Chapter 183: Inspection (3) |
Seeing people driven mad by magic is more common than it seems.
Magic has become the foundation of power and the symbol of nobility in this era.
For those who lift their gaze toward the clouds, dreaming of someday becoming exalted beings, magic is an inseparable element.
However, most people conceive of magic merely as a means, not as the goal itself.
That was the world.
And yet, even in such an age, from time to time different people appear.
Individuals who become fascinated by magic itself and end up devoting their entire lives to it.
From the most luxurious guest room in the dormitory of Ravenclaw Academy, Roselin observed the man who had personally raised that vast expanse of land.
To Princess Roselin, Dereck was nothing more than a version of Kohella who had not yet reached 6 stars.
Kohella and Dereck did not seem all that different in essence.
What was it that drove those people to go mad over magic?
From Roselin’s perspective, who maintained a critical stance toward the supposed inherent nobility of magic, it was something impossible to understand.
But precisely because of that deranged nature, he was able to take seriously even a hypothesis as illusory as the existence of a 6-star mage of the confusion system.
“After learning of your story, Princess Roselin, I investigated several things on my own. It seems that many people have treated you as an immature child who merely babbles empty theories.”
“Would you believe something like that without evidence? Talking about someone whose existence cannot even be perceived or proven only serves to have you labeled as insane.”
“You must have felt lonely.”
“Not particularly.”
With her arms crossed, seated on a chair filled with ornamentation, Roselin appeared completely calm.
That no one believed her, that she was alone, that the world was full of idiots—she had left behind that kind of useless rumination long ago.
The world does not believe words without proof.
And repeating them for years only succeeds in branding you a lunatic.
However, even in this world there are lunatics who do believe.
Whether Kohella or Dereck, all of them had something clearly abnormal.
That was the reason Roselin did not open her heart easily, even when someone said they believed her.
“I am aware that my words sound absurd. If I were to repeat them publicly, I would only endanger the position I worked so hard to obtain as heir to the throne. Do you think I am incapable of judging something that basic?”
“I understand.”
Dereck had even left Delbriton and Elpin outside the room.
Bringing only subordinates of absolute trust was a silent sign that he was willing to speak without reservations.
“And yet it seems you were alone.”
“……Not really.”
She recalled her childhood, but felt no particular emotion.
As she had said, all of that was already in the past.
“Then you say that you believe my words and are convinced that a 6-star mage of the confusion system exists and must be found?”
“Of course. If someone like that exists, leaving them unidentified would be an irreparable loss to the history of magic.”
“The more you speak, the more you sound just like Kohella.”
“It is an honor.”
“That was not a compliment.”
Roselin rested her chin on her hand and observed Dereck with a sullen expression for a moment.
In many respects, he overlapped with Kohella, the viper of Gremfort Palace, but they were not identical.
In Dereck, that sinister nature that characterized Kohella was not perceived as strongly.
Kohella seemed like the type of person capable of sacrificing anything in order to reach 7 stars.
Family, friends, morality, ethics—nothing would stop her if it meant raising her magical mastery.
But Dereck was different.
A lunatic of another kind.
He had many disciples, and those around him spoke well of him.
They did not merely respect him as a powerful mage who had reached a high level at a young age, but trusted him as a person.
Melverot’s words, as well as the attitude of his disciples she had seen at the entrance, confirmed it.
If Kohella was closer to being a monster driven mad by magic, Dereck seemed to remain, albeit barely, within the human realm.
Even so, his pure fervor for magic burned intensely.
Having reached a solid 4 stars at his age, and having all his actions revolve around magic, proved it.
Dereck Lydorf Ravenclaw, Baron of Ravenclaw, was a monster similar to Kohella, but not of the same type.
‘I thought all lunatics obsessed with magic were concentrated in the center of the continent, and it turns out there is one like that in the southwest as well.’
Roselin swallowed and slightly raised her evaluation of Dereck.
Then, with an even more seductive smile, she continued.
“I will speak frankly. I do not believe that you truly believe my words.”
“…”
“In my position I have seen many like you. People who think that simply nodding and flattering me is enough to earn my favor. How can I be sure that you are not lying just to ingratiate yourself with me?”
“If I thought that, I would not have allowed myself to enter this room.”
Dereck’s attitude was relaxed.
He seemed to understand Roselin’s psychology perfectly.
He was not someone who could be manipulated with superficial probing.
In that sense, he closely resembled Melverot.
‘If left to his own devices, he will end up becoming someone like Melverot, whether by his level or by his position.’
Roselin abandoned the idea of imposing herself emotionally.
He was not someone she could control in that way.
If she could not dominate him, she had to try to turn him into an ally.
That was the basic principle of politics, and yet she did not know whether Dereck would truly be on her side.
He was a man full of unknowns.
She did not know how to evaluate him, what his true objective was, or how she should treat him.
Everything about him seemed wrapped in a labyrinth.
“I understand that you cannot fully trust me. But there is just one thing I wanted to hear.”
“What thing?”
“You have repeatedly said that the world was altered. However, as far as I know, you have never clearly explained what exactly changed.”
Roselin let out a dry laugh.
That was the main reason her words had been relegated to the realm of conspiracy theories.
She had never publicly explained what exactly had changed in the world.
Why?
What was it, exactly, that was altered in the world?
Princess Roselin, who claimed not to be affected by any kind of magic, needed to know at least one thing—what kind of distortion had occurred in the world’s memory that day, what exactly she had perceived.
Perhaps that could become the greatest clue to finding a 6-star mage of the confusion system.
However, Roselin had kept silent for many years.
As if revealing that fact were an unforgivable sin.
She never concretely described the turning point.
There must certainly have been a reason for it.
Dereck wanted to know it.
“Ha… did you really think I would tell something I haven’t told anyone in all these years to the first rural frontier baron I meet today?”
“If you do not explain the most important thing, how do you expect the world to believe the words of Your Highness, Princess Roselin?”
“I know. That is precisely why I have lived keeping my mouth shut. So much time has passed that everything has been reduced to a conspiracy theory.”
“Even so, I need to know. I have told you several times…”
Dereck’s pupils dilated for an instant.
His expression was that of a mountaineer drawing up a plan before a colossal mountain.
If there is something to climb, he must climb it.
A simple, but overwhelming desire.
“I believe in the existence of a 6-star mage of the confusion system.”
Seeing his expression, Roselin’s face hardened even more.
That was sincere.
No mind-reading ability was needed to reach that conclusion.
“What exactly was it that that 6-star mage altered in the world back then? And what impact is that having on this empire?”
“Ha… didn’t it occur to you that if I haven’t said it, it’s because there’s a reason?”
“I ask knowing that there is one.”
“What nerve.”
“I am aware of that.”
Although he had backing and power, he could not compare to a princess of the Palace of Gremport.
Even so, that frankness could only be innate.
Roselin let out a short laugh and rested her chin on her hand again, falling silent.
There was no real reason not to say it.
After all, even if she told it, no one would believe her.
A long silence took hold of the room.
For a long while, only the hurried footsteps of the servants could be heard on the other side of the door.
Finally, after deep reflection, Roselin opened her mouth.
“No matter whom I tell it to, they’ll treat me like a madwoman. Perhaps I should be grateful if they only call me mad. With luck, I won’t suffer a harsher punishment.”
“…”
“You love magic and have lived buried in it. Perhaps my words will feel like an insult to you. Though that is not my concern.”
Roselin straightened up, lifted her chin, and spoke firmly.
She always appeared confident, but this time her expression was especially grave.
What could it be, something she had concealed even at the cost of being treated as a conspiracy theorist?
If there were reasons to keep silent, what were they?
Dereck’s gaze, filled with questions, rested directly on her.
Roselin prolonged the wait even further and finally spoke.
But what she said seemed to deviate from the central topic.
“Magic is the pillar of the nobility’s power and a force that benefits the world.”
“…”
“That idea is based on the magical theories of the disciplinary school proclaimed by the great archmage Adelbert. That unprecedented genius observed the Big Dipper in the sky to classify magical lineages and ranks, pioneered magical theory, and trained countless disciples. That is the essence of the noble disciplinary magic system that has endured to this day.”
That Roselin suddenly explained a history of magic known to any noble was strange, but Dereck did not react.
He simply listened.
Roselin smiled, as if amused, and continued.
“But tell me, isn’t it curious? A legendary being who, while young, grasped the truth of magic on his own, challenged the dominion of the gods, and established the idea that magic was the noblest power of all…”
At that point, Dereck had already held his breath.
He had a fairly clear idea of what she was about to say.
If his assumption was correct, it was also clear why Roselin had never spoken of this lightly.
With her dark red hair falling loose, Roselin opened her eyes wide and continued.
What she said next forced even Dereck to open his eyes wide.
“Do you really believe that someone like that ever existed?”
Time seemed to stop in the room.
A cosmic void, like gazing at a night sky without a single star.
In that endless silence, Dereck could not utter a word.
The thorny rose of the Palace of Gremport.
Stay away from Princess Roselin.
The words Melverot had warned him of finally made sense.
She was denying the very origin of the era.
She was saying that this world was nothing more than a façade constructed by a mage of the confusion system.
***
“Until the nighttime banquet begins, do not allow anyone to enter.”
In the Bellos Pavilion of Ravenclaw Academy, an entire building had been designated as the residence of Emperor Guttrel.
Someone of his rank is not given a room, but an entire building.
Following the advice of Aiselin, an expert in protocol, Dereck had reserved an exclusive building for the emperor.
In the largest hall of the luxurious building, Emperor Guttrel gave instructions to the head maid and sat alone.
The wrinkles on his aged hands carried the weight of years.
With trembling hands, he took a quill and a parchment, placed them on the immaculate table, and began to write slowly, letter by letter, pressing carefully.
He had lived a long life on the throne, sometimes regarded as a tyrant and at other times as a wise ruler.
A life impossible to judge lightly.
Whatever the world’s opinion, the value of that life could only be judged by a god.
Thinking so, Guttrel moved the quill beneath the candlelight.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“Your Majesty. The welcome banquet will begin shortly. The maids have come to help you prepare.”
As night fell, the head imperial maid knocked cautiously on the door.
But no sound came from inside.
“…What should we do, Captain of the Guard?”
“It seems he has fallen asleep. It would be best to come back later. Perhaps we should delay the banquet; it seems he has not yet recovered from the journey.”
“Then I will inform House Duplain. Do you need anything else regarding security?”
“No. The imperial guard already covers everything from the surroundings to the roof and windows. Do not worry further about it.”
The massive door remained closed.
What lay behind it could not be seen.
Only a deathly silence reigned.
***
“The banquet has been postponed a little. It seems His Majesty will take some time to arrive at the main hall.”
When the imperial head maid delivered the notice, Trisha let out a long sigh.
Dressed in the gown and jewelry chosen by Aiselin, and with makeup she herself had touched up, Trisha was already drawing all the male gazes in the hall.
Aiselin’s talent for adorning ladies was incomparable to that of servants who merely worked mechanically.
Trisha, who was already quite attractive to begin with, looked like a flower in full bloom.
‘I was so nervous… but it seems not yet.’
Having tied her hair up for the first time, Trisha rubbed the back of her neck a couple of times, puffed out her chest, and regulated her breathing.
‘Well… since we’re here, I’ll go see the baron of Ravenclaw’s face…’
Speak of the tiger and it appears.
In the distance, in a corner of the hall, Trisha saw Dereck entering accompanied by servants.
At the sight of him, a confident smile formed on her lips.
Just as she took a step forward, thinking of how to greet him…
She stopped short.
Dereck’s expression was something she had never seen before.
With one hand covering his mouth and his pupils dilated, his gaze was sharper than ever.
‘W-what…?’
It was the first time she had seen him like that.
Trisha gave a small involuntary hiccup and held her breath.
It was a completely different side from the firm yet gentle Dereck she knew, and it made her nervous for reasons she could not explain.
‘What… what is happening…?’
With her heart pounding hard, Trisha swallowed.