The conversation ended with Elsid’s gift. An alliance might be established, but Orta didn’t have the full authority to negotiate the minutiae. He needed to clear it with Kurt III first.
Thus, the magicians decided to return to their quarters. Vince and Carter followed their guides, while Orta accompanied Theo. They were heading for another private room, where two defectors, Randolph and Rebecca Clovis, the successors of Clovis who once excelled in the empire as one of the Seven Swords, were hiding after defecting from Andras.
Knock, knock.
The senses of a swordmaster would’ve noticed their approach a long time ago, so Theo knocked without any worries. Unsurprisingly, the door opened as soon as he raised his hand.
“Ah, you’ve come?”
Randolph greeted Theo as cheerfully as usual, but he looked awkward when he saw Orta. Randolph’s intuition sensed that Orta was strong, so he was still rather wary. Theo could feel the tension in the air.
Randolph continued awkwardly, “… It looks like you didn’t come to play, but would you like some tea?”
Theo smiled wryly and shook his head. “No, that’s okay. White Tower Master?”
Orta nodded and crossed the threshold. “I would like a drink.”
Theo followed, closing the door behind him. He quickly erected a sound barrier around the room. It was a rare spell that could deceive a sword master’s senses, but a magician always needed to be prepared for the worst. In this case, someone was watching Theo very carefully.
After he was done, Theo turned to face her.
“Good evening, Sir Theo.”
She had shoulder length blonde hair and green eyes. However, they were different from Ellenoa’s verdant eyes. Her pale skin gave away her noble heritage, but her firmly disciplined body showed that she didn’t grow up as a greenhouse flower. If a bard were to describe her, he would call her a manly beauty.
Rebecca Clovis was truly a knight.
Theo replied, “… Good evening. How are you feeling?”
She shook her head, “I’m okay. I wasn’t injured in the first place.”
Pan Helliones hadn’t injured Rebecca while binding her. He hadn’t wanted her to be injured by an enemy while she was restrained. In fact, Theo was the one in worse condition between them.
“Captain Theo.”
Orta interrupted the conversation between the two of them. He looked down at the black tea Randolph handed him before sighing and placing it on the table before speaking casually.
“The expedition army, including myself, will return home at early dawn in two days. The war magicians are one of Meltor’s core assets, so they can’t stay away for too long.”
Theo nodded. “Yes, I’m aware of that.”
“The magic circle to transport them will also be done by that time. The problem is… your body’s condition is worse than I thought.”
The Clovis siblings’ expressions stiffened.
Orta tapped his index finger on the table. “Your Circles were very overloaded. It’s an uncommon phenomenon for a 7th Circle magician, but perhaps it will yield fruit on the way to the next level, and the symptoms will improve over time. But…”
Theo interrupted, “I won’t be able to go through the long distance transfer.”
“… That’s right,” Orta confirmed heavily. “It may only be a twinge for you right now, but long-distance space travel will exacerbate your current injuries. However, we can’t keep the troops in Soldun until you are healed.”
“I understand, Tower Master.”
Theo’s body was important, but the war magicians were Meltor’s precious lifeline. They couldn’t just be left in Soldun Kingdom. Theo was well aware of their importance.
Orta’s decision was correct, but Theo had a favor to ask. “Then please look after these two.”
Apart from their relationship with Theo, Randolph and Rebecca were ultimately defectors from an enemy kingdom. There might be those who doubted their intentions, or even those who might use them to get closer to Theo. However, if the White Tower Master was looking after them, then any trouble would be nipped in the bud.
“..I’ll do so. Don’t forget that you are ultimately responsible for guaranteeing their identity.”
Theo nodded firmly. “Of course.”
“Hrmm.”
Orta had expressed everything he wanted to. He finished his tea and left the room with a simple goodbye. Perhaps that was his own consideration. No matter who they were to Theo, Orta was still a stranger to the Clovis siblings. He would only hamper their conversation if he stayed.
Randolph looked at Theo curiously. “Theo, is that person reliable?”
“Yes…” It was an unexpected question but Theo replied quickly.
Randolph stared at the closed door speculatively. “A worthy ally?”
Theo smiled bitterly. “… That is for certain. You should never be careless around him, and it’s impossible to see his depths. He’s a reassuring ally, but I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if he were an enemy.”
It couldn’t be helped. Orta was a completely different type of person from Veronica and Blundell, who were open about their temperaments. Orta didn’t care about right and wrong in pursuit of his objectives, and used whatever method was necessary to defeat his target, even if it was cowardly. In some ways, he was more of an assassin than an actual assassin. It was no wonder that Kurt put him in charge of important missions outside the kingdom.
Theo, Randolph, and Rebecca spent some time catching up. They talked about what had happened after their separation in the Sipoto wilderness, the reunion with Rebecca, thrashing the rotten elders of their family, and so on.
As Theo listened to their stories, he would occasionally laugh loudly or smile darkly. They were bitter, even depressing, but even so, they would laugh. The places and events were different, but they could congratulate each other on where they ended up after.
When they ran out of things to talk about, Theo smiled and got up from the chair.
Sururung.
Rebecca abruptly pulled out her sword and walked toward him. Theo didn’t feel any hostility, but it was natural to be confused. However, it was nothing compared to what followed.
“I swear on the Clovis name, this body…”
Randolph’s eyes widened as he recognized the phrasing, while Theo remained silent because he didn’t know what was going on.
Rebecca’s words echoed in the room, “From now on, this body will serve you like a piece of steel. I swear that this body may break and melt, but it will never bend. My heart will jump at your command, or stop at your command.”
Randolph stuttered, “R-Rebecca?”
“I will serve you until the day that the sun no longer sets.”
Rebecca reversed the sword she held in his hand, placed her right knee on the ground and bowed deeply. Theo didn’t know the meaning of this gesture, but he could feel the weight behind it. It was a covenant a knight of Andras used when they wanted to serve a master for the rest of their life.
“Rebecca, Clovis’s daughter, sees her master.”
Rebecca raised her sword with both hands, laughing with an expression that Theo had never seen on her face.
***
“Hah…” Theo sighed as he fell back onto his bed.
Setting aside his physical fatigue, Rebecca’s vow was very shocking. It was something that a warrior could only do once in their lives. A knight who swore this oath devoted their life and death to their master. Randolph had sighed heavily as he explained it to Theo.
– Sigh, I am asking this of you.
Randolph didn’t even try to persuade her, probably because he felt the weight of her words and her stubbornness. She never would’ve made such an oath if she could be swayed so easily. His only sister had become the subordinate of his friend. Theo was reliable. However, as Rebecca’s brother, it was natural for Randolph to feel disturbed.
Rebecca’s words still remained in Theo’s ears.
I won’t follow My Lord right now.?
Her face had filled with joy as she placed a hand over her heart.
This body of mine is not yet able to be your sword and protect you.I will come find you again on the day when I won’t be a burden to you.
Rebecca said she would become a swordmaster for Theo and then stubbornly bowed her head. She showed her intention to fulfill her oath, even if he refused. Theo reluctantly accepted her sword and returned it. As a result, an unofficial relationship formed between the two.
“… Well, it can’t be helped.”
Fortunately, he couldn’t find any feelings of affection on her face. He already had a courtship with Ellenoa, so fortunately the situation hadn’t become more complicated. Right now, Theo’s current capabilities were more important than Rebecca’s actions.
Let’s think about something else instead.?
After all, he wouldn’t find an answer to the problem with Rebecca even if he wrestled with it all night.
Let’s replay the fight against Pan Helliones.
It was easier to think about magic than love. His body tensed as soon as he imagined Pan Helliones’ face. The 4th Sword of Andras had reduced a mountain to rubble in a single blow. It wasn’t the first time Theo had faced a sword master, but it had broadened his horizons.
Additionally, it helped him to realize what he lacked.
I fought too crudely. If I’d used my techniques effectively, I wouldn’t have had to gamble with Abraxas.
Theo’s prowess already exceeded those of a normal master. He had the fires of Muspelheim, the blood of a sea dragon, the divinity of the wind, and the divinity of Mother Earth. He also had the dimensional abilities of Umbra and Forced Harmonization. He had many options.
What if he had moved Hellfire through space by exploiting Dimensional Leave?
What if he had bombarded Pan Helliones from all directions with lightning strikes?
What if he had used Mitra’s power to soften the ground?
He could come up with more than a few solutions now, but he hadn’t been able to come up with any of them in the heat of battle. Why hadn’t he considered these ideas at the time? He had stayed cool in his own way, but he still hadn’t been thinking calmly.
… This is the problem with having too many powers.
Each of his skills were ultimate abilities if they were polished to the pinnacle. Umbra, Muspelheim, sea dragon, Mother Earth, wind god…
A magician would normally devote their life to studying one ability, while Theo was trying to grasp all of them. Was this greedy method wrong?
– Don’t misunderstand.?
Gluttony trampled on the anxiety which sprouted within Theo.
– This diversity is User’s strength.Right now, it is meaningless to pursue another path.You will eventually reach the peak of all of them as you combine them.
… Is that so?
– That’s right.You can fill up what you are lacking.Eat them, eat everything.There is no reason for User to feel ignorant.
Indeed, it was a remark typical of a gluttonous grimoire. Theo couldn’t help laughing as he acknowledged that Gluttony had a point.
If Theo consolidated his powers into one, he would surely become stronger. However, he couldn’t relax before it was consolidated. It was currently too difficult to properly demonstrate the true value of Forced Harmonization.
So, he had to eat until it was all filled up.
An idea flashed through Theo’s mind. “I’ve decided.”
– What?
“I will head for Kargas.”
Before Gluttony could ask why, Theo explained, “I need to meet that old man again.”
The elderly face of a competitor he’d met in Kargas’ underground auction, Heinrich, appeared before him. Unlike Theo, Heinrich had been collecting original books for decades. The value of his library couldn’t be measured.
Thus, Theo’s next destination was Sipoto.