Chapter 10
Eric von Cardion was, unfortunately, not particularly gifted in magic. His mana
capacity didn't even match that of an average wizard, let alone Elisha's. But
since he wasn't completely devoid of mana, Eric began to explore his own methods
for increasing the effects of his abilities. That method was researching magic
formulas. And in this field, Eric began to show a surprising amount of
potential.
"Something is a bit strange lately," Elisha, who was sitting beside Eric, spoke
suddenly. "There are times, like now, when you seem smart, Your Highness." she
tilted her head as she continued. Ignoring her, Eric kept his eyes on the paper
and opened his mouth.
"You’re the opposite." "......" "You’re always carrying books, pretending to be
smart, but you don't really know anything, do you?" Eric finally shifted his
eyes to steal a glance at the girl beside him. He was worried that his remark
might have hurt her. He shouldn't have said anything in the first place, but he
couldn't let her provocation slide...
Just as Eric's gaze returned to Elisha. "You are right, Your Highness," Elisha
said, nodding her head slowly. "I don't know very much." "......" "That’s why I
try to learn." At her perfectly clean admission, it was Eric who was surprised.
"E-even so, you’re good at magic. And you have a lot of mana." And not just a
lot, but a staggering, unprecedented amount. Eric muttered quietly, putting down
the quill he was holding. Elisha once again nodded her head lightly.
"That is true too." "......" "His Majesty said we are in different fields. You
are in research, Your Highness, and I am in practical application." Having
finished her piece, Elisha pulled the paper that was in front of Eric toward
her. Eric didn't bother to stop her. He was going to show it to her anyway.
"Is it a new spell?" she asked in a familiar manner. Eric stared into the girl's
eyes, which were sparkling with curiosity, and nodded his head slowly. Whenever
Elisha looked at him like this, Eric found himself swept up in a strange
emotion. A bit of a tickle, a flip in his stomach, and a desperate urge to
swallow...
"This is a formula I’ve never seen before either." At that moment, Elisha turned
her gaze from the paper and tilted her head. Eric immediately regained his
senses and blinked rapidly. What was that just now?
"I thought I knew almost every spell in existence, but the ones you come up
with, Your Highness, are all formulas I’m seeing for the first time." Unaware of
Eric's internal turmoil, Elisha continued her speech. At that, Eric lifted his
chin as if nothing happened and offered a faint smile. "That’s because I
dismantle and reassemble existing magic, so it looks completely different."
"Reassemble?" "The magic we use now is all based on nature. Fire, water, earth,
air, and light and darkness." Eric began to explain, drawing a diagram on a new
sheet of paper. Elisha rested her chin on her palm and listened intently to
Eric's explanation. His voice, which sounded gruff but slightly gentle, echoed
quietly. The sight of the two children quietly conversing was one that someone
might consider very cute from a distance.
"All of these things have a cycle, and I’ve twisted that cycle slightly and
applied it to the formula to create an effect similar to turning back time, but
only for non-living objects." But their conversation wasn't cute at all.
"Because you, you, are always breaking things when you use magic!" Eric finished
with a smug tone and turned his gaze slightly to look at Elisha. She was still
scowling, her eyes fixed on the paper. Did she not understand? It wasn't that he
explained it expecting her to understand.
"Simply put..." just as Eric was about to explain once more. "It is very strange
that such a spell hasn't been invented until now," Elisha spoke first. Eric
immediately pursed his lips. So she understood.
"...That’s because magic, until now, has been used for survival." In the first
place, there were few people who could use magic, and they had very little mana
or time to conduct their own research. Wasn't the current magic system
ultimately inspired by the magic used by demonic monsters? Magic that evolved
with a singular focus on taking and taking, on destroying and protecting. Magic
as a means of survival. That was why the only spells they knew were based on
nature. Creating arrows of fire, chains of water, and blades of wind. All were
difficult to use in daily life. It was obvious that the only spell considered
useful for daily life was teleportation magic, which only Archmages could use.
"This won't do." Things had to change. "I’ll invent all sorts of magic," Eric
muttered as if swearing an oath, looking at the paper carrying the formulas.
Elisha stared at him for a moment before crinkling her eyes into a smile as she
answered.
"Yes, Your Highness can do that." Eric took a sharp breath and stared blankly at
Elisha. That tickle from before. No, a much more intense feeling than before.
Perhaps it is...
"Because you can't do anything else but this, Your Highness," at that moment,
Elisha muttered with a sincere tone. At the same time, Eric's face contorted
into a grimace. Tickle, my foot!
"That’s not true!" "See, you can't even draw." "That’s because I was just
sketching! Besides, you can't do anything else but magic either!" "I still eat
my vegetables better than you, Your Highness," she said, drawing a picture in
the corner of the paper. It was a small, exquisite carrot, almost as good as
Eric's own drawings.
Eric's lips pouted. What a carrot-like girl. He could never like her.
[ ...Your Majesty. ] "......" [ Your Majesty, are you listening to me? ]
"......" [ Eric. El. Wait. You bastard—. ] "I’m listening." [ Please pretend you
didn't hear the last part. ]
Dante Renard's smooth voice flowed from the communication stone. Eric, who kept
his eyes closed, opened them and knit his brow. He hadn't been able to sleep
properly since Elisha's disappearance, and it seemed he’d dozed off without
realizing it. And of all things, to see a dream like that.
[ You look like you want to commit murder, totally. ] Dante then muttered,
pursing his lips slightly. Eric wiped his face with his hand. "So, anything
worth reporting?"
[ Nothing. It’s as if she vanished into thin air. I’ve asked people everywhere
to contact me if they saw a woman who looked like her, but there’s been no news.
] "Even after using the magic I invented recently, you couldn't find a trace?" [
Well, strangely, I can't seem to pick up Elisha's mana. It seems to be
constantly changing. ] "......" [ The spell you invented tracks "already known"
mana. If it changes, then of course it can't be tracked. You know this already,
Elisha's mana changed once before. ] Dante grumbled, shaking Elisha's artifact
he’d obtained from the auction.
Eric let out a faint sigh. Several weeks had already passed since her
disappearance, but since obtaining the artifact, they hadn't found a single
strong trace. Since Elisha's disappearance itself was a secret, he couldn't
properly mobilize the Imperial Palace's forces.
[ Honestly, I feel like I’m going to die, ] Dante Renard, who was gauging Eric's
reaction, spoke cautiously. [ Let’s be frank. Elisha is the type who can use
long-distance teleportation several times a day without getting tired, but I’m
not. One long-distance teleportation and I’m completely collapsed for the rest
of the day. ] Dante Renard continued, his purple eyes pleading. [ You know this
better than anyone, but we can't stall this forever. I have to return to the
Imperial Palace soon too. ] "......" [ The Allied Nations Conference is just
around the corner. Surely you aren't planning on leaving the position of
Archmage vacant, are you? If you haven't forgotten the purpose of this
conference, you absolutely cannot. ] Dante Renard finished his sentence with a
rather final tone. At that, Eric let out another long breath.
This Allied Nations Conference was his first official event as Emperor since his
coronation. This year, the conference was originally supposed to be held in
another country, but it was specifically decided to hold it in the Cardion
Empire to celebrate Eric's inauguration. That wasn't all. This conference was
also an opportunity to showcase the new forms of magic he was researching and
leverage them for political gain. The principle behind the communication stone
they were using now was one of them. Normally, the person who would present the
magic was the Imperial Archmage, Elisha, but...
"Return for now." [ I guessed you’d say that, so I’ve already returned to
Cardion, ] as soon as Eric's order was given, Dante said with a bright smile. He
then let his eyes dart around for a moment. [ You really have to prepare now.
This isn't something you can hide forever, ] he said, his voice unusually firm.
Eric's face contorted again. He couldn't hide it more. The fact that Elisha had
left. The fact that she left him. "...I understand, so return to the main
palace." [ Wait, E—. ] Then Eric brusquely cut off the call, as if he didn't
want to talk any further.
Dante stared at the screen that darkened in an instant and let out a hollow
laugh. He understood he was on the edge of a precipice since the Archmage's
disappearance, but even so. "Maybe I should resign and leave too." Now that
would be a real scene. He stretched his arms wide and muttered nonsense. His
purple eyes were fixed on a certain building.
Once I return to the Imperial Palace, I’ll be buried in work for a while, so
today, I’ll enjoy one last feast. Here in this inn. "The food here is good
enough to rival the Imperial Palace." Although the exterior was shabby and there
weren't many customers, that made it seem like his own hidden gem, which he
found more charming. He entered the inn, intending only to have a quick meal.
"Welcome!" behind Jonathan's warm greeting, a head of exceptionally bright
silver-white hair filled Dante's vision. And under it, her characteristic blue
eyes, like pools of the clearest water. Dante stared in daze at the woman in
front of him, then breathed her name unconsciously. "......Elisha?" What are you
doing here...?
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