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Chapter 61
Chapter 61
Talented magicians were rare.
And if the power of authority was added on top of this talent, that talent would become more precious than anything else.
This was why most magicians tried to hold onto the hands of authority.
Some would go to a nobles territory.
Others would become court magicians.
And others would join the royal guards to protect the Emperor.
Even the Magic Tower, where magicians spent their entire lives focusing on researching magic, was also a source of authority.
That authority had reached out to me.
After you return to the Radian Kingdom, Ill give you a month to take care of your affairs. Youll need to graduate school Ill make it so you can transfer to the Magic Soldier Training School, and Ill also prepare a place for you to stay. Ah, and youll need to become a citizen too. Theres no reason for the crown princes ally to be a foreigner.
It was from one of the most powerful sources of authority on the continent.
I could only ask him one question.
Why?
?
Why did you select me?
Crown Prince Chaurmetan Raynacs lips curled upwards.
Ruin Ardell. When talking to me from now on, itll be good for you to remember this.
Rather than a question, I prefer a simple yes as a reply.
He had a talent for changing the mood with every sentence he spoke.
He hadnt said anything special.
He didnt try and threaten me either.
However, I felt a chill run down my spine in that instant.
Yeah.
Hes a natural predator.
He had the aura of someone who had reigned over others his entire life.
And at the same time
But Ill give you an answer. I said this before as well, but you have caught my fancy.
He had enough composure to melt this chilly mood with a small smile.
Reason number one is because godfather personally recommended you to me. I had told him a few years ago to tell me if he saw any promising magicians but he hadnt recommended a single person.
I couldnt understand it.
Why?
Hadnt the Raynac Empire already nurtured and raised many outstanding magicians?
Even if they werent young magicians in my age group, among the adult magicians, the Raynac magicians were of a level above most other nations magicians.
But why had he selected a student, ignoring all these other fully-fledged magicians?
Even if the criteria was limited to a magician around my age group, I still couldnt easily accept it.
Doesnt the Empire have Doom Prime?
Born from a prestigious family with a long tradition in the Empire.
One of the Eleven Children.
And the one most loyal toward the Fire King.
When comparing these qualities, there was no reason to recommend a foreigner like me over Doom Prime.
Even though I won both times, there was only a sliver of difference between my strength and Dooms.
However, the crown prince nonchalantly responded,
Ah, that kid?
In that moment, as the crown prince thought of Doom Prime and showed a small smile
In the end, he lost to you.
How dare I go for a loser?
His expression was that of a kid who threw a tantrum because he got bored of his toy and then got excited to have a new one.
Doom Prime. I had heard of him. He was one of the brilliant magicians that the Empire was anticipating but my godfather never recommended him to me. Why? He probably had his reasons. I dont really need to be curious as to why. Whatever my godfather says in regard to magic is the truth.
Is that all?
It was like that in the beginning. However, it changed a bit. Another reason came to light.
Chaurmetan pulled out a small cigarette from his coat and bit it.
Your fearlessness caught my attention. The courage to wear those rags while everyone else was trying their hardest to look good for others authority.
Rags?
He said the same thing as Jason.
The fearlessness to confront my godfather head-on and state your opinions openly. And lastly
That recklessness, where even though I certainly warned you, you continue to question me.
Huu
The smoke exhaled by the crown prince soon filled the room.
Like this swaying smoke, my heart too became clouded.
Sometimes in politics, you need someone like you nearby to say some funny things next to me.
What do I need to do? Is that just advice?
More questions.
The crown prince put out the cigarette he was smoking by rubbing it on the table.
Protect me.
From what?
From my damned brothers who couldnt accept their younger brother becoming the crown prince.
You dont have to be so nervous. There wont be anything too dangerous. I have some fearsome knights around me that could kill you in a single swing. Just There will be more opportunities like now where Ill need to take care of my boredom.
If it was like this, I was just a pet.
The things I did looked cute, and I was a smart cookie who could understand human speech.
Something you would want to take with you.
Something you would want to own.
A pet like that.
Maybe my expressions showed my thoughts.
No, it shouldnt have been obvious.
However, Chaurmetans insight was abnormal.
He completely read what I was thinking.
Seems you dont like it.
Yes. Youre right.
Thats why I said it first, that I would refuse your refusal.
But if I still say I refuse, what will you do?
* * *
* * *
The crown prince stared at me silently.
After staring like he was going to pierce through me with his eyes, he asked something.
Have you received an offer from someone other than me?
No one had approached me today. Wasnt it something your majesty decreed to be done?
Or is it patriotism to a weak country on the brink of its demise?
Thats not particularly the case either.
This isnt a common opportunity. Whats your reason?
Well
If anyone else had heard this, they wouldve accepted it in a heartbeat.
This was that precious of an opportunity.
To become a close ally of the crown prince, who would soon become the emperor and would become the prominent center of authority on the entire continent.
In some sense, I might think back to this moment and regret it later down the line.
However
I have a lot of things I want to do.
This was my biggest reason.
Not to be a magician of the crown prince
But to be just a magician.
This heart that wanted to keep the integrity of my individuality, maybe he found it funny.
The crown prince let out a small laugh.
I thought you would be the rational type, but youre unexpectedly an idealist?
Maybe. I wouldnt know since I never tried to define myself with a single word.
Youll regret this. This was an opportunity that wouldnt come once in a lifetime for some people.
Yes. Maybe so.
Chaurmetan Raynac.
He pulled out another cigarette and spoke.
Lets say this conversation never happened.
After he said that, I bowed my head to him and slowly turned.
As I did, the crown prince talked to my back.
Ruin Ardell. The people are calling you the brightest gemstone of this Grand Festival.
My hobby is collecting gemstones. There was no gem that I wanted that I wasnt able to get. Do you know why?
I turned around.
The crown prince exhaled another big smoke cloud.
Because the ones I couldnt get were destroyed by my hands.
Was it a threat?
However, I didnt give any reply and turned my back.
His laughs sometimes seemed savage.
But sometimes, they seemed lonely.
* * *
What? Who did you meet?
Hm? Its nothing.
Huh? Youre suspicious.
I returned to the banquet hall.
My peers immediately tried to interrogate me to find out who I met with, but I didnt answer them.
After all, as the crown prince said, it was something that never happened.
Thanks to this,
You No way Did you get a secret girlfriend!
A huge misunderstanding arose.
Im right, arent I?! Yeah! Its about time you become a real man. Hehe Who is she? You, no way Theres no way its Irene!
Hm? What about me?
Uat! You scared me!
Irene Prius.
She had approached us out of nowhere and Jasons face went red as he backpaddled.
Youre here?
Yes. So why were you talking about me?
Ah, no. Its nothing like that.
Hm youre suspicious.
Irene narrowed her eyes as she looked at me.
She knew that the crown prince had suggested that I meet him during the combined dinner.
She could probably also guess the reason.
She was probably just curious about the answer I gave him.
Rather than giving her an answer, I lightly smiled.
I probably did the right thing.
Yeah.
It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, like the crown prince said.
However, as there was much to gain, there was also much to lose.
Right? Isnt he suspicious? This Ruin bastard, hes super suspicious today. Hes not telling anyone anything.
The Academy, and my teammates here with me.
Not just them, but the biggest thing that I might have had to give up was
Ruin Ardell.
My life.
And even my father and our territory.
Yeah. I did the right thing.
Rather than living as someone elses magician for the rest of my life
I would choose my territory.
Smiling lightheartedly, I rose from my seat.
Then, I said to Jason and Irene,
Arent you guys thirsty? Lets go get some drinks.
Drinks? Oh! Maybe beer?
No.
I shook my head and pointed toward the drink corner of the banquet hall.
Cocovanilla.
* * *
Looking at your expression, seems it didnt go well.
Ah, godfather.
Fire King Teron.
He could guess the situation from seeing the darkened expression on the crown princes face.
So, what did he say?
He said he has a lot of things he wants to do.
Hehe. Thats just like him.
Dreams rather than gold. Adventure rather than security. Rebellion instead of authority. I didnt know such magicians still existed these days. I tried to lightly threaten him a little, but that didnt work either.
They do exist occasionally. Rather than becoming someones magician, they want to become their own magician.
I was curious as to how great he was since godfather recommended him to me, but I understand now. Hes great in a lot of different ways.
So what are you thinking of doing now? I know I said this before, but hell definitely become a powerful individual.
At the Fire Kings question, Chaurmetan could only laugh at the ridiculousness.
Didnt you predict that Ruin Ardell would reject me, and yet still recommended him to me?
Hearing this, Teron narrowed his eyes with a playful expression.
Was I too obvious?
Godfather wouldnt have recommended him without predicting at least that much.
Yes. Youre correct. I had already predicted that Ruin would decline your invitation.
Then you predicted my reply too?
Yes. I knew that you wouldnt give up easily either.
Then, its settled.
The crown prince.
Chaurmetan Raynac.
His hobby was collecting gemstones.
In the end, hell become one of my people. Ive decided that right now.
He needed to keep the gems he wanted next to him.
If he couldnt get them, he would break them.