I Captured the Enemy Who Tried to Kill Me - Chapter 53
I stared glumly at the youngest magician whose pretty face was beaming with excitement.
Well, what exactly?
You should finish your sentences properly.
“I can now measure the compatibility rate between Indojas and Awakened Ones!”
Oh, that’s quite a rare discovery…
…No, wait.
What did he say?!
‘That means there’s an even greater risk of my identity being exposed!’
Damn, my youngest magician was a pretty bomb that came running with a smile.
***
All magicians of the Empire would respect and love Duke Ariel.
This wasn’t just because she was the leader of the magicians.
‘Because she’s worthy of respect!’
The previous Duke Ariel had been an excellent magician but an arrogant power holder.
He was one of those who didn’t understand the history of having to share authority with the Awakened Ones.
With such a person as the leader of magicians, the long-standing conflict between Awakened Ones and magicians had flared up intensely.
Then, amid this, when the previous Duke met an unfortunate end due to a Gate-related accident, his young daughter was appointed as the head of the Magic Tower.
Because her abilities were too outstanding.
Magicians proved themselves through skill.
But everyone secretly worried.
How could that little noble girl possibly know enough to fulfill the role of the Magic Tower’s leader?
Yet it was unexpected.
The young girl was extraordinarily excellent.
‘Without complaining once, she instead proved herself by commanding magicians far older and more experienced than herself.’
And even maintaining an impressive balance and harmony with that terrifying Emperor!
Currently, the Magic Tower’s magicians have been voluntarily working overtime for days, hardly sleeping or eating properly, all as an expression of apology and respect for their Family Head.
Because their precious Family Head, whom they sincerely respected and cherished…
Had collapsed!
‘It’s because of the commotion we caused that our Family Head suffered such humiliation at the Imperial Palace!’
‘To the point of falling ill! Our iron-blooded Family Head!’
‘Ah, I saw it. Our Family Head, clearly, clearly retching near the training grounds at dawn…!’
‘It must be because of the Emperor’s crazy order demanding results within two months! We’ve been too thoughtless. Haven’t we been pushing everything onto our Family Head?’
‘Very well. Let’s accelerate our research. Everyone gather!’
Thus began the magicians’ reflection and awakening.
Here, Ardiel, the youngest magician of the Magic Tower and called a genius, was also one of them.
Rather, he was the most devoted follower of the brilliant Duke Ariel.
‘So. Really so cool.’
Ardiel, from a powerless baronial family under Duke Ariel’s domain, had a secret.
Because of this secret, he should have lived quietly, giving up his life as a magician.
Since it would bring shame to his family.
So he had been about to give up before even starting.
But his life changed when he saw the young Duke Ariel.
Such a young girl.
A girl who appeared just a few years older than himself, standing so proudly and confidently.
‘I want to be like that too.’
That determination changed many things.
After several years of effort, he became a magician registered at the Magic Tower.
For that day when he could be of help to the Family Head.
To stand by her side.
‘And finally, now!’
He had poured his everything into it and discovered brilliant results.
Of course, all of this came from piecing together casual remarks dropped by the Family Head.
‘You mean the compatibility between Awakened Ones and Indojas?’
‘It would be convenient if we could visibly confirm and see it.’
Or opinions like:
‘It would be good if we could know the Gate’s properties or grade before it becomes dangerous.’
‘Oh, then we could more efficiently plan the entry methods for Awakened Ones.’
And opinions such as:
‘Good. Looking at this research topic, the Emperor won’t be able to interfere with the magicians’ Gate research anymore.’
Theoretically, magicians assumed that mana and magicians of this world, and the power of Gates and the forces used within them by Awakened Ones and Indojas, were fundamentally different.
The content to report to the Emperor included the relationship between Gates and magic.
Methods and theories to mitigate the poisonous air leaking from around Gates using mana.
‘Ways for magicians to breathe and operate longer inside Gates.’
So that they wouldn’t be affected by the Gate’s power, getting closer.
Ultimately, the magicians’ goal was to be able to use magic even inside Gates.
“W-what do you think?”
Ardiel trembled with excitement as he watched the Family Head maintain an icy expressionless face even before this amazing magic formula.
As expected of her Grace, the magnificent Duke.
Always worthy of respect.
‘Please look at me, though. I researched all of this for you, Family Head!’
If only he could hear praise from those lips!
Yes, the youngest magician was passionately in love with their leader.
Finally, those cold lips opened.
“So. According to you, if we process this magic formula into an orb made from Gate material, we can immediately check the compatibility rate between Awakened Ones and Indojas?”
“Yes!”
This would significantly reduce the suffering of Awakened Ones.
Of course, he couldn’t care less about the suffering of those unlikable fellows, but anyway, this would raise the authority of magicians!
Ardiel was feeling proud.
Somehow, the Family Head’s expression seemed to be growing even colder, but he dismissed it as his imagination.
“We call it the matching rate, and it can be distinguished by color. On a scale of 100, purple is up to 40, teal is up to 60, blue is up to 80, and red is up to 100.”
“The deeper the color, the higher the number, I presume.”
“Yes!”
Ardiel, who had been carefully watching for a reaction, blinked his lemon-colored eyes—which everyone complimented as pretty—and fidgeted before the Family Head.
Please praise me.
Please look at me.
And please choose me as your assistant magician for the demonstration!
“Good. Well done.”
But the Family Head was utterly indifferent.
‘Is that all?!’
He had hoped for the kind of gentle gaze occasionally directed at Prince Luias, but the icy look piercing through him was no different from usual.
“Why are you still standing there instead of leaving?”
Urgh! So cold!
“Well…”
“What is it? Do you have something else?”
While inwardly taking a sharp breath, Ardiel thought that even this cold tone was part of the Family Head’s charm.
‘It hurts but feels good.’
Sometimes listening to it made his heart twinge and brought him to the verge of tears, but wasn’t there an even greater joy pervading it?
He would have realized it was strange if he were alone, but since most of the Magic Tower’s magicians were the same, he didn’t know he was wrong.
He just grinned broadly.
“Are you perhaps thinking of selecting a new assistant magician?”
“No.”
“Then something else…”
“Later. Leave.”
“Family Heaaaad.”
“Where’s this whining coming from? Leave.”
He wanted to ask this, too.
Lately, being near the Family Head made him feel even better.
Had she perhaps started wearing a perfume of the type he liked?
Ardiel drooped his mouth corners like a dejected child.
***
Ah, why won’t this guy leave?
I had been tense ever since my hand brushed against Ardiel’s when receiving his report.
This damn, crazy!
The cursed system that always makes my heart race.
Once again, the system window began sending ominous notifications.
—Ding.
What now?
What are you trying to surprise me with this time?
[Quest generated!]
Ah, please don’t.
There’s only the chirping youngest magician in front of me right now, so what quest could possibly be generated here?
[Prerequisite condition for the Multi-Imprint Quest.
Hidden Awakened One (1) discovered!]
“……”
“What’s wrong?”
Cold sweat trickled down.
Looking ahead, the handsome man with lemon-colored eyes filled my vision, smiling brightly.
So he is…
A hidden Awakened One?
And I didn’t know?
“You.”
“Yes?”
Unable to believe it, I narrowed my eyes and stared intensely, which for some reason made him blush shyly.
But more than his expression, I was shocked to discover a faint, subtle power.
A soft, delicate energy that seemed to be of the healing type.
Something I wouldn’t have felt at all if I weren’t an exceptional S-class Guide.
‘Damn! There was a tiger right beside me.’
It was definitely the energy of an Awakened One.
