The tournament proceeded, stirring up endless buzz.
What captured the attention of the imperial citizens was, without question, Oliver of the Elgast family.
He was born of noble blood and had been praised since childhood for his overwhelming skill compared to his peers.
To the imperial people, he was a source of pride.
They had no doubt that he was the most skilled participant in the tournament.
"Isn't the third prince of Briol strong too?"
"I heard he didn't enter."
"Then does that mean he's not skilled?"
"Even if he's outstanding, that only works in a small country like Briol. He probably got scared it wouldn't hold up in the Empire."
"I heard he was active in the Allied Army."
"That's probably an exaggeration. I heard Laurent is stronger anyway."
"Guess a prince is still just a prince?"
And on the other hand, with Yuri not participating in the tournament, suspicions about his abilities began to arise.
Particularly, those who resented the fact that the main figure of the Allied Army was a prince from Briol and not the Empire began raising their voices.
But Yuri didn't care.
Rather than receiving temporary praise, he preferred having future enemies from the Empire look down on him.
When you underestimate your enemy, you always pay the price in blood.
"Your Highness, should I go say something?"
"Forget it."
Jared, who was walking with Yuri in disguise, frowned at the conversations they overheard.
"Just hearing it makes me angry. Why don't you just enter the tournament...?"
"If I join when minnows are playing, it's a foul."
"Well, that's true, but...."
"Today, was Laurent fighting Fenek?"
"Yes."
"That's unfortunate for Fenek."
The tournament progressed without any major upsets. Those expected to win, won, and those expected to lose, lost.
Thus, it reached the round of sixteen.
By now, familiar names to Yuri were filling the brackets.
"Sibylla's opponent is Oliver, right?"
"Yes."
"Guess she'll be eliminated on the same day...."
It would be a tough day for the Holy Kingdom.
Though both Fenek and Sibylla were fairly strong knights, they were no match for Laurent or Oliver.
"Did Sven survive?"
"Yes."
"Oh...."
"Whether it's luck or skill, he managed to climb up somehow."
Besides that, Sven kept winning unexpectedly, and Froin also steadily claimed victories.
"What will you do today? You're not going to watch the tournament, right?"
"Yeah."
While the tournament went on, Yuri either went to the Swordsmanship Guild to practice his one-point thrust or volunteered at the temple, building rapport with the Black Knight.
Aside from that, he had nothing else to do.
With the trail of dark magic having gone cold in the imperial palace, he had no way to investigate further.
Now, he could only rely on Ragna.
"No word from His Highness?"
"No."
"Hmm...."
After Yuri informed him of the suspicions regarding the crown prince, Ragna had been rushing around busily.
"Or maybe...."
Suddenly, something occurred to Yuri.
A thought he hadn't once entertained since arriving at the imperial capital.
"Should I go to the Crystal Tower today?"
Originally, Yuri had no interest in magic. So he had never even considered visiting the Crystal Tower.
But now, out of nowhere, he felt like going.
It was just a sudden whim.
"Think I can? Sir Ernando's there, so I should be allowed in, right?"
"Probably?"
Ernando had been going in and out of the Tower constantly, saying he'd investigate that mysterious parchment—but never explained exactly what he was doing.
"Since it came to mind, let's go."
"Sounds good. I've always been curious about the Tower. I'd like to visit the main branch someday...."
"You were interested in magic?"
"When I was little."
"You must've wanted to become a mage?"
"Not quite, but doesn't everyone have fantasies about magic when they're young?"
They called a carriage headed to the Crystal Tower.
Though it was commonly referred to as a "tower," outside of the main branch, actual towers were rarely used.
The Imperial branch was a large, rectangular ivory-colored building. Its square windows were evenly spaced, giving it a geometric look.
Yuri and Jared stepped down from the carriage and walked toward the entrance.
There was no one at the entrance.
"No guards?"
"Can we go in?"
"Probably?"
"Hmm...."
"Let's try."
After a brief hesitation, the two opened the entrance and stepped inside.
Immediately, a strange smell hit them. It was somewhat like herbs, somewhat like sulfur.
"Smells weird."
"Mages do alchemy too, you know...."
The interior wasn't much different. A hallway the same ivory color as the exterior stretched on.
Aside from the wooden doors shut at regular intervals, there were no decorations or furniture, making it feel like they had accidentally entered a brand-new, unoccupied building.
No matter how much they looked around, they were the only ones there.
"Hello?"
When Jared called out, his voice echoed.
"Isn't anyone here?"
Once the echo faded, silence returned.
Unable to hold back, he knocked on the nearby door.
Then, a response came immediately.
"I'm concentrating! Get lost! Don't interrupt!"
"Whoa?"
Not expecting an answer, Jared stumbled back in surprise at the sudden shout.
He thought no one was here, but apparently someone was.
"Was Ernando the friendly type?"
"Seems like it...?"
"No reception staff at all?"
Just then, one of the many firmly closed doors suddenly opened.
A gaunt, pale-faced woman wearing thick glasses walked out.
Her shoulders drooped as she shuffled forward, completely ignoring Yuri and Jared as she passed by.
Jared followed and spoke to her.
"Excuse me."
"Huh...?"
"I'm looking for someone, wondered if you might know...."
"I don't know."
"But I didn't even say the name...."
"I haven't slept, my brain's not working. I probably couldn't even remember my mom's name right now, so don't bother me and go."
Then, as if shooing away flies, she waved her hands and wandered off.
Yuri called out.
"Do you happen to know Ernando?"
She didn't respond, but after taking about five more steps, she finally reacted.
"Oh, Sir Ernando...?"
"Yes."
"Are you his guests...?"
"Yes, we are."
"Oh, then...."
She adjusted her glasses, closed her eyes, and tapped her temple.
"Uhh, what floor was it...."
"Is he upstairs?"
"Numbers. This is the first floor, right?"
"Yes."
"What comes after the first floor?"
"Excuse me?"
"What's above the first floor?"
"The second floor."
"Right. Then above that...."
"The fourth?"
"Higher?"
"The fifth."
"Go ask there."
A mage who couldn't count? That didn't make sense. As Jared stared blankly, the woman frowned and turned away.
"I told you, I haven't slept...."
And then she shuffled off again, walking away to somewhere unknown.
They'd heard that mages were eccentric, but they didn't know it was to this extent.
"She's really strange."
"Guess all mages are like that."
The two climbed the staircase located in the center of the hallway.
Even on the fifth floor, the layout was the same—just a long hallway lined with evenly spaced wooden doors, just like the first floor.
"Is Ernando somewhere around here?"
"Should we try opening every door?"
"That seems rude..."
"Then how about calling out?"
"Yeah, try it."
"You should call out too, Your Highness—"
"I don't want to."
"Why not?"
"Feels like someone might cast a spell on us for being noisy."
Just then—
"Who are you looking for?"
A voice suddenly came from behind.
Yuri turned around, startled, his heart sinking.
He hadn't sensed any presence at all.
"You are..."
Someone wearing a hood was standing there, holding a wooden staff taller than himself.
His face was hidden, but his small frame and clear voice were that of a young boy.
"You said Ernando?"
"Yes, that's right."
"What a marvelous coincidence. I came here looking for Ernando as well."
His tone was that of a very old man. Jared tilted his head in confusion.
"Uh, well… Then, do you know where Ernando is?"
"Not yet."
"Then..."
"I'll find out now. Hohoho..."
"How?"
"Wait and see."
He slammed his staff onto the floor with a thump. Then, gripping it with both hands, he rolled it like starting a fire, and with a flick, let it go.
The spinning staff lost balance and toppled over.
He picked it up again and pointed to where the tip of the staff was facing.
"There, there he is."
"…Excuse me?"
"Ernando is in that room."
"Is that accurate? Didn't you just spin it randomly?"
"Tsk, how can a mere swordsman try to grasp the balance of the universe?"
Jared gave a dry laugh. It seemed the young boy was so lost in fantasies of magic that he was playing out this theatrical act.
"You brat. Stop messing around and get going."
"Brat? Messing around?"
"Adults have work to do. We don't have time to play with you."
"Adults?"
He burst into laughter.
"How long have you even lived to call yourself an adult? That word doesn't even suit you to begin with."
"You little punk…"
"Call me a brat one more time and you'll face harsh punishment."
"You're the one who's about to get smacked today by this big brother here."
"Big brother, you say? Hahahaha..."
As they argued, one of the previously closed doors quietly creaked open.
Yuri, watching from behind, tilted his head.
"Uh..."
Could that ridiculous spinning of the staff have actually meant something?
From the very room the hooded figure pointed to, Ernando was walking out.
Ernando looked at Yuri with a complex expression.
His gaze was curious enough that Yuri tilted his head again.
"Hoo..."
Letting out a sigh, Ernando then bowed his head toward Yuri and approached the two quarreling figures.
"Alright, you two, that's enough..."
But neither showed any sign of backing down.
"Sir Ernando, this kid is being incredibly rude."
"Ernando. This one calls me a kid, can you believe it."
"Ugh..."
Ernando squeezed himself between them and forcibly separated them.
"Let's not do this out here. Please, come inside."
Still glaring at each other disapprovingly, they followed Ernando. Yuri also followed them into Ernando's room.
The door closed behind them.
Yuri looked around blankly.
"How is this...?"
Unbelievably, a lush forest spread out inside.
The foliage was thick, flowers were blooming, and birds chirped above their heads.
The scent of earth rising from the ground confirmed this wasn't some illusion.
"This is my domain."
"How is this possible...?"
"It's a type of workshop. It's possible to connect it from the Crystal Tower. But, that's not important. More importantly..."
Ernando turned to look at the hooded figure.
"I understand why His Highness and Sir Jared are here, but what brings you here?"
"Am I not allowed to come?"
"You're the one who said you didn't want to see me..."
Jared tilted his head.
Ernando was treating the other with surprising courtesy.
Was it possible that the voice was merely young, and removing the hood would reveal an old man full of wrinkles?
Ernando spoke to Yuri and Jared.
"Allow me to introduce him—"
"No, I'll do it."
Cutting off Ernando, the boy turned toward Jared. He poked Jared's chest with the tip of his staff.
"Young one, look carefully. See who I truly am."
He pulled back his hood.
What emerged was a boy with soft salmon-colored hair. His face was finely shaped, with large eyes—so much so that he could be mistaken for a girl.
Jared tilted his head again.
"He really is a kid though?"
"Tsk..."
Yuri jabbed Jared in the side.
"Hey, Jared."
"Yes?"
"Look at that."
"Look at what?"
"His ears."
Jared turned his eyes.
Through the boy's shoulder-length hair, a long, pointed ear stretched out.
"Uh..."
Jared's eyes widened.
He stared blankly between the boy's face and his long ears.
"No, don't tell me..."
"It's exactly what you think."
"If I may ask… how old are you...?"
"Older than your grandfather's grandfather."
"Ah..."
Jared bowed his head.
"My apologies. I was very rude. Please accept my apology."
"You need to fix your habit of only trusting what you see."
"Yes..."
Yuri, too, was quite surprised as he looked at the boy.
On the continent, there were originally many races beyond humans. But over time, their numbers dwindled, and they disappeared into secret sanctuaries known only to their kind.
As a result, they could no longer be found anywhere on the continent.
But, not all had vanished.
There were still some who wandered outside the Forest of the World Tree.
The last elf of the continent.
And at the same time, a mage who holds one of the seats among the Ten Strongest.
"I am the Archmage, Inariel."
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