Chapter 212 : Chapter 212

Chapter 212 - Customer Service

“So ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍you were a customer. How may I help you? I will accommodate everything.”

Lubosch ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍flinched several times while quietly wiping the window.

Forest ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Witch. Was she always that kind of person?

She ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍trotted over to the Princess as though she were ready to rub her palms together. Though she still did not use polite speech, she even removed her hat as a gesture of her own courtesy.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Princess, now her employer, continued listing her requirements with only a flick of her fingers.

“The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍vase must remain on that platform there, in the center of the room. You may decorate the platform and change the vase, but I want its location left as it is.”

“That is a superb choice for displaying the rose. As expected of Your Highness’s discerning eye.”

When that flattery made the corner of the Princess’s mouth lift slightly, Lubosch shuddered.

The taste of money must indeed be powerful, seeing how it could change a person so much.

The Forest Witch was certainly someone who had lived in a hut in a great forest far removed from human civilization.

However, a witch addicted to research that burned through enormous funds had become fully qualified to succeed the money fiend.

“Anything else? Is there anything else you want done?”

“You speak as though you truly can do anything.”

“I am sure Your Highness can do everything I can do, too. But it would take time. That is why I am here.”

“Yes. That is certainly true.”

Lubosch now looked openly back and forth between the Forest Witch and the Princess. He simply could not endure it. The Forest Witch’s way with words was exactly like the Youngest Son’s.

She elevated the other person without lowering her own value, while also emphasizing her usefulness. At the same time, she praised the other party’s discernment for recognizing that usefulness. It was an extremely advanced way of speaking.

Lubosch clicked his tongue in astonishment as he swept the floor, and the transaction continued.

“I want other lighting reduced as much as possible, with natural light used as the main source. Vines are fine, but I do not want insects coming in. Other flowers are acceptable, but they must not steal the eye.”

The Forest Witch listened to the Princess’s long list of demands and nodded at every point. They were all matters she could accommodate as long as she set her mind to it.

However, there was one part that left something to be desired. The Forest Witch conveyed that through her expression.

There was no problem with the situation itself, but she expressed that something was lacking through her slightly protruding lips and lowered eyes.

The royal, sensitive to changes in others’ expressions and emotions, immediately noticed her appeal.

“Is there some problem?”

“No. There is no problem. If I decorate this room as Your Highness described, it will become a truly beautiful flower garden.”

“Your expression is different from before for someone who says there is no problem.”

“Then I apologize. It is not a problem. I only found it somewhat lacking myself.”

“...Lacking?”

The Forest Witch slowly approached the space that still contained nothing but the Ice Rose on the platform. As she did, she made a gesture as though sweeping through empty air.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE—

Though it could not be seen, the World Tree bore the world upon itself. The branches of that World Tree existed everywhere in the world.

What the Forest Witch did was draw one of those branches down and bring it into the human world.

The plants and flowers that took root around it had deeper colors and richer scents. If there were seeds of a rare flower, their effects were amplified as well.

In other words, flowers and vines whose natural beauty had been vastly enriched draped themselves around the Ice Rose.

“......”

Even the Princess of the Empire, where every new marvel of the world gathered, lost her words and stepped closer.

What had only been spoken of moments ago had been realized with a single gesture. It was truly like magic, yet not a single sign that preceded magic had appeared.

Still unable to take her eyes off the garden the Forest Witch had created, the Princess turned only her head toward her.

“Have you considered working for the Empire?”

“Unfortunately, my current President is the benefactor who saved both my family and my life. That would be difficult.”

“...That is truly unfortunate.”

The Princess lamented sincerely and stepped into the garden. At the same time, the rich scent of flowers brushed softly against the tip of her nose, and the sunlight shining through the gaps in the leaves felt warm.

At the center of that garden, the Ice Rose stood alone, bearing all the beauty around it.

That was also what the Forest Witch had found lacking.

“If there were a few more Ice Roses, I could tend this place into something far more beautiful.”

“Is that true?”

“Yes. If I decorate the surroundings any more than this, the Ice Rose will be buried. Conversely, if there are more Ice Roses, I can decorate far more.”

“How many more do you need?”

The Forest Witch looked into empty air for a moment as she thought, then raised her hand.

“About five blossoms.”

“So you need four more.”

“Yes. More importantly, you obtained this from our President, did you not?”

“No. I received it from your Fifth Son. As tribute, and in no other sense.”

“I was not particularly curious about how you received it. More importantly, the President is the Youngest Son.”

This time, the Princess looked back at the Forest Witch.

“You serve the Fifth Son, not the Family Head?”

“Yes. On the surface, I belong to the family, but everyone who knows, knows.”

The Princess had assumed that the title President was surely directed at the Family Head of Millesdusk. She had thought only the hegemon of the East could take in the Second Great Witch.

But that person was the Fifth Son. It was a truly ill-natured joke.

“It will take some effort to get four more roses from the President. Even if he gave you one as tribute at first, the remaining four will not be tribute as well.”

“Tsk...”

Every time the Princess and the Youngest Son met by chance and parted, they acted as though it would be the last time.

However, whether it was fate or ill fate, their bond was forcibly stitched together and kept making them face each other. This time, she even had to stitch it together herself.

Even so, the Ice Rose and the surrounding landscaping were far too beautiful. She did not want to miss this.

“Since you are returning to the delegation anyway, I will accompany you for a while.”

“Do that.”

The Princess had a carriage prepared in an instant.

The horses headed toward General Raymond’s mansion. Toward the Youngest Son, who possessed the ability to create Ice Roses.

***

The Youngest Son’s expression was serious. As he had when he learned Magic of the Ice Dragon before, he sank into thought where he stood.

And so Akiell, just as Sein had before him, cheered inwardly. The Youngest Son had learned everything Akiell said as though he had already known it, but at last, he had reached a wall.

“How is it? Difficult, is it not?”

“It is certainly not a concept that comes to me as clearly as freezing magic.”

Akiell grinned.

“Freezing magic is combat-type magic. Multipurpose magic like this demands something different. It is only natural for a sorcerer who only sees the violent nature of mana to be blocked here.”

“For that to be true, you said there are few even among the Wisdom bloodline who can use Telepathy Magic.”

“...That is not for the same reason as you.”

The Youngest Son rested his chin on his hand again and sank once more into thought.

The method of placing a voice into vibrating mana. This was certainly difficult. It was not like being outside the monitor, where one could open a message window and type.

Akiell looked at the pondering Youngest Son with a smile and repeated the explanation he had given earlier.

“Instead of vibrating mana above your hand, you must vibrate it inside your body and release it as though air were leaving your mouth. At the same time, think of the words you want to send.”

It was easy to create trembling mana outside the body, but conducting that work inside the body was difficult.

The Youngest Son entered his Dracul state and practiced creating trembling mana for a while. The more he did it, the faster and more accustomed he became.

“Continuing only that exercise will not be enough.”

“It is an exercise you practiced as well. And you must have practiced it far more desperately than I am.”

“......”

The Youngest Son refused to concede even a single word while practicing. In the end, Akiell realized that silence was the only way to win and quietly watched him.

He seemed extremely sensitive to mana when his veins bulged like that. In that state, he created trembling mana quite well.

However, after some time passed, the frequency and speed of his successes increased even when he was no longer in that state.

‘...What a frightening man.’

Akiell trembled in secret beneath his large robe.

‘His rate of growth makes no sense. A sorcerer who should never have even explored mana is already handling one of the “properties of mana” this skillfully.’

The East and the West might use the same voice called mana, but language was a different domain.

The voices of the East and the West were the same, but the words spoken with them and the letters written with them were completely different.

Therefore, magic, which should have been like a foreign language seen for the first time, ought to have felt unfamiliar. It ought to have felt truly awkward.

Mistakes should have been a given, and it should not have been something corrected after only a few repetitions.

‘He has become even faster than before. Is he insane?’

The curse, which would have carried a positive meaning had it been directed at someone from the West, became negative because it was aimed at a sorcerer.

After wrestling with trembling mana where he stood for a while, the Youngest Son suddenly stood up.

“Are you giving up?”

Please. Just give up.

That much had unknowingly entered Akiell’s eyes, but the Youngest Son ignored it.

“I will step out for a moment. Stay still here.”

“...You truly are careless beyond belief. You must be the only one who treats a prisoner this loosely.”

At the moment, there was not even a long needle for sealing mana. Naturally, he was not bound by cords that restrained mana either.

Only the space of the mansion confined him, and that was an obstacle he could overcome easily enough.

Even so, the Youngest Son merely showed him that characteristic smile.

“Then you should be grateful. If you want to move, go ahead and try. I am curious what will happen too.”

The Youngest Son left behind a somewhat chilling warning that was not quite a warning and exited the room. However, Akiell now knew.

“He is only staying here himself and watching General Raymond’s mood. Was he not hiding me here from General Raymond in the first place?”

Akiell sat cross-legged on the sofa, folded his arms, and wore a deeply crumpled expression.

“Should I just run outside the door and start shouting?”

Then it would be revealed that a Wisdom mage was here, and the culprit behind the library massacre would be the Youngest Son.

It was a pleasing result just to imagine, but what came afterward was still frightening.

In the West, people said as if by habit that they could even lay down their lives for the family.

However, when the moment of death approached, his mind hardened solid. That was exactly what had happened in the library.

When he closed his eyes without realizing it, he wished only to die without pain. When he opened his eyes again, gratitude had been the first thing to rise in him.

“...I still want to live.”

He had flown to a place that was essentially the front line of the war, but his life was still precious to him.

His was a talent praised by the family despite him not being of the bloodline. He wanted to live a long time and continue enjoying what he had.

TAP TAP—

“...?”

A sound came from the window as something tapped it. It was not his imagination.

TAP TAP— TAP TAP—

As the sound continued, he approached the window and saw a frog with large eyes outside.

The sound of its long tongue striking the window rang once more in Akiell’s ears.

“S-Surely...!”

JOLT—

He was badly startled, but he carefully opened the window lest anyone hear.

“Is that you, Mage Luther...?”

Through the gap of the open window, the frog leaped in and landed atop the backrest of the sofa.

Soon, with a Polymorph magic circle, the frog transformed back into a human.

The one Akiell had called Luther was a man whose hair was not so much blue as dark blue, like the deep sea.

“How is someone who should be in General Kunkan’s camp here...? N-No. How did you know I was here...?”

“Long explanations can wait.”

Luther formed a knife-hand and coated it with sharply honed mana. In that moment, his knife-hand became like a real blade.

“For now, Akiell.”

“Y-Yes.”

“For now, as for you.”

At last, he could escape. His face filled with rapture at that joy.

To that face, Luther, the collateral branch mage who had come as part of the delegation, said,

“You will have to die now.”