Chapter 6: Victory (1)

The Empire’s capital, Elysion, began to burn fiercely.

Not physically, but in the sense that people were wildly enthusiastic.

“Extra! Extra!”

“Valion, the King of the Barbarians, is dead!”

The war was over.

The nightmarish Northern Front, which had long tormented the Empire, ended with the death of Valion, the King of the Barbarians.

It was the same everywhere in the Empire, not just the capital.

The entire Empire began to celebrate the victory in the war.

Naturally, people were also talking about the heroes who had emerged from the Northern Front.

Everywhere one went, stories of heroes circulated, and the Northern Front, with its nightmarish intensity and long duration, gave birth to countless tales of heroism.

Like the story of a soldier who, on the verge of death, sealed the city gates one last time to halt the enemy’s advance, or the tale of a warrior who perished alongside an enemy commander, or stories about their commander, Duchess Kadia Malibes.

And among them, the one who received the most attention was undeniably a single individual.

“Have you heard the rumors about that mage?”

“They say he faced Valion alone and killed him, didn’t they?”

“They say he annihilated an entire army with a single wave of his hand.”

The God of Firepower.

The Empire’s greatest war mage.

The Barbarian’s Nightmare.

Kyle, the Blazing Star, was that protagonist.

A monster who ended the Northern Front, which had lasted nearly 10 years, just 3 years after joining the Imperial Army.

A mage said to sow death just by appearing.

People were ecstatic over his martial prowess, which could truly be said to rival that of a god.

Furthermore, the fact that his past and identity were completely unknown was also a reason for his popularity.

“There are rumors he’s a disciple who learned magic from a dragon.”

“They say he’s a descendant of a fallen noble family?”

“I heard he’s a Revelator who received a divine oracle.”

Everywhere one went, speculation about Kyle’s identity overflowed.

Countless rumors spread about the identity of the greatest contributor to the war’s victory, and people began to gather them, no matter how absurd they sounded.

And the high-ranking officials of the Imperial Palace were no exception.

“Does anyone know what kind of person he is, exactly?”

“They say he just suddenly appeared, enlisted, and then grew day by day, sweeping away the enemies.

He was apparently a novice in magic at first, but became known as a Grand Mage before two years passed.”

“He burned tens of thousands of enemy soldiers to death, and even killed Valion.

What on earth should we do to give him the treatment commensurate with his achievements?”

The ministers noisily debated how to treat this variable who had suddenly appeared and overturned the course of the war.

One of them spoke up.

“Speaking of that mage, if he suddenly goes mad and starts casting magic in the capital, can he be stopped?”

At those words, silence instantly fell within the Imperial Palace.

‘Can he… be stopped?’

‘No, well, he is human, so if we keep sending troops, he’d eventually get tired… but even if we stopped him that way, the capital would already be a sea of flames.

And everyone living inside would likely be dead.’

As soon as they realized that Kyle, the mage, could potentially destroy the entire Empire if he erred, a sense of apprehension spread among the ministers.

“To His Imperial Majesty… let’s propose a noble title.”

“I believe there were some remaining fiefdoms; how about granting him the most fertile land among them as his territory?”

“He should also receive the highest-grade medal.

That’s only natural.”

The ministers began to raise their voices, as if competing to see who could propose a greater reward for Kyle.

However, their thoughts were all the same.

‘If we treat him poorly and he gets disappointed, the country is doomed!’

****

“It’s not necessary.”

The Imperial Palace envoy wore a bewildered expression at my words.

I crossed my arms and continued speaking.

“I have no interest in noble titles or territories.

I am merely grateful for His Imperial Majesty’s intention to bestow such rewards, but please convey that I do not desire them.”

“B-but a noble title and territory are…”

The envoy stammered.

‘I know.’

‘That a noble title is virtually the greatest reward the Imperial Palace can bestow.’

‘Since even the Emperor cannot arbitrarily grant titles of Count or higher, it essentially means the Empire’s leadership is uniting to cater to my desires.’

‘A quick glance showed that the territory they intended to give me was also one of the most prime lands in the Empire.’

However, I could not accept that title.

‘Because, I was already the eldest son of Duke Pailyn’s family…!’

For the eldest son of a noble house to receive a different title and territory from the Imperial Palace was a comedy in itself.

Therefore, I had no choice but to refuse the reward offered by the Imperial Palace.

“I will accept a medal, but I will not accept any other rewards.”

Only then did the envoy bow his head deeply at my words and reply.

“…Understood.

Then, if there is any other reward you desire, please tell us.

The Empire is prepared to bestow any reward upon the hero of the war.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Watching the Imperial envoy depart, I smiled wryly.

‘Rewards, huh.

I don’t even know what I should do after the war ends, so how could I choose what reward to receive?’

Thinking so, I ran my hand through my now familiar red hair.

A form changed by disguise magic, but one that had become even more familiar than my true appearance.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door and asked.

“May I enter?”

“Yes.”

The one who opened the door and entered was Duchess Kadia.

She swept back her silver-white hair and sat beside me.

“Have you finished speaking with the envoy from the Imperial Palace?”

“Yes.”

“I see.

You are undeniably the foremost contributor to this war, so you will certainly receive a tremendous reward.

If I were to guess… a title, perhaps?”

“How did you know?”

“It’s obvious.

The methods those Imperial Palace fellows would consider are as plain as the back of my hand.”

Having said that, Duchess Kadia moved closer to my side and asked.

“So, what was your answer?”

“…I said I wouldn’t accept a title or territory.

I don’t have much ambition in that regard.”

“Indeed.

You’ve been like that from the start.

You’ve acted as if you have no desires.

…As if you might disappear at any moment.”

For three years, while fighting on the Northern Front, Duchess Kadia tried to bestow rewards upon me whenever I achieved something, but I always refused.

Because I desired nothing.

“Just staying in this mansion is enough for me.”

The reason I was staying at the Malibes ducal mansion after the war ended was likely because Duchess Kadia felt a sense of debt toward me.

As a result, I, who had nowhere else to go, ended up staying in this mansion.

At my words, Duchess Kadia wore a subtle expression, then spoke with a faint smile.

“…Is that so.”

She looked at the floor for a moment, then asked another question.

“You’re planning to leave here soon, aren’t you?”

“I plan to leave tomorrow.

I have business in the Imperial Capital, Elysion.”

“That’s a pity.

You wouldn’t let me hold you back, would you?”

Saying that, Duchess Kadia looked at me with eyes tinged faintly red.

“Duchess.”

“Don’t worry.

I have no intention of holding you.

…However, that title ‘Duchess’ is a bit bothersome.

How long have we been together, and you’re still so stiff, calling me ‘Commander’ or ‘Duchess’?”

“Then what should I call you?”

“Kadia.”

She, who had approached with a bright smile, said.

“I’d prefer if you called me by my name.”

At her words, I readily replied.

“Yes, I understand.

…Kadia.”

With a satisfied smile, Kadia opened her mouth.

“Yes.

It’s nice to be called by my name.

Don’t worry even if we’re far apart.

We’ll meet again soon.”

“Huh?”

‘Meet again soon, what does that mean?’

To my bewilderment, Kadia put a finger to her lips, shushing me, and said no more.

****

Arriving in Elysion, the Imperial Capital, I sighed and continued walking.

When I first left this place, I remembered being utterly tattered and resolved never to return, so coming back after several years brought a subtle feeling.

Going to the Imperial Palace was important, but since I had something to take care of first, I continued on my way.

As I approached the main gate of a certain mansion, I squeezed my eyes shut and then opened them, beginning to dispel my magic.

The disguise magic I had used for three years.

Then, I approached the mansion’s main gate and spoke.

“Could you inform the head of the household that I have arrived?”

At that, the guard standing by the main gate gasped in surprise and exclaimed.

“Y-young Master!?”

“Yes, it’s me.

Calix Pailyn.”

Watching the massive gate creak open, I stepped forward.

I had returned home.

After three years.