Chapter 258 – Magic of Another World – 2

After a while, I found myself sitting in a sort of treatment center located on the mid-level of the Mage Tower. It was a place created because wizards occasionally become so absorbed in their research that they nearly starve to death.

Of course, most people here would rather engage in at least the bare minimum of life activities than be forced to rest for a week, so there were more empty days than days with patients.

However, today, this treatment center was experiencing an unprecedented boom.

Every bed was filled with unconscious wizards, and the ‘guards’ claiming to provide protection had filled the empty spots.

I was desperately trying to dodge the dozens of pairs of eyes drilling into me, continuing to wait for Minerva to wake up. I had cast the healing magic in time, but she still hadn’t regained consciousness.

The wizards, standing nearby as if on guard, began to inch closer. I didn’t know the exact situation, but I knew it was all happening because of me.

Moreover, the events surrounding it provided clues that were nothing short of bewildering for wizards, so it was no surprise they were acting this way.

“Um….”

“I heard Minerva collapsed.”

Just as someone was about to speak for the group, the door burst open with a loud bang. It was Kaiquilia. The wizards who had been closing in hurriedly bowed their heads at the sight of her.

Kaiquilia appeared to acknowledge their greetings but waved them off dismissively, signaling for them to leave. The wizards, who had been frozen in place, rushed out all at once.

I let out a sigh of relief internally and greeted her.

“Welcome, Kaiquilia.”

“You no longer even call me Your Majesty. Does that mean you won’t bother with formalities now that I am yours?”

Kaiquilia chuckled. The cold, authoritative expression she had just shown was nowhere to be found. It was a face I could never have imagined from the old Kaiquilia.

“Do you really want me to call you that?”

“That will do. I wish to be just a woman in front of you, not the Empress of the Aiternum Empire.”

Kaiquilia sat down beside me on the sofa, crossing her legs. Her ultra-short uniform skirt and stockings revealed her thighs, wrapped in a garter belt.

“Go ahead and tell me, Delta. What grand incident have you caused this time? Seeing Minerva in a coma indicates it must be something exceptional.”

It wasn’t about asking what happened, but what I had done, so Kaiquilia seemed convinced that Minerva’s collapse was my fault.

And honestly, I couldn’t refute that.

“I heard Parnari went to deliver the news. Haven’t you heard?”

“What I know is that Minerva and other wizards have fainted. As for the details, that dragon claims to know nothing about them.”

Kaiquilia’s golden eyes briefly skimmed over Minerva, who lay on the largest bed, seemingly in deep slumber, along with several temporary beds created in haste, occupied by the other wizards.

Clearly, this was not a normal situation.

“Seeing such a sight in front of you, there shouldn’t be any hiding of facts.”

“…Yes. I understand, Kaiquilia.”

“Good. Then spill everything to your woman.”

I briefly recounted the events that transpired after meeting Minerva to Kaiquilia, who was lounging back on the sofa with her legs crossed.

I had approached Minerva and cast a spell using purple mana, which caused her to foam at the mouth and faint. Had it stopped there, I might have been able to manage it.

The following events turned troublesome.

I had rushed out of the workshop to ask for healing magic, but I was so flustered by seeing Minerva collapse that I completely forgot the purple wave’s duration hadn’t ended.

As soon as the wizards saw the magic of the Brightest Darkness period, they fainted just like Minerva. Wizards rushed in due to the commotion, and seeing me caused them to faint as well repeatedly.

Watching the chain reactions of wizards collapsing in disbelief, I finally regained my composure and managed to hide myself in a nearby room after damage had spread to dozens.

If Parnari hadn’t rushed in at the sound of the commotion, I wouldn’t have been able to hide at all.

A wizard who barely held on to consciousness muttered with a dying voice, “Purple mana…” creating quite the ruckus. Ultimately, Parnari had to use Draconic Language to forcibly calm everyone down.

“…”

Upon hearing my story, Kaiquilia looked utterly flabbergasted.

“You foolish thing. What on earth possessed you to show them magic made of purple mana? Did you truly not expect such a reaction?”

“…I didn’t think they would faint as a group. I thought they would just be really surprised.”

“The Mage Tower managed by Minerva is a place where only wizards as crazed about magic as she is gather. You’ve seen it before, haven’t you? What kind of crazy feats Minerva performed after finding that ancient scroll she longed for in the Imperial Palace.”

Kaiquilia, folding her arms beneath her chest, irritatedly tapped her arm. It was the same reaction she had when I revealed I had incarnated into the Holy Kingdom through the Light Mass.

“Yes, I’ve seen it.”

“And yet, you thought they would just be surprised? I find it incomprehensible. How can a man, who sometimes seems to know everything in the world, be so ignorant about such trivial matters?”

Kaiquilia, who was giving me a rather complex expression, suddenly wrapped her arms around my head and laid me on her thigh. Her soft thigh pressed against the back of my head.

Her face peeked just above her bust, and her palm, which seemed so gentle to be wielding a sword, slowly stroked my forehead.

“What on earth are you trying to make me look so pitiful? Magic that even Minerva didn’t know about, and yet, the woman who declared she would manage you is ending up like a clueless girl.”

I forced a bitter smile. Her hand stroking my forehead grew even softer.

“Now, the only place where you can truly lay down and sleep is in this woman’s chambers.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Do you think they’ll just leave you alone like this? Even if they gave up everything they could offer, if it’s not enough, they will demand purple magic from you, even if it means sacrificing their pathetic bodies. They are no different from the fanatics in the Holy Kingdom.”

“…“

I realized Kaiquilia’s warning wasn’t just empty words, which made me more terrified. I had already faced similar situations in the Holy Kingdom.

I had just experienced firsthand how far the wizards’ madness could rise.

‘This wasn’t the original plan.’

I had intended to show it to Minerva just a bit. Yet somehow, the situation had twisted oddly.

“Well, it’s all for the best. As of today, over a hundred women who would willingly offer their limbs for you have joined in.”

“…”

“Is it just a hundred? Both the Empress of the Empire and the Pope of the Holy Kingdom are yours, so you can build a new nation with the women who follow you. How about enjoying the glory of having the former Empress and former Pope as your consorts?”

I didn’t respond but extended my arm and gently stroked Kaiquilia’s cheek. She flinched slightly at my touch, but before long, she tilted her head and accepted my caress.

“You must know what kind of answer I’m going to give you.”

“I know. I only asked to gauge your intentions.”

“I’m glad I answered correctly. I almost faced execution for treason.”

A chuckle echoed through the room.

“Really, you have gone completely mad. I don’t dislike such frivolous conversations. In fact, I find them quite enjoyable.”

“Really?”

“Since you challenged me, I shall impose a punishment. Lie down with your head resting on my thighs until that girl wakes up. During that time, you must never stop your hands.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

Kaiquilia did exactly as she said, never ceasing the hand stroking my forehead, while I also continued to gently caress Kaiquilia’s cheek.

How long had this peculiar position lasted when suddenly, I heard a muffled uhm sound from somewhere? The hands that had been stroking my forehead and cheek simultaneously fell away.

As I propped myself up, Minerva also happened to rise at the same time.

“Wh-where is this…?”

“You’ve awakened, Minerva. You really put on quite the show.”

“What about the child?! Where is the child?!”

As soon as Minerva opened her eyes, she started looking around frantically. Upon seeing me sitting on the sofa, she charged at me immediately.

“Maintain some decorum, Eternal Magician. What nonsense is this from a 400-year-old woman who can’t act her age?”

Of course, it was a futile act. In a blink, Kaiquilia dashed to Minerva’s side, nimbly catching the back of her neck with her fingers.

Given that they were both in positions that divided the Empire, it was no surprise that even though Minerva struggled with all her might, Kaiquilia held her ground effortlessly, with her arms showing no sign of trembling.

“Ah! I need to go to the child! Let go of me, Kaiquilia!”

“Tsk, how noisy for an old woman. Delta, calm her down. One word from you will suffice.”

As Minerva showed signs of going on another rampage, Kaiquilia clicked her tongue and issued her command. Not wanting to see Minerva like that, I opened my mouth.

“Please calm down, Minerva.”

And just like that, Minerva settled down.

Minerva hurriedly straightened her clothes, then perched herself on the edge of the bed. All I could confirm was a faint afterimage and that she was indeed sitting down.

“Now it’s quiet. Thank you, Delta.”

While I blinked in astonishment, Kaiquilia sat back down next to me with a satisfied smile.

“So, child? Or should I say, ‘my child’?”

Minerva, now seated, gazed at me with even more earnest eyes.

“Can you tell me what that spell was? I’m begging you.”

“I told you, it’s as you saw. It’s the magic that was in my memory.”

“Memory? How…?”

“Explaining that would take forever. What I’m asking is if you can research that magic for me, Minerva. I really need that spell.”

“Research… that magic… me?”

Minerva’s expression turned utterly dazed before she reverted to her original look and questioned urgently.

“What must I do for the child?”

“Huh?”

Although I was the one asking for a favor, she appeared to have forgotten that, as Minerva knelt on the floor, clutching my clothes with an incredibly earnest expression.

“You wouldn’t just provide such an honor without compensation, right? Do you want money? Or perhaps fame? Or power? Should I give you possession of the Library and the Mage Tower? Yes, yes. Let me take care of my body first—”

“Be quiet, Minerva. Stop spouting nonsense.”

Kaiquilia interrupted and growled. Then she gestured to me.

“Just throw out a few random requests, Delta. This lady is not in her right mind. You’ve seen it, right? She won’t stop until what she envisions becomes a reality.”

“……”

Suddenly switching from the requester to the requested, I paused for a moment before coming up with a good idea.

“Uh, hehehe. Hello…?”

Nix waved awkwardly. Seated Minerva was looking at Nix, who was waving to her.