Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Fan's Request
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Even as Ivan was preparing to receive his guest, the chat room was buzzing with back-and-forth conversation.
So, are you gonna tell me or not? I'm willing to do whatever you ask. Especially if it's killing someone. I'd welcome that.
Don't try to act tough when you don't even know each other's identities. Especially if it's the kind that'll get you caught right away.
I figured you'd blow up with righteous indignation since you were acting all high and mighty, but it really is a request to kill someone, huh.
Then I'll ask the same. Do you know where the Bellheim Kingdom is?
Kingdom X, Empire O
What're you talking about? I asked if you know where it is.
If you're talking about the Bellheim Empire, then yeah, I know it.
Empire? Oh, so it's an empire now?
Ignorance isn't a sin. No need to pretend you don't know.
What the hell have you been going on about? You making fun of me?
...
Well, the way you're talking, it doesn't sound like a lie. So what is it you want?
......Do you know about a forest called Palewood?
Palewood? Oh... what was it. Ah! That's the place where elves used to live long ago...
Are you talking about ancient history? The elves moved to another forest hundreds of years ago.
Bellheim Empire, Creve Branch.
Raistel, aide to the Combat Commander.
Though his official title wasn't operations staff, for this mission, he was solely in charge of planning and execution.
There were several reasons he had come all the way from Creve, near the capital, to this remote rural town.
And at the center of those reasons was a single name.
'Ivan... Ivan Vieirn.'
He had come to meet the third son of the Vieirn family, not even the family head.
Raistel knew quite a bit about Ivan.
Pioneer of mass-produced artifacts.
Genius mage charting a third path.
...Those were titles mostly used in the Yellow Magic Tower.
More popularly known as a genius in magic engineering.
The mass-produced artifact he first introduced, the Communication Orb, had become so ubiquitous in Imperial military units that it was hard to find a place without one, and word had even spread to the civilian sector.
And not long after the Communication Orb came the Unique Mana Pattern recognition device.
It was released under the developer name 'Professor Palrez,' but in one interview, he called himself a mere puppet, and that's when Ivan's name started drawing attention.
Palrez and Ivan. Professor and student. The professor outright saying he was the student's puppet.
Quite the captivating story.
Of course, it wouldn't have garnered so much notice if their achievements had been lackluster.
The Unique Mana Pattern recognition technology was highly praised for its utility and quickly proliferated. Especially in the upper Magic Towers, there was scarcely a place without it. It had spread even to most personal labs.
That said, the entire Empire didn't know Ivan or praise him.
Engineering was engineering in the end. Public opinion was quite firm that it was merely an auxiliary tool.
In this chaotic era where traditional magic-focused combat was emphasized, there were definitely those who downplayed his accomplishments.
But regardless of the form or field of magic, the fact remained that Ivan's achievements were far from ordinary.
Anyone would acknowledge that piling up such feats since his Graduate Academy days wasn't easy.
Many had wondered what path he would take after graduation, but rumors died down once word spread that he had already dropped out and vanished.
The reason Raistel knew Ivan's situation in such detail was that he was, in his own way, a fan supporting him.
He first took interest before being posted to Creve, back when he was on the Devil's Forest reclamation mission in the north.
His direct superior at the time was Count Bireta.
One day, the Count suddenly showed up with a mysterious unidentified object and achieved tremendous results.
The Communication Orb.
He learned it was the product of a lab sponsored by the Count's wife, Lady Bireta.
The Commander-in-Chief, having realized its utility firsthand, said he wanted to meet the creator in person.
'The guts to ignore that request and not show up...'
A strange sense of vicarious satisfaction, perhaps.
Seeing Professor Palrez come in the student's stead, sweating as he explained, was quite the spectacle.
After that incident, Raistel built a connection with Professor Palrez, and this time, he had begged and pleaded to learn where Ivan was now before coming to find him.
Raistel arrived at Baron Vieirn's castle.
A large, sturdy gate.
The knight guarding it confirmed Raistel's identity and silently bowed his head, escorting him inside without a word.
Following the knight's lead to the entrance of the castle's main building. Above the entrance hung a peculiar blue orb.
A small blue sphere sparkling faintly as if holding light within.
"...."
Raistel paused for a moment.
For some reason, his gaze was drawn to it.
Then the orb rolled around before staring at him like a real eyeball.
Even a voice leaked out from it.
"Please state your identity."
Raistel flinched back in surprise.
What in the world...
He recovered quickly because he had used Communication Orbs often.
The size was smaller, and it moved on its own, but a voice emanating from a sphere felt similar.
"Ahem... Senior Knight Raistel of Creve. I sent a letter expressing my intent to visit."
"Identity confirmed."
Soon, the massive gate creaked open slowly.
Raistel suddenly wondered.
Should he take this as rude? Or marvel at magic engineering he'd never seen before?
As he stepped inside, a maid in neat attire greeted him.
"Welcome, Sir Raistel. This way, please."
After a few steps together, the maid suddenly stopped and said,
"Would you mind standing here for a moment?"
Where she pointed was a small rug laid out.
As Raistel stood there, the rug beneath his feet glowed, disintegrating into mana particles.
Swish swish swish.
The wriggling mana then began meticulously scanning the soles of his shoes, wiping away dust and brushing off dirt.
Only then did Raistel feel it. The entire house was interwoven with precisely designed mana flows, dense and tight like a single magic fortress.
The maid bowed her head slightly again and walked ahead.
A bit further in, the corridor's wall lamps lit up one by one on their own, casting a soft glow.
The corridor Raistel passed through darkened automatically after a set time.
And finally, at the door they arrived at. It too opened smoothly without anyone touching it, as if it had been waiting.
After going through the process and entering the parlor, Raistel spotted a familiar item. A Unique Mana Pattern recognition device. Common now in upper Magic Towers and high military offices.
...Though he hadn't expected it to speak.
"For more comfortable rest, please register your Unique Mana Pattern."
Raistel channeled his mana in a daze, and the device reacted immediately.
"A long journey. Mana consumption 7%, focus reduced 5%. Preparing tea. Herb: silverleaf variety."
"...?"
For a moment, a complex expression crossed Raistel's face. A mix of awe and bewilderment.
He thought it was just for ID verification... It even knows mana consumption? Already advanced that far? ...Beyond that...
'...Can this really be called a rural baron's inner castle?'
Not even the Empire's most prestigious upper Magic Towers had facilities like this.
As he waited, surveying his surroundings with mixed feelings, the parlor door opened and a black-haired man entered.
"Ivan?"
"Yes, I'm Ivan. I received your letter. You're Knight Raistel, right?"
"That's me. We've had chances to cross paths before, but I missed them and only now get to meet you face-to-face. A pity."
"...Is that so?"
Ivan tilted his head slightly.
He clearly had no recollection.
Raistel smiled faintly and dropped a hint.
"Devil's Forest. I was there."
"Ah... I see. But... did we have business back then?"
Had he forgotten ignoring even the Commander-in-Chief's request?
'...Eccentric just as rumored.'
But geniuses were usually oddballs.
Understanding with his fan's heart, Raistel steeled himself to be even more careful in his persuasion.
Unaware or not of Raistel's inner thoughts, Ivan casually gestured for him to sit.
As Raistel sat, Ivan lightly waved his hand. A teacup floated slowly from somewhere, gently settling on the table.
The cup was already filled with steaming tea.
"Please have some. It won't pale next to freshly brewed."
"...?"
"It's safe to drink."
"...I'll trust you."
Raistel twitched his brow for a moment before lifting the cup.
Slurp.
The instant it touched his lips, a serene aroma tickled his nose. The tongue felt the distinctive astringent grassiness of silverleaf, but the aftertaste was clean and sweet.
...Delicious.
"So, may I hear why you wanted to see me?"
"I came with a request."
"A request...? From me?"
"Yes."
Raistel straightened up and continued slowly.
"Have you heard the rumors lately about a 7th Circle mage who fell to corruption?"