Chapter 37
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: Crossroads (3)
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While the conversation was proceeding inside, I decided to spend time in the clearing in front of the cabin.
The sky was still full of clouds. It was even a bit dark.
I was sitting astride a small wooden chair when Ash approached close by, so I quickly grabbed its soft nape.
"Well then, shall we continue that story from earlier? If you're unhappy with your collar now..."
'No need.'
Ash shook its body and pulled its face away. Then it fled in an instant to a distance beyond my reach.
"Ah."
Tch. It couldn't be this uncooperative. I couldn't hide my disappointment.
Ash sat at a good distance away, watching me warily.
Even if it disliked the collar, it wasn't trying to tear it off. For now, that would have to be enough to satisfy me.
Time passed as we idled about leisurely.
No sounds leaked from the cabin at all, which only fueled my curiosity more.
As time went on, the sky grew so dark it looked ready to pour rain any moment.
It would rain tonight, for sure.
The sun was starting to set, so I could head home, but I was too concerned about what was happening inside the cabin to leave just yet. I planned to wait a bit longer.
"Lib."
Not long after, the cabin door opened, and Luwen stepped out. His face looked utterly exhausted.
I jumped up from my seat.
"Is the talk over?"
"Yeah. Hm..."
Luwen grimaced and rubbed his face. Whatever it was, it seemed like an incredibly tough and difficult conversation.
On top of that, Claus and the Silver Guard Knight showed no sign of emerging, as if they were still deep in discussion.
"There's something I need to discuss with you. Want to come to my office? Is your bag in your room?"
"Ah... yes. I'll go get it."
A bit surprised, I moved quickly anyway.
I went inside the cabin, up the stairs to the second floor, and grabbed my belongings and bag from my room.
Claus's room door was firmly shut, with no sounds coming from within.
I wondered if I should say goodbye before leaving, but I didn't want to interrupt their talk.
I slung my bag over my shoulder and headed back downstairs.
All the way to Luwen's office, he didn't say a single word.
My curiosity built up until it felt ready to burst out in questions, but I couldn't bring myself to speak to him rashly when he was lost in thought with such a grave expression.
I quietly followed him, and Ash slipped into the shadows of the forest just before we entered Althur Tower.
By the time we arrived at Luwen's office, the thick clouds had finally begun to scatter raindrops.
It wasn't a huge amount, but the pattering against the window drew the eye.
Luwen drew the curtains and handed me a cup of tea.
I sat in the armchair he offered and sipped the warm tea.
"Don't you have other urgent business?"
"Yeah, I've got to head out again once this is done."
Luwen brought his own cup and sat in the large chair behind his desk.
"More importantly, Lib. There's something you haven't told me, isn't there?"
"Uh..."
The sudden question left me flustered, my words catching in my throat for a moment.
Something I hadn't told Luwen?
He didn't seem angry. If anything, he looked tired and worn out.
With an inscrutable expression, he waited for my response, and I felt pressured to say something—anything.
"That... uh, a little while ago, Shuren came back from his knight escort duties. I figured you'd be too busy, Teacher Luwen, so I didn't invite you to the welcome banquet..."
Luwen let out a puff of laughter. I stopped speaking, utterly bewildered.
He actually started laughing out loud.
"No, no. That's not it... Though, yeah, it's good that Shuren's back safe. But as you said, I probably couldn't have made it to the banquet anyway."
This wasn't it? Then what?
As I sat there confused, Luwen cleared his throat and reined in his laughter.
"No, I meant about magic. I heard from Master earlier—you can see mana with your eyes?"
"...Ah. That, yeah."
My reflexive response wasn't good. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it echoed outside.
Luwen gazed at me with eyes that seemed to pierce right through to my soul.
"So it's true."
"...I'm sorry."
My mind went blank; no other words came to me.
What on earth had Claus told Luwen? No—how much?
Luwen let out a small sigh.
"I'm bound to feel a bit hurt that you didn't tell me first. After all, I'm the one who first taught you magic."
"I'm sorry..."
I bowed my head.
It was only natural for Luwen to feel slighted.
This was something I should have told him first—the man who'd taught me magic. I'd kept it secret out of fear he wouldn't understand.
"...Being able to see mana is weird, right? I didn't want to worry you or Father any more."
Luwen was momentarily speechless, then reached out and took my hand.
"Lib, I'm not blaming you. None of what's happened to you is your fault. If anything, I'm just relieved you've grown up safe and sound."
"Teacher..."
"That said, being able to see mana... It finally makes sense how you've grasped magic at such an incredible speed all this time."
"Did Master already know? Is that why he took you as his disciple back then?"
It was less a question and more mutterings to himself. Luwen tapped his desk thoughtfully for a long while before finally speaking again.
"So... I guess I have no choice but to acknowledge it."
He let out a pained sigh.
I couldn't just sit by and watch; I leaned toward him.
"What's going on? Can't I know?"
"It's not that. ...Lib, do you know what the Silver Guard Knight does?"
"Ash said he's a knight who guards the sealing sites."
I hadn't heard anything beyond that.
Everyone seemed aware of their existence but reluctant to mention them.
Luwen took a sip of tea to wet his throat.
"Right. The Silver Moon Knight Order, led by the Silver Guard Knight, has the primary duty of protecting the sealing sites scattered across the world."
"But not only do ordinary citizens not learn about the Silver Guard Knight or the Silver Moon Knight Order—even the knight academy doesn't teach it. Do you know why?"
"Because the sealing sites themselves are a secret?"
After starting at the knight academy, Father had made me promise never to tell anyone about what had happened to me or about the sealing sites.
That was because the very existence of the sealing sites was classified information for the knight orders.
In the first general education class at the academy, the instructors taught that a knight's duty was 'to save those threatened by the remaining demons and magical beasts, now that Demon Emperor Berkis has vanished and the world has regained peace.'
It was to prevent people from living in anxiety.
"If word got out that Demon Emperor Berkis is sealed in those sites, someone might stir up chaos claiming he's going to revive."
"That's why we have the Silver Guard Knight protect them and keep their existence hidden."
In other words, it was layer upon layer of safety measures.
Obscuring the facts about the sites themselves, the sealed Demon Emperor, and the knights guarding them—pushing it all beyond public interest.
All while building trust so people would leave it to us in Prius.
"But this is also something knights learn covertly upon enlisting. That among the many knight orders in Prius, there's one unit where the finest knights undertake the most dangerous missions."
"The most dangerous missions..."
It was obvious without asking that guarding the sealing sites was the most perilous task.
Because demon attacks continued unabated.
"They have the highest mortality rate, too. That's why the Silver Guard Knight is always recruiting talent worthy of the Silver Moon Knight Order. And... mages as well."
Luwen continued in a troubled voice.
"Normally, we at Althur Tower dispatch mages at the knight orders' requests. They carry out missions alongside knights and return to the tower. That's why they're called 'dispatched' mages."
I nodded. It was a story I was familiar with.
"But the Silver Moon Knight Order is different. Mages there belong to Althur Tower but are also affiliated with the Silver Moon Knight Order, bound by their rules on safety, rights, duties, compensation—everything."
Why was he telling me all this? I was just a second-year in the knight academy's magic department.
The thought crossed my mind, but I listened quietly.
"It's because the missions their mages handle are special."
"Silver Moon mages rotate through sealing sites around the world. Once they leave Prion, most don't return for years."
"What do they do at the sealing sites?"
"They stably manage and efficiently improve the seals and barriers there. Otherwise... 'that thing' at the innermost part of the site could be stolen by demons."
I shut my mouth. I knew all too well the catastrophe that had happened at a sealing site long ago—through my own body.
"That's why sending mages to the Silver Moon Knight Order is a top priority even for Althur Tower. It's why the Silver Guard Knight returned this time—for reinforcements to the Silver Moon Knight Order."
Luwen sighed deeply.
"But our mage numbers have plummeted dramatically, so even for such vital missions, it's hard to spare people."
"But guarding the sealing sites is crucial work that can't be done without mages."
"Exactly..."
Luwen squeezed his eyes shut, deep in thought.
His complexion wasn't good.
Luwen, who had handled such a packed schedule until now, looked utterly besieged by fatigue today.
"For a while, Master traveled the sites trying to find a way to stabilize barriers without mages. It didn't work well."
"I can't let the old man keep wandering like that... Not that having him around is any fun."
Luwen gave me a weary smile. Having endured Claus for over three years, I fully agreed with Luwen.
And I knew that even saying that, Luwen cared deeply for Claus.
For Luwen, who had lost his parents young, Claus was like both master and father.
"Anyway, that's what the talk in the cabin was about earlier. They need a mage for the Silver Moon Knight Order."
"Someone who understands seals and barriers well, excels as a mage, has plenty of time since they'll be traveling the sites..."
Was there such a person?
Luwen looked up and stared straight at me.
"Master said you're the perfect fit, Liberic."
"...Pardon?"
The shock was so great that my mind blanked out, and my response came late.
What did he just say?