Chapter 206: Rohakhan’s Words (1) (2/2)
“You damn bastard.”
Sophien tapped the Snow Globe.
* * *
Rohakan looked up into the sky like a piece of pale drawing paper where the spirit of winter remained. Looking up at that high ceiling, he searched for something, and he was still wandering.
Life. The life of everyone on this continent, which he promised to Deculein one day. However, no matter how much he thought about it, Rohakan himself was not included in that everyone.
“…”
He suddenly lowered his eyes and looked at the path leading through the vineyard. He could feel someone approaching him, focused solely on the purpose of stealth and surprise.
“…Hey~! Here~!”
Rohakan waved his hand to announce his presence. Then, the many human shadows hiding around him took a vigilant posture.
The Imperial Intelligence Agency was good at tracking, but they had always been bizarrely fast. The only problem, no, the fortunate thing, was that they were too obsessed with monopolizing their achievements. They pretended to cooperate with outsiders but moved arbitrarily, longing for the attention and love of the Imperial Family.
“Are there hundreds of you? But you guys always come alone!”
No knights, no anything. No, he knew they wouldn’t.
“We’re not alone.”
The person who said that was Lawaine, the first knight of the Imperial family, was Vice-Captain Isaac. The ten knights who stepped out behind them with an intelligence officer were no jokes either.
“Huh. You’ve prepared quite a bit~. I didn’t see this coming.”
Deculein hadn’t come yet. That guy would take a little while to reach the north.
“You’re surrounded, Rohakan.”
Lawaine drew his sword. Vice-Captain Isaac’s body was already full of fighting spirit, and the murderous intent of the intelligence agency hidden in the shadows threatened to stab him in the back.
“It’s been a while, Rohakan.”
The anger in Isaac’s voice was burning. Rohakan and Isaac also had a history, as he was the knight who chased after him for assassinating the empress. He grew up and became the second-in-command of the Imperial Knights.
“…I see Deculein isn’t with you.”
Rohakan scanned the presences around him, but Deculein wasn’t there.
“You didn’t want to lose to Yukline? You all want the Emperor’s love. How did you endure your jealousy so far? No, are you going to create trouble since you couldn’t endure it?”
No answer returned. Foolishly, that would mean they agreed.
“But… I don’t know if you know.”
Rohakan looked around at them and grinned.
“That I didn’t foresee you in my future~.”
Mana bloomed from the edges of his body. It didn’t roar, nor did it shake the ground, but exuded calmly. He didn’t have to rush his mana into nature; he didn’t need to explode and force his claim to strength. Just naturally, like a river flowing.
“It means that you weren’t a big deal to me.”
Snap—!
The sound of Rohakan snapping his fingers formed a circuit, embodied his magic, and spread in waves across the vast land.
* * *
…Dawn passed, and the morning sun ascended. When they arrived at the vineyards where Rohakan was waiting for them, the quiet meeting they had planned had already gone down the drain.
“It’s already too late.”
Primienne muttered while yawning. I nodded. Now the situation was like this; there was nothing I could do.
“Professor! Professor!”
An unknown knight of the Imperial Palace approached. He introduced his name and rank with a blank face, but I didn’t need to remember either.
“What’s going on?”
“I-I don’t know either. Just. Just… I was watching from behind, and then Rohakan snapped his finger and suddenly….”
The whole vineyard had become a magical space. The grapevines sprouted up, their vines growing thick to block out the world.
“What happened, Professor?”
I looked out over the vineyard. It was a difficult situation even with Understanding. What kind of magic did Rohakan use?
“The vineyard has become a magical space. It’s tainted by Rohakan’s mana.”
“…There are still many knights trapped inside.”
Primienne asked:
“What about support?”
“Yes. First, including the Northern Knights, Lord Zeit, and the Red Garnets that were waiting there…”
“I don’t need them.”
Whoooosh—
A wind cold with mana blew in from the vineyard. I stepped forward onto the path.
“I’ll go in alone.”
“…Yes? Oh no, Professor! Rohakan is going crazy-“
“Crazy is a word used only for idiots without reason.”
Rohakan, if he had created this situation, he would have a clear purpose. Above all, he called me here so that I would go in.
“Professor. Will you be okay?”
“…I cannot be sure.”
It would be extremely dangerous, and my body was still recovering. But… I tore the Rare Attribute Catalogue.
[Use: Rare Attribute Catalog]
This was the reward for clearing the last quest. The trait to be acquired with this was, as I said before:
“Toughness.”
Very simply, adding just one drop to my already overflowing mental power, even I didn’t know yet the changes that would lead to. The reason why I hadn’t used it was because of the uncertainty.
[Trait Acquisition: 「Toughness」]
To face Rohakan, who had already achieved the status of an Archmage, or perhaps even transcended it, this kind of preparation would be necessary.
* * *
On the other hand, Julie, who was absorbed in restoring the people’s livelihood and rebuilding the villages around Reccordak, was shocked as soon as she received the news.
“Is that true?!”
“Yes!”
The report came that Rohakan was spotted in the vineyards of the northeast and that dozens of knights and hundreds of intelligence service agents were killed.
“The place that produces white grapes! Those delicious grapes that only grow in winter and early spring!”
“I know! I’ve had them!”
Julie quickly put on her armor. She was in such a hurry that she had to tie it together while running.
“Horse! Horse! Hurry!”
Julie yelled for a horse as she ran.
“Hey!”
“I’m going too!”
Julie’s horse galloped off, forcing Reylie’s horse to chase after them. All the while, a wizard watched over the two of them from Reccordak’s wall.
“Rohakan…”
Sylvia. She pondered for a moment before quickly creating a small airship with a pair of goggles and a helmet as a set.
Vroom-
Immediately, she sat in the driver’s seat and followed after Julie, glancing into the distant land with the magic of wind.
“…?”
What she saw was the magical space created by Rohakan that even the wind could not penetrate. And-
Deculein was entering all by himself.
“Oh.”
Seeing that ridiculously reckless look he wore, Sylvia murmured in a low voice.
“…No.”