Chapter 222
“U-um… Master.”
“What is it?”
“That was a sort of accident. I suppose you could say I did it in my sleep without realizing. I’m not used to sleeping with someone else, so…”
Levi rambled excuses in an intimidated voice.
Staring blankly at her, Franz sighed, 'Haa - '.
“It’s fine, so don’t worry about it. And even if it’s uncomfortable today, stay with those two kids. Have your meals with them too.”
If it had been a while ago, he would have given her a good flick on the forehead, but he couldn’t bring himself to do that now.
It was as if he felt an instinctive aversion to it.
He couldn’t bring himself to use violence against Levi, who had the appearance of a human kid.
He was well aware that appearances were important, but he hadn’t expected to be swayed this much.
Having organized his thoughts, Franz handed Levi a gold coin.
“Why are you giving me this?”
“You’d feel sorry if you just kept getting treated to meals by these two.”
“So this is what they call spending money.”
Is that how it works?
He hadn’t given it to her with that thought in mind, but she wasn’t exactly wrong.
Afterwards, Franz began preparing to go out.
Between what happened in Nostra and the investigation report on the monster, he had quite a lot to discuss with the emperor.
It was when Franz was changing his top.
“Ugh…”
“Yawn…”
Seri-ah and Zeni-ah opened their eyes.
They stared blankly at Franz with half-closed eyes.
The first of the two to speak was Zeni-ah.
“Your body, what’s wrong with it…?”
“Why? Is there a problem?”
“You have a ton of scars…”
“They’re all from the past. I’m fine now.”
Franz replied nonchalantly as he buttoned his shirt.
In truth, just as she said, Franz’s body was covered in scars.
It took a whopping eight years from the formation of the Hero’s Party to the subjugation of the Demon Lord.
If he could have just played the role of a mage that everyone usually thought of, shooting magic from the back, he wouldn’t have gotten these kinds of scars…
Reality wasn’t so forgiving. Rolling around on floors covered in flesh and blood was a common occurrence, and sometimes he barely survived on the threshold of death.
He couldn’t hope for Yusti-ah’s miracles during that process every time, so scars naturally remained.
“Considering all of that, it was entirely due to my lack of ability…”
If he had been as strong as he is now, no, if he could have at least used Spatial Movement Magic, he wouldn’t have suffered like that.
So he couldn’t blame anyone else.
He felt like he had acted a bit cranky back then because he was sensitive, but…
“I should do better, even now.”
Thinking that, Franz draped his robe over his shirt.
“I’m going to the Imperial Palace for a bit. Make sure you guys eat your meals properly. If anyone comes looking for Arian or me, tell them we’re not here and send them back.”
With those final words, he was about to leave the room when he suddenly remembered something he had forgotten.
“I enjoyed the sandwich yesterday. Thanks.”
With that short expression of gratitude, Franz slipped out of the room.
Staring blankly at his retreating back, the two kids burst into laughter, 'Pfft - '.
“Honestly, he can’t even eat a meal if we don’t take care of him.”
“Tell me about it. He’s quite helpless.”
At their words, Levi, who had been rolling around on the bed, swallowed hard for no reason, 'Gulp - '.
She felt like a scrub who couldn’t even eat a meal if no one took care of her, thinking they were referring to her.
* * *
Meanwhile, having arrived at the Imperial Palace, Franz encountered the emperor strolling through the garden.
“Magic Tower master Franz Gilber…”
“No one is watching, so you can skip the formalities.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Franz straightened his awkwardly bowed body.
“Let’s talk over a cup of tea nearby. It’s too stifling to just stay in the office.”
The emperor took a step forward, and Franz followed behind him.
The place they arrived at was a space set up for teatime on one side of the garden.
Not long after, the tea prepared by a servant was placed on the table.
“Then I will gratefully drink it.”
It had been a very long time since he drank tea the emperor hadn’t poured.
Was it because he felt more at ease than usual? The taste of the tea felt distinct.
“Well, let’s skip the usual pleasantries and get straight to the point. How was it in Nostra?”
“Just as we heard from the delegation that day, there was a bizarre passage in the underground city. The Goddess called it a rift connected to another dimension.”
“Don’t tell me you heard that directly from the Goddess?”
“I occasionally converse with her when a problem arises.”
The emperor let out a hollow laugh, 'Hah - '.
In a world where merely being able to see and feel the Goddess made one a Saint or a Saintess, it was remarkable to think there was someone who conversed directly with her. He was truly something beyond the norm.
“Sometimes when I look at you, I get this question. Am I truly someone worthy of receiving your greetings? - I wonder.”
“Your Majesty, you flatter me too much.”
“Is it not true? Frankly speaking, if you wanted to overturn the empire, no one would be able to stop you. Even if it’s only half, you possess the power of a god.”
Perhaps, just as he said, even conquering the empire, no, the continent, might be possible.
But he could say with certainty.
“Your Majesty, I would never commit such an act.”
He could fully admit that wealth and honor were good things.
But doesn’t he already have an excessive amount of those right now?
conqueror of the continent, king of the continent, he didn’t even need such things.
If he had one wish, it was simply to retire while he was young and live leisurely on the money he had earned.
“Well, I am receiving a lot of help from you, so I am merely grateful. Then let’s finish the conversation we were having earlier.”
“Then, regarding that dimensional rift…”
Franz explained to the emperor what he had seen and felt in Nostra, as well as what he had learned from conversing with the Goddess.
Among those, the emperor reacted strongly twice.
“There was a monster on the level of the Demon Lord’s army’s Four Heavenly Kings…?”
“Yes. And while it’s not certain, if the rift is left unattended for a long time, there is a possibility that the Monsters inside could come out.”
“If that happens, it would truly be a disaster…”
Of course, there was no guarantee that there would be only rifts of the current level.
There would definitely be weaker ones, and conversely, stronger ones as well.
And what was even more important than that was…
“To think that over 600 rifts will appear across the entire continent in the future is hard to believe; no, it’s something I don’t want to believe.”
“I share the same thought.”
In fact, that was why Franz had relayed the information to the emperor as quickly as possible.
It was a problem that not just the empire, but all the nations of the continent had to solve together.
The more they prepared in advance, the more the damage would surely be reduced.
“So, about that…”
Franz presented his opinion on the matter.
labyrinths, gates, and hunters.
It was a method of creating a new department managed by the state and gathering people.
There would definitely be those who have the ability right now but don’t want to belong somewhere and work.
If they could borrow strength from freelancers, it would definitely be helpful.
“It’s certainly not a bad method. But I cannot make a hasty decision.”
“Yes, I know.”
Even after that, Franz had many conversations with the emperor.
The world was gradually changing by the hands of none other than Franz.
Even though the person in question wasn’t aware of it himself.
The conversation that had started so early in the morning ended when the sun was high in the sky.
“Then I will be on my way back.”
“It would be nice if we could at least have a meal together.”
The emperor merely let out a short sigh and didn’t offer a meal.
As someone who knew better than anyone that Franz was busy, he couldn’t bring himself to do so.
Afterwards, Franz exchanged a few more words with the emperor before leaving the Imperial Palace.
The next place he headed to was none other than the Magic Tower’s Magic Tool Development Department. It was the very department that had developed the special carriage alongside Franz.
“M-Magic Tower master? What brings you here…”
The researchers who spotted Franz widened their eyes.
Since Franz rarely left the Magic Tower Lord’s Office unless it was something significant, his appearance meant it was that big of a deal.
“That’s what I’d like to ask. What is everyone doing without even eating?”
“Ah, there’s a magic tool we’re in the middle of developing right now… If it’s alright with you, would you like to take a look together?”
As expected of mages, one might say. The sight of them tossing aside even their meals to devote themselves to research was exactly like that of mages.
Then let’s see this magic tool they’re making.
“…What is this?”
“Actually, it’s something we kept an eye on while developing the carriage with you, Magic Tower master…”
As the researcher pressed a button, cold wind flowed out from a square box.
Its appearance was a bit lacking, but its function was definitely that of an air conditioner.
They had installed an air conditioner and a heater when developing the carriage, and it seemed they had remembered the design.
“H-How is it?”
“It’s excellent. If the exterior just becomes a bit cleaner, there will be demand for it.”
“Thank you…!”
The researcher bowed his head in greeting with a deeply moved expression.
Not just he, but everyone inside the lab was smiling brightly.
“There are still quite a lot of points to improve, but…”
He had no desire to throw cold water on this atmosphere right now.
“Let’s discuss the details at the demonstration. The reason I came today is this.”
Franz took out an orb slightly smaller than a fist from his bag.
The orb was a perfect sphere, as if someone had intricately carved it, and because it was entirely black, it even gave off quite a luxurious feel.
“M-Magic Tower master, what in the world is this…”
Seeing the orb, the researcher stammered with a quite flustered expression.
He was probably seeing an item like this for the first time.
It was only natural, because it was a magic stone ripped out of the boss that was in the labyrinth.
“We are going to use this to make a flying vehicle.”
It was the first step in the development of the Magic Airship.