Chapter 185
Chapter 185
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 185
Chapter Title: 64: Family (3)
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Luke opened his mouth.
"The reason I wanted to see you, Jamie, is because I wanted to talk a bit about factions."
"By factions, you mean... the three major powers in the magic world, right?"
"That's right."
"Are you trying to recruit me into Equality?"
Luke's eyes widened at Jamie's blunt question. He hadn't expected it to be asked so directly.
Adelhart also clicked her tongue as she watched Jamie.
"The kid's got a sharp tongue, huh?"
"Isn't that exactly it?"
"Hmm. Not entirely wrong."
Luke stroked his chin beard and shook his head with a good-natured smile.
"I didn't think you'd join our side."
"Why do you think that?"
"For starters, your background is the biggest reason. You're not just some mid-tier noble from a rural estate—you're the eldest son of the Welton family, one of the two pillars of the eastern nobility. It's hard to imagine you joining us."
"Because Equality is an organization made up of commoners?"
"Exactly. In the end, what we want is to ease class differences."
Luke avoided using the word "equality."
In a class society with strong royal authority, nothing was as ridiculous as the word "equality."
However, Equality was a faction formed by those who wished for at least some degree of equality.
The current world was no exaggeration to say it was dominated by royalty and nobles. Even though commoners made up the majority of the population, they were bound by class and exploited.
Equality sought to break that reality, even if just a little, and they had risen to a position where they could do so.
In fact, among the three major factions in the magic world, Equality was the largest in scale.
"But aren't you, the 5th Elder, from nobility yourself?"
Luke laughed in response.
"More precisely, a fallen noble. And since we fell when I was six, it's a bit funny to call me noble."
Luke had spent most of his life among commoners.
Saying he'd spent it "among commoners" was a bit amusing too. Luke was noble only in birth; he was no different from a commoner, and he considered himself one.
"I was originally a commoner."
Adelhart shrugged as she spoke.
At age ten, she had luckily caught the eye of a witch and learned magic. Her talent was exceptional, allowing her to rise to her current position, but the path hadn't been smooth.
Unless she had talent on Siegfried's level, her ambiguously outstanding abilities always became an issue because of her commoner origins.
That's why she sympathized deeply with Luke's ideals, and now she led Equality alongside him as his partner.
"So, I have no intention of shamelessly asking you to join Equality."
He didn't add that their births were different.
Jamie understood the implication and didn't ask further.
Instead, he asked something else.
"Then what do you want from me?"
"It's nothing difficult."
Luke chewed his lip as if pondering slightly before continuing.
"If you're not joining us, then don't join the others either."
"...You mean don't side with the King's faction or the Noble faction?"
"Yes. Do you know the current state of the magic world?"
"I can't say I don't."
The magic world was still divided into three: the King's faction, the Noble faction, and Equality. But starting three months ago, the balance had begun to shift slightly.
It was because of former 3rd Elder Serpent Gerol, who had been a pillar of the King's faction.
Serpent, who had fallen completely through dealings with demons, had met his end at Jamie's hands.
If he had simply died, the King's faction wouldn't have weakened in the magic world.
Though the smallest in size among the three major factions, the King's faction had the greatest actual power.
The problem was Serpent's connection to demons.
It spread suspicion across the entire King's faction. As a faction existing for the king's prestige, they faced suspicion but no outright oppression.
Even so, from the moment suspicion arose, it was fair to say the King's faction had lost its influence in the magic world.
They might regain their former glory with time, but for now, they were at a disadvantage in political struggles.
1st Elder Ophen Ginger, the leader of the King's faction, seemed to tacitly acknowledge this, staying silent even in elder meetings.
"In this situation, if you join the Noble faction, the balance between us and them—which was barely holding—would collapse in an instant."
"Unless Siegfried sides with us..."
Adelhart trailed off.
She knew her own words made no sense.
"Anyway, that's the reason. It's the pathetic circumstances of adults, but I'd appreciate your understanding."
Jamie smirked.
"First off, you don't have to call it the circumstances of adults. I'm not a kid anymore."
"Ho."
"And it's funny too."
"What's funny?"
At the word "funny," Luke and Adelhart's expressions darkened.
In contrast, Jamie smiled brightly as he replied.
"Come on. The world is spinning in ways you don't even know, and you're squabbling over trivial faction fights."
"Trivial..."
"Hey, Jamie Welton. I know your reputation is high, but watch your words."
"This is me watching them."
As Adelhart bristled, Luke raised a hand to stop her.
"Can you explain what you mean?"
"Whatever your ideals are, it's none of my business. Petty things like that aren't my concern."
"Treating class issues as petty? Do you know how many rebellions have arisen worldwide because of this?"
"So you're going to start a rebellion?"
"This brat really!"
"Adelhart. You're holding back a lot, so ease up."
Jamie dropped his smile and stared at Adelhart.
A terrifying pressure crushed her entire body.
His mana surged.
Mana originating from that small frame was pressuring her—a young elder who had risen to her position at such an age.
Bam!
Luke slammed the table with his hand.
The mana crushing Adelhart dispersed as if by magic.
"Hah!"
Adelhart gasped roughly and slumped down.
Jamie was briefly impressed by Luke's skill.
'Not bad.'
He had simply compressed his mana to pressure Adelhart, but Luke had dispelled it effortlessly.
It meant his skill was at least on par with Jamie's.
He'd heard Luke had lingered at 7th class for quite a while. Not on the verge of 8th class, but among 7th class mages, he was one of the top.
This was the level he needed to show.
"Adel was rude."
He apologized first, but Luke's expression seemed a bit angry.
If Jamie had started it, he would have attacked with magic without mercy.
Luke was a man who valued justification.
"It wasn't particularly rude. And it seemed necessary to show you the difference in our levels."
As he glanced at Adelhart, she glared at him murderously, her face full of resentment.
Jamie just shrugged.
"To continue what I was saying earlier: that's how it is. Soon, the continent will be swept by a massive storm. What meaning do classes have in that situation?"
"Humans will continue living after the war ends."
"That's only if they survive."
"...Zenith Church is ultimately alone. The kingdoms of are forming alliances one after another. Zenith Church, barricaded behind closed doors, won't withstand the pressure from all of <olbia> and will submit first. Even if war breaks out, it'll be subdued quickly."
"You're deeply mistaken. Or should I say your head's in the clouds?"
"What?"
Jamie was exasperated by the idealist's words before him.
Separate from Equality, this man viewed the world too simplistically. And yet he wanted to create a world for ordinary people.
It felt overreaching.
"How can a mage not even grasp the post-war situation properly and spout such easy conclusions?"
"..."
"You don't really think Zenith Church is alone, do you?"
"What do you mean?"
"Figure it out yourself. Isn't curiosity the most important thing for a mage?"
Luke's pupils trembled faintly.
"Just one last thing before I go."
Jamie stood up and warned Luke.
"If you don't unite, it's over."
He didn't know how this idealist would take it, but if they chose a path different from his thinking, he had no choice but to withdraw his willingness to cooperate.
As Jamie opened the door to leave, he felt he should at least say thanks.
"The cocoa was great. The best harvest today was discovering cocoa."
The door closed.
"What a boring guy."
He'd had some expectations since he was the head of Equality, but he was quite disappointing.
Three months ago, when he heard that Luke had been delegated authority by the other elders and taken command of the magic world, it had been impressive.
It showed he knew how to unite with others in a crisis.
The problem was that outside of crises, his head was in the clouds. He might be a fine leader in peaceful times, but now was a period where war could break out any moment.
'War might not actually break out.'
Jamie predicted there was an eighty to ninety percent chance it would.
Zenith Church, with its prideful bunch, would want to repay what they suffered tenfold.
"If he understands my words, he'll show up before me again."
If not, he was just that level of man.
Jamie decided not to dwell on it.
"For now, I need to prepare to head to the capital."
The appointment ceremony was a hassle, but necessary to solidify his position now.
Jamie sought fame.
Not for luxury and glory, but to gather allies ahead of the coming war.
To be the final victor.
Jamie’s figure scattered into mana particles and vanished.
And from a high vantage point, Luke and Adelhart watched Jamie disappear.
"Luke."
"He's remarkable. No, as he said, I shouldn't treat him like a kid."
"What will you do? What he said didn't sound wrong to me either. We might have been thinking too simply."
"A leader can't be swayed by mere words."
Luke's words had merit, so Adelhart just nodded.
But she knew.
It had been over ten years since she'd supported him by his side.
Right now, the corners of his mouth were faintly curved in a smile.
'You like Jamie Welton, huh?'
With other elders, he'd always hidden thorns in his words and engaged only in political battles.
But Jamie was different.
He said exactly what he wanted without regard for face. It wasn't the brashness unique to children.
On the contrary, his mature critique sharply targeted the current state of the magic world.
By now, Jamie's words were surely swirling in Luke's mind. How they would change him was unknown.
Adelhart decided to watch quietly.
'Separate from that, next time I'll definitely give him a piece of my mind.'
She wasn't one to just take it lying down.
She didn't think she'd win, but challenges always made people grow—that much she knew.