MCFPM 55

chapter 55

The cobber lying between Rodie and the wizards flapped its black triangular ears. Narrowing its yellow eyes, it cautiously lifted its gaze.

“Ahahaha…”

It let out an awkward laugh while wriggling inside the human sandwich.

“Ugh, did you think we wouldn’t help?”
“What?”
“Why should we just stand by when some lunatics are destroying your hometown?”

Then the ones trapped beneath let out a sound that was somewhere between a scream and a cheer. Covering his ears for a moment, Cobber shouted:

“It stings our pride that wizards who only study combat or major magical disciplines look down on us. Let’s use this chance to knock them down a peg.”

“…You do realize this isn’t a joke, right?”

Cobber’s fox ears twitched in response to Sherilot’s serious question. After a brief pause, the answer came quickly:

“Well, if the East cuts our lab budget, Your Highness will cover it. And since you said you’d provide funding and lend magical tools if we close the rift, we’ll take what we can get.”

At that moment, Rodie suddenly stood up, and the wizards erupted into complaints. Yet, some of them reached out to him as if entrusting him with something.

These… shameless bastards.

“…Here. Handle it with care.”
“Wow, thank you! I can’t believe I get to touch this…”
“Gah, it’s amazing, so beautiful. Professor, did you see this joint here?”

Sherilot handed them a prototype about the size of a human fist, and the wizards admired it. Though impressed by its clean cubic design, they quickly learned how to use it by channeling their magical energy, as expected of magical artisans.

Cobber, scanning the floating blue interface, gave a thumbs-up.

“Perfect. We could even sell this.”
“Be careful. It’s cold outside.”
“Ah, it’s fine. Bascalia gave us cold-weather gear and a lava turtle core. We also have a guide, so don’t worry.”

What?

Sherilot’s eyes widened.

Before she could comment, Cobber and the wizards chattered among themselves and headed outside. Upon checking, she saw Rodie and Ren leading them.

Turning to Eonian, who had been quietly present, Sherilot asked:

“When did you recruit them?”
“I contacted them briefly before you called me. I didn’t ask them to remove it personally, just asked how to easily close the rifts around Lavre Castle.”

Sherilot couldn’t help letting out a small laugh at his preparedness.

Honestly, there’s no stopping him.

At lunchtime, the restaurant buzzed with the guests’ agitated voices.

“Does the first snowfall always come this heavily? The world is all white. Did you see how deep it’s piled outside the castle? I thought the North would have improved, but not at all. When are we supposed to go home? Mom, it’s scary…”

“….”

Sherilot stood in front of the door engraved with the Chartreuse family crest for a long while.

Leaning her forehead against the door, Eonian and Liam watched her worriedly. Eonian quietly took her hand.

“…Are you okay?”
“No.”
“….”

Liam’s gaze drifted to the slightly opened door. Humans cannot overcome natural disasters. Except for the northerners, everyone was experiencing this mysterious phenomenon for the first time, expressing fear and complaints in their own ways.

Some even mentioned compensation claims. While the castle had plenty of food and daily necessities, and they were benefiting from them, it was clear they didn’t believe it would be enough. Sherilot was taking care of the subjects using the treasury.

“Did you see those filthy commoners even get inside the castle? They only want to save themselves!”

Hearing a shout from one of the eastern nobles, Sherilot clenched her teeth.

“If the Grand Duke had been discriminatory, he would have ignored us even more. If he didn’t care for the commoners, how could he possibly take responsibility for nobles whose tastes differ so much?”

Her remark silenced the room briefly, though Heritis immediately tried to counter. This situation, however, needed the Grand Duke’s direct resolution.

“Shall I stay by your side?”

At that moment, Eonian subtly moved closer. His tone seemed to soothe her, but Sherilot shook her head firmly.

“No, you stay with Liam.”
“What? Why?”
“I know—they’ll make a bigger fuss since I’m just a worthless cat to them.”

Sherilot scanned the faces of the nobles squeezed into the gaps, all looking ferocious.

“But if you stay by my side, it’ll get harder. Especially you, Eonian, no. As much as it hurts my pride… you’re from Bascalia, stronger than Chartreuse.”
“….”
“Don’t come.”

Eonian’s ears drooped. Showing both disappointment and concern, Sherilot avoided his gaze.

Feeling odd, she pulled a small note from her pocket.

[Sheril, when will you bring me my ring? Stealing is bad, you know.]

It was a note from Odely, meant to alert her.

The ring Odely referred to was the one Eonian was supposed to give to Princess Leonat, originally a Chartreuse family heirloom.

“…Anyway, he’s trying to make me an unashamed materialist.”

Eonian read the note silently and muttered, “Is it not me?” Liam frowned silently. Sherilot smirked and gestured at them.

“Wait for contact from Ren and Rodie. My colleagues and the professor have more magical power than I do, so they should be able to close the rifts.”
“Understood, Your Highness.”
“Eonian, once the communication is connected, monitor and guide them. Close even the larger rifts as quickly as possible.”

Eonian nodded. Sherilot then signaled the knights. Pulling the rope to open the door, the pulley turned smoothly, creating a gap.

“….”

As the large doors opened, the commotion in the restaurant quieted.

Sherilot took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Sherilot entered the restaurant without companions.

“….”
“….”
“Liam.”
“Yes, Priest.”
“Is there any cold-weather gear left?”

Liam hesitated, widening his eyes slightly. Shaking his head as if to say nothing should be said, Eonian wagged his tail and moved closer.

“What are you thinking? Surely I wouldn’t go out in this weather without cold-weather gear?”
“No, just… don’t go out. You mustn’t. As Your Highness said, once communication is connected—”
“Even just around Lavre Castle is enough. If the priest is involved, it’ll be faster to close the rifts, so the situation will improve.”

Eonian smiled faintly, but Liam, seeing the blizzard outside, shook his head.

“Priest.”
“Yes?”
“I know you prevented the previous assassin’s attack.”
“….”

Eonian shook his ear as if he hadn’t heard, and Liam sighed.

“Why are you always itching to jump in yourself? At times like this, you’re just like the Grand Duke.”

Previously, Peregrin had attacked the lord’s procession. The bodyguards were no light force, yet the ruler of the underworld, skilled in assassinations, managed to separate the Grand Duke and his knights. In the process, the priest fell into an artificial rift and returned, playing a critical role.

Eonian, however, stood with his hands behind his back as if it were absurd.

“Oh, at my age, still nagging?”
“You’re only just of age, aren’t you?”
“….”

Eonian avoided Liam’s gaze and took the cold-weather gear from a nearby attendant. Liam was shocked.

“…You planned to follow all along? You just told the Grand Duke you’d stay beside him…!”
“A strategist must consider the scenario from α to ω. And honestly, if I’m to guide the wizards per Sherilot’s orders, it’s far better to be with her than rely on communication, which could be cut off by the blizzard, right?”
“….”
“Besides, my wife is charging alone into the enemy. I can’t just sit here. Cut me some slack.”

Eonian, fully armored in an instant, raised one eyebrow smugly.

In truth, Eonian didn’t need Liam’s permission. But having endured the North’s cold many times, Liam worried about Eonian, who was from a warmer region.

“…You’re from the South, aren’t you?”
“I have thick skin. I handle the cold well. Not like those with frostbite.”
“….”

Liam’s face didn’t relax.

Finally, Eonian smiled bitterly and adjusted his gloves.

“…I’m going crazy, that’s all.”
“Excuse me?”
“My wife—Sheril—is in there being blamed alone, and I’m sitting here staring at a comm line. I just can’t…”
“….”
“I just can’t…”

Eonian repeated himself like a broken recorder, shaking his head.

“…I just feel if I don’t do something, it’s no different from the mistakes I made as a student.”

Though Liam couldn’t fully understand Eonian’s words, he remained silent out of pity.

“I can’t stay here; I have to go. That’ll calm things faster.”
“….”
“I’ll get a barrier with Ren’s help. It’s not difficult.”
“…Understood.”

After preparing, Liam handed Eonian the communication device.

“By the way… ‘my wife’? Have you already married the Grand Duke? That’s quick progress.”
“Haha!”

Eonian laughed cheerfully, drawing his sword. Liam shook his head and pulled something round from his coat.

He still remembered the fierce image Eonian displayed when he first arrived at the Grand Duke’s castle. Yet that couldn’t stop a man who had crossed life-and-death situations with his lord multiple times.

“Return safely.”

Liam handed Eonian the lava turtle core. Eonian winked knowingly.

“I’ll be back soon, so don’t complain and prepare some warm cream soup. It’ll be better with traditional Northern tea.”
“Phew…”

Liam exhaled deeply and shouted after Eonian running outside the Grand Duke’s castle:

“Be careful, Your Grace!”

When Sherilot entered the restaurant, the noisy chatter immediately quieted.

“….”

Everyone looked at her with confusion, now that she was at their level.

The restaurant’s tables were normally arranged with the family head at the head of a U-shaped table, and others in line. But the guests had sat at round tables with their own groups, so no linearly arranged chairs or podiums were prepared.

Sherilot walked silently to the center of the restaurant.

The nobles watched in silence. Some glared, some blinked curiously, and some showed no interest, but all eyes were on her.

Those who noticed the table’s owner at last gasped slightly.

Occupying the center of the room were, naturally, the Freiyu Duke and Duchess.

Sherilot bowed slightly, locking eyes with Odely and Fernand.

“Excuse me.”

Speaking quietly so others couldn’t hear, she turned like a soldier. Odely clenched her fists beneath the tablecloth.

Finally, the murmur quieted, and the room fell into complete silence.

“You must be very cold.”

The Duke of Chartreuse spoke gently as his first words.