Chapter 183: Birth, Day…? (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 183: Birth, Day…? (4)
The office was the picture of peace.
Blackie was rolling around on top of a book before falling into a deep nap.
Though it was midsummer, the magic stones inside the office kept the heat at bay, making the temperature quite pleasant.
In other words, it was the perfect time and atmosphere to lean back in a chair after lunch and enjoy a siesta.
It certainly should have been.
“...So, what did you say?”
“I told you the Lord of Lartania’s head would blow off, Godfather.”
If only Line hadn’t spoken.
Unlike his expressionless facial muscles, Alon’s pupils trembled ever so slightly.
Deus and Ladan were the same.
As if they had witnessed a level of madness that surpassed their own, the two of them inconspicuously took half a step back.
Alon, glancing between the three of them, carefully set the button down.
“...So, um—”
How on earth is this a gift?
While he swallowed those words:
“Ah. I didn't mention that part, Godfather.”
“What part?”
“Once you press the button and move your physical body over there, you can become the Lord immediately.”
Line gave a refreshing smile.
“It’s the gift I prepared for you.”
A tiny button that fit in the palm of one's hand.
So, she’s saying that if I blow off the Lord’s head whenever I want, she’ll put me in his seat...?
...He took back what he said about it being a normal gift.
“Actually, I was just going to take care of it cleanly and then tell you, but I thought some annoying flies might try to swarm around if I did. So, I prepared it this way. This way, you can move whenever you want, Godfather.”
“I... see.”
“Yes.”
To the ears, they were words full of consideration.
No, they actually were full of consideration.
It was just that they were a bit... outside the bounds of common sense.
Line let out a small giggle as she looked at the button.
Worried, Alon subtly pulled the button back toward himself.
It can’t be, right?
Perhaps Line had undergone some sort of awakening after meeting the Apostle last time.
He felt a bit uneasy.
Alon covered the button with both hands and fell into serious thought.
Should he start by thanking her? Or...
Even if it’s uncomfortable, should I check if there have been any changes since the last incident?
It might be an unnecessary worry, but Alon felt it was right to address it to some extent.
After all, his primary goal was to raise these children, who were destined to become the Five Great Sins, into ordinary people.
No matter how much of a gift it was, planting a bomb inside someone’s head—even if it was just a deduction—was clearly something that shouldn't be done.
And yet, this was a gift Line had worked hard to prepare for him.
Would it be right to scold her in front of the others?
He hesitated.
Especially if there were lingering effects from her clash with the Apostle.
Line was the type who never showed how much she was struggling on the outside.
In the end, Alon closed his eyes tightly.
“...I’ll accept it.”
“Do you like it?”
“I like it.”
He decided to let it slide for now.
“I’m glad.”
“Still, you don’t have to give me such big gifts next time. Just prepare something appropriate that isn't too burdensome.”
He gave her a word of caution instead.
“The same goes for you two, Deus, Ladan. You don’t need to push yourselves for the sake of a gift.”
However.
“I understand, Brother, but I didn't really push myself that hard?”
“The same goes for me, Marquis.”
At Ladan and Deus’s rebuttals, Alon’s lips twitched involuntarily.
Common sense dictated that building a ridiculously massive statue and literally capturing the Sea God wasn't exactly "not pushing themselves."
But.
“...Right, well, I understand.”
Faced with six eyes claiming total innocence, he ultimately swallowed the words he wanted to say.
* * *
The afternoon sun beat down hotly upon the earth.
“Hmm—come to think of it, it’s been quite a while since we’ve met face-to-face like this.”
“Indeed. I’ve seen Line, but it feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve run into you.”
“I agree.”
While Ladan, Deus, and Line exchanged greetings, Alon stopped by the 2nd Office to conduct magic research with Penia.
“Let’s stop here for today.”
“Yes. You worked hard.”
“So, what do you think?”
“Hmm—to be perfectly honest, I think it’s still a bit lacking.”
What they were currently researching was related to what Kailas had told Alon.
To use the Shadow Spirit Dragon, fine-tuned control of mana was crucial.
“By the way, it’s fascinating. How Blackie reacts to the forming of Hand Seals.”
“Is it?”
“Yes. In essence, the Hand Seals you use, Marquis, ultimately change the structure of the mana molecules themselves, and Blackie changes along with them.”
“...That is certainly true.”
“Hmm—ah, now that I think about it, couldn't we try utilizing it in this way?”
“How?”
Penia launched into an enthusiastic explanation.
“...Certainly, if what you say is true, Penia, it could be used that way.”
Alon nodded with his arms crossed.
In a way different from Kailas, the relationship between the Hand Seals and Blackie that Penia had established was intriguing.
“...Then let’s try researching that part a bit more.”
“Yes, I understand. Oh, and—”
Penia subtly pulled something out from inside her robe and held it out to Alon.
“...This is?”
“Well, I heard it was your birthday today. It’s modest, but I prepared a gift.”
“Thank you.”
The gift Penia handed over was a reagent.
“What is the purpose of this reagent?”
“It’s a stimulant.”
“A stimulant?”
“Yes. Um—it’s not something to be used lightly, but if you inhale the powder, you’ll enter a temporary state of mana reinforcement. Of course, there are side effects, but it’ll be better than suffering from Mana Poisoning.”
Alon let out a low exclamation of admiration.
“...This is a very significant gift. I will use it well.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Penia put on her professional social smile.
Though I didn't exactly prepare it as a gift from the start.
She hid the truth.
The stimulant masquerading as a gift was actually something she had stumbled upon while experimenting.
Most mages wouldn't even dream of touching stimulants.
Side effects aside, there were very few cases where a mage would overexert their magic to the point of mana poisoning in the first place.
In other words, that stimulant she had accidentally created was a white elephant—it had a clear effect, but there was nowhere to sell it for a decent price, and Penia had no use for it herself.
It just so happened that Alon’s birthday was approaching.
And Alon was constantly struggling with a lack of mana.
It was an opportunity for a white elephant to be promoted to a precious gift.
I probably would have given it to him even if it wasn't his birthday, though.
Regardless, there was nothing to lose by getting on Alon’s good side.
Therefore.
“Ahem—I really put a lot of thought into making this, you know.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, just the ingredients alone were quite expensive—”
Rowing while the tide was in, Penia began to exaggerate.
“It takes no less than eight different ingredients to—hic.”
She suddenly gasped.
“...?”
Before Alon, sensing something was wrong, could even ask why.
“So this is where you were, Teacher.”
A familiar voice came from behind.
“Yutia. You’re here.”
“Yes, Teacher. I arrived just a moment ago.”
“It must have taken quite a while to get here. Thank you for coming all this way.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s your birthday, Teacher, so of course I had to come.”
Yutia smiled, her eyes curving into crescents.
She looked at the reagent in Alon’s hand.
“It seems Penia Kraysinne gave you that gift?”
Her gaze then shifted toward Penia.
“A-Ah, no, I didn't give it to h—”
Penia tried to hit the emergency exit button, but—
“That’s right. Penia gave it to me. She gave me something I desperately needed.”
“Heh—is that so?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll have to give my thanks to Lady Penia, then.”
She missed her chance due to Alon’s calm praise.
“Ah, first, let’s not stay here; let’s head to the office. The others should all be there.”
“Of course, Teacher.”
“Penia. I’m sorry, but we’ll head out first.”
“Ah, y-yes...”
Fortunately, Alon led Yutia away first.
“Phew—”
Penia let out a secret sigh of relief.
Lifting her head as if she had survived a brush with death, she saw it.
“...Gasp.”
The moment they stepped out with Alon.
In Alon’s blind spot, Yutia’s face had turned into a cold, bone-chilling expression.
And then.
Creeeeeak—thud!
As if possessed by a ghost, the door slowly swung shut. Watching it, Penia...
I shouldn't have lied...
She regretted it bitterly with a tearful face.
...Should she pack her bags and flee to the Blue Magic Tower right now?
Penia’s brief thoughts wandered around the room like a vengeful spirit.
* * *
“So, how have things been lately?”
“Hmm—nothing particularly big has happened. Just a few minor incidents?”
“I see.”
On the way back to the office where the other three were.
While exchanging brief pleasantries, Alon thought:
Various incidents should be starting to break out in Rosario soon.
Most of them, of course, were related to the Strange Gates.
The truly major events would happen a bit later.
Still, out of concern, he said to Yutia:
“If you ever need help, let me know.”
“Hmm—I’d prefer not to worry you, though?”
“Don’t think of it that way.”
Yutia didn't answer for a moment.
Then, soon after.
“I feel the same way.”
A smile even brighter than usual spread across her face.
“You too?”
“Yes. If there’s anything you need from me, please don’t hesitate to ask. Don’t worry about troubling me.”
At that smile, the corners of Alon’s mouth moved slightly.
After their heartwarming conversation, they arrived at the office.
The moment he opened the door and stepped inside, he was greeted by another massive box.
“Oh, is this Yutia’s gift?”
A box that definitely hadn't been there earlier.
However.
“...?”
Yutia tilted her head as if she knew nothing about it.
Then who on earth gave this gift...
“Ah, they said that was delivered, so I brought it inside.”
Evan, who had been talking with the others, explained.
“They said Seolrang sent it.”
“I see.”
Just as Evan was about to raise his hand in greeting upon spotting Yutia.
“Ta-da—! Appearing before Yutia arrives!!”
The lid of the large gift box burst open.
Emerging from within was...
“Seol... rang?”
Seolrang, with red ribbons wrapped all around her body.
She immediately scurried over to Alon and—
“The birthday present is me, me, Mentor! You can just have me!”
She held out the marriage registration form that Alon hadn't signed last time—
In that moment.
“—Eh?”
Seolrang spotted her.
Yutia, standing behind Alon.
“Yu, Yutia?”
Seolrang’s voice trembled slightly.
“It’s been a while, Seolrang.”
Yutia, conversely, replied with composure.
Deus and Ladan, who had been watching with interest until Seolrang burst out of the box, flinched.
To others, it sounded like her normal voice.
But they knew instantly.
That subtly low tone was a specific one Yutia only used for someone who had severely displeased her.
In this situation, the best thing to do was not to get involved.
They carefully averted their eyes.
Seolrang, recalling her mistake of teasing Yutia during the last meeting, felt her conscience prickling.
“He, hehe...”
She backpedaled, her eyes darting around like a thief caught in the act.
Thud—thud—
She climbed back into the box she had just torn open, reached out to pull the lid shut, and tucked her hands inside.
“...”
The tattered box lid wouldn't even close properly.
In the suddenly frozen atmosphere, Alon could only stand there, dazed.