Volume 1 Chapter 2 Part 5

Ironically, however, as the concentration of Chaos diminished, warfare between Lords began to occur, and as time went on, it  only became more intense.

 

It was a battle to see who will rule the world after the Chaotic Age was over.

 

What is clear is that the Mage has finished his role at that time. And as for the system of magic that has developed over many years, it will turn into a great wall of dreams, a tower of illusions, if it loses its source of power called Chaos.

 

For better or worse, the Mages  Association has been leading the world for over a thousand years. There are by no means any fewer people who fear, covet and envy their immense power as well, since the Society fears how  and where the repercussions will be directed when the Mages finally lose their power.

 

This scenery reflected in Sempros’ eyes right now might as well be lost in the not too distant future.

 

It is in n such an era that he has released a genius called Siluca into the world. Or maybe it was the times who called for her, and she felt like she would play an unexpectedly large role in the coming war for the Grancrest.

 

(As long as life lasts…)

 

Sempros closes his mouth and eyes in order to  keep his honest thoughts from leaking out of his heart.

 

 

 

 

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Artuk is located to the east of Elam. The great river Erdu, whose water source is Elam, flows through its territory and empties into the Barrack Sea in the east. There is a vast delta area near the mouth of the river, and forests occupy most of the rest of the country.

 

Except for that, the rest of the borders are ruled by the countries belonging to the Factory Alliance, and among those countries, the neighboring country in the north is Waldrind, which is ruled by the de facto leader of the Factory Alliance, Marine Kreische. Artuk is therefore sometimes referred to as the greatsword against the Alliance, or likened to the giant fish caught in the Alliance’s net.

 

The Lords who govern Artuk belong to the Constance family, which has continued for ten generations since the unification of Artuk. The previous head of the family, who married the daughter of Iron-Blooded Earl Jürgen Kreische as his wife , but then he caused a major incident by defecting to the Fantasia Union. Naturally, allied nations in the surrounding area all turned towards Artuk with intense hostility and tried to attack it many times in the past.

 

Despite such a situation, the predecessor of the current Earl conquered Regalia in the south, cooperated with the allied countries such as Kirchs and Haman, formed a cooperative relationship with the small continent of Dartania across the sea, and oppressed the Alliance’s countries from the east, west and south side.

 

Without defeating Artuk, the Factory Alliance will have no future, and if Artuk is lost, it is going to be a blow to the Fantasia Union that is going to cause it to lose its power in the region. It is no exaggeration to say that it was Artuk and its lord, Earl Villard Constance, who controlled the outcome of the Great War.

 

That Earl, Villar Constance, was now relaxing in his room in his castle.

 

He was wearing a loose velvet gown, reading a book in a luxuriously furnished room with a glass of sparkling wine in his hand.

There was a knock on the door, and Villar took his eyes off the book and looked up.

 

「Come in. 」

 

Villar called out to the person behind the door.

 

「Pardon the intrusion. 」

 

A woman’s voice returned and the door opened quietly.

 

The one who entered the room was Margaret, the Head Mage contracted by Villar. She was wearing her red hair straight down without tying them up, and their ends were trimmed in a straight line. Her eyes are narrow and sharp, and her thin lips and their surroundings were covered with makeup that was the same color as her hair. Her robe, cloak, and even her gloves and boots are all red, giving the impression that her whole body was engulfed in flames.

 

「A little while ago I have received a message from the Headmaster of the Magic University, Sempros. The message said that the Mage Siluca Meletes, who was supposed to be your grace’s new contracted Mage has made a contract with another Lord because of some, and I quote: 「unavoidable circumstances 」while she was en route to Artuk. He also said that they are prepared to send another female Mage to act as  her replacement, but what do you think about it, my Lord? 」

 

Despite her appearance, Margaret’s voice was cold and quiet.

 

「Hou hou? 」

 

A smile appeared on Villar’s face.

 

「That girl is pretty daring, that is for sure. Well, I  knew she was going to be someone like that from the moment I saw her in the cathedral on that fateful day. 」

 

Villar said so and put the glass to his mouth. For some inexplicable reason, he felt as if the taste of the wine in  the glass had deepened.

 

「How would you like to respond to the Headmaster of the Magic University then? 」

 

「Please inform him that dispatching a new Mage will not be necessary. 」

 

Villar answered immediately. He had no intentions of letting go of an interesting girl like Siluca so easily.

 

「As you wish, my Lord. 」

 

Margaret nodded her head.

 

「So then, what would you like to do with Siluca Meletes? Personally, I cannot forgive such a bratty girl for insulting you like that, my Lord. 」

 

Her voice was still the same, calm and cold,  but Margaret’s eyes seemed to flare up for but a brief moment.

「First of all, can you investigate her situation? I want to know what the intentions behind her actions are, exactly. After we learn that, we will be able to punish her if that is going to prove necessary. If that time comes, I will leave everything up to you. 」

 

When Villar said so, he stared at Margaret.

 

「Now, since you came all the way here already, then would you like to have a drink with me? 」

 

「I am very grateful for your offer, my Lord, but the matter of Meletes’ girl is urgent, so I am afraid that I will have to decline it for now. Maybe next time. 」

 

「Yes, what a pity that is though… 」

 

Villar smiled wryly and brought the glass to his mouth again.

 

「You will soon be 25, and then You will leave me. 」

 

「There are still one hundred and forty days until that happens. 」

 

Margaret replied calmly.

 

「It’s almost like you are looking forward to it. 」

 

Villar’s hand stopped moving.

「…..Maybe so. 」

 

Margaret’s answer came to him after a brief moment of silence. She then bowed to him and left the room.

 

「There is no man in this world who worships women more than I do, so why won’t you answer me? 」

 

Villar murmured to his glass as if he was asking it a question.

 

「Looks like meeting a woman like my mother is going to be difficult after all. 」

 

*          *          *

 

Lassic David is a knight who owns two villages along the western border of Selvis. His father, who was a mercenary, inherited the Crest and territory from the previous Lord of this land who had no heir, and thus he became the next Lord of it. Rumor has it that his father actually threatened or blackmailed the previous Lord to get his title and lands, but to this day these rumors have not been either confirmed or denied.

 

Lassic himself did not know whether these rumors were true or not, and to be perfectly honest, he did not even want to know.

 

His father passed away last year, and Lasik succeeded him as the Lord. He is the lowest ranking Lord, a Lord who only has two villages to govern under his name. However, until the other day, he was under the direct control of Archduke Matthias Kreische, and now that the Archduke passed away, he became an independent Lord.

 

That means that he was now in a  dangerous situation.

 

Since ancient times, there have been many independent Lords in Selvis, and even the largest power among them, the Gergi family, from which the current king of Selvis  hails, only controls about a third of the country. Naturally, small disputes between the smaller Lords have never ceased as well.

 

However, about thirty years ago, Jürgen Kreische, known as the Iron-Blooded Earl, invaded this country, and all the Lords pledged their loyalty to him as a result, handing over their Crests, and joining the Factory Alliance.