My connection with my master began shortly after I possessed this body.
[Who are you? And why are you in my nest?]
Saying we met by coincidence would be too guilty to admit.
After all, I intended to head towards my master’s nest.
“Master.”
“Yes, Rui. Can you tell me how you’re feeling?”
“I’m fine. But… isn’t this Stormblast Duke’s Mansion?”
“That’s right. I had Kunder bring you here.”
Kunder Stormblast.
In the original story, part of the Demon King’s army, led by Mercad, attempted to invade the Northern Region, but they failed.
The reason was simple.
All the bloodline of Stormblast is dragon.
Thus, in Kunder Stormblast’s territory, the magical creatures and demon race fell like autumn leaves.
So, what on earth could my master be to give orders to the dragon Kunder?
“He said he would take away the title of Duke if you don’t go, so you should.”
“Hmmm…”
“Shouldn’t a son always listen to his mother?”
“That’s true…”
Only a stronger dragon can control another dragon.
The two blue horns on my master’s head sparkled in the sunlight.
That’s right.
My master’s name is El.
To be exact, El Stormblast.
The former Duke Stormblast and the mother of the current Duke Kunder Stormblast.
“And Kunder has been quite obedient to you until now.”
Has he?
But there was a significant difference between my master’s memories and my own experiences with Kunder.
[Human girl, get lost. This is not a place you can live.]
[You’re small and weak, yet you’re so stubborn.]
[You’re going to face magical creatures? You should first build up enough strength to run away.]
[How long do I have to clean up after you?]
I can only remember that cold tone of voice, which was like a blizzard given form, and an expression even colder than that.
So honestly, I couldn’t believe that it was Kunder who brought me from Lakr to Stormblast.
“Rui.”
My master’s sky-blue eyes met mine.
“Yes, Master.”
Seeing her calm tone and the way she gently closed the book she was holding made me certain.
‘…It’s time to get scolded now.’
“If you’re hurt anywhere, make sure to tell me. A girl’s body should be treated with care.”
“That’s how it is.”
But my master gently hugged me and said she would always be there to support me.
“······Thank you, Master.”
I had nothing more to say and could only quietly stay nestled in my master’s embrace.
I had many questions.
Fortress, Mercardie, Hero party, etc…
But perhaps the past days with the Hero party had been a bit tough for me.
I set my questions aside for a moment and slowly drifted into sleep in her warm arms.
*
Click.
Stormblast Duke’s Mansion.
Even in this silent mansion where the servants had never chatted, the top floor, the deepest room.
El Stormblast looked at her sleeping disciple in bed, then closed the door and left the room.
“Mother.”
Then, as if waiting, a man with dark blue hair appeared.
His golden dragon eyes sparkled in the sunlight streaming through the frosted window.
“How is Rui?”
“She feels cold. You should have been more careful bringing her here.”
“······I thought she would be alright with the robe. I also draped my cloak over her.”
“The body of a human child is weak. Rui is weaker than others.”
“I’ll be more careful next time.”
Clack. Clack.
Master of snowstorms. The one who cleaves through lightning.
Guardian of the North. The pinnacle of all dragons.
These are names held by the Stormblast clan.
Because of such titles, they are treated not as vassals but on par with the Emperor, or even higher.
Moreover, even dragons protecting or occupying foreign lands do not easily approach the Stormblast clan.
“A moment ago, a message from the Emperor arrived.”
“Quick.”
“It seems Lacr has also sent a message. He checked on me and sent it straight away. How should we respond?”
“Probably at the Mage Fortress; that child will definitely want to see it too. Write simply that Rui is withdrawing from the Hero party. Also, add that she’ll be recuperating here for a time. Then they might come to visit directly.”
“Understood.”
Tap! Tap!
As Kunder snapped his fingers, writing began to appear on the parchment that had materialized in the air with a flash of lightning.
The letter was soon sealed in an envelope and flew out of the mansion, landing in the hands of a masked man waiting in the garden.
The man saluted the mansion in the royal manner and vanished from the spot.
“······Rui.”
“Kunder.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“If you’re that worried, go visit her yourself. I don’t understand why you always act so timid when it comes to Rui.”
“If you’re that worried, just go see for yourself. I still don’t understand why you get so timid around Rui.”
“……”
“Were you trying to ask about Rui’s condition? If not, speak up.”
After rolling his eyes for a while, Kunder finally spoke.
“……Why did Rui join the Hero party?”
“……Well, why do you think?”
Kunder’s question was something El also wanted to know.
“That day, the day Rui created her unique magic. I made a decision. If a Hero were to appear, I would never let her join their party.”
“……”
The scene from that day flashed in Kunder’s mind.
Not the Stormblast Duke’s Mansion, but the Ice Castle halfway up the mountain where El Stormblast resided.
In the center of that place, she had collapsed, transforming part of the castle into a pure white space.
“But I didn’t give her any warnings. Every time I mentioned the Hero from the prophecy, I showed no interest, or even tried to avoid it.”
Click.
As they opened the door at the end of the hallway, a cold breeze wrapped around El and Kunder.
Down below, a vast land unfolded. On it lay a city blessed by the Stormblast.
“But if I had known it would come to this, I should have at least warned her.”
For the first time, a feeling of regret settled in El’s eyes that had lived for several human lifetimes.
Was it because she almost put the world in danger?
No.
It was because she let her first and last disciple put herself in danger.
She regretted not caring for the potential and creativity that girl possessed, even for a moment.
“……Perhaps this is fate itself.”
“Excuse me?”
“Never mind. By the way, what happened with the Hero party?”
“They’re coming from Lacr to the Northern Region.”
“That makes sense. It’s like they were suddenly kidnapped from their team.”
“Kidnapped?”
“Heh, that’s what I meant. Anyway, Kunder. If the Hero party arrives, don’t push them away right off the bat. After all, they were companions for half a year, so at least give them some time to say goodbye.”
“Understood, Mother.”
“And if you’re going to enter Rui’s room, do it later. She just fell asleep a moment ago.”
“……I won’t go in.”
“Okay, okay. Then I’ll head back to the castle. Just don’t let Lati catch you while you’re only focused on Rui.”
“······.”
Snowflakes blossomed around El, and her body vanished.
By now, she must have arrived at the castle and started looking for ways to weaken her disciple’s magic.
“······.”
Kunder turned around and stood in front of the room where his mother had just come out.
Inside, the disciple his mother cherished so much was asleep.
Creeeak…
[This child is Rui. From now on, she will be my disciple. Rui? This is my son, Kunder.]
[Nice to meet you.]
There was hardly any difference from the first time they met.
It almost seemed like she had stopped growing.
“······.”
[His Majesty the Emperor is concerned about ‘causality’.]
One day, a hand-written letter from the Emperor flew into the mansion.
And soon that concern became a reality.
[The demon army almost descended from Alpares.]
I heard that at that time, he had exhausted all his mana to stop it.
And this time as well.
[Blood Mage Mercadier has appeared in Mine City Lakr.]
He succeeded in stopping the Blood Mage, even using a unique magic he should have sealed for his own sake.
Some may praise this as ‘sacrifice spirit’.
But the thoughts of the higher-ups were different.
In the end, the incidents in Alpares and Lakr occurred due to causality.
The Hero party wouldn’t know.
That more people than they think are focused on their actions.
And among them, there are those who can single-handedly neutralize the currently weak Hero party.
‘······Mage Fortress.’
The one who claims to be her sister.
A mage stronger than this child who has twisted causality.
El expected that she might come to the mansion soon, and Kunder agreed with that opinion.
He learned of the Mage Fortress after she left his mother’s castle, but her relationship with the Stormblast family had become very deep.
“She will definitely come.”
Then they would have to prepare for the guest.
Hero party and Mage Fortress.
Everyone is looking at only one person.
And that person was lying on the bed right in front of him.
“······Grow.”
Kunder said briefly and turned to leave the room.
Winter is approaching.
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