Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: The Magic Realm (1)
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"Will you be okay?"
The Welton Count expressed his concern with a worried face.
Jamie nodded as vigorously as possible, putting on a brave front.
"Of course I'll be fine. After all, whose son am I?"
The Count chuckled and ruffled Jamie's hair.
He knew it was just words meant to ease his worries.
Though more mature than his age, Jamie was still a boy who had just turned eight.
The Magic Realm was a place where his family's influence held little sway.
Of course, simply being the Welton family's heir would bring many benefits, but could he truly avoid being swept up in that repulsive political arena?
And Jamie, who had never been separated from his parents for an extended period, might sob every night from loneliness...
'Nah, probably not.'
Even the Count couldn't imagine his son crying.
In fact, he doubted Jamie would feel lonely at all.
And just as he thought, Jamie's words weren't meant to reassure the Count. What was there to worry about, really?
'It's all just places where people live, anyway.'
Even if it wasn't, it didn't matter.
The Pavilion of Omniscience.
If he could use that, nothing else mattered.
And he felt a slight thrill at the fact that he could finally step away from the family.
'There were too many restrictions here.'
The Magic Realm would surely have its own constraints on black sorcery, but at least his body would be free, right?
Being apart from his parents for so long was a bit upsetting, though.
'Jackpot.'
Jamie burst into mad laughter inwardly while maintaining an innocent, childlike smile on the outside.
The Count couldn't help but chuckle at his son's smile.
'Yeah. What do I have to worry about with my own son?'
He still didn't want to send Jamie away, but as a mage, he would learn much in the Magic Realm.
Especially the Pavilion of Omniscience.
'It's the dream of every mage.'
The Pavilion of Omniscience, said to contain all knowledge, was rumored to advance one's realm just by using it.
What would happen if someone with transcendent talent like Jamie used it?
'Parents shouldn't stand in the way of that.'
Jamie would become a grand archmage.
So thinking he couldn't use it was pointless.
"If anything happens, you must contact your father right away."
"I'm not leaving just yet. Why worry so much already?"
"Kid. When you become a father yourself someday... No. What am I saying to a child?"
"Yeah. What are you saying to a child?"
Sears, who had been listening quietly from the side, lightly swatted the Count's arm. She turned to Jamie and said,
"It's all because your dad's worried about our son. You know that, right?"
"Of course."
"But Mom believes our son will do just fine."
How unusual.
Jamie widened his eyes and looked at Sears.
Honestly, when he decided to go to the Magic Realm, he thought she'd oppose it more than the Welton Count.
But surprisingly, Sears accepted it calmly and was even encouraging Jamie.
Had the Count and Sears swapped souls or something?
Of course not.
"So, how many days will you be gone? A week? Half a month? It's a long way to the Magic Realm, so maybe a month?"
His mother, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
The Count and Jamie exchanged glances and nodded.
'I'll talk to Dad later.'
'Leave it to me, Father.'
They communicated through their eyes.
After finishing dinner, Jamie strolled alone through the Welton estate's garden.
Normally, he'd head straight up to his room in Gremia for personal training, but the reason for the walk was simple.
"Well, I'll be. Never thought I'd get this kind of consideration from a child."
A presence suddenly appeared behind him, followed by a familiar voice.
Turning around, there stood Siegfried with his arms crossed.
'Damn, this guy's ridiculously handsome.'
He had looked into Siegfried beforehand.
A grand archmage from slave origins.
Yet for a slave, he was strikingly noble-looking. His dazzling platinum hair and flawless white skin could pass for nobility based on looks alone.
Anyway, the reason Jamie was taking this unplanned stroll was to have a private moment with Siegfried.
Inside the house, he'd be conscious of the Count's presence.
Especially on Siegfried's side.
"It's not exactly consideration."
With that, Jamie examined Siegfried's inner workings this time.
He hadn't had the chance earlier, distracted by talk of the Pavilion of Omniscience.
'Impressive.'
He possessed aptitude worthy of being called the greatest genius before Jamie.
And it wasn't even fully formed yet.
The pathways circulating through Siegfried's body and his heart, the mana core, were specialized entirely for manifesting magic.
And he didn't have just one mana core.
'He made additional ones in his lungs and below his navel.'
The lungs were organs for directly breathing in mana, and the area below the navel was another spot where mana accumulated exceptionally well, almost like the heart.
But both were less efficient than the heart, so most mages only made a core there.
But that changed if one could make multiple cores.
'Two is impressive enough, but three...'
What was astonishing was that he was attempting to create yet another mana core.
'Talent that would stand out even in my past life.'
Even during his time as Diablo Volpir, mages with Siegfried's level of talent were rare.
"You're getting pierced through, huh?"
Siegfried said awkwardly to Jamie, who was intently observing his inner body.
"Ah, sorry. It's just more impressive than I thought."
"...First time anyone's said it's 'more impressive than thought' to me."
Everyone else was too busy being shocked.
Not Jamie.
To him, Siegfried was impressive, but not spine-chillingly so.
"Was that rude?"
"Not at all. It's refreshing, actually."
"Good, then. So, what's up?"
"Nothing much. I just wanted some time alone with you."
Siegfried said with his characteristic smile.
And Jamie interpreted those words a bit... twisted.
"...No way?"
Jamie took a suspicious step back.
At that, Siegfried blinked, then panicked and waved his hands frantically.
"Not like that! Don't misunderstand!"
"Really?"
"I know I'm a madman, but I swear I don't have even the slightest hobby of touching kids."
He pressed his index finger and thumb together and held them out.
Emphasizing his complete lack of interest.
Jamie chuckled at the reaction.
"Just kidding."
"...Get teased twice, and I might lose my mind."
Siegfried shook both hands downward in surrender.
True to his youth, he lacked the authoritative air typical of grand archmages. Jamie had expected some inferiority complex from his lowly birth.
"Actually, the reason I came here isn't just to recruit you to the Magic Realm. That was secondary; there was a bigger reason."
"Bigger reason?"
"To meet the greatest genius in the continent—maybe in history."
"And? What's your impression?"
Jamie asked arrogantly, yet not entirely arrogantly, in tone and expression.
Siegfried gladly answered.
"Well-deserved reputation."
From the moment he first saw him, Siegfried had been observing Jamie Welton's internals.
'Unbelievable.'
He'd heard the rumor that Jamie had entered 6th class.
He thought it exaggerated—maybe 5th class at best.
Even 5th class was generous.
A seven-year-old 5th class mage? A realm some never reached in a lifetime.
Siegfried had achieved high realms young too, but fifteen and seven were worlds apart.
'But it's true.'
Jamie Welton was a 6th class mage.
Not a fresh initiate, but one with accumulated experience.
And his mana?
'Dazzling to the point of blindness.'
The mana filling his entire body was so brilliant it made one question if it was the same mana.
And his whole body was structured like a single core.
'Similar to Marquis Linmel.'
But superior.
He knew a bit about Marquis Linmel's breathing method.
Not the details, as it was his secret, but he thought it impressive.
'He said he met Marquis Linmel—did the marquis teach it to him then?'
Possible, but if it was even more superior, Jamie must have refined it himself.
Unreasonable for an eight-year-old boy.
Only now did Siegfried understand the gazes past geniuses had given him.
"It's wondrous. Yes, utterly wondrous."
"Thank you for the praise."
Though lavished with praise right in front of him, Jamie calmly expressed gratitude.
Truly not childlike.
"So, what's the Magic Realm like?"
"I'll give you exactly the answer the young master wants."
"The unvarnished truth. That's what I want to hear."
Jamie's voice was low and steady as he smiled.
Satisfied, Siegfried relayed what he'd told the Count earlier.
"...So currently, three factions divide the Magic Realm."
"And the 7th Elder doesn't tangle with them?"
"They don't let him in, and he has no desire to join. Freedom is best, isn't it?"
Jamie partly agreed.
The Magic Realm was stagnant now. And stagnant waters bred rot. It might already be rotten.
The Magic Realm's history mirrored Seldam Kingdom's.
Born the day the kingdom was, a colossal organization spanning 500 years.
No way it kept its original spirit.
No wonder the Welton Count despised it.
As Jamie's expression darkened slightly, Siegfried mistook it for fear.
"Scared?"
"Pardon?"
"Because vicious adults won't leave the young master alone."
Mature for his age, but still an eight-year-old kid. Temptations no child could resist would come.
Could he overcome them?
Setting aside his wondrous talent, Jamie lacked experience.
The Magic Realm's old monsters would try anything to recruit him.
'Unlike me, he's much younger, so they'll think him naive.'
Plus, he had aptitude for 9th class, unprecedented in human history.
If they pulled a child with such aptitude to their side?
Not to put it crudely, the other two factions couldn't properly counter it.
Under the pretext of raising him into a greater mage.
Not for faction wars, of course!
Forced logic, but his age made it possible.
And if Jamie truly reached 9th class later...
'The power balance would collapse.'
Siegfried thought he'd like to see that once.
But he was completely wrong.
"Lots of people approaching me sounds good, doesn't it?"
"...What do you mean?"
"If they seek me out, they'll offer commensurate rewards. If the deal's good, I'll accept. Win-win, right?"
Short words, but they let Siegfried glimpse the child named Jamie.
'This kid...'
Jamie continued, seeing Siegfried's hardened face.
"If they need something, they should offer accordingly. Surely the Magic Realm's esteemed figures wouldn't advise me to take a loss?"
Siegfried burst into laughter at that.
The Magic Realm's elders might need to brace themselves.
Jamie Welton...
'This kid's already a monster.'
Siegfried thought, gazing into eyes that seemed to shimmer violet for a moment.