Chapter 192
Chapter 192
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 192
Chapter Title: Mirrors of the Seven Colors
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Nameless Empire, Imperial Capital, somewhere.
Tap-.
A red-haired young noble strolled down a gray corridor devoid of light and any sign of life.
His hair evoked swirling flames, and his crimson eyes, laced with arrogance, gleamed vividly even in the darkness.
He was a peerless beauty whom haughtiness suited perfectly.
Red A. Scarlet, the Empire's Crimson Archmage.
His straight back and confidently squared shoulders formed a perfect harmony.
Yet Red's mere footsteps along the hall carried a destructive aura, as if he were trampling everything in his path.
Red, who wandered such a supremely noble space within the Empire, soon opened a door and stepped inside.
It was an odd place.
The room was spacious, but light fell only upon its center.
Strangely, the illumination was concentrated solely in that central area, like a spotlight on a stage.
In the center stood a single crimson chair, surrounded by six full-length mirrors.
They were colored orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, respectively.
Thud.
As Red sat in the chair, light rippled across the mirrors—all except the violet one—and faint afterimages began to appear within.
Red scanned them with impassive eyes, confirming attendance, then spoke.
“Alderson has fallen.”
No one replied.
But Red knew they were all listening, so he continued in his signature flat tone.
“And not just anywhere, but right in the heart of the capital at the Academy. He was immature in many ways, but he was a grand mage whom I personally recommended. The fact that it happened is proof things are more serious than they seem.”
“Peace has lasted too long.”
A languid voice came from the green mirror.
“It’s boring for the Dark Cult. They thrive on destruction and chaos, so it wouldn’t be strange if they started moving now.”
Red’s face twisted at the casual tone.
“You know that, yet you’re still holed up in your hole? You hermit bastard.”
“You’re the pitiful one for not understanding the appeal of a cozy nook. A mage’s greatest virtue is composure above all, and tight spaces calm the mind.”
“Cut the nonsense. The Empire is facing an unprecedented talent shortage. Even old pacts from the past don’t justify tying down two grand mages in that tiny plot of land—it’s a waste of resources.”
The green grand mage—Asad—couldn’t keep his tone unchanged at that.
“You’ve always been rude, but that’s hard to let slide. Red, you’re not about to spout nonsense like releasing Riseraligos, are you?”
“I hear the Platinum King once interviewed prisoners when forming the White Knight Order.”
“That was wartime.”
“True. But do you really think our current situation is any better than back then?”
“……”
“War hasn’t broken out, sure, but the Empire isn’t better off now than it was then. So why dismiss my words as nonsense?”
“……”
The mood chilled.
As Red stared silently at the green mirror, a slippery chuckle echoed.
“You two always get along so well.”
It came from the orange mirror.
The man standing beyond it tried to mediate.
“But this isn’t the time for us to fight among ourselves, is it?”
“Shut it.”
“Zip it, Orange.”
“……”
The mage called Orange fell silent, but the exchange thawed the icy tension somewhat.
Red spoke.
“Fine, whatever. I’ll let the witch matter slide since I left it to you. But we can’t leave the violet seat vacant forever. Especially not now.”
“Appoint a successor right away?”
“What’s wrong with that? Plenty of candidates. The south’s a war zone, so names of standout war mages keep popping up. Lately, I’ve heard of this [Bomb Mage] and [Sand Mage].”
“Sand Mage? What, does he use sand magic?”
“Rumor has it. Probably invented his own spells.”
Then a voice came from the long-silent blue mirror.
“Alderson made his name as a war mage in the south, too. Not a bad pick…… But I’d like to recommend talent from the magic towers.”
Red’s gaze shifted there.
“I’ve heard rumors of a genius from the [Fish Magic Tower], Amelia. Your disciple, right? Mastered violet magic at just seventeen.”
“Seventeen? Impressive if true.”
Even Asad sounded intrigued, and a hint of pride colored the blue mirror’s voice.
“Coralis’s talent is the greatest in history. It’s not ‘impressive for her age.’ If Coralis takes the grand mage seat, I’ll treat her not as my disciple, but as an equal.”
The blue grand mage—Amelia—spoke as if the successor were already decided.
The others were slightly taken aback.
Amelia never let personal bias sway her judgment.
‘…We’ll see when we meet her.’
‘If even Amelia asserts it that strongly……’
‘This Coralis mage must be no ordinary talent.’
Only the unflappable Red spoke up.
“Sure. In my long life, I’ve seen countless ‘once-in-a-generation geniuses.’ Most were frogs not fit to lick the hem of the Mage King’s robes.”
“Coralis is—”
“Different? Then there’s no need to force-feed us the idea until we see her. It’ll prove itself in time.”
“……”
She had no rebuttal, so the blue mage closed her mouth.
Red continued.
“Anyway, I’m even considering the [Avraham Witch Conclave] for the next violet grand mage. They’re full of weirdos, but their skills are solid.”
“You’ll judge purely on magical attainment?”
“This time, yes. We’ll check basic character…… But age, background, achievements? They barely factor in.”
“Hmm.”
Stiff opposition was expected.
The Seven Archmages weren’t just the Empire’s top mages.
They were the imperial family’s public face and proxies.
Aside from the reclusive Asad, they led massive organizations.
Yet they didn’t rebel easily. One reason: the words came from Red, the de facto leader of the archmages.
“You said you’ll fill the seat. By when?”
“Soonest this month, latest by year’s end.”
“Isn’t that…… too rushed?”
“You think so?”
Red chuckled lowly, then sobered instantly.
“A Demon King nearly descended on the capital.”
“……”
“New cults are stirring trouble in the east, and the west’s syndicates just cut a deal with the cult. The south…… goes without saying. The north’s been quiet, but we can’t let our guard down. Perfect spot for plotting in the shadows.”
“In other words……”
Asad said.
“There’s no safe place left in the Empire?”
Red affirmed with silence.
While most archmages deemed it hasty, Asad fully agreed with Red.
The crises weren’t limited to the capital.
“A High Priest infiltrated the Bednicker estate.”
“……!”
Gasps rippled out as Red blinked slowly, momentarily stunned.
“What?”
“A Demon King nearly descended during their training assembly.”
“Wasn’t that Bednicker assembly just recently?”
“Things are getting interesting……”
“The Bednicker lands were supposed to be as safe from the cult as the capital—if not safer.”
Amid the archmages’ varied shock, Red rubbed his chin.
“Unexpected. For something like that to happen in the Iron-Blooded Duke’s territory.”
The Iron-Blooded Duke was one of the few powerhouses this arrogant archmage acknowledged.
“Which Demon King’s priest was it?”
“Black Mire.”
“…The one that nearly descended on the Academy was definitely the Blood Moon. Black Mire and Blood Moon followers don’t get along, from what I hear. Odd timing.”
“You think they coordinated?”
“It’s just speculation, but worth considering……”
Red tapped the armrest. The heated mood cooled again.
Red said.
“It’s common knowledge the cult’s factions don’t get along. Doctrinal differences make alliances rare.”
“Exactly—”
“But.”
Red cut off the blue archmage.
“Synchronizing attack timings? Not hard. No alliance needed—just align schedules. And as far as I know, only one in the cult can coordinate between factions.”
“…The Black Hierophant.”
Asad muttered sickly.
The figure he’d suspected since learning Hwan’s true identity as a priest.
“Does that mean the Black Hierophant’s making his move?”
“Who knows. Over the past centuries, plenty of imperial subjects claimed to see the Hierophant. Mostly in dreams…… The real issue? All the eyewitness accounts contradict each other.”
Red didn’t hide his annoyance.
“One said a sinister-looking man, another a wrinkled old geezer. Someone even claimed an unweaned girl. My theory: two possibilities for the Hierophant’s identity.”
Red held up two fingers, folding them one by one.
“First: he can change his appearance. Personally, I’d prefer that……”
Red shook his head.
“…But cult vermin always pick the worst option.”
“What’s the worst?”
“The Hierophant being multiple people.”
“……”
A cold silence descended.
Then, for the first time, a voice from the yellow mirror.
“You mean not sub-hierophants, but multiple Hierophants?”
“Could be.”
“Hmm…… Even so, that’s a stretch.”
Casual tone, but Red didn’t nitpick etiquette and pressed on.
“Keep it in mind, at least. And Asad—elaborate on the Bednicker incident.”
“……”
“I get your family’s secretive, but you won’t dodge with ‘internal affairs’ here, right?”
“Hmm.”
Asad replied awkwardly.
“Short version…… The family elders schemed and came up empty-handed.”
“What?”
“The longer I explain, the more it sounds like spitting on the family, so bear with me. Anyway, they spotted the cult’s plan midway and killed the priest. Unexpected figure: Ruan Bednicker, the youngest son of Delac.”
“Ruan Bednicker.”
Red interrupted Asad.
Annoying habit, but Asad paused and asked.
“You know him?”
“Of course. Soon, every soul in the Empire will know that kid’s name.”
“Huh?”
The orange mirror explained to puzzled Asad.
“Heard he shone brightest in the Blood Moon disaster. Key to stopping the Demon King alongside Dean Alderson.”
“Got the Special Task Force report. If accurate, handled it masterfully for his age. Effectively led the cadets too. Surprising he stayed hidden this long. Bednickers deliberately kept him under wraps?”
“…Something like that.”
Asad replied half-heartedly.
Red stroked his chin, mumbling.
“First a priest, then a Demon King. Curious. So deeply tied to the cult’s consecutive incidents.”
Asad’s eyes narrowed.
He caught the odd suspicion in Red’s voice.
“Hey, Red. You’re not getting weird ideas, are you?”
Colder than when Riseraligos came up.
It bounced off Red, naturally.
“He’s a Bednicker.”
“I know. But funny rumor from the Solar Church: only the baptized can claim total innocence.”
“……”
“I’ll ask straight: Has Ruan Bednicker been baptized?”
“No way.”
“Then my answer’s the same. I must always assume the worst. It’s my position.”
“But……”
“Too late, Asad.”
Red shifted tone.
“Truth will out soon enough, even without me. Heros, the Solar Church, all those feudal lords playing power games—they’ve all sent spies. The imperial family had to join in. The Academy’s about to get noisy.”
“……”
“Changing tracks a bit…… Anyway, we stopped this crisis through Alderson’s efforts, the cadets, Special Task Force, students—even imperial collaboration. Demon King failed, so Blood Moon followers took a huge hit. Thus, as the Empire’s Crimson Archmage, I declare.”
“What? No way—”
Ignoring Asad’s urgency, Red said.
“I will convene the [Middle Names].”