The forty-day voyage went smoothly.
The weather was always clear, and we didn’t encounter any particularly high waves.
Speria claimed it was thanks to her.
“Being high-level means having greater influence. What I want happens more easily, and what I dislike is less likely to occur. Simply put, you could say my luck improves.”
When learning magic, there are moments when you wonder just how much you should believe.
Now was undoubtedly one of those times.
“No way, is that even possible?”
“Why not? Then is this possible?”
She waved her left hand. A small spark appeared and disappeared in the middle of the cabin.
“You’ve learned a bit about fire, so you should understand. What are the chances of a fire naturally igniting like that in this room?”
I answered in a low voice.
“Insignificantly low.”
“But it happened, didn’t it?”
“Well, that’s because you did it with magic, right?”
“So? What’s the difference?”
“……”
“Which is more likely: avoiding bad weather every day for forty days of sailing, or a spark appearing in this room?”
I understand what she means.
But I replied curtly.
“If you put it that way, the chances of encountering typhoons every day are also low. Why does it always work in your favor?”
“It’s not always like that, Ran. Have you forgotten the basics of magic?”
Magic always comes with a price.
That’s why magicians must pay it in advance or at least be prepared to pay it.
“Then why do you say you’re lucky?”
Speria just smiled enigmatically as she left the cabin.
“Looks like we’ve arrived. Let’s go, Ran.”
We went down to the dock, and Count Furst followed shortly after.
We had arrived at Sangria Port, the largest port city in Baritone, which had grown significantly due to the pioneering projects.
The overall appearance wasn’t much different from Marshal Harbor, but it seemed about ten times larger in size and area.
Count Furst was discussing work with various people, including the captain and the dock manager, while watching the cargo being moved.
As I waited for him, Speria tapped my shoulder from behind.
“Well, I’ll be going now, Ran.”
“Oh, you’re leaving already?”
Speria wore a regretful expression.
“Yeah. I think I’ll have to go right away. I sneaked out, you know. I’ve been away for nearly four or five months, so everyone’s probably wondering. It’s the first time this has happened.”
There was a hint of anxiety in her low voice.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
Speria nodded, trying to look composed. But her expression was unusually gloomy.
“You don’t seem fine.”
“Huh? No. I’m really okay.”
“If you were really okay, you’d say something like, ‘Are you kidding? Hmph. Am I going to die or something?’”
“……”
She hesitated, saying nothing.
It seems like just yesterday she engulfed an entire cabin in flames, and now this is the first time I’ve seen her like this.
“What is it? Tell me.”
Speria shook her head.
“It’s nothing. You know that egg I gave you?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m not forcing you or anything, but if you ever think about getting a familiar, try talking to that egg. Got it?”
“What?”
“Anyway. Just remember that. I’ll be going now.”
“Speria. Wait, what does that…”
As I reached out my hand, her body instantly turned into a flame and disappeared.
As I looked around with a dazed expression, the civilians didn’t seem to have seen the flame, all going about their business.
“Talking like it’s her last words. Is it really something dangerous?”
But at my level, I can’t follow her, let alone help her.
“Master said I don’t have the qualifications to even talk to it. You won’t go off and die somewhere, right?”
I put my left hand inside the robe I was wearing.
The warm egg was in my hand.
But I quickly withdrew my hand.
There’s no guarantee there aren’t any mages among these many people.
And there’s no rule saying there can’t be someone of a higher level than me.
If I act carelessly…
“I’d end up like Keren.”
Keren always looked down on me, the apprentice.
On the other hand, Master was cautious even with me, her disciple.
It’s obvious which mindset is more correct.
Just then, Count approached me and said,
“Ran. It’s time to go. By the way, where did Lady Speria go?”
Huh?
Why is he suddenly looking for Speria?
I shook my head.
“She’s already left.”
“Hmm. Well, she didn’t seem like the type of woman to say goodbye.”
Woman?
She’s 14 years old.
Actually, since I won’t be meeting her again anyway, there’s no need to explain.
“Count. Where are we heading now?”
Count Furst raised his hand and patted my head.
“First, let’s go to my house.”
* * *
We rode in an incredibly luxurious carriage for about an hour. Then we arrived at a massive mansion.
Twenty minutes of that hour were spent traveling from the mansion’s gate to the mansion itself.
As I got out of the carriage, I said,
“Your house is enormous.”
Count Furst looked at his garden through the window and said,
“Originally, this Sangria region was barren land. Nothing grew well no matter what was planted, so villages of twenty or thirty people were scattered here and there. Because of this, the Furst family owned a wider territory than any other noble, but the number of people in the territory was not even 10% of what it is now.”
“Really? When did it develop like this?”
“Since it became the center of the port and industry. My grandfather planted the seeds, my father nurtured them well. I am reaping the harvest.”
Boasting is human nature.
Did Count Furst’s icy heart melt now that he’s home?
His voice was mixed with pride.
“…”
His usual cold tone now feels more like an act.
The Count soon smiled brightly and looked at me.
“So you need to protect me well. I have many soldiers, but we’re not well-prepared for magic. There are treasures passed down, but they’re no match for a living mage.”
I rested my chin on my hand and said indifferently,
“Count, you clearly said you had settled all debts with me. Now, I will protect your safety, but beyond that, I will act for my own studies and purposes.”
“I know. I don’t expect more than that. Just protect me when I need it. Frenche can send another mage.”
High-level mages don’t often involve themselves in human affairs, but there are cases like Keren, so the Count seemed concerned.
The carriage stopped in front of the massive mansion.
“You’ve certainly become a mage. I can vividly remember when you were a slave.”
“Pardon?”
“Anyone who comes to my mansion is usually amazed. Even kings of countries were. But there’s no surprise in your eyes at all.”
That’s because I’ve seen so many wondrous things over the past few months.
“Hmm, I was surprised. I just didn’t show it.”
At that moment, the door swung open and an elderly butler rushed out.
“Count! Wh-what brings you back so soon!”
“I came for business. I just got off the ship and I’m tired.”
“I-I see. I’ll have the maids prepare your room. Would you like to wash up first?”
“That sounds good. Ah, and this is Ran.”
I greeted the butler.
“Hello.”
The butler stared at me for a moment, then quickly turned back to the Count.
“Uh, whose son is he?”
“He’s a mage who will protect me. Treat him exactly as you would treat me.”
At those words, the butler bowed his head.
“Y-yes. Understood.”
The Count walked inside with confident steps.
I unconsciously watched his back.
That posture when entering this incredibly lavish house that wouldn’t be out of place anywhere, as its owner.
That confidence.
Or that dignity.
From the swaying of his hair to the tips of his shoes, there was a declaration that this place was his domain.
Not something taken from someone, not something bought from someone, but something that belongs to someone who has already become the master of this place by bloodline and by their very existence.
“First, try to find your roots. Your innate magic surely comes from your roots.”
Master Avana’s advice seemed to echo in my ears.
Prejean Castle, huh.
It must already be in ruins.
“Um, Mr. Ran?”
When I turned around, a maid was looking up at me.
She was quite beautiful, but perhaps because I had spent so much time with Psyche and Speria, my heart didn’t stir at all.
Just like when I faced this massive mansion.
To be precise, the imperfections in the maid’s beautiful face immediately caught my eye.
Normally, these would have been noticeable only after looking at her for a long time.
“They said my senses would improve. Is this what they meant?”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. I want to wash up too, so lead me there.”
I was inwardly startled.
The condescending tone just came out naturally.
Is it true that you can’t hide your roots, as Master said?
The maid bowed her head deeply and walked ahead. I followed her.
As we entered the room, all the maids left, and only the male servants remained.
I soon became naked and entered the bathtub filled with hot water, looking up at the ceiling. The entire bathroom was made of high-quality wood, giving off a strong scent of the forest.
“Hmm, right. Come to think of it, there was that egg.”
I waved my hand to grab Keren’s robe. Then I reached inside and took out the egg.
It was an egg that seemed to have lava flow marks on its surface, with a strong fire energy remaining inside.
“What could this be?”
I held it in my hand and looked at it from various angles.
For forty days, I was on the sea and couldn’t properly use fire magic, so I had almost neglected it. And earlier, there were too many eyes watching.
Now I finally have some time to study it properly.
“It’s an egg, for starters. Is it the same as the familiar egg that Kalasta gave me before? Since Speria gave it to me, is this a phoenix egg?”
At that moment, a red light rose from the lava-like markings on the surface of the egg.
Startled by the sudden heat, I let go of it, and the egg fell into the bathtub with a splash.
“Agh! Cold!”
I got out of the bathtub, feeling an intense chill all over my body.
What on earth is this?
I cautiously reached out my hand. The bathwater had turned into ice-cold water that chilled me to the bone.
It was steaming hot just a moment ago.
The surface was even covered with a thin layer of ice.
“Impossible. W-wait. First…”
I quickly put my hand in and took out the egg. Even as I did so, the egg rapidly froze the surrounding water, creating various ice crystals.
At that moment, a servant behind the door called out loudly.
“Are you alright?”
I looked at the egg with a blank stare.
“I’m fine. But the water has frozen, so bring new water.”
“Pardon?”
“I said, change the water.”
At those words, the servant carefully opened the door and came in.
His eyes widened at the sight of the icy water, but he soon composed himself and said,
“I-I’ll guide you to another room, Mr. Ran. That seems faster.”
“Alright. Call me when it’s ready.”
The servant bowed politely and went out.
“Geez. Having a fire attribute, but rapidly cooling the surroundings. Is this the famous ice attribute?”
The ice attribute stands at the opposite end of fire, and just as fire makes everything hot, ice makes everything cold.
“Well, it’s not a fire familiar’s egg for sure. It’s so cold. But why did Speria have something like this? And why did she give it to me? Hmm. But then again, she said it’s a fire familiar?”
Thoughts kept coming one after another.
But in the end, I couldn’t reach any conclusion.
After some time had passed, the servant told me that a new bathtub was ready.
I put on the underwear given by the servant and followed him out of the room towards the new room.
As I walked down the corridor, I heard a faint sound behind me from far away.
“Kugh.”
A whisper of death, barely audible.
It was a small sound that I wouldn’t have heard without the heightened senses from magic.
When I turned to look at the servant, he seemed clueless.
“Hide somewhere. There seems to be an intruder.”
“An intruder?”
After saying that, I stretched out my hands to the left and right. In my right hand, I held a staff, and in my left, a magic book. Also, Keren’s robe flew to me and wrapped around my body.
I quickly walked towards where the sound came from and turned the corridor corner.
There was a small boy who looked about eight or nine years old.
