The Mana Stone Eye and the Emperor's Ultimatum
'Pulling out fingernails and starving someone half to death—ugh.'
Just imagining it sent chills racing down my spine.
"If you're being tortured that badly, it's fine to talk. You're not the only one who knows about this in the world, Major."
"Oh, really?"
I'd thought I was the first to witness the lieutenant colonel's personal secret, but luckily that wasn't the case.
"And since you seem a bit confused, let me clarify—it's not magic."
"Pardon? If it's not magic, then what could it possibly... Never mind. I believe you."
It was obvious she just wanted to keep it under wraps.
'No way it's not magic. But sure, I'll play along.'
Damn, I'm way too perceptive for my own good.
"Haha, I swear it's not magic. You wouldn't believe me anyway."
She denied it again, but her voice rang with genuine sincerity.
"But if it's not magic, then how...?"
"Well, since you've already seen it, I'll explain. It's similar to the principles behind magic tools."
Click.
Lieutenant Colonel Orpia unbuttoned her eyepatch, revealing the blue eye I'd glimpsed before.
"As you probably guessed, this is an eye made from a mana stone. It's connected to my body."
"So you can see perfectly out of that eye too?"
"Crystal clear. And it doesn't degrade with age."
"That's incredible."
Permanent perfect vision, no worries about presbyopia. If word got out, plenty of people would be green with envy.
"Of course, I have no idea if I'll ever be able to go without the patch someday."
"Why not just wear it openly? It draws some stares, sure, but it's not ugly at all."
Objectively speaking, it actually made her look more alluring than the eyepatch did.
"There's a story behind it, but the biggest issue is lack of control. Remember when I said it's not magic?"
"Yes."
"That flame earlier? It was activated through this eye, channeling the circuit."
"Pardon...?"
What on earth was she talking about? My knowledge of magic tools was limited, but this made zero sense.
"It's complicated to explain, but since it's connected to my body, I draw the circuit in my mind and activate it through the eye..."
It felt like she was giving more details, but I still couldn't wrap my head around it.
"So you're activating it just by thinking, without engraving it into the mana stone...? Is that even possible?"
Did she know how intricate mana circuits were? No genius could draft them mentally—that was beyond human capability.
"Yeah, turns out it is."
"You're on another level."
I'd seen monsters like Derek, Eden, and Ion, but this was a whole different league.
'At this level, she's a national asset, right?'
No wonder she was in Intelligence. And that sparked another question.
"But didn't it hurt like hell earlier? Why was that?"
"Because no human should be doing this."
"Drawing the circuit?"
"Yeah. Imagine sketching a circuit that takes months to complete by hand—all at once in your head. Think you could?"
"No chance for me."
Just looking at a standard Magic Bullet circuit made my head spin, let alone drawing one from scratch. It was a realm I'd never touch, even after a dozen reincarnations.
"Me neither. So before I start, I activate a circuit that forcibly opens my mind. That's what causes the pain."
"Ah..."
It was even cruder and more brutal than I'd imagined.
'Should I ask more? Or drop it?'
The real question I was dying to ask terrified me too much to voice.
'Screw it. Might as well go all in now.'
Leaving things hanging would just nag at me, so I steeled myself and spoke up.
"Would it be okay to ask how you ended up with that eye?"
A heavy silence fell the instant the words left my mouth. Regret hit in under a second.
'Shit, why'd I ask? You idiot.'
I wanted to snatch the words back, but spilled milk was impossible to unspill.
"I-If it's too hard to answer..."
"I was caught in human experiments run by the Abiel Ducal House when I was young."
"The Abiel Ducal House of the Aditz Empire...?"
"Yeah. I don't mind sharing that much, but anything more is classified. If you're curious, climb the ranks and check for yourself."
She flashed a shadowed smile that seemed to darken her face and rose from her seat.
"You've already told me plenty. You must have gone through hell."
Even imagining it—gouging out her original eye and embedding a mana stone there...
'Ugh, insane.'
Whoever did that had to be a monstrous freak, barely human.
"It was no picnic. But you've got a real knack for empathy, Major. Unlike Eden."
"Please don't compare me to him. I'm nothing like that guy."
"Haha, got it."
Lieutenant Colonel Orpia burst into laughter that sounded genuinely amused.
"Focus on your battalion duties for now, but drop by occasionally. Next time, we'll have a long coffee chat."
"I'll do my best."
"Good. You're dismissed."
"Yes, ma'am!"
I snapped a crisp salute and headed out—back to the battalion after what felt like ages.
"Your Majesty, we must publicize this and use the opportunity to sever the Aditz Empire's limbs once and for all."
"Indeed. We cannot let those who created such taboo magic tools go unpunished."
The Aladict Hall, convened after a long hiatus. Reserved for the empire's most critical decisions and deliberations, its symbolism carried immense weight.
"Hmm."
Unlike the usual quiet office briefings, over a hundred people filled the space, voices overlapping nonstop.
"I shall speak."
The emperor, who had listened silently, broke the quiet and rose. The hall fell deathly still in an instant. Every eye and ear turned to him.
"I gathered you in the Aladict Hall today to decide our empire's course against the Aditz Empire's egregious transgressions."
The emperor had distributed details on the mind-control magic tool to the nobles the previous day.
I hereby proclaim judgment upon the Aditz Empire, source of continental chaos. Any force obstructing the empire's path shall be deemed their ally and utterly destroyed.
Boom!!!
Everyone in the Aladict Hall dropped to their knees.
"Your Majesty's will is received!! Victory and glory to the empire!!"
As if rehearsed, they shouted in perfect unison at the precise moment.
One might ask why declare war now, long after it began. But this carried a different weight and justification entirely.
"All kingdoms must heed and remember my words well."
No representatives from other kingdoms were present, but the news would reach them before nightfall.
"The Supreme Commander shall hasten preparations to push back decisively in the west."
"I shall obey Your Majesty's command and prepare to deploy!!!"
Chief of Staff Bust, standing near the emperor, bellowed his response.
"And hear me, all of you."
The emperor addressed the assembled nobles once more.
"I know some nobles have profited from this war."
His proclamation and warning weren't aimed solely at the enemy Aditz Empire.
"You have one week. Return it all—for your own sakes."
A chilling ultimatum. Those with guilty consciences trembled uncontrollably—it was only natural.
"War demands vast resources, so you shall provide support funds. I will watch closely to gauge the depth of your loyalty."
His piercing gaze swept over the nobles. No doubt, frantic calculations of "adequate" loyalty were racing through their minds.
"Oh, and families without soldiers must show extra sincerity. That ends this council."
The nobles sat stunned, as if a storm had ravaged them. But they couldn't afford to slack off.
Returning to their estates, they summoned accountants to desperately debate the scale of "support funds"—really tribute in disguise.
"My lord, our house has no soldiers. To avoid wrath, we must outdo families like Viscount Pairing, who sent their eldest son."
"But we don't know what they'll contribute."
"Exactly. That's the problem."
"This is maddening."
Oren Detrophil, head of the Detrophil Viscount family—who thrived on agriculture and foodstuffs—was on the verge of losing his mind.
"We should have enlisted someone back then."
Oren had two daughters of enlistment age. But they'd hated the idea more than death itself, and the emperor seemed lenient toward all-female houses, so he'd let it slide.
He never dreamed it would snowball into this nightmare.
"We can't even ask around. What if we wait until other houses show their hands?"
The Detrophil and Pairing Viscounts had been bitter rivals for generations.
"Acting late might make us look like we're testing the waters."
"Haa."
Faced with this agonizing dilemma, Oren let out a deep sigh.
"What's the maximum we can muster right now?"
"Minimizing estate operations and family dignity upkeep, we could scrape together about 400,000 gold immediately."
A fortune, but paltry in a competition with other houses.
'Should've saved more.'
The money lavished on marrying off his two eligible daughters now filled him with bitter regret.
"Prepare 300,000 gold for now, and squeeze out more."
"My lord... Awkward as it is, there is one solution."
"What solution?"
It was natural for Oren to perk up at his accountant Hanrik's hesitant words.
"If there was, you'd have said so sooner. What is it?"
"I found it while looking into enlistment for my son... There's an officer induction ceremony next week."
"Wait, you mean—"
"Yes... Sending one of the young ladies would solve this in one stroke."
Hanrik's belated suggestion to send her to the army. Oren plunged into profound deliberation—it was inevitable.