Chapter 443

“Gee, are you sure you’re going, Ronan?”
“Let’s go, then.”
“Such–I haven’t even returned the favor yet.”
Asel cringed. His neatly pressed Akalusian uniform looked out of place. I was saying goodbye on the hill where Adeshan’s cremation ceremony had taken place.
“You’ve become an asshole, thank you very much. Now stop hanging out with assholes like Hans.”
“Nope. I’ll never fit in. Don’t worry.”
“But if you get cocky, you’ll get in trouble again. If your shoes are dirty and you ask a passing peasant girl to lick them to clean them, or if some talentless wretch spits in your face because he thinks you’re learning magic—”
“My, that can’t be me, I was a commoner until five days ago!”
“I’m kidding, asshole.”
Asel waved urgently. To be honest, I wasn’t worried at all. I knew his character was good to the core.
He ruffled his red hair.
“Do well on the Phileon entrance exam next year. Your parents will be proud.”
“——Yes.”
Asel bit her lower lip and nodded, looking away, pretending not to notice the glistening liquid in her eyes. Adrian and Erzebet stood there, their faces full of regret. He was glad he’d gotten a chance to talk to them before they left.
Adrian said.
“The moment you tear the scroll apart, it will trigger a series of spatial travel spells, probably ten to thirteen, given Ronan’s destination.”
Her index finger pointed to the scroll in my hand. Like ebony, the saccharine scroll was imprinted with magic that, when given coordinates, could use spatial travel up to twenty times to take you to your destination. It was a top-of-the-line item, capable of crossing continents if done right, but I was too scared to ask the price.
“You do know about the side effects of spatial travel magic, right?”
“Yeah. Ten times that and I’ll have to starve for three days. Damn, I’m getting hungry already.”
I reflexively gagged. Part of me wanted to ride a Befair or a Griffon, but that would have been too time-consuming.
I don’t know why Akasha is there, but if his goal is to take out my father or Elsia, I can’t let that happen.
I said, grabbing both ends of the scroll.
“Oh. I have a favor to ask.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“I just need you to find one person. Tell any military official you know that you’re looking for Private Ronan of the 4th Regiment of Imperial Punishers, and they’ll understand.”
It’s been a while, so it’s been a while. Wasn’t he a corporal, not a private?
Anyway, if nothing else, you should be able to find him easily. He’s got a reputation for being a dick and killing people.
After a moment’s pause, Adrian nodded.
“—Ah, you said you were from another world, so of course there must be Ronan on this side of the world.”
“Don’t look at me and expect a gentleman, I’m a talking beast, and if you can, bring me back to Acalusia and capture me, but be sure to take an escort, just in case—and if he resists too much, give him this note.”
I held out the note I’d already written. It wasn’t folded, so I could read the note intact.
Adrian’s eyes narrowed.
“I actually like your sister. Dark hair, obsessive type, bigger is better (important)—— What does that mean?”
“It’s like a code word that only I know, and I’m sure the moment I see the note, I’m going to scream Barack Barack and ask who wrote this, so I need you to bring me to Acalusia.”
It was a tried-and-true procedure in the last parallel world. In this world, I wouldn’t change my taste in women unless I took an arrow to the head. I’m a man of conviction.
“Well, let’s see if you can see it.”
Finished with my request, I ripped open the scroll. A blast of intense light engulfed me. The entire room warped and my stomach began to churn. Wiping tears from his eyes with his sleeve, Asel flung his arms wildly.
“Ronan, I will be a great wizard, I will! I will!”
“Good posture.”
The laughter came without resistance. Erzebet’s greeting was the last thing she said.
In the distance, I could almost hear the rippling of the Timen River.
****
The cluster of lights faded. The three of them were now the only ones left on the hill.
Adrian glanced over to where Ronan had been and muttered.
“— is gone. I wish you could have stayed a little longer.”
“That’s right.”
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to ask you a favor quickly. I wonder what it’s like to be the Ronan of this world.”
She smirked. Ronan was a beast, she humbled herself, but he must be a wonderful man.
After the farewell, the three traveled to the mansion. Erzebet frowned as she watched Asel crouch and walk.
“Asel. Walk with a straight back, eyes forward, not down. You’re a member of Acalusia now, you should be proud of it.”
“Hehe, sin, I’m sorry, I’ll do that!”
“Ugh—that makes me sound like a bad person if I come off too hard, I just meant that I could use a little more confidence—— Oh, and by the way, I figured it out.”
“Figured it out?”
“You know that vivid dream you told me about, the one where you went into the basement and watched everything. That wasn’t a dream, it was most likely a fluid escape.”
“Fluid—departure?”
Asel giggled. I’d never heard that word before.
“Aye. It’s when the soul leaves the body and escapes, and it happens to the best mages from time to time. It would explain why you were able to magically blow up the test subject. Perhaps Asel’s powerful mana sensitivity was triggered by the crypt, and she sensed the danger ahead of time.”
“Aha–that’s what happened.”
“I’ve had a few in the past, but not as specific and crisp as yours. Perhaps it’s a difference in technique, and I sincerely envy your talent.”
“Well, I’m not that great, I’d rather have Erzebeth—”
“No. You’re an amazing person, and for someone who cast all of his father’s magic with the countermagic he learned that day, I’m speechless at your humility.”
Erzebeth stared at Asel. Asel, stung by the piercing glare, began to hiccup.
Erzebet glared at him, and he paused.
“So, please continue to be a great person.”
“What?”
“It’s a cardinal sin to let your shining talent go to waste, so keep exploring, keep climbing, because then I’ll have a taste for competition, okay?”
“——Yes. I’ll do that.”
Asel gulped. A smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. Adrian was gazing longingly into the future of the wizarding world when her assistant approached the back door.
“Ah, there you are, my lord. I’m sorry, but—.”
“Yep. Time to catch up on some work. What’s next on the agenda?”
“A meeting with the top of the caravelle. He’s been waiting in the parlor since ten minutes ago, and I–I know you’ve been up all night, but if you’re very tired, you might want to put it off until—.”
“No, we can’t take more time away from our already waiting customers.”
Adrian shook his head. Upper Caravelle had only recently begun trading with Acalusia. They were still small, but they liked the vision and the new upper house’s sales guidelines, so they were willing to continue the relationship.
She said.
“Sure. Would you like to come with us, Asel? It would be good for you to learn what Acalusia does, and you can stand next to me.”
“Yes, yes, I’ll come with you, I’ll never do anything weird!”
“Woohoo. You don’t have to be so nervous. Shall we go?”
They walked to the parlor without pausing to rest. Sleep deprived and nerves on edge, Acalusia was in a position of power now because she hadn’t put off her work.
“That’s good, because the new top guy is very competent, and he’s obviously close to your age, so he’ll have a lot to learn from you. Did I mention his name is Sen?”
“That’s a pseudonym. Our investigation revealed that her real name is Marja Sen Caravel. My Lord.”
The secretary said. Adrian shrugged.
“Yes, I did, and I don’t know why you’re using a pseudonym when Marja is so much prettier.”
Of course, I didn’t bother to mention that I was using a pseudonym. Before long, the three arrived and entered the parlor. On the guest sofa sat a blond, handsome young man. Polite greetings were exchanged.
“Oh, hello.”
“—Where’s your earlobe?”
Finally making eye contact, Asel smiled awkwardly.
Sen and Marja Caravel’s eyes were locked on each other throughout the meeting.
****
The sky was dark. A blizzard was raging, blowing people away.
Sensing the pretense, Elsia turned around.
“Hmm?”
I felt something, but there was no one there. Only snow-covered stones and chunks of ice rolled in the storm. Narrowing her eyes, she drew in her mana.
“Who’s there?”
Her tone was calm, but her heart was beating fast. After betraying Abel and fleeing, life had become a struggle, a vigilance. She didn’t answer as if it were obvious. She was about to summon a few more lesser spirits for reconnaissance.
“What the—!”
Elsia’s body suddenly stiffened. A primal fear weighed down on her shoulders. Flesh flying from an unknown direction paralyzed her entire body.
She clutched her chest, certain that something was coming.
“Ha, ugh.”
I couldn’t even breathe properly. It felt like invisible chains were wrapped around my insides. I’d been a fugitive for a long time, but I’d never felt anything like this. Even in the moment of Abel’s betrayal, I hadn’t felt this much pressure and fear.
“Ha…”
Her voice was muffled. Elsia clenched her fists. Even as she did, the mysterious creature was getting closer. She closed her eyes and pictured Cain’s face. The benefactor trapped in the cylinder, now reduced to a dying candle.
The lump in my throat finally cleared.
“Hyran!!!”
A shrill cry echoed through the storm as a massive magic circle appeared in the sky above her head. A light-wrapped eagle swooped down, tearing through the geometric patterns. It was Hai Lan, the highest ranking Wind Elemental.
“Whoooooo!”
Hyran spread his wings. A gust of wind, strong enough to uproot a giant tree, burst forth in a vortex. The blizzard exploded and dissipated. The rolling rocks and ice lost their power and came to a halt.
“Ha…ha…ha…!”
Elsia let out the breath she’d been holding. There was peace in a one-kilometer radius. The view was clear. The ash-colored clouds had a giant hole in them. The blue sky eased her anxiety.
The life that was coming was gone.
“What the heck was that?
But I couldn’t let go. This was not a force to be trifled with. If what she sensed was a creature, it was more dangerous to Cain than anything she had ever encountered. Hyran hovered overhead, scouting the area. Elsia was about to go into full alert.
“Hey.”
“Heeeeeeeeeeeeee!!”
Someone grabbed her shoulder from behind. With a new scream, Elsia spun around and cast a spell. It was a spell that shot out a fireball that burned down the house.
“Igni Circle!”
But to no avail. The fireball split in half before her eyes. Elsia’s eyes widened. A man in a coat had appeared.
He sheathed the knife.
“Same old, same old. Nice to see you, Elsia.”
“Da, who are you, and how did you get my name—!”
“I’ll tell you about that later, but first, let’s go see my father.”
Ronan said. He punched in the doorway’s dozens of digit password in one swipe and stepped inside before Elsia could say anything.
Elsia stood speechless until the man who had suddenly popped out of nowhere stomped down the stairs.
She frowned, noticing something odd in hindsight.
“——Dad?”