The trading kingdom, Kargas, located in the heart of the Central Continent, was close to being a non-aggression zone. Kargas had known from its inception that there was no meaning to trying to expand with force. It simply didn’t have the military prowess to contend with the storm that was the Northern powers.
Andras and Meltor… Over the centuries, these two powers had fought a war far beyond Kargas’ capabilities. Kargas had long been convinced that it was impossible to confront them with force.
Then we must survive in other ways. Violence isn’t the only way to control this world.
Power, financial resources, intellect… these were levers that all species could wield. Society, with its politics and economy intertwined, was not a simple thing. If they lacked strength, then they would just avoid contending with strength. Fortunately, Kargas was able to leverage its location to secure secret assistance from neighboring kingdoms who didn’t want to share a border with the Northern power. It then grew to become an important trading kingdom on the basis of its neutrality.
It was like the idiom that one’s teeth would feel the chill without lips. Over the years, there were a few kings who tried to snatch Kargas’ growing wealth, but those attempts had never borne fruit.
However, no kingdom would let their investment be reaped by the hands of another. In a sense, Kargas had survived as a result of exploiting human psychology. Put nicely, they were clever. However, they could also be described as sly and cunning.
「 A strong person doesn’t survive. It is the survivor who is strong. 」
This was a type of worldly wisdom. If Kargas had tried to annex territory by force, it wouldn’t have lasted even a hundred years. Another kingdom would rise from its smoldering ashes and repeat the same process. But because Kargas took a different path, it was successful. As evidence of its success, it was the only peaceful kingdom close to the North.
Austen suffered from irregular droughts, while Soldun suffered the machinations of the kingdoms it was surrounded by. Lairon, on the other hand, was a kingdom full of fanatics. Kargas was safe and prosperous in comparison, attracting moderately famous people to settle in their cities.
It’s been twenty years in Sipoto, huh?
The Old Books Maniac, Heinrich, was one of those people. After retiring, he moved to Sipoto to be in a better place to enjoy his hobby of buying rare books. He had no plans of leaving either. Heinrich had completely withdrawn from politics and was living peacefully.
… If only his hobby hadn’t brought in a new problem.
“Haha! Sir Heinrich, famous for your collection of books. Your library is truly amazing.”
His guest had a mustache hanging off a greasy looking face. His fat belly proved his laziness, while his expensive clothing hung in several folds.
The man was like a big toad, and Heinrich barely managed to suppress his sigh as he said, “I am undeserving of your words, Viscount Brahms.”
Heinrich wanted to kick him out without further ado, but Brahms had a politically delicate status, and wasn’t easy to deal with. He was a noble and a senior magician of Kargas, and it was rumored that he had recently challenged the wall of the 6th Circle.
A 6th Circle magician was common in Meltor, but a 6th Circle magician commanded a certain prestige in the Central Continent. He wasn’t someone an outsider could handle.
“… What book did you come for today?”
There was only one reason why Brahms would come to Heinrich. Brahms’ real purpose was to steal rare magic books in the name of renting them.
Unsurprisingly, greed filled Brahms’ toad like eyes. “Excuse me, I have to ask you a favor today. I heard rumors that you got your hands on Book of Clouds?”
“No, where did you hear…?” Heinrich stopped himself, but it was already too late.
Viscount Brahms rubbed his palms together and urged Heinrich to answer, “I don’t know the source of the rumor, but can I borrow it? I swear on my name, I will reward you generously.”
“Ummm…” If Heinrich believed that, he would be a goldfish, not a man. He would be lucky if Viscount Brahms paid even half the price of the book. Moreover, he didn’t want to lose a book like the Book of Clouds. Was it okay to refuse at least once? ．
Heinrich cautiously shook his head. “I’m sorry, but it’s a little difficult.”
“Hah, thank yo- hrmm? What did you say just now?” Brahms’s frivolous expression turned to stone.
Heinrich felt his heart grow heavier as he saw Brahms’ expression change. This wasn’t uncommon. The magicians who came to him didn’t understand why an old man, not a magician, would collect magic books. They would demand the books, stating that they were the ones who could make the best use of them.
Viscount Brahms had the same look and tone.
“Insolent!” Viscount Brahms’ thick flesh shook as he shouted wildly at Heinrich. “How dare you refuse when you don’t even know the greatness of magic? I am Viscount Brahms, who will ascend to the heavens in the next ten years!”
“V-Viscount.”
“Shut up!”
Heinrich had momentarily forgotten who Brahms was. Intense magic power filled the room and weighed down on the old man.
Even though Heinrich wasn’t familiar with fighting, Brahms’ killing intent soared. “Visiting you every time is too annoying. I’ll just erase you here.”
Heinrich started to regret his past for the first time in his life. Forgoing relationships and status had made him vulnerable. There was nothing stopping Brahms from killing him. Sipoto’s rich old man, Old Books Maniac Heinrich, was going to meet an ignominious end.
How ironic…
He had chosen Kargas because it didn’t choose the path of violence, but he was still going to be robbed and killed here. Heinrich saw his death and started to laugh hysterically.
“Laughing? You, don’t you understand that you are going to die?” Brahms’ fury grew as he started chanting a spell.
There were rare books here, so he couldn’t use a massive attack spell. In the first place, why would he need such a strong spell to handle an old man who didn’t know how to fight? A few Magic Arrows would be enough. Blue magic power materialized in the shape of shining arrows.
At that moment…
Paang!
The blue arrows scattered into motes, and the recoil hit Brahms. His five Circles creaked, and some of his blood vessels tore, forcing him to his knees. If his spell had been above the 4th Circle, then he would be vomiting up blood.
[It seems garbage can’t be recycled]
A cold voice rang out.
[You dare to use magic to look down on others? I didn’t want to do this, but I can’t let you go.]
“W-Who… are you?!”
Brahms may have had a rotten personality, but he was also a 5th Circle magician and understood what had just happened. A superior magician had just forcefully dispelled his spell. Someone would have to be at least two Circles higher than him to manage a feat like this. In other words, Brahms’ opponent was a magician of at least the 7th Circle.
However, Brahms didn’t get to know the identity of the other person even until the end.
“You don’t need to know,” Theo said, appearing behind Brahms. He sentenced Brahms to his fate with a grim expression, “You will no longer be a magician.”
Brahms lost consciousness before he could say anything. Magic power flowed down his spine and to the Circles in his heart. If Brahms were conscious, his magic power would have resisted and he would’ve died trying to repel the force.
Theo wanted to kill him; however, it was annoying to kill a senior magician, and he didn’t want information to leak by revealing his face. So he went for the next best thing — Circle Sealing.
Circle Sealing was closer to a precise application of magic power than a spell. It allowed one to seal the Circles of a weaker magician. The Magic Society occasionally used this technique as a method of discipline. However, Theo was a 7th Circle magician, so it was equivalent to a seal.
Kargas didn’t have a 7th Circle magician, and no other master would be willing to antagonize another master for a stranger. Since someone at the same level as Theo was required to remove it, Brahms’ future as a magician was dead.
Pajik.
After Theo finished the procedure, Brahms collapsed and lay sprawled across the floor like a broken doll. The shock would keep him knocked out for a while. It was Theo’s first time sealing someone’s Circles, but it had turned out great. He felt a strange sense of accomplishment. He looked at Heinrich expecting to see surprise.
“This is the first time I’ve actually seen Circle Sealing.” However, the old man was gazing at Theo with interest, rather than surprise. “The ability to block the Circles and the age of your voice, despite your changed appearance… It’s nice to meet Meltor’s hero, Theodore Miller. I never thought I would meet the man who’s the subject of so many rumors.”
“… You are very quick.”
Theo’s identity was discovered as soon as he appeared. The battle of Babarino Plains had revealed that Theo was a master, but Heinrich had put all the clues together and come to a conclusion instantly. From the very beginning, Theo had a hunch that Heinrich wasn’t ordinary.
Then Heinrich shook his head as he glanced down at the collapsed Brahms. “It isn’t that I noticed everything. Maybe you don’t realize how famous you are.”
Theo winced. “I never wanted to be popular.”
Heinrich chuckled. “Hoh, if you don’t mind, I would like to hear more about you.”
Theo couldn’t help chuckling too. He didn’t know their meeting would turn out like this. If he had been a few minutes later, Heinrich would be dead. This was truly lucky.
“Then I should greet you since we are reunited.”
Reunited?
Heinrich’s puzzlement was obvious as Theo raised a hand to his face and changed to the face he had been using the last time he was in Sipoto. Heinrich wouldn’t need any more explanations.
Indeed, as Theo thought, Heinrich’s eyes widened. “… Huh, d-don’t tell me?”
“Yes, you’re correct.” Theo was satisfied with Heinrich’s reaction and nodded. “Thank you for your graciousness at the underground auction house, Sir Heinrich.”