Chapter 1 Part 6: I, Who Was a Top in Reality

Ezekiel did not like Rudan.

If he had to name a reason, it was because of that unsettling temperament.

A young wizard could never completely hide their identity from adult eyes.

This was due to the golden ring engraved in their irises, which became more distinct on nights when the crescent moon rose—a symbol of being a wizard, and also a shackle.

The ring would only gradually fade as one aged and magical power properly settled into the body.

This meant that Rudan, an orphan from birth, must have grown up enduring persecution of an intensity most people could hardly imagine.

Without parents to protect him, he had to wander back alleys and beg just to survive.

Most of his childhood memories were probably filled with contemptuous, mocking gazes.

After reaching a certain age, he worked as an odd-job laborer, getting beaten here and there.

He said he had to live in gratitude for barely enough food to get through the day, let alone fair wages.

His diet must have been so poor that even eating his fill of turkey once gave him immediate trouble.

Ezekiel vividly remembered the sight of Rudan sitting beside Abaddon, moistening his throat with wine and confiding his gloomy past.

His cheeks flushed red from drink.

An innocent, childlike expression.

Ezekiel had his doubts.

Rudan was by no means a person without shadows, but he was strangely innocent and incapable of suspicion.

Not a single trace of the hard-edged nature typical of someone who had lived a harsh life showed through.

He hadn’t had anyone to teach him right from wrong, yet with that handsome face that people would surely like, he hadn’t even thought of selling his body.

Everything was unnatural.

Not like a person with a small personal history, but rather like a doll someone had crafted with intention.

‘Unsettling.’

The reason he tolerated this uncomfortable presence lingering in Nieta’s nest was that the one who had brought Rudan in was Abaddon, the leader of Nieta.

It was a choice born of necessity, so Ezekiel could accept it to a certain degree.

Ignoring him as if he didn’t exist, within bounds that wouldn’t offend the other party, was a social skill Ezekiel often employed.

That was until he learned that Rudan was incredibly indecisive.

‘I want a world where humans and wizards can live together in harmony.’

It was completely unexpected.

Rudan had fallen for a paladin’s words and followed him.

Better to eliminate him than let him fall into Imera’s hands.

Should he get rid of him?

While Ezekiel was watching for an opening, Rudan had returned to the nest thanks to Abaddon’s persuasion.

But the moment he looked away, Rudan was kidnapped by Imera again and dragged to the Wizard Tower.

This continued endlessly, changing form slightly each time.

Thus, Ezekiel made a decision.

Let’s eliminate him after all.

The Tower Lord had publicly declared Rudan the first vessel to allow him to unleash his abilities to his heart’s content.

Now Rudan was no longer a talent who would lead Nieta to victory.

Since it was impossible to tell when he might fall into Imera’s hands, he was nothing but a risk factor.

And just as he was about to steel his resolve, he heard that Rudan had disappeared again.

It couldn’t have been by his own power alone.

If it were, he would have been caught long ago.

Someone powerful must have intervened—whoever it was.

It couldn’t be the Tower Lord, who enjoyed flaunting what he had.

And if it were Abaddon, there was no reason he would have hidden that fact even from his comrades.

Then the only one left was…… that sinister paladin.

Fortunately, Ezekiel and Gideon had been classmates at the academy, so Ezekiel knew him fairly well.

Unlike other wizards, Gideon seemed to genuinely love Rudan.

If so, his actions were predictable.

Thus, in the form of a young child, Ezekiel scoured the area around Gideon’s birthplace.

Sure enough, the familiar, beautiful wizard was roaming the village.

‘Excuse me!’

The moment Rudan turned around after having his sleeve grabbed, Ezekiel felt something strange.

‘What is it?’

Rudan wasn’t the type to speak in such an unfriendly tone.

And those cold eyes, completely unmoved by the sight of a boy who perfectly mirrored his own childhood.

Moreover:

“I don’t have the capacity to take care of you right now, and I can’t provide you with a comfortable place to stay.

It would be better for you to find a kinder, more well-off adult.”

A refusal marked by intelligence.

Even when he wore a gentle expression, he had always looked like a doll molded after a person.

But at that moment, for the first time, he felt like a living human being.

Ezekiel felt a surge of intense interest.

So he decided to postpone his plan to kill Rudan.

Well, it wouldn’t be a long-term affair anyway—just until his interest waned.

***

This place was starting to feel rather livable.

El had been tinkering with things all day yesterday, and the interior of the castle was becoming incomparably cozier than before.

It still couldn’t fully cover the rough impression left by all the stone, but this was already a huge improvement.

As I stroked the white head bobbing up and down while eating, El squinted his eyes and smiled.

“Am I getting praised?”

“Yeah.”

I didn’t plan to stay here long, but if I was going to be here, comfortable was better.

For once, my stomach wasn’t churning as much, so this morning I was able to sit across from El and have a meal.

I hadn’t realized it consciously, but the moment I put well-cooked meat in my mouth, I felt acutely how lacking my protein intake had been.

After all, energy truly did come from eating flesh.

While savoring the food in my mouth, I mulled over the dilemma I hadn’t resolved last night.

Going directly to find Nieta, who were hiding from humans, was an absurdly vague plan.

I didn’t even know how to cross into their world, and if I made one wrong move, I might get caught by one of the male leads targeting Rudan before I even met Nieta, and things would get hopelessly tangled.

There had to be a way……

“El, do you know what Imera and Nieta are?”

The boy blinked rapidly.

“Is there a wizard who doesn’t know that?

Hmm…… well, maybe a baby who hasn’t learned to speak yet……”

The way he pouted his lips was quite endearing.

So he didn’t like being treated like a child.

This little half-pint who wasn’t much different from a baby.

There was a specific way to deal with children at this age.

“I don’t know much about it.

I was hoping you could tell me.”

Just as expected.

The boy’s eyes sparkled.

“What is it?

What is it?” he urged, repeating the question several times, looking as if he was trying to squeeze out every last drop of knowledge he possessed to share.

“Is which side you belong to determined from birth?

Which side are you?”

El shook his head.

“It’s not determined from birth.

Or rather, it can’t be…… I’ve heard Absorption-type wizards have a slightly higher probability, but usually, just because two wizards marry and have a child doesn’t mean the child will definitely be a wizard.

Wizards are born regardless of their parents.”

So bloodline wasn’t a reliable factor.

“Then when is it decided?”

“Hmm, I don’t fully understand this part yet myself, so I’ll tell you what I heard from adults.

They said that wizards whose parents are nobles, or who grew up with less discrimination, or who have a strong desire to become part of the privileged class, tend to choose Imera.

Those are also the wizards who usually enter the academies.”

It might have been my imagination, but it felt like El was drawing a line between himself and those types of wizards.

After listening to the boy’s words, I asked the main question.

“What about Nieta?”

El hesitated for a moment before answering.

“They said that on nights when the crescent moon rises, if a young wizard looks up at the sky, Secreta’s messengers come to take them away.

So you must never go outside carelessly on such nights……”

This was it.

“You haven’t decided which side you’re on yet, have you?”

“Th…… that’s right?”

“You’re going to help me.”

When I explained my rough plan to the boy, who wore a puzzled expression, I received a subtle reaction.

A face that seemed both flustered and reluctant.

But since El was quite favorably disposed toward me for having taken him in, as expected, the refusal didn’t come.

“If it’s something Rudan needs, of course I have to help!”

“You don’t seem too keen on it.”

I didn’t ask if he was okay.

Even if he said he wasn’t, I had no intention of withdrawing my request.

I was even prepared to force him if necessary.

The boy let out a silly laugh and whispered softly.

“Actually, I used to wait for Secreta’s messengers to come take me away, but ever since I came here, I’ve been thinking it would be nice to just stay like this with Rudan forever.

Without getting involved in wizards’ squabbles…… but I’m still happy.

Because Rudan also feels like going to Nieta’s nest with me, right?”

“……Huh?”

As if.

How far was this little one’s imagination going to stretch?

It seemed this tiny creature thought we were some kind of fate-bound comrades.

“Well…… sure.”

It was better to let him keep his delusions than to burst his bubble.

After all, it was more convenient for me to have him around for the time being.

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