Chapter 19
That Woman Is Strange
“Luisas.”
Kaisis thought.
He already knew what the head of the mages, Duke Ariel, was going to say.
“May I bring Luisas with me?”
“…What?”
For the past several years, the mages had been stubbornly insisting on the same thing:
‘We can enter the Gate too!’
‘Give us a chance—a chance to experiment!’
‘Magic is the challenge of humankind, built through endless trial and error!’
That kind of talk.
He had thought they would once again demand permission to investigate the area around the Gate.
But Luisas? Out of nowhere?
Is that really Duke Ariel? Has he gone mad? Or eaten something bad?
When Kaisis stared at him as if to say “What the hell?”, the Duke spoke again, making it clear he hadn’t misheard.
“Yes. I am indeed talking about my disciple.”
[The character’s identity is shaking.]
As the expected warning flashed before my eyes, I frowned.
“How absurd. Weren’t you the one who said he couldn’t be allowed into the palace, Duke?”
“Yes. But let’s say we’ve built up some trust since then. The child can’t hide his desire to see his brother, so I thought I’d grant that wish for once. It’s just that… every time I see how frail he is, it bothers me.”
[The character’s identity is shaking!]
[The character’s identity is shaking!]
With the warning flashing twice in a row, I clenched my teeth inwardly.
Oh, hold on.
I’m working hard here, pretending to be an insufferable duke!
“In truth, this isn’t even something I need Your Majesty’s permission for.”
“Oh?”
“Luisas is my disciple and a mage under the Tower’s jurisdiction before he is Your Majesty’s younger brother.”
“And so?”
Looking into those arrogant blue eyes, daring me to try, I lifted my chin stiffly.
I wanted to appear as cold, composed, and thoroughly unpleasant as possible.
“Even so, I thought I’d ask. For the sake of peace and harmony between mages and Awakeners.”
I smiled naturally and asked with my eyes—
So, will you allow it?
I’d handled that well.
I should have handled that well.
Then why was the Emperor glaring at me like that?
After all that, Luisas had a great time with his imperial brother. I came back unscathed. He even promised to let me bring Luisas again.
Of course, that night…
I ignored the constant, noisy alerts from the system window, deliberately dragging my feet instead of answering the Emperor’s summons.
At least he’s not rampaging right now.
If he really intended to use brute force to drag me over, who knows what kind of trap he might have prepared. Best to be cautious.
Walking over there on my own? Only an idiot would do that.
And so, the next day…
Since I had to report to the palace daily, I sadly ended up facing the Emperor right away.
Why is he glaring at me like that?!
Those icy, frenzied eyes looked far more dangerous than usual—definitely not my imagination.
That damned man.
His aura was so twisted that just looking at him made me frown.
And now… the current setting: the Imperial Nobles’ Council of the Deharok Empire.
Which meant—
“So! Are you saying our mages are in the wrong? Creating a device that can measure Gate readings is an innovation!”
“And who would be happy if you showed up just before a Gate burst, loitering around? If the air inside leaked out like poison, you expect us to protect you too in the chaos?!”
“That’s why we’re doing the research, you damn—”
“Damn? Do you know where you are, using such vulgar language, you bastard?!”
“Did you just call me a bastard?!”
They were shouting loud enough to burst eardrums.
Apparently, they had forgotten that both the Emperor and the Duke were seated right in front of them.
Had they been drinking before this?
My ears hurt. How long are they planning to keep this up?
Sure, I knew that was their “character setting,” but this was excessive.
Every time they saw each other, it was just screaming matches.
Like they were Tom and Jer—no, those two were at least cute!
Is this really how a nation’s elite should behave?
And among those elites, one in particular—
Why is he looking at me like that?
The Emperor looked tired.
So much so that even the Awakeners seated nearby seemed uncomfortable.
And yet, with that weary face, he was staring straight at me.
With plenty to feel guilty about, I kept up my best poker face.
I just want to go home.
I desperately wanted to clock out. Why was the male lead my boss?!
Then Kaisis, eyes bloodshot as he stared at me, finally spoke.
“Mages, your request is to conduct magic demonstrations near the Gate?”
A terrible silence fell.
Those who had been shouting like a pack of dogs froze and turned to him.
Especially the chief mage, who had been passionately defending mage rights on my behalf, went rigid like a statue.
“Y-yes?”
“Your argument has merit. If the Gate’s energy can be measured in advance, it could be detected before reaching saturation. Preparations would also be faster.”
“Y-Your Majesty?”
“Very well. I will allow the mages to conduct demonstrations.”
“…!”
The mages stared at him like he had lost his mind today.
The Awakeners looked at him with betrayal in their eyes.
And I… felt a sense of foreboding.
Why is he looking at me while saying that?
What does he want me to do now?
“However, there is a condition.”
My bad feeling became reality.
“It would be best if the Duke took the lead.”
I almost hiccuped.
What did you just say, you damn male lead?
“…What did you just say, Your Majesty?”
“Why that expression, Duke? Shouldn’t you be pleased? I am personally granting what you’ve been persistently asking for.”
At that, the mages finally caught on, and joy spread among them.
Dozens of sparkling eyes turned to me at once.
Patriarch! We trust only you!
That was the line they parroted every day as they followed me like goldfish poop.
Damn it. Damn it!
“Strange. Is there a problem? I’m telling the great Duke, the Archmage, to demonstrate this uncertain experiment. It’s safest for the most skilled to lead, after all.”
My heart throbbed painfully.
Could it be he’s starting to suspect something?
Why issue such an order all of a sudden?
The worst part was… there was only one answer I could give right now.
Before the mages or Awakeners started wondering why I was acting strangely—
“…Yes, Your Majesty.”
Looking at the man with that peculiar expression, as if he had predicted I wouldn’t like this—
“I’ll do it.”
And thus, I, a fraud Archmage who knows no magic, had no choice but to accept!
But the Emperor wasn’t done.
“Of course, not right away.”
He glanced at the disappointed mages and added mockingly—
“In two months, after reviewing your research again, we’ll proceed. And before that, perhaps a duel between an Awakener and a mage would be worthwhile.”
…This son of a—
Our eyes met again.
The Emperor smiled.
“This time as well, Duke, you will provide the demonstration.”
“…”
“Why no answer? Don’t tell me you’re unwilling?”
I didn’t know what was going on in his head, but one thing was certain—
“How could I be? I am honored that Your Majesty is finally giving mages an opportunity. We will devote ourselves fully so as not to disappoint your expectations.”
This bastard knew perfectly well I didn’t want to take part, and was deliberately making me do it to spite me.
I was sure of it.
“Your Majesty! Why did you make that decision? It’s obvious they’ll grow arrogant and unruly.”
“And you know what will happen if, one day, they demand to enter the Gate itself—they cannot be allowed in.”
Listening to his concerned knight commander and the knights following behind, Kaisis narrowed his eyes.
Indeed.
He spotted the woman walking ahead, half-listening to the mages’ chatter, their voices brimming with excitement and joy.
But was it just his imagination that her retreating figure looked… unsteady, almost weak?
While every mage was rejoicing, she alone reacted differently.
He had clearly seen her lips tighten as if she wanted no part of this situation.
He didn’t know the reason, but he knew—
Hilaria. Duke Ariel.
The Empire’s Archmage.
An arrogant noble.
His rival and sworn enemy.
A loathsome connection he could never mistake.
…That woman was strange.
