Sage's Tower 2
Licht didn't head straight for the count. He still needed time before he could enter the Sage's Tower. The grand assembly had to formally conclude first, even if the outcome wouldn't change. Still, he had to wait.
Come morning, he went directly to the library to scour the books, then split his lunch and dinner hours between magic and sword training. In his spare time, he roamed the lower districts, gathering information on the mage kidnappings.
Quite the handful.
Licht raised his hand. A pure white holy sword radiated a soft white glow. The Execution Sword remained in his grasp. He'd considered wielding it himself but quickly dismissed the idea. This blade rejected mana entirely. Aura would likely fare no better.
Is it truly blessed by the goddess?
The primordial trinity that created the world. Isteria was the god of light among them. It was such an ancient myth that Licht didn't buy it. Which only made the sword's peculiarities harder to fathom. There was no explaining a blade that dispersed mana like a vengeful spirit the moment it was infused.
Yet it devours holy power.
He vividly recalled the Execution Sword in Bryce's hand. The bright yellow waves clashing against his mana. Unlike with mana, the blade had amplified the holy power.
No point dwelling on it.
There was no need to drag it out further. The next day, Licht went straight to the lord's castle. It was the final day of the assembly.
***
"He says he'll come in person soon. Quite bold."
"Several days have passed already. Shall I send someone again?"
"No, he'll show. No need to rush."
Samuel spoke leisurely from his office chair as he reviewed documents. That was when the man standing before him bowed deeply.
"Count, sir!"
The office doors burst open. A young mage rushed in. The man was about to reprimand the knockerless intruder when—
"What is it?"
Samuel waved him off dismissively.
"A guest has arrived."
"A guest?"
"Yes. A Licht Sientia..."
Samuel and the man's eyes met. The count let out a chuckle and rose to his feet.
"Where?"
"I've shown him to the reception room."
"I'm going now."
***
Count Fredericksen's lord's castle stood at the heart of El Sion. His face was already known, so he was ushered straight to the reception room. Servants peeked at him curiously as he walked the halls.
As he waited on the sofa, the door opened and two men entered.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
One was Count Fredericksen; the other was a stranger. Perhaps just past his forties. The count sat opposite Licht, and the other man stood behind him.
6th Circle.
And not just any—stronger than most elders. In that instant, a glint flashed in the man's eyes, right after Licht had sized him up. He curled his lips into a smirk.
"An interesting fellow."
The boy who had slain a former executioner single-handedly. He'd doubted the rumors at first, but seeing him now, he had to concede. Five mana circles, faintly perceptible and so meticulously contained that even a 6th Circle mage like himself might overlook them at a glance. It wasn't merely reaching 5th Circle at seventeen—it spoke of profound mastery beyond that.
"That's enough, Roman."
The count cut in, and the man called Roman chuckled before falling silent.
Composing himself, the count spoke.
"First time since I saw you in the Cherbito finals."
"Thank you for then."
"You knew and still made that wish, didn't you? Good news, as it happens. The assembly ended today."
The gathering where all three mage factions' elders convened. Even the council leader was no exception.
"How did it go?"
"Passed, of course. Just had to hear a few grumbles from the elders. If you want, you can head to the top floor of the Sage's Tower right now. Do you grasp what that means?"
He'd turned an impossible wish into reality. It was tantamount to incurring a debt. And there were no favors without strings in this world. Not that they didn't exist, but the count sitting across from him had no reason to extend one out of pure goodwill.
Just look at how he's phrasing it.
The intent was obvious. Licht drew one of the two swords at his waist. A pure white holy sword, scabbard and hilt included. He placed the Execution Sword on the table, and the count made an exaggerated gesture.
"Oh my. I didn't do it expecting payment."
"What of the matter with the Holy Kingdom?"
"No word yet. We've sent a delegation first. It depends on their response. But..."
The count paused before continuing.
"Licht Barbalte."
"......"
"Second son of the Barbalte family. Maternal line is the Sientia barony. Recently left the family; residing in a multi-household mansion in the mid-district with two attendants."
The count stared straight into Licht's eyes. Licht met it evenly.
"Sorry. Did that offend?"
"I already knew."
"Then we'll skip to the point. As I said before—any interest in becoming a retainer of the Fredericksen countship?"
No need to deliberate. Licht shook his head slightly.
As expected, the count pressed on.
"I'd offer unprecedented terms."
"......."
"What about betrothing my daughter? Would even that not suffice?"
The daughter of Count Fredericksen was effectively a princess of the city-state. From the count's perspective, it was an extraordinary offer. A sign of how highly he valued Licht.
Yet Licht showed no reaction.
"It's not about the conditions."
"May I ask why?"
"My freedom comes first."
"Is that why you left your family?"
Licht offered no reply. Taking it as silent affirmation, the count's eyes darkened gravely.
"Do you even grasp your current situation?"
"......"
"Excommunicated or not, you killed a former executioner. At seventeen, no less. Other executioners might already be on your trail. And you have no affiliation."
Persuasion followed by intimidation.
"You might escape alone, but any guarantee for those two attendants?"
The mid-district was safe enough, but not infallible. And the count had no cause to personally safeguard two ordinary folk.
Tap, tap.
But Licht drummed his fingers on the Execution Sword atop the table.
As if that were his answer.
The count chuckled.
"Guarantee those two's safety in exchange for the Execution Sword...? The top of the Sage's Tower is your Cherbito prize, so that's separate."
"You still haven't found the kidnapped mages."
"That's not for you to worry over. It won't take long."
"Did you hire mercenaries?"
This time, the eyes of the man standing behind widened.
"...How did you know?"
"The mage kidnappings must involve the lower-district slums. Am I wrong?"
Licht had learned this much from his days investigating the incident. There were others involved besides Bryce and his remnants. Someone had meticulously tracked the young mages' every move for a covert abduction. The reason it hadn't spread widely, despite the gravity, was precisely this. Nearly all the kidnappings occurred in the lower districts. And no one knew that underbelly better than the slum dwellers.
Until now, he'd toed the line to avoid offending the count. But a hefty sum would change minds. They valued lives cheapest, in a place where fresh corpses littered the streets.
"You have suspicions but no hard proof, so you can't mobilize your retainers. Hence, anonymous mercenaries."
"...What are you getting at?"
His words were sharp, but faint admiration crossed his face.
Licht stated flatly,
"I'll handle it."
"You?"
"Unraveling the culprits one by one will yield clues on the missing mages. And intel on the Holy Kingdom."
"And then?"
"I'll kill them."
Licht fixed the count with utterly earnest eyes.
"I'll leave El Sion and take them out one at a time. If executioners are indeed tracking me."
No trace of hesitation in his voice. Faced with Licht's iron resolve, the count looked dubious.
"Must you go that far? The justification is on our side. There are ways to retrieve our mages that don't require such extremes."
"They won't hand them over."
"Why not?"
"If they intended to yield so easily, they never would've started this. They'll use the excommunication as an excuse to drag it out."
Silence fell between Licht and the count.
After a moment, the count spoke again.
"Arrogant. Even if you have the talent and ability, there's a line. Kill all twelve executioners?"
"At most, two would be sent after me. And the 1st Seat can't move even if he wanted to."
"So two is manageable."
"Just a matter of time."
"Ha!"
The count barked a hollow laugh, now seeming almost amused.
"What do you want?"
"Ironclad safety for my two attendants. And minimal support."
"In exchange for the Execution Sword and handling the investigation."
A low-rank executioner, yet he'd already slain one. If the rumors held—no aura awakened by seventeen—then his circles were recent too.
Absurd growth rate.
His actions thus far, that confidence. It wasn't outright impossible.
The count lifted the Execution Sword from the table. Licht, having said his piece, rose slowly.
"Heading to the Sage's Tower straightaway?"
"Yes."
As Licht reached for the door, the count called from behind.
"I don't know what you'll find."
"......"
"Hope it goes well."
Licht dipped his head slightly and exited the reception room.
The man stared at the closed door for a time before speaking.
"You're really just letting him go?"
"I wanted to keep him..."
The count gave a wry smile.
"His vessel's too vast. Far beyond what I imagined."
***
"This is the floor directly below the top."
A vast library. Amid mountains of books on all sides stood a magic circle etched in the center.
Licht gazed silently at the black runes linking it.
"A teleportation circle. Connected to the top floor's space."
"You said it wasn't a floor."
"Think of it as a passage to another subspace. In any case."
Schult tapped the circle's base.
"This is as far as I can help. From here, it's all on you."
"Everyone sees something different."
"Exactly. It might be disappointingly empty—or beyond imagination."
The tip of his staff glowed, and pure white light began rising from the circle.
"I'd normally object strenuously... but you'll survive."
Good luck.
That was the end. The light intensified, soon engulfing his entire field of vision.
Whoosh!
The world shifted.
Crunch.
Licht reflexively looked down at the sound beneath his feet. He'd stepped on pristine white snow.
Snow?
Lifting his gaze, he surveyed his surroundings: a vast white mountain blanketed in snow. Bare trees stood cloaked in snowy mantles. His breath fogged before him as he exhaled deeply.
Yet strangely, he felt no cold.
How long had he walked? Before him loomed a colossal tree, vast enough to blot the sky. Its trunk alone could house a small home. Drawing nearer, Licht spotted a tiny door embedded in it.
"......"
A trap? Schult had called the Sage's Tower's summit a trial. This must be one of them.
He didn't deliberate long. Standing idle changed nothing.
After a brief pause, Licht opened the door. Warm air rushed out, carrying a soft glow.
"A ghost from the afterlife, dead once already."
An old man's voice echoed.
"What brings you here?"