Chapter 135…………………………………
As soon as Arjen finished meeting with Priston and returned, he told the Marquis that he would be away from the capital for about a week.
The Marquis, seeing how things had turned out, seemed to have abandoned any rush to push the engagement.
The next day, in a much better mood, Arjen invited Eugene for the first time in a while to the first floor of the Federation headquarters, where they shared lemonade with ice floating in it. Before leaving, he thought he should also inform the Pure Magic Federation that he would be absent.
“The western border will take quite a while by carriage. Are you going to use traveling magic?”
“Yes. I’ll be going alone.”
“Considering the situation in the capital, that’s a good decision. Think of it as getting some fresh air.”
Eugene smiled, briefly held Arjen’s hand, then let go. A faint worry passed over his expression.
“But… you’ll probably be gone for a few weeks. Have you explained this to Yuna yet?”
“….”
He could already imagine her flopping down and refusing to let him go.
“I should at least give her something to eat.”
“Will that work…?”
Eugene muttered, glancing at the attic.
When Yuna first arrived, the boy had been thrilled at the idea of studying ancient beasts, but now all that remained in his eyes was the fatigue of childcare.
The Magic Tower had purified Yuna’s magic to restore the tower master’s prophetic power, and Arjen wanted to hear the situation explained by Yuna herself.
As expected, when Yuna heard the news, she flopped down without any intention of listening.
“Arjen, I don’t want you to go! I don’t want you to!”
“I told you I have to. I’ll be back in ten nights.”
“You always make me do strange things, don’t give me anything delicious, and now you’re going somewhere else!”
“You wouldn’t cooperate anyway…”
“I will, I will! Don’t go.”
“Do what? Last time it was that long-named thing, what was it? Biscuit covered with chocolate, right? You said you’d cooperate if I made it, but then the next day you just collapsed.”
“I don’t know. Don’t remember.”
Yuna suddenly jumped up and grabbed Arjen’s legs. Her determination not to let him leave was intense.
“If Keter comes while you’re gone, I’ll die.”
“You won’t. I’ll tell him not to come.”
“Promise? Promise?”
“Yes, promise.”
Only then did Yuna calm down a little.
Arjen felt a bit disappointed.
‘Isn’t it that she needs Keter’s protection rather than actually caring about me?’
Yuna carefully got up from the floor and gestured for Arjen to sit with her.
When he squatted in front of her, Yuna hugged his neck, and all tension melted away instantly.
“Have a safe trip.”
“Sorry. I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay.”
“Don’t do anything dangerous in the Magic Tower.”
‘Judging by how she’s flopped down, she probably won’t do anything…’
Yuna nodded while holding Arjen.
“I won’t. Sometimes they take magic from me, but I don’t care about that.”
“…By the way, I heard the tower master restored prophetic power using your magic?”
Arjen pulled back and held Yuna’s shoulders.
Yuna smiled and nodded.
“Yes. I saw the dream she had after a long time, together with her.”
Referring to the tower master as “that child” was strange, but considering Yuna’s lifespan, it made sense.
“What kind of dream?”
“A soldier killing the emperor.”
Her tone was calm, but the content was not.
Arjen grabbed her shoulders in shock.
“W-what?”
‘She told us to cooperate, but never to kill the emperor.’
Had the soldier acted on his own?
‘Could it… be revenge?’
But the last soldier they met showed no such intention.
“Still, whether it will really happen or not is uncertain. There are too many possible futures.”
Yuna smiled.
“I’ll tell only you, Arjen. The tower master doesn’t even know. Because you’ve been good to me.”
For a moment, the whites of Yuna’s eyes turned pitch black, then returned to normal.
She interlaced her fingers with Arjen’s. With the “sight” he borrowed, he couldn’t even perceive what she was tracing—a universe humans shouldn’t see.
“Curious if Ian’s long life will end this time?”
Yuna whispered softly near his ear.
“I watched the world from far along the timeline. There’s no next chapter in this world. Everything ends in this chapter. Probably in the western desert.”
Arjen’s eyes widened. The revelation was shocking.
‘So something really is there.’
“Wh-what happens there to end it?”
Yuna fidgeted, hesitant like a guilty child.
“I haven’t seen that far. It’s the divine beast’s domain. And…”
“….”
“I won’t say anymore. Anyway, it’s good that it ends.”
She pulled back from him.
“Now I’ve told you everything. Will you give me more delicious treats?”
Her face returned to that of an innocent child.
Arjen wanted to shake her shoulders and make her spill everything she knew, but experience told him it would be useless.
“Yeah. Thanks for telling me.”
He popped a small cookie into her mouth and held her close to calm her sulking.
He didn’t notice the faint loneliness lingering in her eyes.
Near the Western Border
Temporary barracks, converted from abandoned mansions, were lined up.
Some of the occupants wore the Watson family wizard insignia, while the rest were in more casual attire—people brought by Ian.
Every year around this time, capable individuals were selected.
Ian recruited them by exploiting weaknesses, stirring grudges, or creating shared goals.
Those who accompanied him were usually commoners or minor nobles; higher-ups never came to this place.
Half a year had passed since this gathering began—enough time to develop bonds.
Since Ian hadn’t provoked their discomfort, most liked and obeyed him—except for this current matter.
Ian was looking out at the barracks’ entrance from a hallway window.
Mirina fiddled with her large glasses, then mustered courage and walked over to him.
“Was it really necessary to bring the daughter of Mercedes here?”
Mirina was a noble-born magician of a minor house who, after losing a rank battle in her family, made a living as a locksmith.
Ian had seen potential in her; three years later, she discovered her aptitude as a sniper with long-range magical projectiles.
“Everyone… is here for a shared goal. She is different from us.”
Ian turned his head and looked at her softly.
Mirina tried not to blush.
After experiencing several unpleasant encounters with men, she realized the most satisfying kind of romance was unrequited love—it could fill her day with just brief conversations and small smiles, without spending money or overthinking.
Unfortunately, her love often faced obstacles: if the one she liked found a partner or married, she’d have to start over.
In that sense, Ian was perfect.
He was always gentle and kind, but never gave his heart fully to anyone.
“Sorry. I need that person for a task.”
“Really… is it necessary to bring him here to bring down the royal family?”
She covered her mouth, surprised by her own words.
After a brief exchange of glances, Ian smiled.
“There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“S-sorry.”
Meria’s plan to drive out the barbarians and secure the western border was only a ruse.
Within months of arriving, Ian had negotiated with the barbarians, offering them unlimited freshwater in exchange for leaving beyond the western border.
Since then, everyone had followed Ian’s command faithfully, but Mirina still sometimes found it hard to believe.
How could they dare act against the royal family protected by the divine beasts?
Yet both Meria Watson and Ian could guarantee that the royal family would fall within a few years.
That’s why this current move was strange.
“But Arjen Mercedes is openly favored by the pro-royal Duke Devries. Why bring someone like him?”
At this point, Ian always clammed up like a shell.
“….”
As expected this time.
Mirina opened her mouth to argue further, but the magic of a long-distance traveling spell was detected first.
“…Looks like Arjen Mercedes has already arrived.”
Mirina frowned and remarked.
“Ah.”
Ian let out a short sigh.
Mirina saw his fingertips clutch the window sill tightly, turning pale.
Her gaze immediately shifted to his profile as he looked out the window. His brow contorted with emotions she couldn’t read.
“I see. He’s coming.”
He forced a weary smile at her as if nothing was wrong.
In that brief moment, Mirina sensed the end of her current unrequited love.
