Succession (1)
The imperial palace shimmered with golden radiance.
Marble pillars carved with scenes from ancient wars supported a ceiling painted with beautiful goddesses and asuras.
Yet the red sunset light filtering through the windows and the tapestries hanging on the walls were enough to make the room seem drenched in blood.
In this opulent yet eerie office, two men faced each other.
"This child took longer than expected, Marquis."
"Rumors may have spread, Majesty. Parents are refusing to hand over their children..."
"Hmm, an intriguing excuse."
The Emperor of the Human Empire, Theophrad 12th.
Heir to giant blood, he was a colossal figure nearly three meters tall.
His leisurely temperament was evident in his serene expression, with even a faint smile playing on his lips.
But his gray eyes held a chill frost.
"Forgive me, Your Majesty."
The rigidly tense man was Rafar Egda Marquis.
A high noble of renown, yet the marquis's ordinary build looked even more diminutive before the emperor's giant frame.
The emperor chuckled like a beast toying with its prey.
"I imagine you had your troubles. You've brought him—that suffices. Set him down there."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
A boy who had lost consciousness lay between the two men.
"......"
Pale skin, youthful face.
He seemed utterly ordinary.
But Marquis Egda's assessment differed.
"In my judgment, sire, he is the finest vessel among all the children found in the past decade. He will prove more than adequate to contain the 'White Dragon.'"
"Quite assertive for you."
The emperor slightly raised an eyebrow, and tension flickered across the marquis's face.
But no calamity followed.
"Well, that just means it's a fine specimen. If there's any issue, you'll answer for it with your life."
"......"
"Hah, just a jest. Where is the head of House Kirchheis? Does he know I've acquired this child?"
The emperor's questioning voice remained casual.
But this was his reverse scale, more than anything.
Knowing this better than anyone, Marquis Egda answered with utmost caution.
"He won't know. Even the Iron-Blooded Warlock cannot surveil the entire north. No signs of pursuit have been detected thus far."
He thought it a fine response.
But the emperor twisted his lips.
"Regrettable. Where I sought assurance, I find none."
"......My deepest apologies."
Unable to offer more, Marquis Egda bowed his head politely and fell silent.
The emperor smirked.
"It's a fine day; I'll cease tormenting you. Withdraw. I must forge the White Dragon."
At the dismissal, the marquis sighed in relief and proffered a slim folder.
"This is a recent report on activities within House Kirchheis. Peruse it at your leisure."
"Oh? I heard all our spies there were weeded out. Was that not the case?"
A intrigued smile curled the emperor's lips as he took the documents.
Marquis Egda smiled faintly for once.
"I've planted new threads. This compiles the intelligence from them."
Quite a reliable source.
He had brought tales the emperor would enjoy.
"Something amusing has occurred at the Eternalism academy. I've marked it separately."
Marquis Egda saluted crisply and withdrew.
Left alone, the emperor seized the boy and folder in his massive hand.
As he strode forward, the palace floor groaned beneath him.
His destination was an elevator in one corner of the office.
Pressing a button, the floor began descending.
"Amusing, is it..."
The emperor's lip twitched.
He soon arrived in a grim basement.
Torchlight on the walls flickered uneasily, casting erratic shadows.
At the room's center stood a massive bloodstained altar. The emperor tossed the boy atop it.
Then he sat in a corner chair and began reading the marquis's report.
"Kirian Kirchheis...? A new name to me."
SUBJECT:Kirian Kirchheis
ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Claimed 1st place in the Tomb of Books and Swords with unprecedented results.
- Entered Eternalism, eschewing more renowned academies.
- Solo defeat of an ogre.
- Visited the restricted area beneath Eternal Mansion...
— High potential to seize hegemony in House Kirchheis henceforth. —
The annotation was penned directly by the spy.
It was followed by a report on Kirian's personal details.
A cold glint flashed in his gray eyes at that precise moment.
"Asena Mazel?"
The report mentioned Kirian receiving "Exploration" from the one-eyed merchant giantess.
That meant a report should have reached the emperor, who had commissioned her to find White Dragon seedlings.
The emperor's face slowly contorted.
Waves of fury rippled within his icy gaze.
"Dare she ignore my commission?"
She must pay the due price.
The emperor rose abruptly and approached a communicator in the basement corner.
His voice echoed sinisterly.
"Seize Merchant Mazel. If she resists, sever her limbs and shatter her mana heart."
And one more thing.
"Investigate a child named Kirian Kirchheis. You may deploy the 'Eyes of Dawn' if necessary."
The emperor set down the receiver and returned.
Only then did he recall the boy lying on the altar.
The child had regained consciousness, eyes wide, trembling violently.
Approaching, the emperor forced a benevolent smile and spoke.
"Fear not. Today, you shall shed your lowly shell and be reborn as part of me..."
The emperor's massive palm engulfed the boy's face.
It was the boy's final memory.
"Hey! Kirian!"
"What."
"Come to the training grounds. Let's spar. Taste my new attack spell and be amazed."
"Yeah, no thanks. Ask Mihaden to be amazed."
"Coward! Scared?"
"Yeah, scared."
"......"
I brushed off the clingy Libiel and immersed myself in mana cultivation.
Training method 'Origin of All Things' is growing your mana heart.
Current stage: 3rd stage, 97.9%.
A bit more, and I'd break through the 3rd stage into the 4th.
I'd reworked the Eternal Factor for training purposes, and its circuitry now benefited my mana heart as well.
Layers upon layers grown, the mana heart pulsed ceaselessly, brimming with mana, flaunting its majesty.
'That's enough for today.'
I exhaled deeply and rose.
Since emerging from the restricted area beneath the mansion, I'd been unexpectedly busy for a few days.
The fact that I'd directly absorbed the Factor Pillar was reported immediately...
Dean Panayul had come to me with a near-maniacal expression, grilling me on every detail.
It wasn't an interrogation.
"This could upend every other academy! I'll write the paper—you just explain!"
"......"
I hadn't even mentioned restructuring the Eternal Factor.
Just the fact that a trainee had directly absorbed the Factor Pillar had the dean ecstatic.
'To avoid being hounded, I'll save that story for later.'
She probably wouldn't believe it anyway.
A mere first-year disciple fixing the structural flaws in the oldest unique factor?
But Hierniorn shook his head instead.
What if Biat doesn't believe thee? The unique factor thou possessest is proof enough.
'Well, true enough.'
And it wouldn't surface unless I revealed it.
I planned to keep it secret for now.
Then, the door burst open.
"Kirian, let's go eat breakfast!"
"......Say 'let's go eat,' not that."
"Oh? Thanks!"
Thanks to Obri, Lorang seemed to be studying the common tongue diligently.
His speech had improved markedly in days.
Breakfast, though?
"Why the sudden breakfast talk? You usually skip it 'cause it's gross."
"Huh? You're slow on the news. Starting today, the new mustache chef's cooking. Fresh hire!"
"Mustache...?"
Down in the dining hall, a chef with a bizarre mustache was indeed cooking.
Most academy members sat at tables, exclaiming in delight.
I sat with the kids and took a spoonful of potato soup—then froze.
'This is delicious?'
The potato soup I'd eaten before seemed like mere potato juice by comparison.
The other kids agreed.
"Whoa, it's good! Like, really good! Not a bit worse than Kirchheis Castle's."
"Indeed. A skilled chef at last."
"Nom nom... tastes like home..."
"Eat slowly, everyone. You'll choke."
Even Obri, saying that, was inhaling food at breakneck speed.
Every dish clung to the palate.
Even Professor Rapens, who always ate alone, dined with a beaming face.
Everyone's joy was nice, but...
'Didn't the academy have no money? What's this?'
Jenice had prepared separate meals for Libiel and me due to the awful food.
How did poor Eternalism hire such a chef?
Sudden funds?
Perchance the Extremism academy sent him to buy thee off with coin.
'Trade me for potato soup?'
Even as a joke, it stung.
The mystery of the chef resolved soon enough.
"......Kirian Kirchheis!"
My name boomed suddenly.
Turning, I saw Elman Bykers's face.
All academy members, mid-bite, saluted the elder mage.
"We greet the Archmage of White Flame!"
"Mm, continue your meals. Eat well."
Spotting me, the elder strode over briskly.
He lightly tapped my shoulder and delivered the news.
"Lord Leonir has come for you. Your enrollment procedures are nearly complete."
"......!"
"Come to my room after eating."
I stood immediately.
Potato soup could wait till tomorrow.
"I'll go now."
"Without finishing?"
"Hard to eat knowing he's waiting."
"Hoho, such a filial son."
The hall fell silent as if doused with cold water.
The Archmage chuckled heartily and led the way; I followed quietly.
Entering the private study, a tall shadow stood by the window.
"Lord Leonir, I've brought Kirian."
"Ah, thank you, Archmage."
A man with neatly combed deep golden hair.
Rohbark's eldest, the strongest knight of the current Kirchheis generation.
—Leonir Kircheris.
He gazed at me intently, speaking in a subtly peculiar tone.
"Does Father's gift please you, Kirian?"