Off to the Fairy City: Oberon #1

Lawrence was lost in thought. So far, he'd only engraved magic circles onto large tools or objects. But it was time to rethink what the true romance of artifacts really meant.

According to the games he'd played and the literature from his past life on Earth, weren't jewels the pinnacle of artifacts?

How impressive could it be if only dragons ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠could do it? When Lawrence thought about the craftsmen on Earth who made watches or intricate electronic components, it didn't seem impossible at all.

Due to the suddenly decided Alzeras subjugation operation, Lawrence pulled out every material he had on hand.

"Extracts are running low, but there's something I can make for Rachel at least."

Unfortunately, Rachel had no choice but to stay behind. There was nothing for a maid to do on a battlefield like that, and who knew what dangers she might face.

It would be far more beneficial for her to train here.

There should be extracts good for building foundations.... Here it is.

This should let her train even without me.

The guardian training project had to continue. The same would apply when entering territories or going on missions later. Lawrence's absence couldn't lead to a sharp drop in combat power.

Just like building a company where money flows in even while you sleep. The same went for the family.

To seize or overthrow Montemer, exceptional talent is essential.

With his resolve set, Lawrence picked up his pen.

Someone might think like this:

<Wait, isn't this guy a total sucker?>

<Why do all the good for others? He should hog it all!>

Far from it. Everything depended on the situation.

Lawrence believed a creator must never forget their duty. A creator makes things and releases them into the world. Only when those creations shine in the world does their true value come to fruition.

At least, that's how Lawrence saw it.

And creating made his Dragon Body grow, right?

That's profit enough.

He worked his pen diligently even as night deepened. Negative energy steadily activated his body at this moment too.

His young body was growing vigorously today as well.

Scratch, scratch.

The sound of his pen continued. His time flowed more densely than anyone else's today.

This was the moment his artifacts—for himself and his guardians—were completed.

How long had he been focused?

The entire tower reverberated with that still-hard-to-get-used-to voice.

How does he even cast magic like that?

Lawrence still didn't know how magic manifested, but whatever.

I need to implant it in Rachel before I go.

The artifact was safely complete. Implant it before morning exercise, and it should activate soon enough.

The strongest assassin training project resumed.

"Rachel, may I come in?"

Knock knock.

Lawrence knocked on Rachel's door. A muffled, still-sleepy voice came from inside her throat.

"Y-yes.... Come in."

"Coming in."

He opened the door to find Rachel sitting up sleepily in her pajamas. Even she had these natural moments, being human and all. Lawrence actually preferred this approachable, unburdened side of her.

"Made you another artifact. Stay still—I'm implanting it now."

"Ah, yes. Got it. What ability is it this time?"

"It'll help with your training. It'll awaken your mana talent."

"Oh...."

Rachel let out an awed exclamation in a cracked, splitting voice. The sight reminded him of his little sister from Earth—now a hazy memory—and he chuckled softly.

I wonder if she's doing well.

Of course it would. Who made it for her?

Zzzzt!

The implantation began in earnest.

Rachel shuddered at the bizarre sensation. It felt like a foreign power entering her, then settling into her body.

Once you taste this fullness, this filling of what was lacking, loyalty was inevitable.

At least, that's how she felt.

It must be thanks to Young Master that I reacted to those sisters last time too.

When she'd sensed the threat, her trained movements had emerged instinctively. Just like a trained warrior's reflexes kicking in automatically, this mystical power would activate too.

Rachel felt the power fully take root. Curious about the changes, she examined herself and noticed the foreign energy inside her more clearly than before.

"Oh, is this mana? It feels all tingly."

"Yeah, it should. As you know, I don't have mana roads, so I'm not too sure myself."

"Ah.... I'm sorry."

Rachel bowed her head, flustered. Having no mana roads was akin to a curse in this world.

Lawrence brushed it off and said sternly,

"Just train hard. If you're not up to par when I get back, I'll confiscate all the artifacts."

"Eek!? N-no, don't! My dream of being an assassin—!"

"Then train hard. Got it?"

"Yes, sir!"

Having extracted a half-forced promise, Lawrence smiled and headed out.

Rachel thought to herself that Young Master sometimes acted far beyond his eleven years.

"Could it be.... a second life? How is he so mature?"

Wrong. Lawrence was already on his third life.

#2

Before dawn broke, Media gazed out the window and spoke.

"That's the mission I have for you. Can you handle it?"

"Of course. But do I really not have to kill her?"

She was clearly speaking to empty air, yet a reply came.

Its brutal content would have raised alarms if anyone else heard. But Media delivered the harsh words nonchalantly.

"Killing her isn't your job. If she gets torn apart by Alzeras's undead, who could complain?"

"Heh heh heh, fair point. You've brought me a fun mission, ma'am."

"You're the Benoman family's black sheep, a wandering assassin. No betrayal from you."

Benoman family's black sheep. The eldest son who left the family, Ades Benoman.

A peerless genius who broke free from the rigid family rules to assassinate solo. Famous for rejecting the heir position outright to wander, taking only missions that piqued his interest.

Mission success rate: 100% so far. Combined with the Benoman family's unique ability, his physical prowess and mana reserves dwarfed his peers.

Media asked again,

"I'm curious, though. Why pass up leading the strongest family...."

"This is a secret just for you, ma'am. Negative Energy efficiency drops sharply after adulthood. Resistance to poison and curses remains, though."

"Fascinating."

Still speaking to the air, Media continued. Ades casually leaked a family secret that would enrage the Benomans if overheard.

Chatterboxes have no secrets, huh? True enough.

Knowing why he'll die and dying anyway—that's pathetic.

He'd feel rage, injustice. But what could he do? Letting him die in that anguish was the sweetest revenge.

Media imagined Lawrence—that insolent brat—wailing in despair and smirked.

"Heh heh heh.... I leave it to you."

"Got it. I'll report the results in person or writing right away."

"Good."

This was another opportunity. He'd face trial after trial.

"Oh, one more thing."

"Pardon? Another? I was just about to leave. You don't consider an assassin's dramatic exit at all."

"...."

"Sorry, haha. What is it? Pay's good, right?"

"Sigh.... Is an assassin allowed to be this frivolous?"

Whatever. As long as he kills well.

Ades replied casually from the shadows. This guy's no normal either, Media thought, adding another commission.

She had to erase ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠her one stain.

"Kill Loria Montemer too."

"Pardon?"

"I'll take that as accepted. Then...."

Media turned away, and the room fell silent. But a voice still echoed from the seemingly empty air.

"Damn.... She's completely nuts."

Great families had their share of crazies, but....

Ades shook his head as he shadow-traveled. See? Good reason I left the family.

"Still, this covers this month's tribute. Montemer's got scale even in spending~."

He whistled toward his destination.

The assassin's target: Fairy City: Oberon.

The city fairies built long ago, now the Empire's northwest entertainment hub.

"Heh heh, gotta hit the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spots first!"

Of course, his mind seemed more on fun than killing.

#3

Atern Officer Academy.

The knight-training institution, diametrically opposed to the mage towers.

An imperial edict had come even here.

"To Oberon! Everyone, prepare to march!"

"Sir!"

This place embodied a culture that would trigger full-blown PTSD for Lawrence.

Their goal was singular.

"The Northern Duke gave that sacred mantle to a mage of all people! Know what that means!?"

"Sir!"

"It means you blockhead knights lag behind mages! So today, we're sprinting from here to Oberon! Understood!?"

"Yessir!"

Cadets' roars thundered. The instructor's bellows even louder.

"Repeat! We won't lose to mages!"

"We! Won't lose! To mages!"

"Louder!"

Waaaaah!

Their self-hyping cheers echoed.

Watching, Bentley Atern from the Swordsmanship Noble House: Atern gleamed with fervor.

The Gaudie family was known for their pride. No knight house had yet received the Northern Duke's mantle.

But a mage did?

"You twiggy, anchovy, scrawny bastards dare...."

Muttering ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠every mage slur he knew, he vowed it mustn't stand.

Thus, all gathered toward Alzeras subjugation in the northwest's top pleasure spot, Oberon.