Chapter 25

"Rat!"

At the loud call, Rat put down the fountain pen he was admiring.

'There’s no time to rest.'

Thinking this, he got up from his seat and asked.

"What is it?"

"Is there a place to distribute the imperial command?"

"To whom do you distribute the imperial command?"

Rat asked, dumbfounded. It’s not like it’s wartime, and suddenly giving away fiefs.

"The princess."

The answer left Rat speechless.

"Do you mean Princess Lirika?"

"Yeah."

"A fief?"

"The royal family all receive them, don’t they?"

"Well, that’s true, but—"

Rat’s eyes narrowed. Altair replied with a sigh.

"If he’s blinded by a woman, he would have given the fief directly to the empress."

"Well, giving a gift to her daughter might be more favorable than giving it directly to her."

Rat’s words made Altair nod and say, "Maybe."

"Anyway, give her a fief. It doesn’t have to be good land."

Rat let out a long sigh. Why was he the chancellor of the empire?

No, he didn’t dislike being a chancellor. He didn’t have to bow to anyone except the emperor.

Being able to stand stiff-necked even in front of the head of the Barat family was one of the good points of this position.

'Except for cleaning up after his whims.'

Giving a fief to the princess. How much should he give?

Actually, the imperial command was quite extensive. In the past, it might have been divided among the royal family, but now there are only two—no, three direct descendants.

When a royal dies, the fief they were granted returns to the emperor, so the imperial command is probably the largest it has been since the empire was founded.

"How much would be enough?"

"Just look at old records and give an appropriate amount."

"Can I ask why you’re doing this suddenly?"

Altair quietly looked at Rat. His deep blue eyes scrutinized him as if weighing him.

Often, Rat thought that if his scales tipped, he would be swallowed into that abyss.

It wasn’t just him.

The family, the empire,

and humanity.

All would sink to the bottom, sending a chill down his spine. It was an inhuman gaze.

Rat barely managed to hold his gaze. When the scrutiny seemed to end, Altair grinned and said,

"Unless it reaches Sandar."

Those words instantly piqued Rat’s curiosity. A creeping interest rose from deep within.

"Of course, I won’t reveal the secrets of the state, even to kin."

Even to kin.

That was the pride of the Sandar and Rat himself.

Altair didn’t believe Rat’s confident declaration but thought it was a good story to test him.

"Do you know about mages?"

"Are you talking about those charlatans who sell strange herbs or skilled tricksters?"

Rat’s tone became sharp. Altair chuckled and sat down. Rat stroked his monocle and said,

"There might be those who use ancient artifacts, but they aren’t mages."

They are just artifact users.

Altair nodded and continued.

"There are currently three types of mages."

"Three types?"

"The first is dragons."

He held up a finger. Rat responded hesitantly.

"Dragons, right."

"The second are those who make deals with primitive spirits..."

"Primitive spirits?"

Rat asked, surprised. Altair shrugged.

"They say such people still exist in the desert."

Rat knew Altair came from the desert. He wanted to ask if he had seen them, but doubted he would get an answer.

Altair continued.

"Here, they are called fairies, I think? But they aren’t the cute creatures from children’s fairy tales."

"This is becoming quite an interesting story."

From what he heard, they seemed to be different from what he thought of as mages. The term "primitive spirits" was also intriguing.

In any case, it was a story about mysterious beings.

Altair held up a third finger.

"Lastly, true humans."

Rat had a strange look on his face.

"I’m a true human, too."

"No, not mixed ones like you. Pure-blooded humans, those who invoke. People who use will as magic, who raised islands from the sea."

Altair’s words made Rat’s expression stiffen. The term "mixed" was a bitter word for the nobility. He said in a low voice,

"Then they don’t exist now."

All humans on this land are, in a sense, mixed with monsters. It’s just a matter of how much.

"Right."

Altair nodded. Rat pieced together Altair’s story.

'So, the princess is one who makes deals with primitive spirits?'

If that’s true, how does she make the deals?

'Maybe it’s because of her innocent and kind nature.'

In any case, it’s a story that should be kept secret.

"I understand. Then I’ll find an appropriate fief."

Rat nodded. Having a fief would increase the princess’s influence. It would be like adding a protective shield.

For such talent, it’s right for the royal family to keep her close and protect her.

Rat thought this. Altair was lost in thought.

Invokers.

Mages.

Pure-blooded humans.

The first to arrive on this continent. Humans rescued by dragons from a crumbling island.

Humans who mixed with the island’s monsters and lost their "will."

He found the term "pure-blooded" somewhat ridiculous. After all, the humans on this continent now consider themselves true humans.

Like Rat.

'They don’t exist now. Right. But it’s interesting, the idea of ancestral regression.'

Altair saw the possibility in Lirika. Someone who uses will powered by affection.

Even if it’s a fake spellbook, it works if she believes in it, follows it, and prays.

In a way, it was a very dangerous ability.

'At least, it’s fortunate that not everyone has the same level of power.'

It’s said that the weaker ones can only mend broken twigs and heal small wounds.

And the stronger ones.

'They can turn back time, warp space, and bring the dead back to life.'

Powers close to those of a god.

Then, perhaps. Perhaps—

'No. There hasn’t been anyone with such powerful abilities in ancestral regression yet.'

He folded away the faint hope. Even with ancestral regression, the best they could do was ensure a good harvest.

He chuckled.

Mixed ones are drawn to pure-bloods. The deeper the call in their blood, the more they are drawn to those closer to monsters.

'If it stops at cute magic, that would be good.'

* * *

'Am I lost?'

The Sun Palace was clearly visible, but she couldn’t go straight there.

Lirika, familiar with the complex back alleys of the slums, quickly noticed something was off. As she pondered, a voice came from above.

"What brings you here, Princess Lirika?"

Lirika looked up and called out happily.

"Fjord!"

As if responding to her call, he leaped down from a tree branch.

He landed so lightly that it felt like he hadn’t jumped from such a tall tree.

Fjord greeted Lirika and asked,

"You’re not here to admire the roses, are you?"

From above, he could clearly see Lirika’s circling figure. Lirika sighed.

"I’m lost."

"This area is complex. You can’t go straight to the Sun Palace, can you?"

"Right!"

That was the issue.

"It’s to prevent people from getting through. If you take a wrong turn here, you won’t reach the Sun Palace."

It’s a maze designed to prevent people from the Sky Palace from reaching the Sun Palace.

"I see."

Next time, she would explore more carefully with Brin.

Focusing on the Sun Palace, she hadn’t realized how difficult it was to navigate elsewhere.

'His Majesty really.'

To leave someone in such a place. If he expected her to remember the way back, she must have disappointed him.

'Brin and Laub must be worried.'

"Fjord, do you know the way?"

"Yes."

"Can you take me there?"

"It would be an honor."

He bowed elegantly and started walking. Lirika walked beside him and asked,

"By the way, Fjord, you’re always in the garden, aren’t you?"

"I like nature."

"Doesn’t your house have a garden?"

"It does, but it’s not to my taste. The fertilizer is too rich and smells bad."

"In the garden? Then, is it okay for others?"

"They seem to have gotten used to it."

Fjord said with a hint of sarcasm. Lirika nodded. She continued,

"Are you okay? Is the place where you were hit healed?"

"Yes, it’s all thanks to your concern that it healed completely."

He smiled. Lirika looked at him and said,

"When I was hit, I felt more embarrassed than in pain."

The sound of a slap and the feeling of being thrown.

It was certainly painful and distressing, but being hit in front of everyone was more embarrassing. It was so embarrassing and shameful that she couldn’t bear it.

"Who hit you, Princess?"

Fjord’s voice was soft. However, Lirika sensed an ominous feeling.

"Back then, the landlord hit me because of overdue rent. But it’s fine now."

Lirika quickly added.

"So, I mean, Fjord might feel the same. Or not. Is it okay to feel that way...?"

Her concerned voice gradually faded, and Fjord fell into thought.

The embarrassment and shame of being hit had long faded. Now, a faint anger and resignation mixed in.

"More than that..."

He muttered