Chapter 18
2. Re: Life in Another World Starting with the Grand Duke (4)
Selena’s voice was filled with hostility, a mix of 70% resentment toward people of this world, 20% wariness toward the Grand Duke, and 10% of her own twisted, old-fashioned mindset.
The owner of Ariel Fortress City, Grand Duke Ruhart, should be busy cleaning up the mess left by the Emperor.
Yet here he was, suddenly appearing in the middle of the Frost Mountains.
From the start, it was strange. It made no sense for the Grand Duke to be here.
Why would a Grand Duke come to the Frost Mountains?
Even if he had lost in the power struggle and been stripped of his succession rights, he still had royal blood. The Empire wouldn’t send a royal into the Frost Mountains just to die fighting monsters.
If they wanted him gone, they would send assassins quietly. Or frame him properly and execute him officially.
So if he was here, it meant he had escaped Ariel Fortress alone and come all the way here.
…Which also made no sense.
How could he reach the Frost Mountains alone without knights?
Unless he was a Master or a Great Wizard, it was impossible to reach even the middle of the mountains alone.
But among the seven Masters Selena knew, the Grand Duke wasn’t one of them.
The current Emperor, Duke Roderfel and his son, the Captain of the Imperial Guard, the general guarding the desert border, the retired former captain of the Imperial Guard, and the navy admiral who once tried to quit everything and live freely but failed.
And the Grand Duke wasn’t one of the Empire’s three Great Wizards either.
Those positions belonged to Selena Kim, her teacher, and the old man obsessed with magic who never left his tower.
Ah… now that she thought about it, it was only two left. Since she left with Geum Ga-yeon, she could no longer really be considered part of the Empire. Officially, she would be stripped of her title after the trial.
Correcting the numbers in her head, Selena frowned.
Anyway, the Grand Duke was neither a Master nor a Great Wizard.
Then how was he here?
The Frost Mountains, most affected by the opening of the demon world gate, were hostile to humans.
Most plants were poisonous, and monsters attacked humans almost madly.
That was why the Empire had completely given up reclaiming this place.
It was simply too ruined for humans to survive.
…Which meant that surviving alone in the middle of the mountains was impossible for anyone but the strongest.
Yet the Grand Duke had done it.
“You’d better answer properly. Depending on your answer, you might sleep forever.”
And if—
If this meeting wasn’t a coincidence but intentional…
Selena layered two more shields and became even more alert.
Then the man, still only showing his face from behind the pillar, answered her question shyly—
…Wait, shyly?
Before Selena could doubt her eyes, he spoke.
“Please don’t be so wary. I only wanted to meet Count Kim.”
So he was targeting them after all.
Since he didn’t attack when she let her guard down, and hadn’t set any traps, it didn’t seem like he had hostile intentions. But she couldn’t understand how he knew.
Narrowing her eyes, Selena spoke bluntly.
“Come out and face me properly, Grand Duke.”
“I refuse.”
“What?”
“If I come out, you’ll cast Ice Storm at me.”
“….”
How did he know?
He even guessed the exact spell. Selena was briefly startled but quickly covered it.
“No. What do you take me for? I won’t do anything violent, so come out.”
“It makes me sad when you lie. Now you’re thinking of using Lightning.”
What is this guy?
He got it right again.
This wasn’t coincidence or guessing.
Selena tapped her chin lightly with her finger, thinking.
A magician is a rational being, and a great wizard is one who has reached the peak of rational thinking.
Even if a possibility seemed absurd, if all other explanations were impossible, even a low probability had to be considered.
And Selena, with memories from her previous life, had an even more open mind.
She quickly reached one conclusion.
Prophecy.
A legendary power said to have belonged to dragons, now lost to time.
“Grand Duke… are you a prophet?”
The Grand Duke smiled gently, his eyes curving, and finally stepped out.
Grand Duke Ruhart had a strong, solid build befitting someone who guarded the northern lands. He wore a black coat and boots, his clothes neat and tidy. He was unarmed.
As soon as he revealed himself, Selena checked for magic tools and weapons and felt slightly relieved.
“I am not a prophet.”
“Then you’re saying you guessed everything? That you knew we would come here and how I would act—by chance?”
Selena scoffed.
“Be honest. Why did a prophet who stayed silent until now suddenly appear before me? And what is your purpose?”
Depending on his answer, he might turn into a beautiful ice statue guarding this temple.
Still, it wouldn’t be easy.
If he could hide his presence enough to avoid her detection, he was at least at an Expel level.
At that level, even at close range, she could handle it. His weak sword energy wouldn’t break her double shields.
The real problem would be if he was actually a Master hiding his strength.
Would her teleport be faster, or would he break her shield and cut her down first?
Since he had no weapon, she had the advantage—but a fifty-fifty chance was dangerous.
If she were alone, it would be different. But she was with Geum Ga-yeon.
Even a difference of one or two seconds was enough time for a Master to carve an apple into a rabbit.
Fortunately, she didn’t need to use any of the strategies racing through her mind.
Grand Duke Ruhart gently softened his sharp eyes and suddenly knelt on one knee.
“Please don’t worry, Count Kim. I am absolutely not your enemy.”
“I can’t trust that. You already showed abilities that can only be explained as prophecy and then denied it. Why should I believe you?”
“You’re right. It’s better to clear that misunderstanding first.”
Selena raised one eyebrow.
A misunderstanding? What other explanation could there be for knowing her actions in advance besides foresight?
He was a strange man.
A Grand Duke acting so humble toward her, being indifferent to Geum Ga-yeon—the Empress known to be kidnapped—and suddenly claiming he wasn’t an enemy.
Too suspicious.
So suspicious it felt like a scouter would explode trying to measure it.
Maybe she should subdue him first while he was off guard—
“The reason I knew Count Kim’s actions is simple. I’ve already experienced all of it.”
“…What?”
Selena blinked, not understanding.
Grand Duke Ruhart smiled brightly, enough to light up the temple.
“I’ve experienced Ice Storm and Lightning myself. Your magic was impressive, but it hurt quite a lot, Count Kim.”
Wait… no way.
Selena quickly looked at Geum Ga-yeon. Her blue eyes were also shaking in confusion.
“Hey, wait. Time out. I need to think for a moment. Be quiet for a second.”
“I’ll save you that time.”
Grand Duke Ruhart—
“You may not remember, Count Kim, but you told me this. If you don’t trust me and don’t believe my words, I should say this.”
No—
“I have looped.”
The regressor said.
