Seeking Power

Around the end of January of Year 3003 on the Continental Calendar.

Harboring a certain resolve, Serge visited Azel's tower.

Azel, who had been lying on a sofa reading a book, saw his expression and smiled faintly.

"It seems you've reached a conclusion."

"Yes. I…"

He paused once.

"I will become a Great Sage."

No preparation was necessary. However, since it would take three days, he needed to inform people of that much.

Serge was guided to a room on the fourth floor and above—the area he had been told not to enter.

In a word, it had the color of science.

Like copper wires running across a circuit board, the entire wall was covered in geometric patterns that continued all the way up to the ceiling.

This was science. Not magic.

Or perhaps it was a science that included magic as well.

"Becoming a Great Sage means inheriting knowledge. And those who inherit it will, almost without exception, come to watch over the world. You're free to interfere carelessly, but I wouldn't recommend it."

While saying this, Azel guided him to a capsule-shaped bed placed in the center of the room.

"Put this on your head, then just sleep. When you wake up, you will have become an existence known as a Great Sage."

Serge's throat gulped audibly.

"By gaining knowledge, your level will rise dramatically. Including that power… are you prepared to accept it?"

Serge took several deep breaths. This machine did somewhat feel like a brainwashing device. But even so, Serge had something he wanted to protect. He needed power.

With a nod, Serge entered the capsule. It was quite large. Come to think of it, races other than humans probably became Great Sages too.

He put the helmet on his head and lay down.

Before long, drowsiness came over him, and the torrent of knowledge began.

It was history.

The history of humanity leading up to the Millennium. And the battle against the demons.

Azel was there. That black-haired person was probably the Hero. The Demon King had the form of a demon.

It was a terrible war.

The demons that appeared from beyond the permafrost were simply hungry.

Hunger drove them to keep marching.

That was the truth of the Millennium.

Humans, animals—anything large was devoured completely. This happened across the entire continent. Even the Great Forest had its outer reaches encroached upon.

Most human cities were destroyed. Only the southeastern archipelago, the imperial capital, and a few cities suited for defense remained.

There was a Dragon.

A massive Dragon of darkness—Valis.

Even its mere breath reached beyond the horizon, destroying several mountains.

There was a golden Dragon as well.

This Dragon protected the imperial capital, annihilating every demon that drew near with its breath of light.

Eventually, when the numbers of both humans and monsters had dwindled to not one-tenth, but one-hundredth…

The decisive battle between the Hero and the Demon King took place.

The Millennium of one thousand years ago. Serge came to know its form.

History went back even further. People lived in cities completely different from the present day.

And again, the Millennium of two thousand years ago arrived.

Serge was screaming.

But the flow of history did not stop.

It repeated again. From beyond the permafrost, the demons came once more.

Humans died, demons died, and souls circulated.

That flow was strangely beautiful, painted in blood.

He saw a woman who looked very much like Ria.

She rode upon the back of the Dark Dragon.

The battle between the Hero with the greatsword and the demonic Demon King ended once again in the Hero's victory.

And then, three thousand years ago.

Serge learned the truth of the Great Collapse.

 

*

 

Three days had passed.

She had received notice, but Chrys had been worried the entire time.

After all, she had only been told that he would be away for three days.

It wasn't that she couldn't eat, but she sometimes suddenly woke up at night.

Where was Serge, and what was he doing?

He had told others not to push themselves, yet wasn't he doing something reckless himself?

So it was no mere coincidence that she was out in the garden that night, wearing only a coat over her nightclothes.

Someone opened the gate and entered.

Since the night watch had let them through, it must be someone from the household.

That figure was holding a mage's staff.

"Serge!"

She cried out softly and found herself running toward him.

Serge looked at Chrys as if holding himself.

"What's wrong? Are you alright?"

When Chrys approached and spoke, Serge embraced her.

"Everything is the circulation of souls…"

His hands trembling, his voice trembling, Serge continued to hold Chrys.

"Of course it is. There's no way it could work. But that person thinks he can do it. Even Nee-chan…"

Chrys embraced him back as he continued to mutter deliriously.

Serge's trembling stopped. His hot breath brushed against Chrys's neck.

"Sorry… just a little longer… let me stay like this…"

"Yes…"

The two remained in that position, supporting each other.

 

*

 

From that day on, Serge had changed.

He spent more time gazing into the distance, as if lost in thought.

And sometimes he would go into the monster forest alone, spending several days there.

What Chrys noticed was that the magic power Serge wore had become still.

Normally, magic power has a fluctuation to it, like breathing. This had nothing to do with the strength or weakness of one's magic—it was true for any human.

But the current Serge was different.

Like a puddle without ripples, she couldn't sense any movement in his magic power.

This meant he had complete control over his magic power, but only a very small portion of those called sages could do such a thing. In fact, Chrys knew of no one else who could.

When something bothered her, Chrys would ask about it.

After all, that night was the first time in her life she had been embraced by a man other than her father or brother. Surely it would be alright to ask him about it.

But she couldn't.

In those three days, Serge had aged and now showed an expression as if he had aged several decades.

Whatever had happened, it must be something he could never speak of to others.

That's what she thought.

But he told her. From Serge himself, as if confessing to Chrys, one day in the gazebo.

"I've become Azelford-sama's successor."

It wasn't much of a surprise.

Watching how troubled Serge had been these past few days, something like this wouldn't be strange.

So Chrys wasn't surprised by that alone. She was only surprised by what Serge said next.

"Because of that, I've become immortal, I understand how to use almost all magic, and I've learned three thousand years of history…"

"Serge…"

"My head's still all tangled up. But well, I chose this myself."

"Is there… anything I can do?"

But Serge shook his head.

"Nothing right now… but eventually, I might ask you for something truly terrible."

"If it's your request, I'll do anything."

Ojou-san, that's something you shouldn't say to a man!

What would you do if I asked to grope your breasts?

O-or if I asked you to spend the night with me…?

I wouldn't say that though! Really!

"When the time comes, I really will ask."

 

*

 

That night, Serge was called to the Count's study.

In the room, which had a sofa placed for receiving guests, there were only the two of them.

That alone gave Serge a sense of what the conversation would be about.

"A mobilization order will be issued to the mages of the city."

The Magic City was an oligarchy. A head of state elected by the nobles decided its policies.

"Of course, students are still exempt, but eventually there may be a student mobilization as well. No, when push comes to shove, they'll have no choice."

"You want me to take Chrys before that happens?"

"Can I ask this of you?"

This was convenient for Serge as well. But what would be the pretext?

"A call has been sent to Ogress for magical exchange and cooperation against the demon front line. Chrys has been slipped in as one of the trainees."

As a father, this was acceptable. But what about as a noble?

"The Count will…"

"My son and I will remain. That is our duty as nobles."

Honestly, part of Serge wanted to tell him to throw away his pride and duty as a noble and flee to Ogress.

But that would go against the Count's way of life.

Several days later, the envoy to Ogress was announced.

Chrys's name was among them.

As her escort, Serge would return to Ogress.

A few days before that, Serge visited Azel.

Amid his usual mountains of books, Azel waited for Serge while unusually sipping some wine.

"You're going?"

"Yes. That place is my homeland. And I need to tell the Queen the truth I've learned."

He had come to understand the significance of the Millennium. By circulating souls, this world was kept in a healthier state. For that purpose, many lives were sacrificed.

And the one suffering as he struggled to prevent that was the Demon King, who had once been a Hero.

"Even if we tried to repeat a Millennium like before, it would probably be futile. In the past thousand years, the demon territory has gained incomparable technology and power."

"But then…"

Would they face that Great Collapse?

"Even that is part of what the Demon King intends to fight. The fate of this world."

That was perhaps a far more difficult task than simply facing the Millennium.

Even now, Serge didn't know which side was right.

"The next time you come, I'll also transfer the master authority of this tower to you. If I die, the three servants will obey your commands."

This was effectively his will.

Serge's eyes wavered.

"Don't make that face. I've already lived more than enough. A thousand years is a limit for humans."

Azel smiled. It was a refreshing smile, as if released from exhaustion.

"Now I just pray that the enemy comes quickly."

Three days later, the delegation heading to Ogress departed.

From inside the carriage, Chrys kept watching the group seeing them off.

"It'll be alright."

Serge grasped Chrys's hand and spoke with strength.

"I'm with you."