Chapter 253. Coronation (1)
Calia was not some young lady putting on airs and flashing smiles in the social circle.
She was the proud only daughter of the Marquisate of Esperanza, a commander who led the White Crest Knights of the Marquisate, closer to a knight than a lady.
Responding swiftly to sudden situations was basic.
Regaining composure and finding a breakthrough, that was the way of thinking she pursued.
Of course, she was curious why something like this had happened in Roafra.
Especially at this point in time, when Grond had just died.
But even so, she had not the slightest intention of causing a fuss, demanding to know the truth.
'Whatever it is, it's obviously related to Asher.'
So, leave it to him, and if he needed help, then she would support him.
Calia trusted Verden.
There was no need to state the reason. The footsteps he had left behind answered for him.
"But, if the space has been separated… Asher, even you have no way to deal with it, do you? I've never seen you use spatial magic. From what I know, spatial mages are so rare you'd be hard-pressed to find one even if you searched the entire world… don't tell me?"
"No, I don't know spatial magic either."
Magic related to space belonged to the highest difficulty in the magical system.
Magical aptitude for the spatial attribute, knowledge capable of comprehending spatial theory, magic power sufficient to implement spatial magic into tiers.
Only when these three elements harmonized could it barely be achieved.
Of course, Verden possessed all three.
'But the problem is, I've never once laid hands on a tome that actually recorded spatial magic.'
It was far too difficult to obtain, and even harder to interpret. All he knew was that the tower master of Bohemirn kept it in his private library.
Back when he had lived in the magic tower, he hadn't been able to approach anywhere near it.
Instead, he knew about spatial magic circles.
Unlike tiered magic, knowledge of magic circles was relatively easier to access.
And in terms of magic circles, Verden prided himself as one of the world's foremost experts.
Naturally, he knew how to construct spatial teleportation magic circles. In fact, he had used such a circle when he escaped from the Bohemirn magic tower.
'But that too, cannot be an option right now.'
Breaking a magic circle had nothing to do with tiers, but constructing one followed the tier system.
The more powerful and effective the circle, the higher the tier required.
For an individual to construct a spatial teleportation magic circle, they needed to have at least reached the 7th-tier.
If not, they would have to compose the circle using special materials.
Just like he had back in the magic tower.
But there was no way such rare materials, hard to obtain even in a magic tower, could be found here. Searching the underworld would be nothing but a waste of time.
In other words, escaping Roafra using spatial magic or magic circles was impossible.
Verden's firm denial.
Calia tilted her head.
"Then, what are those two methods?"
"One is destructive magic. If you simply deliver a shock strong enough to distort the space, the veil will collapse."
If it was that spell, among the strongest he had ever created through the way of magic, it wouldn't be difficult to shatter the witch's seal.
However.
"There's a fatal side effect."
"Side effect?"
"At worst, Roafra itself will be blown away."
It was no exaggeration, but literally the truth.
He had never once used it directly, so he could not guarantee safety.
Even if he didn't make a mistake, the aftermath alone could lay waste to half of Roafra. Especially since it was an underground city with sealed properties.
Naturally, everyone nearby would die.
Even Verden himself, the caster, could not be certain he would survive.
...
A heavy silence hung in the air.
And that was only natural.
For none of them were ignorant of the power Verden's magic carried. And they knew he was not joking.
"Hey… you're not seriously thinking of doing it, right? Huh? Don't. F***, don't even think about it!"
Galliark broke out in cold sweat.
The others were the same. Countless eyes trembled violently.
Calia grabbed Verden's sleeve.
"I don't think that's the way, Asher."
"Brother, I wish to live and see my homeland again."
"Sir Asher, you won't, right? Right?"
"I even gave you Grond's vault…!"
Flash!
Everyone was desperately dissuading him. Even Blue popped out to protest.
Not that it mattered, for Verden had never intended to choose that option anyway.
Why would he destroy Roafra again, after he had gone through the effort of rebuilding it? And if he had never cared about civilian casualties, he would have dealt with Leonil long ago.
Verden had always abided by the line he set for himself.
At any rate.
"Then, let's go with the second method."
"That one's safe, right?"
"There will be no casualties."
Sighs of relief sounded here and there.
Verden turned his head back.
This method had no aftermath, but it required preparation.
He could arrange it on his own, but it would take a long time. To shorten that time, he would need the help of other mages.
"Robert."
"Ah, yes! Sir Asher."
"Summon every wind-attribute mage in Roafra."
All of them, 3rd-tier and above.
***
"Your Excellency, as you ordered, we diverted the gazes of the neutral nobles toward the house of Duke Devon."
"…Good."
At Edmond's report, the Marquis of Esperanza nodded.
Letting out a tense breath, he rose from his seat.
He walked over to the window, gazing outward. The vast stretch of azure sky reflected in his eyes.
This was the captain's cabin of a large-scale airship owned by the Marquisate.
Surrounding it were mid- and small-sized airships, tasked with escort. Each division's commander was one of the retainers who had long safeguarded the Marquisate.
Those who knew the secret of the First Princess, trusted figures all.
Strictly trained knights and soldiers bore within them the loyalty to carry out any command.
The true power of the Marquisate, different from what was known to the public.
All of this was the fruit of decades.
'So it is finally time. Or is it already too soon.'
Strength gathered in the hand gripping his arm.
He did not show it outwardly, but his heart was deeply unsettled.
Originally, they were not supposed to step forward until several years later.
The plan had been to sow discord among the factions of the First Prince, the Second Prince, and the Third Prince, gradually whittling down the full power of the royal family.
Also, to secretly muddy the waters of politics, collecting the various corruptions that would serve as weaknesses for other ducal houses, while strengthening the faction of neutral nobles.
All for the sake of rebuilding the Kingdom after the death of the King of Estiria.
If Princess Silis used the power of the witch, she could cleanse the Kingdom inside and out. It would be the same no matter which prince became king.
A king without power was powerless, nothing more.
The Marquis of Esperanza was loyal not to the royal family, but to the Kingdom itself.
'Her Highness Silis did not like this plan.'
Indeed, she desired a surer revenge.
But after the Marquis's long persuasion, she had reluctantly accepted a more peaceful method.
For Princess Silis needed the strength of the Marquis of Esperanza, and without him, even the very act of revenge would have been hindered.
The princess needed power, and the Marquis did not want blood.
It was a mutual understanding, a transaction between them.
'...There was no other choice.'
He did not wish for the Kingdom to suffer needless pain. He believed that was the path to a peaceful Kingdom.
If the King of Estiria had tried to continue the unfinished war of the past, then it would have been enough to move politically so that such an atmosphere could never arise.
But.
'The King of Estiria, Leonil, crossed the line.'
He had touched the reverse scale Silis had hidden away.
Not only did he dissect the Fourth Queen, Remien, alive, but he even processed her heart in secret, intending to use it as an item.
'His purpose must have been to use the witch's trait, Mana Amplification.'
With that power, regardless of tier, a mage's magic power and magic itself would be further strengthened. And the side effects amounted to nothing more than a slight fatigue.
For a mage who had abandoned ethics and humanity, it would be a coveted relic indeed. Especially for Leonil, who had reached the Breaks tier limit.
Thus, the original plan was abandoned.
The Marquis of Esperanza could say nothing to the enraged Silis.
He could not bring himself to persuade her further, for he felt too guilty.
He was only ashamed of himself, ignorant and naïve, who had cried out for moderation without realizing the darkness the Kingdom had hidden.
Crack.
The Marquis ground his teeth.
Why had the Kingdom ended up like this?
"Your Excellency, are you all right…?"
At Edmond's concern, he nodded.
Now, of all times, he could not show a shaken figure.
"More importantly, Calia is safe, isn't she?"
"With not only the White Crest Knights, but also Asher with her, there should be no problem. Hah, whether he had been hiding his strength, or achieved a new realm in the time we did not see him. Who would have thought that boy could slay Grond alone…"
It was absurd news.
But what could they do, it was fact.
The important thing was that Calia was safe, and that with Roafra sealed, there was no room for Asher to intervene.
'Yes, it's better this way.'
The Second Prince and Second Queen were driven to leap off a cliff, Duke Devon was killed in an explosion with his airship, the Third Prince forced to suicide, and Leonil himself among them—none noticed the hidden power.
Princess Silis.
The witch who twisted minds through dreams would reveal her true face at the Coronation.
It would be extremely dangerous, so it was far better for her to remain quietly sealed in Roafra, just in case.
The neutral nobles who supported the Marquisate of Esperanza had already been sent elsewhere.
On the pretext of monitoring the house of Duke Devon, whose head had died, in case they caused trouble at the Coronation. They were not trusted enough to share the plan.
In any case, the military force needed for the plan was already sufficient.
'Thus, in the Capital, only Her Highness's targets of vengeance remain.'
The King of Estiria.
The house of Duke Dosramd.
The First Prince and his secret social hall.
The Royal Court Mage Corps, including Leonil.
Not one of them would escape.
There was no turning back.
The situation had already unfolded, he would only fulfill his duty.
To purge the corrupt Kingdom, and to atone, even a little, for the ignorant life that had been content in a peace soaked in blood.
"Full fleet, advance."
Huuuuuuung—
The fleet of the Marquisate of Esperanza crossed the skies.
Shrouded in a concealment magic circle, fully armed as though preparing for war.
Heading toward the Capital Retia, now surely in a festive mood.
***
While Robert positioned the mages in their designated spots, Verden remained alone above the royal castle, preparing in his own way.
As he inscribed a magic circle that encompassed the entire castle, he lifted his gaze to the sky. The rainbow light spilling through the veil faintly brightened the darkness.
"Revenge."
Silis wished for revenge for her mother.
She had endured long years, prepared, and finally reached her time.
Verden felt a strange kinship.
It was the first time he had met someone whose goal resembled his so closely.
Though the kinds were different, he understood well enough the heart Silis carried.
He had no intention of stopping her revenge.
Revenge is meaningless, it's in the past, nothing will change even if you do it… He had no thought of saying such things either.
That sort of talk was nothing but shallow advice, spewed by those who had never experienced it.
If anyone had dared spout such words before him, Verden would have broken their jaw himself.
"..."
Silis was drawing near to the revenge she had so longed for. By contrast, Verden was still only at the stage of preparation.
That meant, the path Silis now walked… might very well be the path Verden would have to walk.
'That's why there's something I want to ask.'
So he would pierce through the seal and go outside.
It had to be now, on the eve of her revenge.
At no other time would he be able to hear the answer he wanted, honestly.
Though Silis had asked for cooperation, he had no intention of accepting.
He had not promised to cooperate, and besides, Verden was nothing more than a victim, sealed away unilaterally.
He was not the kind to simply heed the words of someone he had just met.
Silis was cautious, meticulous, but she overlooked one thing.
The power, knowledge, and armaments Verden had built up until now were far beyond the level she had assumed.
From the corridor came a sign of presence.
A knock sounded, and Robert appeared, sweat beading his brow. After taking a breath, he calmly opened his lips.
"Sir Asher, the preparations are complete, just as you instructed."
The brief wait was over.
It was time to leave Roafra.
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