part0019

Several hours after the massive wall rose from the ground, Mikael received a summon from the lord’s mansion.

He’d been working as a coachman for the lord for several months now, but this was the first time he’d received a summons from the Lord of Blackstone Town. Moreover, it happened right after the walls and barrier were erected.

Mikael thanked the servant who delivered the message, changed into clean clothes, and went to the mansion to meet the noble.

“The young master is expecting you,” said the butler. “This way please.”

Mikael was ushered to the lord’s office on the second floor of the mansion.

The butler knocked on the door. “Young Master, the coachman is here.”

A youthful voice replied, “Enter.”

Mikael entered the lord’s office. The young man sitting at the table looked up, his hand holding a quill. A mountain of documents was stacked on top of the table, and some sheets had been strewn on the floor. It seemed that after casting the spells which built the colossal wall, the Lord of Blackstone Town hadn’t bothered to rest and proceeded with his tasks concerning the territory’s management.

A work ethic that shamed most seasoned government officials. Truly, this young man was a worthy candidate for the throne.

“Welcome,” greeted Lark.

Mikael bowed his head and said, “I heard you called for me, My Lord?”

“Yes. I have a request for you.”

Lark nodded. When he saw that the old butler was about to silently excuse himself out of the room, he said, “Gaston, please stay. I believe it’s about time you learn everything. You deserve that much, at the very least.”

The butler was puzzled by the young noble, but he bowed his head regardless. “As you wish, Young Master.”

Lark placed down his quill, pointed a finger at the papers strewn on the floor, and cast a spell. The pieces of paper flew and landed perfectly on top of the stacked documents.

“Name?” Lark said to Mikael.

“This servant’s name is Kael, My Lord.”

“I’m not asking about your alias,” said Lark.

Mikael was caught off-guard. Although it was for a brief moment, his body stiffened.

“I’m asking for your real name. Your name as a knight.”

Mikael carefully observed the young noble in front of him. He slowly replied, “I don’t understand, My Lord.”

Lark sighed, leaned on his chair, then snapped his fingers. Three magic formations almost instantaneously appeared in the room—one on the ground and two above.

These magic formations were strangely familiar.

Soon, Mikael realized what Lark meant.

Three spells—the same spells Lark used when he fought Mikael back then, before he laid waste to the magicians of the tower.

It seemed that the Lord of Blackstone Town was already aware of his identity.

“You’re the knight who fought me back in Wizzert, aren’t you? If I’m not mistaken… an observer sent by the royal family.”

He should have expected at least this much, considering how competent this lord was. Mikael inwardly reprimanded himself for being discovered by the throne candidate he was supposed to observe.

“So, you already knew,” Mikael conceded. “Since when?”

“Since we discussed strategies to drive away the soldiers of the Empire. Although you tried concealing your face with a mask back then, I was certain. You were there, standing among the knights protecting King Alvis.”

That was a year ago.

Mikael still vividly remembered it. It was the day after His Majesty’s celebratory banquet. The day after King Alvis’ birthday. The day when all twenty-eight candidates for the throne were gathered in the throne room of the king’s castle.

Mikael smiled wryly. So, even when he’d been working as a coachman, Lark had merely pretended not to know of his real identity.

Mikael sighed. Truthfully, he was enjoying the task of observing Lark. He wanted to remain longer in this town. But alas, now that he’d been discovered, there was a chance that he would be replaced by a different knight.

“You said you have a request, Lord Lark,” said Mikael.

Lark took out a newspaper and slid it across the table, toward Mikael.

“This is?” said Mikael.

“Information available only to High Nobles and merchants,” said Lark. “I heard the news. The recent revelation of the Gods to the high-ranking priests of the kingdom.”

This was the first Mikael had heard of it. He skimmed through the newspaper, his eyes lingering longer at the part where the news regarding the revelation was written.

“Demon sealed in the ice prison?” said Mikael.

“It’s pertaining to the Demon Lord Barkuvara,” said Lark. “And the last part of the revelation…” There was a pause. “I believe it’s pertaining to me, Lark Marcus.”

Mikael unconsciously increased his grip, crumpling a portion of the newspaper, upon hearing this. For several seconds, he stared at Lark.

“…The one who traveled through time?” said Mikael.

Lark nodded. “That’s right.” He looked at Gaston and said, “It has been a year and a half since I found myself in this body.”

“W-What do you mean?” said Mikael.

Found himself in that body? There were a lot of things that did not make sense.

Seeing Mikael and Gaston’s confusion, Lark said, “It’ll be easier to just show the two of you.”

Lark snapped his fingers and a magic circle quickly formed on the ground. It shattered like glass, forming particles of light. The particles of light danced around the room and formed the image of a person.

A middle-aged man wielding a staff.

“Evander Alaester, a magician who lived fifteen hundred years ago, during the so-called Age of Magic.”

Lark’s bracer slowly turned into a similar-looking staff. The four gemstones, the golden shaft, the incredibly white core resembling a crown—everything was identical to the one wielded by the magician.

“Fate is such a twisted thing,” Lark smiled. The particles of light spun around the room and the middle-aged magician started casting a spell using his staff. “After my death, who would have known that I’d be given another shot at life?”

The middle-aged magician completed his spell and a massive ball of golden fire, resembling the sun, struck the ground. Although Mikael and Gaston couldn’t hear the rumbling of the ground, they were certain of how catastrophic the spell was. The mountain, where the middle-aged man previously stood, had been erased from the land. On the ground, a massive crater spanning several dozens of kilometers in diameter.

A spell that sundered the earth itself.

A spell that should been impossible for a human to cast.

Mikael was dumbfounded, his jaw slack. Gaston, on the other hand, trembled.

The two of them realized what the noble was trying to say. Although it sounded preposterous, they believed every word. The legendary magician Evander Alaester was inhabiting that young man’s body. This easily explained everything that had transpired thus far.

Gaston’s eyes widened. His lips slowly parted.

A year and half ag o .

When Lark was abducted by that organization. The same time when the butler started noticing the changes in the young master.

“I’m sorry for not telling the truth until now, Gaston. And I apologize for taking over the body of the young master.” Lark’s face contorted for a moment upon seeing Gaston’s pained face.

Was it disbelief, fear, sadness? Lark was not sure.

“Honestly, I do not know how or why I’m suddenly in this body. Did the real Lark die that day? I ask myself that question even now.”

The vision spell ended and the image of the legendary magician dissipated, along with the particles of light. Lark’s staff morphed into a bracer.

“You must have noticed it too, Gaston. My magic, my fighting abilities, the knowledge I’ve been imparting for the development of this territory.”

Gaston slowly lowered his head. He could no longer look Lark in the eyes.

Indeed, Gaston had been suppressing his doubts. Since that incident a year and a half ago, Lark had underwent major changes. The spiteful young master disappeared and was replaced by a benevolent and wise ruler. Moreover, the young master, who could hardly use magic, suddenly became proficient with all kinds of spells imaginable. He also suddenly became proficient with the sword. It was so utterly bizarre that the butler couldn’t help question the changes.

Still, Gaston did not pry too deep into the matter. The old man convinced himself that maybe this was for the best. That there was no way for a member of the Marcus Family to remain forever incompetent.

“Where is the true… young master?” said Gaston, his voice trembling.

Lark felt a squeezing sensation in his heart upon hearing the trembling words of the old man. He knew that Gaston truly loved the real Lark.

“I don’t know,” said Lark.

Tears started forming at the corner of Gaston’s eyes. His head remained lowered as he nodded.

“I’m sorry,” Lark said softly.

Gaston did not reply. He remained standing there, his head lowered and his shoulders quivering.

A minute of silence fell.

Mikael said, “You said you have a request.”

“Ah, that’s right,” said Lark. “Do you have a way to communicate with King Alvis?”

Lark surmised that all of the observers sent to assess the throne candidates had a method of communicating with the royal palace. It would not make sense, otherwise.

Mikael pulled out an ordinary-looking stone from his bag. He made sure to carry this item with him, no matter what.

“I can send messages.” Mikael channeled mana into the stone, and it slowly transformed into a jade-colored gemstone with swirling particles of blue light inside. “But it’s impossible to receive a reply. It’s the limit of this artifact.”

“A communication device,” said Lark as he stared at the fist-sized gemstone in Mikael’s hand. “Can you send a message to King Alvis for me?”

“A message…” said Mikael. “What is it?”

“Please tell His Majesty this,” said Lark. “There’s a high chance that the demons will come from the direction of the Mullgray Islands. Tell him that I am willing to fortify the defenses of all cities in the front line.

“The walls. The barrier enclosing this town. I should be possible to replicate it at the major cities of the kingdom near the front line.”

Mikael knew well enough the significance of that statement. If it was indeed possible to cast the same spells currently protecting Blackstone Town on the other cities, it would increase their chances of survival. No matter how strong the demons were, even they should find it challenging to breach that colossal fortress spanning more than sixty meters in height.

“Lord Lark, you do realize that I will reveal to His Majesty everything I’ve learned today, right?”

“I know,” said Lark. “And I believe it will be for the best if you reveal it to His Majesty.”

Lark stood up and fully swept open the curtains. The summer air was hot and oppressive.

“Now’s not the time for the nobles to fight among themselves over something as stupid as the throne.”