Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: Sealing the Alliance
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Come to think of it, I had never told Kailius.
That I was a light attribute mage.
Nor that I had also learned darkness attribute magic.
So I could understand why he was so surprised.
‘Well, not telling him I was a light mage was actually a stroke of luck.’
If I had mentioned it, he probably wouldn’t have given me this lich’s wand as a reward in the first place.
After all, it actually diminished the power of light attributes.
Of course, I couldn’t use this wand with light attributes either, so it came with some limitations....
‘But I can use it strategically. Stick to my old weapon for light magic and switch to this wand for other attributes.’
That way, I wouldn’t lose out on anything while still amplifying my other attribute spells.
Anyway.
“Yes, Your Majesty. I’ve recently learned darkness attribute magic.”
“How in the world...? Does that mean you can truly wield this wand without issue?”
“So far, I haven’t felt any adverse effects.”
“What an astonishing turn of events! I thought it would take you at least a year before you could use this wand. This is truly fortunate. Congratulations, mage.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
I bowed my head, and Kailius smiled in satisfaction before continuing.
“So, are you pleased with the reward?”
His expression made it clear he was eager to hear my thoughts.
Since I was more than satisfied with the lich’s wand, I mixed in some flattery to give him the answer he wanted.
“I couldn’t ask for more. How did you know it was exactly what I was looking for...?”
“Heh heh, I’ve always had a knack for noticing the subtle things. I’m glad it suits you.”
He flashed another pleased smile, then spoke in a firmer tone.
“If you wish, I can provide you with as many such items as you desire.”
“Pardon? What do you mean...?”
“It means that if you devote yourself to Asteron, I’ll support you without reservation.”
“Ah.”
So that’s what he meant.
It seemed Kailius still hadn’t given up on recruiting me as a royal mage.
But.
“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. I’m not ready to walk that path yet.”
Some things just weren’t possible.
No matter how much support or benefits he offered, I couldn’t accept that.
The moment I did, I’d settle into this world.
Sure, if it were the first day of possession, maybe. But now, it didn’t seem like such a bad choice.
Living here forever without venturing out.
And as a 7th circle mage, basking in immense wealth and honor.
However, that assumed it would last.
I knew better.
‘Peace won’t last long.’
The peace of this world was a mirage that could vanish at any moment.
Baal could turn it into hell in an instant if he so chose.
That’s why.
“I’m the kind of person who can’t settle down anywhere.”
I refused even more firmly.
Hoping he’d finally give up on persuading me.
Did he sense that resolve?
“Hmm....”
Kailius let out a regretful sigh.
His face also betrayed a flicker of curiosity.
“Then what do you want? What kind of life are you seeking?”
A question about the life I wanted to live.
The answer was obvious.
“I’m someone who must hunt demons until the day I die.”
“You’ll hunt demons?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I believe that’s my purpose and the reason I was blessed with magical talent.”
“......”
Kailius pressed his lips together at my response, then burst into hearty laughter.
“Ha ha ha ha! It’s been ages since I’ve seen such unwavering resolve. I understand your feelings perfectly now.”
“...I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize. You’re simply staying true to your convictions, aren’t you? If anything, it seems I’ve placed an unnecessary burden on you.”
“Not at all. It was never a burden, Your Majesty.”
“Heh heh heh.”
As he chuckled, Kailius continued.
“Then how about this? When a crisis arises, we both step up for each other without hesitation.”
“Like allies...?”
“Exactly. Call it comrades, allies, confederates—whatever suits. As long as we promise to aid each other when one is in peril. If you accept, I vow to do my utmost whenever you need help.”
“Uh, um....”
I couldn’t answer right away.
I never dreamed he’d make such an offer.
‘If I make this promise, he won’t pester me constantly, right?’
It was a slight concern, but he didn’t seem the type.
A king wouldn’t bother me with trivial requests.
Any call for aid would surely involve a massive crisis.
‘If it’s on that scale...’
I could handle it.
It might be a bit inconvenient, but in return, I’d have the full backing of Asteron.
Above all, such a huge event would likely be the demons’ doing.
I’d rush to help anyway, even without being asked.
No downside for me.
“Let’s do that, Your Majesty.”
“You accept?”
“Yes. Honestly, for something like that, we wouldn’t even need a promise. I don’t want to see Asteron in danger either.”
“Oh! A mage brimming with patriotism! This is wonderful. Truly wonderful....”
Thud, thud, thud.
He patted his chest as if a weight had finally lifted, then approached me.
He extended his hand cautiously.
It was clearly an offer for a handshake.
I grasped it.
“Mage, with this, our alliance is sealed.”
Kailius declared our partnership.
It felt strangely profound.
‘He’s got a really good personality, this guy.’
Truth be told, Kailius didn’t need to go this far.
If a major threat arose, he could just summon me by force.
Refuse, and I’d be barred from operating in Asteron.
That’s the power a national monarch wielded.
Yet he proposed a direct alliance like this because.
‘He was being considerate of me.’
It was respect and accommodation on his part.
A way to keep things amicable for both sides.
A far cry from those scheming nobles I’d encountered before.
I’d worried he might be a tyrant before reaching District 1, but that was needless.
With a man like this.
“Call on me anytime you need help, Your Majesty.”
I could offer even more assistance.
***
“Hmm....”
After his negotiations with the young genius mage, Yuhan.
Kailius stroked his chin with a complicated expression.
“We’ve formed an alliance, but....”
Truthfully, it wasn’t entirely satisfying.
His original goal had been loftier.
To make him a royal mage and bind him eternally to Asteron’s cause.
With ambitions that high, even this alliance left him feeling shortchanged.
Moreover, knowing the extent of Yuhan’s talents only amplified the regret.
His magic prowess, his learning ability.
He lacked in nothing—a truly top-tier mage.
Kailius wanted to install him as royal mage immediately.
“...He’s destined for greatness.”
Kailius was certain.
Far in the future.
Or perhaps not so far off.
Yuhan would make a massive name for himself.
He might even revolutionize the world of magic.
Such thoughts only made the bitterness in his mouth grow.
He had to somehow keep him tethered to Asteron....
“...Forget it. What’s done is done.”
Shake, shake—.
Kailius shook his head, casting off the lingering regrets.
Frankly, there was no real cause for complaint.
Hadn’t he tried everything he could?
This was enough to accept and move on.
Anyway, putting that aside.
“...That display earlier was truly remarkable.”
Kailius reminisced about the recent events, voicing the admiration he hadn’t fully expressed.
What he recalled was Yuhan receiving the lich’s wand and wielding dark magic.
The image of him effortlessly conjuring pitch-black orbs with it was still vivid in his mind.
“What a stroke of serendipity.”
In a way, it was incredibly fortunate.
He’d given him the lich’s wand, and it turned out the mage’s primary attribute was darkness.
Darkness was a tricky attribute that most mages avoided.
Thus, the odds of encountering a darkness mage and gifting him the lich’s wand were astronomically low.
Kailius couldn’t keep this revelation to himself and immediately summoned Elbert.
He and Elbert often chatted idly when nothing pressing was afoot.
“Your Majesty.”
“Ah, Sir Elbert.”
Elbert arrived shortly, and Kailius promptly shared what had happened.
“What do you think the chances of that were, Sir Elbert?”
To which.
“...Your Majesty.”
“Hm?”
“It seems you may be under a misconception.”
“What misconception?”
Elbert delivered a stunning reply with a rigid expression.
“His primary attribute is not darkness.”
“...What?”
It couldn’t be.
He’d seen it with his own two eyes.
Yuhan wielding darkness magic.
And even to his untrained eye, it was darkness magic of an extraordinary level.
Even accounting for the lich’s wand’s effects.
Above all.
“...Impossible. He used the lich’s wand with no symptoms whatsoever.”
Hadn’t he wielded it without any issues?
That level of immunity could only mean he was a darkness attribute mage.
Yet.
“His primary attribute is light, Your Majesty....”
“...W-what? What did you say?”
Even more shocking words followed from Elbert.
Kailius felt astonishment surging to the top of his head.
And understandably so—light and darkness were polar opposites.
If true, Yuhan never would have wanted the lich’s wand.
He couldn’t have used it at all.
“No, how...?”
Elbert explained everything to the gaping Kailius, step by step.
From their first meeting, the attributes of his magic, his skills, the events he’d faced, the catalyst for learning darkness—leaving nothing out.
Only then did Kailius begin to piece it together.
“...So that’s how it was.”
Now everything made sense.
A light attribute mage who had steadily mastered other attributes alongside it.
A mage who had battled countless demons without number.
That was Yuhan.
It also explained why the undead power in the lich’s wand had no effect on him.
“Wow, just....”
Nothing about him was ordinary.
Kailius smacked his lips in renewed wonder.
‘Should I have at least dangled some territory as a condition...?’
The regrets he’d shaken off seemed to creep back in.