An Audacious Proposal
When was it?
It was back when the war was intensifying, just after a battle had ended.
Lunia's resistance fighters were so exhausted that not a single one of them could move properly, and I, having fought the Archduke of Demonic Magic's elite guard until moments ago, was also utterly spent. I hadn't sustained any major injuries, but my body refused to listen to me because I had pushed my mana core far past its limits.
"Ahaha. Your legs have completely given out."
"If you know that, why don't you cast a healing spell on me?"
"Why should I? It's a waste of mana."
Lunia, on the other hand, was perfectly fine. A mage who had breached the wall of the 8th tier possessed physical stamina superior to most swordsmen.
In that state, she smirked and said to me:
"Looking at you, Raygan, reminds me of my father."
"I'm not that old. And I don't have a prematurely aged face, either."
At my words, Lunia scowled as if asking if I was serious.
"No, you look plenty old. With just a little exaggeration, you could pass for his age."
"...You should consider yourself lucky that I can't move right now."
"Anyway. My father, you see, was a very interesting man, even if he was a bit stiff."
"Bragging about your parents in front of an orphan all of a sudden?"
"If you keep acting like that, I'm going to get angry."
"I'm sorry."
"To get back to the point, my father was rather unique. He preferred people who were bold—even if they were a bit rude—over those who were strictly polite and formal. He was quite playful, too."
"Is that why you're so rude too?"
"Hmm... I suppose so? In any case, if my father were still alive, he would have really liked you, Raygan."
"That sounds like you're calling me a rude person."
"You heard correctly."
A fragmented memory of Lunia lingering in a corner of my mind.
It was merely a brief recollection, but now that I had returned to the past, its meaning was entirely different.
Because I was now facing the very father she had spoken of, right before my eyes.
"What is your name?"
"It's Raygan. I don't have a family name."
Lunia's father.
In other words, the head of House Benheim.
Stern von Benheim was a man of peculiar impressions. Unlike a typical mage, he wore a neat suit instead of a robe, and a monocle rested over one of his eyes.
Unlike the guards at the estate's entrance, Stern's level of power was impossible to gauge at a glance. He seemed to possess no mana whatsoever.
But that was precisely the proof of an Archmage. A great mage perfectly controls their mana, preventing even a single speck from leaking outside their body.
I focused my senses to observe the density of the mana enveloping his body.
He must be at the very precipice of the 7th tier. A monster.
The limit of humanity was the 7th tier.
And he was at its absolute peak.
A realm of power more than worthy of representing one of the pillars of the Empire's magic community.
The elderly butler standing beside Stern, seemingly assisting him, was also a mage. At a rough estimate, he appeared to be at least of the 6th tier.
As expected of a prestigious magic family, I marveled inwardly.
"So, Raygan, was it?"
Meanwhile, Stern von Benheim pulled up a chair in front of the iron bars, sat down, and examined the pendant from various angles. His seagull-shaped mustache twitched every time his head moved up and down.
"I won't ask twice, Raygan. Where did you obtain this?"
"I got lucky."
"Speak in detail. I am in no mood for jokes right now," Stern spoke firmly. The look he gave me was undeniably that of someone staring at a thief.
And understandably so. A person involved in the attack on his daughter was now in possession of the family's lost heirloom. Suspicion was the only natural response.
...What should I do?
I pondered.
Would it be best to tell the truth after all?
Telling the truth wasn't difficult.
That I had returned from ten years in the future, that seven years from now a black mage known as the Archduke of Demonic Magic would ignite the flames of war across the continent, and that I had come to Benheim to stop it.
No, it's too soon.
Revealing my regression should wait.
At this point, the Archduke of Demonic Magic was likely already preparing for war.
If a kid who hadn't even formed a mana core yet went around blabbing about the future, he'd end up with a dagger in his back in no time.
Even in front of the head of House Benheim, there were no exceptions. It would be wiser to reveal it only when I had grown strong enough to protect myself.
Thus, choosing my words carefully, I spoke.
"I received it from someone."
"Someone?"
At my words, the elderly butler standing beside Stern reacted.
"In detail! What did they look like? Did they say anything else? Quick! Tell us everything you remember!"
"Arlet, that is enough. I am currently speaking with this boy."
"...Ah, my apologies."
The old man, Arlet, bowed his head and took two steps back.
"Forgive him. My Grand Chamberlain is rather obsessed with catching thieves."
"I understand."
I nodded.
Stern gestured with his chin.
"Right. Just who did you receive that pendant from?"
"It was a mage. They wore a pointed hat and a robe."
"A mage... How interesting. To think there is a mage walking around in such old-fashioned attire in this day and age."
Before my regression, Lunia, unlike her father, always wore the classic mage attire.
A robe, a pointed hat, and finally, ridiculous boots. It was an incredibly anachronistic outfit.
When I had asked her why on earth she wore such cumbersome clothes, her response had been absurd.
"Isn't it pretty? It makes me look like a real mage."
In any case, Stern, as the head of the family, was just as eager to catch the thief who stole the heirloom. He took the bait I threw without hesitation.
"So, Raygan. Do you remember their appearance?"
"Since the pointed hat was pulled down low, I couldn't make out her exact facial features. However, I do remember that she was a woman with golden hair and violet eyes."
"What...?"
Golden hair and violet eyes.
These were the physical traits passed down through generations of the prestigious Benheim bloodline. I nodded and continued.
"Yes. That mage had the same hair and eye color as you, Lord Stern."
That meant only one thing.
"So, according to you, a mage of Benheim stole our family heirloom and handed it over to a kid with no connections like you? Do you expect me to believe that?"
"I have no way to force you to believe me. However, that mage told me to deliver this rune to House Benheim."
"...Wait."
Stern's eyes widened as he listened. He seemed to have realized something strange in my words.
"Just now, you said 'rune.' How did you know that? The fact that a rune is inscribed inside the pendant... is a secret known only to the high-ranking members of the family, including the Grand Chamberlain."
Of course it was a secret.
If I hadn't heard it directly from Lunia, the last head of House Benheim, I wouldn't have had the slightest clue either.
"I heard it from the mage who gave me the pendant. She told me that the last rune inscribed inside the heirloom had yet to be deciphered."
"...Did that mage truly say that?"
"Yes."
My words were absolute truth.
I had simply omitted certain details and added a bit of creative editing.
Fortunately, Stern seemed inclined to believe me.
"...If that mage told you so much, then you must also know what domain this rune governs. Speak. What is this rune?"
His face pale, Stern tossed the pendant through the iron bars.
I caught the pendant without a change in expression and fell into thought.
What is the true nature of this rune?
I didn't need to ponder for long.
The effect of the rune inside the pendant. Although I hadn't heard the exact details from Lunia, now that I had returned to the past, I could make a very good guess.
"Is it not a rune that governs time?"
"......."
It seemed I had hit the mark.
Grand Chamberlain Arlet gasped, covering his mouth, while Stern raised a trembling hand, removed his monocle, and set it down on the table.
"It is the absolute truth. You... indeed met a mage of Benheim."
"I told you it was the truth."
"Raygan, was saving my daughter Lunia today also at that mage's request?"
"Yes. The mage who gave me the pendant informed me that an attack would take place today. It was entirely thanks to her that I was able to save Lady Lunia."
I hadn't planned that far ahead, but since Stern was jumping to his own convenient conclusions, it made things much easier.
And it wasn't a lie, either. After all, the one who had told me about being attacked by the black mages was Lunia herself—the very person who had given me the pendant.
"Mmm."
Stern let out a low hum. He turned his head to exchange a look with Grand Chamberlain Arlet.
Soon, Stern cleared his throat and looked back at me. The wariness that had clouded his face had long since melted away.
"You met a mage of Benheim and were tasked with delivering this pendant. In the process, you also saved my daughter. That means... that mage essentially guided you to our family."
"I believe so as well."
I nodded and continued.
"For the record, the mage who handed me the pendant told me that I have talent."
"Talent?"
"Yes. She said that if I were to learn magic, I would undoubtedly achieve great things."
At my words, a smile played on Stern's lips.
"May I take that as a request to accept you into House Benheim?"
"I am merely delivering her words. The decision, of course, lies with you, Lord Stern."
"Haha. Then... as the head of this family, I shall ask. Raygan, would you be interested in becoming a mage of Benheim?"
To think Benheim would make the offer first.
I suppressed a triumphant smile and nodded.
"Gladly."
"Very well. Grand Chamberlain Arlet will guide you to your quarters. The night is late, so rest and recover from your journey today..."
"Apologies, but there is one more thing I would like to ask."
I interrupted Stern to bring up my main business.
"As they say, all labor deserves its proper reward."
"...Speak freely."
"Is there no reward for me?"
At my blunt question, Stern blinked.
"Bringing you under the protection of House Benheim—is that not reward enough?"
"That is entirely thanks to the mage who entrusted me with this task, and your own excellent discernment, Lord Stern. What I am referring to is the reward for my merit in returning this heirloom to Benheim. According to the official notices posted in the streets, you promised to open Benheim's treasury and grant a massive reward to whoever recovered the artifact. And I believe that the Count of Benheim is a man of honor whose family never breaks its word."
Hearing my words, the head of House Benheim let out a chuckle. On the other hand, Grand Chamberlain Arlet's face behind him flushed red with anger.
"How dare you speak so insolently in his presence! Just because you have a mouth does not mean you can utter whatever you please! My Lord! Let us throw this foolish boy...!"
"Enough, Arlet."
The one who stopped Arlet's roaring was none other than Stern.
What was written on his face was clear, unadulterated curiosity.
"You are correct. Promising a reward and failing to deliver would bring shame upon the honor of Benheim. Very well. What is it you desire?"
Yes. Now we're talking.
Just as Lunia had said, the patriarch preferred bold individuals, even if they were a bit rude.
"...Hmm."
I paused for a moment.
A reward.
I had already decided on it. In fact, it was the very reason I had come to Benheim.
Come what may, it was better to just put it out there.
A satisfied smile naturally spread across my lips.
I spoke slowly.
"Give me your daughter."
Stern's eyebrows shot up.
"......."
To conclude, Lunia's words were half-right and half-wrong.
The patriarch liked bold people, but he didn't necessarily like rude ones.
"You absolute rascal...!"
That day, I was not allowed out of the dungeon.