The banquet, held in conjunction with the opening of the Annual Magic Contest, finished successfully. Above all, the unexpected appearance of a high elf meant that people were able to receive an answer regarding the relationship between Meltor and Elvenheim.
The balance between the Northern powers was collapsing! If the people who came were just Edwin and Ellaim, they might’ve thought it was just a visit. Elves were difficult to find outside of Elvenheim, but no one doubted their existence. There were still several countries in the Central continent who dabbled in the elven slave trade. There were also tribes of elves who communicated with humans.
However, high elves were beyond common sense. Anyone who saw the unfathomable beauty and power of life overflowing from the high elf couldn’t help admiring her. The woman was the guardian of the world tree, a high elf whose existence had been uncertain. The appearance of Ellenoa, who was like royalty, was proof that Elvenheim sincerely wanted to build a relationship with Meltor.
“It seems like the forces in the North will be in great turmoil.”
“We should go home and watch the situation for a while.”
“Andras and Meltor, which one would be more advantageous to side with?”
“There are many variables in this generation. From the participation of Elvenheim to the appearance of a young hero…”
For the non-magicians and dignitaries from other countries, the Annual Magic Contest was no longer of any interest. It was possible that the war in the North, which had lasted for five hundred years, could finally end. Regardless of whether it was the sword empire or the magic kingdom that won, the Central continent would be swept away by the changes.
Some thought the deadlock would continue. Someone else said that both places would be destroyed. Another person thought that Meltor would win. Yet another thought that Andras would win. People gathered and imagined the future. The future of the Northern continent, during the next few decades, would depend on how the key figures of this era acted.
***
The day after the noisy banquet, Quattro was divided toward the north, south, east, and west in order to guard the Elvenheim delegation. Of course, guard duty wasn’t a big deal. There were also dozens of veteran war mages stationed with them. They would be able to cope with any attack, even if the knights of Andras fell from the sky.
After all, even the Tower Masters were guarding this place. There were seven masters around, including Theo and the two guardians. If he included the Magic Society’s chairman, there were eight. Even one of the empire’s Seven Swords would be torn apart if they attempted anything.
Thanks to that, Theo was able to think about last night’s confession.
[Yes, he is right in front of me.]
Ellenoa’s warm smile, like sunshine.
[I have been longing for you.]
The voice which was like drops of dew at dawn could still be heard in his ears.
“Hoo…” Theo’s face turned red at the memory, and he sighed.
He had been too caught up in Ellenoa’s beauty to think about it, but he couldn’t help feeling embarrassed now. There had been several women who expressed their affection for him, but Ellenoa was the first to confess her love directly.
High elves could only choose their gender once. At a crossroads that she might regret for the rest of her life, Ellenoa had chosen to become a woman without any hesitation. She’d made the decision with the hope that she could be Theo’s companion.
… How should I answer?
This was a significant matter which could change the landscape of the North. If Theo and Ellenoa became companions, Elvenheim and Meltor would no longer be separate. This combination of the next Tower Master and a high elf would be the bow on top of the relationship between the two kingdoms. Theo didn’t know it yet, but that was why Kurt III had ordered him to escort Ellenoa.
However, things wouldn’t have changed, even if he did know.
It didn’t matter if the bond between kingdoms was a matter of great urgency that would determine the future of the North. To accept or reject… Theo had a great responsibility to think about Ellenoa’s sincere heart in making his decision.
So, he thought about his own feelings regarding Ellenoa.
“Hey.”
He wondered if he wanted to live his life with her.
“Hey?”
… Or if Ellenoa would be happy with him. Theo was thinking so hard that he didn’t notice the person approaching him.
“Theodore Miller!”
“Ah.” Theo jolted with surprise and stared at the girl in yellow robes standing before him.
She was a member of Quattro; however, in reality, she was the Yellow Tower Master and the puppet of the grimoire, Paragranum.
“I’ve been calling you. What were you thinking about?”
“… It isn’t a big deal. Did something happen? You are in charge of the west entrance.”
“Unknown people are approaching.”
Theo’s expression changed as he asked hurriedly, “What?! Did they pass through the boundaries?”
“They encountered several people, but there were no conflicts. I don’t know why, but I’m the only one who can detect them.”
“Can you tell their level?”
“Yes.” Para closed her eyes for a moment, “One is master level, and the other three are skilled. You and my homunculus can somehow manage it.”
“Sword master… Is it one of the Empire’s Seven Swords?”
“I don’t know. However, my logic circuit is denying that guess. The Empire’s Seven Swords aren’t stupid enough to enter Meltor’s capital.”
That’s right. Theo didn’t contradict Para’s words as he thought furiously. The intentions of the other party were unknown, but it wasn’t the first time he had encountered a situation like this.
Theo didn’t know who the opponents were, but he just needed to fulfill his mission.
Beep.
Theo briefly infused magic power into the emblem at the front of his uniform to call Sylvia at the north entrance and William at the west entrance. He told the remaining two Quattro members to converge on him. Para said the two of them could handle it, but it was best to avoid any mishaps.
The two of them will take at least five minutes to arrive.
Until then, Theo and Para had to handle it somehow. Theo spotted the unknown people that Para had reported. However, their identities seemed clear?
“That… Aren’t they servants from the palace?”
Theo had entered the palace several times, so he remembered the uniform. He looked back at Para questioningly, but she shook her head with an impassive expression.
“It is a disguise. I don’t know how.”
“Are you sure?”
“There is no one in Manavil who can fool my eyes. If you don’t believe my advice, I’ll leave the decision to you.”
As the two of them talked, the palace retinue had come closer. However, there were no worrisome signs. Moreover, Theo’s senses were silent, and his detection magic didn’t find anything. Indeed, it would be ridiculous if Theo easily revealed a disguise when even a grimoire didn’t know the mechanism.
Finally, the servants arrived before Theo and Para, and bowed. “Excuse me. We have come to arrange the delegation’s accommodation, according to His Majesty’s orders.”
“… Do you know who I am?”
“Huh? You’re Theodore Miller, the captain of the magic division Quattro,” the servant’s answer flowed out naturally. Their breathing was even, and his eyes seemed to ask why Theo was asking such a thing. Theo looked for a reaction to find fault with, but the servant just waited silently without saying anything.
At this moment, Theo had to decide if he should follow Para’s advice or send them along without a disturbance.
He made his decision and moved to the side. “You may enter.”
“Oh, thank you. Glory to you, Quattro!”
“It is nothing.”
The servants passed one by one. One step, another step…
Theo could feel Para’s gaze tickling the side of his face. The servants walked past the road paved with square slabs and stepped onto the dirt path which matched the ecology of the elves.
It was at this moment that…
Puk.
“No?!”
The legs of the servants sank into the dirt all the way up to their thighs, much like a swamp. The four men reflexively tried to pull out their feet, but the ground had hardened for some reason.
This wasn’t a natural phenomenon. It was already too late by the time they realized belatedly. Then Keraunos fell from the sky.
— — — — — —-!!?
Sound filled the area. The atmosphere expanded, and the ground, which had been hardened with Mitra’s power, melted away. It was a disaster caused by magic. The eight thunderbolts were all focused on one point. Any human would disappear without a trace.
However, Theo and Para sensed it simultaneously.
“No effect?”
“No, it was blocked.”
As the ground boiled, the shadows of four people shimmered in the cloud of dirt. The 6th Circle spell which was equivalent to the 7th Circle spell Thunder Spears was aimed at the target. The range wasn’t big, but it would’ve been enough to sweep away the four men.
As to how the magic was blocked, that wasn’t revealed until the smoke cleared.
“… Cough!”
Blood flowed from Mujak’s lips, the man who had broken the lightning bolts. He had blocked the spell using his aura he had trained for over sixty years. However, he couldn’t erase the full power of the spell. It was more than that. Mujak mourned at the sight of his scorched black sword, which had been hand-crafted and handed to him by the Sultan.
“Cough. My sword… You dare to damage the Sultan’s-!”
It was just an excuse to buy some time. He had been thoroughly pushed back in power. Mujak’s eyes sank when he realized the disparity. According to the infiltration report, this man was the young hero of Meltor and the girl was his colleague. Mujak had heard a lot of rumors, but he didn’t know that the hero had already become a master.
The risk was too big! The operation to meet the high elf had already failed. However, unlike Mujak’s cool judgment, the other Janissaries were boiling.
“Captain! We have to hurry!”
“We will stay here and buy some time! Captain should go ahead!”
“Hurry before reinforcements come because of the noise!”
However, Mujak suppressed his men’s hasty desire. “No, we failed. It is unnecessary to fight here.”
His subordinates weren’t masters, so they didn’t know. However, Theo and Mujak had already grasped each other’s capabilities. They were at a level that they could take each other’s lives. If Mujak turned around, he would be killed instantly. Besides, there would be no effect if Para’s body was killed, unlike the Janissaries.
The dynamics were then tilted once again as the remaining Quattro members arrived.
“Theo!”
“What is the uproar, Captain?”
Sylvia and William, the primary candidates to become the next Blue and White Tower Masters, had arrived. They were already close to Prime ranks, so they could easily overcome the Janissaries Mujak had brought.
As Theo and his companions formed an encirclement, Mujak realized the escape path was now blocked.
“Huh, so many excellent young people…”
It was unheard of in the dried up land of Austen. Their talented folk left for other countries, while only the powerless remained to rot. The sight of parents throwing away their children in order to reduce the number of mouths to feed was common, but why was Meltor so abundant?
“Why are the heavens favoring them!?” Mujak lamented while tightening his grip on the sword.
Puk.?
His melted shamshir fell to the ground. Theo’s eyes narrowed as Mujak disarmed himself and raised both hands in the air.
“Hey, Meltor’s young hero,” Mujak called out. .
“… What is it?”
Mujak ignored Theo’s testy tone and replied, “This old man will admit to being guilty of an unauthorized invasion of Meltor’s capital. I hope you will imprison us humanely.”