Chapter 10
Let’s pretend we don’t know each other anymore.
Episode 10
Regrettably, Erich von Cardion was not particularly gifted in magic.
His mana capacity didn’t even reach the level of an average mage, let alone someone like Elisha.
However, since he wasn’t entirely devoid of mana, Erich began to forge his own path to maximize the effects within his capabilities.
That path was the study of magic formulas.
And in this field, Erich began to show a startling amount of brilliance.
‘Something’s a bit strange lately.’
Elisha, who had been sitting beside Erich, suddenly spoke up.
‘There are times, like now, when the Prince seems quite smart.’
She tilted her head as she continued.
Regardless of her words, Erich kept his eyes fixed on his papers as he replied.
‘You’re the opposite.’
‘…….’
‘You carry books around every day acting like you’re clever, but you don’t actually know a single thing properly.’
Only then did Erich shift his gaze to glance at the girl beside him.
He was checking to see if his remark had hurt her feelings.
He knew he shouldn’t have opened his mouth if he was going to be like this, but he simply couldn’t let that provocation slide…
It was at the moment Erich’s eyes met Elisha’s once more.
‘You’re right, Prince.’
Elisha nodded calmly and spoke.
‘I don’t know much.’
‘…….’
‘That’s why I’m trying to learn.’
It was such a clean, total admission that Erich was the one who ended up flustered.
‘S-Still, you’re good at using magic. You have a lot of mana, too.’
And not just a lot—it was at a level so great it was unprecedented.
Erich muttered softly as he set down his quill. Elisha nodded lightly again.
‘That’s also true.’
‘…….’
‘His Majesty said our fields are just different.’
The Prince does research, I do practice.
Having finished her piece, Elisha pulled the paper lying in front of Erich toward her. Erich didn’t bother to stop her.
He had intended to show her anyway.
‘Is this a new spell?’
She asked with a very familiar air. Erich nodded slowly while staring into the girl’s eyes, which were sparkling with curiosity.
Whenever Elisha looked at him like that, Erich was somehow overcome by a strange sensation.
A bit of a tickle, a churning in his stomach, a feeling like he just had to swallow hard…
‘I’ve never seen this form before, either.’
Right then, Elisha shifted her gaze from the paper and tilted her head to the side.
Erich immediately snapped out of it and blinked rapidly.
What was that just now?
‘I thought I knew most magic, but all the spells you create are in forms I’ve never seen.’
Unaware of what was going on in Erich’s heart, Elisha continued talking.
At that, Erich lifted his chin and gave a small smile as if nothing had happened.
‘It’s because I dismantle existing magic and reassemble it so it looks completely different.’
‘Reassemble?’
‘Because the magic we use now is all based on nature.’
Fire, water, earth, air, and light and darkness.
Erich began to scribble drawings on a new sheet of paper as he launched into an explanation.
Elisha rested her chin on her palm and listened intently to Erich’s explanation.
His voice, which sounded blunt yet somewhat tender, echoed quietly.
The sight of the two children sharing a friendly conversation was a scene one might find quite cute from a distance.
‘All these things circulate, and by twisting that slightly and applying it to a formula, I’ve created an effect that’s like turning back time—limited to inanimate objects, of course.’
Though the conversation itself wasn’t cute at all.
‘B-Because you’re always breaking things whenever you use magic!’
Having finished his sharp remark, Erich turned his gaze slightly to look at Elisha.
She was still frowning, her eyes fixed on the paper.
Did she not understand? He hadn’t explained it expecting her to, anyway.
‘To put it simply…’
It was the moment Erich was about to explain once more.
‘It’s so strange that magic like this hasn’t been created until now.’
Elisha spoke a step ahead of him. Erich immediately clamped his lips shut.
So she hadn’t failed to understand.
‘……That’s because, until now, people have used magic for the sake of survival.’
To begin with, there were few people who even knew how to use magic, and those who did lacked the mana or the time to research magic independently.
After all, wasn’t this magical system built upon ideas taken from the magic used by monsters?
Magic that had developed specifically for taking and being taken from, for destroying and for protecting.
Magic as a means of survival.
Therefore, the magic they knew how to use was entirely based on nature.
Making arrows out of fire, chains out of water, blades out of wind.
Every single one of them was difficult to use in daily life.
It was to the point where the only thing considered useful for daily life was the Teleportation Magic that only Grand Mages could use.
‘It shouldn’t be like this.’
Things had to change now.
‘I’m going to create all sorts of magic.’
Erich muttered as if making a vow, staring at the paper covered in formulas.
Elisha watched him intently, then replied with a curve to her eyes.
‘Yes, you can do it, Prince.’
Erich caught his breath for a moment and stared blankly at Elisha.
That tickling sensation he’d felt a moment ago.
No, a feeling even more intense than before.
Perhaps he…
‘Because you aren’t good at anything else besides this, Prince.’
At that moment, Elisha muttered with total sincerity. Simultaneously, Erich’s face twisted aggressively.
Tickling sensation, my foot!
‘I am not!’
‘Look at this, you can’t even draw.’
‘That’s just because I drew it roughly! And you can’t do anything either, except for magic!’
‘I’m still better at eating my vegetables than you are, Prince.’
She spoke as she drew a picture in the corner of the paper. It was a carrot, as small and cute as Erich’s drawing skills were poor.
Erich pouted.
What a carrot-like girl.
I really can’t bring myself to like her.
* * *
[……Ha, Your Majesty.]
“…….”
[Your Majesty, are you listening to me?]
“…….”
[Erich. El. Hey. You punk—.]
“I’m listening.”
[Please pretend you didn’t hear that last part.]
Dante Renaud’s sly voice flowed through the Communication Stone.
Erich, who had kept his eyes closed the whole time, opened them and narrowed his brows.
Since he hadn’t been able to sleep properly after Elisha disappeared, it seemed he had fallen asleep without realizing it.
And of all things, to have a dream like that.
[Your expression is quite terrifying.]
Dante muttered shortly after, slightly pursing his lips. Erich wiped a hand over his face.
“So, what’s the report?”
[Nothing. It’s like she’s completely evaporated. I asked people to contact me if they saw a woman who looked even remotely similar everywhere I went, but there’s no news.]
“Even though I used the magic I recently invented, you couldn’t find a trace?”
[The thing is, strangely, Elisha’s mana isn’t being picked up. It seems to be constantly changing.]
“…….”
[Because the magic you made tracks mana that is ‘already known.’ If it’s changed, of course it can’t be tracked.]
You know it too—that Elisha’s mana has already changed once before.
Dante grumbled, shaking the Elisha’s Artifact he had obtained at the auction house.
Erich let out a shallow sigh.
It had already been several weeks since she vanished, but they hadn’t found any significant traces since obtaining the Artifact.
Since Elisha’s disappearance itself was a secret, he couldn’t even mobilize the Imperial Palace forces.
[To be honest, I really feel like I’m going to die.]
Dante Renaud, who had been gauging Erich’s reaction, spoke up cautiously.
[Strictly speaking, Elisha is a human who doesn’t get tired even if she does long-distance Teleportation several times a day, but I’m not.]
If I do long-distance Teleportation once, I’m absolutely exhausted for the rest of the day.
Dante Renaud continued speaking, his purple eyes looking pitiful.
[As you know better than anyone, we can’t keep dragging this out forever. I have to return to the Imperial Palace soon, too.]
“…….”
[The Allied Nations Meeting is right around the corner. Surely you aren’t planning to leave the position of Chief Archmage vacant?]
If you haven’t forgotten the purpose of this meeting, you definitely couldn’t do that.
Dante Renaud finished with a fairly certain tone. At that, Erich let out another long breath.
This Allied Nations Meeting was his first official schedule as Emperor since his coronation.
Originally, the meeting was supposed to be held in another country this year, but it was decided to hold it specially in the Cardion Empire to commemorate Erich’s accession.
That wasn’t all.
This Allied Nations Meeting was also a place to showcase the new magics he had been researching and use them as a pretext to gain political advantages.
The principle of the Communication Stone they were currently using was one of them.
Normally, the person to showcase the magic would have been the Imperial Chief Mage, Elisha, but…
“Return for now.”
Since she was gone, someone had to take her place.
[I figured you’d say that, so I’m already back in Cardion.]
As soon as Erich’s command was given, Dante smiled brightly.
Then, his eyes darted around for a moment.
[Now you really have to be prepared. This isn’t something that can be hidden forever.]
He spoke with a quite firm voice.
Erich’s face twisted violently once more.
He could no longer hide it.
The fact that Elisha had disappeared.
The fact that she had left him.
“……I understand, so return to the Main Palace.”
[Wait, E—.]
Erich heartlessly cut off the communication as if he didn’t want to talk anymore.
Dante stared at the screen that had gone dark in an instant and let out a hollow laugh.
He understood why the Emperor was so irritable since a Grand Mage had vanished, but still.
“Should I just quit, too?”
Now that would be a sight to see.
He muttered idly as he stretched his arms wide. His purple eyes were fixed on a certain building.
Since he’d be busy enough to lose his mind once he returned to the palace, he should enjoy a last supper today.
At this very inn!
‘The cooking here is as good as the palace’s.’
The exterior was shabby, so there weren’t many customers, but it felt more like a hidden gem only he knew about, which made him feel more attached to it.
It was the moment he entered the inn, intending only to have a quick meal.
“Welcome!”
Beyond Jonathan’s boisterous greeting, a particularly brilliant silver-white hair filled Dante’s vision.
Situated beneath it were those distinct blue eyes that looked like they held clear water.
Dante stared blankly at the woman before him, then unconsciously blurted out her name.
“……Elisha?”
Why are you coming out of here……?
