Chapter 9.2

Translator: Lizz

 

(Why did Leon refuse to let me go to the Iron Fortress?)

 

Once, it had been Leon himself who told Zechs to return to the Iron Fortress someday. It was contradictory for him to refuse now after having said it himself. Could it be that, as Aldo suggested, he was trying to block Zechs’ future out of some petty feeling of jealousy? If that was the case, it was unforgivable. But he wondered if Leon would really do something like that.

 

It was just past noon when he arrived at the village. Most of the villagers were either working in their fields or diligently engaged in their various occupations. Some noticed Zechs, who had left in the morning and returned so soon, but they only gave him a brief glance without showing much interest.

 

He wondered if Leon was in the field as well, but as he tied up the horse, he heard a noise from inside the hut. Ready to go inside, he had placed his hand on the door handle, and it was trembling without him realizing it.

 

He opened the door without a word, and there, under the bright sunlight streaming through the window, Leon was standing, carrying a stack of magic books. His eyes widened slightly at the sight of his returning apprentice.

 

“You’re back already, Zechs. Quite early, aren’t you?”

 

When there was no particular work to be done, it was usual for him to spend time having meals with Jesse and others, slowly deepening their friendship.

 

“…A mage from the Iron Fortress came.”

 

When Zechs said just those few words, Leon’s usually easygoing expression quickly changed. That reaction alone proved that Gill’s words were not a lie.

 

The Iron Fortress had been trying to invite Zechs for a long time, and it was his Master who had been blocking it without informing Zechs himself.

 

Zechs had been waiting for a long time to be called to the Iron Fortress. He believed that going there was the only way to break free from the humiliating days of being scorned for having a different ethnicity and shunned for having a guiding vein. He had believed that was the only way to prove himself to the people who had looked down on him and persecuted him.

 

“Why didn’t you say anything!”

 

For the past year or so, he had been constantly anxious and scared, thinking that maybe he would never be called, that he would die in this countryside with nothing but miserable thoughts. When he realized that the impatience and fear he had endured might have been unnecessary, he couldn’t help but shout.

 

“You should’ve told me! Why did you refuse by yourself without saying anything to me?”

 

“…They came to pick you up, didn’t they?”

 

“Yes!”

 

“That’s, not acceptable.”

 

Leon said in a sorrowful voice, as if he was bearing some pain.

 

“It’s… still too early for you.”

 

“Huh? What do you mean? I’m much more skilled in magic than you, and my abilities are recognized by the Guild!”

 

“Even so!”

 

Leon finally raised his voice. He bypassed all reasoning and simply voiced his rejection.

 

Zechs felt anger at his Master’s stubborn attitude, but at the same time, he was reminded of an unpleasant memory by his Master’s pained expression.

 

Since Zechs joined the Guild, Jesse had always helped him whenever he was unfairly treated. Jesse was not a person who would engage in irrational discrimination. Yet, he had uttered the word ‘Seldian’ with contempt, even if it was the only once in the past two years. What had been in Jesse’s heart at that moment was the jealousy Aldo had mentioned. Jesse seemed to hate himself for harboring such emotions, but he couldn’t suppress them. Learning that even a person like Jesse could be controlled by such ugly feelings had shocked and disappointed Zechs.

 

‘Could it be?’, the thought arose in his mind. He believed Leon wasn’t that kind of person… Well, he had.

 

“…You’re not jealous, are you?”

 

Zechs was half doubting it himself… Or rather, he was hoping that those words would make Leon angry. But contrary to his expectations, Leon was left speechless, his mouth half open, and he suddenly looked away.

 

That alone was a clearer affirmation than words. At that moment, something inside Zechs exploded.

 

“Don’t mess with me!”

 

As he hurled the shout at him, something rushed through the room. It passed by Leon, breaking the table, the pot on the unlit fireplace, and the blanket-covered couch.

 

“For… For something so trivial…”

 

With a trembling fist, Zechs struck the door, then turned on his heel and kicked it open.

 

“I’m leaving. I’m going to the Iron Fortress!”

 

“That’s not acceptable!”

 

“Do you have the right to stop me?”

 

Zechs turned back with a look filled with murderous intent, and Leon, who had been following him, met his gaze head on and stopped dead in his tracks.

 

“…If you go to the Iron Fortress, the occasions when you have to read magic books will increase.”

 

‘What would you do if you couldn’t even read?’

 

That seemed to be what Leon was trying to say. And he even seemed to take advantage of Zechs’ weakness, which made him feel an even greater sense of hatred.

 

“Even so, I won’t rely on you anymore.”

 

He told him in a stifled voice, and Leon’s eyes, as calm as a still sea, lowered quietly.

 

“…Fine. Do as you wish.”

 

Even if he hadn’t said so, Zechs intended to do just that.

 

As Zechs approached his beloved horse, which he had just tied up a short while ago, the horse let out a small whinny as if sensing its master’s emotions. ‘It’s nothing,’ he said, patting its neck and mounting it.

 

There was no sound from behind him. But he knew that Leon was still watching him, even if he couldn’t read what was in his heart.

 

Zechs, determined to leave everything behind, focused solely on the distant sky ahead and slowly began to ride his horse away.

 

By the time Zechs returned to Daza, it was already evening. In the darkness, the signboard letters became even harder to see. Zechs asked people for directions to the inn he had been told about and finally found it.

 

Gill, who had not expected him to arrive after sunset, seemed a bit startled but spread his arms in a welcoming gesture.

 

“How did it go?”

 

Gill asked, though his tone suggested that he had never considered the possibility of Zechs being refused.

 

Zechs looked straight at the mage he had just met earlier today and spoke, as if making a declaration.

 

“I am going to the Iron Fortress.”

 

Early the next morning, in the freezing cold, Zechs said his farewells only to Aldo, entrusted his beloved horse to him, and without saying a word to the other mages, boarded the Iron Fortress’ carriage with Gill. As the carriage door closed, the biting cold wind was shut out, and at the same time, Zechs buried the pain-tinged affection for the village he had spent five years in deep within his heart.

 

That day, only the early risers witnessed the rare sight of the carriage departing from Daza for the Capital.

 

It took about three days by carriage to get to the Capital, Rhiannon, heading southeast. Although Zechs had traveled this route once five years ago, the scenery he saw was completely unfamiliar. The same was true for Rhiannon itself.

 

The current ruler of Lavarta was the Kornote family. The reigning king, Odysin, was the fourth king. King Odysin had been in power for over twenty years, but there were no particularly bad rumors about him. His father, however, had been a lavish spender with a penchant for grand, impressive architecture. During his reign, he had built numerous luxurious villas in the suburbs and various public facilities in Rhiannon, spending extravagantly. This would have been a headache for the Ministers in charge of the treasury, but the construction created employment, and the completed buildings, like plazas and clock towers, were also useful to the people of Rhiannon, so he had had public support. In contrast, Odysin seemed to be trying to recover the funds his father had spent, as he did not engage in any extravagant public projects.

 

Among the previous kings, there had been some who were womanizers, keeping numerous concubines. However, Odysin was rather modest in that regard. He had a Queen and only two concubines, with a total of four princes and princesses. The successor was the eldest son, and the eldest daughter was already married to a neighboring country. The remaining second and third sons, however, were not as competent as the eldest son, so there was no sign of a succession dispute after the King’s demise. In fact, the second son, who was recognized as a military officer, was still somewhat competent, but the third son had been given the derogatory nickname ‘Mad Prince’. Whether he had been mentally unstable or intellectually delayed since childhood, his behavior was peculiar, and he had a great dislike for people. As a result, the King rarely included the third son in official events and had provided him with a room deep within the castle.

 

Overall, King Odysin was a diligent and serious king. While he might seem a bit unremarkable to the people, he could be considered a good king.

 

Rhiannon, the direct domain of the Kornote family, was the largest city in Lavarta with a population of over 100,000, and was the Capital. It was located slightly southeast of the center of the country and served as both the political hub where the King resided and a crucial transportation hub. The shops lining the streets were brightly decorated and overflowed with goods to the point that there was almost nothing one could not find. The abundance of specialty products from various regions had also led to the development of a rich food culture, filling the city with delightful aromas.

 

The city was surrounded by massive, sturdy walls, with large gates for entry and exit on the east, west, and north sides. Two major streets ran through the city, connecting these gates: one running east-west and another running from the north towards the south, where the Royal Castle was located. These streets were the busiest areas, bustling with people of all professions and races from dawn until late at night. The southern part near the Royal Castle was home to the mansions of nobles and wealthy individuals, while the winding alleys off the main streets were inhabited by those who had fallen on hard times or come from the countryside in search of better opportunities, competing fiercely for places that offered shelter from the elements.

 

Rhiannon had many tall buildings – most of which were the legacy of the previous King – but among them, the most striking was the Royal Castle, known as the Silver Castle, floating on the lake. The castle’s white walls, made lavishly from the marble that the areas around Rhiannon were famous for, reflected the sunlight and shone brilliantly. The white castle sitting on the rippling lake had a mystical air, and its breathtaking beauty, especially at dawn and dusk, was known both domestically and internationally.

 

In a corner of the outer wall of the Silver Castle, there was an area that differed from the residencies of the nobility and the quarters of the Knight Order. It was a detached building, with the residential wing on the west side and the research wing on the east side, where lecture rooms and laboratories with neatly arranged long desks were located. The interior resembled a university, and this place, known as the Iron Fortress, was the pinnacle of magical research in Lavarta.

 

When Zechs first left Lille to visit Daza, he had been amazed by the number of people, but this time it was incomparable. The city’s vibrancy and the sheer number of people were overwhelming.

 

By the time he passed through the city and reached the castle gate, his head was already spinning. There, he was once again overwhelmed by the imposing sight of the Royal Castle.

 

Gill guided Zechs, whose mouth was agape, to the heavy door and said with a sardonic smile.

 

“Welcome to the Iron Fortress.”

 

Leaning against the remnants of the couch, which had been split in half and whose backrest had shattered, Leon slowly opened his eyes. An empty room stretched before him.

 

Thinking about repairing, discarding, and replacing the broken furniture felt overwhelming… so he just left it out in the open.

 

He wondered what Nia would say if she saw this. For the past few days, her grandmother had been visiting to pay the rent, sparing him from hearing any unnecessary comments.

 

He knew he had to do something about this situation soon. But despite knowing, he couldn’t bring himself to take action.

 

Cold air seeped through the poorly-fitted door, signaling that the season had already turned to winter, sealed in snow and wind. Yet, thinking, eating, and even sleeping felt like a burden.

 

At that moment, the door creaked as if in protest, and a surprised yet exasperated voice spoke.

 

“What is this?”

 

Gateau, who had entered without the homeowner’s permission and found the homeowner slumped in the corner, sighed.

 

“Did only this house get hit by a storm?”

 

Though he was joking, Gateau’s expression was stiff with concern.

 

“You’re bleeding.”

 

At his remark, Leon looked down at his right arm and let out a ‘Yeah’.

 

“It’s just a graze. It’s not a big deal.”

 

Leon answered, sounding annoyed.

 

Even if it was a minor injury, it was unusual for Leon, who could use healing magic, to leave it untreated, not to mention not even changing out of his bloodstained clothes.

 

“I heard the boy left.”

 

Gateau said, kneeling beside Leon, who showed no intention of moving, and lifting his arm, which was covered in dried blood.

 

“How fast is your information network?”

 

“I happened to be near Daza. I was concerned, so I contacted Aldo discreetly.”

 

Since Aldo was once an apprentice under Ceres, he was an old acquaintance of Gateau, even though he was now a Guild Master.

 

“The Iron Fortress is suspicious of you, so I was worried.”

 

“I see.”

 

Leon, who didn’t seem to care, gently pulled back his arm from his friend. The movement caused a momentary pain.

 

“Make sure to disinfect it properly.”

 

“I’ll heal it later.”

 

With a resigned sigh, Gateau stood up and went outside. He returned with water in an old wooden bucket and began tending to the wound with practiced ease.

 

“The pots and dishes are all broken too?”

 

“It was a rare storm.”

 

“…It’s been years since I’ve seen one like this. Why did he lose control?”

 

At that question, Leon’s body shuddered. He didn’t want to recall or face what had happened.

 

Even so, he slowly explained the situation, mixing in his own guesses. Gateau, who had apparently heard the details from Aldo, confirmed his account.

 

“He was angry when he found out you refused on your own.”

 

Leon smiled wryly. Given Zechs’ personality, it was natural for him to be angry. That much was expected… The unexpected part was his own feelings.

 

“Zechs asked me if the reason I refused on my own was out of jealousy.”

 

“Why would he think that?”

 

“He might have become sensitive due to various harassments he experienced because of jealousy.”

 

“Even so…”

 

Even so, those were not words one should say to their Master. However, it wasn’t as if Zechs had any intention of respecting Leon in the first place, and Leon also recognized that he was not someone to be respected.

 

“‘He hit the nail on the head’, I thought. Refusing the Iron Fortress’s request wasn’t entirely out of jealousy, of course, and I didn’t think it was at the time. But the more I thought about it, I realized I was indeed jealous of Zechs.”

 

Not just Zechs, but Dariesh, and other apprentices as well. He was jealous of every mages in this world.

 

“Deep down, while teaching my apprentices magic, I hoped they would not succeed. Always. If I didn’t teach them properly, they wouldn’t understand how to handle their guiding veins, and they would be seen as dangerous beings, shunned and feared by those around them… I even thought it would be good if it turned out that way. No matter how much I wished for it, I couldn’t even achieve a standard level of power. Dreaming of the Iron Fortress was out of the question. Just living was a struggle. Since I was suffering so much, I thought it would be good if everyone else suffered too.'”

 

A long time ago, he had been shocked by his dark feelings that were about to erupt, and had hurriedly put a lid on them. Since then, he had looked away.

 

“‘Ah, he saw right through me’, I thought. Indeed, I have no right to stop him.”

 

The reason Leon continued to refuse the Iron Fortress’s request wasn’t solely out of jealousy. He could say that with confidence. Multiple concerns had overlapped, making it impossible for him to say yes. However, when he realized that ugly feelings were also involved unconsciously, no matter how much he denied it, it felt empty. His confidence was shattered.

 

“It’s pathetic… A person like me shouldn’t have taken on apprentices in the first place. I’m not someone who can guide others. I’m dirty, shameful, insignificant, a hopeless person!”

 

After finishing wrapping a clean cloth around Leon’s arm, Gateau lowered it to the floor. He then used his dominant arm to cradle Leon’s head, who was shouting at himself, and gently rocked him as if to soothe him.

 

“You’re an idiot. There’s no such thing as a person without dirty emotions in this world. Neither parents nor masters are saints. They can’t always be fair and tolerant like gods. They can’t always be just.”

 

The droplets that fell from the rocking motion formed small stains on the floorboards. Leon, hiding his face or perhaps clinging to Gateau’s arm, held on tightly, allowing himself to be comforted.

 

“…Even so, I didn’t want to make a mistake.”

 

As a person with no power or anything, he wished more than anyone to be of help to others, to be useful to someone.

 

“I should have smiled and seen him off without letting my selfish feelings and anxieties get in the way. I should have told him to do his best…!”

 

Leon wasn’t angry at anyone else, but at himself. He was disappointed in himself. Gateau couldn’t find any words to say, so he just held his friend’s head and gently patted his back as Leon sobbed.

 

Knowing that he was powerless, Leon had been desperately struggling to accomplish something within his small capacity. He wouldn’t accept any comforting words. He was stubborn and obstinate. No matter what anyone said, he would continue to be disappointed in himself while still seeking the way of life he desired.

 

Leon was foolish. Gateau thought there were countless ways to live more comfortably and smoothly. But he couldn’t dislike his foolish friend. Even though he was exasperated by Leon’s foolishness, he couldn’t bring himself to abandon him.

 

There was hardly anything Gateau could do for his friend. Living one’s life was something one must do themselves. So at the very least, he wanted to watch over Leon’s path.

 

Without voicing these thoughts, Gateau stayed by his friend’s side in the run-down hut.