Chapter 37
The office of Second Prince Irid was located in the former brothel, Rosaria, now a secret base of the Imperial Defense Bureau, officially known for its suspiciously poor service as the inn “Beer and Song.”
Irid had set up just a desk in a secluded room on the third floor, adorned with nothing but a single sprig of rosemary in a vase. The office was a far cry from the dignity expected of the imperial court.
Even among the agents of the Defense Bureau, speculation ran rampant about why the most noble Second Prince, who descended from the Empire’s most illustrious lineage, had chosen to establish his office in such a rundown inn.
Some speculated it was a way for him to cultivate a humble lifestyle in preparation for the possibility of being ousted from the succession race.
Others believed that the enlightened Second Prince wanted to empathize with the suffering of the common folk by taking on unpleasant tasks himself.
A few even guessed he was scheming to exploit the vulnerabilities of the Defense Bureau to bring it down.
However, only one agent knew the true reason.
Your speculations are all garbage.
Agent C of the Defense Bureau thought as she assisted Irid with his work.
“Next.”
“Yes, the next item on the agenda is an unidentified dungeon discovered near the Academy. According to the reconnaissance team, there are signs of a Black Wizard scattered throughout the dungeon.”
“That alone hardly seems enough for a report. Is there anything unusual?”
“Yes. An Elite Mark has been found. After borrowing the Evil Acts Catalog from the Church of the Goddess and confirming it, the Mark belongs to the ‘Corpse Flower that Consumes Fear.'”
“…I remember. That was mentioned in a fairy tale my sister read to me. The Black Wizard who burned a castle overnight with white crows and black swans… Let’s put this on hold. We need to raise our hands a bit more. Next.”
“Yes, moving on to the next item. Again, a petition has arrived from the Red Magic Tower asking for an increase in the imperial funding.”
“The power to allocate imperial grants doesn’t belong to the imperial sons… You informed them of this, right?”
“Yes. And yet, they did it again. This time they went so far as to scatter printed petitions over a no-fly zone.”
“Sometimes, I think we should lock the wizards away in a religious facility once a week for their mental health. Ignore it. Next.”
“Yes, moving on to the next item. This is a letter from First Princess Elaine. She mentions plans to visit soon…”
“I have no clue what her purpose is. First, hide any sensitive documents that might cause trouble if found. Send trusted agents on missions outside and keep Centra’s portrait locked in the underground vault…”
Bang!
A sound that shouldn’t have come from a door echoed as it swung open.
And then, a red-dressed intruder stepped in boldly.
“Hello, my dear baby brother!”
“W-Wait, what is this? A surprise attack?! Or a trap?! A power struggle for the throne is forbidden under His Majesty’s decree—Mmph!!”
Clench!!
The fierce grip of First Princess Elaine lifted Irid off the ground and into the air. Then she enveloped him in a bear hug filled with warmth and love. Agent C, who witnessed this scene, later testified:
“Like the round sun setting between the mountains, so too was the expression on the Second Prince’s face.”
Elaine finally released Irid only after spinning him around thirty-five times.
===============================================================
Irid sat down at the table and ordered Agent C to massage his stiff shoulders, a byproduct of her whirlwind embrace.
Elaine whipped her head around like a child visiting a theme park for the first time and asked bluntly, “Why are you working in this tiny, cramped room?”
“That’s none of your concern, Noonim.”
“If the room is this small, there’s no space to evade attacks. In case of an assault, you’re at an enormous disadvantage, not to mention you could be blown away by a single explosion spell.”
“I’m sure I’m taking safety into consideration, so don’t worry… Wait, I distinctly remember setting up a protective field around this room.”
“You should’ve paid more attention to the windows, right?”
Irid glanced at the crystal ball hanging from the ceiling. The crystal ball, which should have been emitting a protective field, was now dead, having turned into nothing more than a decorative piece.
Amidst suspicions of betrayal from Agent C, Elaine eagerly revealed the trick she had used.
Click click. With a flick of her fingers, the window suddenly opened on its own. A gust of wind blew in, activating the power to the crystal ball before it swiftly fled.
…You mean you had such abilities?
“I acquired it through Dimensional Magic. It wasn’t too bad.”
I thought the edge had left your gaze; I guess there was a reason for that.
…You can see that?
“Well, I only think about how long I might have to live under your hand. There’s only so much one can glean. I can see things like whether you’re being cautious about your weight or if you’re debating whether to eat a macaron, then finally deciding to eat it and feeling regret… Uck!!”
The human centrifuge spun Irid another seventeen dizzying times.
C hurriedly tried to tidy up Irid’s frazzled hair after the rapid spins.
“Hmm. You’ve certainly become more playful with your sister. You’ve changed, Irid.”
“To be more accurate… it’s you who has changed.”
I didn’t become bolder to tease; you simply became more approachable for a tease. Irid muttered, recalling how the former First Princess always radiated a dangerous vibe, ready to decapitate anyone over the slightest misstep.
After all, who would dare to joke around with a lion showing its teeth?
“I’ve parted your hair into a 2:8 ratio, Your Highness.”
“Don’t play with a prince’s hair; put it back how it was, C.”
After cautioning the elite Agent C, who could devour two servings of madeleines in one go, Irid fell deep into thought.
He had gained love, but his sister had inevitably shifted in her abilities.
He was well aware of the First Princess’s original prowess. A walking storm, a bloodwind sweeping across the battlefield. By the battle’s end, a fine mist of the enemies’ ground-up corpses would fill the air, a destructive metamorphosis intertwined with self-harm.
There was a reason why priests from the Church of the Goddess protested month after month outside the First Princess’s residence, begging to “please deliver just one good word before you leave” only to be carted off to prison. Extremes in metamorphosis breed extreme sublimation.
And those with extreme sublimation often approached madness.
History had shown this repeatedly. A century ago, the Sword Ghost roamed wild; then ten years prior, the Projectile Ghost went mad, slaughtering countless until his capture, and now he was undergoing human experimentation in the Gold Magic Tower’s research wing.
They floundered anxiously in the metamorphosis stage, and with that twisted psyche, the moment they achieved sublimation, they became enemies of the Empire. Had his sister reached sublimation like this, she could have easily been called the Blood Ghost.
He felt a sense of relief.
Should I hug you one more time?
“Forget that; just spell out your reason for being here. There must be something you need to discuss.”
“There are two main points. One is important, and the other… I’m not sure if it’s important, but it’s something I personally want to mention…”
You’re long-winded. Let’s start with the first one.
What are you planning to do about the Purple Magic Tower?
“I don’t grasp the meaning.”
I am asking you about how they’re being treated. Oh, I don’t mean any harm or anything… but I think it’s a shame to leave it unaddressed as a secret.
That’s definitely true. It is a shame.
After all, the magic they had could easily be utilized in various ways.
The Second Prince understood this well firsthand, having entered and nearly perished. The safety measures were sound and experiencing death itself had a way of changing one’s outlook on life.
Moreover, even aside from Dimensional Magic, an Illusion Wizard was needed anyway. After all, a professor was required to teach Illusion Magic at the Academy.
Even if one didn’t know how to use Illusion Magic, teaching how to counter it still required lessons. And then…
Rustle.
Second Prince Irid pulled several documents from a stack. The Academy’s enrollment list, movements of the Black Wizard, and the nearby unidentified dungeon.
It’s about that time for the annual event.
Are you referring to the Academy Raid?
Indeed. I suspect it is highly likely that there is at least one mole from the Black Wizard operating within the Academy. Under normal circumstances, I would resolve this by dispatching the Boy Knight to the Academy, but…
Hmm, that would stir up quite a fuss. The Inter-Species Council meeting is coming soon. That will take priority for him…
Irid began mapping out the grand plan in his mind. Strengthening the Academy students, prepping against the Black Wizard, and finding a way to manage the internal conflicts and power struggles at the Academy.
Then an idea flashed.
We should drop a crazy wizard in there.
I’ll have to send the crazy wizard to the Academy along with someone to act as… a suppressor.
Irid turned to look at C.
C maintained an unreadable expression while fireworks ignited in her mind. It seemed the Academy was a more delightful working environment than one might think. Plus, they even had a famous dessert cafe.
If you entrust me with this task, I shall carry it out with utmost dedication…
No, you need to work beside me.
Then… what does that look in your eyes mean?
Scout around and find someone suitable. Somewhat eccentric but capable of following orders would be ideal.
Actually, I’m a bit eccentric myself.
You are exceedingly normal, so don’t undermine yourself.
Irid drafted the requisite orders for the mission, stamped his seal, and handed the stack of papers over to C. C said a silent farewell to the Academy’s Mont Blanc and hurried off to work.
Leaning back in his chair, he took a moment to catch his breath.
So?
Elaine, watching her little brother with eager interest, jumped slightly at his call and hesitated.
Huh?
You have something on your mind. It’s all written on your forehead.
Ah, about that… if I claimed that the First Prince were the culprit, would you believe me?
Haven’t we discussed this multiple times before?
…This time it’s different.
Irid turned to lock eyes with Elaine. It was still impossible to read everything. The masks he’d built over the years remained steadfast.
Yet, there was undeniably a change.
A refreshing breeze wafted through her gaze. Not the stagnant bloodwind, but a freeing wind. And… there was hope. A genuine hope that her story would be heard and believed.
Irid harbored a similar hope. The story about to unfold was something he had heard countless times before and had consistently doubted.
Once more, he would question, pry into the peculiarities of the tale, demand contextual evidence. But if, in the end, trust could be re-established with his sister, they could return to the warmth of their cherished childhood moments.
…Let’s take this slowly. Don’t just stand there; sit down. Just not on the bed. That’s my designated spot.
Then where should I sit?
On the bare floor or on the desk.
Can’t we please just move to a bigger room?!
The story went on for quite some time. Elaine divulged the truth of that day, and Irid listened meticulously. The distorted emotions that had veiled them both were whisked away by a certain wizard’s illusion. With that alone, their misunderstandings were cleared up.
Elaine burst into joyful tears and, in a fit of excitement, spun Irid around a further twenty-eight times, marking the lone tragedy of that day.
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