Saikyou Mahoushi no Inton Keikaku (LN) - Volume 12 - Chapter 67

Sixty-Seventh Chapter

Coiling Wiles

Inside, the parlor was surprisingly plain. It was exceedingly simple with nothing that really left an impression. It was equipped with the minimum of furnishings: sofas, a heater, a table with some tableware, and nothing more. Since these rooms were also where they accepted student applications, perhaps this was intentional so as not to intimidate or overwhelm the students.

In this rather uninteresting room was Aile, not looking particularly irritated or arrogant at the moment, as he gazed at Alus and Lilisha. A pair of sofas stood in the center of the room with a frosted glass table between them.

Aile sat in the middle of his sofa. He leaned back and smiled as he spoke. “I’m relieved to see that you didn’t stand me up.”

Alus gave him a scathing look as if asking him whose fault this was. “Even if I wanted to, there’s nowhere to hide here. It’s a pain, but if you stay at the Institute, it’s only going to cause the principal more anxiety. And that would become even more bothersome for me,” he added, glancing at the two attendants behind Aile.

If Alus had knocked before, one of them—most likely the female attendant Cilcila—would have opened the door for him. She had a similar presence to the Fable butler, Selva. She was clearly accustomed to serving and attending.

Meanwhile, the male wore an attendant’s outfit. He was good-looking and gave off a rugged impression. His presence was strong as if he’d seen countless battles. At Alus’s estimating gaze, the man cast his eyes down.

“That reminds me. I believe introductions are in order before we begin.” Aile looked behind himself and used a hand to indicate the woman. “This is my personal attendant, Cilcila Cikolen. She also works as my bodyguard.”

As expected. Alus nodded. He’d anticipated that the two would be able to fight as well.

The introduced party put her hand to her chest and politely bowed with a refined and elegant motion. Alus imagined she’d repeated the gesture thousands of times. Based on her movements, she’s definitely skilled. But why are talents like these gathered around someone like this? 

Of course, it was proof of the Womruina family’s great power. They weren’t just rich and influential, but the number and quality of their soldiers was far above the rest. The two present here were probably among the top ones.

When the woman spoke, her voice was as clear as a bell. “Pardon my late greetings, Sir Alus. Considering the circumstances, I hope you can forgive me. This was a rather sudden proposal by Master Aile, you see...”

“That’s enough,” Alus said bluntly, raising his hand to stop her. There was no point in accepting a token apology. He had no use for the lengthy preambles that nobility enjoyed.

“You mean it’s my fault? You don’t need to be so prickly, Cilcila.” Aile smiled wryly.

But Cilcila’s expression remained unchanged. “As somebody who is forced to accompany Master Aile’s every whim, there is no end to my struggles.”

“I’m afraid that can’t be helped. That’s just who I am. Even so, I am grateful for your continued loyalty.”

“As you please.” Cilcila repeated her usual phrase in a formal tone.

With an awkward expression, as if he’d just remembered, Aile pointed to the other attendant. “Next is this man... Well, he’s purely a bodyguard. He may be an attendant like Cilcila, but the tea he makes is just undrinkable.”

“Excuse me, Master Aile. I don’t believe I will get another chance to brew tea,” the man calmly replied. He took a half step forward and gave Alus a probing look. “Sir Alus Reigin, I have heard the rumors. It is an honor to take part in an audience with you. Please refer to me simply as Orneus. I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”

“Likewise,” Alus said after a pause. The man’s words were polite, but he didn’t sense any sort of respect. If anything, his assessing stare left more of an impression. He nodded back to Orneus, thinking to himself, Just Orneus, huh. I wonder why he’s not giving his last name. 

Technically, Alus had the higher position here, so proper manners would dictate that Orneus give his full name. Either he didn’t have a last name to give or he had a reason for not revealing it.

For the time being, Alus sat down on the sofa, sensing Lilisha moving to stand behind him. Instead of sitting down like Alus and Aile, she stood in recognition of her position. She was showing modesty, but also that she had no intentions of interfering with their discussion. As nobility, she understood manners and customs far better than Alus, and she’d concluded that getting involved in a problem between the Fables and the Womruinas was a bad idea. In any case, her main role was to be a witness to the meeting.

Now then. Alus looked to Aile hoping they could begin, but Aile took it as criticism of Orneus’s rude behavior. He smiled again. “I do apologize. Orneus can be a bit uptight.”

The way Aile jested about it grated on Alus’s nerves. Orneus’s attitude was actually more honest and sincere than that. There wasn’t sincerity or anything like it in Aile’s words. In the end, it was all just a guise. He wasn’t letting a single thing show in his expression, which was why Alus felt that everything Aile did was fake and suspicious. His perfect poker face made it seem like Alus wasn’t dealing with a human, but some kind of alien being. “I’m not really angry. But I don’t think we need to introduce ourselves, including Lilisha.”

“Of course. There’s nobody here who doesn’t know who you are. But...Ms. Lilisha, was it? She does concern me. More than anything, I don’t understand her presence here. If the Rimfuge family gets involved, it won’t be a problem between two families anymore, will it? And does the head of the Rimfuge family know about this?”

Lilisha had expected as much. With the other party being a member of one of the three great noble families, he would know where she was weak. So she gave him the answer she’d already prepared. “The head of the family doesn’t know.”

“So you’re doing this on your own accord.”

“Yes, but I don’t believe it will be a problem. I might not be from one of the three great noble families, but I do bear the names of both Rimfuge and Frusevan. I am also accompanying Alus at the wish of the military. Seeing how you are being very rough with a Single Digit Magicmaster, please just consider me as a neutral third party.”

“Ah, I see. Then there shouldn’t be any problem. Governor-General Berwick does seem to have a sharp nose, but this is fine. If anything, your presence should make this go smoother.”

“Thank you very much.”

Aile calmly raised his hand. Tea must’ve been prepared at some point, as Cilcila wordlessly placed steaming cups down on the table. “It’s not the cheap stuff you get here. We always bring this with us.”

Since Aile seemed to be recommending it, Alus decided to try it. The tea was made from high quality leaves with a mellow fragrance that tickled the nose. But the fragrance alone wasn’t enough to give it a passing grade. Thanks to Loki preparing tea on a daily basis, his tongue had become rather refined. In his opinion, tea just being expensive wasn’t enough... However...

“These tea leaves come from the fields in the Urugaru region of northern Halcapdia. It’s not a blend, but a pure product with a rich aroma,” Cilcila fluidly explained.

Alus took a sip, then immediately put the cup back on the saucer and let out a sigh of relief. “To think it could be this different...” It tasted just as great as it smelled.

“It is brewed at the right temperature and there’s a trick to pouring it...but with leaves this good, I can guarantee the taste.” Cilcila’s voice was monotone, but there was a hint of pride and joy in her words. She was confident when it came to tea.

“The world of tea is pretty deep.”

“Yes, I personally picked these leaves out. But that doesn’t mean that the leaves are everything. Being able to brew good tea with poorer quality leaves is also a matter of skill. That’s another major point worth bearing in mind—”

“R-Right.”

Cilcila was getting worked up and continuing on, overpowering Alus.

“Okay, I believe that’s enough, Cilcila,” an exasperated Aile intervened. “I’m sorry about that. When it comes to tea, she just doesn’t know when to stop. After all, she’s... What was it again?” He glanced at Cilcila.

“A tea master!”

“Right, that’s it. She has acquired almost all the qualifications when it comes to tea. In any event, her enthusiasm knows no bounds.”

“I’m also a certified tea advisor, so if there’s something you don’t know, I can answer any questions you have.”

His first impression of Cilcila had been that she was quiet, but Alus had been shown an unexpected side to her. But she did seem to realize by now that she should hold back from going on any further.

Alus had come in with a sense of resolve, but he couldn’t help but feel that he’d been tripped up at the start. Lilisha felt the same. An awkward mood filled the parlor.

Aile clapped his hands, as if signaling they were starting over. “Let us get back to the topic at hand.”

Alus felt he’d gotten caught up in Aile’s pace and kept a sharp gaze on his face, not intending to give up anything.

“Sir Alus, Alpha’s greatest Magicmaster. I’ve come to greet you personally...although it does concern Fia too. From what I’ve discovered, it seems you’ve been teaching her directly. Which is why I felt the need to discuss her future with you.”

However, Aile’s tone of voice and demeanor made it clear that it was just a formality to him. And he had no intention of hiding it. “So to get to the point, I will be taking Fia. I assume you have no complaints.”

Alus crossed his legs and replied plainly. “Sorry, but that’s not going to happen. I won’t let it.”

“Hmm, to be honest, I didn’t expect that answer. This was a miscalculation. I was sure you wouldn’t want to get involved in these kinds of problems. Or perhaps you’ve taken a liking to Fia?” Even as he spoke, the soft expression on Aile’s face didn’t change. It was doubtful that Alus’s behavior had really been unexpected.

“Taken a liking to, huh... Well, you can interpret it that way.” By which Alus meant that he’d acknowledged Tesfia’s talents and potential. But when he flashed an insolent smile at Aile, the gentle expression disappeared from Aile’s face and he raised an eyebrow.

Oh, looks like you do have a human side too , Alus sarcastically thought.

Tesfia’s will aside, to Aile it must’ve felt like a ripe fruit meant to fall into his hands had gotten snatched away in midair. Anyone getting in his way was something that couldn’t be overlooked. “I assume you are aware that by saying that, you will get caught up in the middle of this.”

Behind Alus, Lilisha twitched a little, but he ignored her. She must have wanted to warn him about the change in Aile’s behavior, though Alus was aware of it as well. “Of course.”

“May I ask what drives you to go that far? The Alus Reigin I’ve heard about isn’t the kind of person to get deeply involved with these kinds of worldly matters. I’ve also heard that you hate noble society so much that you turned down any talk of a peerage being conferred.”

“You’ve done your homework. I hate to admit that you’re on the mark, but I figured I’d take the opportunity to teach a naive young boy a few things. To be frank, no one would accept having someone else decide the future of the pupil they’ve taken the time to train.”

Upon being told that, Aile unexpectedly put his hand on his chin as if he’d never heard of such a reaction before.

“Not to mention that it directly concerns my interests. In other words, I’ve spent time on her so that I can take it easier in the future.” Aile had practically invaded Alus’s territory. Alus was intervening with the intention of not going along with Aile’s reasoning.

The edges of Alus’s lips curled up into a smile. “But if you were to show me something embarrassing like you and Fia being in love with each other, or a bold proposal that Fia would accept, not even I would be wild enough to interfere.”

“Ha ha, that would be difficult. We’re not exactly engaged because of love.” Aile didn’t hesitate to reveal he had no feelings for Tesfia. And it wasn’t out of ill will either. It was just how nobility worked.

Lilisha seemed to agree and had no objections to this.

“Even so, she is quite the beauty... I see, it seems my research into you was a little lacking. So what do you intend to do, Sir Alus? Perhaps you will kill me with one of those techniques you use behind the scenes?” Aile calmly asked, with an innocent smile.

So...he even knows about my dirty work. Alus was a little annoyed at the Womruinas’ outstanding investigative abilities. He had another job, that of eliminating Kurama executives and other serious criminals and terrorists. This was all under direct orders from the Governor-General and was supposed to be top secret. If they knew about that, then the Womruinas had a deep connection to the military, similar to that of the Governor-General.

But Alus couldn’t let anything show. So he simply replied, “No, I won’t do anything on my end. How I act depends entirely on you. As nobility, I’m sure you understand.”

A significant change came over Aile’s expression for the first time. The edges of his lips went down and any gentleness disappeared from his face, leaving only a blank look like a mask. “Then I’d like you to understand that the Womruinas are not nobility, but royalty. You’re the one who needs to steel his resolve, Alus. Any more than this will cut down your lifespan. Knowing that, are you prepared to fight a family that once was king? There is nothing in this for you.”

“Resolve? Sorry, but I’ve never made a decision without resolve in my life. So let me tell you this. You are not the one who decides whether my choice will benefit me in the future. And I can’t stand having my efforts be wasted, especially this time. And finally, I couldn’t care less if you’re nobility or royalty.”

Aile stared at Alus in bewilderment. His lips twisted up in a crescent-shaped smile. “That’s right, you don’t even obey the ruler’s orders. But this is different. If you get involved in this, you will have to follow the rules of nobility.”

Alus had come well aware of that. He remained calm, but Aile continued to argue. “My engagement to Fia is formally promised in writing and signed by both families. Do you understand what that means?”

That was one of the major points of concern that had been mentioned before, and it was the basis of what Aile was claiming. Of course, he hadn’t produced the so-called writing, so it was possible that it was just a bluff. Even so, it was a strong card to play.

As proof of that, Lilisha’s expression turned a little severe. But that was as far as they would go with it. From here on, they would negotiate rather than intimidate and threaten each other.

“So, you mean you have a certificate then?” Lilisha asked in Alus’s stead.

“If not, I wouldn’t have come.” As expected, there was no sign that Aile was bluffing. He continued with an unruffled expression. “If Fia becomes mine, the Fable and Womruina families will eventually become one... The Fable family will be absorbed into the Womruinas and a glorious future will await both of them.”

“...!” Lilisha looked shocked. A simple marriage was one thing, but it was a completely different matter if they were going to unite. The head of the Fable family, Frose, would never allow it, but the Womruinas seemed to be scheming behind the scenes. It appeared that Aile was willing to go to any lengths to accomplish what he wanted. Lilisha had been somewhat calm to this point, albeit a bit nervous, but now her expression had changed.

Although Alus could sense the atmosphere had changed, he wasn’t familiar enough with how nobility worked, so he confirmed it with Lilisha. “Lilisha, what does this mean for our talks going forward?”

Lilisha presented a complicated expression at his question. “There are no special rules of negotiation. Just about anything can be used as a bargaining chip to ensure a successful negotiation. But...” She hesitated to continue. With Aile’s intentions now clear, it was no longer just a matter of Tesfia’s marriage. It concerned the political balance of Alpha itself.

Two of the three great noble families might merge. If the political marriage took place, it would have a tremendous impact on the balance of power in the noble world. And as a result, the Womruinas would become more powerful than ever.

When Lilisha thought of that, she was glad she came. Nobility and politics were inseparably connected, and if the Womruinas gained even more power, their influence would start to rival the ruler’s influence.

The position of ruler was typically hereditary, but it reflected the will of the people to a degree. Furthermore, they couldn’t ignore the nobility and high-ranking bureaucrats. Meaning that if the Womruinas saw Cicelnia as a problem, they had ways of pulling her down from her position. The senate—where nobility and bureaucrats gathered—would be key for such moves. By absorbing the Fable family, they could use their influence as a foothold to completely turn the situation in their favor.

Naturally, such events would lead to chaos, opposition, and conflict. Lilisha felt a chill run down her spine as she imagined a terrifying future. The Womruinas originate from the royal bloodline. But so far they’ve just been satisfied with being one of the three great noble families, showing no signs of expanding on their power. So why would they suddenly change? Either way, they must have been preparing for this for a long time. If they’re not careful, they might even overthrow Alpha itself. Forcefully overthrowing the state is a crime, but by upsetting the balance of power, it would be possible to do it legally. 

As if to confirm Lilisha’s unease, Aile lifted his hand to signal Cilcila. She immediately pulled out a small rectangular box from her pocket and opened it. Inside was a thick piece of parchment, rolled up and tied with a golden thread. “This is the original deed of engagement between the two families.”

The document was unfurled and placed on the table, and Lilisha moved faster than Alus to confirm its authenticity. Alus glanced at her from the side, and saw visible frustration on her face. “Is it real, Lilisha?”

“If it was fake, that would be forgery of official documents and a major crime. I can’t tell if the signatures from both families are real, but...it bears the seal of the senate. Proof that they’ve witnessed and approved it.” Lilisha stared intensely at the parchment, as if to burn a hole in it, but she could see no flaws. It even had the signature of a guarantor.

Lieutenant General Morwald is the guarantor?! A powerful noble with a high position in the military had even signed it. He was the leader of a faction that opposed the current military system, and was also Berwick’s political opponent.

Lilisha was at a loss for words. The bad feeling she’d had before was starting to feel very real. The Womruinas’ preparations also made it seem like it was too late to stop it. It was clear that everything had been planned well in advance. So the completeness of the deed made sense. While an engagement between noble families was a serious deal, it usually didn’t require such a thorough deed.

For the time being, Lilisha returned to her original position. “I’ve confirmed other pieces of proof before. So it appears to be authentic.”

“I see,” Alus said.

However, both Alus and Lilisha had realized something about the head of the Fable family, Frose Fable. Specifically, with such a detailed deed in place, it made no sense for her to want to go back on her daughter’s engagement. In other words, that meant that this deed was...

While it was only speculation, the two came to the same conclusion: It’s a deception. There must be a dirty trick in play. They also needed to consider the hypnotic suggestion that Aile had planted in Tesfia. Alus had sensed slight mana traces inside her. Not to mention that Aile probably wouldn’t hesitate to use such means.

But the irrefutable fact was that the document before them was legally valid. That meant that there was next to nothing that Alus or Lilisha could do.

When Cilcila rolled up the document and placed it back into the box, Lilisha had yet another bad feeling. Like the political world, the military world was built on a delicate balance between noble families. The Governor-General had considerable skills to be able to maintain such a balance, but Frose Fable’s and Vizaist Socalent’s assistance was also a great help.

Aile and the Womruina family were looking to change the current system. If that happened, there would no doubt be a major upheaval in Alpha. With this much evidence their aim became transparent. This was no mere quarrel between two of the great noble families. The Womruinas’ ambition was clear as day. They were practically staging a rebellion against Alpha.

What was even more troubling was that it appeared to involve the top brass in the military and political spheres as well. The ruler was the symbol of Alpha and was sometimes even referred to as a living god. Alpha becoming a major nation was all thanks to the Arlzeit family to begin with, and to turn on them was simply foolish.

Lilisha’s expression darkened as she cursed inwardly. Traitor! She was shaken as she predicted a terrible future. And that, combined with the bad feeling that she’d had, meant that what happened behind the scenes here was of the utmost importance. Since Alus didn’t even know the rules of nobility, that made things even harder for him to resolve. “We will need to confirm that the deed is indeed genuine first. Not to mention that the Fable family has no representative present. So we can’t grant your request at this time.” She desperately made her point in Alus’s stead, doing what she could to try to change the disadvantageous flow, even though it was likely to fail.

“I don’t believe its credibility can be questioned, although I can accept that you can’t acknowledge it that easily. However, I have an alternative suggestion. In other words, let’s make a deal.” Aile paused for a moment, then smiled. “I want you, Alus.”

“Wha—?!” Lilisha was astonished, and looked at Alus.

“I refuse.” Alus shot down the offer without hesitation.

Lilisha was relieved to hear that, but she was exasperated by Aile’s audacity. He was acting like a big shot on a different level from the engagement. Alus siding with the Womruinas would seriously upset the power balance. If that happened, the engagement itself would be completely pointless. “That’s far too unrelated to this matter!” she exclaimed. “And Singles are a force to be reckoned with in the military! It’s just out of the question, don’t you understand that?”

Aile played stupid at her overbearing words. “Is it? I’m not the head of the family yet, so I was just speaking off the top of my head. Besides, I merely offered another idea, so that’s quite the attitude to take. Also, Singles being under the direct control of the Governor-General is just a matter of convention. There aren’t any laws that dictate the practice. And above all, you can’t call Sir Alus an official soldier anymore. He’s a student at the Institute. If anything, that’s a bigger problem.”

“...!” Lilisha fell silent, as Aile’s point was right on the mark. Alus was technically still a soldier, but his current circumstances and position were vague and there were some difficulties involved. It was a special exception made in acknowledgment of Alus’s extraordinary powers. She more or less abandoned her neutral position to make her point. “Are you planning on making an enemy of the military?” She practically glared at Aile.

“That’s not my intent at all. And it was Sir Alus who asked to be discharged from the military due to the expiration of his service, wasn’t it? The military forced him to stay, I hear. Wouldn’t you say that’s a problematic attitude to take towards a hero who staked his life to serve the nation?”

As Lilisha was rendered speechless again, Aile pressed his advantage. “You should consider your own position here. I’m sure your brother has told you about your ‘family business.’”

“?! What are you...” Lilisha’s voice trembled slightly.

Aile turned to Alus. “By the way, do you happen to know what kind of work the Rimfuge family does behind the scenes, Sir Alus?”

“What are you talking about?” Alus didn’t really have any interest in it, but answered anyway.

“Hmm. Perhaps you’ll understand if I mention Aferka? They’re well known in that line of work... The executive unit that works directly under the ruler. Although it’s been some time since the ruler kept a hand on their reins, they’re still quite active.”

Aile then turned to Lilisha. “The current head of Aferka is your brother. How does he see you? Perhaps he has the same appraisal of you as that mediocre Gill? And how did that turn out?”

He was merely talking, but Lilisha’s condition changed as more blood drained from her face with each word. She held herself while her shoulders trembled.

“Perhaps you are going to get discarded too?” Aile said, as a finishing blow.

Lilisha’s pupils dilated and she staggered, as Aile gave her a chillingly cold smile. The blade of words that had hurt Tesfia now chipped away at Lilisha’s spirit as well.

Aile had skillfully made use of the Womruinas’ information network to strike at her vital points. In addition, his words conveyed mana that disrupted and bound Lilisha’s mind. Lilisha was surprisingly fragile. “Just like your incompetent brother, you’ve been shoved into the military as a disposable pawn, haven’t you? How pathetic.”

Lilisha’s knees finally buckled, but before she could collapse, a hand reached out to her. Alus stopped Aile with a cold tone. “Hey, leave it at that. She’s here as a witness and I’m the one who brought her. So don’t get too full of yourself.” His voice was low but conveyed power. This opponent wasn’t just cunning; his methods and attitude were repulsive. And he wouldn’t stand for it. It already felt like it was pointless to negotiate.

“It was just starting to get interesting too,” Aile replied nonchalantly. “I’m sure you would benefit from hearing it.”

“No, I have nothing more to listen to... Are you ready to protect your master?” The latter was directed not to Aile, but his two attendants.

Alus raised a hand and cracked his joints. Without hesitation, Cilcila stepped in front of Aile and Orneus kicked up the table between Aile and Alus.

As the sound of breaking glass rang out, a surging wave of Alus’s mana filled the room.

Sensing the danger, Orneus tried to move the heavy table, but was unable to before it was swallowed up in a powerful shock wave of mana that assaulted Aile. A thick wall of mana had appeared before Alus, which was then pushed forward as a wave towards Aile.

Cilcila shielded Aile with her body as Orneus jumped in from the side. He put his hands together and then thrust them out, deflecting the wave to either side like a breaker.

However, that wasn’t the end of it. The glass shattered against the walls, and the furniture in the room was thrown up into the air.

With the sounds of the furniture slamming back down onto the floor, Aile looked around the room with a smile on his face. Then he turned to gaze at Alus. A small laugh leaked out, as he motioned for his two attendants to stand down. “How scary. The ranked No. 1 truly is awe-inspiring. But a threat is nothing more than that. It will be difficult to make me tremble just from throwing mana my way. So, sorry Orneus, but can you not make a move yet?”

“Tsk.” Alus bitterly clicked his tongue. As expected, the boy before him was abnormal. A normal person would falter or even faint from fear, but even in this situation, Aile had calmly observed how far Alus was willing to go.

“Unfortunately, you’re the opposite of emotional. It seems that bit of information was correct. You wouldn’t snap over something like that. Or rather, it was nowhere near enough for you to lose yourself in anger... You’re almost inhumanly coldhearted. So in a way, that makes you trustworthy, even in a situation like that. Like I said before, I’ve investigated you, and it would be wise not to underestimate my power.”

While Alus wasn’t a fan of Aile’s analyzing of him, he remained quiet and simply stared at the self-satisfied boy.

“Well, I’m willing to forgive this much. It was more a light greeting than anything. And I went a little too far myself. So I apologize for that.” Despite his words, Aile gazed at Lilisha with a smug smile.

In spite of the fierce exchange, she wore a vacant look in the middle of the now ruined room. Her stunned expression was similar to Tesfia’s. However, if there was a difference, it was that unlike Tesfia and her family situation, Aile had plunged his fangs into Lilisha’s very personal vulnerability.

“Hey! Keep it together! Don’t react like that and take everything he says seriously.”

As Alus said that, the light returned to Lilisha’s eyes. He was a little relieved to see it, since it’d be a pain if she lost it as well. At the same time, he recalled something that had happened before. That sharp reaction she’d shown when he’d unconsciously reached out towards her head. She’d looked ready to scream and curled up to protect herself. She always appeared carefree and bold, but in reality she was delicate and timid. Like she was always scared of something.

Alus was typically dense when it came to these kinds of things, but he felt like he vaguely understood her. At the very least, it was clear that she was more complicated than she appeared on the surface.

“I-I’m fine! I was just a little surprised.” Even now she kept up the facade, but from what Alus could tell, the amount of sweating she’d done made it obvious that she had been shocked.

Seeing how things had calmed down, Cilcila spoke up in an exasperated tone. “Master Aile, dealing with the aftermath of fighting in the Institute would be troublesome. Surely you don’t intend to drag in the Witch too?”

At her gentle reprimand, Aile’s devious smile disappeared. “That certainly wouldn’t be good. I would’ve loved to have observed a portion of Alpha’s greatest Magicmaster’s power up close, but oh well. Unintentionally angering people is a bad habit of mine,” he said in an almost playful tone.

“You’re playing with fire. No matter how many lives you have, it won’t be enough.”

“For better or worse, a single one has been enough.” Aile brushed off Alus’s statement, even though Alus still looked ready to fight.

Cilcila remained vigilant and Orneus was still as aggressive as before. He was only barely obeying Aile’s order not to make a move. The dense mana coming from his person clearly wished to do the opposite.

“There won’t be a second time.”

“I’ll take that to heart. Especially since it seems you’re not just a Magicmaster tamed by the military either,” Aile responded in a calm tone, as he looked over the disaster that had swept through the room. “However, the appointment and dismissal of Governors-General are up to the ruler. If your actions here are reported to her, it might be used against Berwick later. Incidentally, the Womruina family prides itself on such political maneuvering. Unfortunately, if something were to happen, neither the Governor-General you’re indebted to, nor even you yourself would be able to retire peacefully.”

If Berwick fell from his position, the forces covering for Alus would naturally weaken. But Alus frankly didn’t care even if he was exiled from Alpha. If anything, it would be like a wish come true.

Things would be different though if Berwick got involved. If Alus left the military, he would prefer that all debts be repaid first. Himself aside, he would want to prevent Berwick from being blamed.

Of course, Alus was more or less sure he’d repaid his debt. But even so, if Berwick were to disappear now, Alus’s own future would be clouded in darkness. In addition, it would allow for the unwanted rise of the detestable boy in front of him. Is that why he did all of that in public? 

Alus even entertained the idea of killing Aile and his two guards, but that would be difficult. He couldn’t use any flashy spells in the Institute, and then there was all the commotion that had happened earlier. It wouldn’t have been strange for annoying onlookers to have gathered outside after his burst of mana sent objects flying down from the top floor, though he’d used his sixth sense to confirm that there was no one directly below.

As if seeing through Alus’s calculations, Aile addressed his two attendants. “Don’t worry, you two. He is smart, so he doesn’t even need to consider the consequences of killing me here. Of course, that’s only for right now,” he concluded, but his words also served as a light check against Alus’s possible moves.

With a fearless smile, Aile looked at Cilcila covering him and Orneus who was ready to fight. He took a few steps forward, stepping on the glass shards as if to provoke Alus a little.

“!!! Master Aile, any farther than that is...”

“Like I said, he can’t touch me right now. So we can’t touch him either.”

“But...”

Aile ignored Cilcila’s worries with a smile. “Now then, it seems my prediction is on the mark, isn’t it, little watchdog?”

“If you’re so confident in your psychological analysis, you should watch your mouth. You seem to have a high opinion of my patience, but it might just be too high. If you cross the line I’ve drawn, you might find your head separated from your body.”

“Hmm, while I am interested in where that line lies, I’m not cowardly enough to fall for such an obvious bluff. However, the Institute is under the jurisdiction of the principal. Just like how you won’t play into my hands, I won’t play into yours.”

With Sisty politically siding with Berwick, if there would be a scandal in the Institute, she might do whatever it took to cover for Alus. Aile was taking that into consideration.

“Aren’t you sly.”

“I will take that as a compliment.”

Aile interpreted Alus’s remark as ridiculing him, but Alus had been half-serious. While it was just for an instant, Alus had unleashed a shock wave of mana with killing intent. Yet Aile was acting like nothing had happened.

It wasn’t so much composure as some kind of abnormality that allowed him to remain calm in the face of death. The boy was probably extremely detached from his own life, or maybe he’d been born with something broken inside him. His brain was just wired differently, allowing him to bypass instinctual fear. He was someone worth fearing in a different sense than Alus.

At any rate, it was clear that Alus had already lost the chance to try anything, including cheap provocations.

“It’s a little messy, but how about we chat a little?” Aile said, shrugging as he looked around the room.

“I don’t mind.”

“I am glad to hear it.” As usual, the only thing Aile showed was his pasted-on elegant smile.

Beneath that smile, Aile considered this his first win. By making it through Alus’s bluff he’d gained a slight advantage. Also, Lilisha still hadn’t recovered from her shock. She wouldn’t be interrupting him again for a while. As a result of this subtle bargaining, the negotiations had become more favorable to him. It felt like walking a tightrope from up high without a lifeline. But I was the one who managed to walk all the way to the other side. 

Aile pondered how to proceed from here. If he immediately cornered the other party...how likely was it that Alus would go beyond bluffing and truly use force? He evaluated the prowess of the greatest Magicmaster and compared it to that of his own people. It would be rough , he concluded. Even some of the strongest of the Womruina family’s forces, Cilcila and Orneus, wouldn’t stand a chance against Alus in a magic battle.

For the time being, he’d been able to confirm Alus’s personality...or more specifically, his inhumanity and almost instinctive sharpness. It seemed to be true that even the military struggled to rein him in. In reality, nobody could truly control him. He could reject the military and even the rules set down by the nation. It was all but clear that he had no intention of obeying someone of the Womruina lineage either.

That was something that Aile couldn’t stand. He’d encountered plenty of strong people who’d stood against him before. He had crushed each and every one of them. Not with his own power, but through his overwhelming authority.

Authority to control the many beat the power of the individual. If the opponent had the strength of a thousand men, then he could just send ten thousand at them. That was the principle that Aile followed. And if the opponent still refused to become a pawn, they would just be erased. No matter how strong they were, they would have no choice but to bow down before the many.

The strong one who stood before Aile now was different from the others. He was an overwhelming foe, incomparable to all the ones who’d fallen before Aile thus far.

But that was exactly why Aile hoped to win him over and use him as a pawn. After all, it was thanks to Alus that Alpha had built up a top-class record of eliminating Fiends. Alus was an essential trump card for rising to the top of the power struggle in Alpha.

Cicelnia had once thought the same and approached Alus, only to fail to completely control him. But Aile had been sure he’d be able to achieve it.

However, he’d been taught that such thoughts were just an illusion. In front of him was a man of unshakable will, an iron wall. But that didn’t mean that he’d given up. Instead, he’d found his resolve. Now was the time. As someone who sought to rule, this was a trial he needed to overcome to reach the next step.

That was why Aile was doing everything he could to put on a good face. This was a plan he had long envisioned. He smiled feebly, as if he’d just come up with this idea. “How troubling. It seems we just can’t come to an agreement. But I have no intention of getting into a fight with a Single. I hope you can understand. Although...I suppose there is one method, especially if you wish to annul the engagement with Fia.”

Alus stared at him, saying nothing.

Aile continued without flinching. “It’s a traditional method to resolve quarrels in the nobility.” He paused, as if trying to figure out Alus’s intentions. He couldn’t afford to let the other side think this was a one-sided proposal. Now it was his turn to coldly stare at Alus.

“Continue,” Alus said, after checking on Lilisha. Once he’d observed her expression, he decided to at least hear the details.

Aile pretended not to notice their silent exchange, and nodded. “You might not know, but it is a method that has existed since long ago. Nowadays people try to solve everything with money and a distribution of interests, but don’t you think that’s a little shallow? Many are poisoned by this trend as a result and believe that being rich is what the noble class is all about. And this concerns two of the great noble families. That’s why I believe a formal approach would be appropriate. The method I speak of is the arbitration of nobles...Tenbram.”

Lilisha’s eyebrows twitched at the word, but Alus had never heard of it before.

“You don’t hear about Tenbram often these days, but a hundred years ago the competition was used frequently. In the past, when trouble arose, nobility would compete in chess or sports or table games rather than with the bloody use of force, and the final arbitration was based on the results. Of course, they would have representatives as well. Tenbram was one such competitive game.”

“Please wait,” Lilisha said. “If you’re going to use Tenbram, then you will need to decide on specific rules that both sides agree on first.”

“Oh, you’re going to interject here?”

“...!”

Aile overpowered Lilisha, but Alus stepped in to cover for her. “Hold on. If you’re not going to let Lilisha speak, there’s no point in having her as a witness.”

“Ah, right you are. Pardon me. However, I have a deed detailing my engagement to Fia. If you’re asking me to let that go to waste, then I’ll need you to yield a little. Of course, I’ll even overlook your earlier act of intimidation as a bonus.”

Alus glanced at Lilisha. She didn’t say anything, but seemed to express with her eyes that there was no other choice. He knew little of noble rules in general, let alone Tenbram. That was why he’d had her accompany him in the first place. If that was her conclusion, then he had no room for objection. “I’ll leave that up to Lilisha.”

“Then...in order to ensure fairness, the Tenbram should fulfill two conditions at least.”

“Hm? And what are they?” Aile asked politely.

“The first is, of course, to hold on and receive the Fable family’s agreement. As for the other, I want the Frusevan family to serve as the judge.” Lilisha’s intent was clear. She wanted to keep watch on the Womruinas so that they didn’t bend the rules or results, or try to cheat. Even though she might not rule in Alus’s favor, if cheating was discovered on Aile’s side, she could prevent him from using his authority to crush any accusations.

“The Frusevans, you say? Are you sure? You seem pretty close to Sir Alus.” Aile put a finger on his chin and gave her a quizzical look.

“Of course, I swear on my family name to remain neutral for the Tenbram,” Lilisha proudly declared. As Aile looked to be pondering this, she whispered so that only Alus could hear, “It could be beneficial for the Womruina family, but it’s in accordance with the rules of nobility. If you refuse this, there will be bloodshed.”

Bloodshed, huh... It sounded ominous, but he couldn’t help but think that it would be quicker that way. But this was a problem between nobles. He wasn’t a member of the Fable family, so while he was Tesfia’s representative, it wasn’t his place to stir things up. “Got it,” he told Lilisha.

Lilisha smiled at him. “So assuming the Tenbram goes through, let’s see what both sides are after. We want the annulment of Tesfia Fable’s engagement.”

“Yes. And I want Alus Reigin’s freedom...or more specifically, that he be removed from Governor-General Berwick’s command, who will relinquish any power or authority over him. Of course, after that I will have Alus sign a contract of employment with me of his own free will. Perhaps as my new bodyguard? And don’t worry, your salary will be even better than it is now.”

Lilisha was speechless. In effect, Aile was trying to exploit Alus’s vague position in the military and then hire him for his private army once he’d been separated from the military.

It wasn’t just unconventional. Depending on the interpretation, it was a clear hostile action against the Governor-General. In addition, since the two of them had huge influence in Alpha, it could even be seen as treason. As Lilisha had feared, Aile probably didn’t care if he caused a storm of chaos.

She wasn’t the only one surprised by his statement. His attendants were also taken aback. Orneus raised a single eyebrow, peering at his master’s expression before turning to observe Alus. Cilcila barely suppressed a yelp. Then, as if a bad feeling she’d had inside had come true, she saw a distinct look on Aile’s face.

She had been serving Aile since she was a young girl, long before Orneus arrived. Because of that, she thought of him as a little brother, though she would never say as much. The Cikolen family had served the Womruina family for generations. Without exception, anyone born in the family was trained to become a first-rate servant from the age of six. They started with physical training to protect their master, and were also provided with the knowledge and education one expected from nobility, as well as the art of socializing and anything else needed to serve their master.

Cilcila had succeeded at all of that grueling training. As a result, it had been more than ten years since she’d become the Womruina family’s second son’s attendant.

In their casual conversations as master and servant, she almost always saw Aile as an innocent boy. This was why she believed that the expression he showed on a daily basis reflected his true nature. While he’d grown up a little twisted due to the enormous power and influence of his family as well as the indulgence of those around him, Cilcila believed he was a normal boy who meant good, as he seemed to show her when they spoke alone.

But at times, Aile showed a side that not even she understood. On the surface he remained as elegant as a noble should be, but his heart was locked up in a small room of ice. Neither Cilcila nor his family was allowed in there.

When that side appeared, Cilcila would feel a chill run down her spine. He would be as crafty as a sophisticated adult. At the drop of a hat, he would display unworldly intelligence and an abnormal sensibility.

All of those things made Cilcila feel a little uneasy about Aile. At times she thought that his hidden abilities far exceeded what she could imagine. She didn’t think he was a monster, but he was impossible to figure out. When she thought of where his future was headed, she almost felt like trembling. It was a dark path that he would walk as he followed the clever plans he’d made in that room of ice.

Cilcila had no way of knowing what he sought beyond the darkness. It was possible that she could always stay at his side and support him so that he wouldn’t be isolated. However, she would need to keep chasing after him so that he wouldn’t leave her behind as he walked down his path.

She feared that she would one day lose sight of him...that he would be all alone on his dark path. And that was the only thing that truly frightened her. It wasn’t a hunch or gut feeling, but she still feared that it would happen one day.

Yet she didn’t take action or admonish her master. Something akin to despair or resignation kept her mouth shut, even though she knew it was the same as turning a blind eye to the coming catastrophe. And so she forced herself to believe that the innocent side that Aile showed was his true self.

But now that illusion was falling apart. Now that she’d been made aware of the reality, she was almost glad that it had happened. Aile was a free being who ran rampant, fearless of any and all, his vessel immeasurable to the ordinary man. That was why he could remain unconcerned in the face of any storm, and smile even in the midst of blood and mud. It was surely the essence of his personality. Then, as his attendant, it was Cilcila’s duty to embrace and accept it.

Perhaps it would be better to call it sympathy. It was exactly what a compassionate older sister would do to support her dangerous younger brother. At any rate, she used her resolve to push down her astonishment.

The conditions Aile had put forth were exorbitant but correct. Alus Reigin was a trump card, an absolute in Alpha’s possession. Moreover, he was the strongest individual protecting humanity. The one who got their hands on him would have enormous power not only over Alpha, but the future of humanity as a whole.

But that was why no one person could possess him. The military would never permit it. No matter if Aile had the blood of the Womruina family in his veins, it shouldn’t be possible.

At the same time, Cilcila felt her master might be able to accomplish it. In Aile’s path, there were sure to be huge obstacles and unimaginable loneliness. Not even the head of the Womruina family could see a glimpse of their second son’s thoughts. Her master had taken a step forward, and Cilcila gazed at his back...wondering how grand his ambitions were.

On the surface, he was likely wearing his usual graceful smile. For Cilcila it was so easy to imagine that she didn’t need to see it for herself. And so she let out a soft sigh and thought to herself, Phew, what a bother. But I alone must always stay at his side. Yes, that’s exactly what I will do, no matter what you say. 

For a moment, Aile’s gaze flickered as he awaited the other party’s response...and Cilcila stared at his back in support.

***

While Lilisha was at a loss for words, Alus remained silent. He was considering the conditions that Aile had stated. But not whether they were possible... His thoughts were on a different level.

He had no particular objection to leaving Berwick’s command. He had a feeling, though, that he would be able to do so anyway if he graduated from the Institute. And there were several other ways. Of course, he wouldn’t take such forceful measures while he was still indebted to Berwick.

“Okay,” Alus answered, showing no expression.

It was such an unexpected answer that Aile looked puzzled for a moment.

Even Alus would admit that something was wrong with him. But he was the type of person who would make these kinds of decisions without hesitation. He wasn’t being negligent. He had calmly examined the risk and reward. Above all, in his mind, this was a cold calculation. He was prepared to use his power as the greatest Magicmaster to push his own way through, even if he had to bend reason a little. He would continue on the path he’d chosen even if that meant a rain of blood would fall.

Alus could show restraint with Berwick, but if it was someone he didn’t like such as the boy before him, he had no such reservations. That’s why he didn’t hesitate to speak in a grave tone. “However, I’m betting my life here. It’s no fun if only the Fable family benefits from this. So I’d like to add another condition. I assume you have the same resolve.”

“Of course. I never expected that acquiring the greatest Magicmaster would be a cheap deal to begin with. So what more do you want from me? As long as it’s not for me to drop dead here and now, I won’t hesitate to accept any condition.”

“Well, that’s a shame.”

Aile wryly smiled at that, but didn’t seem particularly upset. “It might be a shame for you, but I hope you can settle for something else.” Not only was he extraordinarily calm, he even seemed to be looking forward to hearing what Alus would demand.

Alus’s sharp sense of smell picked up the scent of a broken human. He once again thought that Aile was not a sane person in many ways. At the same time, he felt he wouldn’t need to show a shred of restraint in what he would say.

Meanwhile, Aile eagerly awaited Alus Reigin’s next words. As far as he was concerned, the deepest desires of the heart couldn’t be hidden so easily. They could show themselves at any moment, in any place. So to Aile, seeing through the true nature of a person was simple, even in a trivial exchange.

Conditions given in situations like these tended to reveal a person’s wishes. When it came to money and influence, the Womruinas were top class. For a commoner, they could pretty much make the impossible possible. As a member of the family, Aile had had plenty of people state their wishes before him...when making wagers, during audiences with him, in official meetings, on the streets, and so on...

When it came to Tenbram, it was always the most boring things. Money, women, power. Such things meant nothing to Aile. He would brush them all off with a bored expression, and then crush those low-life wishes in the Tenbram, making sure they never came true.

But in front of him now was the ranked No. 1 Magicmaster, different from all who’d come before him in the past. Aile couldn’t even imagine what he’d ask for, so his heart was leaping for joy. What will he wish for? Money or power...? No, I recall him liking rare books and documents, so something like that? Perhaps something for Fia? What about his greed or lust? No matter what it is, it will show your true nature. However...I’m sure that nothing he wishes for would demoralize me. Wealth and power, though... Perhaps a woman? Then maybe he’ll want Cicelnia. Ah, that wouldn’t be bad. She would get in the way, anyways. Having two monsters getting along would work out for me. 

Even if Alus asked for something incredibly mundane, it wouldn’t be enough to diminish Aile’s appraisal of him. It would be only one answer from him.

But Alus’s next words made Aile doubt his ears. His elegant smile fell apart into an expressionless face.

Alus had to repeat himself. “...Didn’t you hear me? Then I’ll say it one more time. Don’t ever appear before me again. If you see or hear my name anywhere, back off immediately. Make sure your name isn’t mentioned by anyone who has anything to do with me. The next time I see your creepy face, I won’t be nice enough to warn you before I kill you.”

“Wh-Why you...?!” An angry voice shouted out, but it belonged to Cilcila, not Aile.

However, Aile interrupted her by raising an arm. Cilcila frowned and wondered why, but she saw his eyes were opened wide. Alus’s answer must’ve been completely unexpected, as she’d never seen Aile look like that.

“No, well... I can see why the Governor-General and the military have their hands full. You’re experienced and straightforward. It’s easy to tell what you like and hate. It’s as though you’ve declared that you’ll cut down anyone who touches you. I see. Those who violate your territory will immediately have the tip of your blade pointed at their neck.”

Cilcila got goose bumps at Aile’s manner of speaking, but the boy seemed to be enjoying himself. The next moment, the exact words she’d feared came out of his mouth.

“I like you even more.”

“I’m not taking part in this drivel. State the time and place,” Alus bluntly said.

Even at this, Aile’s expression remained the same, as if it was the only one he had, and he couldn’t stop smiling. “Since it’s turned into such a big deal, I will contact you with the time and place at a later date.”

“All right. Anything else?”

“Nothing right now. Just... I do hope you don’t bring these talks of Tenbram to the Fable family, only to come back with their refusal.”

“Don’t worry about it.” After saying this, Alus walked over to the door and opened it. “If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.”

“Wha—?!” Once again, Cilcila raised her voice at his outrageous behavior. Aile’s lips twisted into a smile at her unbecoming and hysterical tone of voice. She was still enraged, but with Aile like that, she reluctantly held back. Instead, she scowled and turned her face away with such force that her braid swung around. Her ears had a slight redness to them.

“Don’t fret over it, Cilcila. We are the ones who suddenly barged in. Now then, I look forward to our next meeting. After all, the stakes are so high that I’m as excited as a child. I am in a fantastic mood right now.”

Alus had nothing more to say. He leaned against the wall next to the door and nodded towards the exit, in effect telling them to go home.

With an amused smile on his face, Aile passed by with his group. “Just so you know, I hope you can overlook a little bit of offense,” he said in a quiet voice.

But Alus didn’t reply. His attention was already on somebody else. And it wasn’t Cilcila, who was glaring at him in anger. Instead, he was watching the man behind her—Orneus.

He was the only one that Alus had been on guard for. Cilcila was certainly a top-notch fighter. She’d reacted to Alus’s unleashed killing intent with blinding speed. But Orneus had left a lasting impression on Alus for another reason. Cilcila had been in shock, but his reaction had been a little routine. While Alus had braced for it, Orneus had strangely lacked assertiveness. He couldn’t tell if Orneus had seen through his killing intent as a bluff from the start.

Once Alus heard the door close, he shut his eyes. While he’d supposedly been acting as usual, he’d felt heat building up deep inside him. He was staying behind to let that heat cool down.

“Should I say something?” Lilisha asked, concerned about his tired attitude.

“Useless.”

“What did you just say?” Her ladylike atmosphere disappeared and her cheeks twitched. She’d been putting up a bold front.

“What were you doing, playing into his hand at a crucial moment? If his mental interference had continued, you would’ve been in trouble.”

“Th-That’s because I have my own circumstances...”

Alus lightly brushed off Lilisha’s angry stare, and shrugged as he looked around. “For the time being, we’ll need to come up with an excuse for the principal. Actually, why not make the guy responsible for this situation pay?”

“I’m not so sure. Bluff or not, you were the one who was out of control.”

“I was just checking them out.”

“And is that what you’re going to tell the principal? Would you like me to tell you what she’d say?”

“Nah, no need,” Alus briefly said, as he gazed at the furniture that had fallen down and broken on the floor.

Lilisha sighed. Then her expression turned serious and a little dark. “To sum it up, we were completely overwhelmed.”

“Half of that is because you broke down at a critical moment. I’ll keep it from Fia and the others out of pity, but if you’ve got something to hide at home, at least try to cover it up.”

“I can’t say what it is, but you’re not far off. I don’t think it would be possible to hide it from the Womruinas anyway. Besides, it’s your fault for provoking him...or maybe not? Well, thinking about it, it would’ve been the same result no matter who was there.”

Alus didn’t think it was as one-sided as Lilisha seemed to, but she was right that it hadn’t ended in their favor.

“That look on your face tells me you regret getting involved in something you shouldn’t have.”

“You’re right about that.”

“But settling on Tenbram was at least a decent end. If the Womruinas are serious about going at the military, you would have been caught up in it anyways. That way, bloodshed would have been unavoidable. Not that I know what you’d do if that happened.” Lilisha’s expression darkened again. She then peered into the face of Alpha’s greatest Magicmaster.

Alus leaned against the wall, not answering her.