🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 44
“Did you bring the magic tools properly?”
“Yes, they’re in my bag.”
It was Saturday morning.
Bell and Sophia left the academy in casual clothes.
Their destination was within the same city, about a 30-minute carriage ride away.
‘A private carriage…’
When she boarded the carriage, she felt slightly intimidated.
A distance she would normally walk to save money had been reserved without hesitation as a top-class carriage.
Sophia, unaware that the invitation included carriage expenses, could only feel that they lived in completely different worlds.
‘It’s huge inside too.’
The interior could easily fit six people.
Soft cushions and luxurious curtains. Everything about it was on a different level compared to the cheap carriage she was used to.
At this point, couldn’t someone just live inside a carriage like this?
“Take this.”
“…?”
She was handed something before she could react.
A warm bundle wrapped in cloth, giving off a delicious smell.
Blinking in confusion, she listened to Bell’s explanation.
“I prepared a simple breakfast since we won’t have time once we arrive.”
“Oh, thank you.”
When she carefully opened the bundle, an unfamiliar food appeared.
Bread filled with meat, vegetables, and cheese.
It looked like something from noble cuisine she had never seen before.
“It’s a cheeseburger. You just hold it like this and eat it.”
‘Burger…?’
Still unsure, since there was no plate or fork, she watched Bell demonstrate.
It looked rather crude for noble food, but the moment she took a bite like him, an explosive wave of flavor hit her, leaving her momentarily stunned.
She even checked the bread as if it might contain illegal hallucinogenic herbs.
“Where did you buy something like this?”
“There’s no shop. I made it this morning.”
At Bell’s answer, Sophia’s eyes wavered.
If hearing the taste was amazing was surprising, hearing that he made it himself was even more shocking.
It was extremely rare for a nobleman—especially a young man unrelated by family—to prepare a packed meal for someone.
“You made this yourself…?”
That, however, was Bell’s mistake.
In the ancient era, cooking was strictly the domain of servants. Noble cooking was limited to experiments, formal events, or supervised kitchen work.
Even after his regression, he had not realized this because he often cooked for Kate.
“But it’s too much trouble for something like this…”
“Don’t worry about it. It only costs about 2–3 silver in ingredients and takes five minutes. It’s simple.”
Of course, Sophia had no way of knowing that context.
“…I see…”
She ate quietly like a squirrel nibbling food.
Even after finishing, she felt too self-conscious to even fidget her fingers.
The air inside the carriage somehow felt warmer than before.
Perhaps it was the coming of spring?
“….”
After a brief awkward silence, the carriage nearly arrived.
Unlike the lively streets near the academy, the buildings outside were clean, refined, and grand.
‘This is…’
Sophia’s eyes widened.
Beyond endless walls stood countless buildings in various architectural styles of the Federation.
Even without ever visiting, every citizen of the Levia Federation knew this place.
Military, diplomacy, commerce, and magical administration—all institutions were gathered here, including the Council itself.
‘The Central Federation District!’
She leaned toward the window.
For someone from a remote country, even seeing the outer walls was rare.
At the entrance, she instinctively moved closer to Bell, intimidated by the knights standing guard.
‘Huh?’
While she was excited, she noticed something odd.
Looking outside again, the carriage was traveling on a paved inner road.
They had passed through the main gate of the Central Federation District without any checks.
‘Can anyone just enter here?’
Confused, she asked Bell.
“Where are we going exactly?”
“For now, we were told to go to the VIP reception room.”
‘VIP room…?’
“It seems they sent a carriage for us, so we just let it take us.”
‘It was a Federation carriage…’
She swallowed nervously.
She had never imagined the invitation came from within the Federation itself.
Inside was even more carefully designed.
Sophia looked around in awe.
Bell, meanwhile, seemed more interested in the scenery than anything else.
‘This place…’
Sophia felt her heart tighten.
This was the heart of the Federation—Levia’s Central Council District.
A place where military, foreign affairs, research, and even the highest council convened.
They arrived.
A woman in a Federation uniform greeted them and led them inside.
“You two, correct?”
“Excluding the driver, yes.”
The woman was briefly surprised that the invited guests were so young, but quickly guided them inside.
“Please wait inside. If you need anything, ring the bell on the table.”
The two entered the room.
Soft carpet. Tea and light refreshments prepared on the table.
“…Silver and pale blue hair…”
A deep voice spoke before they could sit.
A large man was already seated on the sofa, arms resting on its back as if he had been waiting.
“You must be Kate’s friends.”
Sophia turned toward him.
A middle-aged man with a powerful build, his uniform stretched tight over his muscles.
Kaide Noxstella had come personally after receiving a request from Richmond to meet Kate’s friends.
“She should’ve at least written to say she made two friends.”
“…Ah…”
Sophia’s mouth slowly opened.
She recognized him instantly.
“D-Don’t tell me… you’re the Fist King?”
Kaide.
Even without seeing his face, it was impossible not to know him.
A legendary figure who once defeated demons with his bare fists, featured in stories and history books alike.
His red hair, like a lion’s mane, was often depicted as the symbol of a hero.
“In this city, you don’t need to call me ‘king.’ There are no such titles in Concordia.”
“Ah—sorry!”
“My name is Kaide Noxstella. Just call me Kaide.”
Sophia fidgeted nervously.
Compared to Kate, whom she often saw in the club, Kaide’s presence made her fully realize what the Noxstella name represented.
They truly lived in different worlds.
“By the way, why did you call us…?”
“Ah, didn’t anyone tell you?”
Kaide grinned.
“Officially, I’m your escort.”
“Escort…?”
“There are plenty of people here trying shady things. If I stay with you all day, no one will dare mess with you.”
“All day…”
“Well, I also wanted to meet my daughter’s friends.”
He patted Sophia’s shoulder.
Her face stiffened further.
Meanwhile, Bell reacted calmly.
‘So this is Kate’s father.’
Without the hair or surname, he might not have recognized him at all.
‘If he’s called the Fist King, he must be strong.’
Bell wasn’t particularly interested in Kaide himself, more in the architecture outside.
‘I may as well take a look around.’
He spoke up.
“May I step outside for a while?”
“…Huh?”
“Ah…?”
Without hesitation, Bell added:
“I’m only accompanying her. Today’s main character is this girl.”
Before anyone could respond, he left the room.
“I’ll be back within the time.”
Silence fell.
Sophia stared blankly.
‘What am I supposed to do alone?!’
But then Kaide laughed loudly.
“Hah! So Kate’s friend is also quite similar in personality.”
He patted her shoulder again.
“Shall we go?”
“Go… where?”
“To the place where the main character belongs.”
* * *
A circular hall made of white marble.
Sunlight poured from the high ceiling.
This was the Central Strategic Magic Council—the place where military, defense, and magical research policies were decided.
The brightest minds of the Federation were seated in a ring when the two entered.
‘Maybe I should’ve worn my academy uniform…’
Sophia nervously adjusted her formal clothing.
The smallest size still felt too large for her.
‘Where am I…?’
She didn’t even fully understand what was happening.
After Bell disappeared, she had simply followed Kaide in a daze.
‘They said I’d meet a few researchers…’
But the room was filled with high-ranking officials, scholars, and strategists.
Their nameplates read titles like Magical Technical Advisor and Senior Researcher.
‘This definitely isn’t a small club like ours…’
She gave up trying to understand.
And followed Kaide forward into the silence, where all eyes were fixed on a single point.
