Chapter 356: A Gloomy Sky
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 356: A Gloomy Sky
Duke Winchester's words left me speechless for a moment.
Do all the old men around me have some kind of disease that makes them desperate to introduce me to their granddaughters?
I glanced at Duke of Rutland sitting beside me, then bowed my head politely to Duke Winchester.
“I'm sorry. I already have a fiancée.”
“Ho ho, I'm already aware of that. That old man never stops complaining about you. How could I not know?”
His words were a bit baffling, but since I hadn't expected anything in the first place, I wasn't disappointed.
“Um, but then why...?”
“Because I thought it would be far better than marrying her off to some vain aristocratic brat. And I don't know who she takes after, but she says she'd rather die than marry a man weaker than her grandfather. Ho ho!”
A peculiar glint appeared in Duke Winchester's smiling eyes.
“With any other fellow, she might have to wait until wrinkles formed on her face, but somehow, I don't think it would take you very long at all.”
“...That's a very generous assessment.”
What he was saying was this:
Soon, you will surpass me.
Him, the strongest mage in Europe, the man known as the head of the magical world.
I'd always vaguely thought I would one day reach the 8th Circle, but hearing those words from Duke Winchester, the most respected mage of the modern era, made me feel strangely bashful.
“You bastard, are you out of your mind?”
Ignoring him, Duke of Rutland shot Duke Winchester a glare, his expression displeased.
I was slightly surprised by the subtle anger in his voice.
‘...Could it be?’
A sliver of hope began to rise.
Of course. He might act indifferent, but he couldn't be happy about an outsider drooling over his future grandson-in-law.
What a tsundere grandpa.
“You're trying to introduce your ten-year-old granddaughter to a guy like this?”
?
“Eleven, to be precise. The age gap is a bit wide, but by the time she's an adult, Sir Hyun-woo will only be thirty-one. Wouldn't that be just right? Besides, in about ten years, he might have even surpassed me.”
“Tsk, it seems you've finally gone senile.”
“Not as much as you.”
Leaving the two old men to their childish bickering, I was lost in a daze.
‘...Eleven years old?’
The fact that Duke Winchester—the man called the strongest mage of the modern era, the man who commanded the respect of countless people—had just tried to set me up with a little kid under the age of fourteen, a legal minor, left me utterly horrified.
Clang, clang.
I felt a cold sweat trickle down my spine.
Was he trying to get me arrested as a child predator?
My respect for Duke Winchester began to plummet.
“So, what do you think, Sir Hyun-woo? I'm not just saying this because she's my granddaughter, but she's a truly adorable child with a promising future.”
“...I'm sorry, Your Grace.”
I lowered my head and spoke firmly.
“Just the fact that you, a man I've always respected, would offer to introduce me to your granddaughter is the greatest honor of my life.”
Besides, Duke Winchester was the head of one of only two ducal families in England.
The Winchester family, which wielded immense influence throughout Europe, was likely equal to, if not greater than, both of Korea's prestigious magic families combined.
If I were to marry his granddaughter, it was even possible for me to succeed the British throne, depending on my efforts.
You might ask if that's possible for someone who just marries into the family.
Surprisingly, yes.
That's because the Winchester and Rutland ducal families hold rights to the throne.
Above all, this was a nation of mages, and the most important factor in royal succession was one's magical prowess.
Choi Hyena would probably be granted succession rights as well, once it was publicly announced that she was Duke of Rutland's granddaughter.
However, her claim would be so far down the line that she'd need overwhelming skill, enough to overturn the entire board, to actually take the throne.
And the current Duke Winchester was someone who met that condition.
According to rumors, the throne went to the current queen only because Duke Winchester had refused it.
“...However, I'm afraid I cannot meet with a minor.”
Objectively, it was an incredible offer, but I had no particular desire to sit on the throne.
Besides, a blind date with an eleven-year-old girl? The thought of the kids at the orphanage would surely make my heart rot with guilt.
“Then how about someone your own age? There's a child I cherish like my own granddaughter...”
“That's enough.”
Kwoong-
In that instant, a powerful wave of Qi swept through the vehicle's interior.
My body reacted instinctively to the immense killing intent, and I almost drew my sword.
But Duke Winchester was perfectly calm, as if this were a daily occurrence.
“I doubt you came all this way just to talk such nonsense.”
“Tsk, tsk, you really need to learn to control that temper of yours. If you keep interrupting people so tactlessly at your age, you'll have a hard time earning respect anywhere you go.”
“That's none of your concern.”
“So prickly.”
The two men spoke like old friends, having long since abandoned any pretense of formality.
Watching these two white-haired old men bicker so childishly, I was reminded of the saying that men never really grow up.
Duke Winchester stroked his beard and gave a faint smile.
“Ahem, I imagine you were quite taken aback by me showing up out of the blue and bringing up marriage proposals. I apologize for that.”
“I'm fine, so please don't worry about it. It's an honor just to meet you in person, Your Grace.”
My respect for him had diminished slightly after the talk of setting me up with a minor, but he was still one of only three 8th Circle Archmages in the entire world.
That fact alone was reason enough for me to treat him with courtesy.
“Thank you for being so considerate of this old man.”
A smile spread across his lips.
Suddenly, I was reminded of the old man who used to give me food sometimes when I was a child begging in the market.
“...Um, if it's not too much trouble, may I ask you a question?”
The duke nodded readily.
“I heard you praised me in an interview recently. You've never met me in person, so I was wondering why you gave such an assessment.”
This was a question born purely out of personal curiosity.
A single word from someone like Duke Winchester could have massive repercussions.
Just like how a single comment from a major CEO can make stock prices fluctuate.
He couldn't have been unaware of that fact, so I was curious why he'd said it.
“Before I answer your question, let me correct one thing. This isn't our first meeting.”
“...Pardon?”
“Do you remember the child dispatched from the Blue Magic Tower during the verification ceremony?”
At that moment, Duke Winchester's eyes glowed blue.
I felt a strange flow of magic.
“It's a spell called ‘Borrowed Sight.’ I was watching you by borrowing that child's eyes for a time.”
I was a little surprised by his words.
Is it possible to share vision with someone who isn't even a contracted summon?
‘...Should I give it a try?’
It seemed like a very useful spell, so I secretly tried to read the flow of magic covering his eyes.
But he wasn't an Archmage for nothing.
Fzzt-
The magical protection on it was incredibly complex. So much so that I didn't even dare try to unravel it.
“The reason I came to see you today was because I wanted to meet you in person. There are limits to what one can see through another's eyes, after all.”
At that moment, a peculiar glint appeared in Duke Winchester's eyes.
It seemed he'd noticed me trying to peek at his magic.
I never thought I'd get caught. An Archmage truly is on another level.
“I apologize.”
I immediately bowed my head.
What I had just done was a clear breach of etiquette. A moment of curiosity and my desire for magic had made me cross a line.
“Don't worry about it. In fact, I'm quite pleased, as I feel I've just caught a glimpse of the talent you possess.”
To my relief, Duke Winchester just waved his hand with a good-natured smile.
Just as I was sighing inaudibly with relief,
“Hey.”
Duke of Rutland, who had been watching silently, spoke up.
“How long are you going to keep chatting? It's not like we have all the time in the world.”
“...As I've told you time and again, if you want to be treated with respect, you need to work on that temper of yours—”
-?!
In that instant, a fierce wave of killing intent washed over Duke Winchester.
But he didn't even blink, just calmly shook his head.
“Sigh. At this rate, I wonder if any guests will even show up to his granddaughter's wedding.”
Ignoring Duke of Rutland's murderous glare, Duke Winchester took something out from his coat.
It was an invitation.
“I'd love to have a leisurely chat over a cup of tea, but that seems difficult with this impatient old coot around.”
“I can hear you.”
He let Duke of Rutland's comment go in one ear and out the other, handing the invitation to me.
“In two days, we'll be holding a small party at my family estate. Please join us if you have the time.”
“...Me?”
My mind went blank for a second.
He wants me to go alone to a place where nobles gather to laugh and chat?
“There's no need to feel too burdened. The number of attendees won't be that large.”
“...”
Honestly, I didn't believe him.
‘...There's no way a party hosted by one of only two ducal families in England would be small.’
But I couldn't refuse the duke's offer twice in a row, so I reluctantly accepted the invitation.
“A wise choice.”
As I took the invitation, hiding my hesitant expression, he smiled with satisfaction.
“By the way, what were your plans for today? Sightseeing? If you'd like, I can give you a ride to your destination.”
“Hey.”
Duke Winchester ignored Duke of Rutland again.
“I was just about to go to a department store to buy a suit for tomorrow's auction.”
“A department store? There are quite a few decent tailor shops near this hotel.”
“They're all custom-made and require reservations, so I was just going to buy something off the rack.”
“Hmm.”
Hearing my words, Duke Winchester stroked his beard for a moment before pulling a business card from his coat and handing it to me.
“Take this.”
“What's this...?”
“It's the card for a tailor shop nearby. If you show them this, they'll make you a suit within half a day, even without a reservation. Be sure to wear it to the party.”
The card bore the name of the shop I had seen on the map app earlier.
It was the same shop that said it was fully booked until next year.
“...Thank you.”
I expressed my gratitude for Duke Winchester's consideration.
Showing up at a party full of nobles in an off-the-rack suit would be incredibly embarrassing.
“I'll take you to the tailor shop.”
And so, during the five-minute limousine ride, I chatted with him about various things.
I was able to get some advice, especially on magical matters.
Aside from him repeatedly asking if I wanted to meet his granddaughter, it was a truly beneficial time.
*
Vrooom-
Beneath a gray sky, a heavy silence filled the car as it drove through the streets of London.
“My friend.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Duke Winchester was the first to speak, breaking the silence as Duke of Rutland stared out the window with a grim face.
“Are you sure it's fine not to tell him?”
His words were concise, but everyone in the car knew what he meant.
“If that information is true, the boy could get caught up in it. It would be better to tell him the truth and ask for his cooperation...”
“You've gotten old, Rupert.”
A fighting spirit flickered in Duke of Rutland's red eyes.
Even in his old age, he was proving that he had not weakened in the slightest.
“First the wrinkles, and now you've grown so weak you need help from a fledgling who isn't even thirty?”
At his cold tone, Duke Winchester sighed.
“Tsk, who else but your wife could stop that stubbornness of yours? Do as you please. I've done my part.”
Duke Winchester said no more.
Their friendship had lasted for over a century, so he knew all too well that saying anything more would just be a waste of breath.
“By the way, Colin, did you know?”
Instead, he spoke to his butler.
It couldn't be helped; Duke Winchester was a natural chatterbox.
“Know what, my lord?”
“About Sir Hyun-woo. It seems he noticed you were a mage right away.”
“...Pardon?”
At Duke Winchester's words, Colin's eyes widened as he drove.
“Is that even possible...?”
Colin was a 4th Circle mage who had also served the Winchester family as their butler for decades.
In his younger days, he had often handled illicit affairs, so very few people, even within the family, knew he was a mage.
This was thanks to his high-level mana control and an artifact that concealed his magic.
“He must have sensed it instinctively. The boy has sharp intuition.”
“...He is a remarkable person, to be walking the paths of both magic and martial arts simultaneously.”
“Ho ho, now do you see why I was so disappointed? Of course, one would need to be at least that capable to become that fellow's grandson-in-law.”
After finishing his short conversation with Colin, who was both his butler and an old friend, Duke Winchester's expression quickly turned cold.
His mind was filled with the news he had received from the intelligence agency a few days ago.
Belmoras.
London.
Terror.
The informant had sent only three words, but their impact was enough to shake the upper echelons of British society.
‘...First Cairo, and now London?’
Duke Winchester pressed his fingers to his forehead.
It was good that they had obtained the information in advance, but the problem was that they didn't know when, where, or how the attack would occur.
He couldn't just evacuate the citizens of London without a clear reason, and if they openly prepared for an attack, the culprits would surely go back into hiding.
Then, once security inevitably loosened, they would quietly reappear and carry out their attack.
‘...I can only hope nothing happens.’
Gazing up at the gloomy London sky, Duke Winchester let out a heavy sigh.
The car carrying the two men drove on towards Buckingham Palace.
*
My first day in London passed in the blink of an eye.
And the second day was no different.
After running a few errands, the sun had set before I knew it.
“Is this the place?”
Crossing the London streets as darkness fell, I arrived in front of an old, elegant-looking building.
The Arkwell Hall.
This was where 'Walpurgis Night' was to be held tonight.