It's Suspicious
It's Suspicious
The following morning.
The snowy highlands of the Republic's border.
"Is this the place? The place where that eccentric is said to live?"
At his subordinate's question, Bilof, an intelligence agent for the Republic, wiped sweat from his forehead.
He couldn't tell if it was because of the climbing gear he was wearing or the strenuous ascent, but despite the snow-covered landscape, heat had taken hold of his body.
"Yes. But I would advise you to refrain from calling him an eccentric. The eccentric in question doesn't like it. Keep in mind that he prefers to be called an archmage."
"...Archmage?"
An archmage in an era where the practical effectiveness of magic had almost completely disappeared, save for a few special abilities?
The title of mage itself had long since faded into history, so being called an archmage was nothing short of bewildering.
"It's surprising that someone still clings to magic in this day and age. What's even more surprising is that the government has classified this eccentric as a person of interest."
"You say that because you don't know. He may be an eccentric, but his skills are undeniable."
"Is that true?"
At his subordinate's question, Bilof nodded as he walked through the snowfield.
He had figured there was no need to hide it any further, since this man would soon be taking over his role.
"Do you remember the Al Repimel assassination?"
"Of course I remember. He was a political bureau member who rose in rebellion against a former Supreme Council comrade. That bastard was a traitor to the nation who conspired with the military to plot a large-scale coup."
"Then you must also know that Al Repimel's death was something of a mystery."
"That's correct. At the time, Al Repimel was gripped by paranoia and gave orders to his subordinates from deep inside a bunker. But one day, without any prior warning...."
The subordinate stopped mid-sentence and shut his mouth.
He realized why Bilof had suddenly brought this up.
The figure who had broken through a heavily guarded bunker, killed Al Repimel, and then leisurely made his escape.
That was precisely the eccentric they were now on their way to meet.
As the subordinate swallowed hard at the thought that this was a far bigger figure than he had imagined, Bilof let out a low chuckle and looked straight ahead.
"We're almost there now."
Straight ahead, a three-story building stood atop a sheer cliff.
The subordinate tilted his head at the structure, which appeared to have its balance somehow skewed.
"What a strange building. It's a wonder it hasn't collapsed yet."
"You're free to think what you like, but don't call it a strange building in front of him. It seems the eccentric refers to his home as a 'Magic Tower.'"
"I see. Understood."
Having heard his subordinate's reply, Bilof walked up to the three-story building and gave a light knock on the door.
The door then opened inward by itself.
As his subordinate looked on in wonder, Bilof shrugged his shoulders once.
"I'm not quite sure about the principle, but it seems to be magic. Anyway, follow closely. And don't touch any of the things inside."
With those words, Bilof stepped into the building.
Inside the gothic-styled interior, all sorts of objects lay strewn about in disorder, but they were so incomprehensible in purpose that one couldn't even dare to touch them.
As if this scenery were familiar to him, Bilof used the spiral staircase in the center of the room to ascend to the upper floors.
Ignoring the second floor, which was packed with fish tanks, Bilof climbed up to the third floor and there he could see.
The eccentric, draped in a billowing robe, gazing up at the sky through an astronomical telescope.
The subordinate, who had belatedly entered the third floor following Bilof, saw the sight and murmured without thinking.
"It's morning now, why is he using an astronomical telescope...."
Whether or not he had heard the subordinate's words, the eccentric answered in a dismissive tone.
"A true star knows how to flaunt its presence even through the veil of light. Though a pebble-like creature like you, the kind that litters the streets, wouldn't understand even if I explained it a hundred times."
It was a strangely sharp tone.
Bilof, who had shot a glare at his subordinate, placed his hand on his chest and bowed his head.
"An insignificant being humbly greets the great Archmage Seraile. I beseech you to generously forgive the rudeness my subordinate has committed."
"I have no choice but to forgive. Is it just once or twice that pebbles like you lot make mistakes?"
"I thank you for your magnanimity."
Having heard Bilof's apology, Seraile lightly shrugged his shoulders.
"So? What business have you come to bother me with this time?"
At the cue to get to the point, Bilof took a deep breath and opened his mouth.
"...By any chance, has the Great Archmage heard the news that Count Kaledra recently suffered defeat at Penbark?"
"Of course. The stars whisper such things to me. Quite a disgraceful defeat, wasn't it?"
"In connection with that defeat, Count Kaledra and our Republic's Supreme Council comrade have a request to make of the Great Archmage."
Seraile spoke as he made fine adjustments to the angle of his astronomical telescope.
"To eliminate Daniel Steiner?"
The directness of it momentarily left him speechless.
Bilof, who had been needlessly watching Seraile's expression, nodded.
"That is correct. Count Kaledra has stepped forward to offer you an Etheliom Conversion Stone. Our Republic's Supreme Council comrade has also stated he will provide you with the utmost convenience."
"Hmm. Is that so? As I recall, I've helped both the Republic and the Allied Nations in the past. Seeing you ask for help again, it seems you people have no shame."
Was it a refusal? As Bilof broke out in a cold sweat, Seraile let out a small snicker.
"Fine. I'll help. I've happened to grow interested in this man Daniel Steiner anyway. Not immediately, of course. Wait for a few months. Observing the stars is more entertaining for the time being."
Thanks to that, Bilof breathed a low sigh of relief as he swept a hand down his chest.
"On behalf of the Supreme Council comrade, I express our gratitude for your decision to save the nation. In recompense for your aid, our Republic shall provide the Great Archmage comrade with every material resource."
"Of course you should. But what kind of man exactly is Daniel Steiner? I'd like you to tell me in detail about who he likes, what foods he prefers, and what he dislikes."
Seraile, who had removed his eye from the astronomical telescope, turned around.
"I need to know what kind of person he is...."
Beneath his blood-red pupils, a slender smile spread across his face.
"Because it'll feel good when I kill him."
*
"Huh? He must have definitely enjoyed it, don't you think?"
At Namelias's words, Lucy hurriedly looked around.
Fortunately, no one was passing through the hallway, so Lucy let out a sigh of relief.
"Namelias. Your voice is too loud."
As Lucy, her face subtly reddened, spoke softly and evenly, Namelias folded her arms.
"Why? I'm not making anything up, am I? Isn't Brigadier General Daniel Steiner a man in his prime? And you, my lady, are objectively beautiful, so there's no way he would dislike having kissed you."
The circumstances that had led Namelias to say such things were simple.
Thanks to Lucy, Namelias had been granted freedom within the mansion, and while on her way to brew coffee for the Imperial Army staff officers, she had run into Lucy in the hallway.
Since their paths were the same, they had been chatting about this and that, and naturally the topic of romance had come up. Namelias, recalling a romance novel she had once read, had asked Lucy if she had ever kissed a man.
At that question, Lucy fell silent.
She had not wanted to advertise the fact that she had shared a kiss with Daniel.
However, closing her mouth did not mean she could hide her unsteady gaze or the flush that was heating her face.
Namelias, who knew that Lucy harbored affection for Daniel, had ended up saying, 'It seems you did it with Brigadier General Daniel?'
Lucy initially denied it, but when Namelias relentlessly pressed her, she had no choice but to confess the truth.
And with it, she expressed a worry—namely, the question: 'Could it be that I, swept away by the atmosphere and emotion, did something terrible to the brigade commander?'
That was what Namelias found utterly preposterous.
"If you're really that curious, you could ask Brigadier General Daniel himself...."
"Ask me what?"
"Eeek!?"
At the grave voice that suddenly resounded, Namelias started violently and looked ahead.
There stood Daniel, neatly dressed in his military uniform.
He had turned a corner in the hallway and they had run right into each other.
While Namelias was trying to calm her startled heart, Daniel tilted his head.
"...Weren't you talking about me?"
Daniel looked at Lucy with an expression that requested an explanation, but it was the same with her.
Because she was frozen in place and couldn't meet his gaze.
Daniel, who found that curious, arrived at a quiet realization.
"Adjutant."
Daniel stared at Lucy with a worried expression.
"You don't look well. If by any chance you've been suffering side effects ever since the incident in the laboratory, do let me know at any time. I'll accommodate you however I can."
"Ah. That's not...."
Daniel, who had been wearing a sympathetic expression, suddenly took hold of Lucy's hand.
"There's no need to hide your true feelings from me. Whatever others may think of you, I at least will support you."
Thanks to that, Lucy's face grew even redder.
Having squeezed her eyes tightly shut, Lucy was suppressing the urge to act spoiled at that very moment.
Watching the two of them quietly, Namelias thought to herself.
'Why is he so good with his words? Is Brigadier General Daniel perhaps....'
Namelias narrowed her eyes with suspicion.
'A womanizer?'
From the perspective of Namelias, who didn't know the details of what the two had been through, Daniel Steiner somehow seemed like a lecherous man.