“If a horse that moves when fed is a knight, then a mage is a machine of intricately interlocking parts. The younger and more unripe the mage, the more thorough the management they require.”
Mages and knights differ greatly. Without any particular favoritism involved, it is easy enough to understand if one considers how each uses and operates mana.
Knights generally handle mana in a one-dimensional manner. Sword aura, protective aura, sword energy—these are all acts of manifesting mana as mana.
Mages, on the other hand, realize mana as phenomena. Because that is a system far greater than mana itself, it is called “magic,” and if a mage is overworked on the battlefield, their risk of qi deviation (走火入魔) is far greater than a knight’s.
“To defend against the large-scale southward advance for the remaining time, continuous magic will be necessary.”
Destructive magic represented by bombardment and mortar fire. Support magic that covers knights and amplifies their abilities, and so on… Magic is essential in a siege.
“Furthermore, above all, it is impossible to satisfactorily fill the knights’ bellies.”
It is the same principle as being unable to fill an elephant’s stomach with expensive flowers.
It is not efficient at all.
“Yes. I understand. I will convey it properly and mediate… However.”
Julie, who had nodded composedly, asked in return.
“Professor, you are not dining with the mages on the first floor. Do you intend to eat separately later?”
“……”
I had already gone without food for about a week. Of course, it may have been because my palate had become quite demanding, but this too was a matter related to efficiency.
The “Iron Man,” having developed and adapted on its own, not only improves the health of the body itself, but also allows me to regulate my entire metabolism as I please.
Therefore, since I can reduce the calories expended in daily life to an extreme and absorb the mana taken in through breathing without waste, in emergencies like this, I need not insist on three meals a day.
Condensing all those facts—
I replied simply.
“That is none of your concern.”
“……”
Julie’s cheeks puffed out slightly. She glared at me sullenly, then changed the subject.
“Yes. By the way, are you aware? On the northeastern wall—”
“I know.”
I cut her off. I added a few words.
“What you know, I also know. I know it before you do. I also know what you do not.”
“…How very impressive of you.”
Julie’s eyes narrowed thinly. Even that was cute, but I answered dryly.
“I am considering a method. You all should concern yourselves with fighting hard instead of worrying about such things.”
At present, artificial maintenance and repair of the wall is impossible. But if we leave it as it is, collapse is only a matter of time.
To begin with, the fact that it has held until now is thanks to the steady application of “Midas’ Hand” across the entire wall.
“Yes. Understood. Then I will take my leave.”
Julie rose from her seat.
Whether she had nothing else to say, or she simply did not wish to speak with me, she bowed her head and immediately went outside.
* * *
The moment Julie closed the office door, tap-tap-tap-tap—Epherene, who had been hiding behind the wall, approached like a rabbit.
Julie looked at her and scratched the back of her neck. For no reason, she felt awkward and embarrassed.
“…Yes. It seems that way.”
“Ah.”
At Julie’s words, Epherene looked startled. She jutted out her lips and murmured.
“…So he really hasn’t eaten. For a week.”
“I will speak appropriately to the other knights. It is true that young mages need management, after all.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“I should be the one thanking you, rather. Thanks to you, Miss Epherene…”
Julie swallowed her words for a moment.
To her, Deculein was truly a puzzling man.
If he had remained in Reccordak solely for his own advancement, there would be no need for him to manage the mages like this. There would be no reason for him to feed them while he himself starved.
“Do take care. You must have it hard assisting Professor Deculein.”
Julie placed a hand on Epherene’s shoulder. Epherene smiled faintly and replied.
“It’s not really hard for me. If anything, you must be having the harder time, Sir Knight. I’m his fianc— Ah. Ahem. That’s not what I meant…”
The words had slipped out before she knew it. To the flustered Epherene, Julie shook her head and said,
“It is all right. It is the truth, is it not?”
“…Are you really all right?”
“Yes. If anything, I am more at ease now that we have grown apart. Hating each other suits us better.”
“……”
At that, Epherene closed her mouth without saying anything. Because she felt she could vaguely understand.
The reason Deculein had let Julie go. It was not because they hated each other, but…
Julie bowed her head.
“Then. I will be going now.”
“Ah, yes. Please take care.”
With a bitter smile, Epherene saw Julie off.
* * *
The County of Yukline—“Hadekain.”
In the capital of the great house that maintains a relatively temperate climate even in winter, and whose value has been soaring day after day because it was the best prepared for this southward advance, Acting Lord Yeriel was conducting an inspection.
“No thieves or robbers, right?”
“Yes. It seems to be thanks to the relevant education we provided even before the southward advance began.”
The people of Hadekain’s territory keep order. Even in this harsh winter, there are no criminals losing their reason and acting like beasts.
Thanks to that, daily life still exists in Hadekain. Children go to school, the knight order and merchant guilds carry out their normal duties, and the Magic Tower steadily continues its papers and research.
Of course, there is a curfew before 5 p.m., but compared to other territories where people cannot even go outside at all, this is far better.
“That’s a relief. What else?”
“It seems there was a slight problem last night when underground demon beasts appeared, but otherwise, all is well.”
“Underground demon beasts again? It’s been total chaos lately. At least since I was born, I don’t think there’s ever been one.”
Yeriel picked up a newspaper lying on the ground.
[The Strongest Demon Beast Southward Advance in History… Is This a Sign of the Continent’s Destruction?]
Every newspaper speaks of this southward advance. That is how demon beasts are surging in from every direction.
The territories on the borders have long since abandoned their outskirts and are desperately defending their urban centers.
As for the kingdoms, apparently most of their margraves have already gone bankrupt.
Of course, Yeriel does not miss that opportunity.
With her excellent sense for reading the political situation, she knows that the entire current state of affairs is a vein of ore. Thus, she is actively loosening the purse strings she had been tying shut like a miser until now.
“How is the provision of loans going?”
Yeriel asked. The butler answered at once.
“The kingdoms, including Leoc, actively accepted the terms we offered, but Yuren politely declined.”
“…Really? Yuren isn’t easy.”
The Principality of Yuren, which recently began reforms, has a leader—whoever that may be—with remarkably outstanding economic awareness and political sense. In fact, it is among those that prepared extremely well for this southward advance.
“To Leoc, we provided loans on the scale of three billion elne, and to the other kingdoms, one billion elne each.”
“That’s good enough.”
Banks, trade, merchant guilds, auctions, the Marik Passage, and so on—it is almost over seventy percent of the cash Yeriel has earned since taking over the acting lord’s duties.
“You know what comes next, right?”
Of course, she had no intention of handing it over meekly as though making an investment. Yeriel is not that naive.
If anything, she is rather vicious.
“Yes. Our merchant guilds will make contact.”
Now, merchant guilds under Yukline will approach the kingdoms under borrowed names. They will use the special circumstances of the situation to sell weapons and food at higher prices. The kingdoms’ retainers, who have already been fed money in advance, will approve enthusiastically.
In that way, the money lent out as loans will come right back.
“Good. I’m already looking forward to it.”
If the continent does not perish after the southward advance ends, Yukline will come to exert influence not only over the Empire, but across the entire continent.
“I wonder what the people who cursed Deculein are doing now~”
Yeriel walked while humming.
“If we make preparations, the territory will be ruined~ Please reconsider~ We will go bankrupt~ Pfft. What a joke. If not for Deculein, those bastards would all have been ruined.”
“Were you not the same, Young Lady Yeriel?”
At that moment, the butler’s sharp, piercing remark struck home. Yeriel flinched and turned back.
“…I did it even while cursing, didn’t I? That’s a huge difference. Between someone who properly did it while going f*ck, f*ck, and bastards who were dragged along by force and still didn’t even do it properly.”
“Yes. That is correct.”
Defenses bordering on excessive. But thanks to that, Hadekain is currently the safest city after the capital.
“Oh, right. I should write a letter to my brother.”
“Pardon?”
Yeriel muttered absentmindedly, but the butler beside her seemed greatly shocked and widened his eyes.
“What? Why?”
“Young Lady. Did you not just say brother?”
Yeriel also started in surprise. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead.
“…What are you talking about? When did I? No, and he is my brother. Enough, let’s hurry to the next place.”
She glossed over it roughly and got into the car. The butler, too, sat in the passenger seat with a bewildered expression.
“…Let’s go.”
“Yes, understood.”
Sitting in the seat of honor in the car as it glided forward, gazing at Hadekain’s scenery, and pondering the contents of the letter she would send to Deculein, Yeriel fell into thought for a moment.
She had wanted to become the lord. She had wanted to become the official lord of Yukline. She had wanted to become the real thing, not a fake.
However, she could no longer do that.
Because I am not a Yukline. Far from being born of Yukline blood, I belong to a race not even welcomed on this continent.
“Still, well.”
It does not matter. Nor is she heartbroken.
The head of Yukline will forever be Deculein, and she need only remain by his side.
That is enough.
It is satisfaction enough to overflow.
Because he thinks of her as family, she will not covet anything beyond that.
There is no need to.
“The next destination is the ironmonger?”
“Yes.”
“Good~”
Yeriel leaned against the car window and smiled.
* * *
…In the Deadlands, the Altar’s Sanctuary exists.
Underground in the Deadlands, where humans cannot live. At the very bottom, a group of fanatics lives.
“■■■. ■■■■. ■■.”
They converse and worship in the language of the distant ancient past. As though it were still the era when God had not yet been slain by humans.
“■■■■■. ■■. ■■■■!”
—■■!
—■■■■!
When the priest shouted loudly and shook his staff, dozens of believers bowed their heads as if moved.
“Good grief…”
Al Los found their sense of superiority disgusting, and the incomprehensible words irritated her, but she could not ruin her moneymaking over something as trivial as that.
She had truly put in an immense amount of effort to enter their heart.
“…■■.”
At that moment, the conversation ended. Afterward, the Altar’s fanatics donned their robes. They were preparing to leave the Sanctuary.
“Hey. Where are you going now?”
Al Los grabbed one of them and asked. He glanced at her and said,
“The puppeteer, is it? We are going to bring down the North.”
“The North?”
“That is right. We are going to destroy Reccordak and Deculein.”
“……”
Deculein. For some reason, that name grated on her.
“Can you?”
“Haha. You will know when you see it.”
Listening to those words brimming with confidence, Al Los touched the recorder hidden in her bosom.
“What sort of magic are you planning to use? Can you tell me a little? I’m curious, you see.”
“Haha. Well, I suppose barbarians like you would be curious.”
She was making use of the fact that while they were extremely sensitive to magical surveillance or recording, they were ignorant of machines…
* * *
Late at night.
Al Los’s puppet visited my office. The fellow, who had come in the form of some child, reported straight to the point.
—We will use summoning magic. You will not understand this formula, but…
The recorder that had recorded what Al Los heard. The camera that had recorded what she saw.
“Good information.”
“How much?”
Al Los asked for the price first.
I set it reasonably.
“Three million elne in cash.”
“…Hmm. It does not seem like much information, but it is quite expensive.”
“It is not that the information is worthless. You met an extraordinary chatterbox.”
“Is that so?”
“You only see as much as you know.”
I replayed the footage Al Los had recorded.
“Here. Part of the formula for the summoning magic was exposed on this blackboard.”
“…Mm.”
While bragging, the chatterbox had shown part of the summoning magic formula they had researched and developed.
However, that is an enormous blunder.
Of course, they likely did not think much of it. They probably never imagined that Al Los would sell the information, nor that the information sold would end up in the hands of none other than me.
“What does that matter? It is an entirely different formula from modern ones.”
“Yes. That is correct.”
I let out a derisive snort.
“It is entirely different from modern ones. Therefore, to any other mage, this formula would hold not the slightest value. However… Al Los. I am Deculein.”
“So what?”
“Theoretical understanding, analysis, dismantling of formulas. In all those fields, there is no mage superior to me.”
Summoning magic is a field particularly vulnerable to leaks of its formulas. Once broken, not only reverse summoning but even “ownership” can be taken away.
“Is this self-praise?”
“It is not praise, but fact.”
I rose from my seat and looked out the window.
Not far from Reccordak, in the middle of those Deadlands, the Altar stands. A group of fanatics that has finally begun to move. A swarm of cockroaches. Yet, rather, the full-scale opening of war that I have been waiting for.
“That is not all. This is an Altar formula I am seeing for the very first time.”
I looked at Al Los again.
This one, who had appeared after a long time, had delivered information worth close to a fortune.
“I can study the whole from a part. In a week, I will be able to distinguish, grasp, and break down the structure and formulas of all the Altar’s magic.”
“……”
Even at my tone filled with certainty, Al Los looked puzzled.
“What. Is there something else you wish to ask?”
The fellow shook her head and said,
“Enough with your boasting. Just give me the money now. I want to take it and leave quickly.”