Facing the Wizard King's confusion, Yuuki offered no explanation.
Instead, he glanced around, then pointed downward—toward the colossal skull of the ancient demon that loomed over the landscape.
"How about there?"
Julius suppressed the questions rising in his heart and followed Yuuki's gaze. After a brief pause, he nodded.
Given the current state of the Clover Kingdom, there was much he wished to discuss in private. All they needed was somewhere quiet—free from interference.
Whoosh—whoosh!
The two figures descended swiftly from the sky and landed atop the enormous demon skull.
Once steady, Julius let out a quiet breath and wiped a faint sheen of sweat from his forehead.
"Good thing it wasn't far. The magic I can use right now is… rather limited."
He gave a wry smile, then studied Yuuki curiously.
"You said you were surprised to see me like this, but… you don't seem surprised at all. You're the first person who hasn't reacted with shock."
Yuuki lifted an eyebrow slightly.
"You're known as the strongest Wizard King. And you wield Time Magic."
He lowered his gaze to the boyish figure before him and smiled faintly.
"I simply don't believe you'd die so easily."
Julius blinked—then laughed softly, tapping his forehead.
"So, I've been overestimated."
"It was pure luck. Thanks to the ancient mage technique of storing magic—the Swallowtail Crest—it happened to pair perfectly with my Time Magic."
"I was able to resurrect using stored time… though only into this thirteen-year-old body."
He spread his hands helplessly.
Yuuki merely smiled.
"With your current state," he said evenly, "you came to meet me alone. No escorts. I assume that was your personal decision."
Looking down at the shorter figure was slightly awkward, so with a thought—
Two earthen chairs rose from the ground behind them.
Yuuki sat casually, his gaze steady.
Julius sat as well, relaxed.
"You guessed correctly."
"All the captains lost to you. Bringing them would only heighten tensions."
"You must understand—though the king publicly absolved you, what you did has deeply offended the nobles and royals."
"Still… given the kingdom's situation, even without my former strength, I must act as the Wizard King."
He leaned forward slightly, expression earnest.
"I believe we should speak openly. Compromise, if necessary."
"Despite being called the 'greatest villain in the kingdom's history' among the nobles… among the common people, you're being hailed as a hero."
"That's why I'm here."
For all his youthful appearance, his posture carried undeniable authority.
Yuuki acknowledged it inwardly.
Julius Novachrono was an excellent Wizard King.
Even stripped of power, he dared stand before the most dangerous man in the kingdom.
Few would.
But precisely because of that—
Yuuki lost interest in testing him.
Because he was certain.
The one sitting before him now was Julius.
Not the other.
That other presence was hiding behind him. Watching. Waiting.
"Your purpose," Yuuki said flatly.
Julius scratched his golden hair.
"I need you to return the national treasure—Elsdocia. And—"
He stopped.
The seriousness vanished from his face.
Instead, he leaned forward eagerly, eyes shining.
"The ancient magic circles you left in the capital—I examined them!"
"Though damaged, I could tell how extraordinary they were! Where did you find such a ritual? It actually worked!"
"And Noelle, Asta, and Yuno described the state you entered—something beyond ordinary magic. Incredible!"
"Could you show me?"
His excitement was utterly genuine.
For Julius, obsessed with magic and the unknown, the ritual itself was the true reason he had come.
The sword?
Merely incidental.
It fit him perfectly.
But—
Yuuki's expression turned colder.
His dark eyes locked onto Julius's lighter ones.
"You know perfectly well, don't you?"
"The path I walked—only I can walk."
"Just as yours."
His voice was calm.
He had deliberately left the ritual's remnants behind in the capital.
Not carelessness.
Intent.
Theoretically, the ritual was viable.
Practically, it was impossible.
Yuuki had succeeded because of one critical factor—
Replication Magic.
His soul's unique ability to house multiple mana origins.
No one else in this world possessed that trait.
Even if someone perfectly reproduced the ritual, they would fail.
Just as Julius's own future path relied on Soul Magic—purifying devil power and transforming into what he would call an angel.
There were many roads to the realm of gods.
But each road could bear only one traveler.
A saying from Yuuki's previous life surfaced in his mind:
Those who learn from me may live.
Those who imitate me shall die.
Julius frowned.
"I don't understand."
For some reason, Yuuki's words felt layered—as if directed at him, yet not entirely.
Yuuki gave a quiet laugh.
"Wizard King."
"Do you truly believe it was your own will that brought you here?"
"And earlier—when I said you would be the least willing to see harm come to the church… you didn't question it."
"You ignored it."
Yuuki lifted his chin slightly.
Julius froze.
As if struck by something unseen.
In an instant—
His eyes changed.
So did his aura.
It was as though another person had taken his place.
The warmth and gentleness vanished.
In their stead—cold dominion. Detached authority.
A faint, cruel smile curved his lips.
"How did you discover me?"
The voice was similar.
But not the same.
Yuuki's eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
He could feel it clearly now—
The shift in "ki."
"Then tell me," Yuuki said softly, meeting his gaze without flinching,
"Should I call you Julius Novachrono…"
"Or Lucius Zogratis?"
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