Chapter 413
Chapter 413
-----------------------------------------------------------------
>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 413
>Chapter Title: If There Is a Flower That Doesn't Fade
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
The Imperial Family had intervened.
Aster couldn't hide his bewilderment at this unexpected turn.
"……This quickly?"
"There are a few reasons, but…… the biggest one has to be this, I imagine."
The Grand Princess said as she slid a newsletter from one corner of the table toward him.
"Rocatiem publication?"
Rocatiem was the mage community run primarily by the empire's wizards.
Its publications covered all the major and minor news in mage society, which left Aster puzzled.
"Why is this?"
"Take a look."
"……?"
Aster opened it without further questions. When he read the front page, it hit him like a blow to the head with a club—he couldn't shake off the shock.
And for good reason……
- Decullan's Patriarch, Pahren von Decullan
- "I will challenge the Sanctuary."
- Will the youngest Arc Mage rise?
Pahren was challenging the Sanctuary.
What did that mean?
'……The strongest in history.'
It meant he was going for that title.
"From the Imperial Family's perspective, they can't just sit idly by on such rumors. Ending the war with Urbona in haste must be for that reason."
Decullan had already been flaunting its power without restraint.
Now, their patriarch was ascending to the rank of Arc Mage? It could shake the very throne.
The empire had no choice but to be thrown into disarray—and Aster felt much the same.
'……Pahren to the Sanctuary?'
Did that even make sense?
Let's think about it.
In the original history, Pahren claiming the title of Arc Mage was supposed to happen over a decade from now.
Even then, it was only possible because of the secret art known as the Heavenly Origin Art.
But.
'The Heavenly Origin Art hasn't leaked out.'
That much was certain.
There was no way Parun would have leaked the Heavenly Origin Art, and Henji had no reason to either.
So how in the world……
Was history's flow impossible to resist? Or maybe he'd been wrong from the start.
What if Pahren rising to the ranks of history's strongest wasn't thanks to the Heavenly Origin Art? What if he'd always had the talent to reach that height?
……Unanswered questions piled up one after another.
It was that shocking a piece of news—and just then, the Grand Princess's voice reached him.
"……You alright?"
"Huh?"
"Your face looks awful. ……Ah, right. You have some bad blood with Decullan, don't you."
Right. That was true.
- If it's just one 'prestigious magic house'…… there's no fixed one, you know?
- ……?
- Then mind if I make a recommendation? There's this pack of real bastards called Decullan……
It was what Aster had suggested back in the Great Forest when talk turned to wiping out a magic house.
He didn't know the full details of the circumstances, but the emotion in those eyes was far from shallow. It was on par with…… whatever bad blood lay between him and the Urbona family.
"If it's too much, we can talk about Otto later. For now, you should collect yourself……"
"No, it's fine."
The Grand Princess showed consideration for Aster's situation, but he turned it down.
……Pahren challenging the Sanctuary. It was undoubtedly shocking news. But what mattered was the outcome.
'The results aren't out yet.'
Which meant he had to do what needed doing.
* * *
After his conversation with the Grand Princess wrapped up,
Aster returned to his assigned barracks and unpacked.
In the end, they'd decided to postpone settling the Otto matter until after talks with Urbona's former patriarch.
- Separately from expressing surrender…… he requested a private meeting with you.
- With me?
- Yeah. He might know it already. That peace doesn't wipe the slate clean on old grudges.
It wasn't a bad situation.
'Dealing with Otto was always going to be messy anyway.'
Without the Imperial Family's mediation, the surrender could've been ignored, but with them stepping in, taking out Otto carried too much baggage.
Of course, he didn't think a simple chat would resolve everything.
But……
'……I'll worry about that when the time comes.'
Honestly, just Pahren's Sanctuary challenge was enough to complicate things.
Just how far had Pahren advanced? Had he fully regained his previous life's realm?
The details would only come after the Sanctuary results, but either way, it wasn't good.
"If things go wrong…… they could sweep everything away."
It wasn't hyperbole.
Even in his previous life, after Pahren became an Arc Mage, Decullan wielded unchecked influence.
The Imperial Family couldn't touch their power, and the other great houses cowered.
'……Even after that showdown with Blandoga left them greatly weakened.'
And now, with Decullan's power relatively intact, what would happen if Pahren became an Arc Mage?
Not good.
Not good at all……
"Heard some pretty interesting news…… what's with that face?"
Shine, who'd come to the barracks after hearing about Pahren's Sanctuary challenge, startled at the sight of Aster.
He'd half-expected the sly bastard to be moping……
"Ah, you're here?"
"Have you finally lost your mind?"
"What kind of harsh thing is that to……"
That aside.
Was his expression that weird?
Aster brushed his mouth for a moment. Yeah, his lips were pulled up to his ears—enough to unsettle even himself.
"What is it now? What's that scheming brain of yours cooking up?"
"Oh, nothing much……"
Honestly, the news of Pahren challenging the Sanctuary had been a shock.
In a way, all the frantic efforts over the past while to keep the Heavenly Origin Art from him had gone to waste.
But let's think about it.
'It wasn't for nothing.'
This was just Pahren being exceptional.
What if they had handed over the Heavenly Origin Art?
'It would've been a bigger disaster.'
So, it wasn't the 'worst' outcome.
There was still plenty of room for optimism. If not now, when?
"Look, look. Pahren actually becomes an Arc Mage, right? How do you think the other great houses will see it?"
"They'd…… be pretty pissed, wouldn't they?"
"Exactly."
No need to look far—Lortel was a prime example.
If Decullan was the top magic house, Lortel was the top sword house.
No way they'd welcome Pahren's Arc Mage title.
And that sentiment wasn't limited to Lortel. Blandoga, Dinai, all the premier magic houses—not to mention houses like Doranpega—would be on high alert at Pahren's moves.
Naturally, it wouldn't end at mere 'watching'.
"Decullan's influence growing means their own positions shrinking. Of course there'll be pushback. In that sense, Pahren's Sanctuary challenge is actually a bigger loss for them."
"You're not wrong. But there's something you're overlooking."
"I'm overlooking something?"
"Yeah. Think with that sly head of yours. Do you really think they'll only lose out? Far from it. Decullan will scoff at such petty checks—they'll grab so much more."
Arc Mage.
It wasn't just the prestige.
As the title all mages revered, every mage would scramble to align with Decullan.
And that was just the start.
"Those dissatisfied with the current regime will flock to Decullan. Anti-emperor factions, enemies of every great house—they could all band under Decullan."
More enemies meant more allies. Maybe even more allies than enemies.
In that scenario, pushback from the Imperial Family and other houses was trivial.
And above all.
"All forces aligning with Decullan have a rock-solid anchor in 'Decullan.' But what about the opposition?"
Right. That was the decisive difference.
A focal point.
Decullan's forces united under the Decullan name. The opposition? Not so much.
One ship, too many captains.
In that light, Shine almost pitied Aster's positive attitude.
'How badly does he want to escape reality…… tsk.'
Not that he couldn't understand.
Who wouldn't?
Power, military might—they already couldn't match Decullan in anything, and now the gap was heavens apart.
Power, of course…… and.
'……Military might.'
That too.
To Shine, who'd reached Sword Master realm, the gulf between an 'Arc Mage' and an ordinary grand mage was one that could never be bridged.
So…… yeah.
Overstating it a bit, it was like the gap between a transcendent and one knocking on transcendence's door.
Thus.
"You sly little shit, it's okay to admit when it's tough. If you wanna cry, cry. If your heart's breaking, wail."
Shine looked at Aster with pity and offered comfort. He'd come to mock him, but Aster's absurd optimism stirred his compassion.
Not that it was pure pity, though.
"Cry it out, then say just one thing."
"……?"
" 'Oh most dignified and great Shine, please aid this lowly, worthless worm. If you command it, I shall follow, crying 'sly' all the way.' "
"……"
Aster fell silent.
Shine looked down at him, chin raised high. Chest puffed out like a gorilla chieftain. His condescending gaze was the picture of arrogance.
"Ahem. Go on."
"……"
"Know what? Make me happy, and I might even cut down that Pahren or whatever for you."
Aster stared at him quietly, then thought.
"They said this year'd be a bumper crop……"
Bullshit it was.
Sure, he could understand the cockiness.
'What? He thinks he's a Sword Master?'
Yeah, whether he really was or not, carving up an Oukan-level warrior was worth bragging about. And he even had a magic sword!
But contrary to Shine's expectations, Aster wasn't running some baseless positive loop.
"What if they get a focal point too?"
"……?"
"Ah, I mean. What if the anti-Decullan side gets its own focal point? Something that can unite all the great houses and the Imperial Family."
"You think that'll happen?"
Absurd.
A focal point meant encompassing everyone…… those prideful great houses yielding leadership to another family?
"Think about it. How many great houses do you need to check Decullan?"
"Well……"
If they could unite properly, they wouldn't need every house.
Just……
"I'm guessing five would give enough influence."
"Then, let's see."
Aster folded fingers one by one, ticking off names.
"Blandoga."
One.
"Lortel."
Two.
"Muspellun Grand Duke."
"That's not a great house……"
"Whatever. Third Imperial Princess."
Aster stopped there, middle finger raised, grinning at Shine.
"Already four?"
"……"
Shine realized it then.
Why that sly bastard could smile so brightly.
That was it.
'……A cause! It's the cause!'
Pahren's Sanctuary challenge was a cause.
A free pass to rally the influence he'd only drawn limitedly from allies before……
"How about it?"
"You think it'll be that easy……"
"Not easy, no. But justice has always been like that. Tough and grueling. So what matters is the heart."
What heart?
"The unyielding heart."
If there was a flower that didn't fade amid harsh trials and adversity, its name was surely 'justice.'
Aster believed that without a doubt.
It was a heart that cradled moonlight.