NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14
“How?”
The first thought that began to circulate in Fedelian’s mind upon seeing Johan holding the demon beast’s neck was a question.
“Though it’s still a young specimen, it’s an Archdemon. There’s no way a newly ascended Archmage could capture one alone.”
Under normal circumstances, the unit heading south should have been annihilated.
They had made minimal assignments, using the fact that the southern route had the lowest numbers of demon beasts as an excuse.
“But not only did they retreat the others, they managed to capture it.”
How? The question continued to swirl in his mind. Did he deceive the realms? No. There’s no reason for that. There wouldn’t be any benefit.
His eyes trembled, and his mouth slightly opened. He was in shock.
“Johan!”
While Fedelian was lost in thought, Fransia pushed the knight aside and dashed towards Johan.
With a nearly tearful expression, she rushed into his embrace, burying her face in his chest.
“Fransia.”
“What on earth were you thinking…!”
Fransia’s words didn’t finish as emotions surged within her.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t act recklessly like that again!”
“I will do my best.”
Johan smiled gently and patted her head. Fransia’s ruby-like eyes filled with tears as she looked at him.
“…I’m so glad you returned safely. Truly.”
Saying this, Fransia buried her face back into Johan’s chest.
And two men watched this disapprovingly.
“……”
“……”
It was Kasys and Fedelian.
‘How unpleasant.’
Fedelian frowned as he observed the affection between the two in real-time.
‘Didn’t realize he was a man…’
Kasys, expressionless, inferred their relationship.
‘Are they lovers?’
Kasys’s violet eyes lowered, and his lips pressed into a straight line.
“Both of you calm down.”
Unable to stand seeing them in an embrace, Fedelian interrupted the moment.
“…First, let’s gather ourselves, Harsen Archmage. I need to hear the details.”
“Yes.”
Johan gingerly released Fransia’s cling and took a step forward.
Fransia grasped the lapel of his clothes. Johan lightly smiled at her and nodded.
“Oh, and.”
As Johan followed Fedelian, he suddenly turned his body.
“Here’s the head of the Archdemon.”
Thud.
The severed head was casually tossed to the ground.
“Isn’t this the head of a true Archdemon…?”
“Oh my, did you really capture it all by yourself?”
The astonished public affairs officer and knight gawked at the demon beast’s head.
“Please take care of the corpse disposal.”
Johan said this and followed after Fedelian.
*
Inside the central barrack of the forward base.
Fedelian, sitting cross-legged on a chair, opened his mouth.
“I’ve got a general idea of the circumstances. It’s said that the demon beasts suddenly swarmed in after reaching the front of the dungeon, where nothing was visible before?”
“Yes.”
“You remained behind alone to confront the Archdemon and brought its head back. That’s all I know.”
“That’s correct.”
Fedelian squinted his eyes.
“How did you manage that?”
“Though it was an Archdemon, it was a young one.”
“So you were able to win alone?”
“That’s right.”
The Crown Prince had been watching Johan closely. He didn’t seem to be lying.
“Lucky you.”
“Haha. Lucky, you say?”
Johan looked at Fedelian with a smile in his eyes that reflected the blond man.
“Isn’t all of this because of His Highness’s grace?”
“…What do you mean by that?”
“I thought His Highness would know better.”
Fedelian’s eyebrows twitched.
‘Does he know I orchestrated this?’
How could he? He left no evidence. If that’s the case, he’s simply testing the waters. Fedelian continued the questioning.
“…Anyway, have you figured out why that Archdemon appeared in the south?”
“How would I know that? Only the one who orchestrated this from the beginning could know.”
“Does that mean there is someone besides the spell practitioners who orchestrated this?”
Fedelian tilted his head with no change in expression.
Johan’s gaze turned cold.
“There is. A very high-ranking one.”
“A high-ranking one?”
“Don’t you truly know?”
“I don’t.”
Johan inwardly clicked his tongue at Fedelian’s audacity.
“This incident was definitely orchestrated by the spell practitioners, but they lacked sufficient information to have planned everything.”
Johan continued, however.
“Strangely, the demon beasts they directed had a purpose. Almost as if to annihilate the southern unit.”
With those words, Johan’s expression hardened.
High-ranking. His Highness’s grace. The mastermind of this incident.
He had given all the information. Fedelian would surely understand the implications of this.
“…I see. So there’s a public officer who is colluding with the spell practitioners.”
“Yes.”
Fedelian’s complexion darkened. A smile formed on Johan’s lips.
“Isn’t it truly foolish? To collude with spell practitioners in an Empire that’s under heaven’s watch. Surely, one won’t fare easily from this.”
“…….”
“I think so. Someday, they will receive the full repercussions. I hope the one who orchestrated this understands that.”
Johan continued with a grin.
“I won’t report this to higher-ups. I believe the head can handle it well enough.”
At this, Fedelian was certain. Johan Harsen—he knows that he conspired with the spell practitioners to orchestrate this incident.
“…Understood. You may rest now.”
“Yes.”
Johan politely bowed and exited the barrack.
Fedelian watched his retreating figure, resting his chin on his hand, his eyes narrowed.
‘He knows for sure that I orchestrated this.’
But how he found out, he didn’t understand. He hadn’t shown any signs of discontent towards him at all. The only one who knows of his collusion with the spell practitioners was Rudella Bismarck.
Rudella Bismarck? No. She wouldn’t possibly betray him.
She loves him more than anyone. That’s what he learned. She would never do such a thing.
‘How… how did he reach the answer?’
Fedelian’s complexion grew darker.
‘It seems for now, I’ll have to lay low.’
If I act carelessly, I might stomp on my own tail. Fedelian nodded to himself.
Swish.
With a light sound, a figure emerged from the corner of the barrack.
“Did you call for me?”
“Kill all the spell practitioners who colluded this time.”
“Yes.”
Rustle.
The man, shrouded in black robes, vanished without a sound.
‘Johan Harsen. One day, I must kill him.’
Fedelian’s blue eyes shone brightly.
‘And I must hurry before Fransia completely becomes his.’
*
That night, on the way to the southern dungeon.
The forest, transformed into a ghostly white under the moonlight, was filled with a quiet and cold atmosphere.
Trees, dirt, rocks—all had frozen over, and the ground was encased in ice.
The public officers and knights who had come to collect the bodies and the demon beast’s soul stones, along with soldiers, were in shock and couldn’t recover.
“…Is this the scene of the battle?”
“It’s freezing magic…”
“That’s information that’s easy to tell at a glance.”
The forest, fittingly described as a frozen world, was covered in brilliant white ice, and everything within it was encased in ice, stopped in motion.
Whoosh—!
The cold wind penetrated to the bone. It felt like a heavy chill washing over him as if he had fallen into the depths of the ocean.
“Are all Archmages like this?”
“Not sure. There’s little opportunity to observe their capabilities.”
The public officer picked up a chunk of ice crystals lying on the ground.
“But this doesn’t seem like the level of an Archmage. It may be the work of a Mind Manifestation.”
“A Mind Manifestation…?”
“Indeed. It means projecting one’s own mind into the world to change the environment itself.”
Magic that manifests the mind into reality.
One of the miracles performed by transcendental mages, the step beyond Archmages.
“We might have an extraordinary figure among the Second Public Officers.”
The public officers and knights continued to move forward. Upon reaching the front of the dungeon, they discovered a corpse.
“…Deputy Head.”
It was Tersis Galectico. He was frozen and had turned cold.
“I hope you go to a good place.”
The public officer placed a handkerchief over his frozen face, covering it. Then he detached the dog tag hanging around his neck.
“…What a strange reconnaissance of the dungeon this time.”
It was a day that craved smoke.
*
Due to exhaustion from depleted magic power and physical and mental fatigue, Johan entered the barrack to rest.
According to the medic’s examination, he was in need of sleep, thus restricting outside access, except for caretakers.
While she couldn’t remain still, Fransia had gone to fetch a chair and, bathed in moonlight, was waiting in front of the barrack where he slept.
Then a man approached and spoke.
“…What’s your relationship with him?”
It was Kasys Lenokhnen. Fransia, without even making eye contact, spat back.
“You have no right to know.”
“Are you lovers with him?”
“I told you, you have no right to know.”
Fransia, overflowing with irritation, glared at Kasys, who met her gaze, his eyes curving like a crescent.
His violet eyes shimmered under the moonlight.
“Only now are you looking over here.”
“…”
“I’m not accustomed to speaking like this, but…”
Kasys awkwardly smiled and turned his gaze away.
“I wish to maintain a good relationship with you, Princess Ferbache.”
“In the morning, you asked for my name, yet how did you know I was Princess Ferbache?”
“I accidentally heard it while walking behind you.”
“Were you following me? That’s quite unpleasant.”
“……”
Kasys flinched. Earlier, he had shown boundless kindness and softness to that man, yet before her, he could only show this prickly attitude.
Unexpectedly, that made him feel a thrill. This new feeling made Kasys shudder at his nape.
“…I apologize for any unpleasantness caused. Please remember that I had no such intention.”
“Oh, fine.”
Fransia gave a curt reply and swiftly turned her head away. That coldness and disdain burrowed deeper into Kasys’s heart.
‘…I’ve never struggled with women like this before.’
Though known as a merciless warrior, he garnered the affection of many women with his face and charming eyes.
Thus, interacting with women had always been easy and straightforward. They were always friendly toward him.
However, the woman before him—Princess Ferbache—held no goodwill towards him. Yet that quality somehow appealed to him.
“Maybe we’ll meet again next time—”
“Fransia.”
Before Kasys could finish, someone called her name. He instinctively turned towards the sound.
There stood Johan Harsen, the Archmage.
“Oh, you’re awake already?”
“Yes. I possess a strong recovery ability with magic.”
Johan smiled at Fransia, then turned to look at Kasys. His gaze turned cold.
“First meeting, Lenokhnen Knight. I am Harsen Archmage.”
“…I see you know me.”
“You’re famous, so that’s expected.”
Johan said this, then hardened his expression. Kasys could tell what feelings he harbored towards him.
Caution.
He immediately realized why that man was wary of him.
‘Is it because I approached Princess Ferbache?’
So they are indeed lovers.
‘…Quite bothersome.’
Kasys’s violet eyes darkened. Jealousy flared within him.
‘Daringly, a woman who should belong to me…’
Grinding his teeth. His fists clenched tightly, veins bulging.
A surge of violent desire began to rise within him, but now was not the time.
Barely controlling his cravings, Kasys offered a stiff smile and made a polite greeting.
“…I hope you recover well.”
Someday, I must carve him down myself.