Chapter 23 - The Magic Otaku Gets Caught Up in Trouble
The scrape, scrape of a quill pen gliding across parchment.
The room had no windows and was brightly lit by a chandelier hanging from the ceiling. But its sconces held no candles; instead, countless magical lights were arranged in their place, casting a glow that gave off no heat. A long-pile carpet covered the spacious interior, which was furnished only with a massive desk placed in the center, making the room feel even larger and more vacant than it was. The ceiling and four walls, all bare, inorganic stonework, further amplified this feeling.
A man sat at the desk, a quill pen in hand, writing something on the parchment. From his mouth and chin, a truly magnificent and enormous beard extended past his chest, suggesting he was of a considerable age. His eyes, often hidden by white, overgrown eyebrows that matched his hair and beard, held a gentle color as they focused intently on the parchment before him.
The old man was clad in a black-based robe. While unadorned and seemingly simple in design, its soft, gray-tinged black was elegant and deep, with the collar and cuffs trimmed in silver thread. It was undoubtedly a priceless masterpiece. A closer look revealed that the desk, too, was a high-quality item, using a single massive slab of wood for its top. The paperweight holding down the parchment and the inkwell the quill was dipped into were both exquisite works of art with intricate decorations.
These items hinted that the room's master was no ordinary person, yet they seemed utterly mismatched with the cold, hollow atmosphere of the room, creating a sense of profound dissonance.
The old man wrote silently on the parchment without so much as a cough. In this room, one could not hear the creak of a chair or the rustle of parchment. The only sound was the faint scratching of the quill pen on the parchment, but even that, rather than disturbing the enveloping silence, seemed to emphasize it.
Suddenly, the sound of the quill pen stopped. The old man quietly lifted his bowed head, returned the pen to its stand, and gazed forward.
There were two doors in the room. One was a set of heavy double doors opposite the desk; the other was a small, single-leaf door behind the old man. The old man stared fixedly at the double doors in front of him, then raised one of his long eyebrows as if to widen his eyes.
The next moment, another robed figure appeared before the front doors. Without a sound of opening or closing, the robed figure had silently, suddenly, intruded into this sealed room. The hood of the white robe was pulled down low, obscuring the intruder's face.
Despite the extraordinary situation, the old man showed no signs of panic. For two reasons, the intruder's identity was clear to him. First, in the sense that there was only one person in the kingdom capable of such an entrance. And second, in the sense that there was only one person in the kingdom who knew the location of this room.
"Welcome, Lady Ester. I was expecting you around this time."
The old man's voice, like the color of his eyes, was deep and calm, instilling a sense of reassurance in the listener. The intruder who had been addressed raised her hood, revealing her face.
"As always, you're no fun to tease. How about showing a little surprise?"
The one who responded was Ester Adoni Arcalai. The most powerful magic user in the Hanoku Kingdom, bearing the epithet "The Witch." Though she had reached old age, her posture was ramrod straight, showing no hint of frailty.
The old man responded to Ester with a smile. However, with his eyes narrowed to a thread and the corners of his mouth turned up only slightly, it was difficult to tell beneath his brows and beard. At this, Ester clicked her tongue with a "Tch" and spoke in a voice tinged with slight irritation.
"So you've seen right through my reason for being here, have you? Fine by me. That makes things quicker. Let's get straight to it—I'm here to take another look at that thing."
With those words, Ester walked around the central desk and headed toward the door behind the old man. The deep carpet softened the old woman's steps, producing no sound at all. Just as she was about to pass him, Ester stopped abruptly and glanced back at the old man.
"Oh, right. Two of my grandchildren are taking the academy entrance exam this year. Well, one's my niece's daughter, but it's the same thing."
"Oh, your grandchildren, you say?"
The old man replied without turning, his voice cheerful.
"How quickly time passes. It feels as if it were only yesterday that your sons enrolled in the academy."
"To you, maybe."
"Still, your grandchildren. I'm sure they are brilliant children, much like you and your sons."
"Brilliant doesn't even begin to cover it. They're exceptional. Even from my perspective. Yes, there's no doubt they're brilliant, but…"
Ester trailed off. One of the old man's eyebrows shot up again, but he maintained his posture and waited for her next words. After a brief pause, Ester began to speak again.
"It's the other one, my grandson. He's a bit… unconventional. I think he'll probably—no, he'll definitely—stir up some ridiculous trouble and cause a nuisance all over the place once he enrolls. So, I figured I'd apologize in advance."
Upon hearing those words, the old man let out a cheerful laugh, "Ho ho ho." He finally pulled his chair back slightly and turned to face Ester.
"Good heavens! To think there's a child that the great Lady Ester would describe as 'unconventional.' I haven't heard such a masterpiece of a story in a long time. And to apologize because he 'will likely cause a nuisance'? Do you remember, when you were a student at the academy…"
"Let's not get into ancient history! Just look after them for me. See you around."
Ester turned on her heel and once again headed for the inner door. As she reached for the doorknob, a voice called out from behind her, "Lady Ester." Ester didn't turn around, pausing with her hand on the door.
"This will be the third time you have passed through that door."
The old man's voice was tinged with an emotion it hadn't held before. A deep sentiment, and a color of admiration.
"The innermost door, which exists in every magic school in the world. There is surely no one else in this world who has passed through it three times. As one who wields the art of magic, and as one involved in its education, I am truly proud of you."
Hearing these words, Ester seemed to stand still for a moment, mulling over the old man's sentiment. Then, a rare smile appeared on her face—a genuine smile, free of any trace of mischief.
"Is that so? Well now… that makes me happy. Thank you, Talgum Academy Head."
Without turning back, Ester passed through the door and proceeded inward. The old man stared at the door as it closed with a click, then eventually turned back to his desk and began to move his quill across the parchment once more. And once again, an air of silence enveloped the room.
The door behind the old man was never opened from the other side.
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Our carriage, having departed the Arcalai manor, traveled north along the main thoroughfare, the opposite direction from our last trip, and exited onto the highway through the great gate. Our destination, the Talgum Magic Academy, was a distance we could reach by evening if we continued along the northern highway.
This time we were traveling with two carriages, so the members were split up. Specifically, Roche-kun and Isak-senpai were in the front carriage, while I, Ruria, and Hanna were in the one behind. Nathan-san and the other guards flanked us, two riders in front and two behind, protecting the carriages.
Hanna was accompanying us because she was to look after Ruria in the girls' dormitory once we passed the exam and moved in. Since many of the students are children of nobles, the dorm rooms apparently have space for attendants to stay with them. Of course, it seems only the high nobility actually have their servants live in the dorms with them. In fact, neither Roche-kun nor Isak-senpai brought an attendant, and I have no particular anxiety about living alone.
This is just my guess, but Hanna's presence is probably related to Ruria. To persuade her, as she was reluctant to go to the academy, my parents and Maria-kaasan probably offered to have Hanna accompany Ruria as her attendant as a condition.
As for Ruria, she's been sprawled across my lap, feigning sleep, for a while now. It seems she's still not convinced about living in the academy dorms. But while she's been given a pass until now because she's a child, once we grow up, we won't be able to be together twenty-four-seven. To be honest, I hope that her life at the academy will help her get used to being apart from me, even just a little.
With nothing better to do, I opened the carriage window to look outside. Ruria complained from my lap that it was cold, but I just said, "It's just for a bit, so bear with it," and enjoyed the fresh air and the scenery along the highway. Glass windows haven't been put into practical use in this country, so it's really inconvenient at times like this.
Just like the southern highway, the area around the royal capital on the northern highway is a sprawling pastoral landscape. The difference here is that as far as the eye can see, it's all farmland, with almost no forests or wastelands. For a season so soon after the new year, I could see a fair number of people out in the fields. They were probably checking on the wheat they planted in the autumn.
And despite it being winter, there was a surprising amount of traffic on the highway. Many people were carrying luggage on their backs; I wonder if they're trying to bring their agricultural products to the royal capital to sell.
As I watched the people come and go, Ruria let out a little "grrr" and nipped at my thigh. Since I was wearing a robe, it didn't hurt in the slightest, but I said, "Alright, alright, sorry, sorry," and closed the window. I then placed my hand on her head and stroked her hair, and seeming to be in a slightly better mood, she wrapped her arms around my waist and hugged me. Watching us, Hanna, who was sitting opposite, let out a little laugh, "Fufu."
"Sorry, Hanna. Were you cold too?"
"No, I'm fine. More importantly, you two are truly close, aren't you? Watching you makes me feel happy somehow."
Hanna has probably been watching the two of us since we were born, yet she still doesn't seem to have tired of it.
"Speaking of being close… Hanna, are you really sure it was okay for you to come with us? Once you enter the academy dorms, you won't be able to return to the capital properly for three years, you know?"
"I don't see how 'being close' leads to that topic, but I'll be fine. In fact, if my lord hadn't ordered it, I was planning to offer to accompany you myself."
"No, I was just wondering if you were worried. You'll be apart for three years. Besides, you're getting to that age…"
Just as I said that, a frigid air assaulted the inside of the carriage, even though the window was supposed to be closed. The source was, of course, Hanna, smiling quietly across from me.
"Saki-sama. Did you say something?" Hanna asked without changing her expression, but her voice carried a chill that made my spine freeze. I immediately yelled, "No! Nothing!" Ruria's gaze, looking up at me from my lap, was just as cold, as if to say, What is this guy doing?
"N-no, that's not what I meant. I was talking about Laz-san. You know, some weirdo might try to make a move on him while you're at the academy."
That's right. The attendant Laz-san is part of our escort this time too, but he'll be returning to the manor once we arrive. If that happens, it'll be a long time before they see each other again. And from what I can tell, those two are an item. It's not like I went out of my way to confirm it, but Ruria seems to be rooting for them too, so I'm probably not mistaken.
However, Hanna placed a hand on her chest, closed her eyes, and said:
"We have promised to be together after you two have graduated from the academy."
Whoa! What a magnificent comeback. I almost let out a whistle. Of course, being the legitimate heir of a noble, I wouldn't do something so uncouth.
"Is that so… should I say congratulations? Anyway, I'm happy for you, Hanna."
"Yes. Thank you, Saki-sama."
Hanna thanked me with a wonderful smile. Ruria also lifted her face from my lap, raised a hand, and gave a thumbs-up. Hey now, a girl shouldn't be making such an unladylike gesture. When I lightly swatted her hand, Hanna laughed with a sound like ringing bells.
In a complete turnaround from moments before, our carriage was enveloped in an atmosphere that felt as if spring had arrived early.
When it was time for lunch, we stopped our carriages in a plaza by the side of the road and took a break that doubled as a meal. While the male servants from the manor took turns eating and caring for the horses, Hanna nonchalantly sat next to Laz-san, happily chatting about something. The other servants seemed to have noticed the two of them and were watching over them with warm gazes tinged with a bit of envy.
The four of us kids, myself included, surrounded Nathan-san while we ate, peppering him with questions just like before. As usual, I was the one doing most of the talking, with Roche-kun and Isak-senpai only occasionally joining the conversation. Ruria silently focused on her meal, and now that she was finished, she was lying on a blanket, reading a book she had brought.
"What do we learn at the academy? I'm very curious about how it differs from what we're taught at the private academy."
"My apologies. I cannot tell you what kind of classes are held at the academy, Saki-sama, as you have not yet enrolled. The internal affairs of the academy are particularly confidential information. Of course, I have no doubt that you will pass the entrance exam. With outstanding results, at that. However, that aside, the rules must not be bent."
Nathan-san replied with a genuinely apologetic look on his face. He's as straight-laced—or rather, as serious—as ever.
"No, it's important to follow the rules. On another note, this highway is so much busier than the southern one."
Seeing that I couldn't get any information about the academy out of him, I blatantly changed the subject. The plaza we're in now is a place set up for travelers on the highway to rest. It being lunchtime, there are many other travelers besides us sitting and resting in the plaza, and there's even a small caravan. Perhaps sensing that we are nobles, everyone is resting at a distance from us.
On the southern highway we took when we traveled to Arcalai Village, we hardly saw anyone, even though it was the end of summer. It's a world of difference from this northern highway.
"The presence of the Academy City is indeed significant. Manors are dotted continuously from the royal capital to the Academy City, so it is safe, and caravans and locals can travel with peace of mind."
"The Academy City is a key transportation hub for the northern part of the kingdom. Many caravans gather in the Academy City and then disperse to their respective destinations. It's no exaggeration to say that the northern highway is the most prosperous in the kingdom."
"I-I see."
Perhaps because he's a soldier, Nathan-san explained from a security perspective. Roche-kun, who suddenly joined the conversation, is likely the son of a finance official, as he explained the importance of the northern highway from an economic standpoint. And Isak-senpai... you need to try harder.
The Academy City they mentioned is a town that formed around the Talgum Magic Academy. It is said to be the earliest established city in the kingdom. At first, people seeking the academy's protection formed a settlement, which eventually led to businesses catering to the academy's professors, students, and visitors. It has now grown into a magnificent city surrounded by a defensive wall.
It seems to also function as a logistics hub, like in my previous life. Goods transported from the royal capital are reloaded in the Academy City and then delivered to the fiefs of the northern nobles. Similarly, goods from the north are gathered in the Academy City and then transported to other cities, including the royal capital. I was worried about the kingdom's economy during my trip to Arcalai Village, but I'm relieved to see that some parts are functioning properly.
"Speaking of which, the Academy City is located within the royal family's direct domain, right? Is the Academy City—or rather, the academy itself—under the control of the royal family?"
"No. The academy belongs to no one and maintains neutrality towards all nations and lords. You could say it's similar to the temple factions. I've only heard rumors, but they say that magic schools all over the world are similarly neutral."
"Additionally, the Academy City is not governed by the royal family; the academy itself handles law enforcement and tax collection. Normally, a city like this couldn't exist, but the academy is inviolable."
"B-because if you attacked it, you would make every magic user your enemy."
I see. The temple is hard to touch because it could stir the faith of the common folk and create backlash, whereas you can't push the academy around because you're too afraid of retaliation. If some faction were to attack the academy, not only would they have to face a large number of powerful magic users, but they would also risk their own magic users defecting. For example, if the royal family tried to attack the academy, the entire Magic Corps would switch sides. That's an impossible game to win.
"But even if it claims neutrality, isn't there an issue of distance and location? The royal family, having incorporated such an important base as the academy into its sphere of influence, must have benefited greatly just from that. Regional stability, trade with the Academy City, and the fact that other factions would be reluctant to attack for fear of involving the academy. Isn't the academy's existence one of the reasons the Hanoku royal family was able to unify this country?"
Or rather, one could argue that since the royal family has had these advantages for a hundred or two hundred years, the unification took too long. Whoa, my patron's great conquest... is taking its sweet time, isn't it?
"As a soldier directly under the royal family, I will refrain from offering an opinion, but I will say that your observation is astute."
"I mean, it's very Saki-like, I guess. But please, don't say things like this out loud anywhere else, okay? It could be taken as disrespect towards the royal family."
"A-as expected of you, Saki-sama."
There it is, the classic "As expected of Saki." But really, you guys don't have to force yourselves to praise me. Besides Ruria, Roche-kun is about the only one who speaks to me so candidly.
"?"
For some reason, I patted the head of Ruria, who was lying beside me reading a book. For a moment, she looked up at me with a "What's with this guy?" expression, but she immediately snuggled her head against my lap. Even so, it's rather impressive that her eyes never left her book.
Well, we've taken quite a long break. If we linger too long, the sun will set before we reach the academy, so it's probably time to get moving again.
After a while of being jostled in the carriage, late in the afternoon, our party came into view of the Academy City. While it's certainly smaller than the royal capital, a more than sufficiently large cityscape lay before us.
Once again ignoring Ruria's complaints, I threw open the carriage window and fixed my eyes on the grand sight of the Academy City. The city was surrounded by high, sturdy-looking walls, and the great gate connecting to the highway we were on was an impressive structure with towers on either side. In front of the gate, people seeking to enter the Academy City were lined up, waiting for the gatekeepers to grant them passage.
"There's quite a long line at the gate. At this rate, it's going to take us a while to get into the Academy City."
"There's no need to worry, Saki-sama. The Academy City has, in addition to the four main gates, gates specifically for the nobility. We will pass through one of those, so we won't be kept waiting."
"Hmm, so it's the opposite of the royal capital. That's interesting."
Hanna explained, and sure enough, I could see a slightly smaller gate built some distance to the left and right of the main one. I said it was the opposite because in the royal capital, only the upper class, including nobles, use the main gates to the east, west, south, and north; commoners are required to use other, much smaller gates.
While the frequency of nobles coming and going is likely different, this probably shows how much the Academy City values the visits of travelers and caravans. You could say the royal capital prioritizes authority, while the Academy City prioritizes commerce.
"More importantly, Saki-sama, please close the window soon. Those of high birth do not take kindly to being freely stared at by the lower classes."
"Got it, Hanna."
I pulled myself back from leaning out and obediently closed the window. It's a shame I won't get to see our carriage pass through the walls of the Academy City, but things are different here than in the capital, so it can't be helped. It's the kind of thing that really gets you pumped up, you know? It's just like a scene from a movie.
It was while I was thinking such pointless things and stroking the head of Ruria, who was clinging to me, that it happened.
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Veering off the northern highway and following the road leading to the Academy City's nobles-only gate, Nathan Grion let out an unconscious sigh.
For now, it seemed they had arrived at the Academy City safely. They had been escorting four noble children along the well-policed and open northern highway, even if only for a single day. Moreover, two of the protectees, Saki and Ruria, had a history of being targeted. Although Nathan himself had eliminated the threat before they even noticed, he had remained constantly vigilant, aware that something similar might happen again this time.
No, Nathan corrected himself. He couldn't relax just because they had entered the Academy City. Although ostensibly neutral, various factions had sent their agents into the city, and a fierce intelligence war was constantly being waged behind the scenes. He couldn't let his guard down until the four of them were safely in the academy dorms, Nathan resolved, steeling himself once more.
The party advanced to the front of the nobles' gate, and Laz, leading the way, was now handing a letter to the gate guard from atop his horse. All that was left was for the heraldry officer in the guardhouse to confirm that they were the party of the Arcalai Viscounty, and they would be able to pass through the gate without issue.
It was at that moment that Nathan, at the rear of the group, noticed the sound of hooves approaching from behind. He turned to see the figure of a knight on a single horse, galloping down the road to this exclusive gate. The sheer force of his charge, as if he had mistaken this place for a battlefield, gave Nathan a very bad feeling.
"I am the herald for the party of Lord Yuli, third son of the renowned Marquis of the west, Abel Adoni Katzir! Lord Yuli will be arriving shortly. You there, move your carriage aside and stand down at once!!"
"Please wait. My master's carriage can complete its procedures and enter the city immediately. We will not keep the esteemed Marquis's son waiting, so I implore you to let our carriage pass first…"
"Absolutely not!! Do you mean to defy the authority of our lord, Marquis Katzir! Return at once and tell your master to move the carriage and wait at the side!!"
As the knight's shouts echoed around them, Nathan felt a twitching ache in his temples and pressed a hand to his forehead. The knight, who had been repeating the same cry, had not dismounted and was brandishing a spear with a pennant attached. The fluttering crest was a "Sea Dragon and Moon." It was likely true that he was a subordinate of Marquis Katzir, one of the highest-ranking nobles in the kingdom.
The problem was that the messenger sent by this marquis's third son was so ignorant and arrogant. Had he not noticed the "Crossed Staff and Owl" crest on their carriage? Laz had dismounted and approached the knight to explain, but the man seemed completely unwilling to listen.
No, if this continues, it will go beyond mere 'not noticing,' he thought. The gate guards had already come out of the guardhouse to see what was happening. They seemed hesitant to intervene, seeing it as a dispute between nobles, but if this kept up, it could attract the attention of those waiting in line at the main gate and the guards managing them. Nathan made his decision and urged his horse toward the still-yelling knight.
"Be silent. What is the meaning of this commotion?"
The knight seemed momentarily flustered that Nathan had addressed him while still mounted, but upon seeing his robe and the insignia on his collar and recognizing him as a magic user, he seemed to swallow his words. Instead, he raised the spear in his hand high and shouted again.
"I am the renowned in the west of the kingdom—"
"Your speech is unnecessary."
Nathan cut the knight's proclamation short, his eyes filled with power as he stared into the knight's eyes behind his helmet.
"Are you aware that this carriage belongs to Saki Adoni Arcalai-sama, the legitimate son of the Royal Magic Advisor and head of the Arcalai Viscounty, Levi Adoni Arcalai-sama? Depending on the circumstances, I may have to inform Marquis Katzir himself."
"I know not of such a petty noble!!"
"...What?!"
"For a mere Viscount to defy Marquis Katzir is outrageous!! Lord Yuli will arrive at any moment! Hurry up and wait at the side!"
Having his explanation, which he had made in hopes of making the man understand, immediately dismissed with "I don't know," Nathan genuinely wanted to clutch his head and look to the heavens. He had steeled himself to use the Viscount's name, and for it to be met with ignorance meant there was nothing left but war. Well, war was an exaggeration, but it was fair to say that the means to resolve this peacefully were gone.
(I have heard that in the western part of the kingdom, knights are revered and there is an air of animosity towards magic users... but this is too much. Why does that marquis's third son keep such a person in his inner circle? It's not uncommon to see fools who borrow their master's authority, but I have rarely seen one this foolish. No matter how ignorant he may be, he should at least know the Arcalai family name...)
As Nathan thought this, he understood that he had to eliminate this shouting knight before him. But that meant his own hand would be placing the final stone that would escalate this into a problem between their houses. As a soldier directly serving the royal family, who had joined Saki's party as a hired hand, it was only natural for Nathan to hesitate to take that step.
"What is the matter?"
At that moment, hearing a boy's cool voice from behind, Nathan's expression changed as he spun around. There, as expected, was the figure of Saki, who had gotten out of the carriage and come to the scene of the dispute.
(Why is Saki-sama here?)
Nathan's mind was preoccupied with that question, but regardless, he quickly dismounted and knelt. He saw Laz rush back from the knight's side and kneel in the same way. When the master stands on the ground, his retainers cannot remain mounted. Nishim and Tal also rushed over from the carriage to stand by Saki's side.
With the four of them standing by, Saki turned his eyes to the knight, smiled, and spoke.
"I am Saki Adoni Arcalai, son of Viscount Levi Arcalai. Do you have some business with a member of my house in a place like this?"
Questioned by Saki, the knight struck his breastplate with his gauntlet and bellowed the same proclamation he had repeated many times before. Saki nodded as he listened to the knight's speech, and after hearing him out, he opened his mouth.
"I see. I understand what you are saying, but I fail to comprehend its meaning. To begin with, why do you speak from such a high place?"
It was a completely different voice from his usual one, hard and distant, as if pushing others away. With those words, Saki glanced at Nathan. Pierced by that cold, emotionless gaze, a shiver ran down Nathan's spine. Then Saki's mouth opened slightly, and he heard a small voice say, "Bind him."
As if jolted, Nathan stood up and formed a sign towards the knight. The knight, noticing this, widened his eyes and, in fear, raised his spear and pulled on his reins. Fool. He must have assumed he wouldn't be subjected to a spell, but did he think he could get away with such an insult? Nathan spat inwardly and chanted, "
Instantly, the knight's body froze as if it had been turned to ice in the posture of raising his spear. Surprised by the sudden pull on the reins, his horse reared up, and he was thrown off. Nishim and Tal hurriedly went to restrain the masterless horse. Seeing Saki walk towards the fallen knight, Nathan and Laz followed.
The knight seemed to have landed on his rear, and there were no visible injuries. The hand, frozen in a raised position while still gripping the spear, looked somewhat comical. It's probably a coincidence, but it was impressive that he didn't drop the banner to the ground. Thinking this, Nathan removed the spear with the banner from the knight's hand and leaned it against the horse he had been riding.
"He cannot speak like this. Nathan, release him."
"Yes, my lord."
It was another uncharacteristically high-handed command from Saki, but Nathan obeyed without question, mentally releasing the
"Now, I have given my name, but I have yet to hear yours. Knight, herald of Lord Yuli, son of the Marquis, state your name."
Pierced by Saki's cold gaze, the knight, his face covered in a greasy sweat, looked back and forth between Saki's face and his fingertip before finally answering in a strained voice.
"...Roman Baumann, a knight of Marquis Katzir."
"I see. Then, Knight Baumann, I must inform you that this has become a most unfortunate situation. I find I must take your head and deliver it to Lord Yuli."
"W-what! Why would it come to that!"
"In response to the public mockery you have cast upon the house of Arcalai, to cleanse this shame, I must strike you down and inform your master, Lord Yuli, of the circumstances. Only then can my house restore its honor in the public eye. As a knight yourself, you cannot be ignorant of how heavily a noble's honor weighs."
"N-no…"
To Baumann, Saki's voice sounded like the words of a death god coming from afar. Looking around, he finally realized that he was in a situation where his life could be easily taken, while his allies were still far away on the highway. Then, Saki delivered the final blow.
"Should Lord Yuli or, by extension, his excellency Marquis Katzir, become enraged by our actions, then so be it. The house of Arcalai and all magic users aligned with my house shall take up arms against Katzir with our full strength. And even if we are all struck down, my grandmother will avenge us."
Saki's tone never wavered; to Baumann, it seemed as if he were stating the obvious. It sounded like the voice of one who had made his resolve, and he couldn't look Saki in the face. Without realizing it, Baumann was trembling, his hands and knees on the ground, his head bowed.
"H-how may I be forgiven?"
By now, Baumann's earlier bravado had vanished without a trace. As he begged for forgiveness with a look of genuine terror, Saki made a thoughtful face and said, "Hmm."
"Nathan, is there a way to resolve this without taking his head?"
"The loud voice from before may have been heard by the gate guards and the common folk. At this point, unless this man is struck down, the honor of your house cannot be preserved."
"I see. Then it cannot be helped."
"W-wait! Please wait!!"
Baumann desperately raised his voice, begging for his life. His helmet was pressed to the ground, and tears welled up in his eyes, his voice becoming nasal.
"I apologize in any way you wish for my rude behavior towards Saki-sama. On top of that, please, have mercy, have mercy…"
Baumann's words eventually turned into sobs mixed with wails, and it was no longer possible to understand what he was saying. Saki listened intently as Baumann cried and screamed for a while, then smiled and said:
"Then, let's pretend it never happened."
"Eh?"
At these unexpected words, Baumann lifted his face, messy with tears and snot. There stood Saki, smiling, his words softened but his voice still lacking any inflection.
"We will now pass through the gate and enter the city. You will wait here for the Marquis's son to arrive and fulfill your duty as a herald. We never met, and no dispute ever occurred. Is that correct?"
"Y-yes, that is correct! I am truly grateful for Saki-sama's generous consideration!"
At Saki's words, delivered with a smile devoid of warmth, Baumann repeatedly bowed his head and offered words of gratitude. Saki, as if having lost interest, turned around and started walking towards the carriage without a backward glance.
"Now everyone, let's hurry through the gate. Nathan, I'll leave the rest to you."
"As you wish, Saki-sama."
Nathan bowed deeply from the waist to Saki's retreating back. After watching Laz and the others return the horse and spear to Baumann and follow Saki, he mounted his horse again and approached Baumann.
"You were lucky that Saki-sama is a generous man. You've saved your life."
Baumann, back on his horse with his spear in hand, remained silent in response to Nathan's words.
"However, if you ever hold a grudge against the Arcalai family or spread malicious rumors, there will be no mercy next time. I and the Royal Magic Corps will ensure that you and your master receive your just deserts. Do you understand?"
"I... I understand."
Hearing Baumann's reply, Nathan, like Saki, turned his horse without a second glance and galloped towards the gate. On his face, in stark contrast to his earlier stern expression, was a truly fine smile.
(What nerve. What strength. He truly doesn't seem like a seven-year-old boy. Saki-sama's talent lies not only in his magical skill but also as a leader of men. He is truly as my master said, one who, along with Ruria-sama, will change the history of magic—)
Nathan, while being sincerely grateful for being born in this era, renewed his respect for his junior, who was nearly twenty years younger than him.
Here is Episode 22. Oh, it seems we still haven't moved to the academy yet, have we? How strange. In any case, I believe the academy arc will begin in earnest now, so I hope you'll stick with me.