Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: Duke Wendinel's Request
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That evening, after we'd thrown a fit over using the magic circle.
Once the sun had set, Duke Darius von Wendinel summoned me.
"The reason I requested cooperation from the Carviot Count's family is simple. In this continent full of fools, your house is the most steadfast and reliable one out there."
"……."
Was that a compliment? Or an insult?
"…I'm afraid I don't quite follow, Your Grace. Aren't you from the Wendinel Duke's family of Fran Kingdom, the nation more advanced in magic than any other? What reason could there be for seeking assistance from unlearned knights like us?"
Why would the mighty Wendinel Duke's family, basking in their own glory, request help from a bunch of brutish knights?
"Tch. Didn't peg you for a guy with lingering grudges."
The duke lightly wrinkled the bridge of his nose.
"No, I'm genuinely curious. What's the problem with just traveling to Philador Kingdom that requires requesting cooperation?"
Sure, I was a bit prickly because I didn't like them much, but it was a real question.
Mages were vulnerable to close-range attacks, so hiring mercenaries for protection during travel was common practice.
I could see it as just part of that for the Wendinel Duke's family.
But not them, of all people.
The Wendinel Duke's family had reigned as the absolute authority on magic within the alliance for over a century.
There was no way they lacked combat manuals for dealing with knights or mercenaries.
For them to fear a simple journey to Philador Kingdom and ask our family for protection?
Impossible.
"……."
The duke frowned at my question.
As if he hated even putting it into words.
A reason that's hard to talk about?
I waited without pressing him. After all, the story would've reached my father the moment they sent the letter requesting cooperation.
Yet Father hadn't mentioned it, which meant he wanted me to hear the circumstances directly from Duke Wendinel before acting.
"…Tch! It's not a pleasant story, but the Holy Empire might target my daughter."
"The Holy Empire?"
It was odd. In my past life, Aria von Wendinel had defected to the empire only after Fran Kingdom was trampled under their boots.
"To be precise, it was a request for cooperation."
The duke opened a drawer and handed me a letter.
The sender was the last person I expected.
"…Ivarella von Hekaron?"
Why was the Holy Empire's Third Princess popping up here?
I looked at the duke in bewilderment, and he silently nodded toward the letter.
With his permission, I began reading it slowly.
The contents were straightforward.
They wished to invite Aria von Wendinel—who excelled in both magitech engineering and flame magic—to the imperial capital, Vatican, for magical consultation.
Is this connected to that dwarf incident?
On the way back to Banten after rescuing Millia, there was that dwarf and ogre sent by the empire.
The dwarf had used flames similar to those of Viscount Wendinel, the Crimson Flame Magus from the past.
A request from the empire for Aria von Wendinel's magical cooperation—something that never happened before…
And the sender was that mad Third Princess, Ivarella.
None of this felt coincidental.
"…So, did you accept this request?"
Once I'd gathered my thoughts, I asked again. The duke took a sip of his prepared black tea, set the cup down, and spoke.
Clink!
"Have you lost your mind? Even if it's from within the alliance, I'd tell them to shove their nonsense. No way I'd send my precious daughter to lunatics whose brains are pickled in faith."
…Not something folks whose own brains were pickled in magic should say.
Still, even for a minor power like the Five Nations Alliance, they wouldn't send the pampered jewel of one of its most vital houses.
"…But those madmen won't back down so easily. They'll surely try to kidnap my daughter."
Plenty possible.
The duke's worries weren't overblown.
Ivarella would move heaven and earth—even dispatch an entire Holy Knight Order—to get what she wanted.
"So, escort my daughter safely to Philador, then return with her."
…It was the mission, so of course I'd do it. But this guy was weirdly imperious despite asking me to protect his daughter.
"This matter is crucial not just for our family or you, but for the entire alliance. It can't fail. That's why I sought the Shield Family's aid."
"……?"
Something felt off in the duke's words.
"Why is escorting Your Grace's lady such a vital task for the alliance?"
The duke answered as if it were obvious.
"Because my daughter is a genius."
…Aria von Wendinel was a genius, sure. But that seemed a bit much.
Just an overprotective doting dad?
As I finished that thought and turned to leave, an unexpected remark slipped from the duke's lips.
"She's the only key to creating a weapon that can neutralize great magic armor."
"I see, to neutralize great magic armor… Wait, what?"
The duke seemed surprised that I knew about great magic armor, reacting as if it were unexpected.
"You know about great magic armor? Thought you were just a wild fool. Turns out the Carviot Count favors you quite a bit."
Surprisingly, Duke Wendinel had accurately predicted the great magic armor—the trigger for Fran Kingdom's fall in my past life.
Makes sense; even in a magic-obsessed nation, he stood at its pinnacle.
It was natural he'd know Fran Kingdom's vulnerabilities.
"Our enemies aren't complete idiots. Even they'd figure out that invading our kingdom requires special equipment."
Unfortunately, those "not complete idiots" had been the alliance nations in the past. I swallowed a bitter smile and asked back.
"If it's that important, why not research it yourself, Your Grace? You've invented countless devices."
As if anticipating my doubt, the duke shook his head.
"Think I haven't? Of course I have. But it's beyond my capabilities."
The continent's top magitech expert, Duke Wendinel, couldn't crack great magic armor?
"Creating great magic armor is hard enough, but neutralizing it is even tougher. Making it just means enhancing dispel effects. But to break one that's already built? You need formulas that nullify dispel against all magic."
I knew it wouldn't be simple, but Duke Wendinel was hailed as the continent's greatest genius in magitech.
Yet even he declared it impossible.
"To shatter an anti-magic artifact, raw genius isn't enough. You need a monster that plays with mana like it's a toy."
I could feel the duke's pride in calling himself a genius, and the sheer wall blocking a counter to great magic armor.
"That child is a monster. For the alliance's sake, she absolutely cannot be kidnapped."
"Then just send someone else. Why risk Your Grace's own daughter?"
If Aria von Wendinel's talent was truly that immense, she shouldn't be let out at all.
"A lion pushes its cub off a cliff. You saw it yourself earlier."
The duke turned his gaze to the window. It fixed on a lab in the adjacent building.
At the end of his line of sight: Aria von Wendinel, engrossed in her research.
"She truly believes magic is supreme and knights are useless. No progress like that."
"Then…?"
"It's not that she can't find a way. She won't."
Suddenly, Viscount Wendinel's dead eyes from my past life came to mind.
Regret, despair, resignation—all crammed in.
Were those emotions born from his own mistakes?
"So teach her. The despair when magic becomes useless."
"Haa. Why the hell do I have to do this annoying clown act?"
Aria von Wendinel was in a foul mood.
Magic was a profoundly deep discipline. Though her life had been short so far, it was what she'd devoted it to.
Even with her realizations, she discovered new truths every day.
Since learning to speak and read, Aria had been utterly immersed in magical studies.
Lately, she'd been researching a new theory: manifesting magic through 'will.' She was seeing initial results at a crucial stage.
Yet her father had suddenly nominated her for some ridiculous play in an official letter.
Fine, it was a request in the alliance's name. And from another alliance nation, suppressing a rebellion no less.
She could understand up to there.
But.
Why on earth did she have to travel with some illiterate knight who didn't know the first thing about decorum?
"If only Princess Seira were coming along."
A fellow genius mage of continental renown—they could've delved into deep theories, sparking new ideas.
Regrettably, her companion was the third son of the Carviot Count's family.
A man with zero experience in magic.
A waste of time. No different from trash tossed by the roadside.
Knock, knock.
As she stewed alone, time marched on mercilessly. The maid outside announced it was time.
"Um… Miss. It's the time the duke mentioned."
"Haa… Be right there."
Packing her things, Aria tried to calm herself.
"Right. Magic can be studied anywhere."
The night before, after talking with Duke Wendinel, I'd resolved to accommodate Aria von Wendinel as much as possible.
He'd said to be harsh, but what parent wants that?
Besides, her role for the alliance exceeded my expectations, so protecting her was top priority.
"……."
"……."
But when Aria appeared at departure time, I was speechless.
"What're you staring at? Let's go. You're the one who said no time to waste."
"…You're traveling like that?"
"Yes. Problem?"
Problems aplenty, obviously.
Her light attire was fine for the distance and weather to Philador.
The issue was the massive bundle on her back.
Whatever she'd packed, it was bigger than she was.
Might as well advertise 'I'm here' to the whole empire.
I wanted to say it, but…
"…Take it back and stow it now. We can't move with that much luggage."
"This is why knights are so dense. It's lightweight magic—feels like nothing. I won't make you carry it, so butt out."
Aria declared it lightly with full confidence.
"Weight's not the point. How do you plan to go anywhere dressed so conspicuously? Wait, you look like you're off to a picnic!"
"I can't leave it! Do you know what these materials are?!"
Crack!
A vein throbbed on my forehead as she shrieked.
…Patience. Remember Duke Wendinel's words.
Last night, hearing his final plea.
He'd asked me to teach her the despair of powerless magic.
Staring into Aria's tantrum-filled eyes, I silently vowed to the absent duke.
"I'll make sure that request succeeds."
"Hey! Are you listening?! I have to take this!"
My resolve cracked bit by bit under her yelling.
Duke Wendinel must've anticipated this—he hadn't even shown up as his daughter left the territory.
This guy knew it'd turn out like this.
Not just avoiding her screams, surely.
It meant he'd overlook whatever it took to get her going.
No, it had to be.
Guessing the duke's intent, I glanced at Miron.
He nodded shortly in agreement and approached Aria.
"Forgive my rudeness, Lady Wendinel."
Flash!
"Wh-what are you doing?! Put it down right now!"
Aria shouted, but Miron ignored her and headed outside the gates.
"You have to take that!"
"Ah."
She perked up at my reaction, like I'd forgotten.
Thwack!
"!!!!"
Maybe because of the lightweight magic.
"Whoa. Flying nicely."
My kick sent Aria's bundle soaring far, far away.