Chapter 86
－Emperas Kingdom: A High-Ranking Mage's Perspective－
In front of me stood a line of slaves with tense expressions.
Lives were required to repair the cracks in the magic stone.
It was a necessary ritual, since the magic stone had to be restored to its original state.
Yet something indescribable was spreading through my chest.
I reached this day without finding an answer.
The first batch numbered one hundred slaves; depending on the condition of the cracks, that number would probably increase.
Every one of them had been forcibly brought into the world by the slaves of this country.
They had been born to become slaves.
As disposable soldiers and research material,
and as laborers for the lowest-level jobs, this country constantly forced slaves to bear children.
That was the norm in this country.
The citizens knew about it, too, but no one spared a thought for the slaves beneath them.
In fact, most believed it was necessary if it meant their own lives would improve.
Anyone who voiced an objection had been publicly executed as an example.
Even when something stirred in their hearts, no one would dare raise their voice.
That was the kind of country this was.
Those gathered here were all under fifteen.
Knives had been used to cut their arms before they were tossed into the magic circle like objects.
Because of the slave bindings, they could not refuse; all they could do was wear expressions of despair.
I sensed the Chief Mage approaching and coming to stand beside me.
The investigation into the cause had only wasted time, with nothing to show for it.
The king would eventually unleash his anger on us.
The magic circle began to glow black.
I sighed and turned around to leave the room.
Vines would emerge from the magic circle and stab the slaves to death one by one.
Then they would drag the slaves into the magic circle.
I could already picture what would happen, as always.
A sight I had witnessed countless times.
The moment I was about to take a step forward,
White light swept through the room.
Screams rang out here and there in the blinding light.
What had happened?
I waited for the light to fade, then looked around once my eyes had adjusted.
"...What..."
The voice came from the Chief Mage.
Indeed, what had happened?
The mages surrounding the magic stone lay collapsed.
The slaves looked around in bewilderment, as though they too were wondering what had happened.
I checked, and it appeared that not one of the slaves had died.
I tried to call out to the Chief Mage, but the Chief Mage stood staring at something.
I followed the Chief Mage's gaze and stopped moving.
Something indescribable was bound to the magic stone.
It was a shape I had never seen before.
I didn't know what it was, but I understood that it was something far from ordinary.
Something resembling a groan reached my ears.
I looked toward the sound, and it seemed to be coming from the fallen mages.
I hurried over and called out to them.
They looked at me with eyes filled with terror.
As I stood there, still somewhat bewildered, the knights who had noticed the disturbance came rushing into the room.
I felt a little relieved at their arrival.
A knight gave orders, and the mages were moved elsewhere.
At the time, I made a mental note that the mages had seemed somewhat strange and that I would have to investigate later.
I arranged to have the slaves returned to their original place and brought the situation under control for the time being.
But there was nothing we could do about the magic stone.
I would need to explain this to the king.
But most likely, no one would be able to give an accurate account of what had happened.
All we could tell from its condition was that something had happened to the magic stone.
...
The king's face turned deathly pale at the Chief Mage's report.
Then came the revelation that the mages had lost their memories.
The Chief Mage's eyes widened, and an eerie silence descended over the audience chamber.
This country had made a mistake.