By Zephyria 
What achievements could be gained?
Marianne and Boulder had said they would confirm whether the magic circle presumed to be in the Bivan Royal Palace was affecting the kingdom’s citizens’ life force. Since one couldn’t freely enter and exit the Royal Castle, it wasn’t something that could be resolved in a single day.
Marianne’s expression had become much more serious. The child walked with soft steps along the outline of the round rug on the floor. The way she put her hands behind her back and acted haughty was both cute and amusing. No matter how much she tried to act like a melancholic elder, her light and graceful gestures were impossible to hide.
“Bivan is a country like Yulan, with few mages and a greater familiarity with Spirit Masters than mages. The mana concentration isn’t naturally high. But now, the mana concentration in Viper is as low as 18 mp at its lowest, and up to 40 mp in some places.”
“Inside the Royal Castle, it seemed to be over 50 mp.”
“Exactly. Then, naturally, everyone should be suffering from mana sickness, or experiencing physical deformities due to mana accumulation. But everyone is so fine, it’s strange.”
“….”
“So, while buying a few clothes, I casually asked around. We said we were doctors and that something similar had happened in Owen. We asked if there were any wealthy patients.”
Even though I knew their goal was to save people, it was sometimes surprising. Rubel and Marianne did not hesitate to weave lies for their own benefit. If I had been in their place, could I have done the same? It was impossible to know.
Marianne continued with a natural expression and tone.
“They said they had made potions for the people who had fallen ill in the Royal Palace.”
“…Potions?”
“Yes. They all recovered after drinking them. The Royal Palace mage certified them as incredibly expensive and good, and they even offered a significant discount, allowing them to be purchased for a few copper coins if one could prove they lived in the capital. Many people bought more than they needed because they were good medicine, and they sold them as much as people asked for.”
“Then, perhaps…”
“Yes. Who am I? Of course, I bought some. I managed to get three bottles. I paid a bit of a premium, but this is coming out of Your Highness’s pocket.”
How much had Rubel brought back?
Come to think of it, I should have brought some of my own money from Yulan. Bivan also had information sources from Sierren’s noble almanac, so I should discreetly inquire and find a way. Marianne continued speaking, oblivious to my thoughts.
“But then again… they’re completely purified, so contaminated mana isn’t detected. Moreover, the simple ingredient testing kits aren’t designed for black magic, so they don’t show anything. It’s beyond what I can investigate, so I think I’ll need help from the Magic Tower… but I can’t send Ranunculus to the capital right now.”
“Why is that?”
“Because I don’t know which mage from the Magic Tower to designate to send Ranunculus to. I have to send it with reagents, so it needs to fall into trustworthy hands… My friends and seniors tend to shy away from black magic.”
“…What about Edwin?”
“That senior is clueless about black magic and lacks social skills, so he’s useless.”
“…Hmm.”
It was a harsh assessment, but it was true. Having nothing more to say, I fell silent.
As I pondered, something suddenly came to mind.
“I heard one of the mages who came to investigate the Golden Turtle in Yulan this time specializes in black magic.”
“Oh? Really? How does Michael know that?”
“I overheard Rubel when he was relaying a message to his successor. Since he’s Mage Boulder’s friend, he’d be in his fifties… I figured he’d know a lot about black magic, so he wouldn’t have come on such a long business trip…”
“Wow. Is that so? I wonder who it is. I’m curious about his name. When Your Highness wakes up, I’ll try sending Ranunculus with the potions attached. We’ll get a reply from Yulan quickly too.”
“Yes, let’s do that.”
Marianne, her expression much lighter, pulled a chair from the side. In the seat facing me, who was sitting on the chair by the head of the bed, the child quickly sat comfortably, placing a chair near the foot of the bed, and chattered away.
“And something even stranger. The Lake of Memories has been frozen for about five years, but the fog in the capital hasn’t been this thick for long.”
“…Hmm?”
“It started slowly thickening in October last year, and by January this year, it became like this.”
This year?
I blinked, not understanding what that meant. Marianne gritted her teeth.
“We destroyed the Black Magician’s Altar on January 5th, didn’t we? If all the contaminated mana from the Indus Canyon flowed into the Bivan capital, here in Viper, then… wouldn’t there be some brats who came along?”
“…You mean.”
“Yes. It seems the black magicians came here. Just a few months ago.”
Among the black magicians who escaped that day was Glotin Tenner.
Marianne’s first love. If it weren’t for him, I would have killed everyone there without hesitation.
Unsure how to bring it up, I fell silent. Marianne snorted dismissively and moved her chair a single step closer.
Marianne’s expression didn’t look sad or sorrowful. She asked.
“Did Michael also know?”
“Know what.”
“That Benjamin likes me.”
“…!”
I was startled.
I didn’t reply, but Marianne let out a sigh.
“…So you knew.”
What should I do at times like this?
Suddenly, cold sweat trickled down my back. Marianne looking into my face felt overwhelmingly burdensome. Rubel, Marianne, Shayden, Ivan—everyone around me was a master at reading my face and discerning what I hadn’t said.
What if Benjamin cried because of my mistake? Concerned, I covered my lower face with one hand and averted my gaze.
At the end of my gaze, I saw Rubel sleeping peacefully. If he hadn’t been sick, I would have woken him up. I was that flustered.
“Ah, it’s fine. I know it’s funny talking about this with Michael.”
“… ”
“I just wanted to confirm once. I don’t intend to ask any more questions.”
“…Hmm.”
Now, I couldn’t bear not to ask.
“That guy… is he not to your liking?”
“Ughhhhhh. I don’t know… No, we’ve been friends for too long… At least, I feel embarrassed… about someone who knows all about my sweet past with a trash ex-boyfriend…”
“Ah…”
“Besides, Benjamin… he’s not affectionate, he’s not fair-skinned, he’s not pretty…”
“… ”
“But I care about him. It’s driving me crazy.”
“… ”
So the story Marianne wanted to tell me wasn’t about Glotin, but about Benjamin. I didn’t want to show my interest, but I was increasingly curious.
Trying my best to act nonchalant, I asked in a dry voice, “What happened?”
Marianne, her mood considerably soured, also placed her heels on the chair.
The child curled up on the chair, which was easily movable unlike a sofa, and fit perfectly. Wrapping her arms around her knees, she buried her face in them and sighed deeply.
Then, she peeked out only with her eyes from above her knees. She looked just like a rabbit hiding in a bush.
“I’m a mage, you see.”
“…Right?”
“So my physical abilities aren’t great. When the cave collapsed, Benjamin just picked me up and ran from the very beginning.”
“He did.”
I had seen that with my own eyes.
Benjamin, carrying Marianne and Rubel in each arm, threw Rubel to me, and disappeared from my sight as the floor collapsed. Naturally, I assumed he would have run carrying Marianne in both arms or with her seated on one arm.
“But at some point, his heart started pounding like crazy.”
“… ”
“It was right after Ann, Peter, and the seniors disappeared, so I thought he was very shocked. So I lifted my head to comfort him. There was nothing else for me to do but be held.”
“…Hmm.”
“But…”
“… ”
“But…”
Why was she dragging it out?
My desire to urge her on was as high as the Sierren Magic Tower, but seeing Marianne’s brow furrowed, I suppressed it. Marianne tapped her forehead against her knees and finally continued.
“…His face, from his forehead to his neck, was bright red…”
“…Kuhum!”
Thank goodness. I managed not to laugh.
“I was still in disbelief then, but I thought I was going crazy. We met the Sun God and arrived at the holy land, but there was no news of Michael, and Benjamin kept glancing at me, unsure what to do… But there was nothing I could do there, so I pretended not to know the whole time.”
“…Still, for someone like him… isn’t he okay…?”
Still, as a close friend, I subtly took Benjamin’s side.
Then Marianne let out a laugh. She laughed with her voice, but her expression didn’t match, which was strange. She stretched her arms upwards and straightened her upper body. Still, she maintained a defensive posture, her knees covering her front.
“I know. I know Benjamin is a good guy. But I can’t marry him, even if we date.”
“…Hmm?”
What was this now?
“The Claudian Marquisate and our family are… there’s a significant difference in status, but I… my goal is 8th Circle, for now. I’m not kidding, I’m really, really, really serious about it.”
“…Uh… So?”
“Then I absolutely cannot have children until I’m at least thirty-five. I won’t have time for childcare.”
“… ”
I was greatly surprised.
Marianne always talked to me about eternal love, perfect love, and beautiful love. She wanted to build her own perfect world with love and was often lost in such romantic stories. I stammered, asking, “Then Glotin…”
“That’s why I thought Glotin Tenner was my destiny. He also said he didn’t want to have children. Neither of us had much to pass down, so we talked about just loving each other without children. I thought we could live happily like that, with me researching and studying, and him managing the household…”
“… ”
“Now… I feel like I was talking about a dream. But back then, it was truly love.”
Thump.
Marianne placed her feet on the floor and sat up straight. Leaning back deeply against the backrest, she let out a hollow laugh. Marianne had always seemed like a girl, but now she looked like a grown woman. Marianne murmured again, as if to herself.
“…Back then, it was truly… love.”