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CHAPTER 14
“Even if you arrive late, as long as you reach the capital it’s fine. Well, good job.”
At Mikael’s rare praise, Radian’s chest swelled with emotion.
He finally acknowledged me! That cold, heartless man!
She excitedly tapped her feet on the floor.
“But this flame is still on? Does that mean the magic stone is usable now?”
“Of course not. You just injected too much mana at once. If you don’t learn to control your output, you’ll tire yourself out quickly. And if you keep using mana after it’s depleted, your body may suffer serious side effects, so be careful.”
“Yeah, I’ll remember that.”
Radian happily examined the glowing stone.
Soon, the light faded, and the two of them were left facing each other by candlelight.
“Magic stones are expensive, right?”
“Very. About the equivalent of a commoner’s yearly salary. Resources are limited. Still, this region is relatively cheaper because of the mana stone mine.”
The Skannan family’s rise to power was largely due to owning the world’s largest mana stone mine.
Mana stones could neither be created nor recycled, yet they were essential resources. There had even been a time when the Skannan Duchy’s monopoly over them made its authority rival that of the royal family.
Even now, although other mines existed, the Skannan mine remained the largest and produced the highest-quality stones.
“Then if you keep injecting mana into it, couldn’t you recycle it?”
“Someone I know had exactly the same idea as you.”
“D-did they succeed?”
“No. Of course not. They poured in enough mana equivalent to a fifth-class mage for a week—and it only lasted five days.”
“That’s terribly inefficient…”
Spending seven days to get five days of use was hardly recycling.
Radian tilted her head.
“Then can mana stones only be filled with mana?”
“Not necessarily. They can also be filled with spirit magic.”
“Spirit magic? What’s that exactly?”
“They are elemental spirits floating in the air. If you form contracts with them, you can drink water in the desert or create fire on ice. There are spirits of water, fire, wind, earth, light, and darkness.”
“Like… water molecules or fire molecules?”
Mikael looked at her with a strange expression.
Only then did Radian realize she had said something odd.
“Ah—no, I mean…”
“Interesting.”
“Huh? What is?”
“Most people, when they first learn about spirits, say they seem like ghosts or that they’re scary.”
“Ah—haha… come to think of it, yes… scary… very creepy…”
She quickly tried to act like a normal person, remembering that humidity changes due to water molecules in the air was basic elementary knowledge.
Mikael stared at her with an even more suspicious gaze, making her break into a cold sweat.
“Then can spirit magic fill mana stones?”
“Since it’s pure elemental energy, it’s slightly more efficient. But a single intermediate spirit mage would need to work all day to produce about a week’s worth of energy. And since intermediate spirit mages are rare, it’s more profitable to do other jobs.”
“I see…”
“Are you interested in mana stone recycling?”
“No, just… a bit curious.”
“It’s a field many eccentric mages and spirit users have attempted.”
Radian nodded slowly.
Something felt close—yet not quite within reach.
Mikael smiled faintly at her focused expression.
“Then what if we do it like this—”
“Shh… wait.”
Mikael placed a finger over his lips and stepped three paces back.
Radian instinctively quieted and watched.
He pulled a small artifact from his pocket and placed it on the table.
A moment later, light burst into the air above the table, forming a floating, hologram-like image.
Radian’s eyes widened.
“W-what is this?”
“Quiet.”
He placed his palm gently over her lips.
Then focused on the display.
Radian stared as well.
It was the duke’s reception room.
The angle and lighting suggested this was not a recorded image—it was live.
Since when has he been watching this?
Radian shot Mikael a suspicious look, but then focused on the projection.
“I apologize for visiting so late.”
“No, I was expecting you.”
The man who spoke did not seem particularly apologetic, but the duke ignored it and led him to a seat.
The man handed the duke a pouch.
From within it, a dark round seed-like object was visible.
“The Black Seed. If planted at the border, it grows rapidly and produces spores within three days. Those spores infect monsters, making them violent enough to attack villages.”
“And the damage won’t reach the capital, correct?”
“Yes. The spores rapidly drain the life force of infected creatures, killing them within a month. Even if they cross the desert, they will not reach the capital. However…”
“However?”
“I understand that the Duchess of Skannan governs the Baronial territory of Cloni. Will that not be an issue? That region will suffer the most damage.”
The duke chuckled and drank his wine.
“A man must be willing to make sacrifices for greater things. She will understand.”
“When should we proceed?”
“Begin in three months. I have other matters to deal with. Also send reinforcements as before, in case of complications. If Cloni collapses, it could affect surrounding regions.”
“Understood. We will plant seeds every month starting in three months. We will also inform our allies in Toki. When do you plan to begin the war?”
“A declaration of war in about a year and a half. We will ally with Toki and strike simultaneously when their anger peaks. By then, Cloni will have already fallen.”
“Excellent. I will inform His Majesty.”
“And the agreement regarding As Empire mana stone profits?”
The man pulled out a contract.
“20% of territory and 30% of mana stone mining profits upon victory.”
The duke stamped it with his seal.
The contract split in two—each taking a copy.
“Then, I look forward to working with you.”
“May the blessing of Vasana be upon you.”
The man left.
His footsteps echoed clearly.
Radian understood everything by now.
Her teeth ground together audibly.
Unbelievable.
The war between the Cria Empire and the Toki alliance against As Empire in two years… wasn’t caused by black magic at all.
It was orchestrated by the duke and the king themselves.
And in her previous life, she had been grateful—thinking the duke was generously sending troops to protect her territory.
Her stomach churned.
Thinking of her people who died unaware made her want to tear them apart.
Not just her—the duke and the king had deceived both the empire and Toki.
How could they be so shameless?
“Are you alright?”
“How could I be? I want to kill them all.”
“Please refrain from that. We need them alive for information.”
Radian held her head as a headache surged.
Then she looked at Mikael with unfamiliar eyes.
Seven-class mage.
The duke and king’s conspiracy.
The infamous black-magic As Empire.
“…You’re a spy from As Empire, aren’t you?”
“As expected, you’re perceptive.”
Mikael smiled brightly.
It was a smile brighter than ten mana stones lighting up at once.
Radian’s heart skipped.
He looked genuinely happy.
“You came here to investigate the duke’s household?”
“I heard suspicious activity. I didn’t expect it to be this serious.”
“What are you going to do now?”
“Well… while your territory gets destroyed, we’ll prepare for war.”
He leaned back lazily, humming.
“Those As Empire people are stubborn, but they aren’t fools who will just sit still while their land is taken. We will win this war.”
“Yes… I suppose so.”
In her previous life, they had reached the capital.
Cria’s forces, underestimating As Empire, had fallen helplessly to high-ranking attack magic.
If she hadn’t died before the defeat was declared, she would have watched her country collapse live.
“Unfortunately, this will be our last lesson.”
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes. Would you like to come with me?”
He said it casually—as if inviting her for a short trip.
Radian stared at him in disbelief.
Mikael still smiled softly, though a hint of tension showed.
“…You’re asking me to come with you?”
“Yes. I am Mikael Redcliffe, Third Prince of As Empire. I would like to bring you to As Empire. You will be treated without lack. And if you wish, your maid can come as well.”
