Forced Companion

An unprecedented incident: the Mysticism directly attacking the Niflheim County.

The Niflheim County was thrown into chaos by the event.

So much so that even Count Niflheim, who was out on business, rushed back in a flurry.

Amidst the disarray,

Xenia found herself in a rather troublesome situation.

More precisely, her body was taut with tension.

And understandably so.

Before her stood one of the most influential figures in the Empire.

White hair cascaded along her face as she rested her chin in her hand.

Each and every action emitted a strange pressure.

The White Wood Duke.

Raksid Anvesia.

The one hailed as the Empire’s greatest hero.

Facing her, Xenia unconsciously shuddered.

No matter how gifted Xenia was, she couldn’t hold her head high before the White Arborist.

For she was the living history of the Empire.

The White Arborist watched her, subtly intimidated, with an intrigued gaze.

“Is it truly said that this child is the reincarnation of Jerion?”

“Yes, it is.”

The White Arborist turned her head, addressing the aide beside her.

Xenia’s gaze flickered to the aide.

A man who had introduced himself as Ryu.

Honestly, she still found the entire situation unsettling.

Her, the reincarnation of Jerion?

It was true, Xenia wielded Jerion’s Celestial Magic.

A feat akin to a miracle within the Magic Academy.

Celestial Magic was an impossibly arcane art.

In effect, magic that none but Jerion could interpret.

Xenia’s mastery of such magic was an astonishing talent.

So much so that a much discussed rumour had lately surfaced in the Nippleheim barony .

The Transcendent Sage, Jerion, had never formally fathered a child.

Yet, there was talk of a single person whom Jerion had once loved.

The Great War forced Jerion to the front lines, dissolving the relationship with his lover.

However, some whispered this.

Could it be that there was a child between that lover and Jerion?

From long ago, the Empire had consistently led other nations in the arts of magic.

As such, the Empire’s magical houses eagerly beckoned any talented individuals into their fold.

And so, people could not help but think.

If it were Jerion’s blood, surely it would have showcased exceptional talent.

Would the magical houses, so invested in magic since Jerion’s time, have simply overlooked such a prodigy?

Whether he had children, that is unknown

But surely Jerion’s blood flowed, somehow, into one of the magical houses

And now, for the first time since Jerion, a girl appeared who could wield Celestial Magic.

Because of this, suspicions arose within the Academy that some of the Nippleheim family’s blood had somehow become mixed in.

The Nippleheim barony was actively pushing this narrative.

The Nippleheim baron’s frequent absences from the family home was for just this reason.

The Transcendent Sage, Jerion’s blood.

They knew all too well how greatly the family’s prestige would rise with that one title.

With the case of Xenia Nippleheim, the Academy could not rashly deny this possibility.

The Nippleheim barony actively pushed this suggestion.

But that was nothing more than an assumption.

The truth of the matter, no one could know.

It was uncertain if Jerion had truly left any bloodline behind.

Amidst such circumstances, Zenia was abruptly singled out as Jerion’s reincarnation.

Naturally, she couldn’t help but feel bewildered.

“Hmm.”

Lost in thought, the White Woodcrafter pressed his chin, gazing intently at Zenia.

Zenia unconsciously flinched under his scrutiny.

“Jerion’s reincarnation, you say.”

The White Woodcrafter looked away from Zenia, fixing his gaze on Ryu.

“…More than that, that appearance.”

He muttered to himself, then tilted his head, pressing his chin.

He soon shook his head, returning his gaze to Zenia.

“Indeed, Sacred Magic was only ever used by Jerion himself.”

The White Woodcrafter didn’t elaborate further on the matter.

Instead, he began to explain the circumstances of their encounter.

“Though the Niflheim whelp hasn’t arrived yet, allow me to inform you beforehand.”

The Earl of Niflheim, a whelp?

Surely, the White Woodcrafter was the only one in the Empire who would address an Imperial Earl like that.

“Just as you were attacked this time, you, being Jerion’s reincarnation, will continue to be targeted by the Mystics.”

“Ah, yes, yes indeed.”

Zenia replied, her voice taut with tension.

“Therefore, I offer you a proposition. I intend to strike down the Mystics myself.”

The White Woodcrafter would move personally.

The direct involvement of an Imperial Duke would cause a considerable stir even within the Empire.

But the White Woodcrafter cared little, determined to crush the Mystics personally.

“So, since you’ll inevitably be targeted again, I propose that you accompany me.”

Zenia’s eyes widened.

If she was going to be targeted by the Mystics anyway, then he would take her along directly?

It sounded utterly preposterous.

“To be frank, this is his idea.”

The White Woodcrafter gestured towards Ryu with a nod.

She seemed less than enthusiastic about the suggestion herself.

Ryu possessed proven skill.

But Zenia was still a fledgling.

A genius who had only just hatched from her shell.

Despite being Jerion’s reincarnation, she was lacking in many areas.

The probability of her encountering danger was high.

“Your Excellency, the White Woodcrafter, I understand your concerns.”

Ryu began, smoothly.

“However, with the Mystics’ members not yet fully identified, I believe it more prudent to employ the talented Miss Zenia, rather than abandon her to her fate.”

He nonchalantly spun words with his silver tongue, continuing his argument.

“Lady Zenia’s celestial magic will create synergy beyond imagination. Won’t you trust me and employ me?”

Zenia felt bewildered.

And no wonder, her opinion wasn’t even considered; it was already decided she was being employed.

“Hmm.”

Nevertheless, her pride ran deep.

If Grand Duke Baek was hesitant to employ her, it must be because her skills were lacking.

As the future head of the Nippleheim House, she couldn’t afford to show weakness here.

She was a perfectionist.

And her perfectionism included Nippleheim itself.

“I’ll do it. I’ll do it!”

Zenia voiced her determination.

In truth, she was practically pushed into it by Ryu, but there was no other way.

To back down here would make the Nippleheim House look foolish.

She was the acting head of the Nippleheim House.

The scion of a renowned magical family that had made its name in the Highsirion Empire.

She would do it perfectly.

“Good heavens, why are these young’uns so full of fire? Why don’t you just bring all the others along, too?”

“Why, haven’t I already brought the two of you?”

“If we were to all perish, the world would descend into utter chaos.”

“Yes, I trust that Grand Duke Baek will take responsibility and obliterate everything that caused it.”

Zenia’s jaw dropped.

Even if they were escorts, how could they speak so casually to Grand Duke Baek?

She couldn’t fathom what kind of man this Ryu was.

Grand Duke Baek clicked his tongue and then stood.

“I’ll let that Nippleheim whelp know. Since that’s your intention, go and pack your things.”

“Yes, y-yes.”

Suddenly thrust into a special force tasked with toppling Mysticism alongside Grand Duke Baek, Zenia inwardly groaned.

After spending every day studying magic, what kind of misfortune was this?

For some reason, she felt resentful towards Ryu for pushing her into this, but he must have meant well.

With tears in her eyes, Zenia resolved to face it head on.

＊＊＊

After Zenia’s acceptance, I returned to the carriage.

To tidy it up before Zenia boarded.

‘It doesn’t seem like my identity was compromised.’

If it were known that I am Bikaeman, things would become unnecessarily complicated.

It seems that I will continue to use the identity of Ryu for the time being.

As I approached the carriage, I saw a face that I had a strained past with.

Although his face was disguised, I could easily discern who he was due to his lanky height.

“You’ve been working hard.”

“Likewise.”

His true identity was none other than Cardinal Centriol.

Feeling responsible for the events at Acrede, he willingly accompanied us on this endeavor as well.

A matter of course, one might say.

For Acrede herself was within this very carriage.

A fact that, if revealed to the Holy Kingdom, would turn everything upside down.

However, we couldn’t simply abandon Acrede when the Mystics were so obviously targeting her.

‘Especially since Acrede’s help is vital for finding Vulcan.’

Half of Acrede’s soul was currently drawn toward Vulcan.

This, in turn, presented us with an opportunity to pinpoint the Mystics’ base of operations.

The Guardian of Heroes, a reincarnation of Aquilin.

Musica.

She intended to borrow Vinesha’s body to track Narea’s soul through Acrede.

Thus, we needed Acrede to find the Mystics.

This held true even when using the equipment, ‘Soul Tracker.’

The scenario had shifted significantly, but the process itself remained the same.

“What will happen if the Holy Kingdom finds out Acrede-nim is here?”

“There will be upheaval, naturally.”

When I inquired tentatively, Centriol responded with polite seriousness.

No one was aware that Acrede was currently in this place.

Acrede was supposedly on a tour of the Jerion Academy.

She was scheduled to safely return to the Lium Kingdom in a month.

A misstep could result in repercussions from the Holy Kingdom.

Yet Acrede was so determined to find Narea’s soul that she risked such consequences.

To her, Narea was like her other half.

Of course, she would dedicate every ounce of her strength to finding her.

‘This scenario has become tangled, severely so.’

My thoughts were somewhat muddled, but the decision had already been made.

Vulcan was rushing things, even going so far as to directly assault the Niflheim family.

It was better to resolve this than to let it continue unchecked.

‘Only the sequence of events has changed; the scenario itself is unfolding as it should.’

Lucas was originally destined to lead the Saint and Xenia in a battle against the Mystics.

The scenario, in its essence, was proceeding according to the original script.

‘Come to think of it, is the Academy’s timing specifically set around the mock battle?’

Hanon will be taking my place in the mock battle; I wonder if he’ll be alright.

Banh was unintentionally prevented from having another match.

Apart from that, there shouldn’t be any other major issues.

‘Above all else, I made sure to warn him to avoid getting caught by Iris-nim.’

The real Hanon believes that I am Jerion.

Therefore, he will surely give it his all, even if only for my sake.

I decided to trust him.

Besides, now Iris’s nightmares are being aided by Eve’s blue flame.

I suppose I’m no longer needed.

Everything will be resolved without me here.

“You’ve arrived?”

Just then, the carriage door opened, and Isabel greeted me with delight.

She recognized me, no matter what form I took, as if it were the most natural thing.

How she knows, I still cannot fathom.

Enough wallowing.

Everything is progressing smoothly.

We will complete the schedule without incident and return to Jerion Academy.

As I opened the carriage door and stepped inside, familiar faces came into view.

Mushika, Acrede, and Isabel.

“Oh, you’ve arri…”

At that moment, as Mushika began to greet me,

She abruptly stopped speaking.

Then, she blinked her eyes and furrowed her brow slightly.

“What, pray tell, is that form?”

An unexpected reaction returned from Mushika.