TBCOS 69

Chapter 69…

“Oh, Archmage!”

Nilrit nodded in satisfaction at being addressed with the proper title.

“Archmage…”
Duke Wheaton, who had met him once before, frowned, but Count Senol and Marquis Chent stared at Nilrit blankly.

They had heard rumors that a mage had entered the palace.
Rumors that the king had magical power or something.

But stories of mages and magic were too far removed from ordinary life. They didn’t feel real.

And yet, right in front of them stood a real mage.

It was as astonishing as seeing a six-winged dragon from a dream.

“This kid really has magic power. I told her before—if she grows just a bit more, she could go straight to the Magic Tower and become a mage.”

Nilrit placed a hand on Juruna’s head.

“Oh? Your magic power increased a little?”
“Really?!”
“Yep. I heard you’ve been running around a lot lately—maybe that helped?”

Her magic power had definitely increased since he last checked. And it had even stabilized.

Marquis Chent looked as though he might faint.

“M-my daughter truly has talent for magic?”
“I said she does. Are you ignoring the Archmage?”
“N-no! I’m not ignoring you! It’s just… hard to believe…”

Ever since Juruna had returned from the palace, she hadn’t stopped talking about mages.

‘His Majesty and I decided to form a mage corps!’
‘They said I might become a mage!’
‘My magic power is supposedly second only to His Majesty!’
‘I might even become a genius mage!’

But they had dismissed it as a child being overly impressed after meeting a mage once.

And yet it was true?
She actually had talent acknowledged by a real mage?

Marquis Chent, who had been desperately restraining himself so he wouldn’t yell like Count Senol, suddenly didn’t know where to direct his emotions.

Juruna looked at him with sparkling eyes and a pitiful expression.

‘Dad, even the Archmage acknowledged me.’

He couldn’t very well say, “What good is that nonsense?” in front of an Archmage.
And mages were definitely not “nonsense.”

They were beings so extraordinary one could give up social life for them.

“If… if my daughter truly might become a mage, then… ahem! A-as her father, of course I should support and encourage her. What is the social circle compared to becoming a mage?”

Marquis Chent glanced at Count Senol and Duke Wheaton as he slowly changed his words.

His daughter might become a mage!

“I can only be grateful to His Majesty for recognizing my daughter’s ability first and guiding her.”

He even finished expressing gratitude toward Ellie before stepping back.

Naturally, Juruna’s face lit up brightly.

“Um, then… what about my daughter…?”

Humans were infinitely weak when swept up by immediate gain.

Seeing Marquis Chent switch sides, Count Senol also tried to quietly join in.

“Her?”
Nilrit pointed at Babianne.

Babianne’s face darkened further.

She had already been assessed as having no magic power. That was part of why she had thrown herself so desperately into physical training.

“If I can’t become a mage, then I’ll become a knight and protect His Majesty!”

Babianne shouted first.

If she received a decisive ‘absolutely not’ from a mage, she might really be dragged back into the world of socialites and tea parties.

Before that happened, she at least wanted to prove she had some sort of ability.

“I—I was told I’m quite talented physically! Duke Bernd said so, and the Captain of the Guard too!”

Babianne looked to them desperately.

It wasn’t their place to interfere in another family’s affairs, but Babianne looked so desperate that both nodded. It wasn’t a lie anyway.

“If she continues building her skills steadily like this, she should easily qualify to join the royal guard someday. Lady Babianne has talent.”

Lilcia spoke in Babianne’s favor.

But Count Senol’s expression did not ease.

“A knight instead of a mage? How is that the same?!”

Lilcia’s face chilled.

There was no reason to tolerate someone insulting her profession right in front of her.

“It is the same!”

But before Lilcia could retort, Ellie answered first.

“…Your Majesty.”
“All abilities are precious! Lady Raval’s ability to care for a child, Molin’s ability to make clothes, Girian’s ability to heal people! Whether it’s magic or physical skill—every ability is precious!”

Count Senol exhaled sharply and shook his head.

The king was literally a “child.”

A child who saw the world only through ideals found in books.

Realizing that drained all his will to argue.

“Do not let it trouble you too much, Count. His Majesty still sees the world with innocent eyes—that’s why he says such comforting things.”

Duke Wheaton offered comfort, slipping in a subtle insult about Ellie’s lack of discernment.

“…I understand.”

Count Senol agreed.

The king’s words were overly naïve.

“Your Majesty. Just as your status is exalted, the world also has ranks. Unless one is a mage, the highest path is to be recognized in society and become the lady of a prestigious family. As parents, we do not wish our children to head toward a lower place. Please understand.”

Count Senol bowed respectfully, then gestured toward Babianne.

“Come, Babianne.”
“…Father.”

Babianne looked like she might cry, but she could not disobey him.

Even to her, her father’s words felt more correct than Ellie’s.

Only someone at the very top can claim all abilities are equal.
From such a lofty place, everything below looks the same.

Babianne liked Ellie, but not enough to reject reality.

“I’ll take my leave, Your Majesty.”

Babianne bowed gracefully, even in trousers, just like when she wore dresses.

It was as though she had turned back into the old Babianne—who loved dresses and ribbons.

Ellie inhaled sharply at the sight.

If Babianne wanted to return to that path, Ellie would gladly let her go.
But she didn’t want to see someone forced down a path just because her talent wasn’t recognized.

‘She loved running so much! She said she wanted to learn swordsmanship soon!’

Watching Babianne walk away made Ellie’s chest churn.

“Ba… Babianne…”

She called softly, but Babianne didn’t look back.

Neither Lilcia nor Nilrit stopped her either.

Babianne grew farther away.

“…Ah.”

Thud—she felt her heart drop.

“…?”

Ellie blinked, sensing something was wrong.

The world wavered, as though submerged underwater.

Babianne’s distant figure swayed like a reflection on rippling water.

“Your Majesty?”
“Ellie?”
“Bean?”

Everyone turned toward her at once.

Ellie couldn’t answer.

“Ah… I…”

Something was wrong.

Her chest felt like it was burning—
but also freezing cold.

Two opposite sensations swept over her at the same time.

“…Hey. Bean.”

Nilrit sensed something was seriously wrong first.

He quickly grabbed Ellie’s wrist to assess her magic.

But at that moment—

Crackle!

Sparks burst where he touched her.

“Ah! Hot—!”

Nilrit recoiled, clutching his hand.

But he couldn’t just stand back.

“Damn it, why now?”

Her magic began surging wildly.

It wasn’t huge, but no one knew what might happen.

Nilrit muttered curses under his breath and cast a circle of fire around Ellie. Fire magic was all he could use, so he was ready to block things with a flame barrier if needed.

“Y-Your Majesty? Why are you like this?”

Even Babianne, who had been walking away, turned back at the commotion.

She tried to run over, but Count Senol grabbed her.

“It’s dangerous!”

She had no magic—she couldn’t do anything.

His judgment was correct.

But Babianne was more reckless than he thought.

Her refined elegance was all learned behavior.

“Your Majesty! Let go, Father!”

She shoved him aside and ran toward Ellie.

Juruna and Clearius also rushed to Ellie.

But they were stopped by Nilrit’s wall of fire.