Chapter 227

Chapter 227 - A Difficult Problem and Its Setter

All ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍of Wisdom’s blood relatives had gathered. All except one.

Of ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the new generation of Wisdom blood relatives, which consisted of two daughters and one son, only two were kneeling on one knee on the 100th floor.

On ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the way up to that 100th floor, the Magic Tower had been unusually empty. Everyone had rushed to the scene where the Portal had been destroyed, the place where two direct-line blood relatives had been.

Whether ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍for observation or restoration, the mages had gathered at the scene.

Now, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Portal had become the most urgent matter to resolve.

STEP. STEP.

In an exceedingly rare move, the Family Head walked down from the 101st floor and stood on the 100th floor, where his children knelt.

“Pia. Ryan.”

The Family Head called his children’s names.

The Second Daughter and the Third Son, excluding the eldest daughter who was not present, lowered their heads even further.

“You went to the scene, did you not?”

Thin ice clung to the Family Head’s voice. It was as cold as lake water covered in thin ice.

“Yes.”

“I went there.”

The blood relatives answered one by one, each word filled with utter unease, as if they were walking across that sheet of thin ice.

“What did you see? Answer one at a time.”

Second Daughter Pia swallowed dryly and opened her mouth.

“I saw Millesdusk’s bones. Heat and the smell of burning. Along with them, I sensed the lingering trace of mana. It was mana that had taken the form of sorcery.”

“You only saw the peel of the fruit. Are you offering things anyone could see as an answer?”

“…I am sorry.”

Pia’s head slowly fell. Her straight blue hair also flowed down past her shoulders like silk.

She used her hair as a shield to avoid her father’s disappointed gaze.

By contrast, the youngest son, who had been given another chance, raised his head and met his eyes.

“What did you see?”

His father’s eyes could not be considered the eyes of a father looking at his son. The warmth that had been there, however faintly, when he looked at his daughters was nowhere to be found here.

Perhaps that was why.

Instead, the burden vanished. There were no expectations, and therefore there was no pressure.

“I saw the Fifth Son.”

“…Did you say the Fifth Son?”

“Yes. The lingering trace of mana that Second Daughter Pia said she sensed. I sensed it as well, and it was something I had encountered before.”

That moment had been in the Audience Chamber of the Imperial Palace. The telepathy that had flowed into his head had carried not only a physical voice, but also the Fifth Son’s mana.

Therefore, he could not have forgotten it even if he tried. The mana that had been transmitted as clearly as the voice itself felt exactly the same at the scene.

“The sorcery that destroyed the Portal was unmistakably the Fifth Son’s.”

“Millesdusk. And among them, the Fifth Son….”

His words trailed off, and then he very quietly called one name.

The Fifth Son. The Fifth Son. The Fifth Son. The Fifth Son.

His voice, which would never reach its target, was thickly laden with Fury and assimilated even the mana of nature.

It raged with him, screamed with him, and hated that one man with him.

“I cannot live beneath this sky unless I erase that name.”

The space that had twisted and shimmered like a heat haze regained its calm once more.

The blood relatives, who had desperately circulated the mana within their bodies to prevent internal injuries, also caught their breath.

RUMBLE—

Only after that almost-incident ended did the remaining one of the three elevators arrive.

“Hello, Dad.”

It was the entrance of the eldest daughter, the one her younger siblings called an eccentric, a madwoman, or the future Family Head.

“Cos.”

Her father called the eldest daughter’s name. As if the moment from before had been a lie, his voice showed not the slightest trace of irritation or anger.

It was only natural. The Family Head always placed his expectations on his eldest daughter, and she always brought back results that surpassed those expectations.

“Did you not see the assembly signal?”

“I am sorry. There was a book I was reading, and it was too interesting.”

“What book was it?”

No matter how often they saw him show interest in his daughter’s reading instead of getting angry, it was unbearably awkward.

“It was a book called Origins of Sorcery.”

“…That is one of the forbidden books of the Magic Tower.”

“It is good to know about the enemy.”

“That is true, but be careful from now on.”

“Yes. I will, Dad.”

At the conversation between father and daughter, the remaining Second Daughter and Third Son naturally exchanged glances. They shared the thought that they simply could not bear to watch.

The eldest daughter was an eccentric for whom deviance was no different from daily life. By contrast, the Family Head valued discipline more than anyone as the head of the family.

And yet he was completely disarmed before his eldest daughter, Cos. In his entire life, the most anger he had ever shown her had been no more than a mild warning.

Instead of kneeling on one knee, she perched on the stairs leading to the 101st floor.

“So what happened? Why has everyone gathered?”

Then she calmly asked the reason for the summons. The Third Son had now lost all words.

A madwoman was not called a madwoman for no reason.

“…Cos.”

The Family Head’s voice sank low, just as it had earlier.

“Yes.”

“Remember clearly what I am about to say.”

By contrast, Cos merely blinked her harmless eyes as before. This was precisely the situation in which he ought to scold her. Was there not more than enough justification?

The war was right before them, and the Portal that had served as the family’s feet had been blown apart completely. Yet she had leisurely been reading a book, unaware even of that? A forbidden book at that?

Given the circumstances, the Family Head finally said it this time.

“For the next two weeks, chocolate is forbidden.”

“…!”

Her catlike eyes opened wide. Her expression of utter shock showed just how devastating this ban was.

Of course, it was devastating only to that one person. Everyone else listening was dumbfounded.

“Dad. That is too cruel….”

“This is my final decision. No matter how you look at me with those eyes, it will not change.”

The Family Head turned outright and looked again at the children kneeling before him.

“The Portal has been destroyed. Millesdusk will soon attack, so stand by at the Tower of the Sky. Slow the enemy’s advance as much as possible.”

“Understood.”

“Yes.”

The Family Head kept his gaze on Ryan, who had answered, a little longer.

“May I place my expectations on you once more?”

“Please do not.”

“…….”

At an answer that strayed far beyond what he had expected, the Family Head’s eyebrow twitched. The Third Son slowly rose from his kneeling position.

“Do not place your expectations on me. I will wring out the Wisdom of a Thousand Years that I have learned, so, Family Head, please trust in that Wisdom of a Thousand Years.”

With those words, the Third Son stepped onto the elevator and disappeared. Second Daughter Pia looked back and forth between her vanished younger brother and her father, but in the end, she followed her brother.

“I-I will contact you from the tower…!”

Two of his three children withdrew in succession. The one who had just left was a sore finger, and the other was a finger he had once torn away.

Given the circumstances, he had forcibly attached it again, but it would not listen. At the sight that drew only a sigh from him, the only one he could rely on in the end was the finger he cherished.

His eldest daughter, the finger he cherished so much that he wanted to put a ring on it, was the reason he had gone on to have more children.

The more children he had, the more they turned out like this, so he had stopped at the third. But since he had his eldest daughter, that was enough.

“Dad….”

“Yes, Cos.”

The genius of magic who had even been acknowledged by dragons lifted her deeply lowered head.

“Am I really forbidden from having chocolate…?”

The problem, if there was one, was that he had raised her too indulgently.

“…Eat just one last piece. After that, it is truly forbidden for two weeks.”

The Family Head took a piece of chocolate from inside his robe and handed it to her. Cos had made the Family Head of Wisdom always keep chocolate inside his robe.

She brightened and accepted the chocolate. Watching her unwrap it and eat it in one gulp made him want to buy her not just one piece of chocolate, but an entire shop.

However, he could not become entranced by that innocent sight and forget the heart of the matter.

“Cos.”

“Yes, Dad.”

The Family Head wiped the chocolate from the corner of his daughter’s mouth with the sleeve of his robe.

“We are at war right now.”

“I know that.”

He did not know whether to call that fortunate or ask whether that was all she knew. For Cos, it was probably the former.

“Do you also know that our family’s fate depends on this war?”

“They said we must not lose. Every adult I meet says that.”

“Yes. We must not lose. No matter what else happens, we cannot lose. This is a battle we must win by any means necessary. The enemy will be the same.”

The Family Head sat beside Cos, who was crouching on the stairs leading to the 101st floor.

“The East will use any dirty method without hesitation. Since it is Millesdusk of all families, there is no need to say more.”

“For example?”

“For example…. Turning every human and beast of the West in the path of their advance into undead.”

“…Truly, every human and animal…?”

The Family Head nodded.

“To them, it is by no means impossible.”

He rolled up the sleeve of his exceedingly soft robe and revealed a wrinkled hand.

“Look.”

Particles of light formed from condensed mana swirled up from his palm.

The sight, like a swarm of fireflies swimming through the air, soon took on a certain shape. It was not as beautiful as the cluster of light itself.

A future in which fleeing westerners and mages alike were turned into undead.

Through the cluster of light, he showed her a future that would inevitably arrive before long.

The people made of light became, through the sorcerers, beings that were not truly dead even after death.

In that undead form, they stabbed their comrades and chewed up their families.

“…I will stop it.”

“Will you?”

“Yes.”

Cos rose from the stairs.

“The Fifth Son. They say he is the cause of the war. I will stop him.”

“As expected, you are my greatest pride.”

“Then, about the chocolate ban, perhaps….”

“That is not allowed.”

“Tsk….”

Clicking her tongue at the failed scheme, she took the elevator down.

After returning to Prana, the city of the Wisdom blood relatives, and walking a short while, she quickly reached the eldest daughter’s domain, which occupied half the city.

It was the domain with the fewest people, yet the greatest area.

Here, where buildings bearing the flag of the First Daughter of Wisdom stood in rows, she walked alone down a broad avenue.

Her steps stopped at the research station that served as both her residence and her workplace.

On the vast table, countless pieces of equipment, reagent bottles, books, and parchments lay scattered about.

Amid this place full of disorderly objects, there was one thing that stood distinctly apart.

“Dark Elixir. What exactly are you?”

Today, too, she lifted the black bottle and asked the contents within it.

“The first difficult problem of my life. I never thought a blood relative of the East would be the one to give it to me.”

Each time she shook it, the slightly viscous contents sloshed inside the bottle. Less than half remained. That was because she had used the other half in experiments.

In other words, she had used as much as half of the potion, and even after using that much, she still had not found the slightest clue.

“I understand what reaction it causes and how it causes that reaction. But how on earth is it made?”

She entrusted herself to the rocking chair and pondered it.

When she first encountered the Dark Elixir, she had not been able to tell the adults or her father, but interest had stirred in her before anything else.

Furthermore, when the problem remained unsolved even after a long time, she even found it enjoyable. The problems the West gave her were far too easy.

Even with problems posed by dragons, if she spent enough time, she could at least see the method of solving them. But the Dark Elixir was not like that.

“The Fifth Son…. I heard he was younger than me, too.”

The more she looked at it, the more mysterious it became.

The Dark Elixir raised its secrets like a shield and hid thoroughly behind them.

It never carelessly revealed the mysteries it contained. It only let a faint glow show from behind.

“The adults call it a demonic object, but…. It is certainly an interesting thing as well.”

The main source of that fascination lay in its concept.

“It intentionally chills the body to the extreme and resolves the problem of mana overheating. Unless that overheating problem is used in reverse, the body cannot be warmed.”

Even as she said it, a laugh escaped her. This Dark Elixir was a problem that had turned an unsolvable flaw into the answer.

If the adults had also seen this enjoyment in it, perhaps it would not have gone as far as war.

But she did not expect the adults to understand. When adults saw a problem, they sighed and grew irritated first, rather than rejoicing.

Rather than accepting it as a part of themselves, they saw it as something to deal with or eliminate, and they rushed at it aggressively.

“The Fifth Son…. If I meet him, I would at least like to have a conversation.”

But she did not know whether the other party would feel the same. No, if he also found her interesting, would he not want to talk?

The thought she corrected in an instant made her rummage through a box.

“It should be around here.”

In the corner, she found an object she had played with as a child. Simply put, it was a cube. However, it was no ordinary cube.

This cube, which a certain collateral-branch blood relative had given her for her birthday, could only be turned and twisted using mana.

However, the cube itself had the property of disrupting mana. Without considerable output and sensitivity, it was impossible to turn it even once.

Furthermore, once the cube had been solved with great difficulty, a message set by the user would appear.

The first message she received had, naturally, been ‘Happy birthday.’

However, the Youngest Son would receive a somewhat different message.

After finishing the setting, Cos tucked it into her bosom.

“The Tower of the Sky. I suppose I have to go as well.”

She would go there and meet the one who had posed the problem.