IBML 23

Chapter 23

Even though I had been there once before, I still couldn’t get used to the grandeur of the imperial palace. I restrained myself more than last time, but I still kept glancing around, taking everything in.

Normally, I wouldn’t have been able to hear much, but because of the contract with Liventa, my hearing had been heightened, and I could catch the whispering voices of passing attendants.

They were talking about Recalin.

Curious, I listened more closely and caught the gist of it:

“Your Highness, how are you still this handsome today?”
“He’s been handsome since he was young, so I guess that’s why he’s grown up this way. Even the Duke is quite a looker.”
“And his abilities—how outstanding must they be?”
“I heard during the purge he made a huge ice spike and destroyed the entire palace.”
“No, I meant administrative ability… that’s a bit awkward to talk about…”
“Ah, right. Just… Your Highness really is the perfect man.”

Their conversation focused on Recalin’s looks and abilities. They clearly admired him, as evidenced by their use of honorifics. It was amusing that all the comments about his appearance came from male attendants.

Even if Recalin’s physical abilities were average, his magic was exceptionally advanced, so he probably heard conversations like this every day.

Yet his expression never changed. He looked thoroughly accustomed to it.

“Welcome, Duke Montenium!”

When we entered the conference hall, the one who greeted us was the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Today, too, he was dressed in a truly awful outfit.

A colorful avant-garde top in purple and red, a slightly short black leather coat, and beige bell-bottoms close to white, with clothes so tight they revealed every muscle. I wanted to groan while pinching my forehead, but I held back.

His face was the only thing saving him from looking completely ridiculous, and I didn’t want to waste energy fretting over it.

Honestly, I held a slight grudge against the Minister. He had been unpleasant to Recalin at the previous regular meeting, bringing up the Imperial Magician in a rather mean-spirited way.

The Imperial Magician hadn’t returned from sick leave yet, but it was clear that the Minister would continue in his post, so he probably wouldn’t bring up the Imperial Magician this time.

Still, something felt suspicious.

Even a purge was shocking enough, but a son rebelling against his father was quite unprecedented. Yet the Minister had supported the current emperor even before the purge, and he still did.

Nowadays, only moderates remained from both those who had supported the previous and current emperors due to the purge’s aftermath.

In any case, the Minister publicly supported the current emperor. That meant he had no reason to antagonize Recalin, the emperor’s closest ally.

But his gaze suggested a deeper motive beyond personal grudge.

What could he be thinking? There hadn’t been any problems he caused in the original story.

Soon, more people entered the conference hall, and the chancellor carried in a crystal orb.

Inside the vividly glowing orb, I saw the same polished face I had seen in the illustrations in newspapers.

The emperor began the regular meeting by announcing his return.

“As you all know, I will be back no later than the next scheduled regular meeting.”

Everyone stood and applauded. I, too, clapped absentmindedly.

Though my expression was too dark for a fake smile, who could notice?

Unlike last time, the meeting was filled with noise and heated debate.

I merely observed Recalin advising while diligently taking notes.

During breaks, I had to go greet the nobles I had met last time, leaving an impression of my face.

Before being possessed, I wanted to become a bureaucrat. I thought it was the best path to success— a position where I could actually use the skills I had acquired.

But now, I didn’t particularly care about becoming a bureaucrat. I planned to work as an aide until Recalin retired—or until I got bored—save up enough money, and then retire to a quiet place in my hometown or elsewhere.

It was a bit apologetic, but I didn’t think knowledge could only be applied by becoming a bureaucrat. There would always be ways to use it. Even teaching in a small village would be fine.

Even if I stayed busy, I planned to prepare for retirement bit by bit. With the spirits, life in the countryside wouldn’t be difficult.

This regular meeting ended late in the evening. Everyone hurried home, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs was the first to leave.

Recalin joked in the carriage.

“Not asking to stop the carriage this time?”
“It was purely coincidental.”

I was curious about the fire spirit that remained. But truly, to have contracts with all four elemental spirits?

Even reading the books Recalin lent me, this had only happened once—the first spirit user, Lekia, as Liventa had said. And all of Lekia’s spirits had been Spirit Kings.

Being qualified to match such a person was a bit intimidating. Moreover, I didn’t yet feel like I belonged to that field.

“I’ve finished reading the books, so I’ll return them.”
“You can leave them in the study anytime.”

Clatter, creak. The carriage stopped, and Recalin stepped out first.

I was about to get out, when a hand suddenly reached out before me.

It was Recalin’s hand.

Although it was night, the streetlights meant it wasn’t completely dark.

Recalin’s face caught faint light mixed with the moonlight, creating a subtly tense atmosphere.

I quietly stared at the hand he extended. Slowly, he spoke.

“Won’t you take it?”

Feeling somewhat prompted, I smiled slightly and took his hand as I stepped down.

After parting from Recalin, I changed clothes and went to the backyard.

As Recalin said, no one came for patrols.

Arhana and Shuivan were excited.

I decided to try using abilities in the order of our contracts. So the second was Shuivan.

I recalled Shuivan’s words:

“[Guardian will always act as a shield protecting Lasha. It can draw the surrounding earth to use as a barrier.]”
“[Growth can keep flowers from withering or make newly sprouted plants bear fruit.]”
“[Pride seems vague, but it’s simple—it’s the power that protects me, setting up a strong mental barrier.]”
“[Stay can bind an opponent’s feet. It’s an excellent defensive measure.]”

It felt like choosing from a menu. I even felt a flicker of excitement.

The training I thought was pointless had some effect. I could vividly feel the texture of the ground without touching it.

Earth was the hardest yet softest element. And sometimes softness becomes strength.

I raised my hand and brought forth what I imagined.

Paang!

[Oh! Guardian’s power. Something has appeared… Eek!]

A shield made of earth appeared, with a faint image in the center: a face whose hair was snakes.

I had imagined it after Athena’s Aegis from the Greek-Roman Mythology comic I read in my previous life.

Shuivan was shocked.

[What did you imagine to put that on your shield? Even though you summoned the shield, you engraved a decoration inside… That’s impressive. Excellent.]

Shuivan flopped his ears and jumped around praising me, and I smiled at the adorable sight while explaining.

“It’s just a shield from a book I read before. It left a strong impression, so I imagined it.”
[Indeed. It’s excellent. Using such a shield would definitely help with intimidation.]

Perhaps in the distant past. But in a world with Archmages and Sword Masters running wild, such intimidation tools were unnecessary. A few strong people would already dominate the battlefield.

Still, ordinary soldiers were being trained, to buy time against them.

“How do I put this shield away?”
[Try thinking of it returning to its original place.]

As I focused on returning it, the shield reverted to earth, filling the hollow it had created.

Arhana’s lively voice called out.

[I’m so excited to see what my ability can do!]
[You really emphasized ‘so’ twice.]

I met Arhana’s eyes and extended my hand. I hoped for healing or cooling abilities, similar to Kalian or Recalin’s powers.

But I got absorption and evaporation.

Moisture in the air suddenly gathered in my hand, then evaporated back into the atmosphere.

“…?”

I could tell the difference between the two abilities, but I had been expecting something else. Arhana spoke to me.

[Having a main ability doesn’t prevent you from using other abilities for the first time. The main ability just determines what you can handle most naturally.]
‘That’s a relief.’

Liventa added:

[Main abilities also reflect a person’s tendencies. Guardian, Growth, Absorption, Evaporation… From the list, there’s nothing suited for attack, right?]
‘Yeah, that’s true.’
[It also suggests you’re fairly defensive.]

What kind of personality test is this using main abilities? Not MBTI or anything.

Still, I vaguely agreed I had a defensive tendency. I had thought of myself as fairly outgoing.

[Being outgoing doesn’t necessarily relate to being defensive.]

It seemed like this had unintentionally turned into a counseling session.

Using three abilities this time left me more tired than usual—understandably, after attending the regular meeting.

[Frequent practice will reduce fatigue.]

I patted the heads of the spirits, a small form of interaction.