Chapter 224

Chapter 224 - A Worthless Child

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍ship of the Wisdom Delegation carrying the Third Son descended onto the boarding platform.

The ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍ship that had once been filled with a crowd returned, and only one person emerged from it in solitude.

There ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was no one on the boarding platform. There was no subordinate who had come out to receive him.

Even ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Butler Uncle might have been there, yet even he was nowhere to be seen.

The ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Third Son knew very well that this was because of an order given by someone in an exceedingly high position.

That ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍someone’s position was the 101st floor, the highest floor even in the lofty Magic Tower.

The Third Son trudged toward the Magic Tower like a man on the verge of death.

“…….”

“…….”

The Magic Tower, a storehouse of knowledge, and the mages of the Magic Tower who explored it, all avoided him even though he was a direct-line bloodline member.

They did not give even a single nod or gesture to him, though he had returned from the grueling schedule of serving as the Delegation.

As though he were already dead, as though they had seen a ghost, they hurriedly avoided him.

RUMMMMBLE—

The elevator of the Magic Tower headed to the floor directly below the top. Even a direct-line bloodline member could not ascend to the 101st floor.

That was permitted only to the Magic Tower Master, the Family Head of Wisdom.

The third son of the Magic Tower Master stopped on the 100th floor and dropped to his knees with a thud. He could not possibly stand properly.

Even on the ship, he had remained still like a corpse and had spoken to no one. The path here had also been as painful as walking across shattered glass.

[…Ryan.]

A voice came from the 101st floor.

Between the floors connected by blue glass stairs instead of an elevator, the voice flowing through the gap was filled with disappointment.

[As of today, I will no longer expect anything from you.]

“…….”

[You know the reason better than anyone.]

“Yes…”

[Recite it.]

His father’s questions cruelly pierced his heart, and the heart pierced by the dagger of those words spilled a voice instead of blood.

“…I failed the mission of the Delegation, had the Elixir stolen on the way back… and could not even capture the family’s traitor…”

[What have you succeeded at since leaving the family? If there is anything, answer me.]

“…….”

As the Delegation, he had created an optimal supply route for the family by using the Empire’s airspace and territory.

With that, Wisdom had effectively moved its main camp right in front of Millesdusk.

Of course, an order to withdraw had now been issued, but there was no way Wisdom would simply leave.

“…The supply routes created for reporting to the Empire will be withdrawn, but the other supply routes we secretly made are still alive.”

[Yes. Even if you are about to die, the word sorry will not leave your mouth. Your distant relatives rotted beneath Millesdusk’s blades.]

“I am sorry…”

[Enough. I should never have sent you in the first place. Tsk.]

The Family Head clicked his tongue harshly and spoke.

[Know that the teleportation magic circle being installed in the neutral zone saved your life.]

“Yes…”

[How could something like that have come from this family?]

“…….”

[Withdraw.]

“…Yes.”

All he knew how to do now was nod and obey.

Ryan, the Third Son, withdrew from the 101st floor.

RUMMMMBLE—

He descended on the stone elevator carved with a magic circle and reached the first floor again. Only then did the Butler hurriedly run over.

“Y-Young Master. I apologize. The Family Head gave orders to all the mages…”

“I know, Uncle. For now, let us just go back. I do not want to remain amid all these stares any longer.”

FLAP—

Ryan pulled the hood of the Wisdom Robe low over his head. His shining blue hair was hidden, and the eyes of others could no longer be seen.

“…Understood.”

With his head lowered as though something had been placed upon his neck, he walked while looking only at the Butler’s shoes in front of him.

Since he wore the hood, did not look around at all, and only watched the ground, he had somehow arrived at ‘Prana’ before he realized it.

This city, formed by the Wisdom bloodline members and their followers, felt especially cold today. No, it was the same as always; perhaps it was merely his mood.

The city changed the size and number of its territories every generation, and the standard was the competitiveness of each faction.

“I am no different from a dead man now.”

Ryan, the Third Son, looked at the flags that symbolized him.

When he had been chosen for the Delegation, these flags had filled the entire area.

Now, the mansion before his eyes was the end of it. It meant he had been driven to the very edge of the cliff.

He laughed at himself and entered the mansion with the Butler.

This place was now no different from a tomb. It was merely a little larger than a tomb used by the dead, but in the end, it was still a tomb.

No one else could enter such a tomb.

“Hello, Ryan. I heard you returned after accomplishing great things as the Delegation Leader. How admirable. Truly admirable.”

The Second Daughter had gone out of her way to come and disturb the peace of the dead.

“…Get lost.”

“Heeheehee.”

She was an older sister who constantly looked after her siblings, but when she found a chance to tease them, she latched on endlessly.

Was she being kind because she feared she would be struck on the back of the head if all she did was tease them?

His older sister, who sometimes made him think such things, lay sprawled on the sofa and merely lifted her head.

“How was the Fifth Son?”

“…….”

It had been a brief conversation. Yet each and every telepathic exchange he had shared with him was still engraved in his mind and would not disappear.

The first words he had sent through telepathy.

―I will be sure to enjoy the Elixir.

Those words would probably follow him from the far side of his memory for the rest of his life. The voice delivered by telepathy had been terrifyingly clear.

It had allowed him to indirectly experience the talent possessed by the Fifth Son of Millesdusk.

The problem was that the talent in question was magical talent.

The Third Son hesitated over whether he should tell this fact to his older sister’s teal eyes, which were filled with mischief.

But hiding the enemy’s strength was a greater problem.

“…He learned telepathy from the Leader of the Communications Unit he kidnapped.”

The face that had been waiting only for a chance to tease him turned ashen.

“…What?”

“His telepathy does not fall short, even compared to ours right now—”

“Puhahaha!”

“…….”

“Oh, please! What absurd nonsense! The Fifth Son using telepathy? Were you cursed or something?”

Ignoring his older sister, he climbed the stairs. He wanted to be alone now.

As if she did not know how he felt, his older sister followed closely behind him.

“I was given the role of vanguard captain for the Mage Corps that will be sent through the teleportation magic circle.”

“Go and come back, then. Do not get hit by some pointless curse and die.”

“You know I also trained to raise my curse resistance. Most ordinary curses will not work on me at all.”

“So what? What do you want from me?”

“A hug wishing me a safe return? Since we are both losers pushed out of the Battle for Dominance anyway, we can do at least that much.”

The Third Son was silent for a moment, then turned around. By then, the Second Daughter was already standing there with her arms spread.

Knowing that she would not leave unless he accepted, the younger brother did as she wanted.

“Good. This is exactly it.”

“…If you complete your role as vanguard well, you may be able to push out that eccentric.”

“Do you not know our father? He sets everything else aside and only looks at magical talent. I am finished. You too. In the end, Older Sister will ascend to the 101st floor.”

“Then it makes it seem as though working hard has no meaning.”

At those words, the Second Daughter shook her younger brother wildly while still hugging him.

“Wh-What are you doing?”

“Why would it have no meaning? In the end, the ones who will live upon the vast land will not be Older Sister, but our descendants.”

“…It must be nice to think so simply.”

“Rest for a little while. When the war intensifies, the moment when direct-line bloodline members are needed will definitely come.”

However, another moment arrived a little sooner.

―――!!!

An explosion and shockwave that seemed to tear the ears apart.

The Second Daughter instinctively wrapped her arms around her younger brother and flattened herself against the floor.

CRASH—

The impact of the explosion shattered the glass, and the fragments fell over her robe.

As they did, the thought that came to her was the direction of the explosion.

“That is… the direction of the teleportation portal…?”

The Second Daughter slowly raised herself. It was a shockwave strong enough to shatter the windows here.

It was absolutely not a small-scale explosion, and it had occurred in the direction of the teleportation portal.

“R-Ryan. I will go first.”

“…We will go together.”

The two Wisdom bloodline members ran from Prana to the portal. Since simply running was too slow, they used Blink as well.

This short-range teleportation could be used in rapid succession by direct-line members of the Wisdom bloodline.

The two repeated running and teleporting until they reached the portal. Then, instead of the portal, they saw ruins.

“How did this…”

The Second Daughter could not continue speaking, and Ryan entered the ruins.

Among the technologies Wisdom possessed, teleportation was the most exceptional. Among them, the teleportation portal was the greatest.

The magic circle that could connect to and travel between any large-scale teleportation magic circle had been destroyed in its entirety.

What on earth had done this?

TAP—

Something caught on the Third Son’s foot.

The finished floor was gone, and something was embedded in the exposed ground where the earth showed plainly.

“…….”

He grabbed it and lifted it as it was. This object, which was even somewhat hot, seemed to be a fragment of something.

He held it and looked at it closely, and before long, he seemed to know what it was. If he meant to face the East, there was no way he could fail to recognize this.

“…Is that bone?”

“It seems so.”

“Then was this Millesdusk’s doing?”

“That much is obvious.”

He threw the bone he had been holding onto the floor.

“The moment when bloodline members are needed. It may come even sooner than expected.”

He looked up at the sky.

Although it was still daytime and the sun was up, a blue star, the same color as the blue sky, had risen.

The single light shot up from the Magic Tower meant only one thing: the gathering of the bloodline members.

***

The Clone Son nodded.

“It has been teleported.”

“Really? Kahahaha!”

As soon as he heard the news, Fourth Son Jamie was so happy he did not know what to do. He hopped up and down in place, and that place was atop the teleportation magic circle.

It was now a broken magic circle, but it had been put to excellent use. Even the daughters and the First Son had no choice but to nod.

“To transmit Exploding Bone using a Skeleton Giant by making use of the enemies’ teleportation magic circle. That must have been an extremely hot first greeting.”

“We coated it very thickly with explosive dust as well, befitting the giant’s size.”

The expected range of the explosion formed in the minds of the Millesdusk bloodline members. The result came from the Clone Son’s mouth.

“The Wisdom treasure ‘Portal,’ which connected large-scale teleportation magic circles to one another, will take a long time to use again.”

“That time is the moment we must aim for.”

“Exactly.”

At the Second Daughter’s words, the Clone Son nodded. Furthermore, the First Son also nodded and added his own words.

“At last, we can repay them. We must collect the price for the sin of causing trouble on another’s land.”

“For once, I completely agree with this lunatic~. Let us break them!”

“When is the youngest coming back?”

He had already received a reply about that just moments earlier.

“The Delegation will return immediately, but the main body seems likely to remain at the Imperial Palace a little longer.”

“That is a shame. I thought we would finally see him.”

The other bloodline members seemed to feel the same, judging by their regretful expressions. For their sake, there was something he could tell them.

“The main body will join us midway, so there is no need to worry too much. He will be with us from the middle of the road as Millesdusk heads west.”

“Then let us hurry and go!”

“Yes. Let us go to the Family Head.”

The Clone Son answered while checking the main body’s situation.

The main body was at a single dining table with three blond humans. Just as the meal continued, two more entered.

Another blond middle-aged man and a young man with red hair.