Chapter 106
The Royal Capital
“My name is Wolfgang de Eisenfeld.”
Wolfgang’s fist remained buried in Ilea’s abdomen.
Ilea was expressionless. She had suffered no damage whatsoever.
She had protected her body with magic.
The fist Wolfgang had driven into her was frozen solid.
Ilea spoke.
“I’ve heard your name many times. You’re far more impressive than I imagined, sir.”
There was no one in this world who did not know Wolfgang.
Even street urchins had heard the name Wolfgang at least once.
Wolfgang de Eisenfeld. Having defended the North for over 150 years, he was both a living witness to history and a hero of humanity.
Numerous children’s stories and biographies had been written with Wolfgang as their protagonist.
Ilea herself had read books about him several times.
Wolfgang grinned.
“Now then, mage. Why don’t you tell me your name?”
Naturally, he was curious about Ilea’s identity.
She had blocked one of Wolfgang’s blows with ease.
Nothing like this had happened even once in nearly fifty years.
Only a handful of humans were capable of trading blows with Wolfgang.
The mage before him was undoubtedly one of those transcendent powerhouses.
She was probably an Archmage.
She might even have been someone he had met before.
At least, that was what Wolfgang thought.
Ilea replied,
“My apologies, but I’m in no position to reveal my identity. Please understand.”
Mages ordinarily concealed their identities.
The very existence of a mage was classified as a first-class criminal offense, leaving them perpetually hunted by the Church.
Like Ilea now, mages always wore hoods or masks to conceal even their appearances.
Wolfgang stroked his beard.
“Hmm. It can’t be helped, then. I’ll simply have to see what you look like myself.”
The moment he finished speaking, a crimson haze rose from Wolfgang’s body.
Red currents surged outward in every direction.
It was a unique power known as Blood Aura.
Blood Aura differed somewhat from a knight’s Aura.
While Aura released the energy stored within one’s body through the dantian, Blood Aura boiled the user’s blood to generate energy.
Only warriors of the North could wield Blood Aura.
Wolfgang’s body became red-hot, like iron fresh from a forge.
His frozen fist thawed in an instant.
Ilea let out a small exclamation of admiration.
“Impressive. You can generate this much heat without magic.”
At that moment, Wolfgang’s fist exploded.
A thunderous blast erupted.
Overwhelming heat engulfed the alley.
The ice protecting Ilea instantly evaporated.
The force of the explosion sent her flying backward.
A bestial roar rang out.
“Mage! Let’s have a look at that face of yours!”
Wolfgang charged through the dense cloud of steam.
The red-hot giant swiftly caught the airborne Ilea.
His enormous hand seized her small head.
Ilea offered no particular resistance.
With Wolfgang gripping her by the head, she was driven straight into a wall.
Booooom!
The wall collapsed instantly.
Shattered chunks of stone rained down over Ilea’s body.
She gazed at Wolfgang with expressionless eyes.
“You’re quite violent. Do the men of the North ordinarily treat women this way?”
His enormous hand was still clamped tightly around her face.
Wolfgang raised the corners of his mouth into a broad grin.
“I didn’t know you were a woman. Had I known, I would have been a little rougher.”
Ilea had even altered her voice.
No ordinary observer could have guessed her gender.
Ilea smiled with her eyes.
“That’s a lie. You already knew.”
Wolfgang gave her a cruel smile.
“Let’s see if you truly are a woman.”
With his free hand, he tore away Ilea’s hood.
Instead of the hood, Ilea’s entire head was ripped off and sent flying.
Wolfgang flinched. The smile vanished from his face.
He was visibly shaken.
An androgynous voice came from the air.
“How rough. So this is what men of the North are like.”
The hooded mage was sitting astride a broom and looking down at him from above.
The ice in Wolfgang’s hand melted limply into water.
The target he had attacked moments ago was merely a decoy Ilea had created with magic.
Wolfgang flicked the moisture from his hand.
“Do you intend to do nothing but defend yourself?”
The mage before him did not appear particularly interested in fighting.
Ilea shook her head.
“No. I intend to run away now.”
Wolfgang groaned.
“Why not test yourself against me? You’re unlikely to encounter an opportunity like this very often.”
Merely exchanging blows with a warrior as powerful as Wolfgang was a valuable experience.
At least, that was how the warriors of the North saw it.
Ilea was not a warrior.
She was a mage and found no value whatsoever in a life-or-death struggle.
Ilea smiled gently.
“My apologies. I’m not confident that I could survive a fight against you.”
As she was now, she truly would not be able to defeat Wolfgang.
Wolfgang was one of the strongest people of the current age, while the witch was still far too young.
Fleeing was the correct choice.
Besides, she no longer had any business in Sayeong.
Wolfgang had already finished cleaning up Sayeong in its entirety.
Wolfgang looked displeased.
“You’re excessively humble. I don’t like it.”
Ilea inclined her head slightly.
“I’m sure we’ll have an opportunity to fight someday. For now, I’ll be taking my leave.”
Wolfgang waved his hand dismissively.
“Fine, get lost. You’ve spoiled my interest.”
If an Archmage chose to flee, even Wolfgang had no real way to stop her.
Still riding her broom, Ilea rose higher into the sky.
Her voice echoed gently through the air.
“Goodbye, Wolfgang.”
The mage vanished without a trace in an instant.
Wolfgang looked up at the sky and muttered,
“Even an Archmage has appeared now. Damn it, Krong. What in the world are you up to? You had better not cross the line.”
Krong was Count Cromwell Staviana’s nickname.
Wolfgang let out a long sigh and departed.
It was time to return to the North.
***
The city of Beldana was fairly close to the royal capital.
By carriage, it was possible to reach the capital within a single day.
In the royal capital’s residential district, one particularly stately manor among the countless residences caught Johan’s attention.
He stepped down from the carriage and looked back and forth between the map and the manor.
“This must be it.”
This was most likely the residence the Count had obtained for him.
Even the crescent-moon emblem of House Myatro was engraved upon the front gate.
There was no possibility of mistaking the house.
Johan approached the gate.
It was firmly shut.
‘Am I supposed to shout something like, “Is anyone there?”’
He cleared his throat.
Just as he was about to call out, the gate opened with a metallic creak.
A man wearing a neat tunic hurried outside.
“I-It is a pleasure to meet you! My name is Haman, and I am the butler who will be serving you from this day forward!”
He was a young man who appeared to be in his mid-twenties.
He was considerably young for a butler.
Johan spoke.
“Likewise. I am Johan Myatro.”
Haman spoke with a deeply nervous expression.
“It is an honor to meet you. Was your journey here comfortable, my lord?”
He had arrived in only a single day, and the journey had indeed been quite comfortable.
There had not even been a proper inspection at the gates of the royal capital.
The moment the soldiers saw House Myatro’s crest, they quickly ushered him through.
The Count’s influence had probably been at work.
Johan nodded.
“It was comfortable. More importantly, may I inspect the manor’s interior?”
Keeping the master of the house waiting outside like this made it obvious that Haman was no veteran butler.
‘The Count was rather careless with this appointment.’
It was probably because he had needed to find someone in a hurry.
Johan thought no more of it than that.
Haman made a respectful gesture.
“O-Of course. Please come inside.”
Following Haman’s guidance, Johan entered the estate.
They crossed a spacious garden and arrived before the main building.
The doors opened automatically, revealing the interior.
“We greet the master of the house!”
Numerous servants stood in two lines facing each other in the entrance hall.
Maids, gardeners, cooks, coachmen, and others all bowed their heads in unison.
Johan swept his gaze across their faces.
“Pleasure to meet you. Let us get along from now on.”
They responded to Johan’s greeting by bowing even more deeply.
Haman opened his mouth.
“My lord, you must be hungry. Please have your meal first. We have prepared dinner.”
Johan shook his head.
“No. Take me to the study. I have something to discuss with you.”
The sun would set soon.
Johan would then transform into a demon.
Before that happened, he needed to explain several precautions to the butler.
A trace of nervousness passed over Haman’s face.
He smiled awkwardly.
“What is it that you wish to discuss...?”
Johan frowned slightly.
‘He’s rather clumsy. He seems like the type who needs constant supervision.’
Judging solely from his first impression, Haman was a failure.
He did not appear particularly attentive or competent.
Johan clicked his tongue.
“I said we would discuss it in the study.”
Haman reacted to his somewhat stern tone like a fish suddenly pulled from the water.
“I-I shall escort you there!”
Haman and Johan immediately headed to the study on the manor’s second floor.
Johan sat behind the desk and folded his arms.
“Now, Haman. Have you understood every precaution?”
Standing rigidly upright, Haman answered energetically.
“First, all servants must vacate the manor after sunset! Second, regardless of what happens during the night, no one may enter the manor before sunrise! Third, anyone who violates the preceding rules will be severely punished! That is all!”
Johan transformed into a demon after sunset.
He could not allow anyone to witness that form.
He did not trust the servants yet.
Johan nodded.
“Good. Inform everyone else as well.”
“Understood. Now, please proceed to the dining room. We have prepared a welcoming banquet.”
Johan frowned.
“...Haman, the sun is about to set.”
Everyone had to leave the manor after sunset.
A welcoming banquet was out of the question.
‘Has he already forgotten the rules?’
Johan’s opinion of Haman continued to plummet.
Haman suddenly realized his mistake.
“My apologies! Then your meal...”
“I will handle it myself. You may leave.”
At the dismissal, Haman immediately began walking away.
“H-Have a restful night!”
Just as he was about to leave the study, Johan spoke.
“Wait. I forgot one thing.”
Haman turned back toward him.
“If there is anything you wish me to do, please tell me!”
“I will visit House Marcano early tomorrow morning. Contact them in advance.”
He could not simply appear there unannounced.
He needed to arrange an appointment of some sort.
Haman replied,
“I shall go there immediately.”
Johan clicked his tongue.
‘Does he intend to come back afterward?’
He sighed.
“Go home once you have delivered the message. The sun will set soon.”
Haman lowered his head, evidently intimidated.
“...I-I will tell everyone else to go home as well.”
“Good. Hurry.”
Haman turned around and left the study.
His bumbling expression gradually stiffened.
His eyes also turned cold.
Haman took a sheet of paper from inside his clothes and murmured,
“Night. So, the night is the first noteworthy detail.”
He began diligently writing something down.