Chapter 48 - Damn Reincarnation

Black Lions

Eugene had never disliked free things, even in his previous life. No matter how much he disliked someone, if they offered him something useful, he would take it first. And he bore Melkith no particular ill will to begin with.

'It's not as if I'll need Wynnyd for a while anyway.'

Of course, lending Wynnyd was not something Eugene could decide on his own. The Storm Sword was a treasure belonging to the Lionheart main family, and Eugene himself was only borrowing it for the time being.

'I don't think the family head would say no.'

He intended to ask permission first, but he did not think Gilead would refuse. Gilead Lionheart might lead the tradition-minded Lionheart main family, but he had often shown that he favored practical considerations and the family's interests over antiquated traditions.

It wasn't as though they would be giving Wynnyd to Melkith outright. If lending it for a few days would earn them something worth more in return, and that compensation was firmly guaranteed, Gilead would not refuse.

'He likes me, too.'

As Eugene considered the matter, so did Melkith. She thought of the various artifacts she owned and the grimoires kept under strict guard in the White Tower.

'... The grimoires are worthless.'

Now that Eugene could enter Akron, the White Tower's grimoires would hold little value for him.

"... How about a staff?" Melkith asked.

"You don't have one, kid. You seem pretty good at casting without a staff, but that's only because the spells you use are simple."

"Really?"

"Of course. Do you think mages carry staffs just for show? A staff helps you regulate mana more easily and simplify spell formulas."

"Eugene, I have plenty of excellent staffs myself," Lovellian promptly interjected. To be honest, he was against Melkith borrowing Wynnyd.

Using Wynnyd as a catalyst would not necessarily allow her to summon the Wind Spirit King. But what if, against the odds, Melkith succeeded in contracting with him?

The White Tower Master, Melkith El-Hayah, was already a spirit mage without equal in the history of magic. No spirit mage before her had ever contracted with two Spirit Kings. If she added the Wind Spirit King to their number... the White Tower would become far too powerful.

As the Red Tower Master, Lovellian did not want the balance of power disrupted. Melkith was already free-spirited and headstrong. What would happen if she gained power far surpassing the other tower masters?

'Given her personality, she wouldn't interfere in Aroth's political affairs... but concentrating too much power in a single tower master is not a good thing.'

The most immediate example was the Black Tower Master, Balzac Ludbeth. He received special treatment even in Aroth because the Demon King of Incarceration had contracted with him and stood behind him. Balzac was both the Black Tower Master and an envoy of Helmuth.

"Are you going to keep ruining this for me?"

"You've already contracted with two Spirit Kings. Why are you so greedy?"

"You old bastard. Do you think I don't know what you're thinking? You're afraid I'll contract with the Wind Spirit King and start wreaking havoc, aren't you?"

"You understand perfectly."

"Hey! You've known me for decades, and you still don't know me? I have no interest in Aroth's politics or anything else that gives me a headache!"

"You may say that now, but excessive power could warp you."

Lovellian did not raise his voice. He gazed calmly at Melkith, who could find no rebuttal and ground her teeth.

"... What a great patriot you are. Since when have you cared so much about Aroth?"

"I simply don't want to stand by and let trouble develop. Balzac alone is enough of a headache."

"Ha! Anyone listening would think Balzac was plotting some fucked-up scheme. Lovellian Sophis, I know you hate black mages, but sometimes you take it too far. Don't misjudge people because of your prejudices."

"Prejudices?" Lovellian's lips twisted into a smile.

"I lost my family to a black mage's human experiments. I watched my mother, father, and younger sister writhe before my eyes, fused into a single chimera. If my master hadn't saved me, I would have become a chimera as well."

"... Ugh..."

"Isn't it only natural for someone like me to hate black mages and harbor prejudices against them?"

"... I... spoke out of turn. I'm sorry. You have every right to hate black mages. But... Balzac hasn't done anything, has he?"

"We don't know that." Lovellian snorted and shook his head.

"Can you say for certain that Balzac isn't behind what happens on that filthy Bolero Street? People disappear there several times a year. And those disappearances aren't confined to Bolero Street. They happen in secret all over Aroth."

"... But the evidence that black mages are responsible..."

"There is none. That's why I haven't confronted Balzac either. But suspicions cannot simply be ignored. As far as I know, black mages are the only people who enjoy abducting those with no one to look for them."

"... Your hatred of black mages and your suspicions about Balzac are none of my business," Melkith snapped.

"I know what you're wary of. But I swear on my mana that I have no intention of using my power to wreak havoc. Even if I contract with the Wind Spirit King, I won't do anything unbefitting my position as White Tower Master."

"Then that settles it."

"... What?"

"If you've sworn on your mana, I have to believe you. What else can I do?"

Lovellian gave her a warm smile, as though he had never been cold toward her at all. Melkith could only open and close her mouth at the sight.

"You... sly bastard...!"

"Don't be so appalled. If I'd asked you outright to swear an oath, you wouldn't have agreed, would you?"

Unable to form a reply, Melkith raised both clenched fists. What she really wanted was to grab Lovellian by the collar and smash him in the fucking mouth.

"... Ah, of course, the choice is yours, Eugene. I apologize for overstepping."

"It's all right."

Eugene was not particularly offended by Lovellian's behavior. His suspicions about Balzac, however, did trouble him. Eugene hated black mages too.

When he had first met Balzac over Eward's troubles, Balzac had firmly insisted that he had never done anything wrong. Eugene could not simply take him at his word. Every black mage he knew was a son of a bitch.

"I've thought about it, and I don't particularly want a staff."

"You make it sound as though I'd be giving it to you. Kid, I'd only be lending it to you too!"

"Let me make this clear now: I'll only lend you Wynnyd for a few days. If all you're offering in exchange is a few days with one of your artifacts, let's forget it."

"You... obnoxious little brat."

Her shoulders trembling, Melkith looked from Lovellian to Eugene. The way things were going, it seemed as though the two had arranged beforehand to fleece her.

"... One year for each day," Melkith blurted.

"That's an incredibly generous offer. For every day you lend me Wynnyd, I'll lend you one of my artifacts for a year."

"Seven years if I lend it to you for a week?"

"Yes!"

"You want to borrow Wynnyd that badly?"

"Don't make me repeat myself. I want to contract with the Wind Spirit King, whatever it takes!" Melkith shrieked. Now that she had revealed her desire, she no longer held herself back.

"Ever since I first became a spirit mage, I've wanted to contract with the Wind Spirit King. The Lightning Spirit King and the Earth Spirit King are wonderful too, but it was the Wind Spirit King I wanted!"

"Why?"

"What do you mean, why? Vermouth the Great contracted with the Wind Spirit King!" Melkith shouted again.

"Even the great spirit mage who contracted with a Spirit King before me couldn't contract with the Wind Spirit King. You wouldn't understand, but to spirit mages like me, the Wind Spirit King is... well... a dream. You probably don't understand because you were born a Lionheart, but most mages admire Senya the Wise, and most spirit mages admire Vermouth the Great."

"... What about Hamel?"

"What does Hamel the Stupid have to do with this?"

"Well, I just... thought he was a great man worthy of respect too."

"I don't respect him. Stop anyone on the street and ask! Ask them who they admire most out of Vermouth the Great, Senya the Wise, and Hamel the Stupid. Unless they're an attention whore, no one's going to say Hamel!"

"... Ahem..." Lovellian cleared his throat quietly at Melkith's tirade. Gilead's declaration that Hamel the Stupid was his favorite echoed through his mind.

"... Well... Eugene, if you aren't interested in a staff..."

"You, keep quiet. Don't say anything unnecessary."

"There is one exceptionally rare and excellent artifact among the White Tower Master's possessions."

"I told you to be quiet!" Melkith roared. As if responding to her shout, her curly hair shot upward, crackling with electricity.

"Violence is strictly forbidden in Akron."

"Then stop talking nonsense, and I won't do anything violent...!"

"Nonsense? All I want to do is offer Eugene some advice on his choice."

"I'm very curious myself," Eugene replied with a smile. Melkith summoning Tempest, the Wind Spirit King, was something he wanted as well. If he could get a rare treasure out of it too, he would be overjoyed.

"It's... called the Cloak of Darkness..."

"I told you to shut up!"

"Why are you getting so worked up? As far as I know, you haven't used the Cloak of Darkness in the past ten years."

"D-do you have any idea how much shit I went through to get that thing?"

"Rather than leaving something you don't use tucked away as a decoration, wouldn't it be better to lend it to someone who needs it and get what you want in return?"

Melkith was speechless once again. Pressing down her raised hair with one hand, she wrestled with the decision.

"What is the Cloak of Darkness?"

"... A winter coat. It's nice and warm, with fluffy fur... That's all."

"It's a cloak imbued with the highest level of spatial magic."

Melkith stumbled over her words as she tried to avoid explaining, but Lovellian kindly provided all the details.

"Gedon's Shield is in the Lionheart Treasury, isn't it? The cloak cannot compare to that, but it can do something similar. If you divert an attack coming from the front into the cloak, you can send it back out in whatever direction you wish."

"I-it's not that versatile. Strictly speaking, it's Rebound, not Reflection. Unless you calculate the spatial coordinates accurately and guide its path with mana, you can't send it back in the direction you want."

"Either way, it is spatial magic of the highest level. You won't master it immediately, but with your talent, Eugene, you'll be able to use it in no time."

"A-are you going to keep getting his hopes up? Do you think the Cloak of Darkness is that easy to use?" Melkith's shoulders trembled.

"That's not its only use. The cloak's outer surface is enchanted with high-level defensive magic as well. Simply wearing it allows you to block Fifth Circle attack spells with ease."

"... That depends on how much mana you have too."

"It's an extremely convenient artifact. Eugene, do you still enjoy using a variety of weapons?"

Lovellian ignored Melkith. He recalled the Bloodline Succession Ceremony several years earlier. Eugene carried only Wynnyd now, but during the ceremony, he had wielded a sword and shield with great skill. Gilead had also told him that Eugene was exceptionally skilled with a spear.

"I wouldn't say I enjoy it. If a weapon's available, I use it. Carrying several around is inconvenient, so I only bring Wynnyd."

"Haha! Then you'll love the Cloak of Darkness. It also contains the highest level of extradimensional storage magic. There's nothing difficult about it. You simply put various things inside the cloak... and take them out whenever you need them."

"You son of a bitch...!" Melkith glared up at Lovellian, her eyes filled with despair.

"That sounds great." Eugene nodded, beaming.

"Let's go with the Cloak of Darkness instead of a staff. Oh, not right away, though. I need to ask the main family first."

"I... I haven't agreed to anything," Melkith said desperately. But she was the one who needed this deal, not Eugene. At least, that was how it seemed to her. She had no idea that Eugene desperately wanted to speak with Tempest.

"If you don't want to, there's nothing I can do. All that thinking upstairs has made me hungry... Lovellian, would you like to have dinner together? We could discuss my apprenticeship while we're at it."

"I'd be delighted. It's not particularly close to here, but I know a splendid restaurant at a floating station overhead. The food is delicious, but the nighttime view from the windows is even better."

"Wow. Come to think of it, I've never seen the night view they call Aroth's treasure."

"Perfect timing, then! I'll call a flying carriage right away."

Eugene and Lovellian chatted pleasantly, leaving Melkith out. Watching them with a glare, she ground her teeth and lowered her head.

"... F-fine."

"Oh, you're still here?"

The infuriating little brat. Melkith glared at Eugene, her fists trembling.

"... The Cloak of Darkness...! If you really want it, I'll... lend it to you."

"There's no rush. I told you, I need to ask the main family first."

"Aaaaargh!" As Eugene shook his head and answered, Melkith could no longer contain herself and screamed.

"Aaaah! Aaargh!"

"I thought you were a crow..." Eugene shook his head and backed away.

* * *

Just as Eugene had expected, Gilead did not object to lending Wynnyd.

He did, however, attach conditions. Wynnyd must not be destroyed under any circumstances, and a Lionheart observer would have to be present while Melkith borrowed it.

"An observer?" Melkith had come to see him early in the morning a few days later, and she did not look well. Perhaps the past few days had taken a heavy emotional toll on her; there were deep dark circles beneath her eyes.

"Is the family head coming himself?"

"No."

"Then who's coming? His brother? Gion Lionheart?"

"How did you know?"

"The head of the Lionheart main family isn't going to jump up and come running for every little thing. He's already been to Aroth recently because of his good-for-nothing son... Coming back over something like this would be undignified." Grumbling, Melkith drew the collar of her cloak closed.

"Is that the Cloak of Darkness?" Eugene asked, pointing to the cloak she wore. She had said it was warm and covered in fluffy fur, and it certainly looked the part.

"... Looks impressive, doesn't it?"

"I think it'll look more impressive on me than it does on you."

"You obnoxious little brat...!"

"Don't get so angry. Since we're making a deal, wouldn't it be nicer to do it with a smile?"

"Shut up. So when is the family head's brother coming?"

"He said he'd arrive around noon today... But Gion isn't the only one coming."

"Who else is coming, then?" Melkith narrowed her eyes as she lovingly stroked the cloak's fur.

"The Lionheart Black Lions are coming too," Eugene replied, smacking his lips.

"This is the first time a treasure from the main family has been lent out... and they'll also be looking into Eward... my older brother's troubles."

"... The Black Lions?" Her narrowed eyes relaxed. After a moment's thought, Melkith gave a short laugh and nodded.

"I see. You mean the Lionheart hunting dogs?"

Hunting dogs.

The Black Lions would not appreciate the term, but Eugene's impression of them was no different from Melkith's.

Guardians of the family constitution.

The Black Lions of Lionheart.

Those were their titles, but the guardians' work was no different from that of hunting dogs.

If a collateral branch allowed a child who had not undergone the Bloodline Succession Ceremony to train in mana and wield a real blade...

If the White Flame Formula, which only the main family was permitted to inherit, was passed down to a collateral branch...

The Black Lions would appear and enforce the family constitution.

'Black magic.'

Practicing black magic was strictly forbidden by the Lionheart family constitution. Although Eward had not actually practiced it, he had undeniably attempted to enter its world.

That was why the Black Lions had decided to come to Aroth and investigate the matter thoroughly.

Gion Lionheart.

He had become one of the Lionheart Black Lions the previous year.