Chapter 183

Cornelius Merhes was quick with numbers.

It was a trait common to all mages, but he was exceptionally fast.

Especially when it came to calculating money, he was second to none.

Even his master, Hermai Merhes, couldn’t keep up.

Perhaps it was because of his extremely poor childhood, but Cornelius’s obsession with wealth was beyond common sense.

Hermai often lamented that if it weren’t for his greed, he would have become a five-star mage long ago, but what could be done?

This was the man named Cornelius.

“Fifty-three silver nyang a week, that’s two thousand seven hundred fifty-six silver nyang a year, about one hundred forty gold nyang… oh, my goodness, my salary as the dean of the Imperial Academy of Magic wasn’t even half of half of this.”

“Don’t you feel you were treated unfairly?”

“No, well, it’s fine.”

He calmly stroked his mustache.

“I made up for it by lining my pockets separately.”

“You are sometimes unnecessarily honest, Cornelius.”

“Haha!”

“Does that sound like a compliment?”

I chided him, but the mustached mage brushed it off.

Seeing his shamelessness, it seemed he had regained some confidence.

Or perhaps he was just excited at the thought of getting his hands on a large sum of money.

“Cornelius Merhes.”

I called the mage’s name in a low voice.

The air grew heavy, and the mage wiped the smile off his face.

“You know, don’t you. War is imminent.”

“…Of course.”

“I won’t tell you to go to the battlefield.”

Cornelius did not betray the Empire by choice.

If even Hermai were to step up and entice him, I didn’t know what might happen.

Emperor Ferbias disliked him, so that was unlikely, but I didn’t want to leave even a one-in-a-million chance for an element of instability.

“Instead, I want to entrust you with the defense of Merion. This will be your main job.”

“Leave it to me.”

The mustached mage wore a confident smile.

“This Cornelius, in my youth, I experienced several battlefields in the magi-corps. I have a particular expertise in defense, protection, and barriers.”

“That’s why I’m spending a fortune.”

One hundred forty gold nyang a year was an excessive amount, even for a four-star mage’s salary.

But to me, it didn’t feel like a waste at all.

It was because I knew how annoying it could get when Cornelius decided to fortify a defense.

“I’ve come into some money while staying in the West. It’s modest, but I’m also running about a dozen mines.”

“Excellent.”

“Just do your job excellently. I have no intention of being stingy with you.”

“Of course, of course! As expected of Your High…-Ah!”

“However, you’ll need to watch your mouth. One more mistake and I’ll cut your salary.”

“…I’ll keep that in mind.”

Cornelius sealed his lips shut.

He was a man with a loose tongue, but now that money was involved, he would be careful.

“There’s someone… something similar to a person I’ll entrust the security to besides you. I’ll introduce you next time.”

“…Not a person?”

“It’s Valziart, I’ve borrowed one of the Great Witch’s retainers. Be careful, because even a four-star mage could be eaten if you’re not careful.”

My goodness, the Great Witch!?

Cornelius’s eyes widened.

He didn’t know I was acquainted with the Great Witch.

Curiosity arose in the mustached mage, but I didn’t give him a chance to ask.

The regressed prince, pretending to search his bosom, picked out a couple of jewels from a gap in his shadow armor.

They were large and sparkling, looking to be worth fifty or sixty gold nyang.

He handed them over without hesitation.

“Here. Let’s call this a welcome gift.”

“Who do you take me for? Goodness, I was going to do my best even without this. My pride is hurt!”

“It’s quite annoying how you say that after you’ve already pocketed it.”

“Haha!”

Cornelius was in a good mood.

Just moments ago, he had been worrying about where to sleep tomorrow.

But now he could ponder which house to buy.

He felt like hopping and dancing right at this moment.

“Remember. From now on, you are the exclusive mage of the Verchello family.”

“Of course I’ll remember!”

“I hope that passion continues.”

“As long as the salary doesn’t stop, the passion won’t either!”

“…Good, I’ll ask you for your first job right away.”

I said with a reluctant expression.

I had thought that even Cornelius Merhes would have a minimum of loyalty towards the Empire.

But for him to be swayed so easily by a few coins made me curious about Hermai Merhes’s teaching methods.

“Prepare the teleportation magic.”

“Hmm? From where to where are you going?”

“There are coordinates.”

“My goodness! That’s another country, isn’t it? Do you perhaps need to transport a person?”

“Me and you. And one more person.”

“Do I have to transport them alive?”

“Think before you ask.”

“……H-hmm.”

Cornelius’s face quickly turned serious.

“How much support personnel do I have?”

“Is it necessary? Do it alone.”

“……H-h-hmmmm.”

Teleportation magic was an extremely difficult magic that one couldn’t even attempt without an aptitude for the spatial system.

This was even more so if one were to transport a living creature in its complete form.

As if the magic wasn’t tricky enough, its difficulty increased exponentially the farther the teleportation distance and the larger the size of the creature.

“Do you know what Your… no, what Mr. Shion’s request is right now?”

“What is it?”

“To use an analogy, it’s no different from saying, ‘That cloud looks delicious, so go get it and make a cookie out of it.'”

“Is it difficult?”

“Does it sound that way?”

The mustached mage chuckled.

“It was a good analogy. Since we’re on the subject, shall I make one?”

Let’s see, that one looks delicious.

He looked at a distant cloud and closed one eye.

The sense of perspective blurred, and the cloud appeared close enough to touch.

When he then reached out his hand, he could really grab it.

It was the magic of the four stars, forcing one’s vision upon the world, making things that appeared close to one’s eyes truly become close, regardless of the actual distance.

He grasped the cloud in his hand, and as a turquoise light flashed, a cookie appeared.

It was a fluffy sugar cookie that looked like a cloud and was made from a cloud.

Cornelius offered it with a mischievous smile.

“Have a taste, it’s a fresh cloud.”

“…It tastes terrible.”

“But I did make it.”

Cornelius Merhes proudly puffed out his chest.

“Now, I will prepare the teleportation immediately.”

***

“As expected, the mages of the Empire are on a high level.”

Grand Duke Pret muttered.

Cornelius was drawing a magic circle using a communication mirror, handling everything by himself.

It was a task that would normally require more than thirty mages.

“…I thought it would take three days to prepare the magic circle, how much time has passed now?”

“About an hour has passed.”

As soon as my words fell, Cornelius clapped his hands.

It was a signal that the magic circle preparation was complete.

The mustached mage walked over, full of confidence.

“This is embarrassing. I’m not very familiar with the Western magi-standards, so it took a lot of time.”

“…As expected of a four-star mage.”

“The number of stars doesn’t matter.”

Cornelius preened, adjusting his mustache.

He thought there was no need to show extreme politeness even to Grand Duke Pret, and he didn’t hide a certain amount of arrogance.

“A magic circle is inherently designed for anyone to enjoy magic, whether they have few stars or many. This means that anyone can handle it if they’ve learned it properly.”

“…Unfortunately, there aren’t many in the West who are that well-learned. If you don’t mind, would you share your learning?”

“Well…….”

The mustached mage had a reluctant face.

“Even if I have converted to the West, I’m hesitant to just spill the knowledge of the Academy of Magic…….”

“I’ll pay a very generous remuneration.”

“Let’s discuss it. Let’s set a schedule.”

Grand Duke Pret and Cornelius smiled at each other.

They had a feeling they would make a very good deal.

I grumbled.

“Let’s talk about that later, and finish the current job first.”

“Ah, of course. Please step back inside.”

A turquoise light flashed.

“We will move immediately.”

***

When the light faded, it was an unfamiliar place.

A man with a sword approached.

I recognized the emblem engraved on his armor.

“This is the Maesh Imperial Palace.”

“For this regular meeting, we received the cooperation of the King of Maesh.”

Grand Duke Pret stroked his chin.

“Since you are acquainted with Princess Masiet.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Cornelius approached and whispered to me.

‘I will be quiet now’.

I nodded in satisfaction.

The mustached mage was very quick-witted, perhaps because of his long life in the Cordis Imperial court.

“Excuse me.”

The man with the sword approached.

He was dressed in a navy frock coat and a navy tricorne hat.

The golden patterns embroidered all over his uniform and the golden feather stuck in his hat proved that he was one of the Masters that Maesh prided itself on.

“Grand Duke Pret, Shion of Merion, is that correct?”

The Grand Duke gave a slight nod.

It was the tone one used when addressing a subordinate, and he was indeed a subordinate. Grand Duke Pret was the head of West-Erta and one of the Seventeen Elders.

It was only right for even a Master of Maesh to show proper respect.

“It is an honor to meet you. I must verify your identities, so please understand even if it is unpleasant for a moment…….”

The man took out some kind of magical tool and checked if I and the Grand Duke were real.

We were real, so there was nothing to be afraid of.

Our identities were quickly confirmed, and the man’s head bowed even lower.

“My apologies. I will guide you.”

***

There were several reception rooms in the Maesh Imperial Palace.

The man stopped in front of the most secret and secluded one among them.

“I will take my leave now.”

“Ah.”

I stopped the man.

“Is there a problem, by any chance?”

“No, I have a favor to ask.”

I glanced at Cornelius.

“Our mage hasn’t eaten yet. Would you be able to serve him something simple, by any chance?”

“Of course. A banquet has been prepared for the Elders’ companions.”

I turned my head.

“Wait here.”

“I understand.”

Ever since coming to the Maesh Imperial Palace, Cornelius had been polite without any levity. It was clear that etiquette was ingrained in his body.

The man with the sword who had guided us took Cornelius and disappeared.

Only Grand Duke Pret and I remained.

We stood before a large door.

Unbefitting of an Imperial palace, the corridor was deserted.

It was silent, without a single servant to carry refreshments or open the door.

Inside this door is the Upper House of the Dawn Brotherhood.

The Seventeen Elders had gathered for the regular meeting.

So it had to be secret.

It had to be so thoroughly secret as to bring a Master to guide the way.

The secrecy was so excessive that it was eerie.

Grand Duke Pret interpreted my silence as nervousness.

“Even you seem to be nervous, Shion?”

“Do I look that way?”

“…Hearing your voice, I guess not.”

Grand Duke Pret, who thought he had a chance to tease me, made a sullen face. Far from being nervous, I had to suppress a smile that was spreading across my face. It was because of longing. Shion Pollinglight, recalling the time before his regression, was immersed in a very nostalgic feeling.

‘The Seventeen Elders, the pinnacle of the West. Right behind this door…….’

Shion Pollinglight, the regressed hero.

Vice-Commander of the Western Alliance.

The Seventeen Elders were comrades who had fought against the Empire together.

Even if I was a stranger to them, I remembered them.

I held a memory so vivid that it felt a little sad, so vivid that I suddenly missed them.

‘It’s been a long time. Yes, a very long time…….’

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