Chapter 40 (2/2)
Before long, some young wizards in the front seat approached me. It was uncommon for people to ask for an autograph from a wizard.
*****
[Event Quest Completed]
◆ Mana +30
After my lecture, I returned to my mansion, where I found another car parked in the parking lot.
It was Yeriel’s.
When I entered the main building, Yeriel was eating in the dining room, which wasn’t surprising at all. While cutting through her steak, she raised a question.
“I heard you gave a lecture at the floating island?”
“…”
I nodded.
“Well, what happened? The wizards there must be on a different level from the tower chicks.”
“There’s nothing to worry about.”
“Oh, come on. You always say that. Do you want me to be worried? Unfortunately, I’m not.”
As I sat in front of her, my attendants rushed in to prepare food.
Yeriel seemed flustered by the fact that we were now sharing the same table, but she quickly regained her composure. “… I heard you made 40 million Elnes.”
“That’s right. Let me know if you need financial support. I’ll be sure to lend you some.”
“Then… Huh? Wait! Lend? Lend?!”
“Yeah.”
“What do you mean, lend?! Give me half of it!”
I cut my meat without saying a word.
As always, the level of cooking here was absolutely perfect.
Well, the ingredients my chef used were top quality, and his salary was also very generous compared to other mansions.
“Just give me 10 million Elnes… Also, here. The debutantes at the tower want to have their MT at Hadekain?”
Yeriel pulled a document out of her handbag.
[Imperial University Tower Magic Department MT Program]
“… Hadekain.”
The capital of the Yukline estate. I also planned on visiting it someday.
It had both a local wizard tower and a local Knight Order. Moreover, not only was its climate perfect but it was also situated right next to the system.
It was modeled after LA in the states and was one of the best places to live in.
“What do you think, Yeriel?”
“Well, I’m fine with it. Not all of the debutantes will stay in the university tower for thousands of years anyway, and they might join our tower if they like the city.” She was glancing at me while proudly saying those words.
I nodded. “Okay.”
“Good~”
Yeriel returned the document in her handbag and picked up the knife again.
Closely observing Yeriel, I spoke up. “When using a knife—”
“Ah, I won’t eat here.”
It was almost an instinctive response. Yeriel ran away to her room with her plate, and I went to the library after finishing my meal.
“…”
As soon as I sat on my desk, I took out the certificate of the tower’s sponsorship, the subject of which was…
[Epherene Luna].
The test this time was my original work, but Epherene’s father definitely gave me the inspiration for it. ‘Drawing with elements.’ That idea was entirely his.
Therefore, it was only right that a fraction of the 40 million Elnes I earned from it would be used to sponsor Epherene and the Luna family.
“Luna of Juhalle.”
According to the information I had about the ‘Luna’ family, they had a tragic history.
Their family was still surviving, but their old mansion had been auctioned off thirteen years ago, and now only Epherene and her grandparents were its members.
I also wrote a letter to their family enclosed with 100,000 Elnes.
*****
… My outfit today was dark blue. My cane, of course, neatly adjusted its color accordingly.
“Are you ready?” Yeriel asked.
Looking at her, I stretched my hand out to her, startling her and causing her to take a step back.
“W-what? Why?”
“Stand still.”
“… Ahh!”
As my hand got closer, she closed her eyes tightly.
I then got rid of the wrinkles on her collar and sleeves. As a precaution, I also removed the dust on her clothes using Psychokinesis.
Now all tidied up, she expressed her dissatisfaction. “… That’s a real disease.”
“Follow me.”
I went outside.
Roy was waiting in the parking, wearing a perfect fit for the clear blue skies of the summer. Soon enough, I got into the car with Yeriel.
The enthronement would take place today at the ‘Jifrein Square’ in the system.
“Yeriel, take this.” I handed the sealed document to her.
She frowned. “What is this again?”
“This is my prediction obtained inclination of the next emperor.”
It was a document that summarized the important events that I was aware of, including which ones we could benefit from and how we could lower the difficulty of the quests. “Huh. Are you a prophet?”
“Just take it.”
“Whew.” Shaking her head as if finding it pathetic, she took the document. “No more mind games.”
Prophecies were only funny at first.
“My lord, I don’t think we’ll be able to get any further than this.”
An uncouth crowd was blocking the road.
We got out of the car.
“The Yukline Family is this way.”
An imperial knight who was standing by around the area guided us to a separate passageway. As we did, I saw the square where the enthronement would soon take place.
A long and wide carpet was in the middle of it, leading to a high altar. The crowd stood at its flanks, making sure to leave the carpet itself empty and unblocked. At the top of the platform, the emperor’s throne awaited its next owner.
“This is it.” The seats for the Yukline Family were close to the throne.
Not far away were some royals, including Maho, Ihelm, Glitheon, Sylvia, Essecil, Betan, Ragan, etc… Many Named characters could be seen as well.
I looked at one of them in particular.
Julie.
Feeling my gaze, she accepted it with a bow. She looked quite tired, the dark circles around her eyes being too deep.
I wanted to approach her, but I couldn’t exchange greetings with anyone recklessly.
Dooong—!
Drums rang, followed by trumpets and traditional music, which marked the beginning of the emperor’s enthronement.
Not far away, an imperial carriage appeared, and the cheers of the citizens shook heaven and earth.
It stopped before the grand and fancy carpet, signaling the cheers and music to slowly fade as well.
The carriage door opened from within, and finely stretched legs touched the ground not long after.
Sophien Aekater Augus von Jaegus Gifrein.
She had languidly sunken eyes, long flaming red hair, and the sharp features of the previous emperor. She was to become the new ruler of the empire.
Sophien walked majestically on the emperor’s road, with each of her steps commanding the people in the square to kneel and bow their heads.
Before long, Sophien had climbed up the platform.
Slowly, she drew nearer to her throne. Beside it was the late emperor’s empress, her mother, waiting for her ascent.
As Sophien knelt in front of the throne, the empress held back her tears and placed a golden crown on Sophien’s head.
Dooong—!
Dooong—!
Dooong—!
The drums rang one after another.
Now sitting on her throne, Sophien had become the emperor.
Overlooking all of her people and now carrying the noblest title to ever exist, Sophien glanced at the world. She looked tired for some reason.
I looked at the emperor.
I knew the reason behind her fatigue. I knew her origins, her life, after all. She was—
The emperor shifted her gaze towards me, and the moment our eyes met, I bowed my head immediately.
However, I could still feel her staring at me.