208 - 215

Chapter 208 – Library (2)

–User, before that, I have a question. In this day and age, how do magicians define the concept of 'circles?'

"The concept of circles?"

Theodore was silent for a while at the unexpected question. It wasn't too difficult because this was basic knowledge.

Unlike ordinary people, a magician was said to have two hearts. However, the circles which controlled all circulation of magic power were the protagonist.

Theodore reviewed the contents of the textbooks and opened his mouth, "The origin of magic… Magic is generated in the ventricles near a magician's heart and can only be created by humans. There is a saying that the origin was derived from the heart of a dragon, but there is no confirmation about this. From the 7th Circle onwards, the circles evolve into a personal form, and this is called Sorcery."

–And?

"That's it."

Gluttony naturally grabbed at his head and said, –Hah, I expected it, but this is serious. I don't know what happened, but more than half of circle theory has been lost.

"Am I wrong?"

-That's right. As a 7th Circle, shouldn't you know? Circles aren't just responsible for the circulation of magic power.

"Um." Theodore let out a sound of confusion.

He could see it after reaching the 7th Circle. It was different from the 6th Circle which had only increased the amount of magic power and the scale. This was more than applying formulas and theories.

Without waiting for Theodore's answer, Gluttony continued explaining while holding the book, –Magicians use circles to coordinate the existences in the world. Since time immemorial, 10 has been a number used to symbolize a divine being. A magician of the 10th Circle represents a person who has ascended to that realm. Do you think this number is a coincidence?

"…It isn't a coincidence?"

-Of course not. The magic of this world is a science that was born in the process of imitating transcendent beings.

The wise elves didn���t try to follow others, while the dwarves sought a method in vain and gave up. The demons didn't need to follow others in the first place, and the dragons have been transcendent beings in this material system from the very beginning.

Only humans were born without any power. Their essence is that they are excellent at imitating others. Even so, magic was only completed after a few thousand years.

Gluttony preached about the greatness of magic with utmost respect in his voice.

–The circles theory was built from the heart of a dragon, the songs of the elves, the formulas of knowledge learned from dwarves, and the rituals of the demons. In a sense, it can be called the most comprehensive study in this world.

"It sounds badly patched together."

–I think it is brilliant. Man built a body, and this paved the way to enter the realm of the gods. The term, 'imitation is the mother of creation,' refers to this case.

Theodore looked at Gluttony with surprise. He couldn't help noticing that Gluttony admired the wisdom of humanity. Gluttony realized he had drifted from the topic and coughed a few times before talking again, –Then let's return to the topic.

From this point on, it was theory which Theodore didn't know at all.

–Up to the 6th Circle, it is no different from what User knows. The application of force is in accordance with the laws of matter, and there is some control over natural phenomena. However, a master, the 7th Circle and Aura Ability, is a step into the 'frame'.

"Frame?"

–Don't interrupt. Magicians of the 7th Circle start to interpret the structure of this material world as their own theory. Onmyōdō's Tai Chi, the Three Kingdom's Heaven and Earth, the four elements, the five ways of the East, the Kabbalah's sephirot… There are many paths that can be chosen.

Thousands of magicians will give rise to many forked paths. At the beginning, the magicians knew the truth and pursued an interpretation of the material world's structure in their own way.

There was one mentor for ten disciples. The ten disciples taught hundreds of students. A road was made because not everyone could be a pioneer, so people followed the paths made by pioneers. Thus, a magical faction was born.

There aren't many left in this era now, Gluttony muttered in a bitter tone. –It is important to make your own way, but it is also effective to follow existing viewpoints. However, User has been influenced by the four elements since childhood.

"It is too late to take an independent route."

–That's right. Additionally, User already owns three of the elements, so you don't have to change your route.

Gluttony's words were right. Theodore looked down at the Aiolos Pouch in his hand.

Other people might be reluctant to walk along the path who others had laid down first, but Theodore was different. Magic wasn't accomplished alone. Instead, it was accomplished by inheriting the will of older magicians over generations. Rather, he was proud of the fact that he was continuing their path.

"Okay." Theodore didn't take long to make a decision. "I will absorb the Aiolos Pouch."

He could continue with his world view of four elements by accepting the divine artifact that Gluttony recommended.

After all, Theodore lacked the foundation to learn Tai Chi, the five ways, and the other methods. Above all, he was a member of the magic towers. As a magician who had been born and raised in Meltor, this was the magic which Theodore Miller had inherited since the beginning.

Simultaneously, the Aiolos Pouch shone brightly.

[You have absorbed the Aiolos Pouch.]

[51,700 points will be deducted from your achievement points. Your remaining number of achievement points is 26,513.]

[The divinity of the wind (small) has been acquired. The flow of air will move in a direction favorable to the user. You can interfere with the wind direction and wind speed as your proficiency increases. Regardless of elemental affinity, you can contract with wind elementals.]

[Your understanding of space has greatly increased. You will be able to grasp space that can't be seen with your senses. The recoil of space magic will reduce.]

The Aiolos Pouch was literally sucked into the palm of Theodore's hand.

'Ack…?'

As achievement points were consumed, there was no extra digestion time. This caused Theodore to feel dizzy and drop to one knee. Otherwise, he would've fallen.

An unprecedented power was boiling inside his body. It was the most disparate type of force Theodore had ever encountered. It felt gentler than the wild rampage of 'fire,' and its movement was more delicate than that of 'water.'

Rather than wind, this was Aiolos' divinity. It was soft when calm, but it was scarier than a thunderstorm when raging wildly. The divine power flowing from the Aiolos Pouch shook like it was rejecting Theodore.

"Cough!"

Despite Theodore being in a spiritual world, blood flowed from his mouth. It wasn't physical damage but damage to his soul. The divine power not allowed to mortals was pinching at Theodore's sides.

Even if it was just a fragment, this force was very powerful. Confronted with the divinity of the god of wind who surpassed Zephyr, as well as the arrogance of Aiolos, Theodore reached his limit.

However, Aiolos' rebellion was soon suppressed. It was because the three types of forces inside Theodore took action. The fires of Muspelheim, the blood of a sea dragon, and the divinity of Mother Earth…

No matter how powerful Aiolos' divinity was, it would be hard to deal with the three of them. It struggled to the end but was eventually trampled down.

"Sigh… Dammit."

Theodore calmed his breathing. It took less than five minutes, but the pain was more than he had imagined it would be. It was like a serpent wandering around his blood vessels. His heart, which was at the epicenter of the incident, was still throbbing.

Theodore glared at Gluttony, who should've warned him in advance. Then at that moment…

Clink. There was a noise which made a person feel fulfilled, like the right gear was being inserted into an empty spot. In retrospect, it might've been a hallucination. However, Theodore clearly heard it with his two ears.

'…Completed, was it?'

Why? This phrase popped up in Theodore's head, without any context. It was a sense of fulfillment, like the empty space of a puzzle was finally filled.

Despite having already attained the 7th Circle, this was the moment when Theodore felt a clear conviction. This was the moment when he stepped beyond the walls of the world and became qualified to explore beyond the mortal borders.

He understood it from the perspective of a magician looking at the world. Then he wasn't satisfied with this achievement and took another step.

'Earth, wind, fire, and water. It starts from the ground, flows into water, burns in the fire, and returns to wind. Fire flickers, and water fluctuates. Unlike wind, earth doesn't flow. The world coexists with these conflicting forces.'

This was the original four elements theory. Each of the four elements made up the world by reacting to each other. From this perspective, Theodore was twice as strong as before. However, magicians were curious animals who couldn't be satisfied.

The imprint of Umbra on his right arm had led him to a new domain with the great magic, Abraxas.

'Fire and water don't mix, while wind and earth can't invade each other's territory. Are these absolutely true?'

Theodore was unaware of it, but this was similar to the theory behind 'Heaven and Earth Enmity.' It was absolutely imperative to restore the balance. When things were confusing, reaffirm the path. Yet Theodore rejected the path which countless other people followed.

However, it wasn't because he had a dispute with it. He just thought it was a method that didn't fit him. This was because the reason for that was right before him.

"…Eh?"

Gluttony's eyes widened from amazement. Theodore had just woken up from his enlightened state, so he didn't know the reason for Gluttony's amazed expression. However, he soon realized it.

"W-What?"

On the palm of his hand, there was a small flickering flame. However, there was no reason to be surprised by just that. The color of the flame was a little unusual, but it wasn't difficult for magicians to change the color.

The problem was the attributes tangled in this flame.

"Heat… and cold?"

Half of the flame was red and the other half was blue. Like hellfire, this was a phenomenon which couldn't exist under the laws of the material world. Theodore couldn't understand the magic which had unfolded, and he stared at Gluttony blankly.

Chapter 209 – Library (3)

Gluttony recovered his spirit first.

–…User, how did you create 'it?'

Gluttony had the confidence that he would be able to determine its origin if he observed for a while, but the question which emerged from his mouth was pure. He couldn't understand it. He couldn't accept it. He couldn't find it.

There was no magic like this 'flame' in his library, which had been accumulating for tens of thousands of years. It was something strange and unknown.

Of course, there were countless magics which tried to unite opposing attributes. The study of 'extremes meeting' was proven in magic. Some scholars had said that the definition of extremes was 'repudiation,' while some philosophers said that extremes were the reverse of each other.

At the first glance, it seemed that hot and cold would oppose each other. However, this was essentially a force which belonged to the natural world.

-However, this flame is beyond that, Gluttony said firmly.

This wasn't repudiation or the reverse.

It might move and change, or it might not. Hot could become cold, and cold could become hot. Just like how a rock turned into sand would once again solidify to become a rock, everything would eventually circulate in a circle.

However, Theodore's flame deviated from this circulation. The two forces, hot and cold, coexisted simultaneously like two sides of a coin. It was a contradiction. Something which couldn't be found anywhere in the natural world was occurring due to the human wizard before Gluttony. As Gluttony saw this new magic, his black eyes shone.

–Answer me, User. Hurry!

"Uh… What do you mean?" Theodore scratched his head a few times. "I don't know."

Gluttony stared blankly at him. Then Theodore continued speaking, "I remember the process of absorbing the 'Aiolos Pouch' and coordinating its divinity, but I don't know how I made it."

–A magician doesn't even know the magic he used?

"The reason why water and fire can't mix and why wind and earth can't cross each other… Do you know the reason why?"

–I don't know! Gluttony finally burst out angrily.

If someone else achieved a magic which was far superior to other magic, they wouldn't hesitate to 'theorize' it. Unlike aura which relied on senses and talent, magic had a clear theoretical system.

It was also the reason why the speed of magic development was faster than swordsmanship. Magicians handed down their heritage to the next generation, causing more outstanding magicians to appear in each new generation.

However, the words Theodore said didn't sound like those of a magician.

–Why don't you know? Why aren't you sure? This is a huge achievement for a human magician, but you don't know why? Try as hard as possible to remember. Leave no stone unturned! Or User won't be able to leave here forever!

"What?! What farce is this?"

–This is my stomach, where I can do anything I want.

Theodore was blank from the absurdity. This was Gluttony's body, so it was obvious he could control who could access it. Although Theodore didn't know how long he might be stuck here, he decided to give in to the request.

'It is rare for him to be so emotional.'

Wasn't Gluttony a companion who had been with him for a long time? Sometimes it was fine to give in to his stubbornness.

Pushik.

Theodore first erased the flame in the palm of his hand. It was easier to understand the principles of magic if he reproduced it again, rather than observing what had already been done. Theodore ignored Gluttony and closed his eyes.

'Let's revisit it from the beginning.'

He looked at the cycle of wind, fire, water, and earth.

'Fire and water don't mix, and wind and earth can't cross each other.'

Why did they refuse each other?

"Ah."

At that moment, the misaligned teeth locked together again, and the 'impossible' became possible. Theodore didn't miss this moment and used his magic power. Burning Hands and Chilling Touch…

The two opposing attributes mixed together again.

Wuuong…!

Suddenly, two hands appeared in the air. It was once again the union of heat and cold, which couldn't coexist. Once might be a coincidence but not twice. Gluttony felt a thrill at the spectacular sight.

-Eureka!

However, Theodore didn't know what Gluttony meant and cocked his head.

* * *

Once Gluttony had a sense of it, the next time was easier. He observed without blinking every time Theodore used magic. This was an unknown principle, but in the end, it was still based on 'magic,' which was the very foundation of the Seven Sins grimoire.

It took Gluttony 10 minutes of observing the cause and effect to come up with the closest answer. Yet it probably would've taken at least 100 years if it had been the Magic Society that studied it.

–It is forced harmonization. How ridiculous, Gluttony said and then sat down with a delighted expression.

The process of discovering the answer had been rather difficult, but the feeling of taking the fruit after was rewarding. Theodore listened carefully to his explanation and asked, "So, it this my Sorcery?"

-That's right.

The answer was 'forced harmonization.' It wasn't just two opposing forces coexisting; it had the ability to harmonize forces which couldn't coexist. Since it had never appeared since the creation of magic, the name was chosen by Gluttony.

–It isn't just heat and cold. User can mix any desired spell together, regardless of the attributes. The larger the magic, the greater the risk. But such risks exist everywhere in the world.

Gluttony was talking casually, but he was actually full of excitement right now. Was this 'fusion?' It was Sorcery which covered all attributes, not just two opposing attributes.

For him, magic was a type of universal puzzle. The method of trial and error was needed to see which pieces of the puzzle would fit together to produce the desired magic. However, Theodore had a type of cheat key. He could insert it at will… and shuffle it at will.

This privilege was truly unique for a magician.

"…Why?" Theodore couldn't help questioning it. "Why is this my Sorcery? The four elements are gathered in my body, but the other attributes…"

–I think it is probably due to my influence, Gluttony responded to his reasonable doubt without hesitation. –I'm sorry, but User isn't talented. You aren't superior in one attribute nor in sensitivity. If you hadn't met me, you would've never been able to surpass the 4th Circle.

"It is true, but I can't help feeling bad."

–I don't mean to diminish you. However, it's thanks to this that User has grown in a similar manner to me, creating an unprecedented Sorcery. Do you understand what it is?

There was only one way in which Theodore could share growth with Gluttony.

"-Predation."

–That's correct, Gluttony confirmed it in a pleasant voice. –Since User wasn't born with anything, you took my influence more than anything else. No, you had no choice but to accept it. There was no other way.

"The power to eat anything… Indeed, it is similar."

–If eating is my role, digesting nutrients is yours. After suffering from indigestion in the form of your deadline, this is the result of your body finally stabilizing.

It could be said that this was the synergy between Gluttony and Theodore. Theodore was convinced by the explanation, but he thought it was still lacking. This new ability shouldn't be possible if he had simply built his power around Gluttony's 'predation.'

Gluttony ate artifacts as well as magic books. Everything he ate was nourishment, and even his host, Theodore, grew because of it. The harmonization of magic… If he widened the horizons—

'There is something like this.'

Any bystander stuck in the 7th Circle would feel like it was unfair, yet Theodore crossed another wall without any fear.

Hwaruruk! A flame emerged.

Gluttony was at a loss for words and stared at it with bemused eyes. The flame wasn't red and blue. It was just red. This was Burning Hands, a common fire attack magic. For Gluttony, that magic had no value now.

Then Theodore's left hand started burning.

"…I didn't expect to succeed in one go."

This was a forced harmonization of body and magic. Theodore was amazed at what he had done as he waved his arm which had turned into a red flame. Until now, there had been a lot of secondary magic used on the body. However, magic which integrated with the body was treated as a fantasy.

Could Theodore apply magic to solid metals or the moisture in the sky, or even harmonize it with living creatures? It was like picking a star from the sky. Yet he had succeeded in something so ridiculous.

'Isn't the range of application for this magic very wide?'

Theodore had succeeded in several achievements today, but he was already thinking about the possible applications of his awakened Sorcery. He could integrate with lightning and roam around, or join with the waves and ride the ocean currents toward the East. Until now, this had only been a fantasy.

Theodore felt an unstoppable inspiration and released Burning Hands which had blended with his left arm. Then the silent Gluttony opened his mouth, -…User.

"Eh?"

Contrary to Theodore's expectation that Gluttony would be joyful, Gluttony's voice was actually deeply subdued as he said, –You should return for today. I know that you are excited but using any more magic can be dangerous.

"Dangerous? How come?"

–You haven't realized. This would've been really dangerous if left alone.

Gluttony touched Theodore's body.

Pajik.

Simultaneously, Theodore felt a fierce pang in his body.

"Kuk, uhhh, keeok…!" He could barely manage to breathe through the pain. Theodore fell to the ground as his limbs shook.

–You have absorbed Aiolos' divinity and established the four elements in your body. Then as soon as you awakened your Sorcery, you hastily tried to use it too many times. If this place wasn't my body, you would've died.

"C-Cou-gh!" Theodore tried to answer, but a groan was the only thing that emerged from his mouth.

–You won't be able to move for a while. Go and sleep.

After Gluttony gave his advice to Theodore, Theodore's body disappeared. Theodore had returned to reality from the library. By now, Theodore would be wriggling like a worm on his bed. Gluttony's lips slightly twisted as he imagined it, then he turned back to the main point.

-…Kuk, a loud shout of laughter emerged, –Kuhahahahaha!

The sound was so awful it would cause anyone listening to get goosebumps. A path which hadn't been seen for thousands of years was now clearly visible before him.

–I can reach it this time! The unprecedented field! 10th Circle magic! Kether, where the potential of humankind exists!

Gluttony laughed with a joy which resembled insanity.

–This time, I absolutely won't fail!

Chapter 210 – Upcoming Battle (1)

A week after the investigation team had returned from the Meuse Desert, King Kurt III of Meltor was having lunch with someone. He usually enjoyed quiet meals, but he had to do this because of his busy schedule.

Even now, one hand was gracefully handling the tableware, while the other hand was busy processing paperwork.

"Ughh… It is making me feel pained just looking at you," Veronica said from where she was sitting across from him. "Your Majesty, the Magic Contest is over, so do you still need to be so busy? You should take it easy a little more."

"It's okay. My body can handle this much."

"Still, there is a reason why I brought it up."

"Hrmm." Kurt thought she had a point, so he put down the sheets of paper. He thought it was rude to work while eating with someone. So, he put down the quill in his left hand and the knife in his right hand at almost the same time.

"I see. I was too short-sighted. Then let's hear your story."

"Okay, it isn't a long story." Veronica ate her fifth bowl of steak and looked outside the palace. "Your Majesty, are you curious about the guests?"

"Well, of course."

"Right. One is a high elf, a leader of Elvenheim, and the other is the infamous dragon of the eastern seas. If something goes wrong, it could be fatal."

There were a few people who were treated as state guests, but back when the palace was built hundreds of years ago, they wouldn't have known it would house a high elf and dragon. Kurt III was knowledgeable, but this was also unexpected for him.

So, he looked forward to what Veronica would say. After all, she knew both guests and had the status and power to be an arbitrator.

Unsurprisingly, Veronica responded to the vague expectation, "The bottom line is that there are no problems. Even if there is an unfortunate affinity between them, they won't fight each other."

"What about the atmosphere of the first day?"

"Oh, Kid was present at that time. Without him present, it isn't worth it for them to fight against each other. We just have to separate Kid from the two of them."

Her judgment was correct. Ellenoa was reluctant to face someone with Aquilo's nature, while Aquilo kept away from elves who sought a calm life. It was just that their initial encounter involved Theodore Miller. The friction occurred because a high elf was threatened by a sea dragon who coveted other people's possessions.

This problem was solved if Theodore wasn't present.

"If you think about it, it is good that the Kid has been lying down since then. It is proper timing."

"How is he? It must be due to the trip."

"Uhh, well, that might not be completely the case…?" Veronica said with a strange expression. She had visited Theodore and noticed that it wasn't due to illness or fatigue. This was a magician's transitional period.

It was a symptom when a magician's body was broken and underwent a process of regeneration. She didn't know what was going to happen, but it was clear that Theodore had made further progress after visiting the ruins.

'…Fast. It is too fast no matter how I think about it.' Veronica felt a thrill as she recalled Theodore lying in his bed.

Among the dragons, the red clan had a strong fighting instinct. Having inherited that bloodline, she the instinctive ability to grasp the strength of others. She had been able to see it. Despite his haggard expression, Theodore's inner strength was boiling over. Her blood spiked wildly at the memory of his strength.

Dugun, dugun.

By the time Veronica managed to calm her heart, the meal was already over. The servants took away the plates and utensils, then a map of the continent was laid out on the table.

Veronica frowned when she saw the map and asked, "Your Majesty, this map?"

"I prepared this to discuss it with you," Kurt III said. Then with sunken eyes, he looked down at the map of the continent he had prepared and stated, "The truce period isn't over yet, but Andras isn't going to wait for that to expire. I think that we won't be able to avoid an outbreak of local wars."

"Of course. They aren't the type of people to cower in their yards."

The opinions of the two people matched. The term 'local wars' had a dictionary meaning of 'a war that takes place in a limited region.' However, it had a different meaning in the north.

The truce between the northern powers, Andras and Meltor, had always been based on the fact that they wouldn't invade each other's territory. That didn't mean they couldn't step on the territories of others. In other words, it meant a battle could take place anywhere except in the north. Over the centuries, it had become a routine situation.

"Veronica, where do you think the issue is?"

""Well, this direction is possible." Veronica stretched out her index finger. "Isn't the neighboring Kargas too influential?"

"It is a jewel. It is also the area where the local wars are most frequent. But my thoughts are a little different."

"Then?"

"Here." Kurt's index finger was pointing toward the Soldun Kingdom. "According to the secret agents of the White Tower, it seems that the recent situation in Soldun is unstable. The royal family and nobles are gathering their soldiers, and the Lairon government seems to have reached out a hand as well. The newly appointed pope seems to be a fairly aggressive figure."

"Even to the point of becoming involved in a civil war?"

"It seems that the prince has naturalized some Easterners. The Lairon Church doesn't recognize people who don't appear in their bible."

"…Indeed, they are such people."

Simultaneously, Veronica's expression turned grim. The Lairon Kingdom didn't get along with magicians, but they also discriminated against humans who didn't fit their doctrines. Veronica might be a mixed dragon-human, but she had been treated as a human since joining the magic towers. It was natural for her to feel an aversion to Lairon, a religious kingdom which discriminated against other species.

However, her thoughts were complicated for another reason. "Damn, this will be annoying."

"I agree. We need to convene a meeting to discuss it."

"Eek?"

Kurt agreed with Veronica and pressed a bell on the table. Then he spoke to the servant waiting for him, "Deliver this message to the tower masters and ministers of state: I will be holding a meeting in one hour."

* * *

Unlike Veronica who had suddenly gotten a lot of work, Theodore got up from his bed and immediately headed to the training room. He had awakened his Sorcery, but after having used it several times inside Gluttony, it had taken Theodore a week to recover.

It had only been yesterday that Theodore managed to walk properly, and he was able to use magic without a problem today.

'Master told me to rest a few more days, but…'

It was torture for a magician to stop when they had a glimpse of the next step. Theodore couldn't repress his urge to use magic and entered a training room. This was Sorcery which astounded even Gluttony, a grimoire from the Age of Mythology. Then just how wonderful would it be to use?

Theodore first created a flame with two attributes.

Hwaruruk!

It was a combination of heat and cold which couldn't coexist in nature. However, Theodore calmly assessed the value of this flame.

"It is a waste of magic power."

The hot and cold coexisted due to his Sorcery, but they were reducing each other's strengths. This was a mediocre magic which couldn't even catch an ordinary deer.

It might be different when amplifying two opposing attributes like Abraxas but merely coexisting was meaningless. Forced Harmonization didn't necessarily mean creating a magic which was better than before.

In the end, the true value of Forced Harmonization was making combinations which 'couldn' exist.'

It prevented magic from causing a backlash or repelling each other, and could invalidate some parameters in magic equations. This made it possible to explore fields of magic which hadn't been possible until now.

This 'Forced Harmonization' was the true power of the Sorcery that Theodore possessed. It was like a lump of crude magic power mixed together. However, it wasn��t self-taught, since he applied Veronica's teachings to it as well.

"…No, there are exceptions."

The second time he applied his Sorcery in Gluttony's stomach, it had been a forced fusion of body and magic. The power to transform his body into magic power…

The ability of Forced Harmonization wasn't meaningful in itself, but the story was different when integrated with the body. It was magic which went beyond the frames of life. Taking a look at one example, wasn't it possible to integrate lightning with his body and move at the speed of lightning? It was one thing to think of the idea, and another to practice it.

"Lightning Bolt."

Theodore didn't shoot it out immediately and instead held it in his hand. Then he focused on 'Forced Harmonization' while thinking about the lightning strike which moved in a straight line. He imagined his saliva, hair, and blood acting like they were dissolved by lightning.

Then he aimed precisely at a point in the training room. It was a place where he could stop away from the edge of the wall, even if he made a mistake.

Pajijik!

He felt like he had joined with the lightning as he took one step forward—

――――――――――Kwarurung!

Theodore's consciousness was cut off. His head whitened for a moment before he woke up on the ground. A feeling of shock was spreading throughout his body. His bones and organs weren't damaged, but Theodore's mind was blank for a moment at the unexpected impact.

"W-What… How— What's happening…?"

The integration with lightning had been a success as the feeling of Forced Harmonization was clearly evident in his body. However, when he took one step forward earlier, his consciousness had stopped and his whole body had filled with pain. Theodore couldn't understand the situation and looked up.

Then not long afterward…

"…Crazy."

Theodore saw that ward over the training room was now cracked like it would collapse at any moment. It was similar to drought-affected rice paddies or spider webs. Perhaps it was because Theodore had turned into a lightning bolt and hit the wall.

It was difficult to break through 6th Circle wards. Yet this ward was overwhelmed by his charge.

'The strength is sufficient. The problem is the recoil and side effects.'

Theodore rubbed his aching temples and left the training room. What more could he practice in a broken training room? He had to pay the cost of repairs and rest until the throbbing in his body was gone.

Vince would admonish Theodore if he knew about the situation. However, rather than being discouraged or regretful, Theodore was excited about his new discovery.

"It can't be combined with Battle Song. After applying the formula to the human body, it becomes magic and is released automatically… This will overwrite any secondary magic…"

It was unusual to see people muttering to themselves when walking down a corridor, but it wasn't so rare in the magic towers. Rather, it had the effect of people leaving Theodore alone. However, a person appeared in front of Theodore right then.

"P-Prime Theodore?"

"Aren't you a clerk from the Magic Society? Did something happen?"

After hearing Theodore's question, the clerk shook like he was facing a celebrity and said, "There is a guest from the outside applying with Prime Theodore's name as a guarantor…"

"Guarantor?"

"Yes, yes! It wasn't strange, but I couldn't just send him away without checking…"

Theodore contemplated about this for a moment. Who would apply with Theodore as a guarantor? The act of applying without any relationship with the guarantor was disrespectful, and every magician knew this. Furthermore, it was a person from the outside?

Theodore frowned. Then the clerk reflexively spewed out all the information, "A-A boy with an eastern appearance! He is young and hasn't gone through his coming of age ceremony yet!"

"Eastern person? Ah!" Theodore finally figured out the person's identity.

A boy from the East with a relationship with Theodore… There was only one person in the world who met these conditions. It was Baek Dongil of the Baek Family. The boy had come from the Soldun Kingdom to Meltor.

Chapter 211 – Upcoming Battle (2)

"Brother!"

Indeed, Theodore's prediction was right. Baek Dongil was waiting for him in the central tower of the Magic Society, which was responsible for all the administrative work.

Although Baek Dongil looked a little more mature than a few months ago, he still had the same black hair and sweet eyes. The shine in his eyes was no different from the one in Theodore's memories.

Theodore greeted Baek Dongil with a smile, "It has been a while, Dongil."

"Yes, Brother! Have you been well in the meantime?"

Baek Dongil seemed to have learned western etiquette as shown in the way he greeted Theodore. He was more mature than before. His head reached Theodore's shoulders, and there was some hair on his chin. It was evident that this boy was becoming a young man.

Their meeting in the Soldun Kingdom seemed like it had been just yesterday, but time was like a flying arrow which never looked back.

In addition to that, Theodore looked inside Baek Dongil. After discarding the three dan method, Baek Dongil had mastered three circles with the great magic system. It was remarkable progress, even if Baek Dongil's talent was excellent.

'This is a tremendous development in a short amount of time. It's not a level that can be achieved with just talent. Perhaps he only got the minimum of sleep every day.'

It would be better to learn as a blank slate. However, Baek Dongil had started off using the wrong method, so it was obvious that his studying would be twice as hard as that of others. He needed to understand magic theory which was completely separate from shamanism.

A great maestro had said this, 'It was easier to teach a beginner than a learned person.'

Despite such adverse conditions, Baek Dongil had gone beyond that difficulty. It had only been a short relationship, but it was a fulfilling achievement for Theodore who had once taught him.

"You have improved a lot. I thought it would take a year, but you have already mastered three circles?"

"I am still lacking, Brother."

"There is no fault in your spoken common language except for pronunciation, and you have managed to come here in less than half a year. Well done."

"B-Brother." Baek Dongil flushed red at the direct praise. He had been born in a family of prestigious warriors, yet he had no talent and couldn't learn aura. So, this was his first time being acknowledged and praised. Baek Dongil bowed his head to cover his burning eyes. Theodore understood his feelings and turned around first.

"You've just arrived, so you don't know the way, do you? Let's go to my room."

"…Yes, Brother."

"Let me hear your story on the way up. I am very curious if Master Baek is doing well."

"Yes, I will do so," Baek Dongil responded with a loud voice as he secretly wiped his tears with his sleeves and then followed Theodore. "Last month, Father was named a marquis by the Soldun royal family. He was going to start as an earl, but the crown prince helped my father a lot."

"Indeed, he received the position of marquis after naturalization."

Nobles couldn't exert great power in Meltor, even if they were a marquis. However, in other countries, a marquis would have a knights division, troops, and several territories, giving them power equivalent to the king of a small country. At most, an earl could only lead 1,000 soldiers. Yet a foreigner had managed to climb up to the position of marquis.

'But there are few who will have the guts to confront a master. The complaints will keep accumulating until they explode…'

The prince who had naturalized Baek Jongmyung would be held responsible for all of this. Theodore recalled the prince he had once met. What was the reason for him to proceed with such a political burden so soon?

'…Perhaps…' A possible speculation entered Theodore's mind.

Perhaps Crown Prince Elsid was in the middle of a civil war! If this was a civil war, using armed forces would be the correct judgment. The difference in military power between what an earl and a marquis could mobilize was enormous.

Political weakness? That was meaningless. Once a civil war began, politics would fall to the wayside, and the winner would decide the right and wrong.

'So, the fact that Dongil was sent to Meltor at this time… It is probably to protect him until the end of the civil war. I don't know if it was Master Baek or the prince's idea, but they have a good head.'

Even if the entire Central Continent were at odds, the north wouldn't be affected. There was no country whose blade could reach Baek Dongil here, at the center of Mana-vil. Any hostile acts toward Baek Dongil would be a declaration against Theodore Miller, who was regarded as a hero.

The promise of the past had become Baek Dongil's shield.

'Well, the party involved doesn't seem to know.'

Theodore couldn't find any signs of this on Baek Dongil's face, who was still sniffling. Moreover, it wasn't easy to deceive Theodore, whose senses had become sharper since Mitra's flowering.

As they walked through the corridor, Theodore wondered how he should treat Baek Dongil. He came to a conclusion more easily than he'd thought he would.

"Dongil."

"Yes, Brother."

"You don't have to give me a definite answer, but… do you want to become a fellow disciple of my master?"

"…Huh?" Baek Dongil looked surprised.

Meanwhile, Theodore thought about his decision.

He didn't have time to teach, so that was directly dismissed. Additionally, he was now the captain of Quattro and didn't have time to take charge of a disciple. Most of all, Theodore didn't have the knack for teaching. It might be due to his habit of studying alone at the academy's library, or maybe it was because his mind was too good.

'I don't know how to make other people understand.'

It was a story from before he'd met Gluttony. The professors had ignored him due to his low sensitivity, and the students had hated to even study with him. He had needed to think and realize things alone. Thus, Theodore's thinking abilities had developed abnormally.

Theodore could find answers to his own questions, but he couldn't sympathize with the questions that others had. Therefore, Theodore thought about asking his master, Vince Haidel, to play the role of mentor.

'I remember a story Master told once.'

Vince had no idea what he would soon be asked, but he would enthusiastically accept. A student with Theodore's talent and sincerity was something that any magician would desire. However, Baek Dongil's eyes turned red as he replied, "I will be Brother's junior disciple?"

"If you don't want to, I can suggest other people-"

"N-No! Absolutely not! I will become your junior disciple no matter what!"

"Y-Yes. Then I will tell him." Theodore took a step back at the enthusiastic reaction.

However, Baek Dongil just smiled at him. "I will become a magician who won't shame our sect!"

"U-Umm… magicians don't really have the concept of sect…"

"Ah, and Brother. Father told me to give this letter to you."

"Letter?"

Baek Dongil nodded and pulled out an envelope. It was luxurious. The 'Baek' stamped on the envelope was probably a seal. Theodore received the envelope with a puzzled expression and carefully pulled out the letter.

After a while, Theodore's face stiffened.

* * *

Elsewhere, the influential people in the palace were gathered for a meeting.

The theme of the meeting was 'measures and justifications to intervene in Soldun's civil war.'

It wasn't the Kargas Kingdom but the Soldun Kingdom, which was closer to the south than the north. In order to dispatch troops from Meltor to Soldun, it would take a month by land. Even with the support of the White Tower, it would take more than a fortnight.

However, it was an unauthorized intrusion.

"Secretly dispatch a messenger!" The person who insisted on this was Robert, the minister for the army. "Send an agent of the white tower—no, the Tower Master should move directly to secretly contact the prince. If the nobles have joined hands with Lairon, Prince Elsid will be willing to accept our support!"

"No, that conclusion is too hasty." On the contrary, the minister of foreign affairs refuted this. "We know that the intelligence of the white tower is credible, but in Soldun's case, there is a possibility of creating the misunderstanding of foreign interference. We have to wait for the Lairon Kingdom or Andras' shadows to move."

Robert pounded his chest and shouted like the minister of foreign affairs was being ridiculous, "Then it will be too late! You don't know how dangerous it is to be late to a battlefield!"

"Minister! You can���t ignore the department of foreign affairs!"

"You are being ridiculous! We are talking about Soldun's civil war!"

Kurt was just watching instead of participating in the debate. It was fatal to be late for a war, but the minister of foreign affairs was correct that they shouldn't be too hasty. Both sides were reasonable, so it was difficult to choose one.

As he pressed a hand to his temple, Kurt continued to think, 'It is tricky. The nobles of Soldun have already contacted the Lairon government and set up a dark road. The longer we delay contacted the crown prince, the more detrimental it becomes and our odds will fall under 2%.'

The prince might've brought a sword master from the East, but Lairon's special forces wouldn't be small. The situation couldn't be reversed with just one sword master.

Elsid would lose. Still, the prince was unaware of everything, and Andras would be keen to prevent Meltor from getting in touch with him. Their hands and feet would be tied up.

'Damn, this is a really irritating situation.'

It was possible to send the White Tower Master to infiltrate, but the Andras Empire would probably send the empire's Seven Swords to block the infiltration. There would inevitably be a large scale battle, and there would be larger vigilance against the northern powers.

Andras was a close friend of the Lairon Kingdom, so they had nothing to lose. However, Meltor would suffer a big loss for nothing. It was at this moment that…

"Quattro's Captain, Theodore Miller, has arrived!" The voices of the guards at the entrance suddenly rang out, causing everyone to fall silent. The value of Theodore's name was much greater now.

Veronica blinked from where she was guarding the throne and turned to the other tower masters.

Theodore's red robes flapped gently as he entered and said, "Your Majesty, I came because I need to urgently talk to you."

"Urgently?"

Theodore had the same authority as a tower master, so he could skip the formalities if there was an urgent situation. However, that right was just a ceremonial act, and Kurt hasn't expected Theodore to use it. What was so urgent that a model student would skip the formalities?

Yet the heated atmosphere of the room cooled immediately at Theodore's words, "Today, a guest came to see me, and I received a letter from him that I have to give to Your Majesty."

"A letter?"

"Yes, the sender is…" Theodore stopped for one beat before dropping a bomb on everyone. "It is Crown Prince Elsid of the Soldun Kingdom."

Chapter 212 – Upcoming Battle (3)

Despite Theodore's clear voice, there was no reply. The people who had been expressing their opinions earlier fell silent, while Kurt's expression became momentarily dumbfounded. A letter from Prince Elsid? Moreover, the guest who came to visit Theodore was the courier? The meeting room in Meltor's royal palace was silent.

'No, a letter from Prince Elsid at this time…'

'It is certainly good if it is true, but is it good that the prince predicted the timing? It is strange.'

'I want to question Sir Theodore, but my position…'

The people had different reactions. There were some who were confused and couldn't accept the situation, and others who scratched their ears because they doubted what they heard. There were also people who turned red with excitement, and people who were worried about asking for the authenticity of the words…

The situation was too perfect to simply accept, but it didn't look good to question the kingdom's hero. So, it was natural for them to stay silent. Therefore, it was up to Kurt III to break this silence.

He reviewed Theodore's words several times before speaking, "Quattro's Captain."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"I don't mean to doubt you, but the timing is too perfect. How did you form a connection with Prince Elsid, and who brought this letter to you? Can you explain first?"

"I will follow Your Majesty's will."

They were valid doubts, so Theodore paused before picking what words to say.

Theodore had spent a while in the Soldun Kingdom, but he needed to explain it so that people didn't misunderstand. He would talk about the time he'd bought the mansion after arriving in the Soldun Kingdom from the Pirate Archipelago.

Theodore arranged his thoughts and opened his mouth, "Starting from the Pirate Archipelago, I moved to the port city, Piris, in the Soldun Kingdom…"

He didn't mention Randolph, who had accompanied him. Randolph's heart didn't belong to Andras, but the fact that the sword master was from Andras could be interpreted as something else.

It would be natural to doubt Theodore's information if they found out Randolph had accompanied him for more than a year. He would be naturalized when he escaped from the empire, so there was no need to reveal Randolph's identity right now.

Theodore's life in Piris…

The arrival of the Baek Family and the spar with Baek Jongmyung…

The unexpected meeting with Crown Prince Elsid…

And Theodore's connection with the boy called Baek Dongil.

It was a long story, but it wasn't hard for people to understand. There were people who started sweating nervously when they heard about the spar with Baek Jongmyung, and others who showed pity toward Baek Dongil's circumstances.

However, one thing was the same. At the end of Theodore's story, the people exhaled at the same time, "Hoo…"

It was a ridiculous sight, but no one smiled. Kurt III understood the circumstances and spoke with a voice which carried an unknown weight, "It is a persuasive explanation. That's why he sent a letter to us through the boy called Baek Dongil."

"That's right, Your Majesty."

"This timing is so perfect that it can be said that the heavens are helping Meltor. If the boy had arrived three days later, he would've missed the timing," Kurt was speaking to himself. However, he then glanced at Theodore with sunken eyes and held out a hand.

Kurt could listen to the letter, but he wanted to read it himself.

"Show me the letter sent by the crown prince."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Theodore used simple wind magic at Kurt's request. There was a gentle breeze, and the letter jumped a few meters. The letter entered the king's hands, and people watched silently. Kurt's purple eyes scanned the letter slowly from the top to the bottom.

He read the contents with a strange expression in his eyes before muttering, "…How interesting. Crown Prince Elsid was a vulnerable boy when I last saw him. Now he wants to talk about a new monarch? It is a truly bold and reckless plot."

The minister of foreign affairs asked carefully, "Your Majesty, do you mind if I ask about the contents?"

"Of course." Kurt nodded with a smile and raised his head from the letter. "The fundamental content is a request for our support. He also wrote down the size of the troops that Lairon sent, a map of the area where a battle is expected to occur, and the route to use to enter secretly."

"Ohh…! That means…!"

"It means the royal family is tolerating Meltor's involvement in Soldun's civil war. There is the royal seal stamped at the end of the letter, so there is no need to worry about any accusations of interference."

It was as he said. Justification to interfere in international conflicts was an important matter, and it was more strictly applied to the stronger powers like Andras and Meltor. Without justification, there was a chance the whole Central Continent would unite in a war against the northern powers.

However, the situation was reversed with this letter.

Unlike Andras, Meltor had received permission to move a large number of troops into the Soldun Kingdom. The Lairon Kingdom would only be able to send covert support, so the balance would tilt to the side of the royal party.

Kurt was excited by the contents of the letter and created an agenda. "Prince Elsid has presented two paths of entry. There is the overland route that goes through the Sipoto wilderness on the outskirts of Kargas and also sea route which goes through the eastern waters toward Piris. Let's discuss which method will be more efficient."

His words were spoken lightly, but there was a weight to them. Depending on their choice of entry, the timing of the troops' arrival and their strategic efficiency would vary greatly. The best way was to get there as quickly and secretly as possible.

The path where they could move a larger number of troops would also be advantageous. The level of the soldiers was important, but the superiority of numbers wasn't something that could be ignored in war.

However, there was one person who put a brake on Kurt's thoughts.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. But perhaps we can't use the sea route this year."

"Blundell?"

The Blue Tower Master, Blundell said with a grim expression on his face, "The south wind is very intense at the eastern waters in this period. It is expected that it will take three times as long and more manpower than usual to get to Piris from the north."

"Three times… White Tower Master, can the invention of the white tower be used?"

"If we use the balloons, the time can be reduced to two times. However, further reduction isn't possible."

"Two or three times as long is too slow," Kurt grumbled and shook his head when he realized it was pointless.

There was no point harassing his people about things which couldn't be changed. Anyway, something bad would pop up when something good occurred. Elsid's letter had arrived in time, but now the paths were causing trouble.

Then just when Kurt was about to give up on the sea route…

"Excuse me, Your Majesty. I have something to say."

"Something? Go ahead, Quattro's Captain."

Theodore made a subtle expression as he glanced at Blundell before speaking, "I might have a way. Then we can arrive there more quickly than usual."

"…What?"

"Is that true?"

The eyes of the people present widened with surprise. Meanwhile, Theodore continued speaking, "In the past, I received the 'Sea Dragon's Blessing' from Aquilo. That blessing can be used to overcome the wind."

"T-That's right…!"

"Indeed, a sea dragon rules the water!"

"Then the reasons for not being able to use the sea route are gone!"

As their astonishment and excitement grew, one person spoke their mind without thinking, "Sir Theodore, what if you are accompanied by the sea dragon? Won't her power be a great help?"

However, Theodore smiled bitterly and shook his head. "She won't go. She has no interest in being involved in anything else and is going to help Austen. If we want her help, we have to pay a corresponding price or give up the covenant with Austen."

"T-That's right… I'm sorry for bringing it up."

It was too much attempting to use the power of the dragon. At first glance, they would be able to crush all the soldiers in the civil war, the Lairon Kingdom's troops and Andras' shadows, if they were accompanied by Aquilo.

However, it was a law that greed would cause disaster. The people abandoned their foolish thoughts and focused on the next agenda. Obviously, there was only one thing remaining.

"Then from now on, let's discuss who will be dispatched to the Soldun Kingdom."

The meeting continued for a long time.

* * *

Theodore had arrived at the meeting around noon and only left in the middle of the night when the stars and moon were shining.

He hadn't even been able to have a proper meal. Simple sandwiches had been placed before everyone, but they had barely eaten. It was because most people couldn't express their opinions properly while eating sandwiches. It had been the same for Theodore, who had made the meeting like this.

"…Hah, I'm tired."

Still, even after the meeting ended, he didn't return to his bedroom. Instead, he walked with a tired gait to find someone. It was around midnight, so the person could be asleep. However, he was convinced it wasn't the case.

Unsurprisingly, his confidence was exactly right.

"…Theodore?"

It was the place where the delegation from Elvenheim was staying. In the lush garden, she was walking like a fairy. The moonlight shone on Ellenoa's green hair. She was Mother Nature's beloved daughter, and buds sprouted under her feet, filling this place with vitality.

Theodore forgot his words as he looked at her. He was accustomed to seeing beauty, but Ellenoa was an exception to his common sense.

Ellenoa was worried about him standing still, so she hastily approached and placed a hand on his forehead. "Theodore, are you feeling well? Your complexion looks bad."

"N-No, I'm okay."

"I'm glad to see you, but… what is so urgent that you came so late at night?"

Theodore took a moment to think after listening to her words. He had forgotten his words due to unforeseen thoughts. The words he had thought up during his walk here were now scattered. Then Theodore somehow gathered them together and opened his mouth, "Ellenoa."

"Yes."

"I have to participate in important work starting from tomorrow. Perhaps I won't be able to see you again before you return to Elvenheim. So, it is late, but I came to see you today."

"Ah…" Ellenoa was dismayed that she wouldn't be able to see him anymore, then she blushed at his last words. It was because of the atmosphere and the fact that he had come to meet her late at night.

Theodore didn't confirm or deny that positive thought as he gazed at her with a serious expression. "I've thought a lot about it."

"…Yes." In contrast, Ellenoa lowered her face with a red expression.

"It is as Ellenoa said. I don't know if my answer right now is due to sincerity or a sense of responsibility. I didn't come to see you before because I couldn't answer, but I thought it would be cowardly to leave without saying anything."

Then Theodore hooked his little finger around Ellenoa's little finger. Even elves who didn't know the culture of humans were aware that this meant a promise. Ellenoa raised her head with wide eyes and Theodore responded to that gaze.

"Please wait for a little bit."

"..."

"I have to go to the world tree again. It is for Mitra, Myrdal, and various other reasons. But I won't use that as an excuse."

"…Then?"

As he felt her trembling finger and heard her trembling voice, Theodore swore firmly to himself as well as to her, "On that day, I will give you an answer on the branch of the world tree that we walked together."

With this, his preparations were finished.

Chapter 213 – Upcoming Battle (4)

Meltor was a kingdom which was always prepared for war, so the gathering of their troops was 10 times faster and more secretive than that of other countries.

There was also a major difference between the regular army and magicians. Meltor utilized the dimensional pockets, so they didn't require a separate supply unit. Additionally, the magicians themselves were the source of their combat power, so they weren't burdened with equipment. This was why they could show a mobility which went beyond common sense.

Exactly three days after the meeting…

All the troops were gathered at Port Ribenda, an eastern coastal city in the Meltor Kingdom.

On a night when civilian access to the coast was controlled, the expedition unit which totaled nearly 1,000 people were waiting for their commander. Among them, the unit which contained the most people was the Magic Corps.

"The kingdom's 1st Magic Corps' 800 people! Commander is Viscount Carter!" Blundell's loud voice cried out as 800 soldiers saluted. It was a perfect example of military discipline.

Meltor's Magic Corps…

They weren't magicians but magic soldiers. They achieved up to the 3rd Circle using magic reagents and learned a few attack magic spells and secondary magic. They were nothing compared to one aura user, but six or seven of them could defeat one aura user. The magic soldiers had haste magic and the firepower of Fireball, which was comparable to the firepower of archers. 800 magic soldiers were equal to 5,000 regular soldiers.

"I, Bors Carter, will honor the name of my family and the royal family." The commander was also excellent. As a veteran of the last war and someone who was still active as a 6th Circle magician, Carter had been appointed as the commander of the Magic Corps. Carter guarded the monster area in the West Forest, so his commanding abilities were well-proven.

Blundell's voice called out for the next unit, "36-man White Tower Mobile Unit! Commander is White Tower Master Orta!"

Orta was standing before 36 white-robed magicians with his usual mask.

Perhaps it was because they were both tower masters, but Orta politely bowed and returned to his original position. Thanks to Theodore, they didn't need to travel in the balloons. However, the magic support of the white tower could shorten the schedule.

They were a unit which focused on mobility rather than combat power. It would be good if even one of them had the power of the White Tower Master. However, Meltor's true combat troops were somewhere else.

"63 war mages of the Red Tower! The commander will also be White Tower Master Orta! The deputy is Red Tower Prime, Vince Haidel!"

This was a formidable mass of power. There were fluctuations from the 64 war mages as they responded to the call. If they worked together, they could defeat a master. Just a simple fire from them could burn down a whole castle.

"I, Prime Vince Haidel, will do my best as a member of the red tower to support the White Tower Master."

Vince had the influence of the ancient language magic system, so the vibrations of magic power coming from his body were intense compared to those of the others. Additionally, the fact that he was appointed as the deputy not long after becoming a Prime was proof of his competency.

Up to this point, there were 800 magic soldiers, 100 senior magicians, and a group of four people, including Theodore.

"Finally, the four members of Quattro! Their commander is Theodore Miller! In accordance with His Majesty's edict, Theodore Miller is given the right to act alone!"

Individual combat rights… Even though Theodore had the right to lead 10,000 men, it was different when he was a master magician. He was literally a one-man army. So, in order to exert his full force, it was necessary for him to move separately.

Theodore knew this meaning and bowed respectfully. "I, Prime Theodore Miller, will do my job as captain of Quattro."

"Yes!"

Blundell looked dissatisfied when he saw Sylvia near Theodore, but then he faced the soldiers who were lined up. They were truly the elites of Meltor. His voice was like a light in the darkness as he ordered them to depart, "All troops! Board the ships in accordance with the specified units!"

The first one to move was the commander of the Magic Corps, Bors Carter.

"We will move! Observe carefully and board the assigned ships by platoon!"

"1st Platoon, follow my flag!"

"2nd Platoon! Move behind the 1st Platoon!"

The sight of 800 soldiers moving in an organized manner was spectacular. The soldiers who had gathered on the white sand disappeared into the ships without any problems. It was like a group of people suddenly disappearing into the night.

Theodore watched the scene before looking back at his teammates. There were understandable nerves present on the faces of two people, while the remaining person…

"Para?"

"Huh?" As she responded to his call with a cranky expression, there was something suspicious about the look on Paragranum's face.

"Did something good happen? Why are you so happy?"

"Oh, you can tell?"

"Yes. What is it?"

"Umm… I'll tell you later."

Para meant when they were alone, which led Sylvia to stare at her from behind Theodore. However, grimoires didn't have a lot of interest in human relationships, so Paragranum hummed while ignoring Sylvia. Theodore looked between the two of them with a bitter smile and figured out the reason behind Para's look.

'It seems like her research has gone well.'

That was the only reason why Paragranum would express such emotions. Lloyd Pollan had been used as an experimental material, so he might not even be 'human' anymore.

Theodore cleared his head and looked at the person approaching him. It was the beauty with blue hair, Aquilo the sea dragon. The dragon had come to the port out of boredom. She naturally slipped her arm around Theodore's and whispered into his ear, "Boy, do you remember what I taught you?

"Of course. I can't forget it."

He had accepted her blood, but Theodore had the senses of a human and didn't instinctively know how to use the dragon's power.

Therefore, he had learned the trick from Aquilo on the way from Mana-vil to Ribenda. There was a limit to the involuntary manifestation of power. He needed to consciously manipulate the power in order to counter the currents against the fleet.

Fortunately, Theodore was successful in his efforts. His widespread dominance over the sea had reached a level where he could somehow control the flow of the currents. The fact that he was keeping the moisture around his body at a pleasant state was proof of this.

"Well, this is just the basics. There should be no problems if you don't encounter a typhoon."

"Is that so?"

Aquilo nodded before saying goodbye in a low voice, "Then Boy, have a good trip. We will meet again, so you better not die in a place that I can't see."

"…What a bloody goodbye."

"It is an ordinary saying for dragons."

He really had no idea if it was a joke or not as Aquilo left without a backward glance. How many people had a dragon said goodbye to after living for thousands of years? Perhaps this coldness was the result of that.

Theodore watched her leave for a while before acting.

Huuung…

He used Levitation. It was a basic magic which allowed him to float in the air, but when combined with directional wind magic, it became possible to fly at low speeds. His red robe flapped as he rose from the sand toward Quattro's ship.

Theodore's ship was at the head of the fleet. It was a position for a major figure in the fleet, but the situation was different this time.

This was a sea where the south wind blew extensively. If Theodore didn't open up the sea before him, this fleet might be pushed back to the sand instead of moving forward. As the wind blew with enough force to break the sails, the people's gazes naturally focused on Theodore.

'Hoo… Let's try it like I practiced.'

If he failed here, the disruption would be huge. It would take a week to change the route of entry from Port Ribenda to land. Then the Soldun Kingdom would fall into the hands of Lairon and Andras.

Theodore was carrying a heavy responsibility. His eyes flashed as he gazed at the horizon. The color of the horizon was similar to Aquilo's fluorescent color. As he faced the flow of water, Theodore dared to use the dragon language which wasn't originally allowed for humans.

「море, Откройте путь (Sea, open the way)!」

He could only use Dragon Words three times a day, but there was no better way to add power. Theodore's voice wasn't loud, but his words pierced through the wild winds. Dragon Words, a language which dominated nature, transcended the laws of physics.

Then it happened after that. Suddenly, the wind blowing from the south to the north subsided and started to move in the opposite direction. The rough sea currents calmed down, and the waves moved toward the south.

The soldiers knew magic, and they couldn't help letting out exclamations of surprise.

"T-This…? Is that Theodore's magic?"

"No, this is ridiculous… Even weather magic can't change the sea…!"

"T-The sea! The sea is reversing!"

It was just like the soldier shouted. The sea was reversing. The south wind changed into the north wind, and the waves were moving in the opposite direction.

The winds inflated the sails of the fleet with a force so strong it seemed like the anchors would be pulled out of the seabed. It was a miracle where the enemy became a friend, and the adverse conditions were reversed.

When they realized the opportunity, the commanders raised their voices.

"Depart! Raise the anchors!"

"Helmsman! Don't miss this no matter what!"

The voices of White Tower Master Orta and Viscount Carter entered Theodore's ears. Despite the feeling of defeating the impossible, he couldn't help feeling anxious about the future. The cumulonimbus thunderstorm on the distant horizon seemed to add to this anxiety.

Kwarurung…!

His senses had become much sharper after Mitra's flowering, so they didn't let relax his guard.

'Maybe this trip won't go smoothly.'

The Lairon Kingdom and the Andras Empire, both were enemies of Meltor. If they prepared for war after the truce, the damage wouldn't be small. It was obvious that their power would be aimed at Meltor. This civil war was a fight to see who could gain a better advantage in preparation for that war.

Theodore looked ahead and saw the future. The horizon before him was shrouded in dark clouds and lightning.

Chapter 214 – The Swirl of a Civil War (1)

After leaving Ribenda, the voyage of the expedition was very smooth. Thanks to Theodore, the fleet slid through the sea using the momentum of the wind. The waves which should have caught the hull were pushed back, and the wind greatly inflated the sails.

Furthermore, the 'Sea Dragon's Blessing' changed the direction of the wind and waves. The manifestation of this imperfect power was because the user was Theodore.

[Sea Dragon's Blessing]

[The power which comes from the blood of Aquilo, the sea dragon who dominates the sea, is given to the owner. As a sea dragon dominates the sea, a person with the Sea Dragon's Blessing won't die on the sea due to natural causes. If the power increases, you can even breathe in water.

* Your ship will be given additional acceleration.

* You can transcend the environmental disadvantages of the sea.

* The wind and wave directions applied to you will always be favorable.

* You are still unfamiliar with using this power. You can't increase or decrease the wind and wave power.]

Theodore stood at the prow of the ship and looked at the information window again. He remembered the words he'd heard while learning from Aquilo.

'If I accept more of Aquilo's blood or continue to use it, this power will grow…?'

The former required a corresponding price, while the latter couldn't be done in the short-term. However, he felt like he was becoming more familiar with manipulating the currents. Unlike at the beginning when he hadn't been able to concentrate on anything else, he now had room to think.

Theodore stood on the deck and watched the rough currents. After a long period of concentration, it felt like his whole body was exhausted. He might have fainted if he hadn't trained his mental power.

"Sir Theodore." At that moment, a man approached Theodore, who had barely calmed his wobbly body. The person wore a luxurious cloak, had several artifacts, and wore light armor mixed with mithril. It was practical yet stylish.

Theodore immediately noticed the identity of the person and greeted, "How are you doing, Viscount Carter?"

It was Bors Carter, the veteran magician who was the commander of the magic troops in this expedition. He was famous for his 'red flame.'

Carter responded to Theodore's question with a confused expression, "Please speak more informally. We have left home and are heading to the battlefield, so we must thoroughly keep the hierarchy."

"…I will accept your advice, Viscount."

"Thank you."

It was as Carter said. Theodore was an honorary marquis, so his status was higher than that of Viscount Bors. Additionally, Theodore was the commander of a unit and had the same authority as the White Tower Master.

'I never dreamed it would turn out like this.'

Aside from what was right and wrong, it felt strange as Theodore was younger and more immature. Carter was a prominent nobleman and veteran who had experienced war in the past, so Theodore must seem like an upstart.

Yet Carter's attitude was politer than expected, so Theodore asked with a puzzled expression, "Apart from the advice, I will ask you once again… Why has the Viscount come to find me?"

"It is nothing big. We will be having a life and death experience together soon, so I thought we could become more familiar with each other."

"..."

However, Theodore couldn't accept the remark and looked at Carter. It was because Carter seemed like he had something else to say to Theodore. The two men looked at each other silently for a moment.

However, the silence didn't last long. Carter gazed into Theodore's eyes before letting out a heavy sigh, "Hoo, I understand. I came here to apologize for my rude actions toward Lord Theodore."

"Viscount's rude actions?"

"The incident that happened during the academy."

'The academy.' Theodore hadn't been able to understand what Carter was saying until he heard those words.

'Garcia Carter.'

In the first battle magic class, Carter had fought with Theodore and tried to keep his pride by using an artifact. That naughty person was Viscount Carter's son. Theodore understood the meaning of Viscount Carter's apology and glanced up.

The viscount didn't know how to interpret Theodore's expression and continued speaking, "My child almost caused a disaster. I will be sure to pay you back according to the Carter family's honor once this expedition ends."

Bors was serious. There was no flickering in Bors' deep eyes, so Theodore didn't doubt the authenticity of his words. Unlike many nobles, Bors wasn't arrogant. So, Theodore was impressed with the excellence of Commander Bors. Bors wanted to eliminate any discord before the full-scale civil war began. His apology was good so Theodore acted accordingly.

"No, I have already forgotten about it. Do we need to make a fuss about the past when we have such great responsibilities toward the country?"

The viscount looked at him with admiration for a while before bowing politely. The younger the age, the more gripped with emotions a person was. However, Theodore's answer was perfect. He'd read Bors' intentions and accepted them in an instant.

"Then thank you, Lord Theodore!"

"Yes, please take care."

The two men shook hands on the deck. It was a strong handshake which shed all the nasty things of the past.

* * *

A fortnight after the expedition departed from Meltor, they reached Piris, a port city in the Soldun Kingdom.

If the sailors at the port had heard that, they would've doubted their ears. Generally, even with the wind blowing in the right direction, it would take 20 days to travel between Ribenda and Piris. There was no need to mention about what would happen if the conditions were adverse.

At this point, Meltor was ahead of any other country.

'I haven't seen this scenery in a long time.'

He couldn't help noticing the lights of the city of Piris shimmering in the darkness. Theodore admired the night view with a sense of nostalgia, then he turned reflexively as he felt magic in the area.

A white robe fluttered in the aftermath of the space movement.

"White Tower Master."

"Umm," Orta suddenly appeared and spoke in a low voice, "We've arrived five days earlier than expected. The sooner the better, but the prince's side might not be ready."

"Yes, that is true."

They had arrived at a speed so fast it went beyond common sense. Prince Elsid and Marquis Piris couldn't be expecting them yet. So, it was possible that even if they sent a signal, the response might be delayed or there might not even be one.

However, since it was impossible to wait in this ambiguous place, Theodore prepared the signal which had been written in the letter. It was a magic light which couldn't be seen without special magic tools.

Piing.

Covert Glow, the magic for the signal, was used. The light leaving Theodore's fingertip caused a faint explosion in the air, but no noise or light accompanied it. However, anyone who looked in this direction using a magic tool would be able to witness the enormous surge of light.

"Wait for a while. If a response doesn't come back, I will go and meet with Marquis Piris."

"That would be best."

The two men discussed the future as they waited for a reply.

"..."

"..."

After waiting 30 minutes, there was no reaction from the direction of Piris. Had they arrived too early? This might reveal the existence of the expedition. Theodore sighed and raised his magic power. He was going to see Marquis Piris himself.

…Splash.

Then at that moment, a sound tickled his ears. It wasn't just him. The White Tower Master heard it as well.

"Tower Master, did you hear that just now?"

"Well, I heard it."

The two people looked in the same direction, and something moved closer through the shadows. It was a small boat. The trim hull waving the flag of the Soldun Kingdom was coming through the water. The expedition had turned off all their lights, so it took some time before they could see who was on the boat.

Theodore was startled as soon as he saw the person on the boat. ��Marquis Piris?"

Marquis Piris cleared his throat and greeted Theodore, "It has been a while, Sir Theodore."

Orta stepped back without intruding once Theodore had identified the person. It indicated that he would let Theodore talk to Marquis Piris. Theodore asked Marquis Piris about the thing he was curious about, "This is a little bit different from what was written in the letter. Was there a hidden password or something?"

"Kuhuhum! No, that isn't it…"

Marquis Piris' description had been very concise. The tool to send a reply would only arrive tomorrow morning.

It would've been fine even if it were delayed three days, but Meltor's fleet had arrived too quickly. So, Marquis Piris had been forced to move personally. He was accompanied by a few of his most trusted knights.

The marquis looked around carefully and whispered in a small voice, "Sir Theodore, all these people… Does this mean that Meltor is completely siding with Prince Elsid?"

"Of course. We were planning that from the beginning."

"Oh, very good! If we finish this fight successfully, I will repay you for all your help!" Marquis Piris was so delighted by Theodore's answer that his shoulders shook a few times. He was so excited that he seemed drunk. However, he didn't forget his job. Marquis Piris pointed his finger in one direction and showed the place where the expedition could hide.

"Go that way. Outside of Piris, there is a coastal cave that is invisible to the human eye. It is possible to secretly anchor the ships there."

"I understand. I will follow your words." Theodore nodded, and the soldiers pulled up the dropped anchors.

This time, there was no need to control the sea currents. As the ships got closer to their destination, Theodore questioned Marquis Piris about the situation in the Soldun Kingdom. "By the way, I'm curious about the situation. We came as soon as possible, but I've heard a lot of rumors…"

"What, you've heard it as far as Meltor?��

"Yes. There seems to be a lot of talk about Lairon."

This wasn't a lie. It wasn't a rumor among the general public, but the agents of the white tower had clearly investigated and seen that the Lairon Kingdom had shown some movements. Marquis Piris couldn't deny Theodore's words and made a serious expression.

Then he replied firmly to Theodore, "We still aren't sure about the information. Do you still want to hear it?"

"Yes, it is better to assume the worst than to not know anything."

"Then… it can't be helped," Marquis Piris said while shaking his head like he didn't want to think about it. Then he opened his mouth, "This is a recent message from a spy I attached to Duke Cornwall. He saw a man in silver full body armor and holy relics hanging from his waist."

Theodore and Orta stiffened at the same time.

"…It can't be."

"..."

He had never seen them before, but Theodore knew of the people who fit that description.

They were the strongest swords of the Lairon Kingdom, fanatics who shielded the famous cardinals. The cardinals were people who claimed to be the agent of god, and in the old days, a fragment of the divinity of 'Lairon' had been planted in their body. Then every cardinal after that had the power of the god.

"Crusader." It was a name which magicians proclaimed with disgust, as if they were chewing on shit. "In the end, the nobles have drawn in Lairon's mad dogs."

Chapter 215 – The Swirl of a Civil War (2)

The Lairon Religious Kingdom…

As a religious kingdom, Lairon was a kingdom built upon the foundation of a religion. It was in the middle of the Central Continent, and there was one reason why Lairon could endure having borders with four countries.

They were strong. Lairon was one of the strongest kingdoms in the central region, even if they weren't comparable to the northern powers. The source of their power which managed to counter four kingdoms was a third force, which was neither magic nor swordsmanship.

It was the only Sacred Order on the continent. They were a group which resolved to recover all the remains left behind of the gods from the Age of Mythology.

The king, or to be precise, Pope Benedict I, had been the first to wield a god's power by absorbing the god's remains. He then brought abundance to dry land and gave a mysterious power to those who submitted to the name of Lairon.

In the Dark Ages after the Age of Mythology, there had been a resurgence of interest in 'gods' and 'paladins.'

"In ancient records, they were praised as holy ones who healed the wounded and fought against injustice. They were adults who directly embodied righteousness." As Marquis Piris spoke, a bit of contempt filled his voice while they walked through the corridor. "It is all nonsense."

The paladins were deceitful and more eager to exploit than help people. The cardinals toured the countries once a year asking for 'donations,' and the current pope was truly arrogant. In addition to those, the church had built a facility to brainwash children, and all those who rebelled against the regime were labeled as heretics.

At their essence, they were ruthless people who pretended to be merciful.

'Their exterior appearance is duplicitous.' There was no saying more appropriate to describe the Lairon Kingdom.

Piris looked back at the party following him, and his face darkened before he added, "That isn't all. The letter was sent with Marquis Baek's son because there is an 'opportunity' that will assure the Lairon Kingdom's intervention."

"What do you mean by opportunity…?"

"I will tell you about it in the room."

After saying so, the marquis entered a secret passage as Meltor's presence had to be hidden until the civil war began in earnest.

All of Meltor's troops were concealed in the coastal caves, and the supplies which could last 1,000 people for a month were thoroughly camouflaged. They were convinced they had the advantage as long as they weren't caught.

After a while, the marquis beckoned at the end of the secret passage, "Come on, everyone. Five people can talk leisurely in this room."

It was as he said. After passing the threshold of a damp cave, the four guests were greeted by warm air and antique furniture. White Tower Master Orta, the general commander of the expedition army, sat down first. Beside Orta was Theodore, Viscount Carter, and then Vince.

A light filled the eyes of the marquis when he saw this. 'Hoh?'

It was because he couldn't find any dissatisfaction on the faces of the other two, despite the second-ranked person being less than 30 years old. In other words, it was a complete acknowledgment of Theodore's status.

However, like any crafty noble, the marquis didn't reveal his inner thoughts. Instead, he boiled the tea in the kettle and thanked the party who had come this far. After that, he continued speaking about Lairon again, "Around two months ago, an emissary came from Lairon."

The emissary from the Lairon Kingdom had been a cardinal who called himself Antonio, and he had entered Prince Elsid's palace boldly. Despite the security of the knights, he had appeared before the prince.

[It is nice to meet you, Prince Elsid. I am a faithful servant of Lairon, Cardinal Antonio.]

The cardinals, along with the crusaders, were known as Lairon's spear and shield. A crusader would wield the power of god with their swords and shields, while the cardinals would create miracles by reciting special chants like magic.

Surprised by the visit, Elsid had asked what Antonio wanted.

[Lairon told us that you will have to serve him if you want to be successful.]

[…What are you trying to say, Cardinal Antonio?]

[It isn't a big deal, Your Highness. Just build a temple worshipping Lairon, then send 100 nobles who will learn our teachings and preach it directly to your kingdom. If you do that, Your Highness will have no problem obtaining the crown.]

Understandably, the prince had gotten furious.

[How ridiculous! How dare you make fun of me with that crafty tongue?! Lairon is your god, not the Soldun Kingdom's god! If you are going to speak like that, go away!]

The cardinals were famous for their fanaticism which wouldn't tolerate any insults, but Antion's response had been calm. He had smiled nastily and disappeared from Elsid's presence just as suddenly as he had appeared. His expression had shown that Elsid would regret that day's decision.

The marquis explained up to there and sighed with a tired face. Anger boiled inside him as he thought about it again. Antonio had snuck into the palace and then threatened the prince. The Lairon Kingdom might be strong, but Soldun wasn't a weak kingdom. Antonio's words weren't a proposal or advice but an insult.

"Still," Orta muttered after listening to the story. "It is unprecedented. If we refuse the impossible conditions, they will go to the other side. We are heretics who rejected god's grace."

���…Is that a justification for war?" Theodore asked.

Orta nodded while sipping his tea. "It might not be normal, but this time there is a power in the kingdom that agrees with them. The nobles have probably accepted Antonio's proposal."

"Then won't it just end up being a tributary of the Lairon Kingdom?"

"They would rather be a snake's head than a dragon's tail. That is the case with Duke Cornwall."

Were Orta's words wrong? The marquis sighed heavily. "That is accurate. Duke Cornwall is from a family that has been doing independent work since the past. He is a person who wants to surpass the title of duke."

A nobleman who wanted to be king, even if it was only in name, and a kingdom that wanted a puppet who would follow their will…

The interests of these two forces added up.

Duke Cornwall was the head of the faction opposing Prince Elsid, so a direct or indirect purge couldn't be helped after obtaining the kingship. The duke thought this was a great opportunity for a revolution, even if it dragged the Lairon Kingdom into it.

However, Theodore had one more question. "That reminds me, where is Lord Baek? I heard he became a marquis…"

"Oh, he is—no, wait a minute." After that, Marquis Piris got up and pulled down a map hanging on the back wall.

It was a strategic map detailing every estate and troop in the Soldun Kingdom. The map was spread wide open, as if all the details had already been completed.

Then he pointed to a part on the open map. "Marquis Baek has received the Atron Estate. It is necessary to have his force at the border of the area containing the nobles faction. His main family remains in Piris, but the main troops have moved to Atron with Marquis Baek."

Orta was looking at the map when he suddenly reached out and pointed to a red part. "What is this estate in red on the map?"

"It is Marquis Fergana. Ah, do you know about Marquis Fergana?"

"Of course."

Not just Orta but Theodore, Viscount Carter, and Vince had also heard the name. It was the name of one of the the Soldun Kingdom's two masters—7th Circle magician, Marquis Fergana. Vince snapped out angrily, "Does this mean that a 7th Circle magician has gone against his country and joined the nobles? I can't understand it."

"Marquis Fergana's only daughter has married Duke Cornwall."

"Ah."

It couldn't be helped if it involved blood relationships. Vince was convinced by this and stepped back.

However, Carter came forward this time. "What about Earl Mersen? If Soldun's other master has joined the nobles, then this fight will be difficult."

"Ah, Earl Mersen has declared neutrality."

"Neutrality?"

Did it make sense to stay neutral in a civil war which would decide the future of the kingdom? The group of people gazed at Marquis Piris with confusion. However, he just shrugged. "He doesn't have time to worry about the regime change. He can't leave his territory because he is defending against raids from the southern barbarians."

If this was true, it could be either luck or misfortune. With Marquis Fergana and the unknown crusader, the enemies had two masters. If Earl Mersen had joined them, there would be three. On the prince's side, there was only one master available, so there would have been no hope of winning if reinforcements hadn't come.

With the addition of Theodore and Orta, Prince Elsid's side now had three masters, putting Duke Cornwall at a disadvantage. At that moment, Theodore felt Orta's gaze on him.

'…Hah, I see.'

Theodore immediately recognized the meaning of Orta's gaze and paused his thoughts momentarily. Meltor had two masters present on their side… Should this information be disclosed to Marquis Piris?

Orta left it up to the person involved to decide if the information should be revealed. Theodore thought about it before shaking his head slightly. 'I will hide it for now.'

No matter how thorough Marquis Piris was, there was no certainty that the enemy's eyes couldn't reach them.

Wasn't there a saying that if we wanted to fool the enemy, we should first fool our friends? Therefore, Theodore decided to hide his combat power. Orta and Baek Jongmyung could equal the two masters on the other side, so it was more efficient for Theodore to move separately.

Orta nodded, then he turned back to Marquis Piris and said, "At this point, the explanation is enough."

They had heard everything they needed to know. Orta then placed several models on the map. There were different models based on infantry, cavalry, and magicians. Each of them was of a different size which represented the number of troops, and Orta placed the models down based on the explanation he had just heard.

"From now on, let us discuss the movement of the troops."

It was the start of the strategic meeting.

* * *

In conclusion, Theodore's role was no different from what had been discussed before leaving Meltor. He would move separately from the regular troops. After consuming the Aiolos Pouch, Theodore had become better at using space magic. It might not be as fast as Orta, but Theodore could still move at an amazing speed.

He also had more firepower than Orta. As Theodore combined both firepower and mobility, he was closer to an army than an individual. When it came to war, he was many times stronger than other 7th Circle magicians or sword masters.

The problem was that he had to go 'alone' in order to exert his power.

"Theo," Sylvia called out. She was the first person to understand this problem. "We can't help you?"

"Sylvia."

"I'm not making a fuss. Tell me honestly. At the moment, we will just be a burden to Theo if we move together, right?"

It was a cool reflection. Theodore looked into Sylvia's blue eyes instead of denying her words.

After all, it was just as she had said. As a 7th Circle master who had awakened his Sorcery and pioneered a new territory, Theodore could tell that the rest of the unit would just be a burden in a fight between masters. They would be even more of a burden when it came to a guerrilla war.

The amount of magic power consumed for space movement would increase, and the time needed for the hit and run would increase greatly as well.

"…I see." Sylvia looked down at the unspoken agreement. "But those people would be able to keep up with you."

'Those people?' Theodore tilted his head to one side, but Sylvia didn't explain it. No, she didn't want to explain it. She didn't want to show him her jealous self.

She realized she needed more power to be on par with her rivals who had red and blue hair. Ripples started to form inside the quiet Sylvia. She struggled with the emotions boiling inside her before barely managing to speak.

"It is just this time. Next time, I won't let you go alone."