Chapter 190 : Side Story 15
Side Story 15
While Uriel stayed in her assigned lodgings, she occasionally conversed with the other mages.
Topics included their affiliated societies, the type and realm of magic they practiced, and the circumstances that had brought them to the northern territory.
Most seemed to have come here simply in hopes of receiving extra pay and benefits.
'No one would want to live in a place like this.'
The northern territory was barren and harsh compared to the capital, and there was hardly any external exchange.
They merely reduced unnecessary activities just to survive and remained ever vigilant, protected the Empire's territories from the frontlines.
Someone had to stay here, but since most avoided it, those who did were compensated fittingly, perhaps as a means of placation.
'So, my fate will be decided here.'
Uriel had already glimpsed the secret the northern territory held.
Tiksa the Frostbane had disguised herself as if she had been sealed by humans, but in truth, it was closer to a self-imposed sealing.
A monster that had stolen the power of a dragon was hiding somewhere in the northern territory, and because of that power, most monsters were subjugated.
Since the conditions were so tangled and complex, a cautious approach would be needed.
'I don't think my senior or the next Sword Saint will be coming here...'
Since she herself had already been selected as a reinforcement, the great mage would not send another disciple.
The next Sword Saint always had to remain on standby at the capital and couldn't leave at will.
However, in the future she had foreseen, those two had indeed set out toward the northern territory.
'I don't think I saw it wrong. In that case, should I be thinking about the future instead?'
Uriel, pondering over and over, soon calmly accepted it.
Surely, those two would also be assigned a role and later would be active as the powerful.
When the proper timing came, that path would be realized.
'If the monsters invade as things stand...'
"There might not be anything unusual. Right now, we're only preparing for war."
"Still, there must be a reason they called in reinforcements, don't you think?"
"Well, where in this world is there an event without a reason? People always come up with something plausible."
"That's true. They make up all sorts of excuses to show off, don't they?"
"And all the while, they're skimming off a bit of money. The ones with the most do it even more, you know."
"You have to climb high to really line your pockets, don't you think?"
"Exactly. You can rake it in just by barely looking. Who'd let gold coins pile up and not touch them?"
The two mages spoke their opinions, unconcerned by those around them.
Of course, the others didn't much care, only quietly enduring the cold.
Some, in the meantime, secretly drank or indulged in casual gambling.
'Not everyone will make it back alive...'
Uriel was fully aware of the dangers of this war.
A large horde of monsters would pour out, intent on capturing castles at the frontlines, including Goranmoche Castle.
Of course, it would not be easy for the monsters to breach the walls, but that didn't guarantee survival.
'Even I can't do anything about that.'
Even if she could foresee the future, she could not grasp every detail of the situation.
Even if it were possible, she could not handle it all alone.
So she had to act with only her limited, specific objectives in mind.
'I'm not omnipotent. That's why... I have to make a choice.'
Uriel hunched over, reflecting on the events yet to come.
Monsters would keep coming, but she would somehow endure.
However, danger was inevitable, and casualties would surely mount.
'Will I meet my companion in this place...?'
* * *
Zair came face to face with Vanderas, who had arrived as part of the reinforcements sent from the capital.
Vanderas was appointed as the commander of the reinforcements, though it was really just a formality.
In reality, as he was someone who needed to be closely protected, even the Northern Grand Duke and the legion commander of the reinforcements were keeping a close watch on him.
"It's colder than I expected. To think we have to conduct our mission in a place like this."
"I will put more firewood on."
"That's not what I meant. I was talking about the climate of the northern territory. It actually feels quite warm in here right now."
Vanderas placed his hands near the fireplace and faced the heat.
In the capital, he had never had to light a fire to withstand the cold.
It was an unfamiliar experience and gave him a vivid understanding of the nature of the northern territory.
"I can imagine how much hardship you must endure here. Not to mention the labors of the Northern Grand Duke."
"I am unworthy of your praise."
"It is thanks to the grand duke's house and the northern army that the Empire is at peace. I can't believe it took me this long to realize that..."
Vanderas warmed his hands for a moment and then slowly turned around.
Zair, standing in place, watched Vanderas silently.
A moment of stillness passed, accompanied only by the crackling of burning logs.
"Do you remember the proposal I made to you before?"
"Yes, I remember."
"You are fit to become the next Northern Grand Duke. But, just because someone is fit doesn't mean they will always get the position. That's why I truly hope you will accept my proposal."
"..."
Zair couldn't bring himself to give a definite answer.
If he failed to inherit the title of the Northern Grand Duke, he would be appointed as an official in the capital.
Essentially, Vanderas was expressing his intention to bring Zair into his closest circle.
"Are you still hesitating? Are you that concerned about the northern territory?"
"... It is my family's domain. How could I not worry?"
"That is the responsibility of the next Northern Grand Duke. If you get too involved, wouldn't it make things uncomfortable for the next in line?"
Zair immediately grasped what Vanderas was implying.
If the next Northern Grand Duke was chosen, he himself would inevitably be excluded.
Typically, he would be reassigned to another castle, but in some cases, he could be exiled to another region.
In the worst-case scenario, he even had to consider the possibility of assassination.
"It would be a blessing if discomfort was all there was."
"You must know as well as I do. Hasn't power often led to plotting against others or causing them harm? Sometimes, the same standards are applied even to family or relatives."
"Your words are true. I can't be sure I wouldn't do the same myself."
"I don't wish to force my proposal onto you, but it would be a shame to lose someone as talented as you. I sincerely hope you'll understand my feelings."
"Yes. I will keep your words close to my heart."
Vanderas finally acknowledged this and sat down at the table.
Zair placed the now-cold teapot on the mantel above the fireplace.
"... That's right. There's a great mage's disciple among the reinforcements, is there not?"
"Yes. From what I know, she is included."
"Did you know she's a woman?"
"Yes, I know."
"She's truly courageous, isn't she? Who could have known she'd volunteer to come here?"
"Is that so? I was under the impression that the great mage had made the selection personally."
"Be that as it may, a woman is still a woman. Would the great mage really send her away without some intention?"
Zair had been puzzled by that at first.
Of course, considering the existence of mana, power didn't necessarily depend on gender.
But it was still a rare case, and the fact that she had volunteered herself seemed odd.
"... Have you met the great mage's disciple before?"
"We've met a few times. She's an unusual woman, so I'm a bit concerned."
"Are you pointing out her weaknesses?"
"It could be seen as a weakness...but, in the end, I think it's more of a strength. She might well achieve a feat here."
Vanderas had witnessed her true value even in the capital.
Uriel possessed flexible thinking and the ability to make bold yet calm decisions.
Because of that, perhaps, she had risen to become the great mage's disciple, even as a fallen noble.
"If you want to keep her close, I can change the deployment."
"No. She would only resent it, so it's best to leave her be."
"... Understood."
Zair picked up the steaming teapot and returned to the table.
Carefully, he poured tea into the teacups and handed one to Vanderas first.
'So, she's not an ordinary woman. She might be a bit troublesome.'
* * *
As soon as the battle began, Uriel conjured ice fragments.
She hurled them one after another and quickly recalled what actions she should take next.
Rather than annihilating the monsters, she had to focus on defending the castle walls.
'The castle must hold if we are to win.'
To make use of the advantages of a defensive battle, the castle must endure.
Once the castle fell, more and more of their forces would be lost.
If she chose to retreat, their position would become tactically unfavorable.
'It's a bad match-up, but that means my magic will be that much stronger.'
The monsters of the northern territory were constantly exposed to harsh cold and thus possessed high resistance to ice attribute magic.
But at the same time, the ice attribute magic was enhanced, improving its construction and accuracy.
Because of this, Uriel could wield even more powerful magic.
'Did I ever really want to be a great mage? Honestly, I'm not sure.'
Lost in thought, Uriel swept away the monsters approaching the walls.
From the start, she had only been granted the most meager of talents.
So she clung to what she had, striving desperately to reach a higher realm.
In such circumstances, if the great mage offered, she would inevitably accept.
'I think I just wanted to be happy. But... I never found out how.'
Since she was a child, Uriel had been entangled in the sheer will to survive.
She was a noble who had lost her family, lacking even wealth or honor, and was completely isolated.
Had she not been chosen as the great mage's disciple, she would have inevitably suffered in one way or another.
'Looking back, I suppose I was lucky. Somehow, I managed to make it this far.'
Reflecting on her past, Uriel inadvertently recalled her anger.
Many had approached her with impure motives.
Some envied her appearance, while others mocked her origins with insults.
Even so, as the great mage's disciple, she was thinking ahead to the future.
'Would I become happy if I got married and had children? No...'
Uriel coolly confronted the answer and scattered cold air.
Her child would need to serve as a vessel of a harmful form to recover the dragon's power.
In that process, she would risk everything just to survive somehow.
A life of sacrifice for the sake of the world would only bring misfortune.
'But still... it's something only I can do. As a human who inherited the dragon's bloodline, it's possible.'
Uriel conjured dozens of ice spears and fired them forward.
The monsters were pierced in an instant, momentarily breaking their formation.
Yet, the monsters continued their advance, their numbers only growing.
'My life was aimless anyway. So, I'll keep moving toward the end.'