Chapter 5
Chapter 5
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Teheran Julius's Legacy
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Why the long face?"
Arthur tilted his head.
Millerph stared at the brightly shining blood-red light for a long while.
Once it faded, he turned to Arthur.
"What in the world happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"You possess the blood of the Julius Count Family...!"
Lightning flashed through Millerph's mind, bringing back something he'd long forgotten.
Red signified the destiny to become emperor.
But Arthur's went beyond that, a deep crimson blood hue.
That blood color meant "domination"—the "Tyrant Emperor."
In the history of the Oscar Empire, only two people had borne the light of the Tyrant Emperor.
One was Golden Barotas, the emperor who unified five empires into the current Oscar Empire.
And the other...
Seeing Millerph's face grow grave, Arthur wondered if something was wrong.
'What's gotten into him?'
He waited silently for the mage to speak.
After a few minutes passed.
Millerph finally spoke, his voice heavy.
"Young Master, have you ever thought about becoming king?"
"What's that out of the blue?"
Arthur furrowed his brow.
"What kind of life do you want?"
Faced with Millerph's serious expression, Arthur pondered for a moment. Then he pointed toward the children playing freely in the meadow.
"I want to stand here without a care in the world, watch that scene, and whenever I feel like doing something, just go do it. Live like that."
"That's all?"
"Were you expecting some grand answer?"
"Given your innate disposition..."
"King? That doesn't suit me."
"Hmm..."
He'd heard from Medlin and Skevin about Arthur's change, and he'd confirmed it himself.
Plus, given the nature of his disposition, even if Arthur claimed he'd become king, it would have felt natural.
Just as Millerph was about to voice his thoughts, Arthur cut in.
"But it won't go the way I want. The world won't leave me be."
"......?"
"I'll sweep away anyone who gets in my way. Then I can watch that scene in peace, just like now, right?"
"But wars will keep coming."
"That's fine. Just enjoying it for a while satisfies me. When troublemakers show up, I'll sweep them away again and savor it anew."
Millerph swallowed hard and asked gravely.
"It doesn't matter who it is?"
"Anyone who interferes with me won't be spared."
"Even if it's someone with absolute power—like the emperor of the empire?"
Arthur snorted.
"Even a 'god' couldn't touch me."
He turned and continued.
"Enough pointless questions. Teach me the mana training method."
Millerph watched his back with a complex, subtle gaze.
A person with the same blood-red disposition as Golden Barotas Emperor.
Teheran Julius!
He must have inherited that man's disposition.
The prodigal image had been so strong until now that it was hard to recognize.
Or perhaps it had only just awakened.
Just from their brief exchange, his heart was racing.
Millerph looked up at the sky.
'Master, finally...'
***
"Here it is."
"It's a tomb."
"All of them are the family heads of the Julius Count Family. That one there is Malcolm Julius's grave."
"I see."
Descending into the castle basement, Arthur walked past the tombs with Millerph, heading to the innermost one.
A massive golden coffin appeared.
Dragon sculptures at each corner glared with eyes wide open in fury.
Like the Four Heavenly Kings at a temple gate, they seemed to guard the coffin.
"Who is it?"
"Count Teheran Julius."
"The one who led the count family to its golden age."
That explained why it felt far more grand and special than the others.
"But you said you'd teach me the mana training method. Why bring me here?"
"If you climb onto the dais, you'll see a handprint in the center of the coffin."
Arthur followed Millerph's instructions, stepping up and looking at the coffin's center.
Just as he'd said, there was a hand-shaped indentation.
"I just place my hand here?"
"Yes. Even if it hurts, you must endure. Don't lift your hand from the coffin or scream. If you hold out, the mana training method will enter your mind."
"The mana training method?"
"You were born with the same disposition as Lord Teheran Julius, so you can inherit his training method."
"He had the blood-red color too?"
"Yes."
Millerph stepped far back from the coffin.
Arthur felt a quiet thrill at sharing the disposition of the Julius Count Family's hero.
His lips curved up at the thought of gaining some special power.
"Exciting."
He placed his hand on the print.
Instantly, it stuck fast to the coffin, as if being sucked inside.
'What the—?'
Arthur tensed his hand to resist.
But a stronger pull yanked at it, and suddenly, pain exploded as if every bone in his body was shattering.
He clenched his teeth, remembering he couldn't scream.
"Ugh..."
The excruciating pain of bones splintering gave way to veins swelling like they might burst all over his body.
Arthur screamed inwardly.
'Aaaargh!'
-Who are you?
A deep voice boomed in his mind.
Arthur grimaced and replied in his thoughts.
'Wh-who...?'
-I am Teheran Julius.
'......!'
Arthur's eyes widened.
'Is this... magic?'
-A message I left for my descendant.
As the voice finished, the pain vanished like a lie.
"Hoo—"
Arthur exhaled a long breath, as if reborn from death.
-To inherit the legacy I left, you must overcome the trial. You just passed it.
Arthur shook his head fiercely to clear the lingering pain. Then he glared sharply at the coffin.
'You mean the pain I just endured.'
-Heir to my blood, what do you wish to become?
The grandiose question, promising to grant anything, made Arthur pause in thought.
Until now, he'd only sought strength to survive—no real dreams beyond wanting to be a soldier as a kid.
But to live as he wished here, he needed absolute power.
Only then could no one interfere.
Arthur nodded, resolved.
'I want to become the absolute. To hold power rivaling the 'gods.''
-Grandiose. But the answer I hoped for.
'Can I get the mana training method now?'
-It has already been passed to you.
'......?'
As Arthur tilted his head, a foreign sensation stirred within him.
Faint, but this must be what they called 'mana.'
It surged from his heart, flowed down below his chest, swept through his organs to his toes, shot up to his crown, then returned to his heart.
'......!'
Power suddenly overflowed.
-You just achieved the 1st circle. As you grow stronger, your body will change. When you reach the 4th, come find me. I will grant absolute strength.
'Impressive.'
-Farewell, descendant. Until we meet again.
With those words, the unknown pressure lifted.
The pull on his hand vanished too.
Arthur pulled free and examined his palm.
A dragon imprint glowed there briefly before fading.
Mystery upon mystery.
And after the mana swept through him once, power brimmed over. It wrapped his body firmly, like wearing sturdy armor.
'If the 1st circle is this much...'
Arthur's lips curled into a grin.
Millerph approached with an expectant face.
"How was your conversation with him?"
"Not bad."
As Arthur stepped down from the dais, he continued.
"How strong was Teheran Julius?"
"You look very curious."
"After receiving the mana training method, I am."
"He's said to have reached the 8th circle."
"The 8th..."
"Cultivate your mana to form the 1st circle, and you'll get an idea of his strength."
"A true hero, worthy of the name."
"What do you mean...?"
"The power from the 1st circle is already this much. Imagine the 8th."
"You mean... no way?"
Arthur nodded silently.
"H-how is that possible!"
Millerph was stunned.
Gaining the mana training method was just the start. To practice it, one needed a framework to hold mana.
That framework was the 'circle,' earned through relentless effort.
It was known to take at least a year to form the first one.
Yet he'd formed the 1st circle instantly upon receiving the method. Unbelievable.
"May I see your palm?"
"Here."
Arthur opened the hand he'd placed on the coffin.
Millerph placed his staff on it and murmured a rune incantation.
The staff's head glowed brightly, illuminating Arthur's palm.
The vanished dragon seal reappeared.
The mark that formed upon creating a circle.
"A 'circle' for real..."
The dragon seal turned three-dimensional, moving like a living thing. It spread its wings wide, shining intensely gold.
At the same time, that light pierced Millerph's mind.
-Descendant of Mardo! Do not forget your mission.
"Gasp!"
Millerph's eyes shook violently.
Mentioning his master's name and mission...
It had to be Teheran.
"Ah..."
He'd foreseen a successor and prepared everything.
Truly astonishing and profound.
Millerph dispelled the spell and lowered his staff.
Calming his pounding heart, he looked at Arthur and bowed deeply.
Arthur frowned slightly.
"What's this all of a sudden?"
"The successor of the World Tree and disciple of Mardo, Millerph, pledges to serve Arthur Julius."
"No thanks."
"......!"
Millerph looked shocked.
He was a 6th-class mage, no less.
He'd rejected even the emperor's courtship to stay here, honoring his master's dying wish: "Protect the Julius Count Family."
He'd upheld it, but the family had no one worth serving.
His heart had always wandered elsewhere.
The recent incident could have been prevented if he'd paid more attention.
But now was different.
Someone born with the Tyrant Emperor's disposition stood before him.
He was more than worthy as a liege. And he could fulfill his master's unachieved dream.
"Why not?"
"I don't need loyalty bound by contracts."
"Why say that so suddenly..."
"I'll prove myself with my abilities. So I have no intention of taking in someone who lounges around the castle, freeloading off meals."
Arthur walked out without a backward glance.
Millerph stood dazed for a moment, then a smile crept onto his lips.
'I'd better start earning my keep first.'