Chapter 231
Chapter 231
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 231
Chapter Title: The Second Match
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“…….”
“For now, this should do.”
After muttering the alphabet one more time, I checked the back of a regular matchstick.
Unlike the white phosphorus match, the wooden part of the regular one was blank.
“Heike. Can you tell who left this here with your ability?”
Heike remained silent, still facing the white phosphorus match, his heart probably pounding.
It ignites just from friction, but it hadn’t caught fire inside until now, and we’d soaked it in water, so it should be safe now. More importantly, didn’t people carry these in their pockets or bags decades ago?
‘Of course, that was insane.’
How on earth did people live like that back then? Though it’s still the old days now, in a way…
And with this clear situation where we had to decode someone’s message, I could fully understand why Heike was flustered.
“…Sorry. I can’t tell. I’ve never seen anything like this…”
Heike, who had been tracing the letters with his finger, finally muttered a late reply. His face had gone pale.
“You can’t tell?”
“It feels like something’s been erased. But I can tell this much: there’s a postmark from the postal service, but it wasn’t delivered. Someone left it here directly, like using a trained bird—an eagle or a falcon.”
“Hmm.”
Yeah. No way it went through the postal service. If luck had been even a little worse, it would’ve bumped into another match head inside and caught fire, so there’d be no reason to risk it through the mail.
Heike stepped half a pace closer to me and said seriously.
“How about calling Narke to find out who left it?”
“We can try, but Narke’s accuracy drops without seeing the person’s face.”
Just like I need to see someone’s eyes to open their status window, he needs to see their eyes to use his insight ability properly. Better not to expect any meaningful info.
What we could figure out simply was this: considering Heike’s future, the sender was very likely from Pleroma.
And…
‘A matchstick, huh…’
Coincidentally, wasn’t it the same thing I used last week?
Not for everyday use, but to trigger the sprinklers against Pleroma’s nonsense.
And I was the one who used it.
So, this item arriving the very next day after Heike and I interacted—addressed to Heike but clearly meant for me too—was a message applicable to both of us. From the moment the cipher was used, we couldn’t take things at face value anymore.
The sender knew about yesterday and this morning’s events.
‘That stalker.’
Thinking about it again, if it was before we met, maybe, but now that we could meet anytime, it was unlikely they’d still send objects as messages. The notes they’d been slipping me were because they had no intention of meeting directly. Now that we’d met and even exchanged rings, there was no need for that anymore.
Still, worth keeping in mind.
The precise conclusion could wait until we figured out what these letters meant.
Just in case, I put the matches back in the matchbox after dissolving them all in water earlier, then headed outside.
Narke and Elias were waiting for me, it seemed—they hadn’t left yet and had put out the fire in their dorm room. I knocked and entered, then said to Narke.
“Narke. Mind taking a look at me?”
“Huh?”
Narke, who had been laughing while talking with Elias, turned to me and read my thoughts right away.
“Oh, something happen?”
“You’re quick.”
“We read each other like that~ I can’t see far into the future, but at least nothing today.”
“Good? Thanks as always.”
“No prob~ Of course, that’s assuming you don’t make any risky choices. You know it can change in a flash depending on what you do, right?”
“I know.”
“Oh, and what’s with the matches?”
It was out of nowhere. He’d clearly read that I was thinking about the matches too.
I held out the matchbox I’d brought, and Elias peered between Narke and me.
“What is it?”
“Someone sent Heike a white phosphorus match. It was buried inside regular ones.”
“What?! They still sell those things?”
“Exactly. But the important part isn’t that…”
“It’s a cipher.”
Narke said it before I even opened the box, looking right at me.
“Yeah. Just that one had letters on it.”
“There’ll be more pairs. They wouldn’t send just this one.”
Narke glanced at the wet box and handed it back to me.
Meaning there were more items with letters like this.
“Yeah. One letter alone tells us nothing, so probably. How’d you know?”
“It doesn’t feel like the only one they prepared. They’re expecting us to go beyond this—something more.”
Judging from the object alone is vague, as expected. But the conclusion was worth noting.
“Haha, it’s a bit vague, right? It’s all intuition.”
“No, thanks.”
“What’s to thank? It’s our job too.”
Narke smiled and grabbed my hand.
“Shall we go? The diplomatic rehearsal’s about to start.”
* * *
It was nearly 6 a.m., but winter dawn was still dark.
We stood before the new portal the Imperial Family had set up for Pentaron, watching Leo at the front clapping to get everyone’s attention.
“Alright, we practiced yesterday, so we should nail it today, right?”
“Yeah.”
Pentaron’s opening was three days away, meaning the French state visit was tomorrow morning.
It wasn’t just French imperial family members or the prime minister—the delegation included mage groups representing the French Empire’s Imperial Academy.
Our Eschet team was handling protocol only for the Imperial Academy’s representative team. In two days, similar mage groups from Britain, the Papal States, and neighboring countries would arrive, and it’d be the same.
Lost in thought, Leo nodded at me and asked.
“Take your meds?”
“Yeah.”
“If you’re gonna be a problem, step out.”
I nodded vaguely, playing along with Leo’s cold tone act.
I heard Ulrike swallowing behind me. He tapped my shoulder and whispered.
“…Meds? Is Lucas sick?”
The meds Leo meant were the sympathetic nervous system blockers, but I couldn’t tell Ulrike that.
I smiled and shook my head.
“Nah. Just drank some elixir in case standing around tires me out.”
“Oh, got it. Doing this for two days straight does sound exhausting. Should’ve crammed it into one.”
Ulrike whispered from behind.
Fair point. Actually, all countries were scheduled for Thursday, two days before opening, but France announced they’d come Wednesday alone.
‘Thanks to that, two events.’
France coming a day early meant splitting the welcome ceremonies and banquets over two days.
Some argued for waiting until all state guests arrived for the banquet, but with Pleroma going wild, most favored avoiding inter-nation disputes by sticking to protocol—two separate days.
Historically, relations with the French Empire weren’t great, so snubbing guests the Imperial Family itself invited risked diplomatic fallout. Better to hold two events.
‘They announced it as visiting early to elevate Pentaron’s status, making it impossible to ignore.’
Cherlingen, standing with Ulrike behind me, laughed and replied.
“At least our role’s the easy part. Right?”
“Yeah.”
Indeed.
Though we were their protocol handlers, being thrown in last-minute showed we just had to stand beside the Academy team as they entered. And since they weren’t state guests, the ceremony was separate from the main welcome.
So, after finishing the rehearsal at the palace by noon, we could head straight out for rampage duty without further prep.
Thus, thirty minutes past noon.
After team rehearsal and the palace’s full run-through, we returned to the team conference room and sat around the table like yesterday.
“Ugh…”
My friends hung their robes on chairs and flopped down. Rehearsing outside had us sweating despite winter.
Elias, face-planting on the cold table, muttered.
“Ah, this is when Adelbert would be perfect.”
Because his unique ability summons wind, maybe.
He didn’t like him much usually, but calling him perfect now—probably used his cousin as a fan once when it was hot.
Even Leo, who’d normally scold us for slacking and order prep, sat quietly due to the heat, so Elias jumped in.
“Guys, once rampage reports come in today, we can keep going, right?”
“Yeah.”
At my answer, Elias shot up, clapped, and said.
“How about challenging twenty cases today?! Break the record again?”
“Wow… twenty?”
“Hahaha, we just broke it the other day, and now another? Tempting.”
Ulrike sighed realistically at Elias’s reckless idea, but Cherlingen just grinned like it was fun.
Surprisingly, this guy seemed unreliable too.
“If we take Brandenburg reports too, twenty’s possible, but it’d wreck our stamina.”
“Yeah. We cleared ten on day one, skewing our baseline. Other teams handle three or four a day.”
Leo and Ulrike gave practical responses. Elias ignored Ulrike, looked at me and Leo, and said.
“Listen. Signs the palace is upping rampage grades we handle.”
“Yeah.”
“Before we can’t touch 9th-grades and others can’t approach, let’s set a record they can’t beat.”
“…….”
“Seriously twenty today? It’d be nice if we could…”
Ulrike chuckled awkwardly.
I thought it was weird competitive spirit, but Leo’s blank expression cracked—one corner of his mouth slowly rose.
* * *
“Ah, feels refreshing.”
Returning to the Union building’s conference room, Cherlingen stretched lightly.
It was 10 p.m. now.
We’d set a new record: twenty-three cases today.
‘It actually happened…’
Unbelievable.
“Lucas, you’ve got surprisingly good stamina.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. We handled seven together today, and you don’t look tired at all. Been training steadily?”
I brushed it off with a smile.
Not every day, but yeah, I had.
Why I wasn’t as drained as before? Probably because just last dawn, after the archbishop, I’d endured Leo’s insane training without rest.
That one session bumped my stamina by 0.1 points. Normally takes over a week of training.
Anyway, we were tired, but our thresholds differed from others’.
Elias’s groan came through the artifact.
[Me and Narke did ten… gonna die, guys…]
[You’re the one who said twenty, and now this?]
[Hahaha, don’t fight~ Won’t break the record for the next half-year. Happy, Elias?]
[Obviously!]
Listening to Elias, Leo, and Narke, I opened the conference room door. Elias was there, eyes sparkling, grinning ear to ear.
They were pretty lively too.
“We’ll be in tomorrow’s papers.”
“Already got word from the professor.”
Leo shoved a letter at me.
[What in the world is going on there?]
The professor’s letter was intense from the first line.
It was sent after our fifteenth case—same tone start to finish.
Elias laughed.
“We’ll do thirty tomorrow…”
“Talk sense. Academy team tomorrow—no time.”
Leo cut him off.
Even the excited students sighed in relief.
Still—despite his absurd numbers—Elias sticking to rampages without chasing new incidents was reassuring.
Thus, the day ended with the rehearsal and twenty-three rampage cases.
What that meant?
Shockingly, the stalker hadn’t shown last night either.
‘These bastards.’
Next day, in diplomatic attire at the Academy Corps dorm, I watched my busy friends, lost in thought.
I wasn’t waiting for the stalker, but two days without contact raised reasonable suspicions.
They were clearly prepping something big. Dioceses fighting over Pentaron plans, or setting up execution groundwork.
Security was tight—every active Union mage team deployed to Pentaron—but they’d plan to breach it.
‘Wish we had more clues on yesterday’s letters.’
Anything else coming?
Then Leo knocked on friends’ doors, raising his voice.
“Let’s go, guys. Assemble in the waiting room.”
“Lucas.”
Right after, Heike’s door flew open.
Pushing past wide-eyed Leo, Heike thrust a water bottle at me. Inside the glass bottle full of water was another white phosphorus match.
“…….”
Yesterday, we submitted the match to police as evidence and reported it. Magic involved, and police couldn’t handle it, apparently. Here we were again.
Heike said in a quickened voice.
“Another one.”
“This time A.”
The letter on the cut end was A.
‘T and A.’
Still nothing clear, but if they’d act eventually, better to give decipherable clues.
At least clues were accumulating—positive.
I sealed the bottle and said.
“Send this to police too. We head to the palace. Wait till we learn something.”
“…Yeah.”
Heike nodded with a determined face.
* * *
Just before 9 a.m.
We’d moved via the palace’s VIP portal.
Captain Leo stood on the blue carpet facing the portal spot; the other six lined up three per side.
Not the state guest portal, so no honor guard—lower imperial nobles and Junkers from government filled in.
Perfect clear day for the VIP schedule—no rain or snow.
Beep—
As the distant clock tower hit 9, the artifact signaled the state welcome ended.
Now, first through this VIP portal: the Imperial Academy mage team.
Imperial News reporters filmed our side.
—“This’ll be good.”
Narke, beside me, used divine power to whisper.
I smiled with my eyes and faced forward.
Fair to expect.
France’s Imperial Academy team was like our Eschet—student mages. Academy not strictly high school, so ages varied widely.
Like our Imperial Mage Union, it housed young mages from teens to forties.
Difference: theirs academic-focused, per the name.
Ours more military-political.
‘Either way, they brought skilled ones.’
I was excited too.
Heard they weren’t a fixed team like us—two or three per education level, temp assembled.
Then, the massive portal door flared with mana.
Two guards opened it, revealing the approaching Academy delegation.
Fireworks and applause erupted front and back.
The leader looked forties by new human standards—nearly thirty years Leo’s senior. Made me think stronger.
‘Who decided rookies over veterans for VIP protocol?’
Palace trusted Eschet most—advertised domestically and abroad—plus our team had heirs from union states, so diplomatically fine. Internally? Different story. Likely Crown Prince’s doing.
Anyway, Leo performed captain duties well. He approached the first-out leader with a trustworthy smile.
“Welcome to the Empire, Excellency Mathieu Aubini. It’s a true honor to meet the French Empire’s Imperial Academy mages at our Empire’s first international harmony event.”
“We sincerely thank you for the hospitality. It’s a great honor to be here today.”
‘Smooth.’
Just stand by appropriately, then walk out—morning done.
Leo continued smiling.
“Your visit sends a message of international camaraderie and unity to our Empire and Pentaron nations. On behalf of the Imperial Mage Union, we thank you for gracing our first Pentaron.”
The leader shook his head smiling.
“As fellow continentals with shared long history, we couldn’t ignore your nation’s crisis. We sincerely hope the German Empire successfully starts and ends this event, setting a fine global example.”
“…?”
At the baffling words, I raised an eyebrow briefly, then fixed my face.
Opposition looked calm; confusion all ours.
‘Look at these guys.’
What crisis was obvious.
Our Empire: Pleroma’s birthplace. Spreading continent-wide, but origin and main activity here.
They basically said, “We can’t ignore your image rehab efforts.” Acting like aid workers, not tourists.
Leo paused briefly, then flowed naturally.
“Our Empire has spared no effort for this Pentaron. Our Union hopes to build successful ties with your Academy.”
“…….”
He subtly jabbed back. Unmistakable.
Opponent started with condescension and rudeness—necessary response.
Seemed they thought they came to solve our chronic Pleroma issue.
‘Taught that in France, huh.’
Weirdos.
Not my business, though.
But it became my business soon enough.
“Lucas Ascanien, Eschet Vice-Captain, if you please.”
That noon.
Entering the banquet hall for the welcome feast, the delegation leader extended a hand, speaking fluent German.