Ch. 14

In an alley somewhere in the capital, Babiles.

The Mage King’s second staggered forward.

I’m reaching my limit...

Living on land with no magic had become unbearable now. But she couldn’t simply go back obediently.

This is my chance, while Father isn’t there.

Opportunities to track down the seventh alone did not come often.

She had slipped into the capital in secret to find the seventh without the Mage King’s knowledge, and now she braced a hand against the wall and let out a long breath.

She had infiltrated and searched nearly every noble house in the capital worth searching.

There had been no child who seemed to be the seventh.

I know that child’s face.

So no matter what disguise the child wore, she should be able to recognize it.

Then I suppose House of Zebbert is the only one left.

The Mage King’s second reached into her pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper.

It was a letter from the fourth.

A letter sent after searching the North, Ipsen.

Crumple.

The paper crinkled in her hand.

In truth, the fourth had sent two letters.

The first one had read:

Search results from the North.

Target’s movements unknown.

Primary subject of search: Rubian Zebbert.

Low probability of match with target.

It had been a report of failure.

Accordingly, she had relayed the order for the fourth to report to the Mage King and return.

Then, not long afterward, a second letter had arrived.

There are still details regarding Lady Rubian Zebbert that require confirmation, so I will continue observing her.

Of course, it was the Mage King’s second who had received that letter.

And after sending it, by strange coincidence, the fourth had died in a magic-tool explosion.

After some deliberation, she had chosen not to report the second letter to the Mage King.

Why... did the fourth keep watching Lady Zebbert?

Had the fourth noticed something?

The Mage King’s second grew more suspicious.

And so she had decided to come to the continent herself and confirm the truth. Now that the Mage King had left the palace, this was her opportunity.

I’ll be the one to catch the seventh.

Her eyes flashed.

I should search the ducal house one more time, and if the child isn’t there, then I’ll check the Academy.

With that resolve, she quickened her pace. She had clearly heard that Leviathan Zebbert and the ducal daughter had come to the capital, yet strangely enough, neither of them was anywhere in sight.

The Mage King’s second made her way swiftly toward House of Zebbert’s townhouse.

The mansion was so grand and lavish it was enough to make one sick of looking at it.

Draped in a robe and disguised as a commoner, she circled the area around the ducal residence. The wall was so high that even catching the slightest glimpse inside was difficult.

She was moving along the perimeter, looking for an opening.

“Who are you?”

A low voice caught her by the feet.

“What are you doing, circling my house like some little rat, huh?”

It was an old man’s voice, rough to the point of brutality.

The Mage King’s second swallowed a dizzy breath and turned around.

The old Duke of Zebbert...

A vicious stare was fixed on her. Enormous build. Overwhelming presence. He seemed to have only just arrived at the townhouse—he had not even taken off his sword yet.

No, why are you here instead of at the front gate?

Feeling cold sweat slide down her back, the Mage King’s second bent at the waist.

“M-my apologies. I did not realize you were a noble residence.”

“What a load of crap.”

Before she even had time to be startled by the exceptionally elegant phrasing, Balrok tapped his greatsword against his shoulder.

“Let me enlighten you, since I’m so generous. There are no jewels in this house right now. So if you’re planning to steal something, go north and raid the ducal castle instead, you little pickpocket.”

Thunk.

A small pouch with a few coins in it dropped at the Mage King’s second’s feet.

“Tch. Now get lost!”

Perhaps because of her shabby clothes and emaciated body, he seemed to have taken her for a beggar woman loitering around a noble house.

“Y-yes... I’m sorry.”

The Mage King’s second hurriedly lowered her head and backed away. Balrok’s sharp gaze clung to her retreating back.

...Whew. That was close.

She let out a genuine sigh of relief and slipped deeper into the street.

Now what? she wondered. Maybe she should find another maid’s uniform—

“Hm?”

Her steps stopped in front of one side of a bulletin board.

A small sheet of paper in the corner had caught her eye.

“...A notice recruiting Academy restorers?”

*****

“Hm. What was that?”

Balrok stared blankly after the woman as she disappeared into the distance.

Then he suddenly snapped back to himself.

This wasn’t the time for that.

At that moment, a hideously familiar face appeared around the corner of the wall.

“What are you doing here?”

“Ah, you startled me.”

Morris came hurrying over, his eyes wide.

“What, are you in love with me? Why do you keep tailing only me like this?”

“Because it is my job!”

“This? When you first joined the knights, you couldn’t even look me in the face properly!”

“Why do you keep bringing up the old days when we’re both aging together?”

The old butler replied primly.

“As I have said repeatedly, you are not climbing over the Academy wall. And no sneaking into the dormitories, either. You can meet her tomorrow anyway!”

“One day is too long! Our little one is right nearby...! What if she’s crying because she misses her grandpa?”

“Yes, wipe your own tears first. And really, Your Grace, think about it carefully.”

Balrok listened, even though Morris knew perfectly well that Balrok hated thinking.

“Miss Rubian has surely made new friends too. Would it be better for her grandfather to appear like some sneaky alley cat, or would it be better for him to make a grand, impressive entrance?”

“A grand... impressive entrance...?”

“So you do understand!”

“I see... an impressive grandfather.”

As he stroked his chin, his gaze suddenly fixed on his own beard.

A beard gone white with age.

“I’m convinced! Morris, we’re going to the shops at once!”

A thick hand thrust itself out in front of Morris.

“Money!”

“What? Why are we suddenly going to the shops...? No, wait, but you do have money on you.”

“Ah, there was this beggar woman hanging around, so I donated it.”

“What?”

What kind of sudden donation was that?

When the butler stared at him in disbelief, Balrok hurriedly added, as if warning him not to start lecturing again,

“Don’t worry. She didn’t seem like a bad sort. A bit cringing, maybe, but still.”

Since Balrok was the sort of man who had animal instincts despite appearances, there was probably some truth to it.

Morris took out his handkerchief and dabbed at his forehead.

“No, but that must have been a considerable amount... Haa... fine. Let’s stop by the townhouse first.”

“But Morris.”

“Yes?”

“Isn’t that our little household brat over there?”

Balrok pointed toward the front gate of the townhouse.

Rattle, rattle.

A boy who already had a conspicuous appearance was making himself even more conspicuous by dragging along a noisy book cart.

“That seems to be Master Liam. What’s this? Why is he out?”

At Rietta Academy, students were required to live in the dorms until the end of the elementary division. But from the middle division onward, commuting was possible, and with permission, going out or staying out overnight was relatively free.

Of course, Liam had never once made use of that system, since he spent all his time buried in the library.

Liam’s eyes met Balrok’s directly.

“Eldest household brat, what are you doing here?”

“Grandfather, why are you in the capital? Has Father... returned, by any chance?”

Something about the sharpness of his face was a little different from usual.

Balrok cocked one eyebrow and shook his head.

“He hasn’t.”

“...I see. I came by because I thought he might have returned. I suppose I’ll wait inside.”

Still deep in thought, Liam dragged the cart toward the townhouse once more.

“What’s with him?”

Something seemed a little loose in the head.

Looking closer, Balrok saw that Liam’s glasses were slightly fogged. His hair was a bit disheveled too, and his ribbon tie sat crooked.

More importantly, there were visibly fewer books on the cart than usual.

That was no ordinary matter.

“You. Did something happen?”

Balrok quickly followed and asked.

At that question, Liam came to a dead stop.

His gaze turned slowly.

“...Well. No matter how much I think about it, there’s something that keeps bothering me.”

“Huh?”

“I spent the whole night thinking about it and still couldn’t come up with an answer, so I came to ask Father... but would it be all right if I asked you instead, Grandfather?”

Oh no, what was this?

If it was a study question, he was doomed.

Still, Balrok deliberately puffed himself up and put on a calm face.

“Sure. Ask your grandpa anything.”

“No, it may just be my needless worry, but... Ruby...”

Frowning between the brows, Liam murmured the name.

And even then, he could not continue at once, as though the very possibility he was imagining was unpleasant enough to make him recoil.

“Could it be that the youngest fairy... experienced a great deal of war when she lived in Iosia?”

At that instant, Balrok had the strange sensation that the air around him had frozen solid.

He sensed it.

“Before she met Father in Iosia... I mean.”

That something was about to come crashing down.

“With Khalid.”

It was the stillness before the storm.