“I don’t want to go.”
At least for today, I don’t want to leave the mansion.
How can they tell me to leave when I don’t even know what will happen to Serena?
“I really don’t want to go…”
But I have to.
After all, it was my own tongue that confidently declared in front of His Majesty yesterday that I would depart today.
Thinking about it now, I wonder why I was in such a rush.
I could have just said I’d leave in two days instead.
“…Would they understand if I suddenly claimed I was sick and needed to leave later?”
“Do you really think that would work?
His Majesty knows you were perfectly fine until yesterday.
Not only would you lose his trust if you tried to cover it up with a lie, but you might also face some kind of punishment.”
Orde firmly brought me back to reality as I hesitated.
He was right—if I pretended to be sick and got caught, I’d have to deal with a massive backlash for deceiving the king.
Some might say I could just make sure I don’t get caught, but there’s a saying: ‘The birds hear what is said by day, and the mice hear what is said by night.’
You never know when or where something might leak, so it’s better not to attempt such things in the first place.
I know that.
I know that better than anyone…!
“Ugh…”
“Please don’t worry about Lady Serena and go.
While you are away, I will do everything in my power to protect her.”
“Even so…”
Does he think I’m worried about external threats?
No.
If Serena collapses again for some unknown reason, I honestly don’t know what I’ll do.
But an absolute royal command cannot be defied.
That’s why I decided to take a foolish yet effective approach.
“…Fine.
I’ll go.”
“Yes.
That’s the right decision.
Lady Serena might feel a bit lonely while you’re away for a few days, but—”
“No.
I’ll be going today and coming back today.”
From my territory to Gerhem, even on horseback, it would take at least two days, possibly three.
That means the round trip alone could take nearly an entire week.
So I had to use a method to cut down that time as much as possible.
“If I fly there with magic, I can finish everything today and return.”
“Are you out of your mind, Master?”
Orde, rarely showing visible emotions, looked genuinely shocked.
Of course, he would.
The method I came up with was utterly ridiculous.
For an ordinary person, it would be impossible, and even if they could, there would be no need to go that far.
But I have the ability to pull it off, and I have a reason to do so.
Though, it does mean a painful future awaits me.
“Even for you, Master, your mana will run out first.
How do you plan to fly such a long distance—?”
“You know those mana potions I’ve been stocking up?
I just need to take about ten of them.”
If I start running low, I’ll drink one.
If I run low again, I’ll drink another.
Even though I knew this was crazy.
But there was no other way.
Realizing that I wasn’t joking and was completely serious, Orde shut his mouth and shook his head.
Well, if even the nagger has given up on persuading me, it’s time to get ready.
First, ten bottles of blue mana potions, my fuel for the journey.
And before I leave, I need to say goodbye to Serena.
“I’m heading out.
I’ll be back a little late, so behave until then, alright?”
“Just go already.”
Alright.
I’ve given her enough head pats and snuggles.
Serena seemed to know I was about to go through a lot, so she stayed quiet, making me feel strangely energized.
She was too embarrassed to tell me to have a safe trip, though.
“Then, I’m off.
You know what to do while I’m gone?”
“Yes.
Don’t worry and go.
But please, don’t push yourself too hard.”
Sorry.
No promises on that.
“…Oh, right.
Orde?
About last night—sorry.”
“It’s fine.
I’ve heard much worse from you when we were younger.”
“Ugh.
You really hold grudges.”
At least he didn’t seem too upset.
That’s a relief.
With everything prepared, I left the mansion and immediately began chanting a spell.
The flight magic [Air Run] lifted my body into the air, and I cast an additional spell.
Advanced magic [High Boost].
A speed-enhancing spell that allows for extreme acceleration.
Even before I had properly set out, I could feel the mana within me rapidly circulating as I soared toward the horizon.
The scenery blurred past me, and the wind battered my face with fierce intensity.
It was exhilarating to move at such speeds as if the world itself had slowed down, but I could also feel my mana depleting at an alarming rate.
“I just need to hold out a little longer…”
I’d prefer to drink as few mana potions as possible.
A nameless mountain in Gerhem.
At its mid-slope, an investigative squad had been struggling since morning.
“Hey!
Any progress?!”
“Apologies, sir!
No matter how much force we use, it won’t budge!”
“Sigh…
As expected.”
Despite gathering soldiers, scholars, and even mages, they were helplessly blocked by a single massive door in front of them.
A gate as high as a castle wall.
And made entirely of stone.
No one expected brute force to work, but they had exhausted every possible option.
This was simply their last desperate attempt.
Not that they had much hope for it to begin with.
“How the hell did the old Empire build something like this?
They should’ve taken it easy.”
Sitting under the tent, staring at the massive door, the lead investigator, Tonz, let out a frustrated sigh and took a puff of his cigar.
It had already been two days since they were stuck in front of this door with no progress on the ruins investigation.
They couldn’t just blow it up with magic since they had no idea what valuable treasures might be inside.
Yet no matter what they tried, the door wouldn’t budge, leaving everyone feeling exasperated.
“Hey!
Why don’t we just blast it open with a spell?
It’s probably not even that sturdy!”
“Oh, for—!
And what if the entire cave collapses?!
If that happens, how do you plan to answer to the Mage Tower?!
Stop spewing nonsense!”
“W-What did you say?!
You little bookworm—!”
“What did you just call me?!”
Tensions erupted between a scholar in glasses and an elderly mage, their argument escalating from words to nearly grabbing each other by the collar.
If left alone, this would only deepen the rift between them, making cooperation impossible.
Sighing, Tonz ordered a soldier to break up the fight.
“Tch.
These guys were so full of confidence before.”
Despite his words, he understood their frustration.
Before the investigation even began, they had fought to take the lead on this mission.
But now, a single door had rendered them powerless, cracking their pride and making them restless.
“If only we could decipher that writing…”
The only key to opening this door lay in the inscriptions carved into it.
A completely unknown ancient language.
Even the most skilled scholars had given up trying to decode it.
If someone could just crack this puzzle, they’d finally be able to enter the ruins.
So they had requested help, but…
“Hey, how long does it take to get here from the capital?”
“About three days.”
“Damn it. So we’re stuck twiddling our thumbs for at least another day.”
Annoyed, Tonz tossed his half-smoked cigar to the ground and crushed it underfoot.
Waiting idly for just one person was an absurd waste of time.
“If she’s so amazing, she might as well fly here from the sky or something.”
He muttered sarcastically, grumbling about the absent expert, just as he reached for another cigar.
Then—
“C-Captain!
Something is approaching from the sky!”
“…What?”
A guard rushed over with a panicked report, making Tonz furrow his brows.
What nonsense was this?
The only things that flew in the sky were birds.
How big could this thing be for him to make such a fuss?
“Are you messing with me?
Why are you bothering me with—”
“It’s a person!
A person is flying toward us at an incredible speed!”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
He was about to accuse the guard of sneaking a drink in the morning when—
“Oh, oh—?!
Who the hell is that?!”
“A-Are they a mage?
But they’re falling this way—!
Everyone, move!”
BOOM!
A deafening crash.
Screams erupted as a massive impact shook the ground.
Tonz immediately realized that this wasn’t a joke.
Had they been invaded by a foreign power?
Before he could assess the situation, he barked out orders for everyone to prepare for combat and rushed out of the tent.
There, in the middle of a newly formed crater, stood a lone figure.
Soldiers raised their weapons, tension thick in the air.
As the dust settled, the figure’s identity was revealed.
Long, flowing golden hair.
Eyes as clear and blue as the sky.
A breathtaking beauty, unexpected in this situation, left everyone momentarily stunned.
But the moment Tonz recognized her, his face twisted in shock.
“C-Cristian von Ersch?!”
This was the woman who had supposedly set out just today.
Yet somehow, she had arrived here in a single morning.
By flying.
From the capital, no less.
Even though Tonz knew little about magic, he understood just how ridiculous this feat was.
“They call her the greatest genius of the century…”
For the first time, he fully grasped what people meant when they said that.
Still, manners dictated that he show respect to someone who had come to help.
Signaling for his soldiers to lower their weapons, Tonz approached her to express his gratitude.
“Thank you for coming, Count Ersch.
I am Tonz, the leader of this investigation team.”
“Ah.
Y-Yes, of course…”
“…?”
Something was off.
Her face, still partially obscured by dust, looked unnaturally pale.
As Tonz stepped closer, he noticed that her lips were trembling, and her expression looked eerily like someone suffering from severe hypothermia.
“Are you alright?”
Worried that she might have pushed herself too hard, Tonz cautiously asked.
With a forced smile, Ersch responded.
“Excuse me… but may I leave for a moment?
Urgently?”
“Huh?
Leave?
Where exactly—”
Her eyes were shaking, as if she were barely holding something back.
Seeing her desperate expression, Tonz instinctively nodded.
The moment she got permission, Ersch bolted into the forest at full speed.
The others were left dumbfounded, whispering among themselves, trying to guess the reason for her sudden disappearance.
Then—
“UURRGHH—!”
No one had expected that she had chugged so many mana potions on the way here…
And was now throwing up because of it.