Chapter 5

After that, I somehow managed to escape from Klaus's pursuit and headed towards dinner.

During dinner, the moment Klaus brought up the topic of the ruins, both my father and Duke Halfan sternly advised him against it.

There was no helping it. It wasn't a place a ten-year-old child should go.

When the topic of the ruins came up, it was a secret that my brother, with a cool face, was secretly worried inside.

I'm glad I had Edelbert, my brother, keep quiet about his visit to the "Ruins of the Arrivals" to Klaus.

After the dinner party, Edelbert was about to head to the magical academy city of Rhindes, located in the central part of the continent, using the transfer gate at the "Spring Palace."

The transfer gates are located underground in important buildings at each base, connecting the bases magically to provide a warp function.

To use it, a one-time key is required, so my brother received a key from my father after the dinner party.

There was something that suddenly made me uneasy during my conversation with Klaus earlier.

I wanted to ask about the magic placed on this star crystal, so I caught my brother, who was packing his belongings in his room.

"Brother, I'm sorry to bother you, but may I ask about this necklace?"

"Hmm, what about the necklace, Erika?"

"Lord Klaus was concerned about the magic placed on this necklace. He said it was a very special kind of magic."

"Special magic, huh. ...Let me see it, Erika."

With a slight frown, my brother stared intently at the star crystal.

Edelbert squatted down and spread out his leather bag on the floor.

"A portable miracle room...?"

The storage room for items prepared by alchemists is called a "miracle room."

This leather bag seemed to have an expanded internal space.

My brother had constructed a storage room inside it.

"Manipulating space is very expensive..."

"Indeed..."

My brother said this with a distant look in his eyes.

Incidentally, the wands inside were also very expensive, just in terms of materials.

Brother must have spent a considerable amount of money.

The exact amount is unknown, but it could be as much as selling one or two of the silver mines that my brother was supposed to inherit in the future.

"Shall we investigate it?"

Edelbert chose a short wand from the many in the bag, made from a sugar maple branch.

The tip of the wand was adorned with a jade, and the handle was intricately carved to resemble a peacock feather made of night pearl.

The core material was probably a peacock feather.

The length of the short wand was about the same as a conductor's baton.

This small tool likely contained over fifty—up to a hundred for the highest quality wands—magic spells.

It's very convenient, but only one type of magic can be contained in a single wand.

To handle all situations, countless short wands are needed.

That's why preparation is crucial for alchemists in the West.

Edelbert waved the wand like a conductor.

A pale green magical array spread around him, converging on his eyes.

This temporarily turned Edelbert's eyes into a magical eye for spiritual vision.

In this world, alchemy is entirely a manual process.

"I see. This is impressive."

"How was it?"

"I thought it was from the era of the 'Ruins of the Arrivals,' but it's actually much older. At least from before the South's Ignisia conquered this continent."

The "Arrivals" who are the ancestors of the Western Aurelia arrived in this land about 650 years ago.

The Southern Ignisia's invasion king destroyed Casketia and placed this continent under his rule about 150 years before that, making it about 800 years ago.

Casketia was a country of vampires.

It was said to be a dark country where vampire royalty and nobility ruled humans like livestock.

In other words, the magic placed on this stone is likely from the vampires of Casketia.

It's extremely ominous.

"Magic used by vampires, then."

"Yes, that's right."

Vampires had long been extinct on this continent, having vanished 800 years ago.

However, in a scenario I haven't completed yet, vampires appear.

"Fortunately, it's safe for us. Westerners are incredibly dull to this kind of magic. But—people from the East or North might be terribly sensitive to it."

"What kind of magic is it?"

"It's similar to enchantment, but what to call it... it seems to be a magic that arouses desire... I think it's better if I keep this stone for a while."

Magic that arouses desire.

I suddenly recalled the tragedy of Klaus and Ann in "Liber Monstrorum."

Why the usually very polite Ann wanted the necklace Erika had.

—Perhaps it was due to the desire this necklace aroused.

"Erika, I don't know if you can replace me, but here."

This is the key to my brother's storage room.

The stored items are as important as life to our family.

"Brother, why are you giving me such an important thing?"

"Because you looked very anxious. I have to go to the magical academy city for a friend. I wish I could stay by your side, but it seems to be a matter of urgency."

"Brother..."

"Don't worry, unless something extraordinary happens, I should be back by early tomorrow morning."

With that, my brother left for the magical academy city through the transfer gate underground.

I headed to the guest room of the "Spring Palace."

To check on Klaus and Ann's safety.

I ran down the palace corridors at night, disregarding the long dress that tangled around my legs.

The events of today kept flashing through my mind.

Ann's smile, blushing among the blooming flowers.

Klaus's sparkling eyes when he investigated the magic of the star crystal necklace.

The pale but eerie blue light of the necklace, enchanted with ancient vampire magic.

I wanted to see Ann's smile and Klaus's frown as soon as possible to feel reassured.

☆

The guest room assigned to the children of Duke Halfan was decorated with plenty of flowers from the spring garden.

The room was filled with a fragrant aroma of flowers.

However, there was no sign of Prince Klaus or Ann.

The maids serving Duke Halfan were all in a magical sleep.

I checked if Ann was among the sleeping maids, but she was not there.

—It was probably Klaus's doing.

Despite being only ten years old, Klaus's magical abilities are exceptionally high.

These maids are not just ordinary maids but maids serving the duke.

They should have some knowledge of magic.

They should be using a mild magic resistance enhancement at all times.

For them to be put to sleep so powerfully and escape unnoticed...

When was this magic used?

It's also concerning that Ann is missing along with Klaus.

Klaus probably headed to the "Ruins of the Arrivals."

It's almost certain.

As for Ann, if she's lucky, she might be with Duke Halfan and the duchess.

(I should go see my father and Duke Halfan to confirm, right?)

It wouldn't be good if this situation spreads and causes panic.

I closed the door and walked down the corridor to my father's room.

It took about fifteen minutes to walk.

I should have reached my father's room long ago, but I ended up back at the original room.

At this point, I realized I was lost in the familiar palace.

A magic that turns the palace into a maze had been cast.

However, even Klaus couldn't use spatial distortion.

It's probably an illusionary maze.

This magic confuses the direction sense of those passing through, ensnaring them in illusions and making them believe they are in a maze.

Due to this magic, the "Spring Palace" seems to be divided into several sections.

I can't reach the guest room where Duke Halfan is or my father's room, and the adults can't reach the children's room.

To use such a complex magic at the age of ten... I was amazed by Klaus's talent.

(And he's way too well-prepared, Klaus!!!)

I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

"Brother Edelbert, I might have to use this soon."

I looked at the key to the storage room I received from my brother earlier.

I inserted it into the keyhole of a random room and turned it.

This key itself is a magical item that can turn any room's door into a door to my brother's storage room.

When I opened the door, the alchemist Edelbert Aurelia's miracle room appeared.