The room that had been empty was still warm.
As if someone had just been there moments ago.
“Was he definitely here in the morning?”
“Yes. I confirmed it while serving breakfast.”
The time was just a bit early for lunch. Around 11 o’clock, so…
That means he was certainly here about 3 to 4 hours ago… but then he vanished without a trace?
How on earth? It’s a room hastily remodeled from a warehouse, with no windows!
Plus, the entrance was guarded by elite Elf Spirit Swordsmen and Dwarf Warriors. They let someone slip away unnoticed?
Doesn’t make sense!
“Hm. Let me take a look.”
Even though I hadn’t been paying attention, the sudden disappearance of someone from this room was strange.
If there was any chance, it would be that they used spatial movement magic to escape…
But do we even have a magician capable of using something like spatial movement magic?
The only candidates for such an ability would be beings like dragons or gods—creatures that are beyond the limits of biology…
Did such a being whisk the emperor away? That’s bizarre!
“Let’s see…”
I quietly glanced around the empty room. The warmth of the person lingered, but something felt off…
There was a sense of unease that could only be perceived with the eye capable of seeing magical power.
When it comes to magical concentration and flow, various elements come into play, but the magic in this room was unnaturally orderly.
Almost uniformly distributed magic. If a person had been in this room for a few days, it would typically lead to uneven magical distribution.
Unless that person continuously moved at regular intervals to keep the magic balanced…
In the end, this means that someone had artificially manipulated the magic in this room.
It was likely a being more adept than an ordinary magician, who entered and whisked the emperor away without anyone noticing, hiding all their traces as well.
It was an exceptionally meticulous and cunning act. It could hardly be detected!
However, that would be if I hadn’t been here!!!
“Are there any clues?”
“There are none at all.”
The only hint was a bit of warmth lingering.
But—
“Still, it’s not like there’s no way.”
Even without clues or traces, the space itself remains.
I raised my magical power and spread it throughout the room, then used a spell.
To show the past of this space. A magic that recreates the past in blue light…
Can this even be called magic? If this is recreated by magic, then that in itself would be quite an accomplishment.
Anyway, particles of radiant magic began to form faint shapes in the room, and those present marveled at the images.
“This is… magic…?”
“This is on a different level than any magic I know!”
As the particles of magic took shape, they transformed into the emperor sitting on the bed.
[How could this happen…. I, the one holding the undefeated flag, am so powerless….]
The magic vibrated, even recreating the emperor’s voice. The others in the room hushed their breaths to hear the emperor’s voice.
[How can my guards betray me?! This is impossible! Something must be wrong!!!]
The emperor yelled and thrashed on the bed. I grimaced slightly at the sight of him, but soon lost interest in him.
From a shadowy corner of the room, something began to emerge.
The shape started to grow, slowly taking on a human form.
[Your Majesty. What is happening?]
The figure draped in a black cloak and hood revealed only part of its face as it approached the emperor.
It appeared as an old man. It had the form of a human but didn’t feel human at all.
Seeing that figure, the emperor leaped to his feet, his face lighting up.
[Master! What is happening?! Why aren’t my guards following me?!]
His master? The emperor’s master? That in itself raised serious suspicion. Could it be a magician who hides in shadows?
This suspicion crossed the line!!! This is incredibly suspicious!
Ahem. I guess I’ll set aside my doubts about the old man and take a closer look at the situation.
[Hmmm… this is strange. The royal guard follows only your orders, Your Majesty. For them to betray you…]
The old man pondered deeply.
[I suspect something external is at play… but we don’t have time, so let’s leave this place.]
[Leave? Here?]
“Yes. First, let’s escape and return to Sirius. This place is no longer suitable for Your Majesty.”
[Alright! I don’t want to stay in this shabby room any longer!]
At the old man’s words, the emperor rejoiced. He wouldn’t want to be in this dark, stuffy room without a single window.
Compared to the emperor’s usual chambers or meeting rooms, this place was worse than a prison!
“Believe it or not, these are furniture made by skilled dwarven craftsmen…”
At the emperor’s words, the Dwarf Representative wore a slightly hurt expression, but I let it slide.
[Then… please come closer. Let’s get out of here and head to Sirius.]
[Yes! I will track down whoever manipulated my guards and have them executed! I will leave no one alive!]
[Of course. Do as you wish.]
Soon, the shadow that emerged from the old man began to engulf both the emperor and the old man, and moments later, the shadow sank into the ground and vanished.
Thus, no one was left in this room.
“That old man… a magician…?”
“Indeed, he’s not an ordinary individual…”
Could he have used the shadow as a medium for spatial movement? Good grief, today’s magicians are something else…
It’s easy to think that way, but honestly… he doesn’t seem fully human.
Thanks to the book Sia wrote, magic has become more systemized and has steadily advanced, but… I’ve never seen anyone use magic of spatial movement level.
It might be that he’s a creature akin to a dragon or someone who borrowed power from a god… Hm… hmmm…
I don’t know. I can’t say for sure… for now, let’s keep tracking that old man. Following him should yield more clues.
What on earth is that old man up to?
“Hmmm… the emperor has disappeared… this is troublesome.”
“Damn it! I should have swiftly dealt with that guy!!! Didn’t you all notice what was happening in this room?!”
Fuming, the Dwarf Representative yelled at the two elves and the dwarf guarding the room. It’s only natural to be angry since he probably wanted to take the emperor’s head personally.
But blaming the guards for someone slipping away without a sound like a shadow, that’s a bit tough.
“It’s hard to really blame them. To have a master magician capable of moving through shadows as the emperor’s master… that’s something you’d never imagine, right?”
“Ugh… I’d sharpen the blade of my axe…”
Ignoring the lamenting Dwarf Representative, I turned to the Elf Representative and said,
“For now, I’ll try to track him down. I don’t know how far I can trace him, but I still need to gather more clues.”
“Do you think that’s possible? He’s a high-level magician that can go back and forth without being noticed…”
“I’ll be able to find him unless he’s hidden deep underground. So, please handle the rest.”
At my words, the Elf Representative nodded slightly.
“Understood. I will proceed with the rest accordingly. Now, don’t be too disappointed. Follow me. We have a lot to do.”
“Ugh. I get it without you saying it! Munyeonim, please find that bastard! I won’t be satisfied unless I take his head!”
“I’ll do my best.”
What a reckless guy!
After sending off the representatives of the elves and dwarves,
“Oh, the guards can disperse as well. There’s nothing left to protect now.”
At my words, the two guards nodded slightly and departed.
Now that I’m alone…
“Whoever you are… let’s finally see your face.”
I lightly tapped my Sephiroth where the shadow that engulfed the old man and the emperor had vanished and pumped in my magical power.
Through my magic, the faint traces of magic underneath the floor, which were almost gone, began to be felt.
If I had been even a bit later, this magic would have completely vanished, but upon touching the magic I infused, it stopped disappearing. It was as if it consumed pure magic without intent, slightly extending its lifespan.
Alright. I never thought I’d catch the faint traces of magic like this! Now, should I use this magic as a guide to pursue?
It seems he didn’t descend deeply underground but moved just slightly beneath the surface. The trail of magic led out from Betelgeuse, extending northward.
A trail stretching quite far. It leads to a mountain north of Betelgeuse.
Hmm… but that’s going further away from Sirius, right? What’s going on? The old man clearly said he was going to Sirius!
After pinpointing the coordinates where the magic led, I utilized spatial movement to teleport to that location.
“Oh dear… maybe I’m too late.”
In the depths of the mountain, I found the horrifying sight of the emperor’s corpse lying dead.
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