Chapter 47
“Long ago.”
Arthia used to cast teleportation magic for me because I didn’t like riding carriages. Of course, I’m familiar with it.
‘Actually, I used it recently too.’
Didn’t I use a teleportation spellbook to bring Yulia back from the nursing home not too long ago?
“Hmm.”
Chaian slowly nodded.
You mentioned knowing a mage before. It must’ve been through them that you experienced it.
“By the way, about the head of the Ellsia family.”
“The head of Ellsia?”
“How long has he been in charge?”
“Why the sudden question?”
Chaian gave a puzzled look at the abrupt inquiry.
“I have an interest in the Ellsia family.”
“Why?”
“Just because.”
Just because…?
Chaian refrained from asking further, knowing full well he wouldn’t get a proper answer anyway.
“Just under three years.”
“As expected.”
“As expected?”
“What happened to the previous head? Did they die?”
“Yeah, they died of an illness, apparently.”
“Illness? What kind?”
“I don’t know. They just got sick suddenly and passed away within a month.”
“A month…”
“It caused a big stir for a while because it was the head of the Ellsia family, and no one knew what caused it.”
“……”
So it wasn’t a sudden accident or anything like that.
Even so, the fact that the previous head didn’t reveal the location of the real ring to their successor suggests they never intended to pass it on.
‘Three years.’
By now, he must be completely on edge.
He probably knows the ring he has is a fake.
Every three years, the Ellsia family holds a family meeting. It’s a gathering of the family elders where the head’s actions over the past three years are rigorously evaluated.
One of the key points at these meetings is ensuring that the family head has properly safeguarded the heirloom ring.
‘There’s no fooling them with a fake.’
The real ring possesses a unique ability.
Not only the elders but everyone in the Ellsia family knows this.
Actually, doesn’t the whole world know?
‘He must be going insane.’
With the family meeting date looming and the elders likely to press him, his fake ring and the mystery surrounding the real one must be driving him mad.
The current head of Ellsia must be in turmoil.
“What about the favor the head of Ellsia asked you for?”
At the palace, Creel Ellsia had asked Chaian to install a defensive magic circle around the entire Ellsia estate.
Probably unsettled by the appearance of the Black Forest in the capital, he wanted a magic circle that could fend off monsters.
“Rich people… They’re something else, huh, Ceres?”
“…Says the guy who throws around 5,000 gold like pocket change.”
Shouldn’t I be the one saying that, given my debts?
“Oh, come on.”
Chaian pouted, clearly annoyed by the favor.
“I don’t like it. It’s just more work for me.”
Installing a magic circle around an estate of that size would be an enormous task, requiring significant manpower and cost.
“So, are you going to do it?”
“Well, the responsible team will inspect and submit a report first.”
“But you’re the one who makes the final decision, right?”
“Probably?”
“Hmm… If you end up doing it, can you include me in the team? I’ll even do grunt work.”
“Eh? Why?”
“Just because I want to.”
“……”
What’s going on? Does she have some connection to the Ellsia family?
‘But Creel Ellsia didn’t seem to recognize her at all.’
Chaian stared at Ceres with curiosity but eventually nodded.
“Alright. I’ll think about it.”
***
Bang!
“Damn it.”
Creel Ellsia couldn’t hold back a curse.
In his hand was a crumpled piece of paper.
Two months later, the family meeting would be held.
It was an official document from the Council of Elders, specifying the date.
“Where on earth did he hide it!”
For almost three years now, Creel had been searching the entire house but had yet to find any trace of the real ring.
The unbearable pressure was making Creel increasingly irritable.
“Damn old man!”
To think that the ring worn by his predecessor and mentor was a fake!
Creel glared at the red ring on his finger with a deadly gaze.
‘So he knew all along, didn’t he?’
That I was planning to kill him?
Otherwise, there’d be no reason for him to hide the real ring!
“Ha.”
The plan was perfect!
The poison he used to assassinate his mentor was incurable and undetectable. It was an exceptional substance that no one would suspect.
How elated he had been, watching his mentor grow weaker by the day and pass away within a month.
“You shouldn’t have tried to hand the successor position to someone else… You knew how much I struggled, yet you schemed behind my back. It’s all your fault, not mine!”
To win his mentor’s approval, he’d worked tirelessly, sometimes sleeping less than an hour a day, devoting himself to research and work.
But to discover that his mentor had planned to hand over the succession to someone else?
The betrayal Creel felt upon learning this by chance was immeasurable.
And so, he decided.
To assassinate his mentor.
At the same time, there were people who knew everything and extended a hand to him. The poison they provided was truly flawless.
Even the fake will they crafted, declaring him the rightful successor, was perfect enough to deceive everyone with its handwriting.
“If only the ring had been real…”
If it had been, the plan would’ve been flawless.
But the ring he received turned out to be a fake.
Until now, he’d somehow managed to deceive everyone, but once the family meeting was held, he wouldn’t be able to hide it anymore. The ring’s power would have to be demonstrated.
“What should I do?”
He couldn’t tell anyone, nor could he ask for help. Doing so would likely result in his immediate removal from his position as the head of the family.
In the Ellsia family, no position carried as much power and significance as the head’s ring. Without the ring, he would lose all authority as the family head.
‘Then again.’
If someone else had made the head’s ring disappear, he wouldn’t have forgiven them either.
“Ha.”
Another heavy sigh escaped Creel’s lips.
Staring at the crumpled document, he pressed his throbbing temples with his fingers.
Knock, knock.
“Come in.”
The butler entered the room urgently following the knock.
“What is it?”
“There’s a message from the Tower.”
“Really?”
Creel’s tense expression brightened instantly. It must be the response to his request.
Relieved by the faster-than-expected decision, Creel eagerly read the document handed to him by the butler.
When Creel first realized the ring was a fake, his immediate action was to expand his influence.
He used every means at his disposal to build relationships with nobles and worked tirelessly to establish ties with the royal family.
‘If I ultimately can’t find the real ring…’
He needed something to convince the elders.
Even if the ring was gone, someone still had to take up the role of the head.
‘If that’s the case…’
He thought it best to prepare for a scenario where the tide would turn in his favor.
Something like, “Alright, you can continue as the head.”
And that plan was progressing steadily.
‘If even the Tower supports me!’
Then he’d be in an unbeatable position.
For a long time, Creel had been trying to build a relationship with the Tower but found it difficult.
The obstacle was Chaian, the head of the Tower, who was less approachable than anticipated.
Despite countless requests for meetings, citing the need for cooperation, all had been declined under the excuse of being too busy.
In the end, Creel resorted to making an official request to the Tower.
The appearance of the Black Forest in the capital provided the perfect pretext.
Though the magic circle installation was an astronomical expense, what did that matter when his position as head of the family was at stake?
“Hmm?”
As Creel continued reading the document, his eyes widened.
Not only had the request been accepted, but there was an even more surprising detail included.
“The Tower Master is coming in person?”
Chaian’s name was listed as the project lead.
***
“Welcome.”
Creel greeted Chaian and his party with a face full of smiles.
Who would’ve thought the Tower Master himself would visit?
Chaian also wore a wide, enigmatic smile.
“You must be quite wealthy.”
“Pardon?”
“Installing a magic circle isn’t cheap.”
“Haha, it’s for the safety of my family. Such expenses are necessary.”
“Ah, family. You’re quite the generous head of the household.”
“You flatter me. This way, please.”
Creel led the way, and Chaian followed, maintaining his enigmatic smile.
“Hey.”
“Hm?”
Ceres approached Chaian and spoke quietly.
“Why are you even here?”
Ceres had only been informed this morning that Chaian would be accompanying them on this assignment.
Not just her, but others had also been puzzled by his involvement in such a minor task.
‘Why would the Tower Master come? Is he sick?’
‘Is there something fun going on there?’
‘Are we really going there to work, or is this a vacation?’
‘If Chaian’s going, it’s probably a vacation, right?’
She barely suppressed the urge to ask how he’d lived his life up to now.
—
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