Chapter 103

In short, he had no sense of brotherhood—he was saying Lucian should use them and discard them as any sovereign pleased.

It was an extremely cold stance, but looking at it more closely, it was also a very reasonable way to go about things.

They had just barely laid the foundation for mages to rise again. And yet, to protect the incompetent just because they were “his people” and allow them to form a faction?

‘The rebellion from 300 years ago would repeat itself.’

They had been persecuted for centuries despite possessing the talent to recreate miracles. Even a mediocre mage would naturally develop some resentment and a desire for compensation.

It wouldn’t be surprising if, starting with Colin—the first to be appointed—they began making demands. But Colin had drawn a clear line to avoid potential sources of future instability.

‘Good.’

Lucian didn’t know whether those words came from careful calculation or sincere conviction.

But either way, he was fully satisfied. Colin wasn’t swearing loyalty as part of a group called “mages,” but as an individual, directly to Lucian.

Even if they were mages, if any of them ever harmed Lucian, Colin himself would cut them off at the root.

“Your title will be Chief Mage.”

“…!”

“If you know your history, you know what that post is. Or do I need to explain it?”

“N-no, that won’t be necessary!”

Colin quickly replied, bit his tongue, and writhed in pain. With tears forming in his eyes, the title continued to echo in his mind.

‘Chief Mage…’

A position that, 300 years ago, only existed in major houses—marquisates or higher—that employed numerous mages.

It was the role that oversaw all contracted mages and represented the most skilled mage in the household. Even the empire, which still retained some mages, had abolished the position.

‘Is it really okay for me to take this position right off the bat? The mages who come after will complain…’

With a hint of unease, Colin spoke cautiously.

“Y-your Highness, but the title of Chief Mage is usually determined by skill and competence…”

“Don’t you trust your skill?”

“Of course I do! I may not look like it, but I’m a magister!”

“Magister?”

“It’s the mage hierarchy. After apprentice and adept, you advance to mage, then magister, and finally magus.”

Lucian tilted his head.

According to that, a magister was just a veteran—not an absolute master.

And yet he claimed to deserve the post based on ability? Noticing Lucian’s doubtful look, Colin sighed.

“Your Highness, the witch hunts lasted 300 years. These days, most schools don’t even retain the basic knowledge to identify a mage.”

“Ah… I see.”

In a world where sword techniques were nearly extinct, someone who mastered even a mediocre style would be called a sword master.

In that context, even a “veteran” like Colin was an incredibly rare talent.

What was truly admirable was that the Celestial School had managed to preserve that knowledge.

“In any case, if you trust your skill, all the better. That way you can silence complaints with results.”

“That’s true, but…”

“If it worries you that much, take this.”

Lucian pulled out the nectar and shook it in front of Colin.

The liquid glowed faintly, and Colin flinched.

“W-what is that?”

“Nectar.”

“A lofty name. And as beautiful as it sounds.”

“Before I give it to you, let me ask something. I’ve heard that mages use mana, just like knights. So, would a medicine good for a knight also be good for a mage?”

“Of course.”

Colin smiled wryly.

“Mages don’t learn both magic and swordsmanship because they conflict—but because human life isn’t long enough to master both, and switching between how one manipulates power causes confusion.”

“Then what if there were a potion that greatly enhanced the mana path without going through the knight’s circulation?”

“That would be a miraculous potion. It would make mana control easier without causing confusion. Every mage would leap at it… although, naturally, such a potion shouldn’t exist.”

Lucian smiled faintly and handed him the nectar.

Colin took it uncertainly and looked at Lucian, confused.

“What kind of potion is this, for you to make such a fuss before handing it over?”

“A miraculous potion.”

“Huh?”

“Drink it. And while you’re at it, think about how you can help me as Chief Mage.”

Lucian said that and left the room.

Colin stared suspiciously at the nectar for a few seconds, then unsealed the vial and drank it all in one go.

Shortly afterward, a sound rang from the room—one couldn’t tell whether it was a scream or a howl.

***

The news that Glenn had returned to the capital made the northern nobles begin preparing their departure.

If the inspector, the representative of the Empire, had already left, there was no reason to stay any longer; they wouldn’t get any new information.

Moreover, Norvek, with his blood boiling, had managed to escape from prison.

‘If I leave my territory empty too long, that old man might be plotting something again.’

‘If he shows hostility, that would still be acceptable. But if he approaches with good intentions, he’ll only cause misunderstandings.’

‘We’ve already obtained all the information we could. It’s time to go back and think about our next move.’

Lucian didn’t try to stop the nobles who were leaving. The political board of the north was already set, and they had accepted it as well.

Once they recognized Lucian as the undisputed victor, there was no point in forcing them to stay.

‘There were several unexpected turns along the way, but even so, everything ended quite well.’

He had gotten everything he could from the emperor, and the contact had been cut at just the right moment. Even if there was a small margin of error, he could say he had achieved all his final goals.

Lucian was smiling, satisfied with the result, when—

Bang!

“My lord!”

“Th-this is serious!”

Three vassals burst into the room with completely pale faces. Lucian looked at them with an awkward expression.

That Hugo and Raymond reacted like this was understandable, but even Felicia looked the same.

“What happened now?”

“Th-the Swordmaster… Lord Eisen is coming here!”

“What?”

Lucian stood up abruptly without realizing it. The Swordmaster Eisen Brightner was coming to the north?

He turned his head with a stunned look, and Felicia, as pale as the others, nodded.

“It’s not just rumors. There are too many direct witnesses. It seems my father really is coming here.”

“But why?”

“I’m not entirely sure. According to the rumors, they say he’s coming to see me…”

Felicia left the sentence hanging. Lucian nodded slowly.

The Eisen they knew hated noise and ostentation. If he had really come just to see Felicia, he would’ve done so quietly, without causing such a commotion.

And yet, he was doing the exact opposite: announcing his presence to the four winds and revealing his destination.

“Then there are only two possibilities. Either someone forced him to come, or Eisen himself decided it was necessary.”

“…The first is impossible. The only person who could give orders to the Swordmaster was the Grand Duke, and he’s already passed away.”

“That’s true. Then it must be the second option. But what could have happened for him to…?”

Lucian froze mid-sentence. The other vassals seemed to reach the same conclusion at the same time.

The Swordmaster only had one reason to leave the family he had served for so long.

‘Rebellion.’

If he judged that the new lord wasn’t worthy of his loyalty, even a Swordmaster would leave.

The problem wasn’t that judgment, but how fast he had come north.

It was way too fast.

Unless Jordi had learned about Sigmund’s death almost at the same time as Lucian.

“Jordi, that damn bastard.”

Lucian clenched his fist so tightly it looked like he might crush it. In that instant, suspicion turned into certainty.

Raymond, Felicia, and Hugo showed similar reactions. With different nuances, but all of them had received favors from the Grand Duke. And now, discovering that he had died from a conspiracy by his own son…

“Th-that second young master… seriously…”

Raymond couldn’t finish his sentence, his brows trembling with rage. He had served under Sigmund longer than anyone, so his fury ran deep.

Lucian restrained his boiling blood and spoke with forced calm.

“When the day comes that I kill that bastard Jordi, I’ll let you have one of his limbs. But for now, focus on this.”

“…Yes. Waiting for that day can also be a form of entertainment.”

“Alcohol and revenge gain flavor the longer they’re left to mature.”

With various excuses, the group set the topic of Jordi aside. Venting wouldn’t affect him at all. Instead of wasting time cursing him, what mattered was figuring out what was really happening in the family.

‘First, I need to send someone to check the situation.’

If they waited for the Swordmaster to arrive while being honored all along the way, it would take forever. It was best to send someone first and get information as soon as possible.

“Hugo, you go receive Lord Eisen.”

“Huh!? Me?”

Hugo pointed to himself with a stunned expression. He had beside him a knightess who had served in the same family and the Swordmaster’s adopted daughter—so why him?

“I’ve never even spoken to Lord Eisen!”

“But you did speak to everyone else.”

“Eh? What do you mean by that?”

“I want you to see if Hans and Ian are with him. And while you’re at it, also see if any of the people who were under your command are there too.”

“…!”

Hugo’s eyes widened as he understood the meaning.

“You’re saying you think those guys are with Lord Eisen?”

“Most likely. I don’t know if it’s both or just one.”

Otherwise, there’d be no reason to cause so much commotion. Though old, Swordmaster Eisen was a monster capable of taking on an entire knightly order by himself. Jordi was no match for him.

“If Sir Eisen had come alone, he would’ve arrived quietly. If someone pursued him or tried anything shady, he would’ve cut them down with his sword, simple as that.”

And yet, he was spreading his name in every direction. He was drawing attention with the uproar and using his reputation to prevent others from trying anything sneaky.

If he didn’t have to worry about anyone else, he wouldn’t act like that.

‘The only burden Eisen could have are the guys who were under my command.’

Other knights he would let decide for themselves, and he had no reason to rescue servants. From Lucian’s perspective, the most likely scenario was that Hans or Ian were with Eisen.

It was just a guess, of course, until confirmed directly.

“That’s why I’m sending you. Only you can accurately count how many are with him.”

“A-ah, I see…”

Indeed, for that task, no one was better than Hugo. Raymond, being a knight by birth, didn’t remember all the servants’ faces, and Felicia had only recently become a vassal.

The only one who could know exactly who had been rescued and who had stayed behind was Hugo.

Just when Lucian was about to give the final order, he suddenly remembered something else.

‘Wait—then what about Torkel and Lesta, whom I sent earlier?’

They had been sent to escort Hans, Ian, and the others if they showed up. But if the target of that escort was now calmly traveling with the Swordmaster, then—

Rather than fulfilling their mission, they might end up looking like simple tagalongs who had gone to see the Swordmaster.

“…If that turns out to be the case, I’ll have to console them when they return.”

Lucian murmured that while remembering Lesta’s bright eyes when he had run out eagerly to complete the mission.