Episode 168
Meteor Strike.
In the face of the almighty Class 8 magic, not a single human named ‘Gary Hill’ survived.
In the extremely high-temperature flames, the bodies of Warlocks, including Josh Garryhill, turned to ashes and disappeared without a trace.
The name ‘Gary Hill’ and all bad ties with me were cut off.
Due to this attack, important positions were
Many of the nobles sitting there were killed or injured.
greater damage.
If we think about the possibility that a disaster close to ‘annihilation’ could come… … .
The overall response was that it was fortunate that this was the case.
We received the utmost hospitality at the villa where the twin princes reside.
The princes were busy cleaning up the incident.
“I protected the royal family and the entire palace from evil warlocks! “You can’t even praise that merit!”
“Well, that’s not what I meant… … . Since there were many nobles who died, it seemed right to hold a large funeral first and then praise them for their merits… …
“Uh-huh! Why don’t you know that if it wasn’t for Lord Ruin, more people could have died? A golden statue of Duke Ruin will be erected in the place where the back gate was, to commemorate him, and a monument will be erected to appease the souls of the dead.”
It seemed like he was more focused on how to make me feel better rather than taking care of things.
Well, if that’s a fix, it’s probably a fix.
“So, how does the sword fighting competition go?”
The swordsmanship competition that was in progress was postponed to a later date.
Anyway, we have to select a kingdom representative to participate in the Sword Grand Prix.
Even though it cannot be held as grandly as it is now, the princes have expressed their intention to finish the competition in a small way.
We decided to stay at the palace for a few more days.
The dean, who heard the news of this incident at the palace, also came to see me.
“Ruin-kun.”
“Dean.”
The dean seemed very curious about the ‘Meteo’ that burst out in the middle of the palace.
As always, instead of asking me directly, he responded in a playful way.
“I almost burned down the entire palace while trying to catch a few rats.”
“Ah, haha… … . is that so.”
“At this point, I’m starting to suspect that Ruin is causing the accident.”
“It’s just a joke. Thank you. “Thank you very much.”
This is so embarrassing.
The dean’s reaction was very cautious, but it was different for Irene.
“Are you really not going to tell me?”
“We decided to let go… … yo. this.”
“I don’t want to feel comfortable talking to a suspicious man who hides everything, even from his girlfriend.”
“… … Umm, girlfriend. “Is that good to hear?”
“Luiin!”
“Oh, okay, okay.”
She wanted to know everything about me.
The reason why he can freely use class 7 fly magic and use class 8 magic, Meteor, at the age of 17.
This is the wisdom of the ancient dragon in my head.
Hye, it’s thanks to ‘Hye-ryeok (Heu)’.
dragon.
Magic is as natural to dragons as breathing is to humans.
A very natural behavior that is not restricted by the ‘class’ system divided by human dichotomous logic.
If I use my enormous power based on this benefit, I won’t be able to fire Meteor wildly.
It is not unreasonable to use it once or twice.
But, how can this be explained?
“It was a coincidence. “It’s amazing.”
I tried to get over the public with the excuse of having an opportunity.
Irene still looked at me with suspicion, but fortunately she didn’t ask any more questions.
“It’s not a coincidence, it’s a coincidence.”
“It’s not possible by chance.”
“So, Ruin, are you now a class 8 wizard?”
Maybe it’s more than that
only… … .
I didn’t know what to answer, so I nodded to roughly indicate that I was right, and Irene seemed to think this answer was enough.
“I thought I was chasing after you for a bit, but now you’re running away so I can’t even chase after you.”
“You know. “I have a lot of enemies.”
“I don’t care about dangerous men.”
“Why, because it’s too deadly?”
“… … Well, I can’t really refute that.”
We burst out laughing at the same time.
Several days passed.
Restoration work is in full swing on the royal palace, which was damaged by warlock attacks, and a stone monument commemorating the disaster that occurred at the palace has been erected.
The chaotic capital security was put back in place, and a new security system centered on the princes was established, with authority not concentrated on military commanders.
They say we learn about the future from the pain of the past.
The situation seemed to end well like this.
This does not mean that the case has been completely ‘solved’.
“Unless it is completely uprooted. Eventually, the same thing will happen again. “The form may change slightly.”
“Roots? “Didn’t Lord Ruin pull out the roots very well?”
“It’s not like that. Is it clear that there is someone behind Gary Hill?
all.”
“It wasn’t something Gary Hill did on his own, but there is someone behind it?”
“I handled things arbitrarily. But where have Garyhill’s warlocks been these past few months? It is too bulky to simply hide in a mountain valley somewhere. In other words, there is someone who hid it.”
Those who hid Gary Hill.
And, it is clear that there are people who implicitly helped in this matter.
“Then who is that?”
“There are those who speculate,
We can’t be sure. So, princes, you must be suspicious of all neighboring countries.”
“Doubt, doubt… …
Who do they want?
Is it the royal family (I:family), or is it my life?
In my instinctive feeling, the latter seems more likely.
If it had been treason, it would not have stopped at this level.
“May I ask who those guessers are?”
“What Gary Hill was after was not royal blood. The nobles who betrayed them, me and my younger brother. In other words, it was ‘ar del.’”
“… … “The person behind this is someone who is targeting Ardel?”
” yes.”
What if neighboring countries helped Gary Hill seek asylum and hid him?
This is not a matter that can be easily accepted.
This is because it is a very political matter.
However, the relationship with the Rhedian Kingdom is unstable.
The fact that they accepted Gary Hill even though they took the risk of losing it.
This would mean that his interests with Gary Hill were exactly aligned.
increase
‘… … ‘The one who wants my life.’
Who is it?
The first face that comes to mind is, of course, ‘them’.
Crown Prince Schomertan Reinach.
And, Flame King Theron.
Those big names would have accepted Gary Hill’s exile without even realizing it.
There is a good chance that
It feels like the scattered puzzle pieces are being put together.
“Where will this year’s Sword Grand Prix finals be held?”
“Lord Luin has also been to this place. “It is ‘Altein’, a principality of the Reinark Empire Federation.”
If Ruina wins the Noble Swordsmanship Competition.
It’s like walking into the jaws of the enemy.
What choice should I make as an older brother?
Should I advise Ruina to give up her dream and go down to Ardel?
Or, should this incident be completely eradicated for the sake of Ruina’s dream?
The opponent is the crown prince of the empire.
I had no choice but to be more cautious than ever, but I didn’t dwell on it for long.
“Sooner or later, I will have to go see the crown prince.”
The princes’ eyes widened at the word ‘crown prince’.
* ♦ ♦
“… … “Is this really the painting that His Majesty the Crown Prince wanted?”
“Ah, godfather.”
“Are you provoking ‘that guy’ by sending in some trash from a small, collapsing country?”
“Godfather, please calm down first.”
Leverdine, the capital of the Reinark Empire.
The owner of the Moran Palace, the most ancient building there.
Crown Prince Sjomertan Reinak put down the teacup he was sipping with a relaxed expression.
“Calm down and first of all, tell me… …
“Seeing as you were telling me to calm down, I guess you didn’t hear about this. “The story is that Ruin Ardel used ‘meteo.’”
“… … Meteor? What is that? Is it magic?”
The crown prince, who was ignorant of magic, did not know anything about it.
Make an exaggerated gesture by raising your arms as if you are going to do it.
Flame King Theron said, very angry.
“yes. “It’s an 8th class magic.”
8 classes.
Flame King Theron’s expression clearly conveyed the message that he would realize your mistake by now.
Rather, the crown prince’s reaction was even more spectacular.
“Huh, that guy. “Are you already in class 8?”
“… … “Your Majesty the Crown Prince.”
“Things are things. If this is the case, I crave it even more… … . If it’s class 8, isn’t it the same as your godfather? So, if these two fight, who will win? Still, the godfather must be stronger than a 17-year-old… …
“Shomertan!”
An angry roar that had never been heard before erupted from Flame King Theron’s eyes.
Okay! Damn it!
With just one shout from him, all the glass windows in the Peony Palace were shattered, and the ceiling
The chandelier above fell to the floor.
Tsutsu!
At the same time, the shadows that were hiding their presence inside the Peony Palace all drew their swords and stood by the crown prince.
Although it was a truly imminent situation, Crown Prince Shomertan Reinak still spoke with a bright smile on his face.
“Ah, I guess Godfather is stronger.”
“If you draw your sword, will you even be able to get near your godfather? Just for a moment
That’s all you did. “You are not the one to harm me, so just go away.”
At the prince’s command, the shadows fluttered and disappeared from sight.
match!
The crown prince clapped his hands and walked forward.
“Godfather. “Why are you so angry?”
“Are you asking because you really don’t know?”
“yes. I do not know. If you’re Gary Hill, it was a card you would use roughly like this and then throw away. It’s not there in card games, but it’s not really necessary.
is a joker card. Rather, thanks to that Joker, she found out in advance that Ruin Ardel had become an ‘8th class’ wizard, so didn’t she take advantage of it properly?”
“Your Majesty, you have made a big mistake.”
“What mistake?”
“that day. “It was my mistake not to kill him.”
That day meant Ruin Ardel’s graduation ceremony.
“It was a mistake… …
A light sneer came from the crown prince’s mouth.
It came out.
“That’s not a mistake. As I said before, it is a history that I want to erase, and a kind of nostalgic feeling about a failed first love… …
“No, it was a mistake. “He became an 8th class wizard in such a short period of time.”
“Godfather. “Are you scared?”
“… … what did you say?”
“Why are you so concerned about him? Godfather, you are the owner of the magic tower that controls the entire continent, and I will lead this huge empire in the future.
This is the crown prince. But he is just a fun toy in a neighboring country.”
When asked by the crown prince if he was scared, Flame King Theron could not immediately answer no.
because.
Because I was really scared.
At the age of 17, he was afraid of the monstrous talent that had followed him to the very tip of his chin.
This is the guy who even reacted to the X-class artifact ‘Kunkan’s Molar’, meaning that he will become the next ‘seat of power’.
For the first time, Flame King Theron regretted introducing Ruin Ardel to the crown prince.
No, I even regretted showing some affection for Ruin, even if just for a moment.
“You can’t underestimate him. He’s a very clever guy. “By now, you may have realized that the person who hid Gary Hill was His Highness.”
Then, the crown prince burst into wild laughter.
“Do you really think I was trying to hide that fact?”
