Latest Chapters

    • by Cristae Episode 82 “Half-wit. Luck’s all you’ve got.” The princes jeered. It was nothing new. Licht was the emperor’s illegitimate child, lucky enough to have been acknowledged with the status of prince. That fact was a top secret, but as with all secrets, it was an open one within the palace walls. “So why did you come all the way out here alone and end up abducted? Do you really enjoy catching our father’s attention that much?” Licht sat down with a calm, polite…
    • by Cristae Episode 45 “Well then… I’ll just check the hidden characters and be right back, so stay put and enjoy yourselves, dreaming as you watch, all right?” After escorting Rubian and Khalid to the workshop, Maddox turned away. It was called a workshop, but in truth, it was a clutter of odds and ends like dyes and protective gear—nothing particularly dangerous. “Yes! Hurry and go check the blueprints!” As Rubian got as far as ‘check the—,’ Maddox vanished like the…
    • by Cristae Episode 92 The next day was the swordsmanship tournament. On my way to the arena, I paused. Void, who should have been waiting in the preparation room, was racing towards me from afar. "Ruuuuby! I won!" Void was jumping up and down with a wooden sword in hand. My head tilted in confusion. "But it hasn't even started yet? How did you win?" "Everyone forfeited?" "What? Why?" "Dunno. They all got a stomachache or something." Void shrugged, proudly showing off the badge pinned to…
    • by Cristae 87“All right, everyone, sit!” “Yes, ma’am.” With a flourish, the Zevert family moved in unison to the girl’s small, rounded gesture—like soldiers falling into line. Order restored. A sigh, laden with torment, slipped from the young lady as she shook her head. As Rubian straightened again to sit properly, a sudden thought flickered through her mind. With care, she glanced over her shoulder. “……!” Her eyes met those of the Marchioness Eibreich, who’d been watching…
    • by Cristae 96“How are they… managing things?” Dad slowly rose to his feet. “There was a kidnapping not that long ago. Everyone’s gotten complacent, haven’t they?” Mom echoed, her voice icy with concern. “Well then, I’ll be off. Levi.” “Yes.” With that enigmatic farewell from Mom, Dad was swept away on a gust of wind and vanished. I blinked in confusion. “Dad… where are you going?” “To give them… a little guidance.” “Huh?” “Advice. Sounds like…
    • by Cristae "Save me." I turned to see the Duke—the hero himself—with dark circles under his eyes, clutching a dessert tray as though it were his lifeline. "For me, a sword is better than a pen. At least, that's true for me." Muttering words I couldn't make sense of, he shuffled toward me like a zombie, and I couldn't help a deeply rational suspicion. Hmm… Could the male lead… have died of overwork? A dark alleyway. A figure, cloaked from head to toe in a black robe, slipped out of the…
    • by Cristae Episode 50 “Hmph, go on.” The caretaker pinched my nose as she spoke. We were sitting side by side at the base of a nearby tree. “Hmph.” I blew my nose into her hand. “Oh dear. Your nose is all red now.” “Sniff.” “All cried out?” Nodding, I dipped my head and the caretaker grinned broadly. Something about her gentle face made my tears start flowing again. ‘Is it because I got caught doing something wrong?’ I didn’t know myself why I kept crying.…
    • by Cristae Come to think of it, the magic stone shop was right next to the forge. The old man, just coming out from there, spotted me and hurried over. “So, you were out and about only to end up here? Hm?” “Your beard… your beard…” Rub, rub. After scooping me up and rubbing his face against mine to his heart’s content, Grandpa finally set me down. “Ha, seriously. A real spectacle, you are.” “Ah, the blacksmith, Mister.” “Good day. Care to pick out some pretty scraps of…
    • by Cristae Episode 39 I once mentioned it to Khalid in passing. If I wanted to break free completely from the Mage King's oppression, after being exploited by the kingdom, the surest way would be to get rid of the king. Ever since then, Khalid had vowed through gritted teeth to kill the Mage King himself. As if he were saying he’d grant me freedom, just as I’d broken his chains and set him free in that cave. “No. You’re… still too young.” “Hah. Is that why you came here?” A short,…
    • by Cristae Episode 100 “Little fairy.” It was Liam. “Ah, brother…” “You look pale as spoiled cream. Come here.” I dangled from Liam. He had taken a pendant but simply slipped it into my pocket. Clinging to his back, I squeezed my eyes shut. When my body trembled slightly, Liam let out a short sigh and patted my legs gently. “Fairy, what’s that on your wrist?” Looking down at the arm I’d wrapped around his neck, Liam asked. When I moved one arm, it jingled…
    • by Cristae Episode 78 “Your face looks a bit flushed. Are you running a fever again?” Khalid suddenly asked, his expression tense. I shook my head vigorously to say no. He then poured rich, overflowing mana into me in an instant, a surge of power on a whole different level from anything he’d given me before. As I opened my eyes wide at the sudden influx of strength, his reply was nonchalant. “Repayment.” Khalid released my hand and stretched his arms wide. “All right. I think that’s…
    • by Cristae 26 After returning from my outing, I dove straight onto the bed. “Whew… That was some good shopping.” “My, you bought an awful lot, didn’t you?” Hazel’s eyes grew round as she looked at the boxes being brought in one after another. “Yeah. Come, take a look!” “These look like magic stones… and these?” “Oh, those are herbs!” I rushed over and eagerly explained the herbs I’d bought to Hazel. After the ore shop, my next stop had been the herb shop.…
    • by Cristae Episode 95The mage clicked his tongue lightly. The Zevert heiress. He’d thought her round eyes and smooth brow resembled that ‘seventh’ somehow. ‘No… Honestly, all kids have round faces and smooth skin.’ The truth was, he’d only seen the ‘seventh’ once, and even that was hazy in his memory. Nonetheless, he volunteered for the tracking mage position. In order to be noticed by the Mage King. And that decision was not mistaken. “I can’t betray expectations…
    • by Cristae 94"Hello?" "Huh? Is there another checkpoint here? I thought the last one was just back—there…" My voice trailed off awkwardly. The person before me was a brown-haired man. He wore no name tag, and his clothes were ordinary… But no, that's not it. He's not a judge. I faltered and stopped moving. 'Ma… mage.' A chill ran down my spine. "I got lost while out for a walk… Could you perhaps tell me where the exit is?" The man, smiling warmly, spoke utter nonsense. A subtle…
    • by Cristae Episode 135 “Well, who knows? Honestly, this is a secret, but I might be changing jobs next year.” “Professor, they say no one who goes around saying they’re quitting ever really does quit…” “Hm hm, you sure know a lot, don’t you?” “I’m telling you not to leave, Professor!” Yuliophe just gave a brief laugh. “Well then, shall we look at the manuscript?” “Yes!” Grinning from ear to ear, I eagerly flipped through the manuscript pages. I asked about…
    • by Cristae Episode 81 ‘And just look at those eyes.’ They were completely different from what he’d seen in the capital. He didn’t know what it was, but the child’s presence was clearly smoothing down whatever sharpness the duke had once possessed. Now he was genuinely curious. The emperor covered his mouth, stifling a laugh. “So, this Rubian…” “Next summer.” Leviathan set his teacup down with a snap. Summer? The emperor turned his head warily. He had a feeling he…
    • by Cristae Episode 37 ‘How did this happen…?’ I stared blankly at the training ground, where a dry wind was blowing. ‘How did it come to this…?’ Standing there alone was my mage friend, who also happened to be the second male lead and a little mercenary. “Let’s begin the admission test.” Uncle Oberon, who had returned at some point, spoke in a solemn voice. Standing next to Khalid were two young men, their faces drawn tight with nerves. “Three applicants for…
    • by Cristae Episode 47 A space surrounded by a tall fence, with great evergreens bending over as if in watchful guard—a place with a strangely somber atmosphere. “Ah. That’s…” Void wore a look of utter discomfort. “…It’s the garden of the Nameless Zevert.” “What…” I started to ask, then stopped short. The Nameless Zevert. Its meaning was plain. ‘That must be Mister Leviathan’s baby’s grave.’ I rose on tiptoe and peeked between the slats of the fence. A…
    • by Cristae “Thank you for inviting me to dinner. See you tomorrow, Ruby.” With that, the boy—brash or polite, it was hard to say—disappeared without a hint of hesitation. Tremble, tremble, tremble. The table shook as if in an earthquake. “Phew… Stop sulking already.” Grandfather muttered, eyeing his tightly clenched, rock-like fist. “I’ll soon release this grudge.” “Grandfather… Please don’t talk to your fists…” “Hmph.” Before we knew it, Mister was leaning…
    • by Cristae Clang. The knife spun sharply on the ground. “That was…” –Close! Jeez, what was that?! I calmed my pounding heart. Everyone except Mister Leviathan and the knight was staring in shock, eyes wide like startled rabbits. “It’s all right, little one, it’s all right.” Ah, except for Grandfather too, who was patting me soothingly. “Wh—what—!” Delmon, who had suddenly been grabbed by the scruff of the neck, gaped in terror. “Oh, sorry.” Only then did…
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