Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: The Captain's Arrival
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*Swishhh.*
The decapitated magical beast turned to gray dust and was swept away by the Convection.
Even amidst the dust, the man shone brightly, as if he alone were basking in all the moonlight.
However, it seemed a bit strange that he didn't break his finishing pose.
His arms, holding twin blades that looked like a broken claymore, were spread a little too wide and extended downward. His head, tilted diagonally, bobbed slowly up and down as if he were catching his breath.
His long hair fluttered, and his chest rose and fell with slightly exaggerated breaths.
It seemed he wouldn't break his pose unless someone spoke to him.
Just then, Magda landed gracefully beside him and placed a fist over her left breast.
The Commander of the Honor Division would only show such courtesy to two people in the Union: the Governor-General and…
"Greetings, Captain."
The man replied without changing his stance.
"Is that you, Magda?"
Then, slowly, very slowly, he turned his head toward her. His wavy hair flowed, naturally obscuring his eyes.
He tossed his head, flipping his hair back. A handsome man with strong, refreshing features.
Mika Frenville.
He was the undisputed second-in-command of the Union, the only one holding the title of Master, the Captain of the Union.
He deliberately curled his lips into a smile as he looked at Magda.
Those who witnessed that smile were finally certain.
That man was definitely reveling in his own appearance. Even now, he was striking a pose.
"You've grown even more beautiful since I last saw you."
"The battle is not yet over."
Magda coldly deflected Mika's greeting and continued.
"I will hear your jokes another time."
"I wonder if that 'another time' will be several years from now…"
Mika's voice trailed off as he gave a subtle wink. Magda pretended not to see. From a distance, Werner also pretended not to see.
Their remarkably nonchalant conversation was soon drowned out by the commotion approaching from afar.
This was still a battlefield.
Though no giant magical beasts remained, there were still plenty of fallen monks who had lost their humanity, dark mages, magical beasts, and members of Nostra who hadn't shed their lust for battle.
The mages of the Magic Tower busied themselves again, finding their tasks, but the Captain of the Union did not move, as if he had nothing left to do.
He slowly raised his head and began to examine the [Sphere of the Void].
"That thing… its properties are quite peculiar. It looks to be at least 5th-Circle. Did Sheville have such a massive defensive magic?"
"It was not manifested by Sheville."
"Hm?"
"It's the unique magic of Loan, a Runner from the Faith Division."
Mika turned to Magda in surprise. For him, that was a remarkably quick turn of the head.
It was because her words contained too many contradictions.
A Runner in the Faith Division who could use 5th-Circle or higher magic.
"I think you're the one making jokes, Magda."
"It's the truth. You can meet him once the situation is under control."
"No. It seems there's nothing left for me to control. Good work."
Sheathing his twin blades, Mika walked over to the translucent wall, which had recovered its perfect form.
The Convection, gently holding the moonlight, shimmered like a heat haze.
Watching it silently, he gently pushed a finger forward.
His finger passed through without resistance.
It was truly fascinating—the movement of the air tickling his skin.
He strode into the sphere, and the Convection parted as if to grant him entry.
Magda watched Mika's retreating back before shifting her gaze to the top of the Magic Tower.
Deciding it was best not to interfere in their meeting, she launched herself toward a place where the clamor still raged.
Werner followed closely behind her.
"Hmm… so he's at the very top."
On the ground that was no longer a lake, Mika stood alone, pristine and aloof amidst the injured and the refugees. He stared at the top of the Magic Tower and murmured to himself.
He then leaped straight into the sky. Reaching the midpoint of the towers that served as pillars in a single bound, he kicked off the air.
*Bang—!*
He burst through the familiar circular cloud of air, leaping again, once, twice.
Before the mages could even track his swift movements with their eyes, Mika had reached the top of the Tower of Implementation and landed on the railing.
His gaze fell immediately upon Loan.
As if he had known he was coming, Loan wasn't flustered and brought a fist to his chest.
Even that small movement seemed difficult for him. His pale face and the trace of blood near his nose made him look all the more pitiful.
Yet, there was something admirable in how he didn't lose his composure.
Mika's expression was complex as he watched.
"Loan. Runner of the Faith Division. Mage. A pleasure. You're handsome, but you look like you're in pain."
It was a strange greeting, merely listing what he knew and what he observed.
Feeling a small sense of disappointment for showing such a weak side at their first meeting, Loan tried his best to answer cheerfully.
"I'm alright, Captain."
"You know who I am?"
"I'm a member."
"Ah, of course."
Mika stepped down next to Loan, briefly comparing their heights before continuing.
"You'll get taller. Your age?"
"Fifteen."
"When did you join?"
"This year."
"A promotion in half a year?"
"Yes."
"You deserve it."
"..."
"I have many questions, but now doesn't seem to be the time. More importantly, this magic. It would be best to release it now."
"It's still too early to say it's safe."
"It's fine. I'm here now."
"..."
Loan thought.
This was a man who was more than qualified to make a statement that could easily be mistaken for arrogance.
He had the looks, the demeanor, and the skill to match his spotless white suit.
He was a senior worthy of his respect and admiration.
Using him as a benchmark, Loan surmised what it would take to reach the position of Captain and became certain that all he needed to do was hone his skills.
Thus, he withdrew his will.
As the Guardian of the Magic Tower, resonating with Loan's will, retracted its mana, the safest shelter in Sheville vanished.
The process was like a mirage.
For a brief moment, Mika leaned out the window, looking up and down, taking in the afterimage of the disappearing sphere.
In that instant, Loan staggered, overcome by a sudden wave of exhaustion.
But that wasn't the end of it.
The strain on his body, which he had forcibly endured, came crashing down all at once. He felt an excruciating pain, as if his limbs were being torn apart.
His wide, attentive field of vision dissolved, and his sight turned completely white.
These were the side effects of forcibly resonating with the Magic Tower.
Unable to withstand it, Loan collapsed.
***
Waking up, Loan found himself lying on a bed in a small room.
It was very bright outside the window. Judging by the sun's position, it was around noon. About half a day had passed.
'Did I collapse?'
He remembered the last thing he saw before his eyes closed.
It was the image of the Captain, drawing his broadsword to support him as he fell.
'Damn it...'
He reflexively kicked off the blanket covering him.
He had made a fool of himself in front of the Captain.
It wasn't much different from when he had suddenly fallen asleep during his first meeting with the Commanders.
Apart from his dismal feelings, however.
His body was in good condition.
It was partly due to getting a deep sleep, but the power of the Circle, which helped him cultivate mana even while unconscious, was a major factor.
*Viiiiing—*
*Wooooong—*
The third Circle had abruptly taken its place.
He hadn't fully realized its benefits yet, but in hindsight, his vision felt much clearer than before.
It wasn't just his physical sight; his ability to see mana seemed to have improved as well.
He examined his body more calmly.
A diagonal ring, tilted in one direction, had been added to the vertical and horizontal rings. It was aesthetically pleasing, yet it also seemed somewhat incomplete.
If there were a ring symmetrical to the third one, the composition would be perfect.
He naturally thought that a fourth ring must also be possible.
"Hoo..."
A moment of introspection brought a little more stability to his body and mind.
Suddenly, the door opened, and a group of people rushed in.
At the very front of the group was the Captain of the Union in his white suit. Loan was already standing beside the bed with a fist placed over his chest.
Noticing Loan's much-improved complexion, Mika nodded.
"You were even more handsome before."
"I apologize for my unsightly appearance. I'm fine now."
"You'd better be. You slept for two straight days."
"What?"
It hadn't been half a day.
Seeing Loan's bewildered expression, the people standing behind Mika smiled.
Mika spoke.
"I stopped by to see you on my way out. Good thing you woke up."
"Where... are you going?"
"Many places call for me. It's the fate of a popular man. I'm sure you'd understand."
Mika put on a rather serious expression as he said this.
Loan pondered the meaning for a moment. Putting himself in Mika's shoes, it seemed like a plausible thing to say.
He nodded and replied.
"...Yes."
Though a bit embarrassed, he was secretly pleased to find something he had in common with the Captain.
"You're going to Grafton?"
"Ah, I'd like to, if I get the chance."
"I'll tell Delphi to cooperate. If you're lucky, we might see each other in the capital."
"Thank you."
Puffing out his chest for no reason and looking down at Loan more than necessary, Mika spun around and said.
"See you around."
Then, without looking back, he strode away.
His steps were confident and fluid, looking incredibly stylish.
This was the Captain. This was a man—that was the strong impression he gave.
Perhaps sensing the gazes on him, Mika raised a hand in a light wave without turning around and disappeared through the door.
Watching the spot where he had vanished, Magda spoke to Loan, who couldn't tear his eyes away.
"I hope you don't pick up any of his bad habits."
"..."
Loan didn't understand what Magda meant.
A short while later.
Having tidied himself up, Loan entered a conference room set up in the [Tower of Implementation].
A large, round table.
At Magda's gesture, Loan sat in the single empty seat across from her.
The five Tower Masters waited for Loan to be seated before they began to speak, one by one.
It was a report on the events that had occurred during the two days he had been asleep.
According to them, the contents reported to the Union's messenger birds were as follows:
[The remnants of the Brien scattered to the city's outskirts have been mostly annihilated by pursuing mages and Union support from outside.]
[The mages of the Magic Tower will use this opportunity to begin full-scale activities outside the tower. The plan is to actively establish and utilize Magic Tower branches.]
[It is judged that this invasion had been in preparation since the existence of the Brien death squad was revealed.]
[The reason for the invasion is still unclear, but it seems certain they wished for the Magic Tower's downfall.]
[Given their prior knowledge of the giant magical beast, the geographical features of Sheville, and the skill to manifest a massive magic circle, it is believed there is a considerably skilled mage from the Magic Tower within the Brien.]
And so on—all publicly disclosable information.
However, the most critical issue, which had not yet been announced, remained.
It was the circumstantial evidence that Crown Prince Denian of Grafton was involved in this incident.
Werner spoke.
"Thanks to this incident, my visit to the Union will not seem out of place. I will meet with the Governor-General to discuss this matter, so for now, let us all remain silent. The impact of this on the world may be greater than the invasion itself."
The Tower Masters nodded.
Having confirmed everyone's agreement, Werner was about to discuss practical matters regarding his absence.
But then, suddenly.
*The words of those with flesh are long. Our turn is slow to come.*
A thought-message pierced everyone's minds. It was the Guardian of Implementation.
*We have gathered our minds in one place for a rare chance to speak with you. The Guardians of Phenomenon, Perception, Sensation, and Concept are also present.*
The Tower Masters looked around, bewildered, their gazes finding no one.
Werner spoke via a thought-message.
*What could possibly be so important that all the Guardians have gathered?*
*It is a story of the foundation of magic, its origin. A story of change and revolution.*
*Why such a story, all of a sudden...?*
Werner wore a look of disbelief, then suddenly glanced at Loan. Just then, the Guardian's voice continued.
*Before we answer that, we ask Loan. The principle that made your unique magic possible. Is it permissible to share with these others the matters concerning circulation and its symbolism?*
All eyes turned to Loan.
Meeting Werner's gaze, Loan replied.
"You'll remember our conversation at the dispatch yard. About conceptualizing circulation."
"Yes. I asked you if you were holding something back."
"My thoughts hadn't fully matured yet, so it was difficult to explain."
"Is that what the Guardians are talking about? Are you going to talk about it now?"
Loan nodded.
He felt the time had come.