“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.”
VOLUME 7: CHAPTER 16
Big Mona had been in a great mood recently.
Who would have known that the young noble he’d partnered with would turn out to be a legendary magician who once lived during the Age of Magic?
He’d never felt this euphoric before, not even when he became the head of the Merchants Guild in Lion City. It felt as though the Goddess of Luck had locked him in an embrace and finally decided to grant her blessings upon him.
Big Mona’s lips couldn’t help but curl into a grin as he thought of these things.
What a once in a lifetime opportunity, indeed!
Inside a tavern near the Central Plaza, Big Mona and several other reputable merchants in the eastern territory gathered around the table as they discussed Big Mona’s proposal.
“What’s with your smile… it’s creeping me out,” said one of his affiliate merchants.
“This is the first time we’ve seen you this happy, sir,” said another. “But no wonder. These products are indeed amazing! I can’t believe this small town is producing these things!”
On the table was an arrowhead made of an unknown black metal and a fabric reminiscent of silk but stronger than leather. Although these products looked common to untrained eyes, these merchants quickly realized their true value. Just these two items were enough to bolster the kingdom’s military might. The fabric, if used by the kingdom’s soldiers, would greatly increase their mobility during battle without sacrificing defenses. Moreover, the black metal was an incredibly powerful weapon that could instantly paralyze its opponents with a graze. Not just the royals, but the other nobles would surely covet these items.
“Small town? Does this territory still look small to you?”
“Well… the wall that suddenly popped up overnight sure isn’t small, is it?”
The merchants laughed at their little joke.
“So, Big Mona, all we have to do is make sure these products reach the ears of the royal family and the nobles at the western territory?”
“That’s right,” Big Mona said after taking a sip of juice from his tankard. He had not revealed the high-grade potions to these affiliated merchants. He planned on marketing those items himself and shoving his achievements in the faces of those merchant bastards in the capital. “Easy, isn’t it? And don’t forget what I told you before. You need to spread rumors that the black metal is capable of paralyzing monsters—even demons.”
“Of course, of course. Easy enough.” One of the merchants nodded. He did not think too much about the last part of Big Mona’s statement. Demons? Such things did not exist. They’re merely myths. “A mysterious metal found only in the eastern wilderness, capable of paralyzing its opponents. Beasts, monsters, demons—all of them will fall with just a single graze. How about it? Catchy, isn’t it?”
“It’s flowery and a bit disgusting, but I like it,” said Big Mona, grinning. “I don’t care how you do it, but make sure the military learns of this metal’s potent capabilities.”
“Leave it to us, sir.”
“But, Big Mona, are you sure you don’t need our help in transporting the black metal from the mines? We are all willing to lend several dozen of our men to do the mundane tasks.”
Big Mona shook his head. “No. All transactions will be done in this town only. That is final.”
Now that he was bound by an oath, Big Mona had no intention of letting these merchants know the source of all these goods. He planned on only using the servants who’d taken the oath of silence beforehand when transporting the fabric and the black metal. Big Mona knew that at the end of the day, these affiliated merchants could still stab him in the back given the chance. Even if the chances were slim, he would never dare risk his partnership with Lark.
“There will be severe repercussions, if I catch any of you snooping around town, looking for the source of these items,” Big Mona boldly uttered a threat before emptying his tankard. Like a beast marking its territory, he was declaring that he would not tolerate anything that would threaten his position as the lord’s exclusive merchant.
The merchants who’d been planning on investigating the lord and the source of the unknown metal started having second thoughts. Now that Big Mona was protecting this territory, it would be foolish of them to act so rashly.
“We wouldn’t dare, sir.” The merchants laughed awkwardly.
One of the merchants noticed the old man who’d just entered the tavern.
“Sir,” he whispered, “Isn’t that the butler at the lord’s mansion?”
Big Mona looked at the table at the far end corner of the tavern. Although the old man sitting there was wearing casual-looking clothes, there was no doubt that he was the head butler of the lord’s mansion.
“He’s drinking by himself? At this time of the day?” said one of the affiliate merchants.
It was only an hour after dawn. Even this tavern—the most popular one in town—was almost deserted at this time of the day.
Big Mona felt something was amiss. He called one of the servers and asked her to send an invitation to the butler to join their table. After some time, the server sent back a message.
“Apologies. Sir Gaston humbly declines the offer, sir,” said the server.
Even the server recognized the old man. He was, after all, one of the most powerful figures in this town. In terms of authority, some even said that he was second only to the lord in this territory.
“Is that so?” said Big Mona.
“But he gratefully accepted the drink you sent him,” added the server.
Upon hearing those words, Big Mona became certain. Something of great significance must have happened at the mansion for the head butler to act this way.
“This concludes our meeting,” Big Mona said to his affiliated merchants. “The iron ingots. I expect all of you to deliver them to this town within the next three weeks. Understood?”
“Leave it to us!”
After the merchants left, Big Mona walked toward Gaston’s table. The old butler had already finished three tankards of ale.
“Can I join you for a drink, sir butler?” said Big Mona.
Although Gaston was a commoner, Big Mona wasn’t foolish enough to think that he was superior to this old man. Big Mona knew that in this town, the butler was more influential than any guilds or merchants.
Gaston looked up, his face flushed red. Deep within the old man’s eyes, Big Mona could see indescribable sadness—or was it emptiness? Despair? The fat merchant was not sure.
Before Gaston could even respond, Big Mona plopped himself on the opposite chair a
nd shouted at the server, “Two more ales here! And something to chew on! Hurry!”
The server disappeared into the kitchen for a moment, then came out holding two tankards of ale and a large plate filled with bread, cheese, and roasted meat.
After the server left, Big Mona raised his cup and said, “You look horrible, sir. What happened?”
Big Mona sipped his ale as he waited for the butler’s reply.
The butler sighed. “It’s nothing you should be concerned of, sir merchant.”
“Is it related to the lord?” said Big Mona.
The butler’s face contorted for a moment, but he didn’t utter a response.
Silence fell.
Big Mona was far smarter than his peers. After observing the butler’s reaction, he could somehow surmise what had happened to this old man.
Lark’s recent revelation regarding his true identity.
The lifeless eyes of this old man
Just like to him, Lark had probably revealed the truth to his butler. This was the conclusion Big Mona came to after observing him in silence.
As expected, not everyone can so easily accept the truth, thought Big Mona.
Before partnering himself with the young noble, Big Mona made sure to thoroughly investigate Lark Marcus. He was certain that this old butler was among his most loyal servants. A loyal subject who’d followed Lark Marcus to this small town after he’d been exiled by his very own father.
It was understandable that the butler was so devastated upon learning about his young master’s real identity.
“Nasty rumors will spread if the head butler is drinking here in this tavern, at this time of the day,” said Big Mona.
The butler placed down his tankard. He smiled and mumbled softly, his voice almost a whisper, “I don’t even know if I can continue serving in the mansion anyway. This pathetic old man…”
Big Mona sliced the grilled meat with his knife and stabbed it with a fork, before placing it in his mouth. He ate silently for several seconds before saying, “Since you refuse to tell me anything, I’ll assume that this is related to the Lord of Blackstone Town.”
Revelation Page 14
