The Genius Mage 2
In the mansion belonging to Sieg and Media, all of the former comrades had gathered—excluding Camellia. A soldier who had unfortunately lost at rock-paper-scissors stood there trembling violently as he delivered his report.
"...S-so... we still haven't found any proper traces yet... If you could just give us a little more time..."
The air grew heavy in an instant. The older heroes, including Sieg and the Heavenly Demon, merely wore expressions of grief or discomfort. They did nothing more. They had lived long enough to know that interrogating the soldier wouldn't improve anything.
Unfortunately for the soldier delivering the report, there was one hero who hadn't matured quite enough.
Werner had already closed the distance to stand right in front of him. An ominous wave of mana surged from his body as he pressed his index finger against the soldier's throat.
"So after calling back the people we sent out to search, the best you can come up with is... you found nothing?"
"T-this is just an interim report. If we find more concrete evidence later, we'll report it without delay..."
"Then call us when that happens. Are you seriously telling me that's what you dragged everyone here to say?"
"B-but the higher-ups ordered me to inform all of you..."
"You have no actual information worth sharing, but you wanted to confirm that we're all still working hard on this? Is that it?"
The soldier in charge of the report had already wet himself and looked one step away from fainting. Normally, anyone would have volunteered eagerly for the chance to meet the heroes. But this time was different.
The others were kind and merciful enough that they wouldn't resort to violence just because nothing had been found. But Werner was different.
Usually, he was an adorable boy who called the regular soldiers "mister" and "uncle," even buying them snacks. However, when it came to anything involving his older brother or sisters, his eyes would completely roll back.
Before, when some soldiers had been making crude remarks about Media's chest and hips, Werner had thrown them into a pit full of snakes for an entire week. Another time, when soldiers had badmouthed the Heavenly Demon and Sieg, he had crushed their limbs and hung them from the bell tower of the cathedral.
Delivering a report to someone like that saying they couldn't find Sieg and Media's daughter? It was clearly suicidal. The outcome unfolding now had been as predictable as seeing fire in broad daylight.
The moment the soldier sensed his impending death, the other heroes, unable to watch their youngest lose control any longer, stepped in.
"How many times must this seat tell you not to use your power so recklessly?"
The Heavenly Demon, Oh Cheon-ryeong, grabbed Werner by the wrist.
Squa, the continent's greatest thief, held a card to Werner's neck.
Melkior, the Grand Duke of the North and the strongest warrior, placed a hand on Werner's shoulder.
Werner glanced at them, then spoke. It wasn't the voice of the cute youngest they all knew. This one carried a clear threat.
"Melkior hyung, Squa noona, and Grandfather... Are you picking a fight with me right now...?"
Werner's eyes glowed red as he released his mana. The three who had tried to restrain him responded by radiating killing intent of their own.
"It seems this seat must give you a harsh lesson in manners today."
"Want to have a proper fight with your big sister today? Until one of us falls bleeding?"
"Just because you're angry doesn't mean you can say whatever you want, Werner."
The four auras clashed fiercely. The soldier caught in the aftermath foamed at the mouth and collapsed. If only he had been a little better at rock-paper-scissors, this disaster might never have happened.
Werner clicked his tongue and withdrew his mana. Only then did the other three pull back their killing intent and release him.
Werner turned to leave, but Media and Sieg stopped him.
"Werner. We'll find Iris ourselves, so you should rest now."
"That's right. You haven't eaten or slept for three days. We're grateful for your help, but... you need to take care of yourself too."
Werner gave them a faint smile. Unlike the past when he had rolled in the mud, eaten moldy bread, and shivered in the cold, he now had older brothers, sisters, and old men who worried about him. He was deeply grateful for that fact, and because he cherished them so much, he had thrown himself into the search without hesitation.
"It's only been that long... Have you forgotten who I am? I'm just as strong as all of you now."
Media gently stroked Werner's hair. She found her little brother—who thought so much of her and Iris, yet still insisted he had grown up—utterly adorable.
"No matter how strong you become, you'll always be our little brother. So take care of yourself."
"Haa... Your worries could move mountains."
High in the distant sky, Werner stood atop a rock he had levitated with magic, looking down as he searched for Iris. In his right hand, he held the lunchbox Media had packed for him.
He had refused it adamantly, but after being forced to take it, Werner didn't actually mind it that much.
"Tsk... I said I didn't want it."
Werner sighed and opened the lunchbox. Having skipped meals for the past three days while focusing entirely on the search, he was incredibly hungry.
Every item inside was one of Werner's favorites. Roasted goose, butter biscuits, shrimp pickled in olive oil, sweet-and-sour garlic pickles, and even melon juice.
Even though she must be losing her mind over Iris's disappearance, she had still taken such care of him. Werner felt so moved that tears nearly welled up in his eyes.
He picked up a piece of goose meat and brought it to his mouth. The spicy aroma, savory seasoning, and tender texture made it incredibly delicious. The other dishes were perfectly suited to his tastes as well—whether because Media had tailored them to him or simply because he was so hungry, he couldn't tell. Either way, the fact that she had gone through the effort for him in such a difficult time remained unchanged, and that made Werner happy.
While chewing on the last of the garlic pickles, Werner spread his hand toward the center of the forest and began to concentrate.
"Winds, waters, trees, and earth. Show me everything you see. Tell me everything you hear."
He began to take in the entire view of the forest at once. For a human who lived with only two eyes, suddenly gazing upon so many spaces at the same time was mentally overwhelming. Even though Werner was a grand mage, there were limits to his mental strength. When he hit that wall, a headache struck and he had no choice but to stop.
Still, from what he had managed to see, there was no trace of Iris in that forest either. Having come all this way only to draw a blank, Werner clicked his tongue. At that moment, his communication magic tool began to glow.
He infused it with mana and answered the call.
"I'm busy looking for Iris right now, so hang up."
A girl's voice immediately came from the other side of the tool.
"Hey! I'm searching too, you know! This isn't even my job, but I'm doing it as a favor for a friend, and you tell me to hang up? I'll cut your lifeline instead!"
"Man, you're so damn loud and naggy."
"I've put aside all my magic research because of you and thrown myself into the search, and that's how you respond? You really want to fight me, huh? How about we have a little mana-fueled conversation? Yeah?!"
"Yeah, I could beat someone like you in two seconds flat. So please, stop acting tough."
"That annoying way you run your mouth—yep, it's definitely Werner."
While speaking with his one and only rival mage, Werner's words were curt, but his expression was completely different. Since she was the most trustworthy friend among all the mages, he had actually been waiting for her call.
"So, did you find any clues? Where is Iris?"
"It's hard to explain over words. Just come to my lab and see for yourself."
"Every single second counts right now. Just tell me."
"I said it's hard to explain with words, so just come already!"
"Seriously, for a girl, you sure have a loud voice..."
"Want me to burn the clue to ashes?"
Ignoring his friend's threat, Werner hurled the communication magic tool far into the distance. It was originally a very expensive item, but since her voice had been so grating, he simply discarded it. He could always buy another one.
"Well, she's still better than those incompetent investigators, at least."
Werner felt too embarrassed to say such praise in front of her, but he deeply acknowledged her skill. How could he not, when she possessed talent on par with his own? Thanks to that talent, the two had quickly become close—so close that he could ask her for personal favors like this.
Werner manipulated the rock he was riding and decided to fly straight to the Magic Tower where his friend's lab was located. Since every minute and second mattered, he chose to skip the formal entry procedures. Instead, he simply smashed through the wall of her lab with the rock and entered that way. That, of course, would become a problem.