The Book Eating Magician - Chapter 267

Chapter 267

Chapter 267 – Three Days Free (1)

Immediately after the battle began in the three areas by the border, the northern powers started the work for a full-fledged war .

Unlike the Central Continent which hadn’t experienced large wars for centuries, the two northern superpowers had clashed an average of two to three times a century, over the course of many centuries .

The military system Meltor had mastered was already a war machine .

The business companies started to distribute military supplies necessary for war without a hitch, while residents who learned about the brutality of the empire volunteered to join the army .

Nevertheless, a war was a war .

It was a symbol of bloodshed which couldn’t be rationalized by anything . Regardless of victory or defeat, the weight of the bloodshed and corpses wasn’t light .

The energetic streets were now filled with an unknown tension, while the residential areas which were usually filled with laughter were now silent . Fortunately, Meltor was used to war, so there weren’t any large disturbances . War meant disaster would sweep the kingdom .

“Hrmm . ” Kurt III looked around him .

‘Maybe today will be an exception . ’

It was currently the prelude to the unification war, so the royal palace should be serious .  However, right now, the atmosphere of the meeting room was quite exciting . Anyone reading the current mood would find it strange .

Veronica had destroyed one goal, but Orta’s failure and injury hadn’t been in their predictions . Meanwhile, the small-scale engagements on the Karul Plains were at a lull . Yet, why were they excited in this situation?

However, instead of feeling angry, Kurt understood their feelings . “…It is hard to keep a cool head today, that’s true . ”

It was yesterday that their hero, Theodore Miller, had returned to Mana-vil . There was no reason to keep it secret, so the news had been passed on to everyone and this was the aftermath . Theodore had come a long way, but the meeting with him was delayed to calm down the excitement .

However, one day was probably not enough for the excitement to settle .  Kurt clenched his fists with a jubilant joy that wasn’t revealed by his calm expression .  Even if they poured in all of their power, Andras was an enemy that would be hard to beat .

Adding one more senior magician wouldn’t make much difference . However, a master who had proven his capabilities had returned .

…A hero whose name alone would make the army want to fight! If Theodore were in front of him right now, Kurt would’ve grabbed his shoulders without regard for his dignity .

“Your Majesty!” From behind the firmly closed door, a servant cried out in a slightly trembling voice, “Quattro’s Captain! Marquis Theodore Miller is asking to enter!”

He had come . It was the appearing of the hero they had been discussing, so everyone looked in the direction of the entrance .

Kurt inwardly laughed before saying, “Send him in . ”

The moment the king gave permission, the guards at the door opened it with great force .  Shortly after that, ‘he’ entered the meeting room with a stately gaze .

He wore the red robe symbolizing the red tower, with the dark blue uniform of Quattro underneath it . As Theodore Miller gazed at Kurt with shining blue eyes, the atmosphere around him was more prominent than it had been a year ago .

“Theodore Miller, the captain of the magic division Quattro . ” Theodore went down on one knee and greeted the king politely . “Before I properly greet the sun of Meltor, I want to apologize for my absence in the past three months . ”

“There is no need . ” Kurt’s mouth hardened as he spoke . “Everyone gathered in this place knows what happened . You defended yourself against the despicable actions of the 2nd Sword, Zest Speitem . I can only say that you did well . ”

“Your Majesty, still…”

“I won’t allow any objections . Your absence during the past three months was nothing . You have repaid it 20—no, 30 times by returning alive at this time . ”

This scene of a subject who wanted to confess his sins and the king who dismissed them… It was a scene that made the people smile .  Theodore was pushed by Kurt’s firm will .  The king looked at him with satisfied eyes and opened his mouth again, “Normally, there would be a big banquet to welcome you back, but please understand that the timing isn’t good . ”

“I understand, Your Majesty . ”

They shared a few words before naturally cutting to the chase .

After all, both Theodore and Kurt both knew that Theodore was an important figure in the war with Andras . Depending on how he moved, he was a wildcard that could control victory or defeat in this unification war .

“Did you hear the story about how the White Tower Master failed his mission?”

“Yes, Your Majesty . ”

“Then this conversation will progress faster . ”

The preemptive attack, carried out simultaneously by three vanguards, couldn’t be called good or bad .

The value of the fortress destroyed by Veronica was quite high .

However, there was the significant injury of Orta, as well as the loss of seven elite agents who had infiltrated Rutben with him . This was a war where masters were the key . The war hadn’t truly begun yet, so the Orta getting injured was a big loss .

“According to the diagnosis, it will take the White Tower Master at least two weeks to recover and return to the battlefield . The problem is the time in between . ”

“Two weeks… That isn’t a short amount of time . ”

“That’s right . Two weeks on the battlefield can cause significant damage to the army . I have been discussing it with those gathered here and…” Kurt paused, looked at the serious Theodore, and then spoke the words he’d prepared, “Theodore Miller, I want you to fill that vacancy . ”

“Isn’t this a daunting task to be left to me?”

“We have discussed it seriously . ” Kurt grinned at Theodore’s concern and pointed to the other people present .

The core of Meltor’s power was the magic towers .

One of the 8th circle magicians needed to defend the capital, so Veronica and Orta were supposed to take the lead with attacking . The chairman of the Magic Society could also go on the front lines, but it wasn’t easy to place him in the vanguard due to his importance .

To put it briefly, Orta’s vacancy was like pulling off one of Meltor’s wings .

“No one has disagreed that you are the only person eligible for this task . ”

“…Thank you . ”

“I want to give you more time to relax, but I can’t afford it . Go to Karul Plains in three days . In addition to Quattro, the personnel you will command will be there . ”

Theodore saluted Kurt’s will, and Kurt got up from his seat .

The envoys from Elvenheim were still far away, and even if troops were immediately sent from Austen, it would take a minimum of a fortnight . The enemy didn’t know this, so they would go on a full-scale offensive to end the war before Orta recovered .

The return of the hero, Theodore, was like a ray of light on the battlefield .

“Rest for today, Captain Theodore . ”

It was only a three-day grace period, but Kurt hoped that Theodore could unburden his heart during this time .  Kurt’s eyes shone brightly .

“Thank you again for returning and for your efforts . ”

They were heartfelt words without any exaggeration .

*     *     *

Theodore left the meeting room and let out the breath he had been suppressing .  “Sigh, it was burdensome in a different way . ”

He wasn’t scolded but praised instead…? If he had turned his eyes even a little bit, he would have been met with the shining gazes of the other people present .  Their bloated expectations had been on full display .

This atmosphere was due to Theodore, making him feel a sense of burden .

‘Three days… What should I do?’

Three days wasn’t a long period of time, but it wasn’t short either . If he did the right things, it would be a proper investment of the time . He could meet someone, or he could restore his condition by resting quietly .

Theodore was thinking in the garden when he suddenly recalled something he had forgotten .

“Ah, that reminds me, has the automaton not been repaired yet?”

The automaton produced by the Yellow Tower Master, also known as the grimoire, Paragranum . The combat machine, made from Lloyd Pollan’s body, had broken down three months ago and had yet to return to its original form .

Was it because Zest’s aura was so strong? Or perhaps his ability to cut space might’ve severely damaged Lloyd’s body .  If the Yellow Tower Master could repair it in three days, Theodore would get the power of one more master .

Theodore came to this conclusion and quickly raised his head .

“Yellow tower…”  The gold tower shone in the sunlight from far away .  The Yellow Tower Master’s main body was always in Mana-vil, so Paragranum would reveal herself once Theodore arrived in the yellow tower .

“Okay, let’s stop by . ” Theodore finished pondering on what action to take and moved quickly .  After arriving at the crossroad of the four towers, he moved along the road toward the yellow tower .

It would take time to climb to the top of the yellow tower .  He was thinking about flying there when he heard a familiar cry .  It was a yip .

“Tres?”

It was a word that meant ‘three’, so Theodore had given the three-tailed fox this name .

Theodore hadn’t been able to bring him into the palace, so he had left him in the garden . So, why were Tres’ cries ringing out around here? Theodore immediately strengthened his body and flew to the place where the three-tailed fox’s cries were heard .

Yiiip…! Yiiiip…!

Theodore soon arrived at where the fox was .

“Oh? Long time no see, Gluttony’s host . ” The familiar-looking Paragranum was standing there .

“…Can I ask why you are catching that fox?”

“This species isn’t present on the West Continent . I want to dissect it . ”

“No!” Theodore cried out with horror, taking the fox from her hands and placing him deep in his robes . The anxious three-tailed fox trembled inside his loose robe pocket .  Paragranum just raised her hands and teased Theodore, “It is a joke . Well, I would’ve done it if you had given it to me . It is yours, right? I won’t dissect it without paying a reasonable price . ”

“…How did you associate it with me?”

“Hey, I have sources even if I am stuck in the tower . Didn’t you go to the East and return on a sea dragon? If so, you are the only one who can bring back a species that doesn’t exist here . ”

It was a simple explanation, and Paragranum’s smiling eyes weren’t shaken at all . After all, she hadn’t intended to dissect the fox without his permission, but she would’ve done it if she had permission .

…As expected from a grimoire that wasn’t human .  Theodore shook his head at her inhuman nature and brought up the reason for his arrival . “I’m sorry but I can’t give the fox to you . Rather, I want to show you something . ”

“Huh? What is it?”

“Open Inventory . ” Theodore pulled out the wreckage of the automaton from his left hand .

There were five pieces and a head .  Fluid flowed from it instead of blood, producing a bizarre sight .

Paragranum stared at it without any surprise and soon deduced the cause of the damage .  “It is from a high-density aura blade . This can’t be done with simple physical force . Didn’t you fight the 2nd Sword? So, it must be hit by ‘space cut . ’ The spirit was cut as well as the body, so it can’t regenerate . ”

Theodore learned alchemy from the Fairy’s Book, so he was somehow able to interpret this meaning .  The damage was spiritual, rather than physical .  It meant that the automaton’s regeneration ability didn’t work properly because the nucleus had been cut by the aura ability .

“Will you be able to fix it quickly?”

“Of course . This isn’t hard for me . But…” Paragranum faced Theodore with red eyes and made a circle with her index finger and thumb . “How are you going to pay for it? The materials required to repair this damage will be significant . In addition to what you received in the laboratory, there are a lot of rare materials . Can you afford to pay…”

“Look at this before saying anything else . ” Theodore interrupted Paragranum and pulled a bundle out of his inventory .  It was the package White Bear of the Baekun Mountains had given to Theodore .

Paragranum’s eyes shone with a strange light at the fragrance leaking from the cloth . Power spots weren’t uncommon on the West Continent, but most of them were the dwelling of dragons and it was too risky to invade those areas .

However, dragons didn’t live on the East Continent for some reason .  Instead, it was common for native spirits to protect the earth and nature from humans .  In other words, the materials in this package were rare on the West Continent .

Theodore opened the bag in front of Paragranum, who had stiffened, and smiled cheekily .  “Oh, yes, what was that about my ability to pay?”

“…I will take it back . ” Paragranum canceled her words with a blank expression, then she trembled and grabbed Theodore’s hands .

After making eye contact with Theodore, the grimoire with an ego abandoned its pride and asked, “What price are you setting for these?”