Chapter 60
Clear violet eyes focused on Duke Spes and Eluana.
“Kairon?”
It wasn’t hard to guess the identity of the suddenly appearing woman. She was wearing the robe that marked her as a mage. Judging by the five stars embroidered at the hem, she had to be Kairon—the empire’s only 5th Circle mage.
But…
“She’s a woman? And such a beauty?”
Eluana had known the name Kairon for a long time. It was the name of a mage that appeared in countless stories, so there was no way she wouldn’t know it. The problem was that all the stories were ominous.
Kairon was so notorious that children were warned with, “If you misbehave, Kairon will come and take you.” She was the empire’s greatest mage, blessed by mana, and known to strike with lightning or even turn people into chickens if provoked.
While Eluana tried to hide her surprise and examine her, Duke Spes spoke.
“You came sooner than I expected.”
Kairon smirked and spoke toward Duke Spes.
“You said you’d give me something good, right? What is it?”
“Is there something you desire?”
“The one that came from Dragon’s Lair. Can I have that too?”
Testing the waters, she asked, and instead of answering, Duke Spes opened a magical safe on the bookshelf. Just pulling out the old-looking book made Kairon’s violet eyes shine intensely.
She looked like a predator about to pounce, her determination to possess it palpable.
“Give it! Give it! Give it to me!”
As the predator reached out both hands, Duke Spes chuckled.
“The condition is that you spend an hour talking with me. But you must keep what’s discussed secret. That’s why I asked you to bring a magic contract. You’ll take a secret oath.”
“That sounds grandiose. Fine, I’ll take the oath.”
Even as she agreed, Kairon’s eyes were fixed on the book in Duke Spes’s hand. The book from Dragon’s Lair was priceless—no amount of money could buy it. As Duke Spes moved his hand, her gaze followed automatically.
“You must swear this oath with mana.”
“Do you take me for a fool? I can keep my mouth shut.”
Grumbling, Kairon nevertheless pulled out a parchment without hesitation.
Duke Spes’s quill floated in the air and began writing on the parchment. After all the clauses were carefully written, he reviewed them and signed. The contract glowed softly before returning to ordinary parchment.
“Contract established! Now give it.”
Kairon handed over the contract, and Duke Spes immediately placed it back in the safe, then handed over the book she had been eyeing.
“Here you go.”
Kairon grabbed the old book, her mouth dropping open. She excitedly flipped through a few pages, exclaiming in astonishment.
“Oh my! It’s not a collection about dragons—it was written by a dragon?”
“I don’t know the contents. You’ll have to interpret it.”
“That’s fine. I can do it. If I don’t sleep for a month, I can translate it.”
If not, maybe two months.
Suddenly, her expression shifted.
“So, what’s the matter? Why give me something so precious just to talk?”
“That’s Volume 1.”
Duke Spes revealed a huge lure before discussing the matter.
“What? Then there’s Volumes 2 and 3?”
Kairon’s eyes glimmered greedily.
“There are five volumes. If you achieve satisfactory results, I’ll give you all of them.”
“All?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll give them?”
“Yes.”
Five books written by a dragon—no price could match them. Not even a dragon could sell such works.
Kairon’s tone grew resolute.
“No backing out?”
“If you want, I can have a magical oath written too.”
“No need. You always keep your word.”
Kairon shifted her stance.
“Fine. Name your request. What should I do? Destroy the palace? That’s a bit much. Even I struggle with a dragon’s blessing. Shall I kidnap Prince Regis briefly? Or the Empress? Or Marquis Pegimul? Just say it! I heard you’re completely at odds with them. Even if they’re stuck in their lab, I’ve got intel.”
“First, it’s my daughter.”
Duke Spes pointed at Eluana, who stood awkwardly. Kairon finally turned to look at her.
“Ah, that child. You adopted her because of alchemy powers, right?”
“She’s my biological daughter.”
Duke Spes corrected calmly, and Kairon’s jaw dropped.
“What?”
Her head tilted toward Eluana as if malfunctioning. Slowly, she examined the features she had ignored while fixated on the magical book. Even without the blonde hair and green eyes, the face was identical to Princess Stella’s portrait.
Oh my god.
“How old are you?”
“Fifteen.”
Princess Stella had disappeared fifteen years ago. That was when Duke Spes came to Kairon with his proposal. Tracking someone only by their portrait had seemed impossible, even for her.
“Then…”
“Yes. Stella gave birth to her.”
Duke Spes declared calmly.
“I see. That explains it.”
Kairon let out a small sigh. No wonder he made her swear with mana and secrecy—a new Cantio had appeared.
For the first time, Kairon’s expression turned serious.
“You want to keep it a secret that Cantio has reappeared? If it’s a spell that changes hair or eye color, I can make it an artifact. But it can’t just be that for something so precious. Are you planning a war?”
War kills too many people. It feels wrong to slaughter, but couldn’t they just eliminate the emperor? Prince Regis could be optional.
Duke Spes interrupted Kairon’s bloody imagination.
“I’m talking about another child that Stella gave birth to.”
“Stella had another child? Then it wouldn’t be yours, Duke.”
“Correct.”
As Duke Spes spoke calmly, Kairon’s eyebrows shot up then fell. It was more shocking than the thought of war.
“How much more shocking can this get today?”
“One more, then. Eluana, bring Louis.”
“Yes.”
Eluana, who had been observing Kairon, immediately left the room. Left alone in the study, Kairon cautiously asked:
“Did you find Princess Stella?”
“She has already passed away.”
“…Are you okay?”
“I don’t know.”
Kairon glanced at Duke Spes. Comforting others was difficult for her. Interpreting magical formulas was ten times easier. She idly fiddled with the edge of the book when a knock came.
“Come in.”
With Duke Spes’s kind voice, the door opened.
Kairon’s violet eyes widened at the boy who entered. Seeing the pink child bathed in light, she immediately understood.
“Blessed by mana?”
Duke Spes said nothing.
No further explanation was needed. Kairon kneeled to meet Louis’s eyes, then pointed at the floating light around the child.
“Do you see this?”
“Yes. They’re my friends.”
At the innocent answer, Kairon sighed softly.
“Don’t just ask mana for things. You must make mana yours.”
Louis tilted his head, not understanding. Kairon looked to Duke Spes instead.
“So, you want me to teach this child?”
“Yes, please.”
“The child’s troublesome…”
And a child blessed by mana was a hundred times more troublesome. But her hesitation was short. No one else could teach this child.
Ordinary mages learn to crawl, then stand, then walk. A child blessed by mana runs from the start. Their approach to magic is more like a dragon than a human.
It wasn’t just about education. Left alone, this child would soon die. Kairon knew better than anyone how dangerous Louis’s condition was.
She glanced at him. His bright pink eyes stared back.
“I won’t be troublesome.”
“You’ll be troublesome just by existing. What’s your name?”
“Louis.”
“Good. Louis, do you want to follow me?”
“Yes. I want to become strong.”
Eluana was surprised by Louis’s determined answer. Though she had just heard from Duke Spes, she expected hesitation.
“I came to get a useful magic book and now I’ve got a bonus.”
Kairon smirked, putting the book into her pocket. It was troublesome, but considering the research funding she had received, it was manageable. Also, Louis had no other alternatives but her.
Feeling Duke Spes’s gaze, Kairon turned to him.
“Don’t look at me like that. I have some sense of decency.”
“I didn’t know you had that.”
Duke Spes’s face relaxed; he realized she had accepted.
“Just a little conscience. Though I leave it in the lab.”
Kairon exaggeratedly sighed after glancing at Louis.
“Fine, I’ll take charge. Keep the other volumes safe. Once I make the little one a 3rd Circle mage, I’ll take them.”
“Thank you. I’ll support you as much as you want. Would you consider moving the lab into the duke’s estate?”
“Do you want to announce a child blessed by mana? Risk their life?”
Kairon’s sharp words made Eluana interject.
“You mean Louis would be in danger?”
“A child blessed by mana is born once every nine years. And why do you think none appeared after me?”
“…Targeted by someone?”
“A child blessed by mana makes an excellent magical material. Taken quietly, experimented on, and eventually used as an artifact material.”
“But mages are humans too. How could humans do that to other humans?”
“You speak such innocent and naive words. Where did you come from, the countryside?”
Eluana shivered.
“There are madmen obsessed with magic. They’re high nobles who’ll lose their minds. Duke Spes will protect them, but why risk it? Being noticed increases the chance that Cantio will be exposed.”
She was right. Eluana suppressed her worry and asked.
“If Louis follows the mage, will he be okay?”
“Once he creates a mana circle, other mages won’t know his abilities. By 3rd Circle, he can protect himself. Packaged as a genius mage, even the Spes family’s power won’t expose him.”
“So 3rd Circle it is.”
Out of concern, Eluana couldn’t risk exposing Louis. She had to step back.
“Please take care of him.”
Louis, realizing he had permission, smiled brightly.
“Thank you, sis.”
Eluana playfully pinched her younger brother’s cheek.
