Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Tyrant Dragon: Peria Alperatz (4)
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Three days had passed since that sudden encounter with Vicks Alperatz, and now it was afternoon.
Having finished her usual routine as always, Peria received a letter addressed to her from an unfamiliar name.
The sender's name on the letter was one Peria had never seen before, but even so, she easily figured out who it was from.
Doctor Begerton Antares.
It was a letter from Celestia's "Doctor."
"It looks like the letter I sent last time got through safely."
Evidently, he had received her previous letter without any issues.
The fact that he had replied via the route she had specified in her letter made that clear.
Peria picked up the envelope.
Her eyes gleamed with anticipation as she gazed at it.
"I wonder what it says this time."
She used the knife in her hand to carefully break the seal on the letter.
It was to ensure the Doctor's letter wouldn't be damaged.
Then, she took out the letter from the envelope and began reading it slowly from the top.
"I've confirmed the schedule, and there are no issues... Good. I can invite him as planned."
Peria's golden eyes quickly followed the rough handwriting on the letter.
The contents of the anonymously sent letter from the Doctor.
Most of it was agreement with the schedule she had heard about before.
He had decided to enter the Alperatz marquisate according to the schedule she set.
"And... the Doctor doesn't seem like such a bad person after all. I guess I was worrying for nothing."
Below that was an additional message containing the Doctor's personal opinion.
More precisely, it was somewhat emotional.
Peria's gaze swept over the contents of the letter from the Doctor.
—I have heard some circumstances regarding the young lady through my sources. It seems your brother, who was designated as the heir, suddenly fell ill with an incurable disease. As someone on the outside, I can't help but feel deeply sorry for you.
The Doctor's letter included concerns about Peria's only sibling, Philip.
Philip Alperatz's incurable disease.
And the unfortunate events stemming from it.
She didn't know who the Doctor's sources were, but it seemed he had learned even more in Celestia than what she had shared.
It wasn't exactly a secret, so it wasn't strange that the Doctor knew about it.
"It looks like the Doctor's heard the rumors about Philip too. Well, Philip's story is pretty famous among the nobles."
It was the incident that completely overturned the Alperatz marquis family's succession and elevated Vicks Alperatz to the next-in-line position.
It was a fairly well-known tale among the nobility.
The marquis family's debauched wastrel had become the heir.
"If not for that, Uncle wouldn't be acting like this."
Peria let out a sigh, lost in sentiment for a moment.
She snapped out of it and lightly tapped her cheeks while staring at the letter.
Then, she continued reading the remaining contents line by line.
—If it's alright with you, may I bring some friends along? Fortunately, I know many capable friends.
—They're extremely taciturn, so they won't commit any faux pas. If you wish, I can have them join us.
Peria's eyes sparkled as she read the Doctor's letter.
He was proposing to bring friends if she wanted.
"Was he worried about Philip just lying in bed because he's sick?"
Peria pondered the Doctor's suggestion, her gaze on the letter.
Philip was growing weaker by the day and could no longer move around easily, confined indoors.
It seemed the Doctor, concerned for Philip, had made this proposal with him in mind.
The capable friends the Doctor mentioned.
She thought that if people with diverse knowledge shared outside stories, Philip, stuck in the annex, might enjoy it.
"With more people around, bustling about, Philip would probably like that too."
Peria mulled it over while holding the letter, but only for a moment.
She soon opened a drawer and took out a sheet of letter paper.
It was the most luxurious and pristine stationery among those she owned.
Peria spread out the paper, picked up a pen dipped in ink, and began writing her reply to the Doctor.
"He looks a bit scary, but it's a relief he's got a good personality."
Her pen moved busily across the paper.
She wrote her reply in careful script, a faint smile on her lips.
"Thank you for offering to bring your friends. I'll make arrangements for them in advance so you can all come—"
The special friends coming with the Doctor.
The image of Philip happily chatting with them flickered in Peria's mind.
Peria Alperatz, the eldest daughter of the Alperatz marquis family.
Anticipating the special meeting soon to come, she wrote her letter to the unfamiliar friend from the library.
* * * * * *
In a rundown building where only the faint light of a lantern seeped out.
Several hooded men guarded the outside with tense faces, and one awkwardly hooded figure opened the door and entered.
The creaky old door groaned loudly.
Immediately after, a noble's irritated voice leaked from inside the suspicious building.
"Didn't you say that guy would definitely die within five years at the latest? So why is that bastard Philip still alive?!"
Vicks pulled back his hood, revealing his face, and glared at the masked man sitting calmly before him.
A burly man with a fierce face scarred by a knife wound near one eye.
—Caltrop Kusto.
Kusto, a member of the Leobrant Brotherhood, was the one who had approached Vicks long ago, promising to make him marquis.
Following Kusto's advice, Vicks had planted Kusto's men in the lord's castle manor.
Those subordinates had diligently worked toward Vicks's ambitions.
They had tampered with Philip's food continuously, making it look like he had an inexplicable incurable disease.
The problem was that, even though the deadline Kusto mentioned had long passed, Vicks's nephew Philip was still alive.
"Noble sir, calm down first. Isn't everything proceeding smoothly according to plan so far?"
"Smoothly? With that bastard still breathing, what part of the plan is smooth?!"
"He's barely clinging to life, unable even to move properly. Besides, didn't you say the council elders support you? Even if it's delayed a bit, it won't be a big problem."
Kusto spoke while caressing the blade of the dagger in his hand with his fingertip.
Philip Alperatz still being alive was, of course, unexpected for the Brotherhood as well.
The amount of toxin accumulated in Philip's body over a long time was no small quantity.
It was enough that any ordinary person would have died long ago without question.
From Kusto's perspective, he was even curious how Philip Alperatz was holding out.
But it was certain it wouldn't last much longer.
Everyone in the marquisate knew the marquis's only son could no longer control his own body.
"It won't be long now. Soon, that nephew you hate so much will die."
Kusto tapped the crude wooden table with his fingertips and looked at the middle-aged noble.
But apparently, even that didn't satisfy him.
Vicks slammed his thick fist on the table and thrust his face close to Kusto's as he spoke.
"Quintuple the amount of poison in that bastard's meals! Make it so he could die tomorrow without anyone batting an eye!"
Vicks spoke sharply to Kusto.
But Kusto just snorted at the threat.
Instead, he set the dagger on the table and spoke to Vicks seriously.
"Listen, noble sir. The key to this is making it look natural. And do you think poison that can get on fastidious nobles' tables without issue is cheap?"
"Even so...!"
"There are five mages just enchanting the stuff we use. You know it's not cheap."
"......"
"The Brotherhood is investing this much because they see this as special."
Vicks regulated his ragged breathing as he listened to Kusto.
Even he could see there was no flaw in Kusto's words.
It was clear the Leobrant Brotherhood viewed this matter as special.
The interests Vicks had promised them were substantial, after all.
Vicks suppressed his anger and sat back down across from Kusto.
He shot a sharp glare at Kusto and asked a question.
"What does the Brotherhood think of this situation?"
Receiving Vicks's gaze, Kusto replied without losing his composure.
"The higher-ups' response is always the same. The Brotherhood still supports Vicks Alperatz. No matter what happens, no harm will come to you, noble sir."
"......"
"No need to worry too much. We're being careful precisely so the next marquis suffers no harm."
Next marquis.
Hearing that, Vicks's anger subsided further.
The Leobrant Brotherhood was a secret society with power among the top handful across the entire continent.
With their backing, Vicks Alperatz could surely ascend to the marquis position.
Toward Vicks, whose anger had somewhat eased, Kusto flashed a greedy smile and spoke.
"So, don't forget the promises we made."
"Don't worry. I, Vicks Alperatz, am not a noble who takes promises lightly."
In the darkness of night.
The two men continued exchanging ambition-laden words.
The conspiracy to place Vicks Alperatz as the next marquis.
Under the chilling moonlight on the building, their conversation lasted until the moon dipped low.
* * * * * *
The training ground of the Phantasmic Library Celestia.
I watched Peria staring at something with eyes full of anticipation.
The place Peria's gaze was fixed on.
There sat a dragon covered in pure white scales, holding itself proudly.
"Wow...!"
Peria let out a huge exclamation as she beheld the magic dragon.
It was a completely different form from the magic dragon she had seen in the training ground before.
The new model of autonomous combat support magic, which I had improved to the best of my ability, had finally revealed itself.
Scales of pure white that reflected the light.
Sharp horns on its head.
And an even more imposing exterior upgraded beyond the monster used as a target.
It was a masterpiece that could only be described as perfect.
The greatest work of my life, sculpted in the most artistic form since arriving at this library.
That was the true nature of the magic dragon now present here.
"Is this the magic you're giving me this time?!"
Peria's eyes, looking up at the magic dragon, sparkled so brightly it was almost dazzling.
Her golden pupils were filled with the image of the white dragon.
Peria stroked the dragon's scales with a beaming smile.
"Peria Alperatz. Calm down and listen to the explanation first."
"Ah, sorry! I just couldn't help myself seeing such an amazing dragon..."
Had she recognized the masterpiece I poured my soul into?
Peria couldn't tear her eyes away from the magic dragon.
As I watched her, I explained the new magic I had created for her.
A bodyguard magic to protect Peria.
I began describing the functions built into it.
"During combat, it will move in this form. It will act on its own without specific orders and will try to protect its master first in dangerous moments."
"This magnificent dragon will protect me!"
"As long as mana allows, it can maintain this state continuously, and depending on the stored mana, it can even breathe fire."
The magic I was gifting Peria this time incorporated the autonomous combat function I had researched for so long.
In addition to the functions I had developed so far, it was combined with the necromancy formula Craton brought.
It would carry out any orders Peria gave, and protect its master if she was in danger.
Even without complex commands, the support magic would react first in most situations.
But on top of that, I had added one special function to this magic.
"No matter how I thought about it, it suited a different form better than a grimoire. So I instructed Lua to create a magic tool using a high-grade mana stone separately."
"A magic tool... You're giving it to me as a completed item instead of a spell?"
"Yes. This magic is designed to operate constantly by your side. But at that size, it'd be hard to carry around always."
A form suitable for a constantly operating magic tool.
To that end, I had added a separate function to the formula.
I snapped my fingers into the air.
The majestic dragon sitting there was immediately enveloped in light.
After its body, which had been shining, was covered in brilliant light.
In Peria's palm, which had been stroking the dragon moments ago, a baby dragon the size of a doll now rested.
"Oh my, how cute."
"It's mana recharge mode. Designed for a size with no issue accompanying you in daily life."
The tiny baby dragon.
This form allowed Peria to travel with the dragon in normal situations.
Maintaining its huge size constantly would be nothing but a mana waste, after all.
"So normally, it travels like this?"
"Yes. In that state, it consumes low mana while preparing to continuously store external mana."
Moreover, it could stockpile mana for combat use, making the magic tool practically semi-permanent.
A convenient magic crafted for a noble lady unskilled in magic.
Tailored solely for Peria.
I opened my mouth, pondering a name to attach to the magic I prepared for Peria.
It was awkward to keep calling it autonomous combat support magic.
"So, if I were to name this magic, it would probably be—"
"Could I suggest a name for it, if that's okay?"
I stopped naming it and looked at Peria, who had made the request.
Peria wanted to name the magic herself.
A new magic's name.
I hadn't named it yet anyway.
So, there was no reason for me to refuse.
"Do as you like. What name do you want?"
Without hesitation, Peria answered my question.
"—Tyrant Dragon."
Tyrant Dragon.
Peria, who had given the grand dragon its new name, spoke with a radiant smile.
"How about this name?"
"Not bad."
It was a decent name for a suggestion.
I decided to accept Peria's proposal readily.
The autonomous combat magic I had meticulously refined.
Peria, who named it "Tyrant Dragon," spotted the Doctor passing by the front of the training ground and waved her hand.
"Ah, Doctor!"
"......"
Had the Doctor noticed her too?
He saw her from afar and lightly raised his hand.
Toward the Doctor, Peria shouted in a lively voice.
"Please bring lots of your friends!"
It was only for a moment that incomprehensible words came from Peria's mouth.
He nodded from afar, having heard her.
The Doctor and Peria.
With the two of them before me, another noisy day at Celestia passed by.