...
{3rd Pov}
A few hours earlier,
The entire Royal Capital of Lugunica had been thrown into a sudden state of alarm after an unidentified and overwhelming burst of magic appeared in the sky.
The phenomenon took the form of a massive, radiant sphere of light that hovered high above, so bright and so intense that many citizens immediately began referring to it as a "second sun."
For several tense moments the light blazed with such heat that the temperature across the city spiked rapidly.
Sweat poured down the faces of ordinary people walking the streets, and the ground dragons—creatures usually calm and dependable—began to panic violently.
Their frightened movements caused carriages to overturn and led to several small-scale accidents in the middle of the streets.
In response, terrified citizens started running in every direction, fear quickly spreading through the crowds and threatening to develop into a full-scale riot.
Fortunately, before the situation could escalate into uncontrollable chaos, the mysterious magic sphere suddenly dissipated, vanishing without a trace and leaving the sky clear once more.
A collective sigh of relief swept across the capital as people realized the immediate danger had passed.
Acting swiftly, the Royal Knights and the stationed soldiers moved into action.
They calmed the frightened crowds, organized scattered groups of citizens, and began issuing firm but reassuring commands.
Martial law was temporarily enforced to maintain order, while knights repeated to the people that the threat had been neutralized and that there was no longer any reason to panic.
This disciplined response prevented the unrest from spiraling further and slowly returned a sense of stability to the streets.
However, while order was gradually being restored among the common people outside, inside the Royal Castle the atmosphere remained anything but calm.
Within the castle walls, the Wise Men—the trusted advisors and overseers of the kingdom's most critical affairs—were in disarray as they struggled to interpret what had just occurred.
The sudden appearance of such a large and powerful magical phenomenon was not dismissed as a random event.
Instead, the Wise Men interpreted the display as a deliberate warning, possibly from an unknown force or rival nation.
Reacting with urgency, they immediately dispatched messengers to recall Reinhardt van Astrea from his diplomatic mission, where he had been assigned to escort emissaries to the distant nation of Gusteko.
The Sword Saint's presence was deemed necessary in the capital in light of the escalating uncertainty.
Yet before the Wise Men could even begin drafting a proper strategy, another piece of shocking news reached them.
"Lord Sages! The Dragon Tablet has reacted—there is a new message!" a soldier burst into the chamber, shouting with an anxious urgency that froze every noble and scholar present.
The significance of this revelation was immediately understood by all.
At present, the Dragon Tablet remained the only direct means of communication with the Divine Dragon, Lugunica's ancient guardian.
Because of its importance, the kingdom had long ago established strict measures: several watchmen were stationed before the tablet every hour of the day, every day of the week, every month of the year.
The sole duty of these watchmen was to observe and immediately report any change, no matter how minor, in the tablet's surface.
Even if it were in the dead of night or the busiest moment of the afternoon, the procedure was the same.
The instant a new message appeared, anyone of the watchmen who is working during his shift would sound the alarm.
Messengers would then summon all the Wise Men, high-ranking nobles, and military officers of importance to gather in the castle.
Once assembled, the newly inscribed words on the Dragon Tablet would be formally announced, examined with the utmost seriousness, and debated as guidance for the kingdom's next course of action.
And now, with the tablet's sudden reaction coinciding so closely with the terrifying magical event that had shaken the capital, the tension within the Royal Castle reached a peak.
Everyone present understood that whatever message had appeared on the Dragon Tablet was not going to be an ordinary one.
"What is the message?" Miklotov demanded in a sharp but controlled tone. His eyes narrowed as he considered the possibility that the overwhelming magic that had just manifested in the capital—magic that seemed powerful enough to be on the level of a Great Spirit—might be directly connected to whatever words the Divine Dragon had sent through the Dragon Tablet.
The soldier who had rushed in with the report visibly trembled under the weight of everyone's gaze. Nervous sweat formed on his brow, and his face betrayed not only tension but also disbelief, as though the words he had read from the Tablet were almost too heavy to voice. Clearly, what he was about to announce carried tremendous importance.
"The message… the message that the Dragon Tablet has revealed!" the soldier stammered, raising his voice despite the shaking in his throat. "It reads: 'The Great Sage has returned to the world!'"
The instant those words left his lips, the chamber fell into utter silence. The Wise Men who had been speaking moments before froze, their discussions cut short as they processed the meaning. For a long moment, no one dared to breathe too loudly.
…
Before long, news of the Dragon Tablet's new proclamation had made the Wise men to quickly gather the upper echelons of the capital, and the rest of the Wise Men, along with several of the kingdom's most important nobles, began arriving at the Royal Castle.
Among them was Crusch Karsten, accompanied by her most trusted knights, Felix Argyle and Wilhelm van Astrea.
Their presence made clear how serious the situation had become.
Wilhelm, for his part, had already raised the matter of his suspicions earlier.
He had reported that the boy Natsuki Subaru, the strange boy who had appeared seemingly out of nowhere, might have had an encounter with the so-called "Great Sage."
He even claimed that the spirit allegedly contracted to the Sage had openly threatened to obliterate the entire kingdom—a statement so grave it had left many uneasy.
However, his words had not gone unchallenged.
Felix, Crusch's personal knight and healer, had immediately voiced doubt.
With his usual sharpness, Felix argued there was absolutely no way the Great Sage would ever debase himself by disguising as someone like Subaru—especially after the boy's infamous humiliation during the Royal Selection ceremony, where his reckless behavior had damaged Emilia's credibility.
To Felix, the notion sounded absurd.
Felix went further, proposing an alternate explanation.
He suggested that perhaps the mysterious spirit power surrounding Subaru was in fact tied to Od Glass, one of the Four Great Spirits of the world.
He also pointed out Subaru's unusual physical traits: his black hair and black eyes.
Such features were almost unheard of in Lugunica but were far more common among people from the northern nation of Gusteko.
This observation planted a seed of suspicion in Crusch's mind.
Felix's argument seemed logical to her, and though she did not dismiss Wilhelm outright, her doubts about Subaru deepened.
The disagreement had very nearly escalated into a heated argument between Wilhelm and the others, but before matters could spiral further, the urgent summons from the Royal Castle forced them to put aside their personal disputes.
For now, they agreed to carry their differing opinions silently and focus on responding to the greater issue at hand.
By the time they arrived at the castle, it was already evening.
The hours had been spent sending word across the capital and ensuring that every important figure was gathered for what was clearly going to be a momentous announcement.
Inside the castle halls, the atmosphere was heavy. Dozens of high-ranking Royal Knights, the full assembly of Wise Men, and many of the most influential nobles and power holders present in the capital had gathered.
At the center of the chamber, the Wise Men were already seated in their designated places, their expressions grim.
Before them, servants carried in a luxurious tray, upon which rested an object of importance.
It was something rock-shaped, carefully concealed beneath an ornate red cloth, decorated with intricate gold embroidery that shimmered under the torchlight.
Every eye in the hall was drawn to it, and the tension in the air only grew heavier as everyone realized the weight of the moment.
Miklotov, one of the senior Wise Men, slowly rose from his seat and spoke with a calm but authoritative voice.
"I want to thank all of you for attending this sudden, unplanned gathering. I must emphasize before we begin that what will be revealed in this chamber tonight is of the utmost importance. None of the information discussed here must be allowed to spread outside these walls. Consider it a matter of national security."
At those words, a murmur ran through the group of assembled nobles. One of them, an older man dressed in the robes of his house, raised his hand hesitantly.
Another of the Wise Men acknowledged him.
"Yes? What is your question?"
The noble cleared his throat, his voice betraying both caution and curiosity.
"Excuse me… but does this have any connection to that strange magical phenomenon from earlier today? What was it being called again? Ah yes… the 'second sun.' From what I have heard, the heat it produced sparked several fires across different districts of the Capital. It was as if a blazing star had descended directly upon our world."
Before Miklotov could respond, another noble interjected, his tone firmer and edged with frustration.
"Yes, I too assumed we were under some kind of coordinated assault. The scale of that power was overwhelming. In fact, I immediately mobilized all of my soldiers and ordered the court magicians in my service to prepare defensive measures. Even so, I was uncertain whether we could have done anything more than survive the onslaught if it had continued."
More nobles began to join in, their voices overlapping as they pressed questions, speculations, and fears. The chamber was quickly filled with the sound of growing disorder.
The sudden noise was silenced by a loud metallic thump that echoed across the hall.
Marcos, the stern commander of the Royal Knights, had slammed the tip of his sword against the marble floor.
His piercing gaze swept over the gathered nobles as he barked in a commanding tone.
"Enough! Silence yourselves and let the Sage Council speak!"
The nobles, though visibly displeased at being ordered into silence, reluctantly obeyed.
Their expressions betrayed their irritation.
After all, they were acutely aware of the authority the Royal Knights possessed—an authority that extended even over nobility, granting them the power to execute any noble should sufficient evidence of treason or corruption be found.
Still, their displeasure was not directed at the Sage Council, whose wisdom they deeply respected.
And so, though begrudgingly, they quieted down and gave their attention back to the council.
Miklotov once again stood from his chair, his face grave and solemn, the weight of the situation reflected in his tone.
"I understand the doubts and fears weighing on your minds. Allow me to address them directly."
He paused briefly, his gaze scanning the room before continuing.
"A few hours ago, the sudden manifestation of what has already been called the 'second sun' truly did shock us all. It startled not only the common citizens but even myself and my fellow Wise Men. The phenomenon created widespread panic throughout the Capital, and chaos seemed inevitable."
"Ground dragons panicked, people fled through the streets, and accidents broke out in multiple districts. If the blinding sphere had remained in the sky for even a little longer than it did, the panic would undoubtedly have escalated into a full-scale riot. Fortunately, the so-called 'second sun' dissipated after less than two minutes, sparing us from further disaster."
Another Wise Man then rose to his feet, nodding gravely as he added his thoughts.
"While the city has begun to calm down on the surface, the fear lingers. The citizens remain unsettled, still wondering what exactly it was they witnessed. Rumors have already started to spread, and confusion only deepens with every passing hour. However… we have discovered the truth behind the event. And now, it must be shared with all of you. Wilhelm van Astrea, if you would step forward."
"Yes." Wilhelm's voice was steady as he obeyed.
The veteran knight, his hair gray and his face lined with age and countless battles, stepped forward.
All eyes in the chamber immediately turned toward him, the weight of expectation pressing down heavily.
Miklotov continued, gesturing slightly in Wilhelm's direction.
"We have gathered multiple reports from Karsten family soldiers as well as from Royal Knights who were dispatched to the area where the incident took place. Alongside these reports, we have also received testimony from Sir Wilhelm himself."
"Given both the credibility of his name and the undeniable reaction of the Dragon Tablet shortly afterward, we have been left with no choice but to accept this testimony as fact. The matter could not be ignored."
At that point, Bordeaux, another of the Wise Men, slowly rose from his seat.
His tone was calm, but his words carried the weight of authority.
"Sir Wilhelm, why don't you describe the event yourself? Speak in your own words so that everyone here may understand what transpired."
Wilhelm gave a small nod, his expression composed but solemn, before addressing the gathered nobles and Wise Men.
"Before I begin, I must give you all fair warning. The account I am about to share is shocking in nature, and I will not be surprised if many of you find it difficult to accept. Even Lady Crusch herself has expressed her doubts, and she suspects that the conclusion I have drawn may, in fact, be mistaken."
Before Wilhelm could continue, Bordeaux raised his hand slightly and interrupted in a firm tone.
"Sir Wilhelm, you need not trouble yourself with excessive hesitation. The truth of the matter has already been touched upon. As we have stated earlier, the Dragon Tablet itself has verified certain aspects of your claim. That alone forces us to treat this matter with the highest degree of seriousness. Even so, there are still details left unclear to us, so please, do not hold back. State plainly what happened."
Wilhelm blinked in mild surprise at Bordeaux's words.
For a brief moment his eyes widened, but then a faint, almost imperceptible smile appeared on his lips.
The implication was clear: if the Dragon Tablet had indeed confirmed part of what he suspected, then his conclusions were far less uncertain than he had feared. In that instant, he allowed himself a fleeting sense of reassurance that perhaps his reasoning was closer to the truth than Crusch had believed.
Across the room, Crusch Karsten's sharp gaze narrowed.
She studied Wilhelm carefully, silently wondering if he truly meant what he was saying.
She remained unconvinced.
At her side, Felix crossed his arms and shook his head, his tail swishing in visible disapproval as he muttered under his breath.
"Meowyh still thinks it must be something else entirely. Great Sage, looking like him? That's too absurd to even consider."
"Felix." Crusch's voice cut through his quiet protest.
Her expression was firm and authoritative. "Be silent for now. There is no need for further commentary. We will see soon enough whether your doubts are justified or if Wilhelm's assessment proves correct."
Felix clicked his tongue but eventually relented, nodding in acknowledgment, though his expression made it clear he was far from convinced.
At last, Wilhelm began his testimony in earnest.
His voice was steady, but the weight of the account made his words feel heavier with each passing sentence.
He started from the beginning, recounting how the Emilia Camp had approached them with a specific request: the treatment of Natsuki Subaru's damaged gate.
For that purpose, they had relied upon Felix's exceptional healing capabilities, since few others in the kingdom possessed the necessary expertise.
The moment Wilhelm mentioned the name Natsuki Subaru, one of the nobles abruptly raised his hand and interjected, his tone carrying both curiosity and a trace of disdain.
"Excuse me, but this Natsuki Subaru… is he not the same boy who caused that disgraceful scene during the Royal Selection just a few days ago?"
"Yes, that's him," another noble quickly added, his voice laced with derision.
A Royal Knight standing nearby scowled and muttered bitterly, "That insolent brat even dared to insult the Royal Knights to our faces."
The knight's sneer deepened as he continued, "Fortunately, Sir Julius was present to remind him of his place and correct his arrogance before it got any worse."
A third noble leaned forward slightly, his lips curling into a smirk.
"If I recall correctly, isn't he the one who brazenly claimed to be serving as that half-elf girl's knight?"
"Yes, that's right," another chimed in immediately. "That Witch's Knight," he sneered, the scorn dripping from his words.
The chamber quickly filled with mocking laughter and hushed murmurs as the nobles exchanged jabs at Subaru's expense.
The disrespect was palpable.
"Enough!" Miklotov's voice thundered through the hall, silencing the chatter at once.
He slammed his staff against the floor, his expression severe.
"This is neither the place nor the time for you to indulge in petty gossip or mockery. Whatever your opinions of the boy may be, they are irrelevant to the matter at hand. You will have your chance to discuss him later if you so desire. For now, you will listen. Sir Wilhelm, please continue with your briefing."
The chastised nobles begrudgingly quieted down, some with expressions of irritation, others masking their disdain behind forced silence.
Wilhelm inclined his head respectfully toward Miklotov, silently thankful for the intervention, though inwardly, he could not help but reflect on the nobles' words.
'They insult him so casually… but the Great Sage himself chose to appear before that very boy. What kind of connection does Natsuki Subaru share with such a being? Why would the Great Sage seek him out of all people? And more importantly… where exactly did Lord Sage take him afterward?'
Wilhelm thought to himself, unsettled by the implications.
Forcing those thoughts aside for the moment, Wilhelm resumed his account. His tone remained firm, but a trace of unease lingered in his voice.
"Following the healing attempt, an unforeseen incident occurred. Without warning, Natsuki Subaru suddenly experienced what I can only describe as a severe mental collapse. His behavior shifted drastically, and he appeared to fall into an extremely traumatized state. For reasons unknown to us, he seemed to break down entirely."
Wilhelm paused briefly, clearly choosing not to elaborate too much on the details of Subaru's collapse, perhaps out of respect for the boy or simply because he could not fully explain it himself.
He continued with his explanation.
In the midst of this erratic state, Subaru suddenly lashed out with impulsive force.
He grabbed hold of one of the maids in Roswaal's service—one of the young women who had been accompanying him at the time—and without offering any explanation to those present, he abruptly stormed out of the mansion.
His movements were frantic, driven not by reason but by desperation, as though something unbearable was chasing him from within.
The suddenness of his actions left those in the room frozen in shock.
The boy had simply taken the maid with him and bolted, ignoring every voice that called out after him.
To Wilhelm, the sight had been alarming not just because of Subaru's instability, but because it was the moment everything began spiraling into the chain of extraordinary events that followed.
"Lady Crusch suspected that something was amiss," Wilhelm continued, his tone measured but serious.
"Although the agreement between her and Lady Emilia's camp only extended to housing Natsuki Subaru as a guest and overseeing his treatment with Sir Felix's healing abilities, she made the decision to go beyond the strict terms of that deal. Out of concern, she ordered that a small group, myself included, would discreetly follow Subaru and the maid who had left the mansion with him. The purpose was simple—to ensure their safety should anything unexpected occur."
At Wilhelm's words, several nobles immediately raised their eyebrows.
The phrasing of "ensuring their safety" struck them as somewhat disingenuous.
To their ears, it sounded less like a benevolent act and more like an excuse to justify spying on another faction's camp.
After all, why should the Karsten family show such concern for the wellbeing of someone aligned with Emilia, a rival in the Royal Selection?
Yet, when they considered the unstable state Subaru had displayed, along with the explicit promise Lady Crusch had made to provide shelter and care for him, most of them held their tongues.
They reasoned that, while the action might indeed resemble surveillance, it could also be justified. If Subaru were to cause harm to himself or others while under Crusch's temporary guardianship, it would reflect poorly on her honor.
Ensuring he was watched at a distance could, in that light, be considered a necessary precaution.
For the time being, the assembled nobles accepted Wilhelm's explanation without further challenge.
Wilhelm then paused, his face tightening with hesitation, as though weighing whether to reveal what came next.
After a brief silence, he pressed on, explaining how he and the others shadowed Subaru until he eventually stopped in a public park within the capital.
It was there that Subaru began to speak at length with the maid who accompanied him.
According to Wilhelm's testimony, Subaru urged the maid to flee together with him, attempting to convince her to abandon her obligations and escape whatever doom he believed was approaching.
More disturbingly, it was in this conversation that Subaru openly revealed the shocking claim that the Witch Cult would soon launch an attack on Roswaal's domain.
The reaction in the chamber was immediate. Murmurs spread quickly as nobles exchanged unsettled glances.
The mere mention of the Witch Cult was enough to spark alarm, but Subaru's apparent knowledge of their plans raised far more questions than answers.
One of the Wise Men, breaking through the growing noise, raised his voice to address Wilhelm directly.
"How did he come to know such information? Did you question him about his source? Did you press him for answers?"
Wilhelm shook his head, his expression firm.
"Unfortunately, I was not able to ask him directly. The circumstances did not allow for a proper interrogation. However, based on what I observed, I have reason to suspect that Subaru may possess some form of precognition, or an ability similar to foresight. His words carried conviction, and the way he spoke left me with the impression that he truly believed in the certainty of what he said."
Before Wilhelm could elaborate further, one of the nobles scoffed loudly and sneered, his voice dripping with prejudice.
"And why, exactly, are we not treating the obvious possibility? This boy, this Natsuki Subaru—why are we not suspecting him of being a member of the Witch Cult himself? Clearly, only a cultist would so brazenly defend and associate with that half-devil, the silver-haired half-elf!"
The hostility in his tone left no doubt as to his meaning.
The bias and disdain many nobles held toward Emilia—and by extension, anyone loyal to her—was laid bare in that moment, sharp and unmistakable.
Their prejudice hung over the room as plainly as if it had been etched into the very air.
"Silence! Allow Sir Wilhelm to continue," Miklotov commanded firmly, his voice echoing through the chamber.
The authority in his tone immediately brought the room back under control, forcing the nobles to quiet down.
Though their expressions remained skeptical and their whispers of doubt lingered in the air, they dared not speak over the Sage Council's directive.
For now, their private suspicions and judgments would remain locked inside their own minds.
Even so, the undercurrent of disbelief persisted.
In truth, most of the nobles and even some of the wise men silently reasoned that Natsuki Subaru's credibility was essentially nonexistent.
His past behavior—his emotional outbursts during the Royal Selection, his earlier humiliation at the hands of Julius, and his overall lack of standing—had left him with a reputation closer to that of a reckless fool than that of a reliable informant.
To suggest that he possessed precognition, akin to the Stargazers of distant legends, was to them not just a stretch but an outright absurdity.
It was a wild, unrealistic guess that few, if any, were prepared to take seriously.
Wilhelm, however, did not linger on those doubts.
He deliberately skipped over the tangled, emotional exchanges that had taken place between the maid, Rem, and Subaru—dialogues too personal and fraught to be relevant in this council.
Instead, he steered the narrative toward the moment that had truly shaken him to his core.
His voice grew firmer, his tone sharper, and his eyes gleamed with a mixture of awe and conviction.
"After several minutes," Wilhelm recounted, "when the maid had refused Subaru's desperate pleas to abandon her duties and run away with him, the boy collapsed to the ground. He lay there utterly defeated, his body hunched and his face bearing an expression of despair so deep it was painful even to witness. His hope seemed extinguished, his willpower broken."
Wilhelm leaned forward slightly, the intensity of his gaze capturing the attention of the entire hall.
"And then… something incredible occurred."
A ripple of unease swept through the nobles and even among the Wise Men at those words. Wilhelm was not known for exaggeration; for him to describe something as "incredible" carried immense weight.
Despite his age and the countless battles that had weathered his body, Wilhelm Van Astrea was still a man shaped by reverence toward the heroes of old—the great figures whose legends had defined the kingdom.
To witness a figure of such magnitude, or even to believe he might have glimpsed one, was enough to stir emotions in him that transcended the rigid composure of a knight.
His voice trembled faintly with excitement as he pressed on.
"I did not even notice his presence until he spoke," Wilhelm admitted, his eyes narrowing as he recalled the memory in vivid detail.
"It was as if he had been standing there all along, unseen, waiting for the precise moment to make himself known. And when he did, the words he spoke carried a weight that silenced the air itself."
Several figures in the chamber leaned forward unconsciously.
"What words?" one of the Wise Men asked, his voice betraying curiosity despite himself.
"What did he say?"
Wilhelm took a deep breath, repeating the phrase with gravity. "He said… 'You… still have yourself.'"
His voice dropped low, almost reverent, as he explained the context.
"Those words were directed at Natsuki Subaru, spoken to console him, to remind him that even in despair he had not lost everything. It was encouragement, but of a kind so profound it struck not only Subaru but even me as something greater than mere sympathy."
He paused, letting the words hang over the gathered assembly before continuing, his tone sharper now.
"When I turned to face the source of that voice, I was utterly shocked. For standing there, in plain sight, was a figure identical to Natsuki Subaru himself. The same face, the same black hair, the same dark eyes, and even the same voice. The only detail that separated him from the Subaru we know were the clothes he wore—attire of a different style, refined and distinct."
The chamber fell into a tense silence as Wilhelm's words settled in.
His eyes gleamed with certainty as he delivered the conclusion that had shaken him to his very core.
"And it is my suspicion—based on his sudden appearance, his words, and the aura he carried—that this figure was none other than the Great Sage."
"Blasphemous!" one of the nobles suddenly erupted, his voice booming through the chamber as his face turned red with fury.
He slammed his hand against the armrest of his chair as he stood.
"What kind of nonsense is this?! Are we truly expected to believe that the figure who resembled that unstable boy—Natsuki Subaru—is the Great Sage himself? This is an insult not only to us but to history itself!"
"Indeed, Sir Wilhelm," another figure interjected, this time a Royal Knight who spoke with restrained formality, though his tone carried a sharp edge of doubt.
"I mean no disrespect to your experience, but how could you possibly arrive at such an extraordinary conclusion? To equate a mere lookalike with the most legendary figure of ancient times is an immense leap of logic."
"Precisely!" another knight declared, his words laced with scorn.
"To compare that boy—who has done nothing but humiliate himself and stain his reputation—to one of the three legendary heroes, the very Omniscient Sage who aided in sealing the Witch of Envy, is an outrageous claim! To even suggest such a connection is tantamount to insulting the legacy of the hero himself."
The chamber filled with murmurs and protests, voices overlapping as doubt and outrage spread like wildfire.
Some nobles whispered in disbelief, others shook their heads, while many knights muttered darkly under their breath about the insult to history and tradition.
It was at this moment that Miklotov rose from his seat, his expression grave and his voice cutting sharply through the noise.
"Enough! All of you, silence yourselves at once. I understand your doubts, but you must listen carefully. I fear… that Sir Wilhelm's words are not mere speculation or wild conjecture. They may very well be correct. And I do not say this because of his personal suspicions, but because of undeniable proof."
The room instantly quieted, the weight of Miklotov's words pulling everyone's attention toward him.
His serious tone left little room for argument, and as the nobles and knights fell into uneasy silence, he gestured toward the tray that had been brought in earlier.
"Bring it forth," Miklotov commanded.
The luxurious tray was placed carefully at the center of the chamber, and the red cloth embroidered with golden threads was slowly lifted away, revealing the Dragon Tablet itself.
Gasps rose from the nobles as the sacred relic came into view, its surface glowing faintly with etched words that had only recently appeared.
The Wise Men leaned forward, their eyes widening as the message became visible to all. It was short, but the weight it carried was enough to silence every voice in the chamber.
It read, in clear and undeniable script:
[The Great Sage has returned to the world]
For a moment, it felt as though time itself had frozen.
Every accusation, every argument, and every shred of doubt crumbled in an instant.
The nobles who had been ready to denounce Wilhelm now sat frozen in their seats, their faces pale.
Even the knights who had spoken out against him lowered their heads, unable to continue their protests in the face of the Divine Dragon's message.
Crusch, who had been skeptical of Wilhelm's earlier words, found herself swallowing hard, her composure faltering as her throat went dry.
Her sharp mind raced to reevaluate everything she had assumed.
Felix, meanwhile, stood utterly stunned, his cat-like eyes widening as though he had just been told the world itself was round instead of flat.
His mouth opened slightly, yet no words came out—his disbelief too great to properly articulate.
(A/N: When you live on a Flat World, it really hits different XD)
With the message from the Dragon Tablet laid bare for all to see, the atmosphere in the chamber transformed completely.
The anger and skepticism that had dominated the discussion just moments ago were now gone, replaced instead with heavy silence, disbelief, and no small measure of fear.
"Sir Wilhelm," one of the Wise Men finally spoke, his voice quieter now but laced with urgency.
"Please… finish your account. The Tablet has confirmed what you suspected. We must hear the remainder without interruption."
Wilhelm, still somewhat taken aback by the sudden confirmation of his theory, took a deep breath and composed himself.
The initial surprise faded from his features, replaced once more with the solemn dignity of a knight carrying out his duty.
"Very well," he said, his voice steady. "I shall continue."
He went on to describe the extraordinary conclusion to the encounter.
How Subaru, after the sudden appearance of the Great Sage's figure, had not simply remained in the park but had, before their very eyes, vanished in a manner that could only be described as teleportation.
Wilhelm recounted how both Subaru and the Great Sage had disappeared together, leaving behind no trace of where they had gone or how the event had even occurred.
The council chamber was filled with tense silence as his words sank in, each person present left to grapple with the reality of what they had just heard.
"Teleportation magic?!" one of the court magicians, who also held the title of a noble, exclaimed in sheer disbelief.
His voice cracked as his eyes went wide, his entire body stiffening as if he had just heard an impossible revelation.
"That is supposed to be a lost magic! Not even the most skilled of modern magicians have managed to recreate or replicate it. For it to suddenly appear in front of our very eyes… this is unprecedented!"
Wilhelm nodded firmly, and though his aged face carried the calmness of a veteran, there was no mistaking the subtle gleam in his eyes that betrayed his excitement.
"Ah, yes. And I must clarify something else. The Great Sage performed the spell without the need for a single chant, nor any preparation or lengthy casting. He spoke not a word, and yet the teleportation was executed flawlessly. It was effortless—absolutely effortless."
(A/N: The glazing must run in the family XD)
Several people exchanged stunned looks, their jaws dropping slightly. Murmurs rippled through the chamber as the implications sank in.
Chantless magic alone was a mark of an extraordinary mage, but to perform teleportation—a magic long lost to history—with no strain and no words was nothing short of godlike.
Wilhelm, however, seemed almost eager to continue, as though his admiration for the Great Sage could not be contained.
His lips curved into the faintest smile, and his tone carried the awe of a knight recounting the feats of a true legend.
(A/N: Soon he will get a shock therapy)
As he proceeded, the shock in the room only deepened.
He began to recount the final and most terrifying part of the encounter, the moment when the Great Sage's contracted Spirit of Yang, a being he referred to as Gloria, appeared before them.
"She arrived unexpectedly," Wilhelm said, his voice carrying both respect and dread.
"Gloria came seeking out the maid—Rem—when she discovered our presence. What followed was… a tense situation, to say the least. Her demeanor alone radiated such overwhelming authority that even a man like me, who has fought countless battles, felt as though I was standing on the edge of death itself."
He paused briefly, allowing the silence to settle before revealing the detail that caused the entire chamber to nearly descend into chaos.
"In an instant, without hesitation, she conjured a sphere of fire in the sky—so vast and so radiant that it seemed like a second sun had risen above the capital. With my experience, I can say with certainty that it possessed the destructive power to annihilate at least half the Capital in a single strike. And mind you," Wilhelm added, his expression grave, "that is a conservative estimate I am making."
The chamber erupted with gasps, shouts, and horrified murmurs.
One of the Wise Men, usually composed and reserved, nearly toppled out of his chair in shock.
"Half of the Capital?!" he blurted, his voice trembling as if his mind could not fully grasp the scale of devastation being described.
"Yes," Wilhelm confirmed without hesitation, his voice steady but serious.
"When I felt the sheer density of the magic, the overwhelming fluctuations in the air, I was utterly dumbfounded. I have lived a long life and seen countless spells cast by mages, sorcerers, and even Spirits, but I can say without any doubt… that was the most powerful spell I have ever witnessed."
The court magician who had spoken earlier slowly nodded, his face pale, his voice lowered to a mix of reverence and terror.
"To conjure something like that… it was not mere magic. That was power beyond comprehension, the kind that should only exist in myths. I can say the same—never have I seen such overwhelming force."
The murmurs among the nobles grew louder, a blend of fear, confusion, and disbelief spreading through the room.
Some clutched their robes tightly, others whispered about the danger such a being posed, and more than a few turned pale at the realization that the Capital had nearly been erased in the blink of an eye.
Crusch herself, who had maintained her composure through much of the testimony, was visibly trembling.
Her sharp mind raced with calculations and strategies, yet all of them seemed useless in the face of what she had just learned.
'Half of the Capital? In a single attack?'
Her thoughts immediately drew a comparison.
Only Reinhard van Astrea, the Sword Saint himself, was believed to be capable of destruction on that scale—and even then, the feat would have required effort.
Yet here was a Spirit, not even the Great Sage himself, wielding such raw force with casual ease.
'And that was merely the contracted spirit of the Great Sage…' The realization sent chills down her spine.
Even Felix, usually quick with quips and doubt, stood frozen.
His lips parted, but no words came out.
His cat-like eyes were wide with disbelief, his body rigid as though his mind refused to process what he had heard.
For once, his playful, dismissive nature was nowhere to be seen.
Finally, Wilhelm reached the conclusion of his testimony, his voice lowering but carrying the same weight as before.
"When we pleaded for her forgiveness, she showed mercy. She did not unleash her wrath upon us. Instead, she spared our lives… and took the maid with her. In that very instant, she vanished before our eyes, ascending into the night sky as a streak of golden light. It was like watching a comet blaze across the heavens, swift and radiant, until she disappeared completely."
When Wilhelm finished speaking, the entire chamber fell into an uneasy silence. No one moved. No one spoke.
The air was thick with fear, awe, and uncertainty.
Every noble, knight, and magician present was left to sit with the terrifying truth—that the Great Sage had indeed returned, and his power, as well as that of his contracted Spirit, was something none of them could hope to contend with.
"If this is truly the case, then the implications are beyond anything we can imagine! It has the potential to shake not just our Kingdom, but the entire world order itself!" one of the Royal Knights declared, his voice filled with unrestrained excitement.
His eyes shone as if he were a boy seeing his childhood idol for the very first time.
"The Great Sage—who has remained sealed within the Pleiades Watchtower for countless centuries—has stepped beyond its walls for the first time in recorded history! Do you realize what that means?! This is not a simple occurrence, this is history unfolding before us!"
A nobleman, however, was quick to express his confusion and unease.
His voice rang out sharply, cutting through the murmurs.
"But why? Why would the contracted Spirit of the Great Sage—one of the fabled heroes, no less—go so far as to threaten annihilation against the Kingdom? To threaten obliteration of the Royal Capital itself is no trivial matter!"
His words caused another ripple of murmurs throughout the chamber.
Questions began to rise, whispers of doubt, and the tension thickened until one of the Wise Men finally interjected, raising his hand to restore order.
"There are… stories," he began, his tone measured yet cautious.
"Ancient stories and fragmented records that describe the nature of the Great Sage. It is said that he is a being who harbors great suspicion toward mankind, one who does not grant trust easily nor forgive carelessness. If those stories hold any truth, then I believe the Spirit's reaction may not have been an empty act of aggression, but rather a defensive response. Consider it carefully—Lady's Crusch's servants' trailing of that boy, Subaru, and the maid at his side may have conveyed the wrong intentions. To the Spirit, it may have appeared as a threat against her master."
This explanation gave everyone pause.
The words carried a weight that made sense, and slowly, a silent acknowledgment began to pass across the room.
Faces turned solemn, brows furrowed, and even those who had scoffed earlier seemed unwilling to outright dismiss the theory.
Many of them realized it was indeed plausible.
If the Great Sage truly distrusted people as much as the old tales suggested, then what had occurred was not an overreaction, but simply the consequence of provoking the wrong person at the wrong time.
Yet even as this line of reasoning settled into the minds of the nobles, knights, and magicians present, many unanswered questions lingered like shadows in the corners of the room.
The most pressing of all loomed over every single person present:
'Why?'
Why, after centuries of isolation within the Pleiades Watchtower, had the Great Sage chosen to emerge now?
And more baffling still, why had he chosen to reveal himself not to a ruler, not to a royal, not to a chosen candidate of the Kingdom, but to a complete outsider—a random commoner?
Worse, this particular commoner was no ordinary man.
He was an unstable individual, one who had already garnered a reputation for arrogance, impulsiveness, and for openly declaring loyalty to the half-elf candidate who carried the stigma of the Witch of Envy.
The weight of that contradiction pressed heavily on the minds of everyone in the room.
The murmurs grew louder again, whispers quickly escalating into hushed arguments as theories clashed.
The nobles sneered at the thought, some calling it an insult, while others shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
The Royal Knights frowned, unable to make sense of it.
The Wise Men, though more composed, were no less troubled by the strange and inconvenient reality.
Just as the tension threatened to boil over, a sudden brilliance pierced the edges of the room.
A blinding light poured through the windows of the outer hallways and adjacent chambers of the Royal Castle, its intensity so sharp and unnatural that those nearest the windows shielded their eyes in alarm.
At first, the people gathered in the inner chamber of the Royal Hall did not immediately understand what was happening.
Confusion rippled through them as they glanced toward the flickers of illumination creeping beneath the heavy doors.
But then, before any question could be voiced, the entire Castle quaked.
The ground trembled with a low, rumbling force, the walls rattling faintly as the chandeliers above swayed dangerously.
Gasps escaped the lips of nobles, and a few startled cries echoed across the chamber as the Castle itself seemed to groan under the weight of an unseen force.
The atmosphere shifted in an instant from discussion to panic.
It was at that moment that one of the Royal Knights burst into the chamber, his armor clattering as he rushed inside with a face pale and drenched in sweat.
His breathing was hurried, his tone panicked as he shouted, "Something has happened—something massive! The night sky outside suddenly became as bright as day for several seconds! And then—then a shockwave erupted! It struck the entire Royal Capital with such force that every district has felt it!"
His frantic words silenced the hall once again, but this time it was not due to respect—it was because of fear.
A suffocating weight fell over everyone present as the reality of what had just occurred outside began to sink in.
Everyone inside the hall was left utterly stunned, their minds struggling to process the shocking series of events unfolding one after another.
As they were still trying to make sense of the situation, the glow on the Dragon Tablet suddenly intensified once more.
The inscriptions carved into its ancient surface shimmered, shifting and rearranging themselves in plain sight, capturing the attention of every single person present.
The new words etched themselves into the Tablet with an undeniable clarity, each glowing letter carrying the weight of absolute truth:
[The Sage Candidate Natsuki Subaru has slain the White Whale]
The declaration hung in the air like a thunderclap.
To be continued...
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