The King's Proof

[We need to go quickly! Hurry!]

Bamont began flailing excitedly.

Fragments of memory flowing mixed with the treasure seemed to stimulate him.

“Calm down. If we go now, we’ll all die together nicely.”

Unless prepared for all-out war and deploying the guild, it seemed impossible to infiltrate the sanctuary without being caught by those numerous guards.

[Are you just going to watch like this?]

When Bamont was about to shout in frustration, one good idea came to mind.

“The mage who devours Magi. Is he the type who doesn’t distinguish front from back when excited and fights?”

“I’ve never seen him fight. When I tried to watch, it was already over. But you should be careful. Mages are a race whose nature is only satisfied once they bite an enemy.”

“Yet you had the thought to introduce him to me.”

“No way he’d kill his future brother-in-law.”

Yuliana who smiled freshly led Pernok to the tower.

Only one tower keeper was guarding that spot.

“Welcome, Your Highness. You’ve brought someone we don’t usually see today.”

“I received His Highness’s permission. Where’s Jan?”

“He’s waiting above.”

“Are the seizures severe?”

“No. When I said you were coming, Your Highness, he fell silent.”

“Thank you, Jung.”

When Jung opened the door, a musty smell burrowed into his nostrils.

Yuliana used the magic Levitation before the spiral staircase.

Floating both Pernok’s and her own bodies, she easily ascended the spiral staircase.

When clouds felt close enough to grasp, a heavy iron door loomed before them.

“Jan, I’m coming in.”

Before that voice even finished, the door opened.

Amazingly, unlike the gloomy tower, inside the room was full of fresh flowers.

At the very center, light intense as the sun was emitting.

Pernok let out a short exclamation.

The tall man with long gray hair trailing down possessed talent comparable to or exceeding Rio’s.

This man was the owner of the peculiar mana Pernok felt from afar.

Though his level fell behind the experts guarding the sanctuary, why does this person’s mana protrude so uniquely?

Though he couldn’t read expressions because of the silver mask worn, that person was also watching Pernok’s unusual momentum.

“Were you waiting? You were already up?”

When Yuliana asked gently, the man looked at Pernok and answered.

“You brought a dangerous person.”

“This is the younger sibling I mentioned. S-rank guild master, Pernok. He’s an S1 Magus.”

“Magus….”

Yuliana’s fiance and this nation’s next throne successor.

And he who is the mage who devours Magi flashed intense eyes.

“…Is he definitely on your side?”

“He promised to help our position construction plan. We’ll go together until we handle Vans and Porla. Oh right, Pernok. This is Jan. Jan Ul Tyr, my fiance….”

“The mage with soaring reputation is unexpectedly young.”

When Pernok smiled and spoke, Jan calmed his surging momentum.

“Temporary alliance. If you violate it, I’ll bite you first.”

“Jan!”

Yuliana startled and approached Jan.

She gave looks, but Jan paid no heed and continued guarding against Pernok.

‘This bastard….’

It’s not just the degree of good intuition.

Merely with mana, he was trying to see through to the depths of S1 Magus-level Pernok.

‘He’s born with something as peculiar as the Holy Kingdom’s High Priest.’

Along with what’s commonly called sixth sense, he has one more transcendent something.

‘There’s no way he’s merely level 5.’

He’d been pondering methods to infiltrate the sanctuary, and the perfect target was right before his eyes.

It’s better not to leave bothersome things behind.

He wanted to confirm a bit of that skill that hunted Magi.

“As for me, if you break the contract, I’ll strike Tyr first.”

“Pernok!”

Between the two people facing each other, only Yuliana fidgeted alone.

“Seems we’ve exchanged greetings, so let’s go see His Majesty. We need to finish the military provisions and supplies issue.”

“R-right. That’s better. Jan! I’ll come back!”

“Yeah.”

Jan, who answered curtly, turned his gaze outside the tower.

Like a lighthouse monitoring darkness, that gaze was examining the entire royal palace.

Yuliana, who exited the room, wiped cold sweat and said.

“Whew, please understand. Jan doesn’t know how to speak indirectly. Since childhood, he hasn’t regarded anyone besides His Majesty above.”

“Not even the duke or marquis?”

“Rather, those two people watch Jan’s mood.”

“It did seem that way. If Wanstein had entered the royal castle, he would’ve jumped in right away.”

The strong absolutely don’t watch the weak’s mood. But they try to embrace their own people.

Jan seemed like a person who clearly distinguished friend from foe.

“Though Jan is scary when angry, he doesn’t do reckless things. Today he just guarded against a stranger. Please understand.”

“Of course I understand.”

Because that kind of personality is easy to handle, Pernok smirked while swallowing those words.

“Let’s hurry and go finish the contract.”

* * *

Night when everyone slept.

Jan stands vacantly and recalls Pernok’s appearance.

‘He was hiding something.’

He’d killed many Magi until now, but there’d been no type like Pernok.

In one word, he possessed peculiar things difficult to define on his body.

He merely put mana forward superficially while hiding those diverse energies.

‘Sinister and dangerous. A guy Yuliana shouldn’t keep nearby….’

He’s already secretly meeting even the king at the royal castle and concluding all contracts.

It was when Jan tried to face the wind at the window to suppress frustration.

Whoosh.

Something chilling came riding the window before Jan’s eyes.

And the moment he felt mana, wind exploded before Jan.

Bang!

When Jan lightly blocked by brushing the back of his hand, his heart pounded roughly.

Suddenly uneasiness attacked and hostility blazed.

‘It’s that guy.’

Pernok’s mana that made him tense.

Just now that wind carried his mana.

‘Yuliana!’

Jan captured Yuliana walking together with Pernok.

The moment he saw them wandering around near the sanctuary as if taking a stroll.

Bang!

Jan kicked off the tower and shot there.

* * *

Yuliana felt ominous mana.

“Jan….”

The moment Pernok smiled, Jan fell from the sky.

“Jan!”

From the appearance armed with hostility, only a beast’s ferocity transmitted.

“Why are you suddenly….”

“Stand back!”

Jan charged at Pernok without warning.

‘The type who can’t see surroundings once eyes turn? The provocation was worth it.’

Bang!

Pernok raised Mana Reinforcement and crossed both arms.

When Jan pounded the guard, Pernok floated as is and flew all the way inside the sanctuary.

Rumble!

Mana surged from all directions.

“Your Highness!”

In the place where blue soil spread widely, guardians stood with flustered expressions.

Pernok smiled and released strength from his legs, receiving Jan’s attack.

In the blink of an eye, he flew through the air and landed on blue soil.

An appearance where anyone could see he was forcibly pushed by Jan.

Just seeing the guardians’ flustered gazes pierce not Pernok but Jan was enough to pass off responsibility.

“Please calm down! This place is the sanctuary!”

“Move aside!”

He’s quite perceptive.

Though trivial provocations would be worth overlooking, he notices Pernok’s danger and tries to cut the sprout.

If he were a subordinate, it would be action worthy of patting the head and praising, but from a position that must face him later, he’s a troublesome type.

[That corner!]

Bamont suddenly popped out from his breast and precisely pointed to one spot of blue soil.

Pernok retreated and placed his palm on that place.

After flowing mana, he immediately raised his body, and Jan’s fist approached right before his nose.

‘Remarkable.’

Before he knew it, Jan’s mana surged to level 7 standard.

No, in the blink of an eye, mana skyrockets at an abnormal speed.

‘This isn’t magic.’

The more mana rises, the more distinct the soul’s color becomes too.

This phenomenon where both appear simultaneously.

‘It’s an innate constitution.’

Suddenly, Ruin’s teaching came to mind.

[Occasionally in the world, those born with constitutions more heterogeneous than magic appear. Whether seeing the soul’s world like you, Your Highness, or seeing through structure just by looking at objects—it’s various. Such people are expressed as receiving even more special blessings than peculiar-type magic. Just like you, Your Highness.]

If magic is talent, constitution is blessing.

Then what should one who has both be called?

“Stop! He’s my younger sibling!”

Though Yuliana cried out desperately, successive collisions swallowed all sounds.

‘I can’t absorb this constitution with Divine Mandate.’

Jan’s magic was also very simple.

Releasing mana as is, refining the form, and shooting it.

The point of handling pure energy was reminiscent of Over Impact.

But this simple magic’s destructive power when meshing with Jan’s overwhelming constitution continuously exceeded Pernok’s calculations.

Though he predicted movements one tempo faster with Observation Eye, the surging mana presses in at double that speed.

Before he knew it, his mana exceeded Pernok’s.

Different from ordinary Magi.

He doesn’t try to dominate space.

Only, compressing surged mana to high concentration and concentrating solely on smashing obstacles before his eyes like an enraged beast rampaging.

‘This is why Magi couldn’t cope.’

An S1 Magus absolutely can’t handle Jan.

To suppress mana surging from innate constitution requires Magus Arts that become his natural enemy.

For instance, those involving the mental side like Ruin’s peculiar-type Magus Arts Loss of Silence would be best to face.

‘I’d like to confirm how far my body endures, but….’

He’d already achieved results.

He entered the sanctuary and confirmed the substance of the mage who devours Magi.

Since a precious existence from the royal palace was coming, Pernok also found it difficult to use his hands excessively.

“Stop!”

When Jan and Pernok’s fists collided and they pushed each other back.

An angry sound echoed, piercing the moment’s silence.

“Y-Your Majesty!”

Yuliana knelt on one knee to a middle-aged man wearing a red cloak.

The guardians also paid respects together.

The military king said to have raised Tyr Kingdom’s military power one level.

Suira Ul Tyr.

He walked into the sanctuary unhindered.

And after examining the situation, he glared at Jan fiercely.

“I clearly ordered you to reflect in the tower, so how dare you throw punches in a sacred place!”

Jan flashed his eyes from inside the mask and shouted.

“That person attacked me.”

“Attacked?”

When Suira turned around, Yuliana shook her head.

“Pernok was with me!”

“No, I definitely felt wind magic!”

Instantly, cold silence flowed through the area.

Yuliana said with a puzzled expression.

“What are you talking about? Pernok is an enhancement-type mage. He can’t handle natural-type.”

The guardians also definitely watched Pernok’s appearance engaging as enhancement-type in the recent battle, so at Suira’s gaze, everyone nodded.

“Mm… it seems there was some misunderstanding. My magic is definitely enhancement-type. But after sublimating to Magus Arts, I escaped mere physicality and became able to strike even to mid-range like this. However.”

Pernok glared at Jan coldly.

“Attacked that high tower? Are you saying you tried to kill me with such wordplay now!”

“I definitely felt your mana!”

“I accepted the deal with goodwill, but it seems I’m not welcomed, so I should return to Illumina now, Your Majesty.”

“Where are you making excuses…!”

Slap!

Suira struck a slap through the broken mask’s gap on Jan’s face.

When Jan revealed surprised eyes, Suira shouted angrily.

“Reflect on yourself.”

Suira, who didn’t know the fact that Pernok uses absorbed magic as his own, had no choice but to judge it as Jan’s impulsive action.

“Jan occasionally can’t control emotions. I hope Prince Pernok’s misunderstanding is cleared.”

“…If Your Majesty says so, I must understand.”

Even though he stepped into the sanctuary, Pernok wasn’t reproached.

Because everyone judged it an ‘unavoidable situation’ where he was forcibly dragged in because of Jan.

“I’m merely sorry for needlessly stepping into a sacred place.”

“It’s fine. Rather, thank you for understanding.”

“Not at all, Your Majesty.”

“Since night is deep, rest deeply today. Let’s talk again about the positions tomorrow.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Pernok bowed and leisurely passed Jan.

When Yuliana tried to follow, he said emotions weren’t settled and walked to his room alone.

[Sinister fellow.]

Bamont, who watched all actions until now, popped out from his breast and laughed.

“This is the only method.”

The sanctuary even royals find difficult to step into.

If no method to infiltrate there exists, you must create an opportunity.

Pernok shot magic at Jan.

It was a mix of two magics—visible natural-type ‘wind’ magic and peculiar-type hidden inside that stimulates ’emotions.’

The peculiar-type magic melted in naturally enough that even Jan himself couldn’t feel it and knocked on his psyche.

Dangerous.

Must block.

The spark called uneasiness spread like wildfire when he deliberately walked together with Yuliana.

If Jan hadn’t been guarding against Pernok, these magics would’ve finished as trivial pranks.

But Jan, who watched Pernok from the start, had uneasiness stimulated and very easily pushed Pernok into the sanctuary.

It’s an appearance where anyone could see he was swept up, to the point even Suira couldn’t assign responsibility.

Thanks to that, Pernok achieved two objectives.

One is digging into the substance of the mage who devours Magi.

The other is burrowing in to find treasure hidden in the sanctuary.

[Target Movement Lv.3]

Moves to marked target within maximum 500 meter distance.

Marking remains up to 3 days, and movement possible maximum 2 times.

He’d marked the spot Bamont precisely pointed to.

The time guardians grasp mana and guard is just 1 second.

If he burrows into the ground simultaneously with magic activation, he can approach the legacy Bamont left without being caught at all.

[As expected, you must become king.]

“If this place’s legacy is nothing special, you’ll have to be prepared too.”

[Ahem! What do you take me for!]

Pernok who smirked waited for the commotion in the room to settle.

And when Jan returned to the tower and the sanctuary’s guard slightly loosened, he activated the magic.

In an instant he stood on the blue soil pile, and circular light stimulated by Bamont burst out.

When Pernok jumped in without hesitation, his body was sucked in as if submerged in water.

“…?”

A guardian who arrived with a difference of a few seconds looked around and tilted his head.

“What’s wrong?”

“I felt mana.”

He looked around again, but the blue soil remained as is.

“Seems you became sensitive because of Prince Jan.”

The guardian shook his head and returned to his position again.