Chapter 235 : Chapter 235

Chapter 235

“You ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍look exactly the same as you did in your youth.”

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍old mage said so as she looked at the woman who had appeared before her.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was a change that had occurred after she reached 9-Star and synchronized with the Magic Tower.

[Who ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍am I?]

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍violet-haired woman asked the old mage.

“You ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍are the personality possessed by the Magic Tower.”

[Magic Tower? I am a Magic Tower?]

“Yes. From the looks of it, one of the ancestors left behind an amusing little trick.”

So that if someone reached 9-Star, the Magic Tower’s personality could appear by copying that person’s appearance.

“It appears to be 8-Star creation magic... Honestly, those people who could not even reach 9-Star were obsessed with nothing but useless research.”

Would it not have been nice if they had reached 9-Star instead of wasting their time?

Because they did not, their excellent descendants were suffering for no reason now, she grumbled to herself.

[...]

It was a somewhat bewildering situation for the Magic Tower observing her.

[Who are you?]

“Diana Cornelia.”

The Queen of the Cornelia Kingdom and a mage who had reached 9-Star.

She called herself an old mage who had once led the Kingdom Alliance, but now shut herself inside the Magic Tower to prepare the end of her life.

“The war has already been lost, and though I have reached 9-Star, this body is old. All I can do now is leave behind some worthwhile research for later generations.”

It was a meager thing for one still called the continent’s greatest mage to say.

“Those elves, despite their long lifespans, do not know a thing. If they had done their part properly, another four or five people would have reached 9-Star by now.”

The Magic Tower, which had quietly listened to her grumbling, spoke.

[Diana Cornelia. Who am I?]

“Oh. You are asking me to give you a name.”

Diana’s wrinkled lips twitched upward.

Too human to call a golem, and too lacking in knowledge to call a Human.

What was certain was that, as an existence in which Cornelia’s knowledge was concentrated, she should not be treated carelessly.

“It would not do to simply give you my name.”

After thinking for a moment, she raised her index finger as though she had decided.

“Since the Violet Magic Tower has gained a personality, let us call you Violet.”

It was the color of Mana that symbolized Cornelia’s direct bloodline, but she decided it because she thought no one suited the name better than the being before her.

[Violet.]

The woman tried saying her name.

[My name is Violet.]

“Do you not like it?”

[No.]

The woman’s eyes half closed.

[I like it.]

“That is fortunate.”

Diana Cornelia looked at her, who was the spitting image of her younger self, and gave a strange smile.

Through their brief conversation, Diana realized the situation Violet was in.

“You have access to Cornelia’s knowledge, but lack the accomplishments an ordinary Human should possess.”

[What should I do?]

“Study.”

[...?]

“When you do not know what to do, there is nothing better than learning.”

They talked whenever they had time.

When Diana immersed herself in research, Violet read books about the outside world.

She studied history and philosophy, literature and aesthetics.

She possessed a Human form, but as someone who was practically a treasury of knowledge, it was entirely possible if she merely spent the time.

How much time passed like that?

“It is finally finished.”

Diana Cornelia, who had concentrated on her research for several years, mastered 9-Star.

She gazed at the egg lying before her with a face mixed with affection and resentment.

[It still shows no sign of hatching.]

“I deliberately delayed its hatching.”

[Why? If it hatched now, it would help Cornelia rise again.]

Since she had stepped down, Cornelia had been declining rapidly.

The King and several direct descendants had become Arch Mages and resisted, but the Empire’s pressure was fierce.

Violet judged that at this rate, the kingdom would collapse within a few decades.

[It would be better to hatch it now and form the Kingdom Alliance.]

With another 9-Star mage joining them and a dragon, a species considered the strongest, lending its aid, a war against the Empire would be worth attempting.

[I will help too.]

At Violet’s words, Diana gave a faint smile.

“You speak more like a Human than I do now.”

[Diana. I...]

“I will die soon.”

[...]

“Not only I, but Humans are destined to die in the end.”

Whether they had not formed a Mana Heart, or had formed one and reached Superhuman status.

“Even those who master 9-Star are no different.”

It was the natural order and providence.

“And I do not think life is interesting enough to defy it.”

[Interesting? For Cornelia’s others, for your descendants...]

“I must not hatch the egg now, even for the sake of my descendants.”

At Violet’s incomprehension, Diana gave a small sigh.

“If the situation had been like this a few decades ago, I would not have hesitated in the slightest.”

[Edan Eurasia is dead.]

“Yes, that man is dead.”

After Edan Eurasia’s death, the situation changed drastically.

The Kingdom Alliance suffered defeat after defeat against the Empire’s offensive, and some either betrayed the Alliance by withdrawing or had already been destroyed.

“To reach 9-Star only in my final years... I am pathetic too. I understand how lonely he must have been.”

She thought of her close friend, who must have fought alone.

If the dividing line between 6-Star and 7-Star was one wall, and the dividing line between 7-Star and 8-Star was one mountain.

‘Then the dividing line between 8-Star and 9-Star was a world.’

Senses beyond what could be perceived through the five senses.

Edan Eurasia had been living in a different world all along.

“The Empire was something even a man like that could not overcome, even with the help of that foolish Magic Sword.”

The Kingdom Alliance was not only up against the Empire; it also found it difficult to contend with the third power, the Monster Lord.

Then the Transcendent existence called a Grotesquery joined hands with the Monster Lord, and Humanity began to speak of extinction.

If Edan Eurasia had not made his decision, could Humanity still be ruling the continent as its dominant force as it did now?

“No, I cannot guarantee it.”

[Diana...]

“I am not saying this because I am lost in sentiment. Even if one dragon were added, the current Kingdom Alliance could not stand against the Empire.”

She would end her life without seeing the war’s end, and perhaps the dragon would be taken by the Empire and merely strengthen its forces.

“It is an egg that I obtained only after killing two Magic Tower Masters.”

The masters of the Empire’s White Magic Tower and Black Magic Tower.

It was a trophy she had obtained with several direct descendants while Edan had departed for the mountain range to deal with a Grotesquery.

“The current Cornelia cannot imagine magic that will defeat the Empire.”

[...]

“But if Cornelia’s bloodline does not end, a steadfast child will appear someday.”

Diana carefully held out the egg and handed it to Violet.

“I entrust it to you.”

[I...]

“What cannot be imagined cannot be realized through magic.”

She smiled with eyes more wrinkled than when they had first met.

“Deliver it to future generations in my stead.”

***

Diana Cornelia died.

Violet laid her to rest in the Magic Tower so that her spirit would not be damaged.

The dragon egg was not the only thing she left Violet.

[Seed.]

The essence a mage who had mastered 9-Star had built up over a lifetime.

Diana Cornelia had closed her eyes after setting several devices in place, instructing Violet to pass these on when a worthy person appeared in later generations.

She had been thorough to the end.

Then hundreds of years passed in Human time.

Quite a few direct descendants met Violet in order to use the Secret Repository.

They would never know to the end that she had taken forms suited to them by reading their memories.

Every direct descendant had enough aptitude to become an Arch Mage, but Violet was not waiting merely for someone with magical talent.

Having learned Human culture, she found the wait long.

But it was not in vain.

After a long wait, a girl came to her.

“What cannot be imagined cannot be realized through magic.”

Her gently smiling appearance resembled Diana’s.

Sharle Cornelia.

Violet thought that she should give the Seed left by Diana to this child.

But the time was not yet right.

Neither the Seed containing Diana’s essence nor the dragon egg that she had researched and sealed for so long could be handled by Cornelia’s young direct descendant in the difficult circumstances around them.

Sharle left the Secret Repository after obtaining creation magic there, but Violet quietly helped her.

Whenever she needed Mana for research, Violet permitted synchronization, and whenever she needed insight, Violet naturally guided her as well.

Once Sharle developed the vessel of an Arch Mage.

And once the day came when she accepted Diana’s Seed.

Cornelia would possess both the greatest mage and the strongest living creature.

That expectation went awry when Killian Eurasia entered the Secret Repository.

Although he was not a direct descendant, he was a direct descendant of Eurasia whom Sharle had allowed to enter the Secret Repository.

The moment Violet glimpsed his memories, she was flustered.

That was because Killian Eurasia’s true identity was Adamas, the Magic Sword believed to have vanished together with Edan Eurasia.

She was displeased.

Because she knew what feelings Diana had harbored for him.

At first, she appeared before him in the guise of Diana because she meant to tease him.

She intended to make the foolish Magic Sword who had hurt Diana alongside Edan Eurasia apologize.

She did not do so because, the longer she spent in contact with Killian Eurasia, the more she realized that she had been mistaken.

Magic Sword Adamas, the man reborn as Killian Eurasia, regretted it.

He grieved over the aftermath of the war his close friend had not been able to end, and mourned the death of his close friend, whom he could not prevent even with his own power.

“Diana. I am sorry.”

An existence that had lived for thousands of years apologized to the close friend who had died alone.

Violet confirmed that two duties her close friend had failed to complete rested in his heart.

‘This man may be able to make Diana’s dream come true.’

Violet gave him the dragon egg.

So that he could reach completion as a knight.

And so that he could fulfill the uncompleted dreams of his close friends.

[I will watch over you all.]

She blessed the merely nominal engagement between Killian Eurasia and Sharle Cornelia.

***

A massive magic circle appeared before them.

“This cannot be... This...”

It seemed a message had appeared before Sharle as well.

“Is it time for hide-and-seek now?”

Without waiting for her answer, Killian stepped onto the magic circle.

“...”

Sharle did not move and quietly examined the magic circle.

She looked as though she had found something strange.

“Are you still going to run from the reality before you?”

“...”

After looking at the magic circle with a peculiar expression for a moment.

“Nothing frightens a mage more than what cannot be imagined.”

She stepped onto the magic circle.

The Formula inscribed in the magic circle activated and transported the two of them.

[Killian Eurasia enters the hidden space.]

[Sharle Cornelia enters the hidden space.]

Soon, with those messages, the space in which they had stayed began to collapse.

And one step later.

[Rastian Arken enters the hidden space.]

The Magic Tower announced the arrival of a new intruder.