Chapter 212 : Chapter 212
[Rosenthal died?]
[By the Dragon Sword?]
[Ha……?]
At the voices bursting out from each crystal sphere, Exlam smirked.
"Is there anything to be surprised about? Seeing how that guy who likes to make a fuss has been quiet until now, there is no other answer."
[Well, that is not wrong. Since that ‘Knight Who Eats Magic’ fellow is roaming around the Empire so freely.]
[I thought Rosenthal released him on purpose to conduct that experiment he likes so much?]
[To say that, he has certainly been away from his seat for too long.]
[Ha. Do you all really believe that the guy called Dragon Sword has the power to defeat ‘us’?]
[Even if that is true, I do not like that a loser who just became the Master of the Gray Tower is presiding over the meeting. A mere dog of the Imperial Royal Family.]
A flood of pouring voices.
Among them were criticisms directed at him, but Exlam let out a sigh unnoticed with a faint sneer on his face.
'They have gotten worse, everyone. They are completely consumed. Pathetic things. Everyone except for one guy…….'
He glanced at the single black, transparent crystal sphere that was exceptionally silent and pulled his hood down.
To prevent his expression from being discovered.
If looked at from the same level, they were truly foolish guys, but the status and power they held could never be ignored.
'At least their influence is certainly greater than mine right now…….'
While he was stroking the gray robe engraved with a unique pattern, a magical tool of the Gray Magic Tower, a voice that hadn't spoken until now rang out.
[It seems you like that robe, Exlam.]
A remark completely unrelated to the topic.
However, as soon as he heard those words, Exlam turned his head toward that direction.
Because it was a remark from the black, semi-transparent crystal sphere that had been quiet all this time.
[I understand that your plan was not to become one of us Magic Tower Masters?]
"Have I ever stated my plan, Lucir?"
[That much is obvious just by looking at your track record. If you were going to become a Magic Tower Master, you could have done it 10 years ago, so something must have gone wrong?]
This is why I hate this guy.
Beyond not being 'consumed', he is a guy who shows no sign of being swayed by the demon.
Either the old monster of the Imperial Royal Family or one of the true mages walking a different path from himself. And the one to be most wary of…….
Enemy.
"Were we close enough to worry about each other? I will decline useless interference."
As soon as he drew a line, the other fools responded to those words.
[Right. Refrain from useless talk, Black.]
[Now that Rosenthal's defection is certain, it is time to decide who will take that Knight Who Eats Magic.]
[Rosenthal, that green guy, acted on his own first, so isn't it still finders keepers?]
[Don't be ridiculous. That guy ground up his own servants to gain priority. If we say we will compete with each other, do you think the Imperial Royal Family or that old monster will stay still?]
[Right. It is annoying enough being restricted by the promise with the Imperial Royal Family; we cannot afford to create more causes for dispute.]
"So, there is something I want to propose."
[What?]
Exlam recalled that troublesome child of his kin in his mind.
A child who came back to life even though he was offered as a sacrifice, gained a strange authority, and interfered with his work.
That guy, whom he had dismissed as a fascinating research subject or merely a remnant of his nemesis, the Dragon Sword, had ruined even his final plan.
'Is it that heavenly luck follows him, or is it that providence is obstructing me?'
Occasionally, there are such cases. Cases where the reaction of providence approaches a mage who manipulates providence. Moreover, in his case, it was even more…….
'No, what meaning does that have now.'
Anyway, now he felt like a tricky enemy comparable to the Dragon Sword.
As if.
'Kaien, Gruma. Your child…… no, is it your deep grudge that is blocking me?'
Enough to have such irrational thoughts unlike a magician.
Therefore, he had to prepare more certainly.
"I was wondering how it would be if about two of you stepped forward at the same time, and the one who takes him first wins."
So that even if the Dragon Sword comes into the Empire by any chance, they can deal with him together.
[What?]
[What kind of nonsense…….]
"If it is just stepping out for a moment, I do not think the Imperial Royal Family will say much. Even if you get caught by the restrictions, I will try to smooth it over."
[You?]
[You can do that?]
"As you said, am I not a dog of the Imperial Royal Family now?"
[Then, the price?]
[Before that, how will we decide those two?]
[Of course, I am included.]
[What kind of bullshit is that? Then is the other one me?]
[The meeting held after such a long time is still a mess.]
A chaotic uproar.
How is this the pinnacle of magicians who represent reason and intellect?
'Idiots…….'
They were not originally like that either.
It was just the result of being satisfied and letting their guard down when they reached the goal they pursued.
'Consumed…….'
Even they themselves probably couldn't have imagined that that moment of carelessness would lead to such a state.
But thanks to that.
'They are easy to use.'
They wouldn't even try to listen if it were the voice of a trivial person, but they would listen if it were the words of an entity with equal rank.
No matter how much they ignored him calling him a loser and such, they were those who distinguished the difference between a bug and a human.
And that was enough.
"Now……."
To deal with the ghost of the past and make them helpers to achieve his goal that had been postponed indefinitely again.
"……I have a plan that everyone can accept, would you like to hear it? Instead, I will withdraw from the candidacy."
[Hoh?]
[You will withdraw on your own?]
"Instead, you just have to help me with what I want to do. It is not a difficult task for you all."
Although he unintentionally took a long detour, he had no intention of giving up on his true goal yet.
[Hoh.]
[Why don't you tell us about that plan first.]
[If it is fair, I will agree.]
Guys swallowed by desire who agree so easily.
The only one to be careful of was Black alone, but.
[…….]
He chose silence as if he just wanted to watch the situation.
Thanks to that, Exlam was able to achieve his goal easily.
* * *
It was five days after leaving Karyan that Roson and the party arrived at Phoenix, the central city of the Northern Empire where the Northern Royal Family was located.
'If we had moved by ourselves, we would have arrived within three days.'
But it was worth it.
"Welcome back!"
"Salute!"
Enough to clearly know what kind of treatment the old magician Roson received in Phoenix.
Because the procedure to have an audience with the Northern King was proceeding smoothly without any obstacles.
Even in the midst of that, the Imperial city was still unfamiliar to the party.
"Hiiik. The buildings are too big, Lord Muno. There are so many people too."
Lauel felt pressure from the large city lined with buildings over ten stories high.
"Yeah. Right."
"It is truly unpleasant. This tremendous demonic energy. Even the air feels dirty. Are you okay? It must be harder since your level has risen?"
Imadi mentioned the aversion to demonic energy that became stronger as the level of Spirit Arts rose.
"It is bearable."
The fuss of the two did not work on Muno at all.
To him, this large city lined with ten-story buildings and stuffy air actually felt familiar.
'The feeling is a bit different, but…….'
The nostalgia of his past life made him suppress the urge to smash everything around him right now.
But it was clear that the demonic energy was stimulating his mind, and because of that, another conflict eventually arose.
And that too, in front of a palace more massive and splendid than the Steel Palace of Ironheart.
"Now, leave your armor and weapons with the attendants."
"You are joking, right?"
"This is natural etiquette for meeting Her Highness……."
"In the middle of an enemy country, enter after taking off my armaments? Rather, just deliver my message."
"How dare you……!"
"Sir Roson! Calm, calm down!"
CLATTER THUD.
A clash with Roson, who had been continuously expressing displeasure all the way here.
But perhaps they were the ones in need; eventually, we compromised by having an audience together with the elites of the Northern Royal Family.
"Are you the Black Knight?"
I had gotten used to the Empire's accent, which was slightly different from the Kingdom, over the past few months.
However, what was still awkward was that the Northern King who spoke those words was a grandmother with a gentle impression.
'The Northern King was a woman?'
No, usually if a woman is a King, don't they call her a Queen?
I was slightly flustered, but the moment Imadi tapped my back, I realized the situation and immediately showed respect.
THUD.
"Muno Drasen of Iron greets Her Highness, the Northern King."
Imadi and Lauel followed me, kneeling on one knee and bowing their heads without a word.
Perhaps the etiquette was too simple; I saw the surrounding retainers of the Northern King frowning at the same time.
"……Your spirit is good. Is it because you are young?"
The Northern King's words, ambiguous whether they were praise or insult, were one thing, but something else was more of a problem.
'As expected of the Empire.'
Just as expected, this massive royal palace was filled with demonic energy.
The demonic energy spread throughout the entire palace, including the circlet, staff, and cloak that the Northern King was wearing.
As the distance that made me reminisce about my past life disappeared and reality hooked in, what remained was only a shuddering displeasure toward the demonic energy.
'If I am like this, Lord Imadi must be…….'
Will this become easier to endure if I get used to it?
I forced myself to endure it again with that single thought, but I wasn't in a state to have a long conversation while beating around the bush.
Therefore.
"I heard you wanted to meet me. It just so happens I also had words I wanted to convey……."
"Straight to the point without preamble……."
The expressions of the retainers became even more displeased, but the eyes of the Northern King grandmother actually shone.
"……Do you not think your audacity is excessive, Muno Drasen?"
"Not at all. I just think there is no need to waste time pointlessly."
"……Hmm. Good. I like it very much. Yes, speak."
Except for the unpleasant energy of the magical tools wrapped around her body, she was a grandmother more cheerful than I thought.
While observing the appearance of the Northern King like that, I realized one incongruity belatedly.
'Huh, come to think of it…… she is not a magician?'
I thought it was hidden by the energy of the powerful magical tools, but even after searching closely, I couldn't see a circle in her heart.
No matter how solid the class system was, this was a world where the power to maintain that status itself came from 'supernatural abilities'.
It was very unexpected that one of the Four Directional Kings of the Deus Empire, the strongest nation in the world, was not a magician.
And not only that.
'Don't tell me this feeling is……?'
The moment I made an even more puzzled expression, the King's rebuke followed.
"……You said there is no need to waste time, so what are you doing?"
"Ah, I apologize. However, to say those words, I think the listeners must be kept to a minimum."
As soon as I said those words, backlash erupted from all sides.
"What?"
"That crazy……!"
"How rude!"
By the time the commotion was growing, the Northern King glanced around the room.
The retainers who were raising their voices as if competing rapidly withered away at a single look from that grandmother.
"Black Knight, are the words you have to say worth that much?"
"Yes. If Your Highness holds a grudge against the Demon Cult, even more so."
"Demon Cult……?"
The moment I mentioned the 'Demon Cult', the face of the grandmother with the gentle impression momentarily twisted like an evil spirit.
That dramatic change in expression seemed to be engraved directly onto my retina.
However, it was an extremely short moment, and that face quickly returned to a gentle impression.
'Ha…….'
My internal admiration was brief.
The Northern King glared at me and asked a question in a low voice.
"Can you take responsibility?"
"Of course……."
I can take responsibility. Just as I was about to say that.
"On that day some twenty years ago, I lost my firstborn, secondborn, and fourthborn, and even the grandchildren in my daughters-in-law's wombs."
"……?"
"Due to that shock, my husband, who was expected to be the next Seven-Star, passed away. I only learned the fact that the culprit had thrown himself into the Demon Cult quite a long time later, so the grudge that deepened in the meantime is immeasurable even by myself. So I will ask again, young knight."
The heavy gaze of the King pressed down on the space.
"Reflect once again on how heavy the weight of the words you are about to say will be from now on, and answer."