The idea that a small initial condition could create a massive outcome—
how could a magician not be captivated by such a phenomenon? How
beautiful it would be if something that could shake the world arose from my
fingertips.
Yes, that was what I used to think.
Right now.
Seeing the gigantic approaching typhoon, a thought naturally came to me.
What would happen to a butterfly swept away by a typhoon? Would it be
left with nothing but the fate of having its wings and antennae torn apart as
it is tossed around?
No, that's not it.
…Should I ride the current? Enjoying the massive flow in its entirety.
Not as a butterfly, but as myself.
In the general store, it was as if the concept of sound had been extinguished
for a moment.
"…"
Feeling chills down my spine, I thought.
I had been a long time. When was the last time I had chills?
'Who accepted my proposal? I really don't know.'
A name. The most important thing was not written in the letter.
A passionate ally turns into the most terrifying enemy the moment they turn
their back. Not knowing who the person was became its own form of fear.
Apple, observing my reaction, nodded as if she understood.
"…Looks like it's over. A fate of disappearing without a trace?"
"Maybe so."
Not knowing who wrote the letter was a problem, and so was the current
emperor's power. Apple had a valid point.
Emperor Verd, the Formless.
He was considered to possess the strongest military power in the empire's
history. A battle maniac who regards being called a tyrant as a
compliment…
I meddled with the emperor's daughter. By proposing to her, no less.
…Not just one, but all five of them.
I quietly took out a petal attached to a stem from my pocket.
It was the perfect size to hold in my mouth. Commonly known as "Sun
Grass." Its effect was akin to a hot sunburn.
Sizzle!
There was no need to light it. It ignites on its own when chewed.
The cold that had enveloped my body started to recede. The rising heat and
blurring vision. Ah, the world was finally as I knew it.
'It's spilled water. Since it can't be avoided, I have no choice but to seize
the opportunity.'
Finding and marrying the princess who accepted my proposal.
That was the only path available in this situation.
"Why, Apple, would you like one too?"
"No, thanks. You can't help it because your mana keeps freezing, but Sun
Grass is definitely a drug."
"I would have used Sun Grass even if I were an ordinary person. Sooner
and more."
"…You know, that really makes you sound like a drug addict."
Smoke began to rise inside the general store.
Yes, the cause of all this was this damn constitution of mine.
'I have barely two years left to live.'
I had mastered the extreme of freezing, but I did not know how to overcome
that power with a human body.
As a result, my body and mana kept freezing.
My gaze somehow turned to her, wearing a mask.
"Apple, have you ever heard of relics?"
"You mean the relics that are supposedly abundant in the royal reports?"
"Yes."
"Of course, I've heard of them. There are supposedly a lot, right? Even a
relic that made the emperor immortal… Huh?"
Apple, continuing to speak, looked at me with a "no way" expression.
"Did you write something like that? Asking for a relic?"
"I didn't say it outright. I hinted at it."
If I married a princess and became part of the royal family, wouldn't they
share some relics with me? That was my simple plan.
"Ugh…! So what did you say? You've been frustrating me since earlier!"
Sigh.
I only exhaled a long breath of Sun Grass smoke.
"Apple."
"I proposed to all five princesses without missing a single one."
"What?"
"One of them accepted, but I don't know who it is."
"Aha. Wait, what?"
Apple looked at me with a deeply furrowed brow.
"…"
She pondered something with a serious expression for a long time, then
walked over to me and snatched the Sun Grass from my mouth.
"…This guy is out of his mind. See, this is what Sun Grass does."
"I agree. I'm not in my right mind."
Always, even now. It was always like that.
On my way back home, there was already a large crowd surrounding the
entrance.
"Jaekiel!"
"It's Jaekiel! He's here!"
Those who recognized me widened their eyes. One of them hurriedly
approached me; he was the one who had asked me about sending a message
before.
"Hey, Jaekiel!"
"I'm listening."
"Didn't you say you've never sent a message? People from the royal family
have come. They say they're here to take you!"
"It's because of the drink. You should stay away from it too."
"What do you mean…?"
In front of the entrance, there was a large carriage guarded by two soldiers.
Its size was enormous, as if begging to be noticed, and its exterior was
unmistakably antique. Moreover, it had the sun insignia that only the royal
family could use.
The carriage door opened, and a woman with short black hair stepped out.
Expressionless. She had an impression as if devoid of emotion.
Click, click.
She skillfully turned a cubic puzzle with just her fingers, which moved at a
consistent speed that appeared graceful.
Her uniform, similar to a suit, was also jet black, and a pin with the sun
insignia was attached near her chest. She was indeed from the royal family.
"The royal family never has ordinary people, past or present."
"…"
She glanced at me, then quickly turned her head away without saying a
word to me. Instead, she asked the soldiers.
"Have you confirmed the identity?"
"Not yet."
"Unroll it."
"Yes, Lady Anes."
The scroll in the soldier's hand dropped and unrolled vertically. I couldn't
help but frown as soon as I saw it.
'It doesn't look like me at all.'
Except for the long white hair and the number of eyes, nose, and mouth,
there was nothing similar, but the woman called Anes nodded approvingly.
"No doubt. We'll take him to the royal family."
"Yes!"
Her gaze finally turned to me.
"Get in."
Click. Anes, still solving the cube, pointed to the carriage entrance with her
chin. The mixed colors on the surface were now aligned.
'It's not the attitude of escorting a guest, indeed.'
It was more like dragging a criminal.
Chewing the Sun Grass, I climbed into the carriage. The carriage started
moving immediately as I closed the door.
"Their work is still hasty. Truly royal-like."
Then the front curtain was swiftly pulled aside, revealing Anes's face. She
spoke with an expressionless face.
"This is the interior of the royal carriage. Please refrain from smoking."
"That's not possible."
"It is possible. Especially if it's Sun Grass, which is classified as a drug."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if dealing with something trivial.
"I have no intention of having a power struggle with a drug addict. Spit it
out."
At the same time, Anes thrust out her palm as if telling me to spit it out
there. She didn't seem to care about hygiene. It seemed she had nothing but
work on her mind.
"Is that so? What should I do then? I'm a drug addict officially recognized
by the royal family."
"I've never heard of that."
"Then you must have received a sloppy handover. Did you perhaps doze
off?"
"…"
Anes's eyes narrowed even more.
She pulled a thick notebook from her pocket and began flipping through the
pages quickly. Of course, she didn't forget to intimidate me in the process.
"If it's a lie, there will be aggravated punishment. Be prepared."
But the pages, which were being flipped through without a pause, stopped
at a certain page. It was near the very back. Her golden pupils shook
slightly.
"…"
Anes silently put the notebook back into her suit pocket.
I tilted my head slightly and asked.
"So, am I going to get aggravated punishment?"
"…"
Click, click.
Anes just continued solving the cube without answering. She seemed
displeased. It was a long time before she spoke again.
"…It's my fault. Take this."
"What is this?"
"It's a letter from His Majesty the Emperor."
She handed me a scroll and then closed the curtain with a snap. It seemed
she felt awkward since there was something she didn't know about.
In fact, it wasn't that she was lacking. It was just that my relationship with
the royal family was very complex and not well known.
Anyway, I unfolded the Emperor's letter.
"So, the nobleman knows how to write letters too."
"Do not call His Majesty the Emperor a nobleman." I could hear Anes's
voice from behind the curtain, but I ignored it and began to read.
Jaekiel.
Let's talk in the royal family.
Come back alive.
It was a short but intense letter.
Come back alive.
In other words, it meant that there would be quite a few dangerous
situations on the way.
"It seems the journey won't be easy."
I mumbled to myself and closed my eyes.
I intended to get some sleep while the journey was still comfortable.
…That was the plan.
Click.
Click! Click!
Click.
"…Noisy."
I couldn't stand it and snapped my fingers.
At the same time, the outside noise stopped.
With a snap, the front curtain was pulled aside again.
"Excuse me."
Anes glared at me expressionlessly. In her hand was the cube, now
completely frozen.
"What are you doing?"
"Let's go quietly. Quietly."
"Thaw it immediately. Are you in your right mind?"
"I'm never in my right mind."
With that short answer, I telekinetically closed the curtain with a snap.
Snap! Snap! Snap!
It seemed she was trying to open it, but it was useless. I had frozen the
seams.
I closed my eyes again and thought.
So, how much has the royal family changed?