Chapter 270 : Chapter 270

Chapter 270

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Warp Gate took them to Pantera Temple.

Afterward, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍they used a Warp Stone to return to Brussels, the capital of Eurasia.

“Whew......”

“There ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is nothing to be afraid of.”

Killian ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍spoke calmly when he saw Julian exhale as though tense.

Losing ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍most of the knight order in the mountain-range subjugation battle was a serious mistake, but.

‘If a Monster Lord intervened, it was unavoidable at Julian’s level.’

Rather than Julian’s orders being the problem, it would be more accurate to say the circumstances had been poor.

If anything, they had confirmed that the Monster Lord’s dungeons were operating throughout the mountain range and connected even to the Current Nations beyond the sea, so that alone was sufficient grounds for leniency.

‘If he presents the agreements formed with Aquares and the Temple of the Sea, His Majesty will not hold him guilty, given his temperament.’

“R-Right?”

“Where did the confidence you had while negotiating as Eurasia’s representative in Aquares go?”

Julian seemed to have lost much confidence, so Killian lightly pushed his back.

“That is right! His Majesty will recognize my efforts after I suffered for several months for Eurasia’s diplomacy!”

“Exactly.”

Julian immediately finished rationalizing and entered the main castle with proud steps.

“Julian!!”

Hearing the news of his return, Emma Eurasia came running with the hem of her dress fluttering.

Cling.

She threw herself into Julian’s arms.

“Julian...... My son...... I knew you were alive. I knew you would return to this mother’s arms, to me.”

“M-Mother, compose yourself. Many eyes are watching.”

Julian pushed away Emma Eurasia, who clung to him in tears, as though burdened by her.

“Why should the gazes of others matter?”

Emma Eurasia looked around sharply.

At her fierce gaze, court knights and attendants hurriedly lowered their eyes.

“My brother must be greatly exhausted in body and mind after months of diplomatic work.”

“Oh, Fourth Prince. You alone truly look after Julian. What a commendable heart you have.”

Not at all.

‘I moved after receiving a proper price.’

What kind of reaction would she have if she knew the shares in the Sepia Merchant Company he had received from her and Julian now exceeded half?

“......”

Julian cast him an odd look.

Pretending not to see it, Killian spoke.

“Please save the reunion for later.”

“I will. Julian, come with me to have an audience with His Majesty.”

“Understood. What about you, Killian?”

“I have left the Extermination Squad unattended too long.”

“Have you......? All right.”

Leaving Julian behind with the face of someone being led to the slaughterhouse, Killian headed for the Extermination Squad Commander’s office.

Serena was at her post in the commander’s office.

“You have returned.”

Since he had been away for a long time, her eyes were ice-cold.

“Nothing unusual happened?”

“There were unusual matters, but I dealt with them for the moment.”

“Ahem. Then shall I hear the report?”

“......”

She looked at him with displeasure for a moment.

“I will begin with the Empire’s movements.”

She continued with a report on Krusty Heinrich’s reign and the unusual reactions it had caused among neighboring nations.

Regarding that matter, Aron, Portran, Gala, and Yulian were currently deeply embedded, gathering information.

“Those people? Is that not dangerous?”

“They boasted that since they could use Carpe Illusion, they could at least escape with their own lives if necessary.”

A formula made to hunt superhumans with only high-ranking knights.

Ordinarily, it was an ability requiring at least one 6-Star knight to activate the formula and at least ten high-ranking knights to support the mana. But the situation appeared to have changed because Yulian could use Carpe Illusion alone.

With Yulian as the medium, five people alone could now face a superhuman.

“Carpe Illusion is not invincible.”

“I agree. It working on me does not mean it will work on other superhumans......”

“Yulian called himself the Second Sword and charged in right away, did he not?”

“......”

“Obsession is an illness too. Still, in his case, his competitive spirit toward you seems to be the secret of his growth.”

“Yulian can be overly conceited...... but his ability is certain, so you need not worry that much.”

Unlike how she treated him, Serena seemed to acknowledge Yulian’s ability deep down.

“What else?”

“The knight orders led by Prince Damian and Prince Fian subjugated two mountain ranges together.”

Killian had heard that monsters started Waves in five mountain ranges. The two princes appeared to have taken over the task Julian had performed, coordinating with the eastern border families.

“It seems the number of superhuman-class monsters has increased.”

The mountain-range monsters were behaving beyond common sense.

‘Until now, we dismissed them as mutants, but their frequency is increasing.’

From now on, they would need to accompany even subjugation battles below the middle layers with one superhuman-class combatant.

“Count Vaskia appears likely to join while leading a knight order. He is, after all, the only superhuman on the border.”

Serena wore an expression as though she itched to move.

But she had to serve as commander of the Extermination Squad in his place.

“Ask Pyrope of the Aden Mine for help.”

Pyrope reached 7-Star even without magical tools. If he used magical tools, he would be on the level of a superhuman who had stabilized 7-Star, so he would be a great help to the subjugation force.

“Will that be all right? It may disrupt weapons production.”

“Seeing how he followed us all the way to the northern border before, he is a man without a proper place to relieve stress. We should provide him with a suitable place to do that while we are at it.”

“......Understood. I will assign Almadin to the mountain-range subjugation force.”

“Was there no news from the Temple of Barriers?”

After leaving the Mind Image World, he called to Murus, but there was no response.

‘There is no issue using divine power...... Is he sleeping?’

His divine nature was not complete either, so it would not be strange for him to need a recovery period as the price for using that much power.

“Id is currently managing the Temple, but there has been no particular report yet. Shall I summon him to the castle?”

“No, that is fine. Even if we can use the Temple’s Warp Stone, there will not be enough time to manage several places.”

The final reports were that Crimson Wolf had visited the Holy See at the Saintess’s summons, and Raven had left to meet Orchid Owl.

After telling her she had done well, Killian stood up.

“Where are you going?”

“The Chief Apothecary’s office. Would you like to come?”

“I am fine.”

“Sword training?”

“......”

Serena answered with silence.

Ever since he had helped her train a few times before, she had oddly avoided showing him her sword.

‘Well, she will come find me again if she gets stuck.’

Killian went straight to the Apothecary, which had been expanded and moved outside the main castle.

As he walked for some time toward the Chief Apothecary’s office.

“You were trying to supply such low-grade ingredients to the Chief Apothecary?!!”

He heard a familiar voice.

Apothecaries had gathered in a noisy crowd beneath a Sephiros signboard.

‘Did a fight break out?’

Thinking he might watch, Killian pushed through the crowd and saw two familiar faces raising their voices.

No, only one was raising his voice.

The other had only raised his voice to defend himself with a flushed face.

“This is unfair! The transaction record clearly stated that they were top-grade......”

“Good heavens, are you, the person in charge of Sephiros and a senior apothecary no less, trying to evade responsibility?”

“No, I have told you several times that is not it......”

“Senior Apothecary Ned! It is difficult to tolerate those petty excuses any longer!”

“C-Chief Attendant Haman......”

“As of today, we will suspend our ingredient trade with Sephiros.”

“Gasp......!!”

“Listen carefully, everyone! Quality matters in ingredients, and trust matters in trade. From now on, I, Haman, will not permit any ingredient supplied to the Chief Apothecary’s office that differs even slightly from its record!”

Because he shouted with mana behind his voice, it rang throughout the area.

Though the apothecaries grumbled, they could not offer any particular rebuttal and withdrew.

Then soon.

“Oh, Prince?”

Haman noticed Killian standing blankly and approached.

“You look brighter than when you were a chief attendant.”

“What brings you here? Do not tell me you came to see me......”

“No. I was on my way to see the Chief Apothecary.”

“Ah, I see.”

“But, Haman.”

“Yes.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

“What do you dislike now, that you are clicking your tongue?”

“A person whose conduct changes because he gains power does not last long.”

“......”

For a moment, Haman stared at Killian with an incredulous expression.

“Prince. I may look like this, but I am an intermediate apothecary directly under the Chief Apothecary.”

“An intermediate apothecary is an intermediate apothecary. What is this ‘directly under the Chief Apothecary’? That is proof you are drunk on a title.”

Killian advised him that if an intermediate apothecary openly humiliated a senior apothecary like that, others might bear a grudge and frame him.

“Hehe. It is not a problem.”

Haman added that they had kept up trade with Sephiros because the range of ingredients they supplied was so vast, but Ned’s private greed had gone too far.

“Is it not important to make an example of someone? I learned all this by watching you, Prince.”

“I never taught you that.”

Ignoring Killian’s words, Haman continued.

“And I am not an ordinary intermediate apothecary.”

Haman placed his hands on his waist and thrust out his chest.

“My Mana Heart has reached 2-Star.”

With complete confidence, he said that among the kingdom’s apothecaries, there were not even twenty who had forged a 1-Star Mana Heart.

“That is how good I am.”

“Oh. That is quite impressive.”

“Huh.”

“What?”

“I just thought it was unlike you, Prince, to praise me so readily.”

“Anyone watching would think I do nothing but spew malicious remarks.”

“Do you not do that to Prince Julian?”

“......”

“You did it to the Extermination Squad and me too.”

“Let us stop talking.”

It seemed praise was less necessary than the rod. He thought he should advise the Chief Apothecary as well.

As he and Haman walked while exchanging idle talk, they arrived at the Chief Apothecary’s office.

“He says to come in.”

When Haman opened the door, the Alchemist whose name had begun resounding across the continent greeted him.

“Fourth Prince. It has been a long time since your last visit.”

“Chief Apothecary, you seem to grow younger and younger.”

“It is idle talk, but not entirely wrong. Sit anywhere.”

“......”

Killian thought he could see where Haman’s confidence came from.

“Well? What interesting thing have you brought this time?”

“Anyone would think I only seek you out when I need something, Chief Apothecary.”

“I cannot say that is untrue.”

Grin.

Roen smiled and gestured toward the table with his chin.

His attitude plainly said to take out whatever Killian had brought.

‘Why do those actions seem so familiar?’

Killian did not realize that those actions originated with him.

“It is a crystal from a monster called Telesa, which lives in the Current Nations.”

Killian took Siren’s crystal from his pocket and set it on the table.

“A crystal? It is not a mana crystal?”

“They were a race that thrived in ancient times, but they seem to have become a waterside race after adapting to the divine power of Neptune, the God of the Sea.”

“A monster with divine power?!!”

“Yes. This is the queen’s crystal among them.”

“Tell me in detail!”

As Killian’s story of the Current Nations continued, Roen’s face filled with shock.

When Killian reached the part where Neptune descended into Siren’s body and fused with a Fragment of the Anomaly, Roen nearly had trouble breathing.

“Haa...... Fourth Prince. Your exploits are reaching a level I can no longer handle.”

Despite his words, Roen’s eyes sparkled as he stared at the crystal.

“Please keep this secret from outsiders. If even the Holy See learns of it, the relationship we have worked so hard to build will become awkward.”

“Do not worry. When have I ever revealed your information to outsiders?”

Fwoooooosh.

Killian chatted briefly with Roen, who was unconsciously releasing superhuman mana, then left the Chief Apothecary’s office.

‘Studying Siren’s crystal should also provide reference for other newborn species.’

After that, days of tracking the Empire’s movements, gathering information between the kingdom and its allied nations, and training with the sword repeated.

One day, after no report came from Yulian even as time passed, Killian contacted Absinthe separately.

“Master~.”

Late at night.

Orchid Owl came to Killian’s bedroom.

Then.

“It looks like those people have been caught~.”

She delivered an unwelcome report.