Yohan’s day was busy.
He had to fill out paperwork to detail the work of closing the rift to the officials.
He had to conduct experiments to further increase the purity of the magic while preserving the magic needed for the restoration.
After consuming and digesting all of Duke Ferbache’s elixirs, Yohan’s magic was more pure than before.
To put this in perspective, if the mana flowing through the world was 100 percent pure, Yohan’s mana was around 90 percent pure.
‘I knew something was wrong when his mana affinity and control were unusually high…’
As it turned out, no one else in the history of the Empire had such an affinity.
Aside from the Mythical Celestial Mage, who is said to be the first mage, nothing much is known about him…
No wonder it’s been impossible to repair the rift in the magma until now. The rift would have to be filled with mana from the world, and there was no one who could do that.
“…My shoulders are getting heavier.”
Yohan took a deep breath. When he was reincarnated in this world, he had wanted a normal, uneventful life.
He had hoped to marry the right person from the right family, and live a quiet life of security, if not love.
He was born into nobility and wanted to live a quiet life, enjoying the privileges and taking on the responsibilities.
There was a reason for that.
He knew the truth of the world.
The main genre is romance fantasy, a world known for its plot holes, and the subgenre is female-oriented, with a reverse harem.
The combination of romance fantasy and reverse harem meant that every character in the story would be insane, and I wanted to keep them as far apart as possible.
In real life, the borderline characters like Fedelian, Cassis, and Violet are really the ones who are crazy.
“And here I am, having to shut down Magul.”
Overnight, their value skyrocketed. You’ve become the one who holds the fate of the continent.
Many countries would be interested.
I wonder if the Holy Land will make a move?
The Holy Land is at the northern tip of the continent.
It was basically a country founded on religion, and for them, mages meant priests, and knights meant crusaders.
If you shut down the mages, they’ll claim you as a saint and take it for themselves…
They’re a religiously fanatical bunch, and it’s going to get pretty tiring getting involved. The kingdom’s power, while not comparable to the Empire, was considerable, with many capable men.
‘Protecting me, not Francia, has become your priority.
But no matter how complicated things got, no matter how troublesome they became, the need to repair the rift in Magul didn’t change.
He couldn’t imagine life without Francia now.
“…Come on.”
Everything has an ending.
Whether it would be a happy or unhappy ending remained to be seen, but it made no sense not to try.
Sitting down in the center of the stage, Yohan focused his attention back on the mana in the air.
The cool, refreshing breeze cleared his head. His breathing steadied and stabilized at regular intervals.
He felt at one with the world.
Despite his age, his mana was steadily increasing in strength and purity.
* * *
When it was time for the official to go home, a cold snowflake touched his face.
When he looked up, he saw pure white snowflakes slowly falling from the ashen sky, signaling the arrival of winter.
“Yohan?”
A familiar voice called from behind me. It was Francia, holding an umbrella. Yohan greeted her with a light smile.
“Francia, how was your day?”
“Well, the same as always.”
Francia smiled and brushed the snowflakes off the top of Yohan’s head.
“You’ve been doing that all day?”
“Yes. I’ve got to close up shop soon.”
Truth be told, Yohan was feeling a great deal of pressure, knowing that he might be rocking the world, but he didn’t let it show.
“Don’t worry, I’m sure I’ll be able to close the Maguul.”
Yohan tilted his head at her assurance.
“How can you be so sure?”
“Well….just a feeling, huh.”
Francia was being modest. Sometimes suspicious, she always fell back on that.
“…….”
Yohan always found it odd whenever she did that, but… He didn’t probe. If she was going to say something, she would have said it sooner.
“So, are you getting off work now?”
“Yep. I was waiting to go with Yohan.”
“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to go in first today.”
“Uh, why?”
“Because I still have some unfinished business.”
I’d been so focused on my mana training that I hadn’t gotten around to organizing my papers. I hadn’t organized anything about repairing the magical rift either.
“Is that so…?”
Francia pouted her lips wistfully, her feet sweeping the floor behind her. Quitting time was something she always looked forward to…
“I think it’s going to be like this until this is over.”
Yohan was disappointed, too, but for now, it was better to focus on repairing the crack. If this was successful, Francia’s engagement would go smoothly.
“Okay,” she said, ”but I can’t be a fool when he’s trying so hard.”
Francia knew it, and she nodded her head in agreement.
“Then I’ll go inside first?”
“Yes. If you think it’s too late, you can go to bed first.”
“I can’t do that, Yohan’s up late.”
She tilted her head and looked around, then realized there was no one else around, and kissed Yohan’s cheek.
“Hmmmm…”
Francia blushed and cleared her throat, quite embarrassed by what she had done. She was still embarrassed by the small gesture of affection.
“Thank you.”
“…For what?”
“Just… Everything.”
With a shy smile, Francia stroked the pendant around her neck and continued.
“I’m just happy to be with Yohan.”
“…Is something wrong?”
“What?”
“I’m a little confused by your sudden behavior.”
She sounded like a lover about to break up. Yohan felt uneasy at Francia’s demeanor.
“Fufu, it’s just a normal gesture of affection.”
Francia laughed lightly and took Yohan’s hand in hers. Even in the cold wind, his warmth was still there.
“…Is that so?”
“Yes. It’s nothing, I just thought you looked worried, so I did it.”
Yohan nuzzled the nape of her neck coolly. He was used to her shy displays of affection, but it was awkward to see it so casually.
“Ah…!
Finally!”
“…What is it?”
“I wanted to see that kind of reaction.”
“That kind of reaction?”
Francia laughed wryly.
“Hoo-hoo, being so shy, and Yohan always smirking at you?”
Indeed. I’d never seen him react so awkwardly to a show of affection.
“Mmm. So this is what she wanted.”
Yohan nodded once, then smiled lightly, lifting a lock of her hair and bringing it to the corner of his mouth.
“Then I’ll show you better in the future.”
“…!”
“Francia says you like this.”
When I said that and inhaled the scent of her hair, she gasped and threw her head back.
“…You’re the same Yohan as always.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes…”
Yohan smirked, and Francia sighed and shook her head.
“I’ll never beat Yohan in my life.”
“Why do you need to win?”
“You think I’m the only one who’s fallen for Yohan.”
Francia pouted her lips and lowered her gaze.
“I think Yohan should be completely smitten with me, too.”
“Umm… I’m not.”
It was awkward, being new to relationships and new to showing deep feelings for someone in this way, but Yohan didn’t overthink it.
He just wanted to be with her, and if she liked him, that’s what he liked.
“Hmmmm. I know you’re busy, and I’m sorry to keep you so long.”
Francia coughed, feeling unnecessarily cool as the conversation dragged on. Yohan tilted his head slightly and smiled.
“You don’t have to apologize, I’m just telling you because I like it. What man wouldn’t want to spend time with a beautiful woman like you?
who wouldn’t want to spend time with a beautiful woman like Francia.”
Francia pursed her lips and her eyes widened at Yohan’s casual manner.
“Hmmm…! Yohan should watch his tone…! If you keep flirting like that, will everyone fall for it?”
Indeed, Yohan’s tone was a mixture of flirtation. Most of it was just lip service to make the other person feel good, but…
“…Is that so?”
There was a reason for it, of course. In the academy, if you didn’t make someone feel good in this way, they would retaliate with jealousy.
It was necessary to maintain a neutral image of being interested in anyone, while showing moderate interest.
Otherwise, you’d end up with a bunch of youngsters fighting, shrimp in a whale fight, etc.
It was a habit.
“If it’s so easy for me as a lover, what about other women…”
Francia covered her mouth with her hand and looked away softly. A flush had spread and stained her face red.
“But…! I like Yohan like that, so I’ll understand.”
“I’m grateful for that.”
“Fufu, you don’t have to be so grateful, I’m Yohan’s woman.”
Yohan swept her bangs out of her face as she smiled.
“Well, I’d better get going then.”
“Yes. Just don’t stay up too late.”
“No, I’ll wait.”
“Hmm. Then I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
“But don’t be in too much of a hurry.”
Francia lifted her magpie paw and kissed Yohan’s cheek once more, then smiled shyly and quickly walked away.
“That’s cute.”
Yohan smiled sheepishly. The more he thought of her, the brighter his smile grew.
Snow was falling from the ashen-colored sky. The snowflakes were all different shapes, drifting in the cold air.
“Let’s go.”
As the snowflakes fell from the sky, she entered the building to finish the last of her paperwork.
He knew Francia would be waiting for him when he got home, so it made sense to get the job done as quickly as possible.
[Regarding the repair of the cracks in the Magul].
Sitting down at his desk, Yohan threw himself into writing what could be called a thesis. His pen moved without pause.
How much time passed….
It was night by the time he reached the window, the moon shining softly outside. No one’s footprints were visible in the snow.
I’m almost done with the paperwork, and I’m trying to focus.
I spotted a pure white silhouette from the front gate. The familiar silver hair. She wasn’t wearing an umbrella, even though it was snowing.
“Can’t be…?
Yohan grabbed his umbrella and hurried outside.
Rudella stood at the front door, the tip of her nose red from the cold. White snowflakes covered her head and shoulders, but she stood there without an umbrella.
Her thin shoulders shivered slightly in the chill, and Yohan’s heart sank at how frail she was.
“…What are you doing here?”
At the sound of Yohan’s voice, Rudella slowly raised her head. Her light blue eyes held his gaze.
“I was trying to hold it together.”
She barely managed to get the words out. Her voice trembled unintentionally. Even her fingertips shook slightly through the snowflakes.
“I couldn’t stand it…”
Rudella cleared her throat and steadied her trembling fingertips.
“…I came to see you.”
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