# 339
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339
8. The beginning of change,
Latona of Rinosa. It was an old-fashioned office.
A young man who had just grown out of being a boy was sitting in front of a desk piled with documents.
Her snow-white face still looked young because her breast fat had not completely disappeared.
Being able to grow your hair is a privilege of noble status. Her golden hair, which went well past her shoulders, was tied up neatly.
The fine-lined, straight facial features had an aristocratic and androgynous charm, and the blue-rimmed eyes were clear and clear.
Glistening in the sunlight coming through the window, he looked like an angel.
A good and merciful angel.
If one is tempted by what he sees, no one will be able to doubt his true intentions.
However, those who served him closely knew very well what kind of person he was.
Angels cannot exist in Rinosa’s blood.
‘I’m still alive.’
Michael looked at his hands under the sunlight as if it were fascinating.
It was a feeling I felt every day, but today was a little different.
The hands, which had rarely lifted anything heavier than a pale-skinned quill, were noticeably warm.
The thin-lined appearance that made it impossible to distinguish between genders was actually due to his infirmity.
Michael was sickly. He had spent his entire life lying in bed.
Death was always waiting with its mouth open under his bed.
It seemed like there was only one option for him. Someday it will fall into that mouth.
All humans face death someday.
But for Michael, death was close enough to be seen. He grew up watching it all the time.
Strangely, the more he recognized death, the more something sprouted within him.
If I’m going to die, I want to have more. Anything you can have.
Michael was greedy. Dead people cannot desire.
Michael did his best to get what he wanted. That was his life and driving force.
In the end, Michael survived until this day. Without falling into the jaws of death.
If Michael had been a gentle child lying helplessly in bed waiting for the day to die, he would never have survived.
So Michael was justified.
No matter what he does. It is natural for living humans to pursue life, and nothing can take precedence over their own survival.
‘Are we more than halfway there now?’
While his competitor, Charlotte, was away at Greta Academy, Michael gradually strengthened his position in Linosa.
He was smart and knew how to handle people, so the fact that he couldn’t handle a sword wasn’t a big flaw compared to his strengths.
Michael was such an outstanding talent that even the Archduke, who was a prosecutor, could not help but admit it.
Even if Charlotte had competed with him with all her might, Michael didn’t think he would lose.
However, since he could never become a great swordsman, he had no choice but to be wary of Charlotte, who achieved the impossible.
It was a talent highly regarded by Grand Duke Rinosa.
However, she was so straight and straight that she was not suitable for the position of archduke.
Michael was patient and thorough. He continued to watch Charlotte. Without neglecting it even once.
It would be complacent to put her out of sight just because you don’t currently have the will to compete with your only rival.
Michael will not let go of his guard against her until the moment he ascends to the throne of Prince Rinosa.
However, Charlotte recently made an unexpected move. Michael had to think about it for a while.
‘It’s been quiet these past few years.’
It was a time when I was lost in thought while tapping on the desk. Suddenly there was a knocking sound. smart!
“Please let me in.”
“His Majesty Michael.”
When a man came in and bowed his head, Michael glanced at him. It was a light movement, but it felt heavy.
A smile appeared on Michael’s lips.
“I heard that Sinus Charlotte has returned to Greta Academy.”
“Yes, you are currently going through the process of returning to school.”
“It’s not even half a semester, but it’s quite a long time. “Where on earth has she been and what has she been doing all this time?”
Michael was a little more interested in Charlotte than she thought.
No matter how quiet she was, Michael always strived for perfection.
There was no way Michael didn’t know that she wasn’t showing up at Greta Academy.
He found out about it only three days after the semester ended. But I was just observing the situation so far.
‘It would be a different story if Charlotte had been captured by someone, but there were no signs of resistance.’
“It was moved by magic, so I can’t read its traces. “Judging by the amount of magical power scattered around, it seems like it traveled a considerable distance, but our wizards couldn’t even read the direction.”
“I heard this is why wizards are a pain in the ass.”
Michael clicked his tongue. When a person moves, a trace is somehow left behind. No matter how hard I tried to erase it, it was the same.
But the wizard was different. In addition to moving across space, wizards cannot read the magic of wizards of a higher level than themselves.
In the case of the Archmage, it is almost impossible to track him. There was a limit to the magicians that Michael, other than Prince Rinosa, could use.
‘Still, he’s not a low-level wizard. ‘It’s not like I went to Greta Academy in vain to receive support from a wizard of that caliber.’
It was Charlotte who didn’t seem particularly interested in networking.
But maybe it just seemed that way. In fact, the people she was friends with were all very talented.
Several characters from the Faculty of Magic came to mind in Michael’s mind.
“That’s interesting.”
Her swordsmanship already surpassed that of Greta Academy graduates. There is no need to go to the academy anymore.
Even so, Charlotte was not one to neglect completing her studies. Basically, she is sincere and enjoys life at the academy.
It was clear that something had happened to make Charlotte move.
Otherwise, she would have faithfully attended the academy until the end, with one year left until graduation.
‘I haven’t spoken to Charlotte in almost four years.’
Charlotte found out the whole truth four years ago and her heart was struck. When Charlotte found out about what the Archduchess and Michael had done, she did not forgive them. Not only Michael, but even the Grand Duchess that Kyokushin had been thinking about.
It is said that his life at the academy was not special and he was very quiet. If there was anything she could do to make a move…
there was only one thing.
“But that’s…”
Michael muttered. His subordinate questioned.
“What are you saying, His Majesty Michael?”
“…No, it’s nothing.”
Michael waved his hand. For a moment, I thought it was impossible.
It is impossible for someone sent to the Forest of Pahe to come out alive. Even if it was possible once, it won’t be possible twice. Didn’t the temple also promise that?
The sacred barrier was still strong and rejected everything that contained demonic energy.
“Leaving the academy without permission and not reporting anything to the family is something that is not allowed. “Now that she has returned, I must tell Her Majesty.”
Charlotte will definitely have to explain this. Michael would soon find out why she left Greta Academy.
*
Two horses were running leisurely down the street. Asuka held up the gold plate and thrust it into Xian’s face.
“Hey, look at this. He is a gold-plated mercenary. “Isn’t it cool?”
Xian, who was riding next to him, responded bluntly.
“Hey, I can’t see! And even though you only have gold patterns, you have never worked as a mercenary.”
“You’re doing it now.”
“What are you doing? “I’m away from my client.”
“That’s right. Are you going to Baden first? Where are they going? “He shamelessly left us alone.”
Asuka grumbled.
“I guess it’s getting in the way of us dating.”
Helmut, Area, and the two monsters left somewhere together. Without telling me the destination.
Does this mean you can’t trust this side’s mouth? It was a pity, but I couldn’t ask more because I was interrupted by Area, who was acting coldly.
They told me to create a mercenary army and to join together, but instead of giving me an explanation, they told me to go to Baden.
The two were left alone. Both Asuka and Xian were naturally dissatisfied.
But in any case, both of them were satisfied with the new and dangerous adventure they were experiencing as they became entangled with Helmut. To the extent that they are willing to do unpaid work.
I probably would have participated even if Helmut didn’t give me money.
“If this was going to be the case, we should have gone with Charlotte.”
“We shouldn’t go out with him.”
“He went there with magic anyway. It’s easier to move using magic… huh? Come to think of it, you’re a wizard too.”
“Have you forgotten that you are a wizard too? I’m the deputy head of the magic department! “You idiot.”
Besides, I was in Green Cana not long ago. It seemed that in Asuka’s mind, spirit wizards and magicians were separate beings.
Asuka asked curiously.
“But why do we move by horse without using magic?”
“Baden is a magical city, so traces of magic used can be detected in the surrounding area from quite far away. My magical power is now recorded in the Wizards Association. “We must not find out that we have returned to Baden.”
“Who heard that?”
Asuka asked curiously. Xian looked frustrated. To think that the world wouldn’t be that interested in a subject that garnered so much attention at the Academy.
“To anyone. “You must leave as little trace as possible.”
I don’t know if you’ll be interested in the temple or Rinosa area.
However, Asuka’s family is sure to be looking for her as they haven’t heard from her even after graduating from the academy.
Moreover, among the academy graduates, there were a few guys who might want to kill Asuka.
The problem is that they are not noticed before Asuka’s family.
To get from Greenkana to Baden, you have to go around or cross the mountain range. They only moved to the point where they crossed the mountain range and continued to ride.
“Don’t get into an accident on the way. I should join them in Baden without any problems. “If we’re late, they might leave us behind.”
“Oh, I guess that’s true.”
Asuka snorted and accelerated her horse. Xian sighed and prayed in his heart.
‘Please let me arrive in Baden without incident.’
However, prayers often do not come true.
