Chapter 88
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 88
Chapter Title: Huanggung's Grand Archmage (10)
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Finally, at long last.
I was back at my sweet home, Linea Hall.
The distance from the door to the bed was quite a trek, but I didn't hesitate—I hopped up and flung myself right onto the mattress.
The soft, sinking cushion gave way beneath me, enveloping me in the fluffy scent of freshly laundered blankets. And that cool breeze...
"I missed you so much..."
Nothing beat my own bed in my own room...
I pulled the covers up over my head and rolled around, savoring the rare chance to relax.
...But something felt off.
"It feels kinda empty."
Normally, I'd have been content with this and passed right out into a deep sleep.
But after all the hassle at the Mage Tower and the palace lately, I just felt blah.
If I fell asleep like this, my sore muscles would probably wake me up. My gut told me so.
"I need... that bed. The heavenly one."
I grabbed my comfort pillow and dragged myself out of bed like some kind of undead, groaning all the way.
Dragging the pillow across the floor, I staggered down the hall, up the stairs, and arrived at the top floor.
The most luxurious spot in all of Linea Hall.
—Knock, knock.
"...Luna?"
I gave the prearranged signal—two slow knocks—and a soft voice drifted from inside.
"Come in. The door's open."
Instead of answering, I pushed the door open and shuffled inside.
The room was dim.
A single candle flickered on the table, casting a gentle glow.
I made a beeline for the bed without a second thought and flopped face-first onto it.
"Ughhh..."
A groan escaped me on its own.
Ahh—this was on another level.
The mattress sank like feathers, and a faint aroma wafted to my nose.
It was a bit warm, but I could compromise by kicking off the covers.
As I buried my face in my comfort pillow and sprawled out, a soft rustle came from the sofa by the candle—the sound of turning pages.
"Back from the inauguration?"
Princess Celestina marked her place in her book and looked my way.
"Nothing went wrong at the palace, right?"
"So much happened... Ah... I'm exhausted, for real..."
"Hehe. You look it."
She giggled at my muffled mumble from the pillow.
"And that staff you brought along doesn't look like any ordinary item, either."
Her gaze shifted to the silvery-white staff, Arke, floating lazily by my side.
"I didn't bring it. It followed me on its own. Like a stalker."
Arke hummed as if it had a lot to say, but I ignored it.
Hey, if you're jealous, just say it.
Princess Celestina rose from the sofa and approached me.
She perched carefully on the edge of the bed.
The mattress dipped slightly beneath her—not a bad feeling at all.
"Oh, right. Congratulations, Luna—even if it's a bit late."
Her voice was soft and gentle.
"You're now the youngest Grand Archmage in Belhart Empire history."
I lifted my head just a little, resting my chin on the pillow, and slowly opened my eyes.
Beyond the distant candlelight, her golden hair shimmered faintly.
Not the blinding gold that stung my eyes all over the palace.
It was a warm, comforting hue—like a sunset over wheat fields.
"Thank youuu..."
I murmured like I was talking to myself, then suddenly stared at her.
"Hm? Something on my face?"
"No, just..."
I scratched my head and continued.
"Now that I think about it, did we really need to go all the way to the palace?"
"...Pardon?"
"We could've just done the Grand Archmage inauguration right here at Elterion Academy. With you."
Instead of dealing with the suffocating crowds at the palace—the first prince, second prince, chamberlains, nobles, and all that.
Right here in the academy. In this room. On the world's comfiest bed.
Chatting away, sipping tea... How perfect would that have been?
At my petulant words, Princess Celestina gave a wry smile.
"I wish we could have..."
She gazed down at her hands.
"But I'm sorely lacking. Just a royal in name only."
That was how she often described herself—a hollow shell with nothing but the Belhart name.
"I don't have the authority or the standing to officiate in His Majesty's stead."
But.
"Whaa...?"
I yawned hugely, sprawling out as I muttered.
"I haven't met every royal, but out of the ones I have, you're the best by far, Princess Celestina."
"...!"
I wasn't just talking about the first and second princes I'd seen in person.
Even in the text scrolling past on my screen.
To me, the brightest Belhart was the main heroine of Academy's Tenacious Mage: Celestina Belhart.
"R-Really?"
"Yeah. Plus, if it had to be someone, I'd rather it be you than a stranger."
Her shoulders twitched at my words.
Silence fell for a moment.
The crackling of the candle felt almost noisy in the quiet.
With my head on the pillow and my body sunk into the bed, my eyelids grew impossibly heavy.
Ah, perfect for some sweet sleep. If I closed my eyes now, I could sleep a full day straight.
Coming to her room was the right call.
As my mind began to blur.
A cool, pleasant touch brushed my forehead.
Princess Celestina was gently sweeping my bangs aside.
"...Me too."
A tiny whisper echoed at the same time.
"I wanted that too."
"...?"
"Deep down, I wanted to be the first to call you Grand Archmage."
Her voice was soft and soothing, like a lullaby.
Arke's low hum blended pleasantly with her breath on my cheek.
And just like that, as I drifted off.
A tender voice settled in my ear, even in my dreams.
"Sweet dreams, my Grand Archmage."
"Y-Your condition has improved dramatically."
The imperial physician's voice trembled faintly after the examination.
He stared in disbelief, alternating between the mana measurement artifact and Prince Calian's body.
"No, 'improved' doesn't even cover it. The mana toxins crushing your lungs and heart... they're almost completely gone."
"No wonder breathing's been easier lately."
"A m-miracle, Your Highness! This is nothing short of a miracle from the heavens... Congratulations!"
The old doctor bowed repeatedly, overcome with emotion.
Calian sat on the edge of the bed, gazing at his forearm.
The skin, pallid and lifeless just days ago, now brimmed with vitality.
Inhale... exhale...
The sharp pains that once stabbed his lungs with every deep breath were gone.
"A miracle, huh..."
Prince Calian murmured softly.
"Well, what else would you call someone who performs miracles but a Grand Archmage?"
In his mind, the girl with the world's most annoyed expression was etched like a star in the night sky.
—I didn't do much.
—Just pulled out the mana buildup in your body like waste. That's all.
The image of her treating his chronic illness and sauntering off grew sharper with time.
"If we periodically drain the accumulated mana from your body, you should be able to live normally. Right?"
"P-Pardon? Oh, yes! In theory, that's correct."
"Could the Imperial Mage Corps mages handle it?"
"Th-That's..."
The physician's face clouded with embarrassment.
"I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but that's impossible."
"Not difficult—impossible? Why?"
"Extracting accumulated mana from the body is like trying to pull natural mana from the air."
The doctor wiped the cold sweat beading on his forehead and continued.
"To put it another way, it's like trying to scoop salt back out after it's dissolved in water."
"Is it really that absurd?"
Then how did Lunaris do it?
"Interfering with natural mana is beyond human limits—it's the realm of spirits."
"..."
"If it were possible, advanced mages wouldn't spend their lives communing with spirits instead of their research."
The physician paused, then gasped as if remembering something.
"Oh! Come to think of it, I heard Lunaris Evermoon—the one just inaugurated as Grand Archmage—is the only known user of natural mana."
He nodded vigorously, convinced that made sense.
"Yes, it must be a treatment only she can perform."
Prince Calian let out a hollow chuckle at those words.
"Now I see—she's even more ridiculous than I thought."
What? No big deal? Anyone could do it?
Tell the Imperial Mages to do it regularly?
Was she telling him to make her an Imperial Mage?
"Talk about biting off more than I can chew as thanks..."
No matter how valuable the imperial treasures were.
Could they compare to a royal's life—let alone the eldest son's?
Prince Calian clenched his fist.
The strength surging through his grip was a new sensation.
He'd lived his whole life in resignation.
A life where death could come any moment.
The fear of not waking up in the morning had become routine.
So he hadn't dared to hope.
He'd abandoned any life for himself.
As the respected provisional crown prince and first prince, he'd lighten His Majesty's burdens.
Comfort his immature younger siblings even after they'd grown...
And when the time came, return quietly to nature.
Remembered as a good son and brother in his final moments.
That had been his sole goal.
—Thump, thump.
His revitalized heartbeat echoed in his ears.
With the weight lifted from his body, the desires he'd suppressed reared their head.
'I want to live.'
Greed took root.
He no longer wanted to await death—he yearned to greet tomorrow.
To experience more.
For starters... yeah. He wanted to leave the palace.
Bask in warm sunlight, not chandelier glow.
Above all.
He wanted to live for himself, not others.
Not as the emperor's proxy—but as emperor himself.
Prince Calian rose and walked to the window.
The early dawn stars outside.
They overlapped with the brilliant starry sky Lunaris had shown at the inauguration.
"Lunaris Evermoon..."
He whispered the name softly.
"I'll see you again soon."
His gaze lingered long toward distant Elterion Academy.