Ch 174
“Certainly… Lord Ronhart’s words also make sense.”
Dray mulled over Wongeom’s point and spoke in a self-restrained tone.
“No ━ no. Lord Ronhart’s words are the ones that make sense. If I were to choose the side that is reasonable, it would naturally be Lord Ronhart’s opinion.”
But that expression.
That tone.
Would it be too sensitive to think he seemed to be suppressing enjoyment?
Wongeom felt a strange unease towards Dray.
He inwardly exercised Caution against him.
If there was a type of person Wongeom had been most wary of in his life, it wasn’t the Sword Master who had reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship, nor the Archmage who had reached the top of the Magic Tower.
Those who attract and manipulate people with their unfathomable Inner Thoughts.
They were the most difficult to deal with when they stood on the opposite side.
Wongeom immediately recognized it.
The fact that Dray was a person belonging to that category.
“Entrusting a task that requires Magical Aptitude to someone who caught Wongeom’s eye with just a sword… It’s absurd. Beyond being inefficient, it’s against Reason. Isn’t it?”
Look at that.
That subtle way of speaking, where it’s hard to fathom his Intention.
‘Is he worried that my involvement will interfere with his Relationship with Lisir?’
Lisir is a bright and wise Man.
Wongeom didn’t have an ounce of Doubt about that fact.
But he was still young.
Too young to deal with that Man who seemed to have the eyes of a snake and the face of a fox.
‘Dray ye Mastien…’
For him, handling Lisir would be very simple.
Lisir certainly has infinite potential as a Swordsman, but that alone was not enough to protect himself.
Especially in front of the huge background of a Noble who wields great power right now.
It’s a chronic problem that young people with Talent without a background experience.
Gaining the favor of Powerholders, getting involved with them, and ending up in Situations that they cannot handle with their own power alone.
Wongeom.
He had seen countless young people in the same Situation fall apart.
He made a Determination.
The Noble’s Interest.
He had to give Lisir the strength to protect his safety from it.
Wongeom answered Dray, who was calmly waiting for his answer.
“That’s right. Entrusting a task that requires Magical Aptitude to someone who wields a sword. It is clearly against Reason. Just as you said.”
But.
Why?
Why?
Wongeom looked at Dray as if he was conducting an Interrogation.
“Entrusting a task that requires Magical Aptitude to someone who wields a sword is against Reason… What a perfectly reasonable statement…!”
That was Dray’s reaction.
He savored Wongeom’s words once again, suppressing a laugh.
Under normal circumstances, it would have been an act of Disrespect without a doubt.
But why?
“…?”
Wongeom was in Confusion.
He found himself not feeling even a little unpleasant about Dray’s reaction.
In a way, it was natural.
Dray suppressing his laughter.
Dray’s reaction right now.
It stemmed from pure joy that wasn’t mixed with even a trace of impurity.
Even, Dray’s Gaze towards Wongeom was warm.
A child enjoying watching bubbles.
It was like the Expression of an adult looking at such a child with satisfaction.
They say those who enjoy are strong.
Dray’s overwhelming pleasantness was relentlessly breaking down Wongeom’s defenses.
“Lord Ronhart?”
It was then.
Lisir.
Feeling that the two people’s Conversation didn’t mesh, he opened his mouth to relieve Wongeom’s Confusion.
“Ah, wait. Lisir.”
Dray stopped Lisir.
He said with his Eyes.
It’s okay.
I’ll take care of it.
Dray hoped that this adorable joy created by the beginner （?） would last a little longer.
Lisir, unaware of Dray’s Inner Thoughts, simply nodded at the sight of the trustworthy Noble.
“Lord Ronhart. May I ask you something?”
“I am an old Man who only knows swords. I am too lacking to have a Conversation with a bright Man like you.”
“Haha. Please don’t say that. How could a Youngster like me dare to discuss knowledge in front of Wongeom’s name. This is just a light Conversation to solidify the smooth Relationship between the three of us.”
“If so, this old Man will trust your words and engage in the Conversation with a light Heart, and continue to listen to the questions you haven’t finished.”
“If, hypothetically speaking.”
Wongeom maintained his Composure on the outside, but was inwardly in Tension.
Even if his reputation was still intact, he was ultimately a ghost of the old era.
If the young and powerful Noble in front of him decided to deceive him, there was nothing he could do.
‘What kind of question will he ask…’
It would surely be a tricky question that requires political Sensation.
Wongeom braced himself and waited for his next words.
“Lisir’s magical Ability is comparable to that of a Master of the Magic Tower. Or even more.”
“?”
Dray, who seemed to be very excited for some reason, started in an intriguing tone.
“If that is the Reason why I entrusted Lisir with a task that requires magical Aptitude ━ how would Lord Ronhart accept that?”
“…Is it some kind of riddle?”
A question that was so different from what he had imagined.
Ronhart unknowingly asked back with a bewildered Expression.
“No ━ it’s not like that.”
Dray was about to die of joy at that reaction.
“It’s just a simple question and answer. Lord Ronhart, you can just tell me what comes to your mind.”
“Goodness…”
If Dray’s question had seemed even slightly meaningful, Ronhart would have tried to grasp the hidden Intention behind the question.
But.
What Intention was he supposed to hide and find in those wordplay-like words?
It was as Dray said.
All Ronhart could do was to say what came to his mind after hearing that question.
To speak the Right Path of a foolish question and a wise answer.
“Isn’t Lisir a Swordsman?”
Feeling embarrassed for being hit right on the mark.
That was the reaction Dray was supposed to show.
“Hahahahahaha!!!”
But, Dray was so excited that his face turned red, and he burst into hearty laughter, as if he liked some part of that answer so much.
“Haha! That’s right! Lisir is also a Swordsman!”
“…?”
After enjoying the joy for a while, Dray took a breath and shook his head.
“Lord Ronhart. Thank you for engaging in the Conversation.”
“…Is that the end?”
“Ah! Do you have anything else you would like to ask me? I mean, regarding Lisir.”
“…No. The Conversation with you is too… overwhelming for me. I don’t even know what beat to match.”
“Haha. I’m sorry. It may not be much of a reward, but as you said, I will Reconsider entrusting Lisir with the task.”
“…”
Is this right?
He’s backing down this easily?
‘There’s definitely another Intention ━ no, but that Attitude… no… no…’
Dray’s current state was clearly too much for a beginner （?） to follow.
At that time, when Wongeom was struggling with terrible Confusion and a sense of powerlessness.
Lisir said.
“Lord Ronhart. Thank you for your concern, but that is something Duke Pallag entrusted to me. It is also something related to me.”
“But you are━”
Was it because of the grand initiation ceremony （?） that his senior （?） had given him?
-But aren’t you a Swordsman.
Wongeom instinctively withdrew the words that were about to follow.
He realized.
In matters related to Lisir, one must approach with an unconventional Thinking Style!
He recalled it like that.
The appropriate behavior for this Situation.
‘Could it be that after Astrology…!’
That shocking possibility.
“Lisir. Could it be…”
Wongeom stared at Lisir with trembling Eyes.
“Not only Astrology, but you are also enjoying Magic?”
“That’s right.”
“Heo…!”
Ronhart sighed, holding his forehead.
“D, Duke Dray… May I ask you one last thing…?”
“I will gladly listen.”
What will he say there again!
Dray answered immediately with sparkling Eyes.
“The level of magical knowledge required for that task… What level is it…?”
“It requires quite a special kind of knowledge. There will be less than ten Wizards in Bondales, including Lisir, who can perform the task.”
“Does Bondales… include the Grey Tower?”
“Of course.”
“Ah…”
Wongeom’s body trembled.
As long as one wields Swordsmanship with the Blue Breath-
The Resonance of wielding Magic becomes a completely different world’s story.
For example.
Lisir has no way to use that profound magical knowledge in practice.
‘If he had focused on Swordsmanship during the time he spent learning that!!!!!!!!!!’
It wasn’t just Astrology.
Wongeom, realizing that Lisir’s Swordsmanship Talent was being wasted in more Field, screamed inwardly.
‘He’s at that level now, even though he’s been doing all those studies in parallel!? Then, if he had focused entirely on Swordsmanship…!’
Let’s think positively.
Wongeom decided to be in Gratitude that he was given the Opportunity to correct his deviation even now.
“Duke Dray. May I have a word with you for a moment?”
“As much as you want.”
Meanwhile, Lisir began to skim through the data he had received from Dray.
“…”
Wongeom was newly surprised by such Lisir.
‘At that age, that level of academic depth.’
It’s hidden by his Swordsmanship Talent, but.
If it wasn’t, it would have been a Talent at a wondrous level in itself.
To be in a position where he has no choice but to urge him to give up all those things as a Swordsman.
Wongeom despaired of his own situation and approached Lisir.
“Lisir… I have something to say.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. Lord Ronhart. Could you wait a moment?”
Hooh.
Wongeom widened his Eyes as he watched Lisir focusing on the Grimoire.
Was there a Result in that short time?
‘Judging from what Dray said just now, it seemed to be a quite difficult Grimoire-‘
Filled with Curiosity, Wongeom approached Lisir from behind and tried to examine the Grimoire.
“Huh?”
It was then.
Something blocked Wongeom’s Perspective.
It was a flickering greyish-white fireball.
“A Spirit…?”
Why a Spirit all of a sudden?
Wongeom looked at Dray.
Did you perhaps summon it?
“…”
Dray shook his head.
With a desperate effort on the corners of his lips.
Then he said.
“It’s a Spirit that Lisir summoned, so there’s no need to be surprised.”
“?”
Did I hear wrong?
Wongeom blinked at Dray.
To him, he could hear the sound of Lisir and the Spirit talking.
Soon.
Lisir waved his hand in the air while keeping his Gaze fixed on the Grimoire.
Then, the Grimoire emitted a brilliant light and illuminated the room.
“Ah, that’s Lisir’s Magic, so you don’t have to be surprised.”
No?
I’m going to be surprised?
“Did you just say that’s Lisir’s Magic?”
As if answering that, a Flash rose from Lisir’s hand.
“…Good heavens.”
Wongeom murmured blankly.
“He really has the power of Magic…”
“No. Lord Ronhart. I think that’s the power of Divine Power.”
“…Where is here?”
Wongeom suddenly looked around with a changed Expression.
In fact, he was Torben.
When Wongeom, who had occupied Torben’s body, lost control of his Self for some reason, Torben’s Ritual temporarily returned.
✦✦✦
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