Chapter 138

Translator: MadScientist

Chapter: 138

Chapter Title: Friends Are Here, Nyang!

"I'll make sure the reward is more than worth it, so don't worry. And as an apology for what just happened, I'll open the imperial family's second vault for you."

I stared blankly at Howard Max's words for a moment.

The situation right before had been a duel with the imperial mages.

This felt way too out of left field to follow that up.

"Howard Max?"

"Ah, forgive me, Fourth Princess. Opening the imperial vault isn't set in stone, but if this rotten guy agrees, I was planning to bring it up with His Highness the Crown Prince."

Howard Max glanced at Yuna before explaining the situation first.

The imperial vault was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one of the warehouses where the empire stored all sorts of relics, elixirs, and other valuables gathered during the wars of expansion.

And the second vault mainly held things related to 'elixirs'.

"Hmm... If it's for this, I think Brother Arthur would approve too."

"Yes."

Just hearing about it made the vault sound like an incredible place.

Was it really okay to just casually open something that amazing?

"Can you really open something like that on a whim?"

"On a whim, my ass! With the eve festival right around the corner, this is a steal, isn't it?"

"As you know, this year's Founding Festival has the mage society participating on a massive scale too. If the Imperial Mage Corps looks weak at the eve event, it hits the imperial family's authority right in the gut. Could you help us out, Ian?"

It seemed like a pretty big deal from the palace's perspective.

The Founding Festival was also about showing off the empire's prestige to the world.

Looking ridiculous from the opening eve would just give ammo to their rivals, the Archmage Duke houses.

I got the gist.

"I can do it. But isn't the princess here too?"

"The eve ritual magic is mostly fifth-circle stuff. You need to be at the peak of the fifth circle to pull off the ritual. It's tough to find a mage of that tier or higher on short notice. Not just any fifth-circle mage can do it either, but your casting just now was precise enough to jump straight into the ritual. More refined than your average squad member, even."

So Yuna's skills weren't up to it.

If a princess botched the magic up there, it'd be a bigger joke.

"Understood."

I figured it was for the best and accepted.

Hanging around nobles just made things awkward anyway.

"Thanks, Ian."

"Smart choice. Now, you've got five hours to memorize the ritual magic, so let's get started."

I received the ritual magic from Howard Max.

Memorized it with Thought Acceleration, then joined the ritual practice.

"Umm yum yum! So tasty, nyang!"

"Got it, Chur? Don't wander off where I can't see you."

"Got it, nyang!"

Time flew by, and the eve festival was right upon us.

I'd polymorphed Chur and left her snacking in the banquet hall.

To hide her cat ears, I put her in a hooded robe.

The ritual event lasted about twenty minutes.

Nothing was likely to happen in that time.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

I left Chur behind and headed to where the Imperial Mage Corps was assembling.

Crown Prince Arthur was there talking with Howard Max.

"Ah, the cadet. We meet again. Howard Max filled me in. If you pull this off smoothly, I'll make sure you're rewarded handsomely."

"Ah, yes. Thank you."

Just as Howard Max had said, the crown prince accepted opening the vault like it was no big deal.

I could even sense he was grateful to me.

He really seemed invested in this Founding Festival.

After that, I joined the formation.

The Imperial Mage Corps' entrance would start in about five minutes.

Five minutes was plenty of time for some gallery posting.

-All ranks, prepare formation!

The vice captain's shout cut through my solid gallery session.

We'd just been debating elixir options when focus broke.

Galers were pushing tiger semen if available, but probably trolling.

Anyway, I could decide later at the vault.

And finally, the ritual entrance began.

Step- step- step- step-

The imperial mages marched in perfect sync, sharp as knights.

I matched angles to blend in.

Entire unit—attention!

The ritual proceeded on the vice captain's command.

Imperial mages began their calculations one by one.

Magic spells activated from left to right, perfectly spaced.

The audience gasped as the magic circles completed on cue.

Then they launched colorful spells skyward.

A ritual and a spectacle rolled into one.

Like fireworks. Prismatic mana burst into beautiful lights overhead.

The eve festival heralding the Founding Festival wrapped up successfully.

"What the hell, so many rituals..."

"Nyang nyang!"

Founding Festival, day five.

I finished the day's event and flopped onto my bed back at the room.

No energy left to enjoy the festival.

Thought subbing for rituals would be quick,

But turns out they wanted me for more than just the eve—right up to closing.

With the seven-day festival came tons of events.

And the Imperial Mage Corps was slated to show magic at every one.

Started with just eve, but then they roped me in till the end.

Made sense.

No way they'd hand over elixirs that easy.

Felt duped and annoyed, but decided to see it through.

Bailing midway might let them weasel out, half-scam style.

Besides, priceless elixirs for one sub gig? Too good anyway.

And surprisingly, the 'rituals' were great magic practice.

Calculating spells to exact timings honed a new precision skill.

Different from just speed-focused stuff before.

Syncing manifestations with others boosted precision, output, and order factors too.

Galers said elite ritual squads were powerhouse common sense anyway.

"Hubby! Let's do that, that one nyang! Sparkly sparkly nyang!"

"Ughhh... Can't you roam alone, Chur?"

"Alone's boring now nyang!"

But today Chur was being a handful.

Post-ritual, I usually crashed in the palace guest room.

Kim Chur roamed solo, snacking and playing.

First day I tailed her worried, but her smarts had grown—no mishaps alone.

Still clingy with me, but picked up social cues fast.

So past few days, off she went solo. Today she wanted company.

"Fiiiine, maybe."

Wrapped early today anyway.

Missing all festival fun sucked.

I dragged my weary self out with Chur.

She excitedly donned her hood, ready to roll.

"Sparkly sparkly nyang!"

Chur loved food, but sparkles even more.

Festival streets glittered with lights and luxury wares.

Chur munched meat skewers, eyes twinkling as she dashed through the dazzle.

I enjoyed bits too.

About halfway down the street...

Sniff sniff

Chur suddenly froze, sniffing.

Rare for her to use nose like that.

She'd stopped sparkle-chasing to sniff intently.

"Smell something tasty?"

Figured food scent, but her next words froze the air.

"Sniff sniff... Smells like friends, nyang."

"...Friends?"

"When hubby pranked friends before and I scolded nyang."

"Before?"

"When going home nyang."

Going home before? When I first met Chur?

Academy feral familiar escape incident.

Neck hairs stood up.

"You smell beasts, Chur?"

"Tons of friends' scents nyang."

To Chur, 'friends' meant beasts.

Lots meant more than a couple.

"Not other mages' familiars?"

"Nuh-uh nyang. Not. Sniff sniff... Friends stuck to humans smell different nyang. Like home friends nyang."

"Not yesterday?"

"Suddenly popping up everywhere nyang."

"Not from outside the city?"

"Outside friends same smell nyang. Different from yesterday nyang. Lots inside nyang."

Wild beast scent.

New since yesterday.

Not city outskirts dwellers.

Meant beasts infiltrating the capital for sure.

But why suddenly?

No beasts visible around.

Chur as Grandis could pinpoint over wide range tho.

Beast horde incoming?

Or sneaking via other paths.

Underground? But that many would rumble the ground...

Chur seemed legit.

Dread hit hard.

Asked the gallery first.

Galers seemed used to it.

But rebels? Empire support at all-time high lately.

Some nobles grumbled, but weakened.

Heard imperial prestige and power at peak—rebels?

Sure, every era has fringe groups.

But after seeing empire's shiny side only, felt off.

Per galers, tell palace first.

No need solo sleuthing— they'd uncover fast.

Hunted Yuna at palace banquet hall.

"...So my familiar has a great nose. Seems to have picked up beast scents."

"Hmm..."

Yuna pondered long after my tale.

"You sure? No offense to your familiar, but deep bonds are needed to chat with them, right?"

Yuna didn't know Chur was polymorph Grandis.

Better not spread that.

"We communicate this much. Definitely dangerous wild beasts."

"If the tamer says so... must be. Okay, I'll have it looked into."

Yuna agreed after thought.

Then left the hall somewhere.

"Phew..."

Should trigger immediate probe.

If group's targeting final day, still time.

Party and festival night ripening.

Boiled nobles pairing off boldly.

Capital folk splashing cash, boozing taverns.

Some hook up, crash till late, repeat tomorrow.

Past four days' vibe.

Probably same tonight.

But ritual practice tomorrow morn.

Chur played good, time to room.

"Nice weather."

"Nyaa~"

Strolled palace corridors with beast-form Chur.

Night air peaceful.

Capital partying day-night, history's richest era.

So serene.

Days like this forever.

BAM-

-KYAAAAAAAAAH!!

Beasts hit the capital smack in that peace.