Engraved in History: The Empire

In the imperial capital, Antonium, countless talents gathered. But none quite like the mages.

The most exceptional minds on the continent had all flocked to the Mage Tower. As the saying went, a mere proficient mage from the Tower could be revered as a high mage anywhere else. And it was true.

Naysh William, the empire's highest-ranking mage, gnawed at his nails in the corner. He thought of his only brother, Bensy William.

Brother...

When they were young, Bensy had been hailed for his fire-dragon-like talent. Beyond talent, he was the sort who never cowered anywhere. Always composed beyond his years—that was Bensy.

Naysh hadn't possessed talent enough to enter the Mage Tower like his brother, but he'd given his all. Devouring magic tomes day and night, amassing knowledge across every field. And his efforts had earned him the seat of the empire's top mage.

But today, Naysh confronted his limits.

What should ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I do, brother...!

He missed Bensy more than ever. It was inevitable.

Standing before the emperor's audience chamber, ministers had whispered to him in the corner.

"Lord Naysh, can you gauge it?"

No. He had no idea. The words nearly escaped his throat irresponsibly.

What was that spirit in audience with His Majesty?

Elegance incarnate. Its dignified aura could rival a spirit king. Fine, suppose—charitably—a spirit king had made a rare appearance. The problem was that it was visible to him and everyone else!

Spirit magic's most basic tenet: it was magic for the chosen. Witnessing a spirit in its natural state required stringent conditions.

But visible to all...

It meant a contracted spirit, bound to someone. Naysh felt his world crumbling.

A contract with a spirit king!

What mage could manage that? Would Bensy even know? This pathetic brother couldn't even guess.

Snapping from his despair, Naysh cleared his throat.

"It seems the gods have not abandoned the empire."

The ministers murmured.

"...We asked about the spirit, and that's his answer?"

Bensy! Unlike you, I still lack presence...

Swallowing ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a sigh, Naysh added,

"The spirit brought the banner Lord Harcon presented to His Majesty before departing for the northern expedition. It seems the spirit came seeking His Majesty with news of Lord Harcon and the Lion Heart Knights."

Only then did the ministers' faces brighten.

"That banner was so important?"

"Does that mean Lord Harcon lives?"

"You should have said so sooner, Lord Naysh!"

Their piercing voices rang in his ears. Naysh's gaze grew distant.

Bensy, where did you vanish to with the Mage Tower? I'm no bureaucrat. If only you'd take this worthless brother as an apprentice mage...

Just then—as Naysh wallowed—the audience chamber doors swung wide.

The emperor's voice emerged.

"All may enter."

"...!!!"

Generals, ministers, and finally Naysh stepped inside. There floated the spirit, still poised with elegant grace.

The emperor spoke.

"The spirit's name is High El..."

...High El?

No spirit king by that name in any tome. As Naysh pondered, the words continued.

"...of the Crisia Four Seasons Leaf."

W-Wait. Your Majesty? Forgive the impertinence, but did you hear that right? Was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that truly the spirit's name?

Names couldn't gauge a spirit's rank, but anyone hearing it would sense something extraordinary in its appearance and title. A suspicion sprouted.

Naysh sought his brother once more.

...Brother, is there a spirit emperor above spirit kings?

This lacking brother hasn't a clue.

Naysh bowed his head, but the emperor continued calmly. Though Naysh soon jerked it up in shock.

"The... Mage Tower?"

The Mage Tower—where Bensy resided—was safe. And not only that.

"Lord Harcon and the Lion Heart Knights too...?"

"Frost didn't vanish without a trace!!"

"Of course. Muon, the goddess's holy land, couldn't fall!"

Those who had vanished tracelessly from the continent lived. In another world beyond Arcana, perhaps. But they breathed.

The emperor spoke.

"I know not how they view me."

High El, the spirit, had said so. A 'rift' connected Arcana and the adventurers' world. Hard to grasp immediately, but it sufficed for now.

"Shamefully, I felt relief."

As emperor, he'd failed to protect them. Should have blamed himself for not noticing. Yet overwhelming emotion surged, too much to suppress.

But the emperor remembered his duty.

"And the unbelievable tale truly begins now."

Yes. He had heroic deeds from High El to relay. Too precious to keep to himself.

"Listen well. Let the scribe record without omission."

"You say Frost, fallen to the demon king's grasp, was liberated? Adventurers hiding their identities on Arcana risked their lives...?"

"The Mage Tower—those haughty mages—have mobilized? They heed no emperor's word, no ancestor's command, no one's order...!!"

"Dwarves aiding the empire, humanity...?"

These incredulous tidings became certified history under the emperor's seal. Even yesterday's events were included.

"The dozens of feudal lords under Grand Duke Ymir who besieged Antonium. And Sword Saint, Grand Sword Master Shegwin's retreat as well..."

Scritch-scratch—the quill flew. Midway, a minister spoke. Not doubting the emperor, but...

"Your Majesty, these are feats beyond belief."

"Mm."

The emperor nodded. Indeed, one might think so. But greater proof stood here.

Flutter!

The emperor unfurled the banner. Lion Heart's symbol: the lion. Behind it, names in varied hands.

『Jessica Bright. Enoch Loren. Kazet Owner...』

Last: Knight Captain Harcon. Lion Heart Knights' names.

The doubting man examined cautiously. Soon, his eyes reddened.

He'd suspected to avoid false hope. But unmistakable. That handwriting...

"...Kazet, my son. You're safe."

His son's, without doubt.

"Forgive me, Your Majesty. I withdraw my doubt."

The emperor eyed the final line.

『We pray for your safety, our liege.』

How could I forget your script, Harcon?

After the Lion Hearts vanished on northern expedition, the emperor had endlessly self-reproached.

I mulled your declaration of war countless times in regret.

Yet now...

Futile, but thus all the more joyous, Harcon.

He smiled. Words followed.

"And all these feats stem from one man. Let the scribe record his name precisely."

"...!!!"

Gulp! Tension thick.

"The empire's savior."

That name.

"A single ray of light in boundless darkness."

Echoed from the emperor's lips.

"Lee Hoyeol."

*

Indeed, Arcana's time outpaced reality's. One felt it viscerally.

Clink—the teacup with steeped teabag set down, vision flickered.

Harcon and Lion Heart Knights' banner. High El had safely delivered the news to the emperor.

But High El... how exactly did you relay it?

Relationship and influence boosts were expected. Circumstances aside, I'd repelled Shegwin and the rebels.

Quest updated as proof.

Successfully saved the empire from crisis. Such quest rewards were anticipated.

But this? Overkill!

Max ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠already?! High El's past antics flashed. That Grandfell-spitting High El had frothed dwarves with needless hype, hadn't it?

Instinct screamed.

You spiced it up massively again, High El.

...Fine. Spilled milk—think positive. Diend stayed out; that's a win.

"At last, that vile scheme dissolves to foam."

...Uttering 'foam' without flinching. Grandfell's shamelessness thickens daily.

But the end wasn't here.

Another updated quest.

Shegwin wasn't possessed. He'd fallen to demonhood willingly. He thought it mere youth regained, but those pitch-black pupils screamed demon. And natural enemy had triggered—irrefutable proof.

Spacetime Salon rules barred quest completion. I declared,

"Unreasonable regulations demand amendment."

Not for you, but I'm dead against it, Grandfell.

Shegwin was a demon. Natural enemy might let me grind him, but other transcendents existed.

This blabbermouth's temperament!

Grandfell had no reason to view transcendents fondly. Even I saw them as pathetic. So mighty, yet inert as Arcana crumbled to demons.

Mage Tower had reasons, maybe. But...

Grandfell consider that?!!

This time targeted Shegwin, so it passed. Next time...?

Horrifying to imagine.

Bluntly calling transcendents pride-lacking? The backlash...!

Grateful anew for Salon's procedures.

Of course, Shegwin—you're the exception.

Not possessed, but choosing demonhood? For no grand purpose—just youth?!

"Utter folly."

Tell me about it. Eternal life talk alone triggers my black history trauma!!

Shegwin, you...

...are blessed beyond measure.

I couldn't forgive; Grandfell needed no explanation.

A powerhouse like Shegwin wouldn't die easily. Collision inevitable.

No strutting over liberated circles.

Circles amplified magic manifestation 1,000%. But Shegwin, transcendent too. Swordsmanship and sword aura's effects? Unknown to me.

Safe bet: monstrous, circle-rivaling.

Prepare thoroughly, my way. Every angle.

Swordsmanship included, naturally.

Suddenly, Shegwin's famed sword surfaced. Tempting, but mine wouldn't lag—dwarf master Walls Whale forging ego gear!

What mattered: skill and vessel worthy of it. And I knew the perfect teacher. Not close friends, but...

No delay. Scritch—I dashed a note.

Recipient: Explorer Federation Chief, Fabien Delong. For their magic tool, Hellfire Torch.