Chapter 264. Distinguished Guest (2)
After the Coronation, Verden was treated with the courtesy of the highest honored guest, and stayed in the royal castle.
Though he had not suffered any great injury, he had gone through a fierce battle, and so he needed some days of rest.
The key figures of the royal castle, whose minds had been dominated, did not raise any questions about Verden's presence, and with the influence of Marquis Esperanza, there was no procedural issue at all.
'Karans will be arriving at the royal castle soon, I hear.'
The whereabouts of Karans, the Guardian Elf, was a matter of concern.
With Leonil dead, he could not be left to live in the kingdom unchecked, otherwise it might escalate into a racial conflict.
In any case, since Karans would be accompanied by Calia and Perne, there was no need to rest anywhere other than the royal castle.
Within luxurious facilities, Verden restored his heavily consumed magic power.
The wounds on his skin and the slightly damaged Ainber were already healed.
His body was so immaculate that no one would believe he had been the very one to cause a magical battle capable of devastating the entire mental realm of the royal castle.
Thus, once his fatigue had been eased, Verden began to move.
During his stay in the castle, there were several matters he had to deal with.
***
The influence of Silis was particularly deep-rooted in the royal capital, Eznoren.
From the King of Estiria, to the First Prince Valrgna, to Chancellor Fallorand, and even to the chamberlain and the servants in attendance, every member had their minds delicately manipulated.
The Royal Court Mage Corps and the Royal Guard Knights, who had been slain in the mental realm, should have had their consciousnesses collapse entirely, but Silis mitigated some of the damage, keeping them alive instead, and directly tampered with their minds.
The deeper one reached into consciousness, the stronger the resistance became, yet since their mental strength was already utterly weakened, no one could oppose.
Leonil and the higher-ranking Court Mages had died in their physical forms.
So unlike mental bodies, they could not be restored, and their absence was inevitable, but there was not a single person who suspected enough to act.
It was enough to make them believe that those people had been dispatched elsewhere, or simply not encountered.
To conceal their deaths from the Witch Silis was an easy task.
'She engraves false dreams upon the mind, so that one feels not even the slightest dissonance in the changed scenery, confusing it with reality.'
And not just one or two people, but countless.
Even if she had borrowed the power of an artifact, it was still a vast and powerful spell of the mental realm.
Throughout the entire world, only a mere handful could wield such power.
Witch, indeed.
Whoever had first named her thus, it was certainly a fitting title.
"We have arrived."
The carriage stopped.
Through the door opened by the coachman, he stepped outside.
The Kingdom's Magic Department.
Before him loomed the enormous building where the Court Mages resided.
Two Court Mages who had come out to greet him bowed deeply.
"Haha, welcome to the Kingdom's Magic Department. We have heard of your arrival—"
"Where is Leonil's office?"
A sudden question.
The Court Mage flinched, then hurriedly answered.
"Ah, th-that, Lord Leonil used the entire top floor. So it is easy to locate, but the interior is rather wide and complex, and in some places there are magic circles hidden to block intruders. It is very dangerous, so we shall guide you ourselves."
"No need. I shall go alone, see to it that no one disturbs me."
Passing the two of them, Verden entered the Magic Department.
The Court Mages, overwhelmed by his fearless manner and oppressive aura, could only stand blankly, staring at his back.
"Just who is that man? I heard he is the highest honored guest, but… seeing his age, he doesn't look like a high-ranking noble of another country."
"He must be from the magic tower. Otherwise, why would he come to the Magic Department? And to address Lord Leonil without hesitation, his status must be quite high. Besides, we received direct orders from the royal family to grant any request he makes."
"Hmm… he may even be using a magic item to disguise his appearance and age. At any rate, we warned him about the magic circles, and he told us not to interfere. Let us not meddle further. Better not to catch fire ourselves."
Convincing themselves thus, the two Court Mages stepped back.
Not having risen in rank, they were uninvolved in the human experiments, merely mages working in the Department and drawing salaries, civil servants.
They were people who knew how to suppress curiosity when it could become dangerous.
***
Verden had only one reason to seek Leonil's office.
To find and eliminate materials related to human experiments. It was the clean-up entrusted to him directly by Marquis Esperanza.
Crack, crack.
The hidden magic circles were smashed apart in minutes.
There had been high-grade circles that could have obliterated the office entirely, but they posed little hindrance.
Lightly neutralizing the threats, Verden spread his magic power.
The glow of mana filled the entire office.
Immediately, with
A flood of information rushed into his mind, but his capacity was more than enough.
During this, he discovered a concealed safe.
Breaking the magic circle that served as its lock entirely, he pulled out its contents.
In less than an hour, every document within the office was packed into his spatial bag. The office, bereft of its master, was left empty.
'This place is finished.'
With his task done, Verden departed from the Magic Department.
Afterwards, he upended the various places connected to Leonil, gathering countless materials. The information he amassed was brought back into the royal castle, examined, and sorted by type.
Burning them all would have been simpler, but some might have been important research unrelated to human experimentation. Having done such tasks countless times in the magic tower, he was skilled at it.
It was Verden himself who undertook this sorting.
And as the work was nearly complete, a visitor came.
"Hahaha, to see the kingdom's strongest magus working through documents. You are handling our task in our stead, but… I cannot help but feel ashamed in many ways."
Edmon, seated across from him, scratched his cheek.
On the surface he looked fine, but beside him stood a crutch.
Because Leonil had severed and burned the leg his mental body was composed of, his physical leg now failed to move properly as well.
They said he would need two to three weeks of rehabilitation to recover fully.
'Though there was no physical damage, the body still feels it.'
It was like a kind of phantom pain.
Since it was the first time he had seen the concept of a mental body manifested visually, it was fascinating in many ways.
"Should you not still be lying down?"
"Having lost but a single leg, three days of lying down was enough. Melzard suffered far worse, he is still in a pitiful state. Both of us lacked the mental strength compared to His Excellency the Marquis."
Edmon massaged his thigh.
Repeated stimulation slowly brought back sensation.
Turning his head, he looked at the neatly organized experiment materials. As he absorbed some of the content, his brow furrowed.
"…Amplification of tier through the human heart. A deranged idea."
The horrific experiments Leonil had secretly carried out.
He had acquired even the core theory of processing elven hearts, with their unique mana circuits, and grafting those hearts into oneself through the circuits of trait-holders.
To arrive at such a notion, countless had died, and after, dozens of elves and more than ten trait-holders had perished.
Leonil's research journals recorded the precise numbers in detail.
"That such things were done for decades without exposure… it is truly deplorable."
Edmon sighed in bitter lament.
"In that sense, Asher, you are truly remarkable. Not only did you return as a magus, not only have you reached the 6th tier, when I saw you in the mental realm I was utterly shocked. And more than anything… the way you abandoned ownership of the heart without hesitation."
"Even you, Lord Edmon, would have made the same choice, I believe."
"Even so, I would have hesitated long. For a 5th-tier magus like me to become a 6th-tier… no matter how one strives to hold onto ethics and virtue, to easily relinquish a realm one cannot otherwise grasp is not easy."
Not only for mages, but for human beings in general.
Desire exists in everyone, though it varies in degree. To suppress and control that desire was a lifelong task.
In that sense, Verden deserved Edmon's respect.
"Ah, but how much work remains? From the look of it, it is nearly finished."
Verden snapped his fingers.
In an instant, the pile of Leonil's life's work, his magnum opus, was consumed in flames and vanished.
"It is finished now."
"…You truly are relentless. Ahem, then, if you do not mind, may I ask a small favor? Of course, if you lack the time, you may refuse. It is only a personal wish of mine."
A personal matter.
"Please, speak."
"I would like to discuss magic with you."
Knowledge exchange among mages was a common thing.
One-directional exchanges, such as teachings or books, and two-directional exchanges, such as offering diverse opinions on a magical question and debating.
Magic, as it spread widely among the people, had developed in that way.
"As you see, I have lived long, and in that time I have absorbed much knowledge. And you, though young, possess a genius that allows no comparison with others."
To the extent of reaching a Transcendent of magic.
"The difference between us is clear. Our perspectives are different as well. That is why I am convinced that an exchange of knowledge between us would be a beneficial time. Even if it flows in a one-sided direction… Asher, what do you think?"
Edmon's proposal had not been in the plans.
But Verden found no reason to refuse.
It would not take much time, and it was no different from a form of rest during his stay in the castle.
For Verden, magic was daily life itself.
"Very well. Let us do so. But, only one hour each day."
"Oh, truly?! That alone is more than enough! Then—"
Edmon, grinning broadly, immediately brought up high-level magical theory.
Among them, the infamous Multi-dimensional Continuity Theory, notorious for its difficulty. As fellow elemental mages, it was a perfect subject for exchanging opinions.
But Edmon did not know.
That the man sitting right before him, was the very creator of the Multi-dimensional Continuity Theory.
"Huh?"
Edmon was shattered straight from the front.
One hour each day, knowledge he had built up over days through his own interpretation and effort, a tower of understanding about the Multi-dimensional Continuity Theory, crumbled down.
Though the mental shock was less than that of adventurer Geltone, who had been personally taught by Verden, it was still devastating. Perhaps even greater than what Leonil had inflicted.
At his old age, Edmon fell into a small depression.
Meanwhile, in the royal capital Eznoren, Calia's party arrived.
***
"So this is the royal capital, Eznoren…"
Unlike Calia, who was born a noble, Perne and Karans were entering the royal castle for the first time.
Perne, of commoner birth and an information broker, looked around the corridors with eyes full of admiration.
Karans, the Elf, found himself fond of the royal castle being surrounded by forest, and of the quietness, with few people despite its wide expanse.
Galliark the Butcher remained in Roafra.
He was injured, and he was not a direct party to the incident. Robert of Vintert was the same.
Thus, two humans and one elf entered the royal castle.
After a late meal and shaking off travel fatigue, they met Verden and Edmon in the chamber of the highest honored guest.
During greetings, Calia tilted her head.
"Grandfather? You don't look well…"
"Ah, hm, it is nothing, Lady Calia. Now, let us sit down. There is something important to discuss."
Edmon, glancing at Verden, waved his hand.
Soon, with refreshments before them, all took their seats.
"So, what is it that you have to say?"
"Well, that is…"
Cautiously, Edmon recounted the events of the past.
It was already a matter authorized by the Marquis.
Karans was directly involved, Perne was a supporter of the Marquisate, and Calia was the only daughter of the Marquis. Above all, they were close to Verden, so they had every qualification.
Naturally, the story included Silis and the Witch.
It would be better to know as little as possible, but these were not people who would carelessly let their tongues wag.
"…That is how it happened."
As Edmon's voice ceased, silence fell.
The Ducal House of Rubinelian, the princess, the large-scale human experiments. The scope was too great to accept easily in their minds.
"Uh, uh…"
"Incorrigible scum…!"
Perne was flustered, Calia crossed her arms and did not hide her hatred of the royal family. And in that moment, Karans released the Face of Deception.
As his true form was revealed, his characteristically handsome features came forth.
"Brother… how did that human Leonil die?"
Verden recalled Leonil's final moments.
The ghastly sight of him, nearly reduced to a corpse, came to mind.
To put it briefly.
"Tragically."
Karans flinched, and raised his head.
Then he twisted his lips into a cheerful smile.
"Well done indeed, brother!"
Clap, clap, clap, clap!
Karans applauded.
In turn, the spirit Blue leapt out, flickering with light as if to say it was good.
Karans had been dragged to the kingdom as an experimental subject, and had suffered for a long time.
Fortunately, thanks to Verden, he survived, but the other elves had not.
Elves valued community above all.
Their hatred for the deaths of their kin ran deep. The spirit Blue shared the same resentment.
An elf and a spirit rejoicing in the death of a man.
Edmon, watching, felt bitter. Leonil, who had lived such a life, was nothing but pitiful. Clearing his throat, he shifted the atmosphere.
"In that sense, Karans, I have something to tell you."
"What is it, human mage?"
His tone turned cold.
Such a reaction, by now, was familiar.
"Now that Leonil is gone, I have thought about your treatment. To be honest, there was only one option. Therefore, we plan to send you to the Great Forest."
"…! Truly?!"
Karans's eyes widened.
Edmon nodded, of course.
"You are a victim, tormented by the royal family. Only, please wait a little longer. We are still seeking the method. Taking you directly to the Great Forest is both dangerous and too long a journey. I ask for your patience."
"Hmm, very well."
Karans turned his head sharply.
To return to the beloved Great Forest… it was hard to hide his joy.
At that moment, Verden spoke.
"But what about the spirit? On the way back to the Great Forest, will you take Blue with you?"
Blue was the spirit Karans had contracted with.
Though their bond had been severed, their companionship remained. To be separated entirely from Blue was something he could not readily accept.
"Hmm…"
Karans sank into deep thought.
Perne, with Blue floating before her, hugged the spirit tight. She had grown attached, and did not want to part.
"That… is something that requires a talk with Blue. And with that human woman, Perne."
Karans and Verden.
Receiving both of their gazes, Perne flinched. Yet she did not loosen the arms holding Blue.
"So it is said. Will that be alright?"
"Ah, yes. We will… talk among ourselves. And try to find a path that all can accept."
Perne nodded firmly.
There was no room for Verden to intervene here. Blue's future was for those three to decide.
Thus, the matter of Karans and Blue was half resolved.
At that moment, Calia cautiously spoke.
"Asher, then when will you be leaving?"
"…!"
All pricked up their ears.
With everyone's attention on him, Verden tapped his fingers lightly.
With Leonil, the final goal in the kingdom, dealt with, he could leave immediately. But there were still things to do, and much to think over.
The vast funds in Grond's vault, and how to retrieve them, were also an issue.
It was a vague time to set a date.
As Verden did not readily answer, Calia asked again.
"Then, before you leave, will you tell me?"
That, he could.
He had no thought of vanishing without a word.
"Yes, I will."
Verden affirmed.
Only then did Calia show a faint smile.
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