ESL Chapter 48

A magic gate. It was a spatial transportation device made of countless magic formulas and mana stones to transport subjects to a desired destination. The cost of construction was considerable, but operating it required a mage of at least level 6 — and reaching level 6 meant attaining the rank of Archmage, of which there were barely ten on the entire continent. Most of them, true to the free-spirited nature of mages, were wandering, and only a small few who did not wander had settled in countries that desired their services. Gaion Etley was one such case. Now approaching his forties, he had accepted the Yurasen Empire’s offer and become an Imperial Mage — and thanks to that, he had been dragged out to the magic gate first thing in the morning.

Of all the times to be struck by lightning out of a clear sky, when I should be sleeping…

Gaion checked over the magic gate with a hollow smile. He was a textbook night owl — the kind who stayed up researching until late at night and didn’t wake until lunchtime. Yet this morning, or rather at 8 o’clock — which was practically the middle of the night — a servant sent by Duke Kaien’s household had abruptly roused him from sleep and told him the magic gate needed to be activated. His irritation flared, but he had no choice but to get up. Not only was the servant’s manner exceedingly polite, but he had no desire to fall out of favor with Duke Kaien. Refusing the request of that Duke Kaien — whom even the Imperial family could not handle carelessly — was never a realistic option for a mere mage to begin with.

“Who on earth needs to travel so urgently…”

He clicked his tongue and had just finished his inspection when he saw the Duke stride into the gate hall. Following behind him were three figures, two men and a woman.

Is that the rumored young lady?

Gaion’s eyes lit up as he spotted the beautiful girl who looked like a miniature version of the Duke. The rumors had not been exaggerated in the slightest. Even dressed simply for travel with not a hint of adornment, the young lady possessed a radiance that shone entirely on its own.

Princess Katrine would be quite jealous if she saw this. She considers herself the greatest beauty in the Empire, after all.

The thought of that haughty, arrogant, spoiled princess having her pride shattered put Gaion in a better mood already. Being born well was a matter of luck, they said, but to be so insufferably smug about it… If not for the truly tear-inducingly generous salary, he might have thrown away the position of Imperial Mage long ago.

Maybe I’ll attend this debutante ball… He was entertaining idle thoughts when the Duke’s voice startled him back to attention. Without his noticing, the group had come to stand right before him.

“Sorry for calling you out so early. It’s rather urgent.”

The resentment he had been nursing just moments ago — about being summoned at the crack of dawn, or more precisely, the dead of night — melted away like snow at the Duke’s single remark. Although he held the title of Imperial Mage, being a commoner, there were few who truly recognized him. It was the general behavior of nobles to praise one to their face and speak ill behind their back. Of course, there were exceptions. Like Duke Kaien, standing before him now.

“Not at all, Your Grace. It is an honor to be of service. Where shall I send you?”

At Gaion’s question, Duke Kaien answered with a glance toward Lea, who stood behind him.

“Not me — my daughter will be traveling. To the Kingdom of Teor, if you please.”

“Understood. Transportation to royal palaces or restricted areas is not possible, but anywhere else can be managed. Please provide the coordinates of your desired arrival location. And the other two?”

“My daughter’s escort knight, Ian, and…”

When the Duke’s gaze fell on Berchel, Berchel stepped forward quickly and introduced himself.

“My name is Berchel.”

“So he says.”

“Ah… yes…”

Something felt slightly off, but Gaion decided to ignore it. Surely Duke Kaien would not place someone of uncertain identity at his daughter’s side…

“Then would you please step up and stand here?”

Gaion guided those who would be traveling by magic gate to the center of the device. Berchel, his heart urgent with worry for Luciel, stepped up first, and Lea, who had been about to follow, turned to look back at the Duke.

“I’ll be back. Father.”

At the sight of his daughter smiling as if to say don’t worry, the Duke reached out and gently stroked her hair.

“Be careful. Someone will be there to meet you when you arrive — if you need anything, request it without hesitation.”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“….Come back safely.”

Is this really the same Duke Kaien known as the Iron Chancellor? Gaion doubted his own eyes. The gaze with which the Duke watched his daughter step into the gate was absolutely overflowing with affection.

“…My lady. Is that mage — Abel — not coming with you?”

Ian asked quietly as he followed Lea up onto the gate platform. He didn’t particularly like the man, but he couldn’t help thinking that with Abel’s remarkable magical ability, he could keep the young lady safer than anyone. He hadn’t heard the full details, but judging by the fact that the young lady was going in person, this was clearly no simple matter. And for him as her escort knight, her safety was the most important thing of all.

At his question, Lea’s expression turned conflicted.

“Hmm… the friend we’re going to see is my friend, not Abel’s. And on top of that, the two of them don’t get along very well… So it’s right for me to handle this on my own.”

That was simply the truth. They had only met once, but even in that brief moment, it had been clear that Abel had taken a dislike to Luciel, and Luciel had felt the same. Looking at their personalities alone, one might think they’d get along — but they hadn’t. They had needled each other so relentlessly that she had made sure, ever since, never to put the two of them together in the Kingdom of Hamel. One such experience was quite enough.

“We will now begin.”

Once all three were standing at the center of the magic gate, Gaion entered the coordinates and began activating it. A bluish light seeped from the gate, and Gaion drew up more of his mana. Sustained by his power, the gate hummed and groaned, and then in an instant, it poured forth a blinding light. When the light faded, nothing remained in the space where they had stood.

****

“Welcome, my lady.”

In an instant, the scene before her changed, and an unfamiliar voice reached her ears. Lea turned toward the sound. A handsome young man who looked to be in his early twenties, with long black hair carrying a slight brown tint tied back in a single knot, had one hand pressed to his chest and was bowing slightly at the waist in greeting.

“Who are you?”

Ian stepped swiftly in front of her and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. The handsome man raised his head and answered.

“My name is Razeor Pete. Please call me Razen.”

At Razen’s introduction, Lea immediately understood who he was. Razeor Pete, head of the Kaien Intelligence Bureau’s branch in the Kingdom of Teor. As they had walked to the hall containing the magic gate, the Duke had told her this about him:

[He is young, but highly intelligent and capable. He is also the talent poised to lead the Kaien Intelligence Bureau after MacLean. Lea, when you have taken over the duchy, he will be your eyes and ears. So go and see for yourself — whether he is truly someone you can trust.]

Lea studied the handsome man standing before her. A pair of vivid, beautiful crimson eyes and a pair of pale silver-blue eyes that smiled yet betrayed no emotion met for an instant, each sizing the other up. The first to yield was Razen. He inclined his head slightly, conveying that he had no intention of defying her.

He’s certainly sharp… Lea raised her assessment of him by one degree. He was a man who knew when to step back.

“Pleased to meet you, Razen. Father has told me a great deal about you. Where are we?”

She turned her head and surveyed her surroundings. A clean, well-appointed room came into view, along with a desk piled high with documents that caught her eye.

“This is my office. I thought you would want to receive a briefing immediately upon arrival, so I gave His Grace the coordinates for this location. It is modest, but please, sit, my lady.”

Lea sat on the sofa Razen directed her to. Meanwhile, Berchel and Ian moved around behind her and took up positions at her back as if standing guard. A moment later, Razen returned carrying tea and cups.

“What is the situation?”

Sipping the tea Razen had poured, she asked the question that had been weighing on her most. Razen handed her a set of documents from the table and said:

“The person you asked me to look into is in quite a poor state. Please see for yourself.”

“…….”

Lea took the documents and turned through them page by page, reading the contents. With each page she turned, her expression grew more rigid, and Berchel watched her with anxious, restless eyes. When she had finished reading to the very last page, she set them down without a sound and opened her mouth.

“Is this the truth?”

Her voice was, as always, quiet and unwavering — yet her crimson eyes were blazing like flames with fury. She asked again, each word deliberate and distinct:

“Is it true that Luciel Lucan Mihael has been imprisoned on charges of raping and murdering his younger cousin?”