Chapter 14

Chapter 14
Lady Zenonia.

Zenonia Kalia, who for several years had been the true ruler of Zenonia County by manipulating her father as a figurehead, had traveled to the estate of Count Palatio for two primary purposes.

Her first objective was to determine the motives of Alon, the new Count Palatio. He possessed leverage that could inflict significant harm upon Zenonia County, yet he had chosen not to employ it.
The relationship between their two counties was not overtly hostile, but she recognized that the Count’s essential nature mirrored her own—they were, in a sense, cut from the same cloth.

Consequently, she easily deduced that Alon was not the sort of man to wield such potent tools out of mere sentimentality or foolish kindness.

She had come to uncover his genuine intentions.

Her second objective was to evaluate the strength of the organization that Count Palatio was said to command.

Kalia was aware, of course, that a simple meeting with the Count would not lay bare the full might of the shadowy force he led.

However, she possessed a method to catch a glimpse of its periphery.

That method was the wizard Biankel.

He had once gained academic renown within the Magic Tower for a new theory concerning “forgotten era magic,” but was later expelled for conducting magical experiments of an excessively cruel and inhuman nature.

Despite his expulsion, his power remained at the 5th-tier.

He was formidable enough to single-handedly annihilate an entire military battalion. Kalia had secured his companionship by offering support for his experiments, forming a temporary alliance.

She reasoned that a wizard like Biankel, whose expertise lay in detection magic and who stood at the peak of the 5th-tier, would be able to easily gauge the strength of Count Palatio’s protectors.

While the quality of one’s guards did not reveal everything, observing the caliber of those shielding the Count could offer telling insights into the organization’s deeper capabilities.

…This, at least, was her justification for bringing Biankel along.

In the reception room of the estate, Lady Kalia stole a subtle glance at Biankel, whose mouth was still slightly agape and whose face was etched with clear anxiety.

She was taken aback internally.

To her knowledge, he was not a man given to displaying such foolish expressions in front of others.

Biankel’s demeanor was perpetually arrogant, and he never addressed anyone with deference—not even her, his patron.

Naturally, Kalia understood the reason for his typical behavior.

Even as an exile from the Magic Tower, his achievement in reaching the pinnacle of the 5th-tier provided ample justification for his attitude.

But now, his expression was profoundly unusual.

His face was frozen in the same shock she had witnessed earlier, and she could now discern flickers of a emotion she had never seen in him before: fear.

“Why…?”

A blend of curiosity and disquiet stirred within Kalia as she observed him.

She had never known him to show such overt fear.

‘If he is reacting like this… could the magic we witnessed truly have been an Origin spell…?’

The thought was fleeting, as she quickly forced her attention back to the present and met Alon’s gaze.

His eyes were unchanged.

His gaze, which seemed to find no worth in the current proceedings, drifted slowly and indifferently over both Biankel and herself.

Silence descended.

“My apologies, Count Palatio. I have been discourteous.”

Kalia was the one to finally break the quiet.

Though she held the title of Lady Zenonia, she formally addressed the Count and apologized for intruding upon the training grounds.

Even with a potential excuse, spying on another’s private training session was a clear, if minor, transgression.

After a moment of silence, Alon responded.

“…There is no need for blame.”

“Thank you.”

“Under ordinary circumstances, I would inquire as to the purpose of your visit to the County. But before that, allow me to clarify one matter.”

“Please, proceed.”

In response to Kalia’s acquiescence, Alon spoke without hesitation.

“What I used was not Origin. It appears the wizard you brought with you was mistaken.”

“Is that so?”

“It is. My own magical abilities are not particularly remarkable. If I were to assign a tier… it would be around the 2nd.”

Naturally, Kalia did not believe Alon’s words.

Even with her limited knowledge of magic, it was plain that the power he had displayed was far from ordinary.

She shifted her gaze subtly back to Biankel and was met with another surprise.

His expression had worsened.

Yet, despite his grimace, he seemed to have grasped the implicit warning in Alon’s statement.

It was a command to remain silent about what they had seen.
“It seems I was mistaken.”

“…!”

Biankel forced the words out.

Kalia was startled once more, hearing him use polite language for the first time in five years—he almost exclusively used informal speech.

“Yes, you seem quite capable, so you’ve likely discerned this already, but that magic has no practical application. Now then, with that misunderstanding resolved… what is the reason for your visit to the County?”

Alon steered the conversation forward without pause, prompting Kalia to quickly compose herself and answer.

“It was nothing of great importance. I was in the vicinity on other business and thought of you, so I decided to pay a brief visit.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

After a moment of contemplation, Alon spoke.

“Unfortunately, my schedule is quite full, so I will not be able to entertain a lengthy conversation.”

“That is perfectly acceptable. My visit was only meant to be a brief courtesy call. I merely wished to pay my respects.”

“If you are seeking conversation, it might be worthwhile to visit the Duke of Altia.”

“…The Duke of Altia, you say?”

“Yes, I believe the two of you would find much in common.”

“If you recommend it… I will consider paying the Duke a visit.”

Lady Zenonia offered a smile in reply to Alon, who spoke with an impassive expression.

Yet, her mouth felt dry.

***

“Why would Lady Zenonia, from that infamous western family, come to see you?”

Watching the carriage carrying Lady Zenonia fade into the distance, Evan posed the question, and Alon answered.

“How should I know?”

“Is that so?”

Evan looked perplexed, but Alon genuinely had nothing more to add. He truly could not fathom why Kalia had come.

“It’s irritating that I revealed my magic to her.”

Alon thought of the Zenonia wizard who had misidentified his magic as Origin.

‘I can only hope rumors don’t start circulating that I can use Origin.’

In this world, rumors held a power far beyond what one might expect.

If a story spread that Alon could wield Origin—a spell only the supreme wizards of this world could cast—it might seem beneficial on the surface, but it would actually be a severe nuisance.

In this dark fantasy realm, it was not difficult to find madmen who felt compelled to challenge anyone with a reputation for strength.

…If he had a powerful patron, that would be different, but without one, strange rumors would attract dangerously powerful individuals seeking conflict for no good reason.

In fact, Alon could immediately name eight such powerful figures who would seek him out if they heard he used Origin, and he wanted to quash any such talk before it began.

‘…I hope she understood?’

Recalling the wizard’s nod of agreement as he saw Lady Zenonia off, a gesture meant to clear up the misunderstanding, Alon continued his thoughts with a sense of discomfort.

‘Why is she even interested in me?’

For Alon, Kalia was not only uninteresting, but someone he actively wished to avoid.

Any association with her would naturally increase the likelihood of being drawn into the affairs of the underworld.

…Though he had directed her toward the Duke of Altia.

He was confident Lady Zenonia would not actually approach the Duke.

Even so, his reason for mentioning the Duke was primarily to send a message.

A message that he had no interest in any association with her.

“Do not seek me out again.”

With that final thought, Alon put the matter of Kalia to rest.

***

Meanwhile, inside the departing carriage,

“…Was the magic Count Palatio used truly Origin?”

Kalia pressed for an answer.

Unlike his usual promptness, Biankel remained silent.

Just as Kalia was about to speak again,

“It was not Origin.”

Biankel finally replied.

“…It wasn’t Origin? Then what was that display we saw…?”

As Kalia questioned him, her confusion evident, Biankel took a deep, steadying breath and began to explain.

“Origin is the ultimate goal for all wizards, a kind of canvas. It is a canvas granted only to those who have established magic as a ‘truth,’ upon which they can inscribe their own unique laws.”

“Magic that possesses its own distinct arrangements and formulas for manifestation, painted onto an immutable canvas—this is what we call Origin. However—”

He swallowed hard before continuing.

“—Count Palatio’s magic was different.”

“…How was it different?”

“It was not about drawing on a canvas. To be more precise, his magic was akin to tearing the canvas itself.”

Seeing that Kalia still did not understand, Biankel elaborated.

“In other words, he was twisting the ‘truth’ that is meant to be unchangeable. Although I only saw it for a moment, because I was employing the ‘Observation Eye’ at your request, I saw it clearly.”

Biankel muttered,

“Arresting lightning that should not cease, warping the fundamental laws to collapse a spell that had already been manifested—and yet still managing to manifest it perfectly. It was an unbelievable miracle, and behind it—”

He stopped speaking abruptly.

The image of Count Palatio from that moment flashed in his mind.

The moment he had unleashed that incredible power.

His eyes had revealed a talent typically only attained upon reaching the 6th-tier, even if acquired later in life.

A talent that Biankel himself had only barely glimpsed after reaching the peak of the 5th-tier due to his own latent potential.

Eyes capable of perceiving the world itself.

It was an eye.

A pair of jet-black eyes.

With two crimson rings encircling the pupils, those eyes had materialized as the Count worked his magic.

The instant the magic vanished, so too did those eyes, disappearing without a trace.

Remembering this, Biankel could not conceal the fear that now filled his own gaze.

If his suspicion was correct, the Count had tapped into the power of a forgotten ancient god to perform that magic—

But Biankel severed his own train of thought, even employing a mental spell to halt his speculation.

Having delved deeply into ancient lore, he was acutely aware of the dangers inherent in attempting to deduce the truth behind such phenomena.

Thus,

“Allow me to offer you a single piece of counsel.”

“…”

“…”

“Never make an enemy of him. Do not oppose Count Palatio.”

“What—”

“That is the full extent of the advice I can give.”

Having said this much, Biankel fell into a firm silence.

Lady Zenonia also ceased her questions.

Simultaneously, Kalia recalled Alon’s expressionless face and the unnervingly calm gaze he had leveled at her.

“Sigh…”

Unconsciously, a self-mocking smile touched her lips.

For through Biankel’s explanation, she had come to a realization.

There was no purpose in trying to decipher Count Palatio’s intentions from the outset.

At the same time,

-If you’re in need of conversation, it might be a good idea to visit the Duke of Altia.
-…The Duke of Altia?
-Yes, I think the two of you would get along quite well.

She realized that she had already been reduced to a mere piece on his strategic board.

The carriage remained enveloped in a heavy silence for a long time.

***

Then, approximately five months later, by which time Alon had grown quite accustomed to his role and was efficiently managing the duties of the Count, he made a discovery.

“…Ah, Count. Have you heard the news?”
“Heard what?”
“They say that Zenonia County and the Duke of Altia have formed an alliance.”
“What?”

Alon realized that the Kingdom of Asteria was now confronting a significant crisis.