Chapter 82

In the center of the room, which was primarily decorated in white, the Sage sat in a leather chair. He stood up with an elegant movement.

“I am glad you came.”

“An invitation from the admired Sage himself? I would have rushed here even if I hadn’t been called,” I replied with a smile.

The Sage’s brow furrowed slightly.

“…There is no way you mean that.”

“Don’t take him seriously. It’s almost entirely a joke,” Alice added smoothly. I felt a hint of venom in her tone; she seemed somewhat exasperated.

“Haha, well, it’s as she says. Just brush it off as the nonsense of a smooth-talker.”

I sat down on a sofa that seemed intended for guests while giving a wry smile. Alice sat down beside me a moment later. I pulled a cigarette and a lighter from my breast pocket and glanced at the Sage, who was about to sit across from us.

“Mind if I smoke?”

“I don’t mind.”

Having secured his permission, I began to smoke without hesitation. The purple smoke curling from the tip was carried by a breeze and drifted out the window. It was an unnatural movement. Where had the wind come from?

I noticed the Sage’s gaze was fixed on the window. Though he didn’t make a distinct gesture, he must have used magic to ventilate the room of his own accord. As usual, it was a convenient ability. I continued the conversation while smoking, unbothered.

“So, what’s the business? If it’s about canceling that contract from the other day, I’d be happy to agree.”

“As if I would cancel it. You would just kill Mihana, wouldn’t you?”

“Of course.”

When I stated this flatly, the Sage held his head in his hands with a sigh. He looked quite exhausted.

“You really don’t hide your true intentions at times like this, do you…?”

“Living as an honest man is my creed.”

“…”

The Sage let out another sigh. He looked like he wanted to say something, but the words never formed. Lifting his head, he changed the subject.

“How did you feel seeing the academy? I’d like to hear your thoughts.”

“Well, let’s see…”

I thought about it while crossing my arms. I recalled the route we took, which had felt unnecessarily long.

“I thought it was a great idea. I’d even like to implement something like it in my own city.”

“You teach a wide range of magical systems. The curriculum isn’t biased, and I can tell a lot of thought went into the cultivation of mages,” Alice noted.

The Sage looked satisfied with our answers. Perhaps he just wanted to show off. Thinking about it calmly, there was little strategic merit in doing such a thing—it was essentially exposing his hand.

“This academy is an institution I have poured my efforts into for many years. As a result, the status of mages within Eurea has steadily improved.”

“That’s impressive. A feat worthy of the name ‘Sage’.”

“Eventually, I would like to actively engage in exchange with your controlled territory. Eurea is currently in a period of transformation. An opportunity that comes once every few decades has arrived.”

The Sage spoke in a serious tone. I laughed while exhaling a cloud of smoke.

“A period of transformation? Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?”

“It is not an exaggeration at all. That nuisance Dorgu is finally gone. That Great Dragon-Man was constantly plotting to seize my territory and that of other nations. He was a man who loved conflict above all else. He was not fit for leadership; he was pure violence incarnate.”

“Quite the hated man, wasn’t he? Was he really that terrible?”

“I get a headache just thinking about him. You are certainly dangerous enough, but compared to Dorgu, you possess reason. There should be room for us to work together to prosper this country.”

The Sage leaned forward as he spoke. As I thought, his goal was conciliation. I could understand his feelings. Dorgu’s controlled territory was vast. Since I had been progressing the development of various cities, their value was skyrocketing. Even the remains of Black Wall City, which had exploded, were now like a mountain of treasure due to the emergence of underground ore veins.

As the Sage, he likely wanted to keep me as an ally by any means necessary. I crushed my cigarette into the ashtray I had brought along.

“I’ll think about it. I want to develop my own city, too.”

“I welcome it anytime. I shall look forward to a favorable reply.”

The Sage was indeed eager. I knew that the Representatives of Eurea were not a monolithic entity. Various motives were intertwined.

Perhaps he wants to gain even a slight advantage by pulling a newcomer into his circle at an early stage.

I have no taste for this kind of political mess. Why can’t things move more simply? Well, considering the profit, I can’t exactly throw away my controlled territory. I suppose I should endure this much.

I crossed my legs and shifted my weight on the sofa.

“Now then, let’s wrap up the small talk. Why don’t you get to the point?”

“…………”

The Sage fell silent at my prompt. While the conversation so far had been important, I sensed there was something else. It seems I hit the mark. The Sage blinked slowly.

“—Jack Aaron. I want to know about you.”

“A confession of love? Sorry, but you’re not my type.”

“It is not that. You are a human from another world, are you not? I have an interest in that.”

I inwardly nodded in understanding. The Sage’s true interest lay in the other world. Based on the fragments of information he’d heard from Mihana, he must have wanted to speak with me—another summoned individual. I could see a clear thirst for knowledge in the Sage’s eyes.

I shook my head and shrugged.

“It’s not that interesting. Nothing worth talking about.”

“According to Mihana, the whereabouts of the other summoned individuals are unknown. It seems those who survived the explosion of the Imperial Capital all went their separate ways. They likely fell into a state of paranoia. What are your thoughts on that?”

“Haha, well, looks like I’ve done something terrible then.”

In response to the Sage’s inquiry, I offered a hollow sentiment. My only regret was that I hadn’t finished off the summoned brats in the capital. If I had wiped them out then, I wouldn’t have to deal with this trouble now. I could have focused entirely on returning to my original world.

As for them becoming paranoid and splitting up, I could only call it foolish. As a result, two of the summoned individuals had already been killed by me. If they had made an effort to stick together, I think they would have met a slightly better end.

Whether he realized my true feelings from my reaction or not, the Sage let out a heavy sigh. In the gaze he directed at me, I could clearly feel a sense of contempt. Suppressing that emotion, the Sage resumed.

“…Well, fine. I shall ask about the other world another time. On a personal note, I want you to get along with Mihana. If you two clash, it will be to the detriment of all of Eurea.”

“Is this country that important to you?”

“I am a patriot. I take pride in this power, this status, and our history.”

The Sage spoke with his hand over his heart. Apparently, he was serious. Personally, I couldn’t care less.

“So, where is the woman of the hour? She’s a trainee here, isn’t she?”

“I have her waiting in the next room. I will call her in now, but please, do not go on a rampage.”

The Sage snapped his fingers. A few seconds later, there was a knock on the door. It was Mihana who entered. I stood up from the sofa, walked over, and offered my hand for a handshake.

“Hello there. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I’ve missed you—”

Mid-sentence, my hand was slapped away by Mihana. A sharp smack echoed through the room.

“Hm.”

The Sage’s voice came from behind. It seemed he hadn’t expected that reaction either. I flexed the hand she had struck.

“Whoa, what’s this? Are you going through a rebellious phase?”

In response, Mihana directed a gaze at me as if she were looking at a pile of filth. Then, she spat out her words.

“You’re acting awfully casual… Do you even understand your position?”