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Chapter 16
“Is there any useful information I can find?”
The thought that I had to save Elisa on my own was honestly overwhelming.
I didn’t have the power to stop a collapsing building, nor could I freely use magic.
“Let’s organize this.”
There were two things I needed to do.
-
Find out the parade route and which building would collapse
-
Figure out a way to protect Elisa
Of course, there was the option of avoiding danger by changing the parade route itself.
But that route was a historic procession road used for countless ceremonies, so unless a serious flaw was revealed, the chances of changing it were basically zero.
More than anything, it was already too late to overturn the route now.
So, from my current position, the best option was to identify in advance which building would collapse and prepare for it.
“I don’t know the exact location, but it was definitely a building with blue windows.”
I recalled the information from my dream.
Then, carefully lifting my heels, I looked over my father’s desk.
“There it is—the parade route and a map of the capital!”
But the problem was that with only a flat map, there was no way to tell which building had blue windows.
“I guess I’ll have to walk the route through the capital myself.”
A so-called advance inspection!
The building had a pretty distinctive exterior, so if I saw it in person, I should be able to recognize the one with blue windows easily.
“I’ll ask the maid sisters to let me tag along when they go out on errands!”
With that resolve, I quickly memorized the parade route.
Thankfully, my memory was pretty good. In fact, it was almost a straight line cutting through the center of the capital, so it was easy to remember.
“Gooood. Then next!”
Number two—finding a way to protect Elisa…
As I continued rummaging through my father’s desk absentmindedly, my eyes suddenly widened.
“Huh? This is….”
It was a document written by Luska.
A parade escort plan. Earlier, I’d overheard him getting scolded by my father for writing the numbers wrong, so it seemed he’d corrected it and submitted it again.
Winterwald Knight Order mobilization — 20 escort knights, 50 soldiers … (omitted) … Imperial Knight Order support … (omitted) … 30 protective magic tools within the residence
“There are protective magic tools in the estate!”
It felt like I’d found a ray of hope.
“What if we increase the number of those magic tools and place them on Elisa’s carriage?”
I confidently picked up a pen and was about to add another zero when I froze.
“Ugh!”
The signature line was completely blank.
“He went out without working!”
Tsk.
“Since Secretary Luska already got scolded over this document, Dad will inspect it with an even sharper eye, won’t he?”
If I tampered with it now, there was a 100% chance it’d be discovered and 100% rejected.
And 100% chance of Luska working overtime and crying.
“Besides, there might not even be 300 magic tools left in the estate.”
Even if I increased the number on paper, without knowing the danger Elisa would face, there was no guarantee those tools would actually be assigned to her carriage.
In short, altering the document wasn’t going to work.
What should I do?
After thinking for a moment, I closed the file and dashed out of the office.
“What do you mean, what should I do?!”
I’d just find the magic tools myself and install them directly!
If a problem can’t be solved at a desk, you solve it by moving your body!
That aside…
“Where on earth did Dad go?”
Running down the empty hallway at full speed, I tilted my head slightly in confusion.
At that same time.
Kallek was seated in the very heart of the imperial palace—in the emperor’s audience chamber.
“Sir Kallek, it’s been a long time.”
The emperor of the Empire, Bijet Aetherion, said as he leaned back deeply into his chair.
“Five years, and yet you look exactly the same.”
Having been recovering from his injuries, this was Kallek’s first meeting with the emperor since his return.
Perhaps that was why the emperor looked genuinely pleased, but Kallek—who had lost his memories—remained indifferent.
“Well… it’s not as if nothing has changed.”
The emperor set down his teacup and glanced sideways at Kallek.
“They say it’s a side effect of the Southern Grand Labyrinth? Your head, that is.”
Kallek slowly wet his lips with tea. He savored the flavor, swallowed, and enjoyed the lingering aftertaste on his tongue before finally lifting the corners of his mouth into a smile.
It was an unhurried, relaxed gesture—one that showed no sense of urgency even in front of the emperor.
“So even such trivial rumors have reached that precious throne?”
His low voice flowed lazily.
“It seems the underlings don’t know the weight of matters and have been gossiping freely. All of this is thanks to Your Majesty’s generosity.”
“Hahaha!”
The emperor laughed heartily.
“How could your affairs be trivial? You’re far too modest, noble guardian of the Empire.”
Dark crimson eyes fixed sharply on Kallek. Resting his chin on his arm, the emperor asked casually,
“So? When do you plan to tell me what happened over the past five years? I happen to have some excellent Carveta wine—how about it?”
“Well, I’m not fully recovered yet.”
Up until now, it had all been just beating around the bush—but that was the real point.
He was asking Kallek to recount the past five years.
“How am I supposed to tell you when I don’t know myself?”
Kallek sneered inwardly. Of course, he didn’t say it aloud.
After all, there was an officially established explanation.
“My mana has stabilized completely, so you needn’t worry. I secluded myself only out of concern that I might cause harm to the Empire or my family.”
“Destruction and death… Winterwald’s mana is a double-edged sword. If you can’t control it, it becomes a great calamity.”
Some forms of mana were inherited through bloodlines. The mana passed down to the heads of the Empire’s four ducal houses was exactly that.
That special mana, on a level completely different from ordinary people, represented the unique traits of each house.
The Winterwald mana Kallek possessed was no exception.
The power of a merciless winter that allowed no life to survive—manifested to the extreme as mana of destruction and death.
It was perfect for annihilating enemies and earning the title of the continent’s strongest… but as the emperor said, it came with risks.
Because of its immense scale and intense aggression, the power would sometimes clash within the body, causing its wielder to go berserk.
Kallek had used this fact to his advantage.
He told the emperor that he’d stabilized the unstable mana by staying in areas with weak mana flow over the past five years.
“Still, disappearing without telling even Elisa was too much. Well… given how dearly you value your family, you probably intended to die if things went wrong rather than cause harm. In that case, the power would have been inherited by another Winterwald.”
Perhaps.
Kallek covered his mouth with the teacup as he thought.
“That bastard didn’t look like he had any tragic resolve to die for the family.”
Unless it was for dying after giving up his liver and gallbladder for that little candy of a kid.
He sneered at the image of Alec he’d seen through the scrying orb.
“So then, is your power fully stabilized now? …Ah, a pointless question.”
The emperor rubbed his brow and chuckled awkwardly.
After all, the man before him had single-handedly conquered the Southern Grand Labyrinth and announced his glorious return.
Feeling the overwhelming presence radiating from Kallek, the emperor smoothly changed the subject.
“Come to think of it, I’ve also heard that some adorable guests have arrived at your ducal estate.”
Kallek snorted softly.
“A child who found something I lost in the south. They were caught up in a monster labyrinth and lost their guardian, so I simply let them stay for a while.”
“I see. A child in Winterwald.”
That is quite rare.
The emperor muttered softly, barely audible.
Just then—
“Your Highness! Prince Argen! Good heavens, what are you doing here this time?!”
A loud commotion erupted outside the door.
The emperor frowned.
“What is going on?”
“I—I’m terribly sorry! Outside, His Highness the prince—”
“Father!”
Bang! The door flew open.
At the same time, a young boy ran in with a bright smile.
“I’ve come to give you a present! I caught a frog!”
He looked to be around nine years old.
Jet-black hair identical to the emperor’s, and sparkling crimson eyes.
But his top was oddly worn, his pant legs a bit too short, and his hair was a complete mess.
