novelraw Chapter 238
Chapter 238
Chapter 238. White and Five Colors (1)
"Greeting the Empire's little sun."
Displaying the utmost respect he could muster, Ornn knelt before the figure in front of him.
Despite his life having built him into a man whose pride reached the heavens, the person he was showing his respect to was someone positioned at the pinnacle of power in the empire.
Eulsis de Adratan.
The fourth prince of the empire, Eulsis glanced at Ornn and then smiled.
"No need to be so formal, Ornn. It's just between you and me, after all!"
Eulsis grabbed Ornn's shoulders and smiled once more.
Although his laughter matched his youthful age, beads of cold sweat began to form on Ornn's forehead as he watched from the front.
"But Sir Ornn? I acknowledge I owe you a debt, but I must say this."
The laughter that had been like a small sun ceased, and a cold wind started to blow.
"I told you not to do anything unnecessary."
Crack.
As Eulsis squeezed harder, Ornn's body quivered involuntarily.
"I'm aware you see Yulian as a thorn in your side, but as I've told you repeatedly, do not touch him."
"I apologize."
"He's strong. While it may not be impossible for you to bring him down if you employ every strategy, you know the world rarely goes one's way, don't you?"
Listening to Eulsis, Ornn merely bowed his head politely.
"Wasn't it said that, due to a resolution passed within the Council of Nobles, you're at risk of being exiled to the north?"
Hearing Eulsis's question, Ornn raised his head with a flicker of hope.
The power needed to nullify this incident rested with Eulsis.
"Don't anticipate too much, Sir Ornn."
However, the innocent voice of Eulsis swiftly crushed such hope in Ornn.
"With your temper flaring as it is, it'd be good to let it cool in the chilly northern winds for a while. That's my advice."
You have no objections, do you?
Upon adding those words, Ornn lowered his head.
Dragging his heavy body, Ornn departed with respectful bows, as he did when he first faced Eulsis.
"It seems the Council of Nobles won't be of much help to you anymore, Lord Eulsis."
Once Ornn had disappeared, Abigail, who had been silently observing the situation, spoke up.
"I was aware. There wasn't any need to rely on those old folks anyway."
With a childlike grin, Eulsis shrugged his shoulders.
"Father has already fallen ill and is trapped in delusions, hasn't he? Things have progressed as expected, so Ornn . . . well, it's okay if he goes to the north."
Abigail nodded at Eulsis's words. Watching her, Eulsis scrutinized her with worried eyes.
The sunny smile vanished, and a somber expression appeared on Eulsis's face.
"I'm sorry about earlier, Abigail."
"What do you mean, Lord Eulsis?"
"I'm talking about raising my hand against you."
Eulsis gently stroked Abigail's swollen cheek with his small hand.
A smile like the sun.
A warm tone.
Innocent eyes.
His gestures reminiscent of spring were warm enough to thaw frozen hearts, but the hand touching Abigail's cheek was as cold as hardened wax.
Yet that coldness was rather reassuring. The heat of her blushing cheek gradually dissipated under Eulsis's cool hand.
"It happened because I failed to comprehend your intentions, Lord Eulsis. You don't need to worry about it."
"Thank you for saying that."
Eulsis's words lacked any emotional resonance. It made him seem like an emotionless doll, but his eyes housed a clear consciousness.
***
Having organized my thoughts, I moved to resolve the question I harbored last night.
The destination is the Magic Tower. The person I want to meet is Flugel, the Sage of 'White'.
'The corpse of the Demon God, the imperial seal embedded there.'
I don't possess definitive proof, but I believe the remains of the Demon God were indeed acquired by Emperor Adratan.
However, since it lacks its 'horn', it is not dangerous. The absence of malicious remnants at the site of the Demon God's remains proves that it is harmless.
'If so, where did those horns go?'
Surely, mages' assistance was needed to transport the 'remains'. I believe Flugel was at the center of it.
'Was it brought without the horns originally, or did they get lost after?'
I need to know.
If the 'horn of the Demon God' were to spread across the world, the entire continent would end up like 'North's Precursor Base.'
Perpetually trembling in fear of demons, living life not knowing when you might die.
'Isn't that the current situation as well?'
Anyway.
The scattering of several 'horns of the Demon God' is not a good omen.
Though I have no heroic intentions to stop it, learning about the process is likely beneficial for my own sake.
"Sir Yulian, who are you visiting?"
Upon reaching the entrance of the Magic Tower and stepping inside, one of the staff addressed me.
"I have business with Miss Maier."
Of course, I have business with 'Flugel', but I decided to proceed by one step at a time.
"You mean Miss Maier, Sir Flugel's apprentice? Please wait a moment. I'll inquire since she might be receiving a lesson from Sir Flugel right now."
"I have a prior arrangement, so there's no need to ask."
Smiling, I reassured the staff not to bother asking. The staff hesitated briefly but quickly nodded.
Being granted permission to enter, I advanced to the location of the Magic Tower's elevator.
"Seems like Sir Flugel is taking his role as a mentor quite seriously."
Upon pressing the elevator button and surrendering my body to the sensation of floating, I soon reached the upper levels of the Magic Tower.
"Ugh."
Upon seeing me, a few mages openly sighed.
Well, considering their positions as high-ranking mages, they have every reason to dislike me.
Due to their tendency to accept under-the-table payments, mages instinctively avoid those associated with the 'imperial institutions.'
Being a 'knight' of repute, my social standing must also be intimidating.
'Perhaps there are other reasons?'
There might be other factors, but unperturbed, I headed towards Flugel's private lab.
"...... Hmm."
Arriving at Flugel's laboratory, I took a moment to survey the surroundings.
Although I hadn't stepped inside yet, my first sight was of the shattered glass windows.
Furthermore, tools were scattered as if there had been a confrontation.
'Is it appropriate to enter?'
Zzzt──!
Amidst my doubts, I sensed the surging energy of mana.
The destination of that mana was the shards of the broken glass.
Absorbing the mana flowing from within the lab, they adhered once more to the window frame.
Before long, the broken window was restored to its original state.
Crash──!
Simultaneously, a magic staff penetrated through the window.
"You're dodging? Dodging!? You crazy apprentice! You're dodging!?"
"If I don't dodge, it'll hurt like hell or I might die!"
"Isn't a disciple supposed to humbly accept whatever a master gives, no matter how trashy?"
"How is beating your pupil like a dog being a master, you crazy old man!"
"It's a rod of love!"
Crash, bang.
The voices of Flugel and Maier echoed repeatedly inside the laboratory.
Observing the raucous scene, I shifted my gaze to the window that had been broken twice.
Did they restore it just to break it again?
***
Despite the uproar, as soon as I appeared, the quarrel between Flugel and Maier quickly subsided.
Maier's body and face were covered in bruises. As if wary of Flugel raising his staff at any moment, she constantly kept an eye on him.
Similarly, Flugel didn't appear unharmed. His robe had numerous tears, and even his wrinkled face seemed to show a few bruises.
It seemed Maier, possessing quite a disposition, hadn't received a one-sided beating.
"Sir Flugel."
"What is it?"
With a gruff tone, Flugel spoke. Having lived long enduring whims, the old man showed a distinct reluctance to engage with people.
Yet, unlike others, he didn't seem inclined to drive me out. I felt somewhat respected.
"The wood over there . . ."
Though I visited with an important question, there was one curiosity I wanted to resolve first.
Namely, the wood-like debris piled behind Flugel.
"Are those staves?"
At my inquiry, Flugel scowled deeply and clicked his tongue.
"Maier turned out to be sturdier than expected. She's too hard-headed."
Despite his gruff tone, I didn't feel as if he harbored any resentment towards Maier since I had introduced her as his apprentice.
Clearly, having taken Maier under his wing, Flugel seemed to have become slightly more genial.
Even the 'mana' flow felt smoother than when we first met.
A meeting of geniuses.
Thanks to that, they were creating an extraordinary synergy, gaining inspiration from each other.
'... But that staff.'
Was it made from the wood of a struck tree, called the Thunder Jujube?
Most mages would go to great lengths to acquire a Thunder Jujube staff.
'Yet some use it as a mere baton.'
I was stunned by the wealth disparity that tongue-tied me when Flugel caressed his beard and spoke.
"So, what is it you want?"
Caught off guard by my sudden visit, Flugel showed a somewhat less-than-enthusiastic reaction.
"I came because I have something I wish to ask, Sir Flugel."
"What is it?"
"About what is buried beneath the Tarnan Lake."
At the mention of Tarnan Lake, Flugel's demeanor changed instantly.
Maier, who had been observing nearby, also visibly hesitated.
"...... What are you referring to?"
"You know what I'm talking about, don't you?"
Judging by his reaction, Flugel indeed had connections with the object buried beneath.
"The remains of the Demon God."
Directly stating my business, without beating around the bush, Flugel's eyes narrowed sharply.