The Youngest Son of the Northern Grand Duke Wants to Break Off the Engagement

Side Story 5

Uriel was aware that she was dreaming, but she didn't take it as a mirage.

That book—the Book of All Things—was only showing her unwavering truths.

Because of that, she was all the more afraid, yet had no choice but to look for solutions.

'So it's my bloodline that prevents destruction.'

The Book of All Things presented only a single possibility.

It was to form a union with the one bound to her fate and conceive a powerful descendant.

That descendant alone would be able to vanquish Hazlodein's dragon and bring balance to this world.

'But who is that partner?'

Uriel asked involuntarily, but the Book of All Things didn't reveal the answer.

It merely reflected countless futures and made her aware of the gravity of the situation.

Why was the Book of All Things hiding the signpost for moving forward?

'... Do I have to find it myself? Wouldn't it be easier to just tell me?'

The Book of All Things explained the reason for this in detail.

For the creation of new life through the harmony of opposite genders, cause and effect must be established.

This cause and effect includes meeting and exchange, and this flow must not be interfered with by anyone.

Hasty intervention would only harm each other's fate, and eventually even the bond of marriage could be disrupted.

'I get what you mean. But isn't there a chance I might choose the wrong person?'

The Book of All Things conveyed that even such risks must be considered.

Living as a living being is premised on the will to avoid death.

That is to say, no matter what actions are taken, there is no predetermined result; this too operates as a law of nature.

'In that case, wouldn't it have been better to just leave me alone?'

The Book of All Things considered the awareness of the future as a way to avoid making the wrong choice.

Since the future changes every time due to the past and present, it can never be fixed in the desired form.

Therefore, if one overturns judgments based on future predictions, the process leading naturally to failure is eliminated.

'Why does it have to be me? Couldn't it be someone else?'

The Book of All Things urged that to oppose the dragons, a power comparable to theirs was required.

Simply put, a dragon can be defeated by a dragon.

Because Uriel Astille had inherited the dragon's bloodline, she became the very basis for eradicating Hazlodein's dragon.

'You're telling me to find an unknown companion while foreseeing the future? That doesn't line up, does it?'

The Book of All Things indicated that this was in fact the best method.

Peeling back the future bit by bit and grasping your own fate.

If there was even a slight deviation in this state, only Uriel's fate would be shaken in the end.

'Constantly looking into the future when I need to... Ah...'

Uriel could no longer ask questions and slipped out of her dream.

At some point, she had woken up, and the colors of dawn poured in past the curtains.

It had been such a vivid dream that she simply couldn't doubt the Book of All Things.

"I inherited the dragon's bloodline... Just what is going on here?"

* * *

Uriel entered the society wearing a sullen expression.

She had become the great mage's disciple at quite a young age, but that did not mean her succession was secured.

There were those more outstanding than herself, placed in competition as fellow disciples of the great mage.

'Finishing assignments isn't important right now. If what I heard is true...'

Uriel, having lost even her enthusiasm, settled at the edge of the training ground.

If the goal was to avert the end of the world right away, clinging to the title of great mage was meaningless.

Rather, she thought that she should try foreseeing a bit of the future and first find her companion.

'Just having a child won't solve everything.'

She couldn't be sure her child would even be worthy.

If she was to follow the Book of All Things, the right circumstances and steps had to be established.

That is, she had to genuinely love her companion and truly marry.

'So then, who is that supposed to be...'

"Uriel Astille. What are you doing here?"

"Are you here to nag me again?"

"This isn't nagging—it's advice from a fellow disciple. Everyone else is training hard, yet you're just wasting time."

The great mage's second disciple, Alraune Lebhardin, looked down at Uriel and reprimanded her firmly.

Uriel's ability was rather remarkable; their master had recognized it at once and chosen her as a disciple.

But since Uriel herself was slacking off, as the second disciple, Alraune couldn't just overlook it.

"Senior, you already know, don't you? I can't be the great mage. There are so many people better than me..."

"To complain so weakly before me! Can you still call yourself the great mage's disciple?"

"Things have been tough for me lately, and physically I'm not feeling well..."

Uriel faltered, then witnessed a surreal scene.

Alraune, clad in the great mage's robe, conjured flames, sealing something away.

He appeared much older than he did now, and an intense current of latent mana flowed from him.

Why, now of all times, was the future Alraune reflected in her eyes?

'So in the end, senior inherits the title of great mage.'

As second disciple, anyone would naturally get passed over for the top disciple.

But Alraune had overcome such adversity and revealed a confirmed future.

If things went on unchanged, he was bound to become the great mage.

'That's not something I need to avoid. If that's the case, then senior...'

Uriel instinctively recalled what the Book of All Things had mentioned.

She had to bind herself to her fated companion, and through their descendant, erase destruction from the world.

Perhaps this future vision was highlighting another possibility.

'I've never thought of Senior that way before, but...'

"You need to change your attitude first. How can you insist on new directions when you refuse to accept established knowledge? No matter how great your talent, you can't overcome a long buildup of history!"

"... So, that's why someone like you becomes the great mage. You have to embrace all kinds of knowledge, right?"

Uriel respected Alraune's beliefs but couldn't fully accept them.

After all, she was a fallen noble—her only title was that of the count's family, a mere façade.

Even now, there were plenty who resented her, so how could she ever reach the summit as a mage?

"You're plenty capable. So why leave your talent neglected, not even trying in the first place?"

"You're saying this for my sake, right? It's not that I don't get the sentiment...but isn't skill alone not enough?"

"Uriel Astille! That complacency of yours—do you realize what sort of disaster it might bring?"

"Enough. How long are you going to keep picking at me?"

Among the great mage's disciples, Erze Kartia reluctantly intervened to mediate.

The two had nearly opposite personalities, yet didn't avoid each other.

They simply bickered from time to time, with only a strange sense of camaraderie emerging.

"As second disciple, I merely pointed a fellow pupil toward the right path."

"Stop being so stuck up. People can't all be the same, you know?"

"If you're the great mage's disciple, you need basic virtue. Lacking talent could be forgiven, but not trying is an affront to yourself."

"Jeez... you're way too stiff. She's obviously got concerns—why poke at her for no reason?"

"Should one have room for concerns before the teachings of a renowned master?"

"Ugh... With someone this rigid, what could possibly change..."

Erze shook his head and signaled to Uriel.

Exchanging glances, Uriel immediately left the training ground.

Alraune watched her go before letting out a belated sigh.

"Why must you hinder me? If she stays like this, she'll achieve nothing!"

"Your approach is wrong. If you want to show interest in the opposite sex, try being a little bit kinder, will you?"

"W-what! I've never once had such thoughts in my life!"

"Yeah, sure. You're just not being honest..."

Erze had been watching the two for a while and finally reached a conclusion.

Basically, they treated each other as fellow disciples, but there was a fundamental difference from the start.

Uriel wasn't bound by the formal rules of the magic society, but Alraune, as the great mage's disciple, always adhered to tradition and sought a pure realm.

'With Uriel's looks, even without becoming the great mage... she could easily marry into a prominent noble house.'

A disciple of the great mage didn't need to obsess over the title.

She could instead play to her strengths and find a new direction.

But Uriel was ignoring even marriage, absorbed in her own goals.

'I really can't figure out what she's thinking. Hm...'

* * *

Without any particular plan, Uriel left the society behind.

Under these circumstances, she could not calmly practice magic.

Instead, it seemed wiser to recall her earlier experience and slowly prepare.

'If someone is tied to my fate, can I see the future with them?'

Alraune was, in some way, indirectly connected to her.

As a fellow pupil and senior, he was excellent, and by mage standards had reached quite a high level.

In the future, as great mage, he might someday contribute to stopping the world's destruction.

'Hmm... I still don't know. I've never even thought about marriage...'

For a fallen noble, marriage and courtship were luxuries out of reach.

Before marriage, one had to consider the partner's status and background, but fallen nobles didn't even have that.

So nothing could even be discussed; all that awaited was mockery and criticism.

'Do I have to travel the empire to find someone who could be my companion...?'

Uriel kept walking without pause, then suddenly stopped.

With just a brief glance, she sensed a faint feeling.

That man was surely bound closely to her fate.

"......"

The man was about to walk past, then unconsciously turned his body.

Uriel met his gaze in silence.

Soon, visions of the man's future appeared before her, and she could only observe.

'This looks like the northern territory...'

The man was leading a massive army while shrouded in a blizzard.

Countless soldiers moved according to his commands, and monsters were helplessly slaughtered.

But a merciless and unpredictable crisis loomed, and he couldn't afford to let down his guard.

'That person will soon become the Northern Grand Duke. There will probably be a war soon. Do I need to follow him?'