Chapter 78
Chapter 78
Episode 78
"Hmm..."
Neither Oz nor Tia were surprised by Aira's answer.
They merely sighed, as if they had expected as much.
To them, she was such an utterly honest and fragile person that this outcome seemed inevitable.
On the other hand, Salem, who did not know Aira's disposition, could only dismiss her words in one fell swoop.
"Idealism, I see."
For him, as the leader of a nation, it was an absolutely unacceptable matter.
They say the world is changed by those who believe in such idealism, but that was too optimistic a view.
Ideals and reality are different.
If a nation's leader were to champion idealism, it was highly probable it would be a shortcut to the nation's ruin.
"I'm sick and tired of seeing people cling to the impossible."
Salem detested idealists.
No matter how much they preached, they refused to face reality.
Wasn't there someone right here, in this very place, facing a crisis of death precisely because they'd clung to that idealism?
Salem glared at Oz. Oz calmly met his gaze.
"This magic has far too much potential for misuse."
Salem declared solemnly, as if reciting charges to a criminal.
"Aira Merlin. The magic you have created greatly violates the military law of Spellerge, and this is an offense punishable by death."
Spellerge had built its history on a foundation of power.
In the first place, magic had also developed primarily with a focus on increasing destructive force.
But precisely because of that, there were things even less tolerable.
The development of any kind of magic that could topple the social system itself was absolutely not tolerated.
Salem and the mages had sacrificed countless things to create the Spellerge of today. There were also those whose sacrifices had not been repaid.
Therefore, magic that had the potential to once again ignite the flames of chaos was utterly unacceptable.
"Do you have anything more to say?"
"I... I still believe my Master's dream wasn't wrong."
Salem looked down at Aira with a cold gaze. Just as I thought.
Idealists don't yield easily. He already knew that.
"Yes, I suppose so..."
Tia, unlike before, seemed to have no intention of intervening.
It meant she respected Aira's will. If Aira chose to meet death, she could not stop it.
Salem clenched his fist. It was now time to deliver the verdict.
Idealist.
They were undoubtedly the kind of people he detested most. But what about him?
He was, in fact, one of the idealists who had changed the world.
The woman who had made him so, and the child who inherited his and her blood.
All were people who lived looking towards ideals.
And yet, to deny that?
Impossible.
"As the king of a nation, I cannot acknowledge a theory solely steeped in idealism. Whether one likes it or not, a mage must embrace ideals, but at the same time, must also know how to compromise with reality."
In the end, Salem couldn't deny idealism. That was why he had detested it.
Because there was a part of it he understood.
Salem glanced once at Oz, who was staring at him with cold eyes, then quietly closed his own.
The worst possible judgment for a king of a nation.
But also, the unavoidable judgment of a foolish parent who still couldn't abandon hope.
"However, respecting the Dragon Emperor's consideration in permitting this meeting beforehand..."
He couldn't deny Aira's foolish idealism.
Because denying it was the same as denying everything he himself had done up to this point.
Instead of compelling Oz, he had pushed him towards Scientia. He had not revoked his position as heir.
That was because he had leaned on an ideal, hoping that something might change.
Yes, he still believed that something could change.
"I will act as if I did not see what happened this time. However, that magic must never again see the light of day."
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty the Mage King."
The [Mage King] is one who dreams of ideals more than anyone else.
That is why he is the king of mages.
"What...?"
I was bewildered. This wasn't about the verdict Salem had delivered.
Something that had never happened before. Something I hadn't even thought possible had occurred.
Making such an assumption itself was ridiculous, and it was the kind of thing that would be pointless to even think about.
"I-It's over, isn't it..."
"Yes, yes, you did well, Aira. Go home and rest today, and there's a hearing tomorrow, so attend without being late."
"Hwaaaah..." (sobbing)
"...Shall I help you up?"
"Hic, yeees..."
Professor Aira's form could be seen crumbling, as if her tension had dissipated right after leaving the conference hall.
Yes, right above the head of that ditzy, sky-blue-haired professor.
[SSR Mage of Defying Heaven]
Aira Merlin
What had been invisible was starting to become visible.
An NPC becoming a playable character.
It was something I had never considered.
What I had thought was merely reflecting information from Broken Sky was now asserting something different.
Aira Merlin was originally just an NPC.
Of course, depending on the game, characters who appeared as NPCs sometimes become playable characters.
But at least, up to the point I had played, it hadn't happened. Professor Aira was not a playable character.
Yet, suddenly, a rank and title were displayed as if she were a playable character.
What did this mean?
No, in the first place, why had such a notation appeared now of all times?
There was one thing I could surmise.
"Potential...?"
Professor Aira had accomplished something she couldn't in the original work.
Without my help, completing that research at this point would have been impossible.
I couldn't be sure about what would happen later.
Whether she was a playable character who would appear in a later episode, or if I had made her so.
There was nothing I could be certain about. However, a strange sense of alarm arose.
"Is this... because of me...?"
A being who was an NPC had become a playable character.
I didn't know what path she would walk as a result.
Just one thing.
My small actions had changed a person's life. The results of my actions were bringing about a butterfly effect beyond imagination.
"Does that mean it's the same for you?"
"..."
As Tia was finally supporting the swaying Aira,
I cautiously asked the being standing behind me.
"Salem. Have you also changed in some way because of me?"
"I have not changed. I am the same human being now as I was before."
I turned around and faced Salem.
My emotions weren't shaken as intensely as when we first met.
"Why did you save Professor Aira?"
"For the same reason as you, I imagine."
Even now, I couldn't read Salem's intentions. It was the same even with [Contemplation] activated.
I couldn't understand him.
I couldn't even read a single expression on his face right now.
"Then why..."
[Erosion Rate 40%]
My emotions did not waver.
"Why did you abandon me?"
That's why I could ask so calmly. I could ask the reason without being swept away by emotion.
"..."
Salem didn't answer.
A crack briefly appeared in his cold, expressionless face, but he still didn't show any agitation.
He no longer cornered me or shouted.
"Three years."
"What?"
He merely informed me solemnly.
"I will keep your status as heir apparent alive for three years."
His voice was trembling slightly.
"During those three years, nothing in Spellerge will touch you."
The corners of his eyes were twitching.
"So, if you feel it's so unjust that I abandoned you."
And yet, Salem appeared calm.
At least, he seemed to. And at the end of it, Salem said to me,
"Within those three years, surpass me and retrieve the key."
Kill me.
"That is the only way for you to survive now."
With those words, he left, as if he wouldn't exchange any more words.
After that, Salem stayed in Scientia for a few more days, but...
I never met him.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Mage Kingdom, Spellerge. Tower of the King
Upon arriving in the kingdom, Salem headed straight for the tower where he usually resided.
"Ah, Your Majesty the Mage King. Have you returned already?"
"Mm."
The one who came out to greet Salem was one of the elder mages who assisted him.
They showed all due courtesy and respect, but they were like wolves who could aim for his position at any time.
However, Salem paid them no mind. If they were going to attack, they would have challenged him anytime.
The ones here weren't aiming for Salem's vulnerabilities, but for the generation after Salem.
"By the way, regarding the heir apparent..."
Salem quietly stared at the mage who asked about Oz.
At that blatant display of displeasure, the mage broke into a cold sweat and stepped back.
"I'm tired. Are there any matters I need to resolve?"
"Well... a guest has arrived. They acted as if they were expecting to come today, so I've shown them to the reception room for now. What would you like to do?"
"...I'll go immediately."
Salem, slightly frowning, headed straight for the reception room.
In front of the reception room he thus arrived at, Salem was hesitating.
"Aren't you coming in?"
"..."
Salem furrowed his brow at the voice urging him on, then finally stepped into the reception room.
The moment he opened the door, what he saw were red hair and yellow eyes.
A member of {Parade} and Alexios's younger sister.
Lena.
She had come to Salem.
"...Is this the first time we're meeting in person since Oz left?"
"Yes, it's been a while, Your Majesty the Mage King."
"Where is that fellow?"
"Oh my, how disappoin—"
KWANG!
Salem didn't even let her finish speaking and, as if deeming her impudent, crushed Lena directly with magic.
"Do I look like a joke to you? Just because I leave you lot be, does it make my power seem faded too?"
"Haha..."
Under Salem's one-sided violence, Lena couldn't even lift a finger.
For her, even with all the time in the world, facing Salem was an insurmountable task.
However, there was someone who could face Salem, if only they had time.
"That's enough. I am here."
"..."
Salem merely rolled his eyes to the side and looked.
He saw a masked man sitting on the chair that should have been empty.
A being who, given time, could naturally defeat Salem.
"I heard you went to see that fellow this time."
"Yes..."
The leader of the criminal group {Parade} with unknown motives, and another KP.
[KP Spokesperson of the Other Side]
He asked Salem.
"I thought you didn't meddle in our affairs... Well, it seems that's not entirely the case."
"...Just as I gave you scoundrel a chance, I'm merely giving Oz a chance as well."
"Haha."
The man let out a short laugh at Salem's answer and then extended his hand towards Lena, who was still pinned to the ground.
"Open."
Simultaneously with the man's words, a key of opaque material appeared above his hand.
"Mirror of the Other Side."
CRACK!
As the man twisted the key, the structure of the magic Salem had deployed shattered like breaking glass and disappeared.
The power of distrust, opposite to the power of harmony possessed by [The Key of the Understander]
[The Key of the Advocate]
Salem frowned, looking displeased. It wasn't because his magic was nullified.
It was simply because the man handled the key so familiarly.
"Well, yes. I understand. From your perspective, you'd have no choice but to favor Oz."
"..."
The man shrugged and helped up Lena, who was squirming on the floor.
"However, you need to understand this. Now that you've lifted the pressure off that brat, there's no longer any justification to stop me from stepping in."
"What do you intend to do?"
"He must be killed."
At the man's firm words, Salem cautiously touched his own face.
"Have you no thought of compromise?"
"Now, of all times?"
After helping Lena up, the man spoke as if finding it absurd.
"Do you wish to stop us?"
From behind the mask, sky-blue eyes, looking chillingly cold, glared at Salem.
It was pure loathing.
"If you wish to do so, isn't there a simple way?"
The man said, approaching Salem. Their two pairs of sky-blue eyes clashed in the air.
"You could have killed us both at any time. Isn't it the same now? You can just do that."
The man said to Salem, with his arms spread wide, in a defenseless posture.
To try and kill him, whenever, if he so wished.
But he couldn't. The man knew that.
Salem could not kill them.
"Weak person."
"..."
The man said with a sneer.
The person before him was a weak individual who, despite needing to have made a decision long ago, was desperately clinging to family ties.
He lacked the ability to stop them, and he lacked the decisiveness to cut one of them off.
He was merely waiting for the right time.
A weak person clinging to a one-in-a-million hope. A coward relying on an ideal that would never come to pass.
"If you can't do that, then just watch from your position, as you always have."
"Well..."
Despite the man's clear sneer, Salem didn't seem offended.
Salem knew it as well.
As he was now, there was no way to stop the two of them other than by killing them.
As long as they possessed the power of the keys, confinement was impossible.
And confining Oz, with the man before him present, would be putting the cart before the horse.
And if time passed, the two of them would reach a realm even higher than Salem's.
When that time came, stopping them would be impossible.
However...
"Keep one thing in mind."
This was only for the present moment.
"It is clear that you two have had more time than I."
Mana surged.
Mana, so intense that the mere presence of it distorted the world, engulfed the sneering man.
"You must not forget that I have accumulated an immensely greater amount of time than all the moments you have lived."
Crack!
A crack appeared on the mask of the man engulfed in the wave of mana.
The mask, which had been smiling derisively, now looked as if its expression had contorted.
"Ha... Indeed, you weren't a toothless tiger."
The sacrifices he had made, the efforts he had exerted, the things he had given up, the time he had invested to ascend to the position of
[Mage King].
The tenacity of a man who had poured everything into gaining everything from nothing was not to be underestimated.
The man raised his hand.
It was a sign of surrender.
With such intensely charged mana, even if he used the power of the key, he couldn't erase it all.
"Very well. I will give up on moving immediately."
Upon the man's answer, Salem withdrew the pressing mana and asked.
"I, too, will give that idiot a grace period. That will be faster."
"Then what do you intend to do now?"
"Well, for now..."
The man said, inserting the key into empty air. A crack appeared in space, and beyond it, an eerie forest could be seen.
"I'm thinking of going to the Federation."
The Lunar Federation.
The place where the [Yokai King] had established his territory.
"I have things to do there... and while I'm at it, I need to dispose of a fellow who's been useless for a long time."
And so, the key forcibly tore open space.
"Then, I'll see you next time."
Jjeoeok──!
"Father."
With the sound of shattering glass, the man disappeared from the reception room.
Salem blankly stared at the spot where the man had departed.