Youngest 158
by CristaeEpisode 158
“Leviathan Zevert…!”
Suddenly, blood burst from the Second’s mouth.
The Mage King poured his own magic into him with wild abandon, and it seemed the body could no longer endure.
Ominous magic surged. The hair on the back of my neck bristled.
Something crashed against the earth, followed by an immense roar and a piercing, ear-splitting scream.
Boom!
With an explosive sound, dry leaves whirled up like a whirlwind.
Mother curled her body around me to shield me.
Only then did the strength finally drain from my clenched fists.
The magic that had pricked at my skin had vanished without a trace.
Boom!
At the deafening noise, Khalid jerked his head up. His body moved on its own.
“Khalid!”
Licht, who was leading the imperial knights to secure the area, blocked his path.
“Stand back.”
“Calm down! There are still magical beasts around—where do you think you’re going!”
There had been no contact from Rubian.
He had been searching the Academy frantically when he saw magical beasts erupting in the distance.
It was in the direction of the library.
The children hunting for treasure scattered in terror, and as Khalid pushed through the chaos, he encountered Licht and the imperial knights.
“Move!”
He was about to remove the bracelet he gripped in agitation when—
Roar!
A magical beast appeared overhead, swinging its claws.
“Kyah!”
Children nearby shrieked as they tried to flee.
“Get back, Your Highness!”
The knights stepped forward—but Khalid doubted they would be in time.
At that moment, the pale purple barrier stone hanging from Khalid’s sword sheath floated into the air.
“It’s not a full-fledged magic tool, but it’s an activated magic stone—it’ll be a shield in an emergency!”
‘…Damn…’
Gritting his teeth, Khalid ripped off the barrier stone to throw it to the terrified children.
But just then, a massive greatsword flew through the air from somewhere.
Thump. The greatsword lopped off one of the beast’s arms, pinning it to the ground. With a bloodcurdling scream, the monster tumbled away.
“Khaaaalid!”
“Grand Duke…”
“What the—what are you doing in this dangerous place! And the prince, too?”
Balok, who had come running, lashed out at the knights, breathless with rage.
“You idiots! Are your heads useless? Want me to cut them off? Get these kids out of here right now!”
His sharp voice cut through the air, making the knights flinch and step back.
“Y-yes, sir!”
“Khalid, over here!”
At the rough shout, Khalid hesitated, shaking his head.
“Rubian is over there—I just heard a huge explosion. I really should check it myself…”
He had tried moving his squirrel familiar, but it was useless against the magical beasts.
But more than the magical beast’s power, he was disturbed by the feeling of this foul, overwhelming magic.
He had never met the Mage King directly, but instinct told him: this was the Mage King’s power, or that of a mage with comparable might.
‘Could it be Rubian…?’
A terrible thought crossed his mind.
‘Did she close her circuits to avoid exposing herself? So I can’t force them open?’
Khalid clenched his jaw.
“Just let me—”
“You brat, get ahold of yourself!”
Thud.
A thick hand came down on his head.
“Leviathan went to Rubian! I’m here, and there are plenty of capable knights—what’s the problem!”
“But…”
“Tsk! Kids should just huddle in a corner and bawl their eyes out! And—”
Shriek.
The magical beast that had been rolling on the ground suddenly spread its wings and flew up, its gaping maw opening behind Balok. Khalid hurriedly readied his sword and shouted.
“Grand Duke!”
“I see it…”
Boom. Balok’s greatsword sliced through the air, flipping the beast over.
A beat later, dark red blood rained down.
“I told you, call me Grandfather!”
The old man, splattered in blood, roared with a terrifying face.
“You insolent brat!”
“….”
He looked like a beast himself.
“Graaaah!”
Blood spurted in a fountain from the Mage King’s mouth.
“Father!”
The Mage King’s “children” rushed toward him.
“My magic…”
His lips were horribly cracked. In an instant, his face had aged like dried wood, drained of all life.
“My magic…”
His trembling hands rose.
He had poured far too much power into the Second’s body.
But that was why the body had been so formidable. And yet, against Leviathan Zevert’s sword, it lasted only a single stroke.
The Second died wretchedly, pierced by the Crest. His strength vanished even more emptily.
“Leviathan…”
His magic was completely depleted.
It was a catastrophic blow, enough to damage his very core.
“Aaaargh!”
“At this rate, it’s dangerous. Please, please, Your Majesty, recover your strength first…!”
His eyes, bloodshot as all the vessels burst, rolled wildly.
Without realizing it, they were back in the royal palace.
“The magic circle… Where is my magic circle…!”
“The Babylon army raided the ruins. We had to use a forced portal to flee back to the kingdom.”
“Babylon… raided us?”
“It seems the Babylon Emperor moved in secret. For now, you must recover. We’ll sneak back into the ruins, little by little, and restore what we can!”
How long would that take?
“A-aah… damn it all…”
He had not gained a single thing.
Worse, he had lost everything!
The man collapsed, blood pouring from his mouth.
As one of the Mage King’s “First” children helped steady him, he straightened and gave orders to those nearby.
“Take Father and summon the elders.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Activate all the kingdom’s barriers… and block every entrance. Prepare for an invasion.”
With the Mage King incapacitated, this was all they could do.
They would enter indefinite seclusion—or bide their time for a future counterattack.
“What should be done about the Second and the Seventh?”
“Now that Father is like this, the Second must be dead. As for the Seventh…”
First turned away emotionlessly.
The Mage King’s limp body was being dragged away by attendants, into a deep, dark inner chamber like a black pit.
“For now, nothing can be done. Let Father regain his strength first.”
Thud. The gates of Arcadia closed.
“Hm.”
The Emperor slowly surveyed the half-destroyed Academy.
“Can I give up now…”
“Pardon? On what?”
“Your Majesty…?”
“Eh?”
“Haha. I’m serious.”
“This is really not the time for jokes, Your Majesty.”
“My, my.”
Deep furrows formed in the Emperor’s brow.
Headmaster Odely and the professors ran about everywhere, and the knights scrambled to restore order.
Magical beasts had rampaged through the Academy, fires had broken out everywhere.
It was an unprecedented situation.
Despite others’ protests, he had hurried here.
“Licht is safe, I assume?”
“Yes, do not worry. He is heading this way as we speak.”
With a short sigh, the Emperor turned his head. From the direction of the library, he spotted a familiar mane of black hair.
“Wherever that father and daughter go, trouble follows…”
Leviathan walked forward, Rubian in his arms.
The sight drew a crowd of knights, including the old Zevert, who gathered like a cloud.
“So now, we need to assess the situation…”
Where to start, and how to investigate—
It was a headache.
“Father!”
Just then, the prince came running.
The Emperor quickly lowered himself to check over Licht.
“Licht, are you hurt?”
“No. I’m fine. More importantly—”
Licht spoke without hesitation.
“It was the Mage Kingdom.”
“…What?”
“The Mage King controlled his puppet to attack the Academy.”
He handed over a charred object.
It was the remains of the explosive magic device that the Second had detonated, along with the remnant of a magical beast sealing stone.
Sensing the suspicious individual was a mage, Licht had sent knights immediately to collect these traces.
If it was a magic device made by the Mage Kingdom, there would be evidence left.
And sure enough, some debris bore the crest of Arcadia.
“Ha, what in the world…”
“Arcadia attacked Babylon, Father.”
In his still-youthful, clear eyes, the Emperor caught a glimmer of cunning intent.
It was an astute and clever statement.
A phrase that instantly cut through the complicated situation.
“The Mage Kingdom… attacked our Empire?”
“They broke the alliance? Why would they do that?”
His voice was clear and strong, and those who heard it began to stir. The rumor spread like waves in an instant.
‘Did they know I sent troops to the Delcan Ruins?’
That we had been keeping the Mage Kingdom in check?
‘He’s growing frighteningly shrewd…’
The Emperor straightened, then closed and opened his eyes. Licht’s unwavering gaze did not falter.
Sooner or later, this was inevitable.
“All right, then there’s no reason to hesitate any longer.”
He swept his cape and turned, cold and decisive.
“Send messages to all the Allied Nations.”
“Pardon?”
“The Mage Kingdom was secretly researching dark magic on the continent. Our reconnaisance discovered this, and in retaliation, they attacked Babylon. Is that clear enough?”
“Y-yes, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor suddenly recalled the silver-haired head nestled in Zevert’s arms.
‘Come to think of it, the young lady… tangled with another mage, again.’
But that was just a trivial side note, and he did not mention it. More importantly…
“Hah, I suppose I spoke this into existence, Duke.”
The departure ceremony for the young lady’s camp.
It had become a historic day.
Whether for better or worse.
“Hear me.”
At the Emperor’s grave command, the prince and the attending knights bowed their heads.
“From this moment, the Mage Kingdom is declared an enemy of our Empire.”
“…!”
“Our only goal is the Mage King’s head. That alone.”
In that moment, the direction of their swords was set.