Tenacious Battle. (2)
"If a knight is a horse that moves when fed, then a mage is a complex machine of interlocking gears. The younger and less mature the mage, the more thorough the management required."
The difference between knights and mages is vast. There's no need for favoritism; simply consider how each utilizes and operates their mana.
Knights generally handle mana in a one-dimensional way. Sword auras, protective auras, sword ki—all manifestations of mana as raw mana.
Mages, however, manifest mana as phenomena. This forms a system far grander than mana itself, hence called magic, and on the battlefield, overexertion risks qi deviation far greater than for knights.
"To defend against the large-scale southern migration for the remaining time, sustained magic is essential."
Destruction magic exemplified by barrages and carpet bombings. Support magic shielding knights and amplifying abilities... Magic is indispensable in sieges.
"Moreover, it's impossible to satisfactorily fill the stomachs of knights."
Like trying to sate an elephant's belly with expensive flowers.
Utterly inefficient.
"Understood. I'll convey it properly and mediate... However."
Julie nodded steadfastly before asking again.
"Professor, you do not dine with the mages on the first floor. Do you plan to eat separately later?"
"......"
I had fasted for about a week now. My palate had grown exceedingly picky, but this too tied into efficiency.
The self-evolving and adapting Iron Man trait not only bolstered the body's health but allowed full control over metabolism at will.
Thus, I could drastically reduce caloric intake for daily life while absorbing inhaled mana without waste. In emergencies like this, there was no need to obsess over three meals a day.
Summing it all up—
I replied curtly.
"That is none of your concern."
"......"
Julie puffed her cheeks slightly. She shot me a sullen glare before changing the subject.
"Very well. But do you know? About the barrier on the northeast front—"
"I know."
I cut her off, adding a few words.
"What you know, I know. I know it before you do. And what you don't know, I know as well."
"......How impressive."
Julie's eyes narrowed thinly. Adorable, though I responded dryly.
"I am considering solutions. Leave such worries aside and focus on fighting diligently."
Maintaining the barrier artificially was impossible now. Leaving it be meant collapse was only a matter of time.
It had held this long only because I had steadily applied Midas' Hand across the entire structure.
"Understood. Then if you'll excuse me."
Julie rose from her seat.
Whether she had nothing more to say or simply disliked speaking with me, she bowed her head and exited promptly.
The moment Julie closed the office door, patter-patter-patter— Ifrin emerged from hiding behind the wall like a rabbit.
Julie scratched the back of her neck upon seeing her, feeling awkwardly embarrassed for no reason.
"......Yes. It seems so."
"Ah."
At Julie's words, Ifrin's face fell in surprise. She pursed her lips and muttered.
"......He really hasn't eaten. For a whole week."
"I'll speak appropriately to the other knights. Indeed, young mages require such care."
"Thank you."
"If anything, I am grateful. Thanks to you, Ifrin......"
Julie trailed off momentarily.
To her, Deculein was an enigma.
If he remained in Recor Dak solely for his own glory, there'd be no need to manage the mages like this. No reason to starve himself to feed them.
"You've worked hard. Assisting Professor Deculein must be taxing."
Julie placed a hand on Ifrin's shoulder. Ifrin smiled faintly in response.
"It's not that hard. If anything, you're the one suffering more, Knight. My engage— Ahem. I mean......"
Words slipped out unbidden. To the flustered Ifrin, Julie shook her head.
"It's fine. It's the truth, after all."
"......Are you really okay with it?"
"Yes. Honestly, this distance suits me better now. We're better suited as enemies who despise each other."
"......"
Ifrin fell silent without retort. She vaguely understood.
Why Deculein had let Julie go. Not because they hated each other......
Julie bowed her head slightly.
"Well then. I'll take my leave."
"Ah, yes. Take care."
Ifrin saw Julie off with a bittersweet smile.
Yukline County— Hadekan.
Maintaining a relatively mild climate even in winter, and having prepared best for this southern migration, the territory under proxy lord Yeriel was seeing skyrocketing prestige daily as she conducted inspections.
"No thieves or bandits?"
"None, milady. Likely due to the training we implemented before the migration began."
Hadekan's citizens maintained order. Even in this harsh winter, no one lost reason to act like beasts.
Thus, daily life persisted here. Children attended school, knight orders and merchant guilds operated normally, and the magic tower continued research and papers.
Of course, curfew at 5 PM, but compared to territories where one couldn't step outside at all, it was lenient.
"Good. Anything else?"
"Subterranean beasts appeared last night, causing minor issues, but otherwise all's well."
"Subterranean beasts again? They're rampant lately. None since I was born, at least."
Yeriel picked up a discarded newspaper from the ground.
Every paper covered the migration. Beasts swarmed from all directions.
Frontier territories had long abandoned outskirts, desperately guarding cores.
Kingdoms saw most frontier counts bankrupt already.
Of course, Yeriel seized the opportunity.
Her keen political sense saw the crisis as a goldmine. Thus, she actively deployed her hoarded wealth like a war profiteer.
"How's the loan situation?"
Yeriel asked. The butler replied instantly.
"Kingdoms like Leok accepted our terms eagerly, but Yuren politely declined."
"......Really? Yuren's no pushover."
The recently reformed Yuren Duchy—regardless of its leader—boasted exceptional economic and political acumen. They'd prepared exceptionally well for this migration too.
"Leok got 3 billion elne; others around 1 billion each."
"That's plenty."
Nearly 70% of cash earned since she took proxy duties: banking, trade, guilds, auctions, Marik passages.
"You know what's next, right?"
Of course, she wouldn't hand it out like charity. Yeriel wasn't that naive.
Quite ruthless, rather.
"Yes. Our guilds will make contact."
Yukline-affiliated merchants would approach kingdoms incognito, exploiting the crisis to sell arms and food at premium. Pre-bribed officials would approve eagerly.
Thus, reclaiming loans in full.
"Perfect. Can't wait."
If the continent survived, Yukline would eclipse the Empire across the land.
"Wonder what Deculein's haters are up to~"
Yeriel hummed as she walked.
"'Prepare and your territory falls~ Reconsider~ You'll go bankrupt~ Pfft. Hilarious. They'd be ruined without Deculein."
"Didn't you say the same, milady?"
The butler's sharp jab pierced. Yeriel flinched and turned.
"......I grumbled but did it anyway. Big difference. Between cursing while doing it right, and half-assing when dragged kicking and screaming."
"Indeed."
Overpreparation bordering on excess. Yet Hadekan now rivaled the capital in safety.
"Oh right. Gotta write to big bro."
"Pardon?"
Yeriel muttered absently, but the butler gaped in shock.
"What? Why?"
"Milady. Did you just say 'big bro'?"
Yeriel startled too. Cold sweat beaded her forehead.
"......What're you on about? When did I? Anyway, he is my brother. Whatever. Let's head to the next spot."
She brushed it off and boarded the car. The butler sat shotgun, stunned.
"......Drive."
"Yes, milady."
Leaning back in the plush seat as the car glided smoothly, Yeriel gazed at Hadekan's scenery, pondering her letter to Deculein, lost in thought.
She wanted to be lord. True lord of Yukline. Not a pretender.
But she couldn't now.
I'm not Yukline. Not by blood, and this continent rejects my kind anyway.
"Whatever."
No matter. No regrets.
Yukline's head was eternally Deculein; staying by his side sufficed.
More than enough.
Overflowing satisfaction.
Since he saw her as family, she needed no more ambition.
No need at all.
"Next stop's the hardware store?"
"Yes."
"Great~"
Yeriel smiled against the window.
......In Mieolji lay the Altar's sanctuary.
Underground in lands uninhabitable by humans, zealots dwelled at the depths.
"■■■. ■■■■. ■■."
They conversed and worshipped in ancient tongues, as in eras before gods fell to men.
"■■■■■. ■■. ■■■■!"
—■■!
—■■■■!
As the priest bellowed and shook his staff, dozens of followers bowed in rapture.
"Ugh......"
Al Ross found their chosen-people complex repulsive, their babble irritating, but he wouldn't botch the payday over it.
Not after immense effort infiltrating their core.
"......■■."
Conversation ended. Altar zealots donned robes, preparing to exit the sanctuary.
"Hey. Where to now?"
Al Ross grabbed one. The man glanced and replied.
"Puppeteer, eh? To crumble the north."
"The north?"
"Aye. We head to annihilate Recor Dak and Deculein."
"......"
Deculein. That irritating name.
"Possible?"
"Haha. Watch and see."
As the zealot brimmed with confidence, Al Ross toyed with his hidden recorder.
"What magic you planning? Care to share? Curious."
"Haha. Sure, primitives like you would be."
They were paranoid about magical surveillance or recordings, yet clueless about machines......
Late night.
Al Ross's puppet visited my office, childlike in form, straight to the report.
Recorder of what Al Ross heard. Camera of what he saw.
"Valuable intel."
"How much?"
Al Ross asked price first.
I priced reasonably.
"3 million elne in cash."
"......Hm. Not much info, but pricey."
"It's not trivial. You met a monumental braggart."
"So?"
"Knowledge reveals itself to the knowing."
I replayed Al Ross's camera footage.
"Here, the blackboard exposes part of their summoning incantation."
"......Hm."
Bragging, they revealed their researched summoning ritual.
A colossal blunder.
They likely thought nothing of it. Never imagining Al Ross would sell it—let alone to me.
"So what? Archaic incantation, unrelated to modern."
"Precisely."
I smirked.
"Utterly alien to modern. Worthless to other mages. But... Al Ross. I am Deculein."
"So?"
"Theoretical grasp, analysis, disassembly of incantations—no mage surpasses me."
Summons were especially vulnerable to leaks. Once cracked, reverse-summoning or ownership seizure possible.
"Boasting?"
"Fact, not boast."
I rose and gazed out the window.
Near Recor Dak, Mieolji's heart held the Altar. Zealots stirring at last. Cockroach swarm. A long-awaited true war.
"Not all. This is my first full Altar incantation too."
I eyed Al Ross again.
This rare visitor delivered priceless intel.
"I can study the whole from the part. In a week, discern, grasp, dismantle all their magic structures and incantations."
"......"
Despite my conviction, Al Ross looked puzzled.
"What. More questions?"
He shook his head.
"Skip the bragging. Pay up so I can grab and go."