Chapter 209 : Chapter 209

Chapter 209. A Snake Rather Than a Bluebird

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Emperor handled state affairs in a dark room. 

The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍glasses he wore on the bridge of his nose showed the letters clearly even when his eyes were half-closed from fatigue. 

However, ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he did not particularly need glasses to see the report currently in his hand. 

Two ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍reports written by different people were held in each of the Emperor's hands.

Both ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍reports were written by the Three Generals, but the one on the left was submitted by Raymond and the one on the right by Leo in their own handwriting.

[Suspect Interrogation Report]

[Millesdusk Fifth Son Special Notes Report]

The titles of the reports were different, but they all focused on the same person.

"To think that those who usually have no interest in anything other than national affairs are so worked up over an outsider, even a blood relative of a Great Family."

The Emperor gave a thin laugh. Both reports were substantial enough that it was difficult to distinguish which one was superior. The golden eyes of the Imperial family scanned Raymond's report.

"It's obvious it was that weasel's doing. There's no need to look closely, but he's more bold than I thought."

The weasel arrogantly broke a vase in the house, but he broke it after seeing that no one was underneath. While doing so, he lay still, hiding his face with his long tail as if pretending it wasn't him. He thought about hitting him on the head, but the weasel placed the price of the vase underneath it. Raymond summarized that fact and entered it below.

"He sent a fund for the reconstruction of the library under the guise of a donation... I see. He truly is a funny fellow."

Wrinkles formed by time deepened above the Emperor's mouth. During that time, he had snapped the necks of countless weasels, but this was his first time seeing such a fellow. 

He was as fast and sharp as a weasel, but at the same time as cunning as a fox. 

However, he had teeth as fatal as a viper's.

"The Wisdom delegation that would have been with Kunkan. He completely erased the external personnel that would have supported that delegation."

The Emperor nodded as he looked at the images of the corpses attached to the report.

"It is suitable as a warning."

This was a warning, a resolve, and a prophecy from Millesdusk directed at Wisdom. It was the Fifth Son's declaration that their future would be no different from this.

"Wisdom must be fuming inside too."

Sure enough, someone knocked on the door from outside the dark room.

"Your Majesty. The Wisdom delegation is requesting an audience."

"Tell them I refuse."

"I have done so several times, but they have no intention of backing down."

The Emperor's hand stopped. As he took off his glasses, a faint sigh escaped him at the same time. Recently, absurd things have been happening frequently. 

A massacre occurred in the Imperial Capital. Two Great Families sent delegations at the same time. The delegation of that Great Family dares to force a meeting with the Imperial Family. 

Since the Crown Prince lay on his sickbed, the things that have happened in succession were all things that could not even be imagined.

"...Prince. You haven't caused me any trouble in your entire life, and are you doing it all at once this time?"

The Emperor, who laughed self-deprecatingly, pushed the reports aside.

"Let them in."

Rumble—

The outer wall, which had no gaps, gradually pushed back, revealing a passage to the outside. The Wisdom delegation, the blood relative of the West, who slowly walked in from beyond that, knelt before the Emperor.

"I am sorry for interrupting while you are handling state affairs, Your Majesty. Please forgive my rudeness."

"So, speak only the main point. I have neither the time nor the desire to argue with you."

"Last night's massacre. Please create an investigation team centered on our Wisdom in the name of the Imperial Family."

"......"

He had expected it, but as expected, last night's incident was the problem. The Emperor said.

"One of the Three Generals has already jumped into the case and reached a conclusion. Have you not also failed to find any circumstances from the corpses?"

"...There are circumstances that cannot be found from the corpses, and those circumstances will be all over the capital. Furthermore, that conclusion is an indefinite mystery. How can this be a conclusion?"

"Any answer that doesn't please you is entirely a wrong answer. And only what you've brought to me now is the correct answer. Is that what you want to say now?"

"No. It is absolutely not like that..."

"Blood relative of the West. As I expected from you, I will not speak at length."

Rumble—

The chair, carved as if rose vines were hanging down, was pushed back heavily. The Emperor had neither a strong body like a knight nor a supreme spirit like a mage. Yet, Wisdom's knees touched the floor even more. As the existence above ten thousand people came closer, an inexplicable pressure weighed down on his body.

"In the Empire, Imperial law shall be followed."

The voice that was lowered under such pressure was driven into his ears like a battering ram. The blood relative of the West barely managed to hold back his body, which was about to tremble like a reed. But he hadn't come all the way here to back down.

"The elixir for the Crown Prince."

"......"

The body that had become heavy as if another gravity had been added above gravity became light in an instant. As the Emperor's energy wavered, Wisdom slowly lifted his head.

"Then will you just watch while the elixir for His Highness is ruined by Millesdusk? It is better for us to step out rather than have the elixir seized."

"...Then your Wisdom will face difficulties during the all-out attack on Millesdusk. Do not mistakenly think that only you are bestowing upon us."

"Of course, it would be so. However, the teleportation to the Eastern land is being completed smoothly. Once that happens, the land route passing through the Empire... will not be of much use."

The eyebrows above the golden eyes curved fiercely.

"Wisdom. Choose your words carefully."

"Yes. So we are also choosing carefully and offering a proposal. For the well-being of the Crown Prince and for the Empire. Please expel Millesdusk or allow the organization of an investigation team."

"......"

The Emperor turned his back after a silence. He picked up a random piece of paper on the desk and moved his hand as if scribbling on the empty back side. Then, he grabbed it as if it were trash, whether it was crumpled or not, and threw it in front of the Wisdom blood relative.

"Get out."

"I am merely grateful for Your Majesty's grace."

Holding that which was the same as the Emperor's permission preciously in his hand, the blood relative of the West withdrew with a satisfied smile.

"......"

Even after the blood relative vanished, the Emperor did not move. Another person paid his respects in the spot where Wisdom had knelt.

"Your Majesty. Please endure only until you receive the elixir. From then on, I will take ten times, a hundred times back."

"...Did you say you still haven't found out anything about the Prince's illness?"

"That is correct."

"Sigh... Although I've gathered all those who are well-versed in medicine and illness in the Empire, I didn't think there would be such a lack of progress."

"Your Majesty. I have an idea. It is information gained while investigating the Millesdusk delegation."

Everyone focused on the Fifth Son, who led the delegation, but there was a remarkable person among his subordinates as well.

"It is said that there is a woman called the second Great Witch of the East in the Millesdusk delegation."

"If you mean a Great Witch, are you talking about Baba Yaga?"

"Yes. That witch became known to the continent as the first Great Witch, but it is said that in the East, there is another witch comparable to Baba Yaga."

There wasn't much information about the second Great Witch, but that was enough.

"Furthermore, the second Great Witch is an expert in herbs, poisonous herbs, and decoctions, and it is said that she is already the head of a related institution in Millesdusk."

"Are you saying such a witch was here in the Imperial Palace?"

The Emperor thought about whether he should examine the identities of the entire delegation right now, but he stopped. The incidents the delegation has caused and will cause are all carried out under the Fifth Son. The rest are merely components.

"Tell the Millesdusk Fifth Son so that Wisdom does not know. Ask to borrow that second Great Witch for a moment."

"That weasel will certainly demand something in return."

"I suppose so. But the weasel and I are in the middle of a bet. Even if he demands something, it will be within the content of the bet."

"Understood."

Leo was about to withdraw but glanced at his report, which the Emperor had momentarily set aside.

"Your Majesty. Just because you bring in Millesdusk without receiving help from Wisdom, there is no guarantee that they will not do the same as Wisdom."

The loyal subject was not defending Wisdom. The Emperor also knew that and therefore nodded his head.

"One might dislike something and might also dislike something else. Is this not such a situation now?"

Then it was better to choose the latter, or at least try choosing it once. Therefore, Leo did not add anything further and stood up.

"I will follow Your Majesty's command."

As he withdrew, the Emperor once again held the reports of the two of the Three Generals in his hands within the dark room. Following Raymond's report was the report of Leo, who had just left. 

Leo described the Millesdusk Fifth Son, whom he called a weasel, as detailed as possible. Among them, something caught his eye. It was the beginning of the Fifth Son's narrative.

"The descendant of the Vampire Queen and the Millesdusk Family Head. He had a quite brilliant start, but his life was filled with being ignored by others."

Millesdusk was more of a meritocracy than any other place. Even if one had nothing in their hands, if their talent was outstanding, Millesdusk would take them. Then what would the expectation toward a blood relative be? Even if one possesses a talent bestowed by heaven, they might or might not be satisfied, but the Youngest Son repeatedly failed to prove himself.

"Then, from a certain moment, he began to exhibit his talent and caused the following incidents..."

The Emperor brooded over the incidents in the report. Among them was the problematic Dark Elixir.

"A weasel-like temperament was not innate. This is unexpected."

The incidents he caused were not because the Youngest Son was a weasel. Looking at his beginning, it seemed he could understand. This was not a weasel's game. It was merely a struggle for survival and a stroke of a sword driven by malice.

"It is a life with more waves than most."

The Emperor muttered as he closed the report. Another wave was about to crash over such a life filled with many waves. It was a wave he had just permitted to move forward. 

But looking at it now, there's no need to worry. 

Since he's a guy who has already experienced countless waves, he won't drown from something like this. He might even pull off the bet he set with a one-week time limit.

"Even if he fails, if the one called the second Great Witch shows her usefulness, there's no need to take his life."

The Emperor once again readjusted his glasses. He had already seen all the interesting parts just now. All that remained was national affairs, which could not possibly arouse any interest. 

At that moment, the Emperor realized. He was quite expectant of the bet with the one-week time limit.

***

An unseasonable lesson took place in the Youngest Son's room. However, the prohibitions on what not to do during the lesson were decided by the student.

"Mana waves that could spread outside the room are prohibited. It's not a combat spell anyway, so there won't be a reason for that. Right?"

"Yes."

If a mana wave were to spread, the Wisdom members here were all dead men. Even if they aimed to escape, it wasn't now. The Youngest Son spoke.

"So then. What is the beginning of telepathy magic? You Wisdom people always chatter noisily starting from the outline."

"We call that the order. We do not just spit things out as they come to mind like you."

"Well. For someone in the position of a prisoner, you seem to be spitting things out without much thought."

"...The first step is to experience telepathy."

"Try it."

Akiell's irritation surged with each of the Youngest Son's answers, but he moved according to his words.

―This is telepathy.

Sure enough, Akiell's voice was heard in a somewhat familiar way. It was the way he used to have conversations before Kairos learned Polymorph.

"This is also magic you learned from a dragon."

"That is correct."

"What would you guys have done without dragons?"

"...Wisdom thinks the formulation and theorization of magic are important, but visualization is no less important."

Akiell now let words slide and didn't even react. If he added vague metaphors to the explanation within the given two days, he could drag out the time. Akiell was intuitive, without doing such things.

"The point is this. To summarize, sound is transmitted through the vibration of objects. Do you know the principle?"

"Roughly."

"Then let's move on. Our vocal cords vibrate on their own, but mana cannot. The first stage is to create that vibrating mana."