Chapter 216: The Cause and The Solution to All Problems (2)

“I was born as the son of an ordinary farmer, but coincidentally awakened my talent as a mage...”

“I don’t listen to stories longer than one minute,” Keter firmly said.

Disappointed, Denison continued, “I became a disciple of Macnosse and learned how to make scrolls. While making them, I thought I could simplify the scrolls even more, so I began to research, and what was born from that is sticker magic. I thought this was a great discovery like scrolls, but Macnosse’s opinion was different. He criticized my sticker magic as just a knock-off of scrolls.”

“Stickers and scrolls don’t resemble each other at all.”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying! It’s true I got the idea from scrolls, but stickers and scrolls are fundamentally different! However, my master publicly called me a plagiarizing mage, and the Mage Association, without listening to anything I said, expelled me! I survived, but was not given any chance to research sticker magic again. Hehehe...”

Denison laughed while crying, reminiscing about that time.

“My life was practically ruined. Once I was expelled from the Mage Association, no one would hire me. No matter how much I screamed that it was unfair and that it was a misunderstanding, it was no use. Once things reached that point, I truly felt resentful. So I stole it.”

Where they were right now was a remote area located on the border between the southern and the western regions of the kingdom. Not only was it empty, but the terrain was also rugged. It was practically impossible to build ruins underground in a place like this, but it was doable with money—a lot of it.

Denison clearly looked poor, so Keter wondered where he got the money to build these ruins.

“I stole and sold Master Macnosse’s scrolls—two eight-circle scrolls, of which there are only two in the world.”

“Eight-circle scrolls?!”

Hearing that, Keter, who usually wasn’t surprised by most things, was shocked. Eight-circle magic was a spell with power comparable to, or even exceeding, the Authority of a Prime. In theory, it could deal a critical blow even to an eight-star Irregular. The fact that such incredible magic existed in scroll form was new to Keter, but what was even more unbelievable was that Denison had stolen and sold it.

“Mister, you stole and sold eight-circle scrolls, so how are you still alive?”

“Heh heh... I worked under Macnosse for ten years, and almost unpaid, at that. He made me do even the most trivial tasks. He even made me act as a butler. During that time, I found out about the existence and location of the eight-circle scrolls.”

“Don’t tell me, Macnosse still doesn’t know? Then it makes sense.”

Denison obediently nodded in affirmation.

“To be honest, when you came, I thought you were an assassin sent by Macnosse who had found out the eight-circle scrolls were missing. It took a full seven years to complete the ruins, so the fact I’m still alive... probably means Macnosse has no idea I’m here.”

“...Huh?”

Keter found Denison’s story strange. This place was certainly extremely remote and hard to find, but Macnosse had lost eight-circle scrolls. Even seven-circle scrolls were traded for hundreds of thousands of gold. For an eight-circle scroll, it would be at least three million gold. That was enough money to search the entire continent several times over, but Keter hadn’t sensed any trace of pursuers on his way here.

It’s been seven years. There would have been wanted posters distributed throughout Eslow’s fief, but there weren’t any. Something feels off.

For someone who lost eight-circle scrolls, Macnosse’s response wasn’t very serious. Still, Denison didn’t seem to be lying, so Keter assumed perhaps Macnosse had a story of his own.

“You couldn’t research sticker magic because of Macnosse, nor could you show it to the world. So, you sold the eight-circle scrolls and built these ruins and intended to pass it on to future generations... Is that right?”

“...If I hadn’t stolen the eight-circle scrolls, I probably could have lived in some quiet village as a teacher, though I wouldn’t have had much. But now, even that’s impossible. I can stay hidden here, but the moment I go to a village, I’ll be caught. If I’m executed, that’s one thing, but if I get captured by a Grand Mage...” Denison trailed off, shuddering as he imagined the horrific human experiments that would be done to him.

He continued, “I don’t even have the courage to live my whole life in hiding... I think it’s better I just die here.

Sigh...

At least I got to meet you and can leave behind my last words... I’m just grateful for the fact that I could tell someone about my injustice.”

Denison had given up on life, but that was only because there was no hope.

“Mister. You keep saying you’ll die, but you’re actually hoping that I’ll save you, right?”

“...That’s a foolish thing to say. I understand that you’re strong, but that strength only works on people like me. You can’t possibly defeat Macnosse or the Mage Association. It’s not just you; even a high noble would want to make an enemy of Macnosse.”

Denison also knew that Keter’s confidence clearly had a reason behind it; with this level of confidence, he had to be a high noble. However, Macnosse was a Grand Mage, the founder of scroll magic. Even a high noble couldn’t easily make a move.

“But what if I were from a master family?”

“A master family...?!”

Hearing that, Denison lit up. That was how much weight the name of a master family carried.

“Let me reintroduce myself. I’m Keter, Solver of Sefira.”

“Oooh! Sefi...ra?”

Denison was amazed at first, but then quickly calmed down.

“Sefira... As in, Sefiira, the Masters of Archery?”

“What’s with that look? Are you implying Sefira isn’t a prestigious noble family?”

“...I don’t know much about the world, but even I know that Sefira is the weakest among the noble families.”

Denison’s face clearly showed what he was thinking.

Sefira can’t protect me from Macnosse.

“

Tsk

. Mister. You’ve been holed up underground, so you probably don’t know, but the tides have turned. The world is changing.”

“Pardon me?”

“You know the Sword of the South Tournament, right?”

“Of course. It’s the tournament to determine the strongest young knight in the south.”

“I won it. I’m the Bow of the South from Sefira.”

“...!”

“There’s more. Sefira will be holding a party soon, and direct descendants of the infamous Browning Ducal Family and Princess Iris will be attending.”

“What?! The direct descendant of the notorious Browning family, and even the precious princess?!”

Denison looked at Keter in doubt, wondering if he was lying.

Keter leaned in and whispered, “Do I look like someone who would lie to a guy like you?”

“N-no. You wouldn’t tell a lie that would immediately be exposed once I visit Sefira. B-but, may I ask why you're helping me...?”

“By now, even a dense guy like you should have caught on...”

“You’ve taken a liking to me?!”

Thwack!

Keter thumped Denison on the forehead multiple times.

“Rule number one: don’t interrupt me. And it’s not you I like, it’s your sticker magic.”

“Ughhh.”

It was just a forehead flick, but Denison was on the verge of fainting.

“Answer.”

“Oh, yes. I won’t interrupt again. Just the fact that Sefira recognizes the potential of my sticker magic is enough for me to be grateful.”

“Hm? No, no. We need to get this straight. Mister, you’re not joining hands with Sefira.”

“Huh...?”

Keter placed a hand on Denison’s shoulder, lowered her voice, and said, “Sticker mage Denison. I invite you to become a member of the secret organization, Arcana.”

* * *

“Secret organization, Arcana?! I-I’ve never heard of such a place.”

“It’s a secret organization. It would be a problem if everyone knew about it, right?”

“Then, Mr. Keter... you didn’t come here as a descendant of Sefira but as a member of Arcana, a secret organization?”

“Correct. But Denison, you’ll still be working under Sefira. You understand what that means, don’t you?”

“...!”

“Your place of residence will be Sefira, but your support will come from Arcana—money and manpower, everything. Speaking of money, how much do you need for your sticker magic research?”

“Uh, well...”

Denison had already calculated the cost of his research, but the words got caught in his throat.

The budget I’ve estimated is one hundred thousand gold a year. But if I demand that much right from the start, he’ll doubt my ability.

Though all of this was sudden, Denison knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

“If you could support me with fifty thousand gold annually... I will pledge my loyalty to Arcana!”

“Ha? Fifty thousand gold?”

When Keter sighed, Denison hurriedly changed his words.

“N-no, not that much! Thirty! Thirty thousand will suffice!”

“Looks like you don’t understand the situation, Denison. Let me explain it again. You’ve lived a life full of misery, haven’t you? Do you know why?”

Denison’s mood plummeted. As Keter said, his life had been nothing but tragedy. There had never been a smooth path. Not long ago, he had seriously contemplated ending his own life out of despair.

“Because I’m a pathetic person, right...?”

“Wrong. The answer is because it was all leading to today, when you would meet me.”

“...?! ”

“My dear Denison, do whatever you want. Fifty thousand? That won’t be enough. Five hundred thousand gold. Paid all at once.”

“F-five hundred thousand, in one lump sum?!”

Denison’s jaw dropped. Even fifty thousand gold was unimaginable, but half a million? His chin trembled.

“This is pure research funding. We’ll also provide manpower. If your sticker magic reaches a level where it can be commercialized, you’ll get a share of the profits too. Don’t worry about the Macnosse or the Mage Association; Arcana and Sefira will shield you.”

“H-hah... ha ha...”

Smack!

Denison suddenly slapped his own cheek.

“This must be a dream... I must have hung myself and died already, and this is just a sweet illusion before death...”

Then Keter smacked his other cheek.

Slap!

“Ughk!”

“Hurts too much for a dream, doesn’t it?”

“

Cough...

Y-you’re right, this isn’t a dream!”

Clutching his swollen cheek, Denison smiled in delight.

“I suppose you haven’t given me your answer yet. So, will you end your life here, or will you rise as the founder of sticker magic and take revenge on Macnosse yourself?” Keter asked.

“Of course I want revenge! I’ll crush that damned teacher and prove him wrong!”

“Good, I like the enthusiasm. Then from this moment on, you’re a member of Arcana.”

Keter pulled a contract from the pouch hanging on Six and filled in the blanks before handing it to Denison.

“It’s an exclusive contract. The rights to sticker magic belong entirely to Arcana, and can’t be transferred to anyone. Any objections?”

“None. I’m already satisfied just knowing that sticker magic, which was doomed to be forgotten, will finally make its name in the world. But... is this the only term in the contract?”

“What else do you think is needed?”

“A vow of secrecy, perhaps...”

“Oh, that? Not necessary. You can shout it from the rooftops if you like. You can say you work under me. What does it matter?”

“R-really?”

“Of course, if your big mouth causes me any trouble, then things will change. Understand?”

“...”

“Don’t be so scared. Worst case, you’ll just end up dead.”

“...I’ll keep my lips sealed.”

“Good. But hey, if you’re eager to die, feel free to talk.”

Denison shook his head fiercely. Nobody truly wanted to die; people only thought that way when life was unbearably hard. Those who lived comfortably, doing what they loved, never wanted to die. And so, Denison signed the exclusive contract in his own blood. Sticker magic now belonged solely to Arcana and Keter.

Of course, we’ll see when it can actually be put to use.

Denison had said it would take eight years to optimize the magic, but that was under an annual budget of fifty thousand gold. With ten times the funding and full support, Keter believed it could be commercialized in a year at most.

A year is already being generous.

Though Keter had given Denison five hundred thousand gold as if it were nothing, it was an enormous sum. It was similar to the amount that the Ultima Trading Company earned—around eight hundred thousand gold—before absorbing the Aleron Trading Company.

If not for Ultima, this would have been impossible.

Sefira alone couldn’t shoulder the cost, but it became possible with Ultima’s backing.

Giving Aleron to Ultima was worth it after all.

As always, life’s greatest problems were caused by money, but their solutions were also money. One day, Sefira might have to fight the entire kingdom, outnumbered by hundreds to one. When that day came, every trump card would matter. Sticker magic was one such card, and Keter believed it would be worth every coin and every second invested.

“When you get to Sefira, you’ll meet someone named Ultima. Tell him what happened here, and he’ll take care of the rest.”

Keter took out a name card and signed it in blood before handing it over.

Denison, still in a daze, asked, “And what about these ruins...?”

“Just leave them. Nothing here is worth money anyway.”

“I’ll just gather my research materials and leave. A day should be enough.”

“Do as you like. I’m done here.”

“Eh? You’re not coming with me...?”

Keter shot him a look. Denison gave a sheepish smile.

“Haha... You must be busy. I’ll make my own way to Sefira. It’ll be dangerous, but I am a capable mage, after all.”

“If you don’t have that much backbone, you might as well die here.”

“No, no! I’ll head to Sefira on my own.”

“Good. We’re done here. Let’s go, Six.”

Without looking back, Keter left the ruins.

Denison stared into the empty air long after Keter had gone, then murmured, “Is this a dream... or reality?”

Just yesterday, he had been resolved to take his own life. But then, all of a sudden, Keter appeared, offering a hand that felt sweet, warm, and almost too good to be true. Of course, there were thorns in the offer, but so long as he was careful, he wouldn’t get pricked.

“...Come to think of it, I never did ask how he found me.” Denison shrugged. “Not that it matters.”

It didn’t matter who Keter was, or what Arcana was; what mattered was that he could finally begin the research he longed for, and that he now had a chance to avenge himself against Macnosse. It was a quintessentially mage way of thinking, and Keter’s persuasion succeeded precisely because he understood it so well.

* * *

Keter, having secured his first treasure—the sticker magic along with the original creator—he immediately set out for his next destination. This was the place that held the second treasure, one that could counter Princess Iris’ Charm.

It was an ordinary mountain village, home to about three hundred households. Situated between major cities, its only notable feature was its abundance of inns for travelers. Beyond that, there was nothing remarkable, except for the treasure Keter sought, hidden right here.

Orphe’s Mask.

This artifact, when worn and then removed, would enchant everyone who had seen the wearer’s face. Its effect was said to be so powerful that it could even sway a homophobe into a lover. Of course, it was nowhere near the level of Charm possessed by Iris, Lillian’s daughter, but what mattered was that it was still an artifact with the power of Charm. And for Keter, that alone was enough. After all, he himself already possessed resistance to such enchantment.

Although... Now that I think about it, something feels off.

It was nightfall by the time he arrived at the village after passing through Jar Canyon. Keter sat on a hill that overlooked the general store where Orphe’s Mask was. He was hesitating about entering the village right away, but it wasn’t because the place was heavily guarded or magically protected. It was quite the opposite—it was left too unguarded, too vulnerable.

One could claim that nobody knew of it because it was an undiscovered treasure and didn’t seem like an artifact. However, Keter never believed in coincidences.

Suspicious. How exactly did I first learn that Orphe’s Mask was here?

Keter was not the kind to ignore a nagging doubt. He searched through the memories before his regression. He recalled everything within a minute, and he immediately frowned. He searched again, a second and third time, only to let out a dry laugh.

Hah, I think I’ve been lured here.