
I got caught red-handed.
But really, no matter how many times I see this duo, there's surprisingly no sense of incongruity.
It just looks like affectionate sisters embracing each other.
Maybe there was a reason so many fans of the original work said, "Why don't we just genderswap Ern and make them a yuri couple?"
And surprisingly, in the epilogue-like side story, that's exactly what happens.
To be precise, Ern succeeds in his magical research, both of them undergo gender transformation, and they live swapping male and female roles—it was insane content.
I applauded the author's madness back then.
"Now that you're here, I can breathe easier. I'm going to catch some sleep, so you two enjoy your time together."
"Did something happen?"
"Ask that guy."
I put on my eye mask as if I had no further interest and sprawled back in my seat.
I heard Ern's dejected voice by my ear.
"Sorry, Seri. We haven't been able to talk much lately, so I guess it built up a bit. I ended up bothering my senior."
"It's okay. It's my fault. What did you want to talk about so badly? I'll listen."
"Oh, you know! I made an interesting research breakthrough recently...!"
Apparently, they don't have the consideration to lower their volume for someone trying to sleep.
Well, I didn't expect it anyway.
These damn lovey-dovey couple.
Just hurry up and get married and live happily ever after.
***
We arrived in Arcanel after it had gotten quite dark.
If it weren't for the dimensional stones scattered throughout the Empire, even this would have been unclear.
"Whew...!"
As soon as I got off the carriage, I stretched to loosen my stiff body.
Before my eyes stood a building that was somewhat aged but had a rather refined feel.
It was lodging operated by the Magic Association.
And beside me,
"Zzz...."
"I apologize, Lord Argent. Ern must have been very tired."
There was a spectacular collaboration of a cross-dressing man who had belatedly departed for dreamland, and a lady knight carrying her fiancé in a princess carry.
Really, where should I even start with this?
What's slightly annoying is that this picture somehow suits them perfectly.
"The main schedule starts tomorrow anyway, so take him to a room and lay him down. I'll go see my master and the others briefly."
"Yes. I wish you a peaceful night."
"Right. And since there are many eyes watching, try to use separate rooms if possible. I know you're at a passionate age, but still."
"......"
I said it just in case, but Serifia subtly averted her gaze.
Answer me, damn it.
More importantly, what were you planning to do with someone who's asleep?
Looking closely, she's quite a character with hidden madness too.
"I'll show mercy."
In the end, Serifia didn't give a definite answer and resolutely walked into the lodging while still carrying her fiancé in a princess carry.
Well, she'll probably handle it well on her own.
I decided to stop worrying and followed the guidance of a man who had come to greet us, heading to the opposite side of the lodging.
If the side where we just were was the east wing, the opposite west wing housed the association's main buildings like the research wing, lecture wing, and library.
"Lord Godwin should be in the lecture wing."
"What business took him to the lecture wing?"
"I haven't heard the details myself. However, judging by how many people headed to the lecture wing earlier, I believe there was a meeting."
"A meeting."
Did something happen?
Meetings aren't held very often within the Magic Association.
That's because meetings usually require a common interest, but whether mages or wizards, people in this profession all share one thing in common.
They don't care at all about anything outside their own research or fields of interest.
People often imagine wizards as transcendent beings who manipulate all elements, time, space, and everything else, but surprisingly, wizards in this world are far from that type.
Most of them have specialized fields and are those who've reached the pinnacle by delving into only those.
For instance, my master Godwin specializes in spatial magic, while his rival Lord Grita specializes in mental magic.
In other words, if wizards with no particular commonalities gather together, there are two reasons.
Either there's been a discovery that could turn magic itself upside down, or there's an urgent matter that requires their involvement.
"I'd better hurry."
I focused on the latter possibility and quickened my pace.
Soon I reached the lecture wing with its meeting rooms and halls, crossed the corridor where lights were still on, and saw a room with its door firmly closed.
The main hall, the largest in the lecture wing.
Are people gathered there?
Knock knock.
"This is Baal Argent. May I come in?"
I could hear murmuring sounds from inside.
When I announced myself, someone opened the door for me from the other side.
The moment I saw the face, I flinched slightly.
That's because the face that popped out was completely unexpected.
"The guest of honor has arrived. You must have had a long journey, Lord Argent."
A man greeting me with a rather friendly attitude.
He looked to be in his mid-to-late thirties.
His navy blue hair, grown out slightly and slicked back, might be quite pleasing to women's eyes, but I had to barely suppress the urge to frown when facing him.
'Clovis Haven.'
The current Tower Master and a genius wizard who reached the 7th Circle fastest, excluding my master and me.
He's also the eldest son of the Haven family, called the Empire's greatest magical lineage.
Though he doesn't hold the family head position since Tower Master and family head can't be held concurrently.
"It's been a while, Lord Haven. Was it half a year ago when we last met?"
"About that. Ah, we shouldn't talk out here. Please come in. It wouldn't look good for me to leave today's guest of honor standing outside."
He speaks words he doesn't mean so well.
Still a snake-like man.
Half a year ago, when I met him before reaching the 7th Circle, I remember well how he snorted while others around him said I'd reach it soon, that an unprecedented genius had appeared.
Yet in front of me, he smiled like a benevolent person, saying, "Looks like I'll be handing over the Tower Master position soon."
Anyway, setting aside old memories for now, I entered.
There weren't as many people inside as I expected.
Still, there were quite a few familiar faces.
"Lord Grita, it's been a while. Have you been well?"
I politely greeted an elderly woman with a hooked nose and slightly less white hair than my master.
Grita Morbel.
A female wizard called one of the Empire's Three Great Sages, and a longtime friend of my master Godwin.
Friend, though more like a frenemy.
Still, they're quite similar in their love of alcohol, and sometimes the three of them, including Old Man Auden, would go on culinary trips together.
"Hoho, yes. It's been a while. You seem to have gained a little weight."
"I stayed at the main house for a few months, so perhaps that's why."
"Hey, you brat. How dare you greet this old lady first instead of your master?"
While we were catching up, a sharp elderly voice came from the side.
It was my old man's.
I smiled wryly and tried to bow, but Grita stopped me and frowned deeply.
"Ugh, did that old geezer eat his age through his asshole? You two met recently, so of course he should greet me first since I haven't seen him in half a year, right?"
"Of course my ass!"
Fights between old people are always childishly splendid.
But they're also entertaining to watch.
It makes me think that even with age, people don't lose a certain innocence.
After greeting my master as well, I looked around briefly.
There were quite a few familiar faces here and there.
"But why were you all gathered here?"
Surely they weren't preparing a surprise celebration party.
When I asked out of curiosity, my master's expression crumpled.
"Ugh, tsk. On a good day, Chaos Mana suddenly occurred. So we were selecting who should go."
"Chaos Mana, you say?"
Chaos Mana.
It refers to a massive mana storm that occurs suddenly in unspecified locations without any precursor or cycle.
Fortunately, it doesn't cause buildings to collapse like a typhoon.
The problem is that it has a tremendous effect on the human body.
People without resistance can die from their bodies bursting, and there are frequent cases of people going insane and killing their families.
Also, just as insects rush toward light, most monsters gather toward places where mana is concentrated, so the aftermath is quite significant, making it one of the worst natural disasters in this world.
"Where is the location?"
"A place called Rosemill, somewhat distant from Arcanel."
"Rosemill...?"
I frowned at the strangely familiar place name.
Rosemill? Where was that?
I've definitely heard that name before.
"Lord Argent need not worry. I've decided to go myself this time."
"You, Lord Haven?"
"Yes. Isn't that what the Tower Master position is for?"
Clovis smiled like a benevolent person, but I couldn't shake an uneasy feeling.
I know this man's personality better than anyone.
He's not someone who would take on unnecessary risks and troubles for the public good.
Which means there's likely something he's after....
"...Ah!"
"What's wrong?"
"Ah, no. I just remembered something."
While searching my memory, I let out a loud exclamation as the puzzle pieces fit together in my head.
'Right, I remember now.'
Chaos Mana and the village of Rosemill.
And Clovis Haven.
There was one person who connected those three words.
'Yuria.'
That was Yuria Haven.
To be precise, the surname Haven was received unofficially when she became Clovis's top disciple and adopted daughter.
And she was also the reason I came to dislike Clovis.
That's because....
"Do you have something to say, Lord Argent?"
This guy only presented that child as his disciple and adopted daughter publicly for his reputation.
In reality, he treated her like a tool, sucking out the vast mana Yuria possessed like a mosquito.
That child, who was like an emotionless doll, suffered all kinds of abuse and humiliation from Clovis throughout the story, ultimately becoming a battle weapon and meeting her death at Leon's hands.
- Why are you crying?
Facing her own death, Leon and Tiana shed tears.
The last words she left while watching them suddenly flashed through my mind.
Come to think of it, that child never learned joy, sadness, or anything in the end.
Along with Liliet, she was one of the characters who brought great sadness in the story.
Realizing this belatedly, my lips moved unconsciously.
There was no particular plan.
No countermeasure either.
Just,
"Lord Haven, if you don't mind, I'd like to accompany you to Rosemill village as well."
Not as Baal Argent, but as Yoo Shin-woo, I was simply moving according to the same feeling I had when I first met Liliet.
