Travel Preparations
How much time had passed? Judging by the morning sun climbing past the window and the birdsong outside, it had to have been at least eight hours.
The moment I opened my eyes in bed, the dull, lingering ache of muscle pain and cramps still clinging to my body made me bury my face in the blankets and scream.
"Uwaaagh…!"
I bit down hard on the quilt to choke the cry off, then thrust a hand into the empty air and stirred mana up from my heart.
"W-water… cold water, hurry…!"
With a liquid splash, ice-cold water bloomed into existence and washed over my entire body. Only then did the pain begin to ebb, little by little.
Several minutes later I finally managed to sit up straight, and I carefully sifted through the memories of everything that had happened before I passed out.
"Ah… thank goodness I had that pain-relief magic…"
Rapid Pain Relief—an advanced darkness-element spell. For roughly ten minutes it completely deadened every sensation of pain in the body, plunging the caster into a painless state.
The instant I activated True Name Release, I had cast that spell as well. Thanks to it, once the True Name Release ended I had still been able to drag myself back to my room under my own power.
Of course, the moment the pain-relief magic wore off, all ten minutes of accumulated agony crashed over me at once. I had blacked out before I could even scream. But because of that, I had managed to hide the brutal side effects of True Name Release from my family.
"If I told them that using this skill leaves me hurting so badly I pass out, they'd never let me travel even if I won the duel."
Knowing Father's personality—and the rest of the family's, for that matter—even if I had beaten him with True Name Release, the second they learned about side effects this severe they would refuse to allow the journey. That much was certain.
Of course, claiming I had used power like that without any cost would also sound suspicious, so I planned to describe it as a kind of ultimate technique. My cover story would be that it was a berserk technique I had spent years refining—one I could use only once a week, for a mere thirty seconds.
"Yeah… that should be enough for them to accept it."
The excuse would still need a few more supporting details, but those were better left vague and papered over with my genius rather than explained in meticulous detail. Fine-grained explanations would only give my magic-savvy family openings to dig; if I just waved it off as a product of pure talent, they would have no choice but to go, Huh, is that how it works? and let it slide.
Talent was a realm that could never truly be understood by anyone who did not possess the same gift. And no one in my family stood on the same level as mine, so the gaping holes in my story would be more than adequately plugged.
"Agh… all right, time to get going."
I stayed sprawled on the bed until the pain had almost completely subsided, then slowly pushed myself upright. I couldn't go running around just yet, but at least I could walk at a measured pace and speak without looking unnatural. There was no reason to keep stalling.
My family was surely curious about the True Name Release I had shown them last night. Better to go down and explain it properly as soon as possible.
So I opened my door and started down toward the first floor, where they would be waiting—to finish the explanation, and to hear Father give his permission for my journey.
"So that was a berserk technique, you say?"
"Yes. I put it together a while back because I thought something like it might come in handy. I can only use it once a week, but as you saw, it lets me draw out an enormous amount of power."
"Hah… a technique like that. With it, even if you ran into powerful enemies…"
Fortunately, my family accepted the explanation without much fuss. Each of them sank into thought for a moment after hearing me out, then nodded in understanding.
I stepped closer to Father, fixed my eyes on his face, and asked,
"Then… you'll allow my journey, right?"
"Mmm…"
A low, troubled hum escaped him, thick with every possible worry. He really did not like the idea of me heading out into the world.
But I had already proven my trump card, and I had even won the duel we had agreed on. In the end Father gave a reluctant nod.
"…Fine. It would look pathetic if I refused to acknowledge it now. I grant you permission… to travel, Elia."
"Thank you, Father!!"
The instant the words left his mouth I threw the hesitation from my body and flung myself into his arms. The face that had been clouded with anxiety only a second earlier melted into a smile.
Hugging Mother is easy, so why does trying to hug Father always feel so awkward…?
Nestled against him, I tilted my head at the question that still puzzled me. I truly never felt any resistance hugging Mother, so why was it different with him?
The thought didn't have time to linger, because Cheryl, standing right beside us, blurted out something ridiculous.
"Th-then I'm coming too! If I stick right by her side and look after her properly, you won't have anything to worry about!"
"What did you just say, Sister?"
Cheryl raised her voice, insisting she would follow me.
"What on earth are you talking about, Cheryl?"
Before I could even object, Mother's eyes turned ice-cold and she cut her off coldly.
"You only just rose from apprentice mage to full-fledged mage, and you have neither research results nor combat achievements to your name—yet you want to trail after Elia on a journey? Have you lost your mind, Cheryl?"
"M-Mother, that isn't—"
"When I was your age, the moment I entered the Magic Tower I was expected to produce at least three research results before anyone even thought, Ah, this batch actually has a usable one in it. And you still haven't properly finished a single piece of research, yet you want what?"
"Th-that was honestly so long ago…"
"Cheryl!!!"
"I-I'm sorry…!"
True to her past as a high-ranking member of the Magic Tower, Mother unleashed a terrifying aura the second Cheryl opened her mouth with nonsense, and drove her into a corner. Last night's True Name Release pressure had been intense, but to Cheryl, Mother's presence right now was probably even more overwhelming.
I had zero desire to know what that felt like, so I carefully looked away. Father, who had just released me from the hug, did the same. He gave an awkward little laugh and turned to me.
"Then… where were you thinking of going first?"
"Ah—first I want to visit the kingdom. If I leave without even seeing the princess, she'll definitely be upset."
"That much is true. And after that?"
"Hmm… after that I plan to stop by Bramante Volcano. I have some business there for a while."
"Bramante Volcano, you say?"
My first real destination was already set: Bramante Volcano. The reason was simple—in the game, it was the place where you could obtain the Fire Elemental Stone.
I didn't know the exact spot, but if I could find the cave and make my way inside, the Fire Elemental Stone would be waiting. Of course, as far as I remembered the entrance was so narrow that two people could barely squeeze through at once, so locating it would be a pain.
Father considered something for a moment after hearing my destination, then spoke again.
"With your skill I doubt there will be any real trouble… but still, be careful. Lately there have been more and more reports of the Void Cult showing their faces here and there."
"Ah, I've heard about that too. I'll be careful, Father."
"Good. And even if it isn't them—if anything at all goes wrong, even a little, you go straight to the nearest city or village and call for me or your brother! Understood?"
No matter what the problem was, I was to summon Father or Henry. I could only scratch my head awkwardly at that.
Calling a royal mage over trivial issues would only create bigger problems, wouldn't it? Royal mages only took the field when an entire city was under threat. If Father or Henry actually showed up, the city or village would descend into chaos.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Henry wearing the same embarrassed smile, clearly thinking the exact same thing. I almost said something, but I didn't feel like getting tired this early in the morning, so I simply nodded.
"Ah… yeah. I'll do that."
"Good. See that you do… and if the princess is waiting, you had best be on your way. Have you finished packing?"
"No, not yet. I still have to pack."
"I'll assign maids to you, so prepare as quickly as you can. Tell them if you need anything."
Now that I was leaving, he seemed determined to throw every possible support behind me. The earlier anxiety and worry had burned away, replaced by pure, blazing enthusiasm. I swallowed a wry smile and headed for my room first.
There was a great deal to prepare for a journey, so Father was right—better to get it done as soon as possible.
"Looks like I'll have a lot to pack…"
The words sounded weary, but I carried a quiet spark of anticipation in my chest as I hurried up the stairs toward my room.