Chapter 104
Chapter 104
Chapter 104
Preparing for the Journey (2)
The next place Rudian visited after picking Gray was none other than the Psychic Tower.
It was the new home of the psychic ability users.
"You came?"
"What are you doing, senior?"
Elvin, holding blueprints in his hands while wearing thick work clothes and a helmet, welcomed Rudian.
His appearance as he led the construction of the tower that had just begun looked no different from the middle-aged men Kim Seong-jun had seen at construction sites in the past.
"What am I doing? Construction work."
"Is it appropriate for the young lord of a count family to do this?"
"It's because I'm the young lord that I'm doing this, you brat."
Around them, hundreds of workers were shoveling dirt and moving stones.
What differed from the typical construction sites Rudian had seen so far was that psychic ability users were mixed in between, using telekinesis to dig the ground, pyrokinesis to weld, or hydrokinesis to precisely cut materials.
"Things are going smoothly. As expected, work becomes easier when ability users are involved."
At Elvin's words, Rudian looked around with curiosity and muttered.
"For being supposedly high-skilled workers, they don't seem to have any particular complaints."
Rather, the faces of the sweating psychic ability users were filled with bright smiles.
"Of course. We're building our own home, so why would there be complaints?"
"What's obvious to some isn't obvious to others, you know."
Without a doubt, if knights or magicians had been ordered to do such work, a rebellion would have broken out immediately.
Elvin, understanding who that 'someone' referred to, gave a bitter smile.
"We don't carry useless pride like those guys."
"That's probably why the emperor favors the psychic ability users."
Having been suppressed for such a long time, psychic ability users tended to value practical benefits over honor.
"Enough small talk. Why did you come?"
"Ah, about that."
At Elvin's question, Rudian pointed at Elvin's clothes with his finger and said.
"Take it off."
"...What?"
"I said take it all off."
"..."
For some reason, Elvin's expression turned serious as he lowered his voice.
"I don't have those kinds of preferences."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"...Then what?"
"If we're going to have a conversation, it would be better to do something about that appearance first."
He was just telling Elvin to take off his dusty work clothes, but since Rudian had cut out all the details and only stated the main point, it seemed to have caused a misunderstanding.
Elvin's appearance, covered in sweat and dust from head to toe, looked no different from a street vagrant even when viewed favorably.
Understanding Rudian's words, Elvin groaned and turned his gaze away.
"Ugh, I'm participating in the fieldwork, so I can't easily change clothes..."
"Since you'll be leaving the capital soon anyway, is there a need to insist on those clothes?"
"These are surprisingly troublesome to put on, so it's annoying... Wait, why am I leaving the capital?"
Toward the shocked Elvin, Rudian calmly dropped a bombshell.
"Well, didn't you say you would monitor me, senior? Where the needle goes, the thread must follow."
"When was that even... No, are you planning to leave the capital?"
To the shocked Elvin, Rudian told him the same content he had told Sonya.
Since he also had to tell about Baal's matter, the story became quite long, but anyway, Elvin was a worker... No, a companion that Rudian had marked, so he had the right to know the inside story.
After listening to all of Rudian's long explanation, Elvin covered his nose and mouth with his overlapped palms and expressed his thoughts.
"...Incredible things were happening. So you're saying you'll throw away all the foundation you've built up until now and become an adventurer?"
"It's not exactly throwing it away."
"Nonsense. If you just don't get greedy for greater power, you'll live a happy life that everyone envies. Yet saying you'll abandon that and embark on a life-threatening journey is the same as just throwing it away."
Elvin's words weren't wrong.
This was a world where magic and supernatural abilities actually existed.
However, with enough money, one could enjoy a comfortable life no less than the modern world.
As Elvin said, Rudian could certainly improve his quality of life even further.
But...
"Normally, I would embrace a lot of money and live happily like a playboy, dating and such..."
"That's what everyone dreams of."
"But if the world is destroyed, wouldn't all of that be meaningless, senior?"
"..."
Even when Rudian now spoke of world destruction, Elvin didn't deny its possibility.
Of course, though he didn't know what form its outline would take, he had experienced too much to dismiss it as absurd anymore.
Elvin let out a big sigh and lamented.
"Damn, I've gotten entangled with a demon."
"What demon... I'd be a benefactor who would raise your life's level by several stages."
"How did I end up saying I'd monitor someone like you?"
"Stop talking nonsense and prepare. Don't you want to surpass Crux?"
"...!"
At the mention of Crux, Elvin's expression flinched.
"Is that even possible? That person is already a Sword Master."
The fact that Crux van Richthofen had defeated Sir Godran, his superior and vice-captain, had already spread throughout the entire capital.
"I've just barely stepped into the upper Expert level. Honestly, I can't believe in a future where someone like me surpasses Sir Crux."
"But you believe that I'm a Sword Master?"
"That's..."
Elvin was momentarily at a loss for words.
Certainly, the fact that Rudian, who had been inferior to him, suddenly went on about a month's journey to the north and returned as an unmanageable monster was an unbelievable strange event no matter how many times he thought about it.
'A monster that can't be explained by the word talent...'
That was Elvin's evaluation of the Rudian he was looking at.
Rudian subtly approached and whispered in Elvin's ear.
A word sweeter than honey flowed into Elvin's ear.
"You can do it too, senior."
"..."
"Of course, it's difficult with swordsmanship alone."
"Then...?"
The expectation that had been rising madly deflated at that one sentence.
Elvin pouted his lips and glared at Rudian, while Rudian chuckled and extended only the index fingers of both hands, bringing them together at one point.
"You need to combine it with psychic abilities. Magic and psychic energy - you need to develop both of these in parallel."
"You're telling me to... Become something like a magic swordsman?"
"You'll become much stronger than now, at least."
"Ahem, it's hard to believe easily..."
"Believe it. Good fortune comes to those who believe."
Rudian said with a playful smile.
"Since there's Maria to inherit anyway, Count Matheus probably won't be too concerned about your whereabouts either. If you roll around to the point of almost dying about a hundred times, you'll surely be able to surpass Crux, senior."
"...A hundred times?"
"Hmm, is that too few? Since you won't actually die, let's make it five hundred times."
"Can't I just stay here?"
Though the conversation continued half-jokingly, Rudian was confident that Elvin would follow him.
Though he might not look like it on the outside, Elvin Kepler was someone whose fighting spirit and pride as a swordsman would never lose to anyone else.
"If you stay here anyway, you'll just waste your abilities doing people management. If you're really unsure, you could consult with Viscount Kaitel. He would actively recommend you to play in bigger waters."
"If it's my master, he would really say that... I have nothing to say."
"Then I'll take it that you've decided."
At Rudian's declaration, Elvin shook his head as if he couldn't stop him.
"Even so, I can't give a definite answer right here. At the very least, I need to speak with father and master."
"Hehe, do as you please."
Even if he did that, the result would probably be the same.
This way, Rudian secured the first... No, the manpower he had decided on.
***
Rudian informed those around him that he was leaving the capital.
Most reactions were of surprise, and many, including the emperor, tried to dissuade him from leaving.
But even so, Rudian's decision did not change.
"I want to come with you!"
"Absolutely not."
Was it an illusion to feel that they were repeating the same argument that had happened before?
Rudian gently pushed away the clinging Rebecca and said.
"At least until your blood frenzy is cured, you can't accompany me."
The power of the Demon Eater that grew stronger as it absorbed magi, but correspondingly gnawed at the body and mind.
Naturally, Rebecca's face was full of dissatisfaction, but at Rudian's following words, her expression immediately brightened like a blooming flower.
"I'll bring back a way to control your power, so be patient for a while."
"Promise..."
Rudian chuckled softly and pointed behind him.
"Without you, who's going to manage those guys?"
"..."
Instantly, Rebecca's expression distorted as she cast a devouring glare at the twenty or so maids behind her.
"You said you'd send them back to their hometown."
"Mm, I should... Send them back."
At those words, they immediately started crying and rushed to Rebecca.
"That's too much, big sister! What's our relationship!"
"Who's your sister!"
As if she had heard something she shouldn't have, Rebecca screamed with anger.
Currently, Rebecca was the most idle person in the Belstad mansion.
Too close to family to be called a guest, but too awkward to be called the lady of the house - such an ambiguous relationship.
Since they couldn't just let her play around doing nothing, they had assigned her to manage the succubi for now...
"Big sister, don't abandon us!"
"Aaaah! Shut up!"
...Surprisingly, their chemistry was quite good.
Actually, Rudian had been thinking of sending the succubi back to the demon realm.
But they had mixed in well among the servants without any problems, and since there were no particular issues, Rudian, who didn't want to waste energy opening a gate, kept postponing it.
Left alone like that, they unexpectedly worked diligently and got along quite well with Rebecca, who was their monitor, so his heart leaned toward just leaving things as they were.
At Rebecca's scolding, they panted and grinned foolishly.
"Haa, haa...! This thrilling and dangerous sensation...! It's the best!"
"Rudian! Do something about these perverted bitches!"
"Big sisteeeer!"
Though Rebecca's power as a Demon Eater should naturally be a natural enemy to them as demons, the succubi found that danger attractive and stuck to Rebecca even more, creating a farce.
Well, Rudian had no intention of changing this situation where Rebecca was properly controlling them.
"Good luck, hang in there."
Rudian gave a thumbs up toward the backs of Rebecca running away and the succubi chasing her.
The Belstad mansion, where this scene had become a daily routine... Was peaceful today as well.
***
Naturally, Kaitel actively encouraged Elvin's journey abroad.
He showed so much enthusiasm that Elvin, who had only tentatively brought up the topic, felt embarrassed, and pushed Elvin from behind.
Gray also appeared with a gloomy expression, but other than that, he joined the journey without any particular complaints.
Gray and Elvin.
When they were about to depart on their journey with these two people, Maria, who had heard the news, came to find Rudian.
"Are you really going?"
Unexpectedly, Maria seemed negative about Rudian's journey, expressing her dissatisfied feelings with a grumbling voice.
"There's nothing left to do here now."
"If you helped me, my work would be considerably easier..."
Sharp-witted Maria accurately perceived the level of psychic abilities Rudian had built up.
Since Rudian nominally held an elder position in the Psychic Tower, helping with practical work would certainly be of great assistance.
"That would be fine too, but there's more work to do outside. And..."
"And?"
"Well, your people have been treating me a bit harshly lately..."
Recently, for some reason, the psychic ability users of the Psychic Luminous had become quite hostile in their attitude toward him.
The cause was, quite unfairly, that Rudian had acquired the perception of being a 'parasite clinging to Lady Maria.'
"Sorry..."
Maria bowed her head deeply in embarrassment and apologized to Rudian.
She too couldn't have been unaware of the blatant hostility directed at Rudian lately.
"The misunderstanding seems quite serious, so please explain it well. The stares are too piercing."
"..."
Maria remained silent with her head bowed.
Actually, it seemed like he had said the same thing to her not long ago, but even after that, the gazes directed at him hadn't changed much.
'Those guys would die for Maria's words, but do they hate me that much...?'
Anyway, since he'd be leaving soon, he wouldn't have to face their murderous gazes anymore.
"I want to come with you too."
"That's..."
"I know. Unlike brother, I'm now in a position where I can't move around carelessly."
Maria lay her upper body on the table with a dejected expression.
Then she voiced something frightening.
"Should I just run away from home?"
"If you did that, the elder would faint."
The vice tower master of the Psychic Tower and the actual leader of the psychic ability users.
All that remained for her now was to play a major role in the war that had broken out between Morian, Rohans, and the Ergon.
In fact, if he took her along, she would achieve the greatest growth, but the Morian Empire needed her power right now.
Maria smiled wryly and lightly placed her index finger on Rudian's nose.
"Come back quickly. It'll be bored without you."
"I'll be merciful."
"If you come back too late... I'll really run away from home and come looking for you."
"Hahaha..."
What an amusing joke.
In fact, as the Psychic Luminous had earned the nickname of 'the emperor's twin swords' along with the Imperial Guards, Maria, its master, had become one of the two most influential women in their twenties in the Morian Empire, alongside Luciella.
He was newly curious, but what would happen in the empire if such a person suddenly ran away from home?
'Well, that won't happen, but I am curious.'
Rudian's question...
Would be answered just a few days later.
***
"I ran away from home."
"..."
"Everyone around me was being so annoying that I just threw everything away and came out."
"..."
When Rudian's party had just reached the south gate of Nevan.
"So, you'll take me along too, right?"
The luxurious traveler's outfit he had seen once before.
And a giant greatsword that matched her full height.
Rudian lost his words upon seeing Luciella welcoming the party at the south gate.