Expansion

The mage association was dominated by Wanstein’s faction.

With just the deaths of Wanstein and his disciples, the faction’s pillars shook, but this time even all subordinate branch heads were buried on the island.

At the moment of agonizing over where to even start filling the place where Wanstein’s faction completely disappeared, Agnes appeared.

The family of inquirers who presented mana amplification technology’s theory.

The word that an S2 Magus emerged from Agnes, known to have dried up decades ago, shook the association.

Under the elders’ auspices, all branch heads and faction leaders gathered.

Now that Wanstein’s disciples who were leading candidates for next leader disappeared.

Faction leaders facing the Magus wall tried to aim for the association head position, but seeing Ruin’s appearance, they had to swallow groans.

‘How does another S2 Magus appear?’

‘Moreover, a special-type Magus?’

‘Now that Wanstein disappeared, another Magus the same as him appears!?’

Each faction’s leaders hadn’t looked favorably on Wanstein.

Because his faction’s influence was too strong, shaking the existing system and sending disciples to seize key projects.

They thought spring had finally come, but a new S2 Magus demands the association head position.

The elders’ thoughts also deepened.

‘In the state of accepting the competition, our force’s weakening becomes only prey for other nations.’

Though they can temporarily strengthen mages’ capabilities using mana amplification technology, it’s difficult to judge direct victory against Rakis or Tyr, even Rezhen.

Wanstein’s presence was that great.

Because even knowing his immoral acts, S2 Magi whom elders tolerated were symbols of military might that would shake the world.

‘Agnes… Agnes…!’

Elders remembering Agnes each revealed complex feelings.

Ruin sat in the lowest seat and leisurely examined the factions and branch heads.

‘Do they still have leisure?’

Ruin wore a sneer.

They still didn’t seem to grasp the ripple effects Wanstein’s death would bring.

So he should strike them somewhat and make them aware of reality.

‘I must first expel those who acted hostile toward Lord Pernok.’

Ruin who examined factions and branch heads for several days tapped his cane on the floor.

As if drawn by the sound, everyone’s gazes gathered on Ruin.

“I heard it’s a meeting. However, you all have nothing to say.”

“Ahem, Ruin Agnes. This is the great conference hall. Though we recognized your family, the faction founding matter is difficult to decide easily.”

“Understood. Then I’ll be leaving.”

“Hm?”

When Ruin rose from his seat and tried to leave the great conference hall, the elder chief urgently shouted.

“W-wait! Where are you going!”

“Didn’t you say I’m not needed?”

“No, when did we say such words?”

“Do I look like such a leisured person that you can take your time?”

When Ruin looked back with cold eyes, the elders and each faction’s leaders turned their heads.

Because the subtly flowing mana’s presence was squeezing their hearts.

“The previous generation instructed me. When the association’s difficulties arrive, go help them. You shamelessly use mana technology jointly researched with Agnes as the association’s asset while turning a blind eye to Agnes’s collapsed reality. Nevertheless, we came here wanting to preserve the last remaining ties, yet how do you consistently ignore and guard against me, putting me to shame?”

Each word endlessly spat out dug into the elders’ hearts.

Whether the reddened face was embarrassing, the elder chief coughed and spoke carefully.

“Agnes’s merit certainly has no problem being accepted as the association’s member. Moreover, Agnes’s matter is regrettable. If you’d requested our cooperation, we definitely would’ve helped.”

Ruin let out a bitter laugh.

‘Easily babbling words that don’t exist.’

When Ruin was 10 years old, Agnes couldn’t bear excessive research costs and was chased by debt collectors to ruin.

Because he disliked the family’s appearance crazy about inquiry, Ruin left Agnes.

When he heard news the family perished and searched again, an association building stood at the estate.

Since Ruin was Agnes’s collateral branch from the start, he didn’t even have thoughts of wanting revenge.

There was no reason to defend the direct line’s foolish state.

He just wanted to meet Baudelaire and find peace in a wanderer-like life.

But with Wanstein’s death, since he received other favors from Pernok, his head was only full of thoughts to appropriately utilize the Agnes name and pressure the association.

‘Whether you guys hate Agnes or not, that’s not a big problem to me.’

Shaking the old-fashioned notion that hates losing credit for mana-related technology can be solved with overwhelming military might.

Especially now that the military might’s center disappeared, the board can only flow according to Ruin’s will.

“Then will you prove it now?”

“What?”

“The reason Agnes perished. The Brown faction should know?”

Then the Brown family’s leader’s shoulders trembled.

Because he was the one who made Agnes shoulder massive debt.

“Did you hear about Agnes from the previous generation?”

“That… that…”

“If you don’t know, let me inform you. Thanks to Brown, Agnes shouldered massive debt and was robbed of the family’s everything. Among the association’s mana-related technologies, several things Brown claimed were originally Agnes’s.”

He starts with one person first.

“Since the debt seems all finished, I won’t mention it further. But it’s uncomfortable to meet face-to-face. Expel Brown and give that position to Agnes.”

“What nonsense!”

“Didn’t you unjustly impose debt to steal our family’s technology?”

“I never heard such words!”

“You must’ve wanted to hide it. But I must clearly settle grudges. Not only Brown. Please expel from the association all who coveted Agnes’s things.”

“No, this person!”

“Where is this robbery!”

“This is the association! Do business outside!”

Ruin turned his gaze to the elders.

“The association has spread out so much. Can you handle it with the people here?”

“Mm… We haven’t permitted Agnes faction’s founding.”

“So, I’m saying let’s cleanly resolve all past grudges staking the association head position.”

“Then what would Agnes like?”

“How about trying Magus Arts confrontation staking the association head position?”

Instantly, silence flowed through the great conference hall.

“Agnes’s achievements will be evident once we reveal the source of the technologies they stole.”

“But you have no accomplishments as a member of the Association!”

“I can demonstrate those sufficiently after becoming the association head, can’t I?”

“Ruin Agnes!”

“It seems those present still don’t grasp what Wanstein’s death truly means. I assure you, I’m the only one here capable of cleaning up the mess you’ve made.”

Ruin sneered as he surveyed the Grand Council Chamber.

“You provoked Tyr and even got Wanstein killed—what exactly can you accomplish now?”

“…!”

Everyone bristled, but no one could speak.

“With such pathetic skills that you can’t even dispel a single spell of mine.”

Before they knew it, Ruin’s magic had seized control of the place.

Only after finding themselves unable to open their mouths did they realize they’d been swallowed by silence.

“One thing—if I become the association head, I’ll preserve your current positions, excluding a select few.”

Ruin smiled coldly.

“I’m different from Wanstein. As long as you work diligently in your respective positions, I’m willing to share the benefits. This is Agnes’s declaration.”

When Ruin released his magic, everyone gasped for air.

No one could utter a word as Ruin left the Grand Council Chamber, now filled with nothing but the sound of breathing.

Though the spell had been lifted, they all remained quiet, eyeing one another as if still bound by silence.

* * *

Ruin’s aggressive approach served as a threat that unified the faction leaders.

“He’s dredging up ancient history!”

“If we allow Agnes into the association head election, our heads won’t remain attached!”

“We must stop this!”

The faction leaders submitted a single candidate to the association head election.

The next Magus of the Rose family, someone who could represent everyone’s interests.

Then the faction leaders exercised their voting rights, casting opposition votes to prevent Ruin from ascending to the association headship.

If even a few of those holding the remaining votes joined them, Agnes’s candidacy would become impossible.

But the elders all rallied behind Ruin.

“Ruin Agnes is a treasure of the Association, possessing tradition, legitimacy, and practical merit.”

The elder chief, who had viewed Ruin unfavorably in the Grand Council Chamber, personally stepped forward to support him. The perspective of conservative mages gradually shifted as well.

“Agnes contributed to the development of mana amplification technology?”

“Mm, the coating technique is also based on Agnes’s theories?”

“All the theories claimed by other factions originated from Agnes?”

Even mages who had devoted themselves solely to research emerged from their seclusion and gathered around Ruin.

Ruin harshly criticized the past actions of the faction leaders while generously sharing his knowledge with the researchers.

An S2 Magus was holding lectures.

It was only natural for the association’s marginalized mages to flock to him.

The panicked faction leaders sought out the elders.

“Even if Agnes’s merit is recognized, until now they were an outsider with absolutely no relation to the association!”

“To accept him who suddenly appeared!”

“Where did the association’s tradition go!”

The elder chief was silent.

The elders also turned away from the faction leaders.

Because Ruin’s proposal was too attractive to help them.

“I’ll punish families that instigated expelling Agnes the moment I ascend to association head. And I’ll give their authority to the elders. Entirely on condition you support me who became association head.”

Elders who established positions in the association looking only toward retirement remember Wanstein’s actions.

Wanstein viewed elders only as skillful tools.

Each faction’s leaders either stayed silent then or sympathized with Wanstein.

Along with past memories, they couldn’t know what treatment they’d receive if they birth a new association head.

In the association, elders only heard words that they’re past heritage representing conservative mages.

How could they not be tempted when Ruin proposes to join Agnes and beautifully finish later years?

‘Ruin is an S2 Magus. Each nation’s competition is intensifying, and we can’t discard Ruin here. There’s no way to compromise except placing him as association head. The association needs Ruin to continue.’

Above all, only by filling lacking military might can they continue the future.

In a world where weak forces are weeded out, by what means could an association without a single Magus maintain voice?

“Ruin lacks nothing as association head. If you dislike him, win the election.”

The elder chief’s resolute words sounded like death sentences to each faction.

When they started openly supporting Ruin, stubborn free mages threw votes.

Moreover, those who judged Ruin possessed military might to wash away anxiety cast on the association rushed to find Ruin.

It didn’t take even a month for Agnes to fill the place where Wanstein’s faction disappeared.

Ruin also cast off radical methods and treated mages gently and warmly.

Other factions raising voices was useless.

Because most of the great conference hall led Ruin to the high seat.

“Now, let’s start voting.”

Where numerous mages gathered, Ruin was smiling.

He exquisitely mixed carrot and stick to cook conservative and open mages.

Since each faction’s power claiming only their own rights and interests set with Wanstein’s death, this result was obvious as fire.

* * *

Porla who finished investigation in one month and exited the royal palace received shocking news.

Ruin Agnes was elected new mage association head.

He’d already received Wanstein’s death at the royal palace.

Along with illegal self-luminescent crystal export, it was unbelievable news.

Enduring day by day with anxiety, barely emerging after Flemyr recognized innocence.

Now someone never heard or seen became the new head of his support force.

Without leisure to collect his wits, Porla found the mage association headquarters carrying the merchant group’s massive wealth.

He erased Wanstein’s death from his mind.

He had to win over Ruin Agnes and continue this relationship.

But.

“The association head is busy with official duties and cannot see the prince.”

“What?”

“He conveyed to forgive the rudeness.”

“The elder chief? No, Brown, Rose!?”

“The elders are currently directly executing disposal of the Brown and Rose families and various factions.”

“Wh-what?”

Ludmila’s shadow who became Ruin’s confidant answered indifferently.

“Didn’t you know? That renowned families collaborated with Wanstein to bring the Agnes family to annihilation?”

“…!”

“Ah, there’s one more message to convey.”

He grinned.

“The association head said to cease all external activities for the time being. He resolutely declared the new association won’t relate to the prince at all.”

“…”

“Take care, Your Highness Porla.”

He who bowed to the deathly pale Porla entered the association.

When escorts revealed killing intent at that rudeness, mages from the association raised mana.

‘The association abandons me? Me?’

When Porla couldn’t collect his wits, another shocking news was conveyed.

“Your Highness, urgent report!”

Porla who received the news the messenger brought saw the sky turn yellow.

[Prince Pernok’s mercenaries escorted Marquis Bolano as criminal! Duke Flemyr instructed truth investigation team regarding illegal fund circulation! Large-scale forces gathered at Bolano Marquis territory!]

Pernok’s blade began pointing at Porla’s key limbs.