28 – Thank You for Protecting the Earth

“Esteemed Duke Esther! What brings you here without even a word….”

Entering the office, Aria greeted me with a startled expression.

“I’ve come because I have business with the Red Tower Master.”

I stated my purpose simply.

Aria nodded, promptly guiding me towards the Red Tower in the same manner as before.

“……”

On the way to the Red Tower, I noticed Aria’s gaze was unusual.

Smiling like a new sales representative who has to greet an important customer, a tension lurked within her.

She’d always given me the VIP treatment before, but this time it felt like she was watching me even more carefully, which was odd.

Not adding unnecessary fluff is nice, but it makes me feel uncomfortable, too.

“Is there something you want to say to me?”

I asked Aria, who kept glancing at my face.

“……”

Aria remained quietly silent.

Then she opened her mouth, and uttered words I couldn’t quite grasp.

“Thank you for protecting the Kingdom of Justina.”

Huh? Out of the blue?

“I merely wished to express my gratitude to you, Lord. I apologize if I have caused you any discomfort.”

I stared, a bit awkwardly, as she lowered her head.

Of course, Nob AI kept my facial muscles perfectly still, but even so, I couldn’t help but feel perplexed.

It was like those comments on some bygone video site: ‘Thank you for protecting the Earth today. Love, Ham.’ What did I even do to warrant such sudden… gratitude?

“…….”

A strange feeling settled over me.

It wasn’t until after meeting Erphs that I understood why Aria had given me that polite expression of thanks.

*

Erphs read the report.

He swallowed thickly, muttering to himself.

“If things continue like this, we won’t be able to meet the deadline…”

The Flame School was a collective of mages dedicated to the study of war magic.

In matters of combat and war, no one held more influence than the mages of the Flame School.

Countless magical weapons and spells used on the front lines were their creations.

While other schools certainly possessed combat spells, they paled in comparison to the Flame School, whose entire existence was devoted to violence and destruction.

Therefore, the Red Magic Tower was taking on the largest role in dealing with this Curse of Insanity.

The Flame School’s magic was essential for eradicating the demons emerging within the kingdom.

“…….”

Erphs’ expression was grim.

It was due to a report sent urgently by the Blue Magic Tower.

【Anomaly occurring in the eastern region of the kingdom, the time of culmination is accelerating, anticipated to occur in two weeks.】

The anomaly had appeared with alarming speed.

To prepare for this culmination, the Red Magic Tower had mobilized all the mages in the school to produce weapons.

However, no matter how diligently the mages churned out weapons within the tower, there were, as with all human endeavors, limits.

The initial plan was to create the target quantity within a month and distribute it throughout the kingdom in stages, but even a month was cutting it close.

To have only two weeks left was nothing short of catastrophic.

Erphs wracked his brain for a solution to overcome this crisis, but a suitable method proved elusive.

“The Archmage isn’t exactly charming, is he.”

He sighed.

A wave of nostalgia washed over him, a longing for the days when he could lose himself in research and training.

In such dire circumstances, he couldn’t afford the luxury of balancing protein supplements with exercise and study.

Erphs fixed his gaze on a sentence scribbled at the bottom of the report.

【The anomaly was observed by Ester Tristi….】

“Ester Tristi….”

Erphs chided himself for his self-indulgent worries.

If Ester Tristi hadn’t observed it, the Kingdom of Yustina would undoubtedly be facing an even more horrifying predicament.

“Truly unbelievable.”

The Blue Magic Tower itself had failed to detect the anomaly, yet this prodigy had pierced through it with a single glance.

In war, knowing oneself and knowing the enemy was paramount.

Simply knowing when, where, and how the enemy would strike could exponentially increase the chances of victory.

Just as the kingdom’s founding monarch had famously proclaimed: ‘The outcome of war is decided not during the battle, but before it.’

Having the chance to prepare beforehand was an enormous advantage.

Thanks to Ester Tristi’s observation, the kingdom’s eastern front was granted a precious opportunity.

This was no time to wallow in despair over unfavorable odds.

For those who squandered opportunities could never hope to prevail in life.

It was then.

“Sir Ester Tristi requests an audience.”

The voice echoed from the crystal orb.

Erphs granted permission the moment he heard the visitor’s name.

“Open the rift.”

“Understood.”

Ester stepped through the rift into the Archmage’s chambers.

A handsome young man, reminiscent of Erphs in his younger days.

“It has been some time, Supreme Court Wizard.”

“Hahahaha!!”

Erphs laughed heartily.

“This is only our second encounter, is it not? Perhaps we can dispense with the cumbersome formalities.”

“Understood.”

Eruphs, a contented smile gracing his lips, rose from his seat.

He retrieved a stored box and presented it.

Within lay the things Ester had requested some time ago.

“These are the materials you sought. After conferring with the kingdom’s most esteemed physicians and clerics, I’ve gathered treatises and books pertaining to the condition of Haniell Tristi. It’s meager, but I hope it lends some aid.”

“Thank you, Master Eruphs.”

Ester stroked the box.

His nature, so earnestly concerned for his sister, was both kind and beautiful.

‘The chance of Haniell’s condition improving with mere documents is slim, but may she be cured nonetheless.’

Magic and medicine were separate domains.

To Eruphs, magic was a discipline near omnipotence, save for one crucial exception.

Healing magic was, in effect, a nigh impossible art.

Aside from the complex structure of the human body, the indeterminable variables magic could inflict upon it were simply too numerous.

There was good reason why so few could wield ‘aura’ to enhance their own bodies.

Magic, at its core, was a complex process of transmuting mana into something else.

Even with the imperfect knowledge of the intricately woven human body, adding magic to the equation to create something meaningful was an arduous task.

Only someone like Eruphs, who had witnessed countless corpses during the war with the Mazoku, could perform the procedure of constructing an artificial mana circuit.

No matter how prodigious Ester was, the chance of saving Haniell was remote.

However, he did not deign to voice that truth.

He hoped these materials would bring the boy a small measure of solace.

“Ester.”

“Yes.”

“Thanks to your observation, the kingdom has bought itself half a month’s time. On behalf of the Crimson Magic Tower, I extend our gratitude. We will do our utmost to ensure your efforts are not in vain.”

Ester tilted his head, puzzled.

“Pardon?”

“I’m speaking of the matter concerning the Curse of Insanity. The Archmage of the Azure Magic Tower intends to personally inform His Majesty the King of your contribution.”

Ester fell silent.

Did he truly lack the ambition of other children? A little more boasting would be alright.

“I see…”

Indeed, a youth after his own heart.

“Regardless, what with the Insane’s curse and the Tristy heirs reportedly swamped with the family head trials… I originally planned to perform the mana circuit implantation after the curse subsided, when things calmed down. Though, it doesn’t really matter when we do it. Will you have it done now?”

Erphs assumed Esther’s visit to the Red Magic Tower was solely for the mana circuit implantation and medical archives.

But.

“I would be grateful, however, I have come here for a different reason.”

“Hmm?”

Esther retrieved a paper from within her robes and presented it to Erphs.

The old mage blinked.

It was a blueprint.

Drawn in the same style used by the Flame Academy mages when developing new weapons.

*He even considered my understanding.*

Erphs slowly scanned the blueprint.

And after a moment, he was aghast.

“Just what *is* this weapon…?”

“An improved version of the Steam Tank.”

Esther described the weapon detailed in the blueprint as an improved Steam Tank, but it was fundamentally different.

Defense, mobility, even the communication system, which had been a chronic problem for Steam Tanks, were improved to a revolutionary degree.

Most impressive was the firepower.

The method of firing a potent Hellfire Mana Cannon, applying Esther’s identification of Hellfire reproduction, was on a completely different plane than shooting magical projectiles.

“….”

No matter how he looked at it, it lacked all sense of reality.

Mithril alloy, tainted mana fuel, a Hellfire main cannon… the bizarre nomenclature used in the blueprint made it seem like the product of a mage’s fantasy.

But.

“You are aware, Master Erphs, that the kingdom’s eastern territories have no time to contend with the curse. A swift solution is needed.”

At the moment he gazed into the strange gleam in Esther’s eyes.

“Would you consider investing in me?”

Erphs was completely convinced by the young genius.