Seizing the Initiative
"And get this? It actually worked! Pretty impressive, right!?"
"Is that so…."
How many hours had it been already? Watching Ern chatter away without tiring made me feel my mental energy draining in real time.
But apparently, nothing in the world is meant to kill you outright. A little over four hours after leaving the duke's estate, an unexpected savior appeared.
Clunk.
At first, I thought the carriage had stopped in some village for a break. But then I sensed someone approaching from outside.
Screech….
I wondered if it was an inspection, but the moment the door opened, I realized it was nothing so trivial.
"Seripia!"
The moment the woman appeared beyond the door, Ern's face, sitting across from me, lit up brightly.
Flaming red hair, a moderately curvaceous figure. A white uniform that clung to her body without any exposure at all. And sharp, tiger-eye irises that gave her a somewhat fierce impression.
I knew her well, too.
"It's been a while. Valentine."
"It's been a long time. Sir Argent."
Seripia Valentine. Ern's fiancée and the squad leader of the Imperial Palace's 3rd Knight Division.
Squad leader in name only—she was treated almost like a vice-captain. Ern had excitedly boasted that a promotion was certain soon, as if it were his own achievement.
Her family wasn't quite on the Argent level, but it was still a renowned martial house in the empire.
She wasn't someone I'd normally address casually, but because Ern had talked about me so much, she insisted that as his senior brother, I was like an uncle to her and asked me to drop the formalities. So I did.
She was the epitome of a haughty female knight, not a drop of blood to be squeezed from her, and her personality matched.
"What brings you here?"
"I was on leave, and since Ern was heading to Arkanell, I waited nearby."
"Do you have business in Arkanell?"
"No, I just wanted to see Ern."
"……."
As you can see, she was just a lovesick… no, a doting girlfriend. When it came to Ern, she wasn't just disarmed—she was practically stripped bare, the ultimate pushover.
"Seripia, it's been so long. The knight division must have kept you busy lately. Sorry I haven't come to visit."
"It's fine, Ern. Just knowing you were thinking of me makes me happy. But that's a new dress, isn't it?"
"Yeah, I just bought it. Does it suit me?"
"Beautiful. Stunning. As always."
Somehow, she delivered those cringeworthy lines without changing her stoic expression. She even pulled him into a tight hug and started stroking his head.
I watched the scene with eyes full of admiration, and
"…Why are you staring so intently, Sir Argent?"
"It's nothing."
I got caught red-handed.
Still, this duo looked shockingly natural together no matter how many times I saw them. It was like two close sisters embracing.
No wonder some original fans joked, "Just make Ern a gender-bender and turn them into a yuri couple?"
And surprisingly, in the side story epilogue, that's exactly what happened. Ern succeeded in his magic research, they both gender-swapped, and lived with reversed roles. The author's madness had me applauding back then.
"Now that you're here, I can relax. I'm going to catch some shut-eye, so you two enjoy your chit-chat."
"Did something happen?"
"Ask this guy."
I put on my eyemask, signaling I was done, and leaned back in the chair like a corpse.
Ern's sulky voice reached my ears.
"Sorry, Seripia. We haven't talked much lately, so I guess it built up. I ended up bothering my senior because of it."
"It's okay. It's my fault. What did you want to talk about so badly? I'll listen."
"Oh, you know! I had this fun research breakthrough the other day…!"
Apparently, no consideration for letting a sleeping man rest by lowering the volume.
Fine, I didn't expect it anyway.
Damn lovey-dovey couple.
Just get married already and live happily ever after.
We arrived in Arkanell after the sun had already begun to set.
If not for the dimensional stones scattered across the empire, even that would have been uncertain.
"Haaah…!"
The moment I stepped out of the carriage, I stretched to loosen my stiff body.
Before my eyes stood a building that was a bit dated but still quite refined. It was a dormitory run by the Magic Association.
And right beside me,
"Zzz…."
"My apologies, Sir Argent. Ern must be exhausted."
Was the crossdressing man who had finally dozed off late, carried princess-style by his knight fiancée in a bizarre yet perfect combo.
Where do I even start?
Somehow, the picture they made was annoyingly fitting.
"The main events start tomorrow anyway, so take him to his room and let him sleep. I'll go see my mentor and the others."
"Understood. Have a peaceful night."
"You too. And with all the eyes around, try to use separate rooms if possible. I know you're at that age."
"……."
I said it just in case, but Seripia slyly averted her gaze.
Answer me, damn it.
What were you planning to do with the sleeping guy anyway? She had a subtle crazy streak, too.
"I'll be merciful."
In the end, without a firm yes, she steadfastly carried her fiancée princess-style into the dormitory.
Whatever, they'll figure it out.
I decided not to care and followed the man who had come to greet us toward the opposite side of the dorm.
If the dorm we just left was the east annex, the west annex held the association's key buildings: research halls, lecture halls, and the library.
"Lord Godwin should be in the lecture hall."
"What's he doing in the lecture hall?"
"I don't know the details. But I saw many people heading there earlier, so there must be a meeting."
"A meeting, huh."
Something up?
Meetings weren't common in the Magic Association.
Most mages only cared about their own research or specialties, ignoring everything else.
People imagined mages as transcendent beings mastering elements, time, space, and all. But in this world, mages specialized deeply in one field.
My mentor Godwin specialized in space magic, his rival Lady Grita in mental magic.
For mages with no common ground to gather, there were only two reasons: a discovery that upended magic itself, or an urgent crisis requiring their intervention.
"We should hurry."
I focused on the latter and quickened my pace.
Soon, reaching the lecture hall with its conference rooms and main hall, I crossed a corridor still lit and spotted a firmly shut door.
The largest main hall. People must be inside.
Knock knock.
"Baal Argent here. May I come in?"
Murmurs came from within. After announcing myself, someone opened the door from the other side.
The face that appeared made me flinch slightly—it was utterly unexpected.
"The protagonist has arrived. You must be tired from the long journey. Sir Argent."
The man greeted me warmly. Mid-to-late thirties, perhaps. His navy hair slicked back might appeal to women, but facing him, I barely suppressed a scowl.
Clovis Haven.
Current Magic Tower Lord, the fastest to reach 7th Circle after me and my mentor—a genius mage. Eldest son of the empire's premier magical house, Haven.
He couldn't hold both Tower Lord and family head, so he was only the latter.
"It's been a while, Lord Haven. Last time was half a year ago?"
"About then. Ah, come in and talk. Can't keep today's star outside—it'd ruin my reputation."
Smooth talker, as always. Snake of a man.
Half a year ago, before I reached 7th Circle, I remembered him snorting as others praised me as an unparalleled genius on the verge. Yet to my face, he smiled like a saint: "Looks like I'll be handing over the Tower Lord seat soon."
Putting old grudges aside, I entered.
Fewer people than expected, but many familiar faces.
"Lady Grita, it's been a while. I hope you've been well?"
I politely greeted the elderly woman with a hooked nose and less white hair than my mentor.
Grita Morvel. One of the empire's top three sages, a long-time friend of Godwin's—practically frenemies.
They shared a love of drink, sometimes dragging old man Godwin along for culinary trips.
"Heh heh, yes. Long time no see. You've put on a bit of weight, haven't you?"
"Must be from staying at the estate these past months."
"Hey, you brat. Skipping your master to greet some old hag first?"
A sharp bellow interrupted our reunion. My mentor's, of course.
I smiled wryly and started to bow, but Grita blocked me with a fierce scowl.
"Ugh, did that old geezer eat his age out his ass? You saw him recently, so it's natural to greet me first after half a year!"
"Natural my ass!"
The old folks' squabbles were always childish. But fun to watch. People never fully lost their innocence with age.
After greeting my mentor, I looked around. Plenty of familiar faces.
"So, what brought everyone here?"
Not a surprise party, surely.
Curious, I asked. My mentor's face soured.
"Tch. Chaos Mana pops up out of nowhere on a good day. We were picking personnel to handle it."
"Chaos Mana?"
Chaos Mana. A massive mana storm erupting without warning or pattern in random places.
Not destructive like a typhoon, but devastating to the human body. Weaklings exploded, others went mad and killed families. Monsters swarmed like moths to flame, making it one of the world's worst natural disasters.
"Where?"
"Rozmil Village, a bit from Arkanell."
"Rozmil…?"
The name rang a vague bell. I frowned.
Rozmil? Where had I heard it?
"No need for concern, Sir Argent. I'll handle it personally."
"You, Lord Haven?"
"Yes. That's what a Tower Lord does."
He smiled benevolently, but unease gnawed at me. I knew his character best. He wouldn't risk or bother himself for the public good.
Which meant he had an ulterior motive….
"…Ah!"
"What is it?"
"No, nothing. Just remembered something."
Pieces clicked in my mind. I gasped.
Right, I remember.
Chaos Mana. Rozmil Village. Clovis Haven.
One person connected them all.
Yuria.
Yuria Haven. The Haven name was unofficial, given when she became Clovis's prized disciple and adopted daughter.
And the reason I despised him.
Because….
"Something to say, Sir Argent?"
He paraded her publicly as disciple and foster daughter for his image. In reality, he sucked her vast mana dry like a mosquito, treating her as a tool.
The emotionless doll endured endless abuse and humiliation, becoming a war weapon and dying to Leon.
"—Why are you crying?"
Her final words, watching tearful Leon and Tianna, flashed in my mind.
She never learned joy, sorrow, or anything. One of the story's great tragedies, alongside Liriet.
Realizing it late, my lips moved on instinct.
No plan, no strategy.
Just….
"Lord Haven, if it's alright, I'll join you to Rozmil Village."
As Yushin Woo, not Baal Argent. Moved by the same feeling when I first met Liriet.