Chapter 398 – Happy Ending (1)
Time passed by. Some people forgot, some people didn't.
It was a memory of the day when a meteorite had fallen from the sky.
A night sky had enveloped the whole world, and it had seemed like all life would end. From dragons to daylight, everything had been equal before the falling red meteorite.
Doomsday—as soon as the myth became reality, nobody had been able to resist it and had to accept fate. On that day, infants and adults were equal, a farmer and a sword master were the same, and a human and dragon were no different. Before absolute destruction, all living things had lowered their eyes, afraid to even look at the sky.
A sword master's aura blade? A great magician's 7th circle magic? The abilities which the talented humans had trained all their lives had become no better than trash. It was like how the differences between a rabbit, a bear, and a tiger were all meaningless in front of a pouring landslide.
Only one magician had flown against the ruin. It was just like how long ago, Icarus had challenged the sun and crossed the sky. This magician struggled to prevent the destruction that had yet to arrive, making his living body move beyond the boundary of the planet.
Then the old god-sword broke, and his five viscera burst.
Nevertheless, he had fought without stopping. He had fought alone without telling anyone. Had it been like an egg hitting against a rock? The magician had continued to knock against it despite knowing what the results would. Finally, he was exhausted and defeated. Then he was revived at the end. Like a phoenix reborn from ashes, he had eventually beat the destruction.
Very few people knew about it. The vast majority of people didn't.
One magician had saved the world. Tomorrow shouldn't have come.
The skeptics, those who had intuition, and those who understood were silent—the people who had looked up at the red sky and trembled from an uneasy feeling soon forgot about this day. Thus, life went on. Just like yesterday, somebody died today while somebody else was born in this world.
Six months had passed since the day the meteorite fell.
* * *
New days constantly arrived in the world, as if the end hadn't been one step away. The struggle between Theodore and the Seven Sins led to a transformation of the times. Just as yesterday and today were different, today and tomorrow were different.
First, let's look at the happenings of the West Continent. Due to the empty land of Lairon in the center, a war of nerves began. It was difficult to occupy the land immediately after Lairon's fall due to the undead that remained in the territory. However, after Jerem's death, the land was ownerless.
-I will get payback for the persecution of our people! The nomadic people crossed the western border of Lairon.
However, the people of Austen and Soldun, who lacked agricultural land due to a long drought, also started acting. After all, one of the largest and most fertile lands in the central region was abandoned with an owner. Any nation's leader would covet it. It had been a few years since the end of the drought. After regaining its national strength, Austen made claimed without any fear, -We should take at least one third!
Meanwhile, King Elsid of Soldun scoffed at their request. It was ridiculous from his point of view. -Don't make me laugh. It was our elites who got rid of the undead remaining in Lairon. If you covet the land, I will give you a chance to use the same bed as the zombies.
It was a declaration which left no room for compromise. Wasn't it the same as Elsid saying Soldun would kill them? On the surface, Soldun was threatening a war. As such, Austen became very angry and soon called the army to show the majesty of the Sultan.
As the clouds of combat spread across the central part of the continent, Meltor was aghast and informed both countries, -We are the ones who killed the warlock who destroyed Lairon. Why are you guys fighting over the land?
The central countries were dumbfounded by the absurd remark. They could push forward with force, but the present Meltor Kingdom was the greatest power that had reached its peak. The Meltor Kingdom had the 7th circle Blue Tower Master and White Tower Master, as well as the 8th circle magician Red Tower Master who had the lineage of a dragon. Above all, Meltor had the top magician and Chief Tower Master, Theodore Miller. It was doubtful that the other countries would last for several days if Meltor wanted to immediately unify the West Continent.
Consequently, the war was canceled just before it began. However, there was no break as things started happening in the East Continent. It was the aftermath of the devastation caused by Lust, the so-called Lust's Apocalypse. The empire was bordered by all countries, and the land was so wide that it was hard to compare to Lairon. Furthermore, it was difficult for Meltor to reach out its strength.
Of course, if Theodore acted properly, he could destroy all invaders and rebuild the middle empire. However, if he did that, he would be no different from a dictator.
'I need to combine the remnants of the empire with the youkai led by Shuten-doji in order to form an alliance.'
It was diplomatic of a country to be weak in front of the strong and strong in front of the weak. If they showed that they had the power to resist, the momentum of the other countries would be reduced. If they pretended that they couldn't occupy the outskirts which were now difficult to defend, the predators' greed would somehow be filled.
Theodore's plan went well. The New Central Kingdom, based around the Fairy Dance Lee family, kept close to half its territory. It was unlike the Western Xia and the Bukhae Kingdom, which had moved without the help of others.
'The situation of the East Continent isn't stable yet but…'
Theodore was forced to leave without seeing the results. There was something more serious than the restoration of the world, which had been damaged by the Seven Sins. He moved across the sea to the other continent with one space movement. Theodore couldn't waste even one minute or one second. He walked down a familiar corridor with a stiff expression.
Step, step.
As the sound of his footsteps echoed, someone on the other side of the hall heard it and raised their head. Then they looked at the approaching person with a look of bitter grief.
"You are late, my soul. You took more than an hour?" She tapped Theodore on the shoulder before lightly kissing his cheek. Her hair shone brightly today. It was Veronica, the second strongest person in this magic tower and master of the red tower. Her mood was softer than before as she whispered, "I guess there was a lot of work in the East Continent? Otherwise, you wouldn't be late."
Theodore kissed her and smiled wryly. "Well, that and I had one place to go first."
"Is it a big deal?"
"You don't have to worry."
"You said the same thing about fighting that meteorite. You should specify if you are suddenly going to die like last time."
"I understand, Becky."
Theodore had nothing to say about this topic. His soul had shattered when he entered the Akashic Records to fight against the falling Wrath. The problem was that Veronica was linked to his soul. As soon as Theodore fell into the Akashic Records, her heart had stopped before restarting. Even the contract of a Seven Sins contract had been cut off, so her soul had gotten damaged. Back when Theodore's soul shattered and entered a dimension that was several levels higher, it had broken all of his contracts.
'It is lucky I recovered the connection along with Gluttony or I would've regretted it.'
Thinking about it now, it was shocking. If it hadn't been for the vitality of Veronica's bloodline and Theodore's quick perception, Veronica would've died. How stupid would it have been to save the world while losing a lover? Her body temperature which he felt belatedly was now even more precious.
After hugging her for a few seconds, Theodore asked, "Am I late?"
"By my standards." Veronica smiled and patted his head. "If that old man was still alive, he would be trying to break your head right now."
"…There are still others. How is Sylvia?"
"She's fine. She has a slight fever but that is normal."
"I see…" Theodore sighed with relief and flopped down onto the chair. It was an expression that he hadn't shown when he dealt with a dragon, a demon, or even Wrath.
Veronica saw his expression and teased him, "Control your face. You look like you are possessed by an evil spirit. Won't people misunderstand?"
"Sigh… I know but I can't control it." This was different from the trials Theodore had faced so far. "It is hard for me."
It was hard to believe that every parent had gone through this once or several times. Having a clear enemy was much easier. Theodore couldn't even imagine the trial that was going on beyond the shabby door. It wasn't even close to how he'd felt when he fought Pride. When he fought Wrath, he had been desperate but hadn't given up. This was the first time he had such a feeling of helplessness.
At that moment…
Creak. The door of the room containing Sylvia opened.
"Ah!"
The medical magician saw the two tower masters when he exited and bowed. However, Theodore stopped him and asked desperately, "Sylvia, how is her body? Is there anything wrong?"
The medical magician was a bit surprised at Theodore's desperate appearance. It was the attitude of a father that could be seen everywhere. He had thought the Chief Tower Master would have more composure, but his prediction was wrong. It was different from what had thought, which caused the medical magician to smile. So what if Theodore Miller was the strongest magician? He was also a father.
"Don't worry. She is a bit tired, but she is fine. And… you should hear this from the Blue Tower Master."
"T-That's right." Theodore reddened as he glimpsed his own behavior with the benefit of hindsight. "Thank you for your hard work. Then… Becky?"
"I will wait a bit. The two of you should spend some time together."
"…Becky, thank you."
Thanks to Veronica stepping back, Theodore crossed the room to where Sylvia was. It was only a few steps but it felt like the other side of the universe. He barely maintained his steady pace.
"Theo, you came." Sylvia sat on a wide bed, holding a white blanket.
"Sylvia."
"Yes."
His mouth didn't open well. Theodore silently took one step and then two steps toward her. The caregiver stepped back like she knew the thoughts in his heart. Now there were only two people at the bed. Theodore stood still and waited for Sylvia's words. Her face was a bit more worn than usual, but she was a few times brighter.
"Theo." Sylvia showed him the fabric that was moving slightly. "Look, it is our child."
"…Ah."
Objectively speaking, it was hard to say that the child was beautiful. After all, as a newborn baby, it was wrinkled and red. However, Theodore's vision blurred. Tears that he didn't know had formed were spilling, dripping like melting ice. No words emerged as he embraced his child with trembling hands.
'Ahh…'
He thought that he had been born for this moment, the birth of the child who inherited Theodore's and Sylvia's blood. Theodore had been afraid of this moment. There were more people he had to protect at the risk of his life. He had hesitated for a bit because the burden on his shoulders had gotten heavier.
However, at this moment, Theodore forgot all his regrets.
"…Caregiver," Theodore whispered so that the sleeping child wouldn't wake up, "Give this leaf to Sylvia in a tea."
"C-Chief Tower Master. Excuse me, but this leaf…?"
Even if Theodore was the Chief Tower Master, the caregiver couldn't feed anything to a new mother when she didn't know what effect it would have. Theodore smiled at the careful caregiver. "A bud of the world tree."
"Heok!"
"Hurry. The strength weakens quickly away from Elvenheim."
"U-Understood!"
The caregiver moved busily while Theodore looked down lovingly at his child. There was a faint breathing sound. The tiny body seemed like it would break when he touched it. Theodore barely suppressed the urge to hug the child as tightly as possible.
'Open.' Theodore placed an index finger to the child's lips.
He wouldn't have been late if he had come directly from the East Continent. However, the reason he was perceived as late had been to get 'this.' A clear drop of liquid flowed from the space connected to his fingertips. There were only a few drops, but that was a huge amount from an elf's perspective. It hadn't been easy for them to extract sap from the barely recovering world tree because they thought of the world tree as their ancestor.
Theodore once again glanced over the baby's face. If a baby was fed this sap, they would grow up with the love of all the elementals and spirits. Indeed, it seemed as if the baby's color improved.
"Theo." Sylvia watched him from the side and held out both of her hands.
Theodore suppressed his regret and placed the baby back in her arms. Sylvia kissed the sleeping child's forehead and looked at him with a profound gaze in her eyes. It was more loving than passionate. These were definitely the eyes of a 'mother.'
"If you have a name that you've thought about, can you tell me?"
"Um…"
He had one. It wasn't an exaggeration to say that this person had contributed to Theodore's victory—a pleasant old man who had always laughed energetically for his age. If possible, Theodore had wanted to end their wedding with getting the old man's beating. No, the old man might've laughed and cried. He was the person characterized by a white beard and a large staff.
The name Theodore had in mind drew inspiration from Blundell Adruncus. "Adellia."
The meaning of the name was obvious to Sylvia as soon as she heard it. Her eyes widened like she was surprised. Then she smiled brightly. "It is a good name."
Chapter 399 – Happy Ending (2)
Theodore wanted to stay longer with his first child, but he could see that Sylvia was tired despite drinking tea made from a leaf of the world tree. It wasn't a medicine or magic after all. He kissed the foreheads of Sylvia and the sleeping Adellia, then he left the room.
Creak.
Once he left the room, Veronica's eyes widened from where she was waiting for him. What on earth was she seeing? She stretched out a hand and touched Theodore's cheek. Her fingers touched the dry tear marks. "…Theo, you cried?"
Come to think of it, he hadn't wiped them up. Theodore nodded lightly. Once he opened his mouth, it felt like his voice wouldn't come out. Veronica didn't tease him. Rather, she held his face affectionately and patted it slowly. The two people calmed down by sharing their body temperatures.
"Oh, I'm jealous." Veronica had a faint smile on her face as she let out warm breaths. Her heart was affected when she saw this man looked so defenseless. She felt a bit envious that Sylvia had seen this face first. Veronica's affection for Theodore, who truly loved her, was overwhelming.
She held his face and said playfully, "You will be hurt if you don't cry when it is my turn. Understood?"
"Of course," Theodore replied without any hesitation. This was a joy that he wouldn't be able to get used to, no matter how many times he experienced it. It was a feeling he never knew before he became a parent. Despite extra weight being put on both of his shoulders, Theodore didn't break from this weight.
"All of you are my treasures. I don't intend to change this priority, even if the world is at risk."
It was the reason why he had been able to refuse the Akashic Records and the throne of omnipotence. The role Clipeus had given to him was light compared to this. Adding a few things to his burden wouldn't tilt the balance towards him leaving.
Veronica blushed at his words. She looked cute since it was unlike her. Then Theodore whispered in her ears, "Can I see Becky's child next time?"
"I-I don't know!" Veronica exclaimed, slipping out of Theodore's eyes. Her eyes were big as she shouted, "Tonight is my turn, so don't go anywhere!"
Theodore replied with a smirk, "I know. That is why I said it."
"This beast!"
"Shouldn't I say that about Becky?"
Veronica's face was as red as a persimmon as she looked away. With her red dragon's lineage, all her passion had been released after the wedding. As such, she wasn't in a position to call Theodore a 'beast.' However, he stopped teasing her and spoke in a gentle voice, "Don't stay for long because Sylvia is tired. Understood?"
Veronica nodded without saying anything. She felt like she would receive more damage the more she watched. After stroking Veronica's red hair several times, Theodore turned and walked down the corridor. The sound of the door closing behind him was strange.
Theodore calmed his mood as he stepped out of the tower. He walked lightly.
'…Ah.'
Then he soon realized…
'The world looks different.'
Theodore even welcomed the boiling hot sun. His eyes were captivated by the rustling of unnamed flowers and by the fresh clouds floating in the sky. Was this the feeling of having the whole world? All riches and honors were useless.
"Sigh…" Theodore was happy for a moment before calling out behind him. He had been aware of the presence from before, but now the gap between the two of them was narrowed. "Paragranum, what is it?"
It was a pale blonde girl with two eyes like rubies and soft brown skin like chocolate. She was a beautiful girl who looked no different from a doll. With a smile that seemed like it was drawn in a picture, the grimoire that was the Yellow Tower Master spoke about something else instead of answering. "You are really interesting."
Her red eyes glowed with dangerous interest. "Despite being a transcendent, you are faithful to keeping your human emotions. It was beyond my expectations that you would defeat Wrath and your contractor."
"Don't sugarcoat it." Theodore looked back with no expression. "Why did you come here?"
"It is a regular report."
"…Hmm."
Without any hand gestures or chants, a wall of silence surrounded the two of them. Paragranum's mouth gaped open as she realized it, but Theodore didn't respond at all.
"Start."
"You really are unfriendly," Paragranum said with a shrug. Then she finally explained, "I have built more than half the blueprints. It's the beginning of a cornerstone of a civilization that combines science and magic. This will lead to the opening of schools that will spread the two disciplines throughout all of Meltor. It should take 10 years?"
"10 years until the starting point… It is a long way to go."
"It can't be helped. This country is already attached to the magic system. If you want to change the sheets, you either have to wait until they turn around or flip them all over."
If Theodore went in a radical direction, he might see three times the progress. However, in that case, the civilization of this material world itself would be placed in Theodore's palms. Yet if he didn't intervene, they wouldn't be able to become self-reliant, and there was the possibility of a big problem rising. Therefore, Theodore aimed for a gradual reform. The blueprints were just a light push for a new world order centered around Meltor.
'I have too many things to do.'
He didn't have time to enjoy Adellia being born. This was the reason why Theodore didn't choose a radical way. There was no reason for him to gain wealth or power, nor did he want to take care of things he didn't need to do. He also had no intention of making this world his own model garden. The people who lived in the present era should walk along this path themselves.
"Still, I think that magic engineering is fun. The world will be quite different after completing this plan. 1,000 years… No, will it be 1,500 years?"
"Maybe it needs that long," Theodore confirmed Paragranum's prediction. Then he added, "Tell me if there is anything you don't like, especially considering the circumstances."
"Huh? No, I'm fine. Creating a 'human' is just another means for my purpose of existence. In the first place, alchemy is the halfway point between magic and science."
"Certainly, if you are sure."
After 1,500 years, the mana level would be much lower than it was now due to Sloth. However, the utility of magic engineering was better than magic in certain fields. The alchemy grimoire, Paragranum, would show a higher synergy with it than anyone else. In the future where all masters would have disappeared, Theodore would be the only deterrent to control Paragranum.
"This is the end of my report." Paragranum delivered some more reports before taking two steps back and staring at Theodore. It was like she was looking inside him. "The future world is interesting, but I am also curious about your future. Despite being able to reign, you choose not to reign. You also have no desire to leave this world. Isn't that right?"
"So?"
"Theodore Miller, the last transcendent of this world, how long can you insist on this life? I will be watching."
Then Paragranum left in an instant.
'Until when?' Theodore gazed at the blonde who was moving further away from him. No matter the purpose behind her words, it didn't feel like she was antagonizing him. It was purely curiosity and was quite meaningful. Perhaps the few words of this grimoire would stick with him until the end of this world.
"…Go."
Theodore left this spot and returned to the central tower.
* * *
Two months later, Sylvia's state steadily improved after she giving birth to Adellia. Additionally, the distribution of the Lairon territory finally finished after six months of negotiations. In the process, there was strong resistance from the Austen Kingdom. However, they had to close their mouth after Theodore visited.
It was a prelude to the Age of Great Peace.
Envy's death had resolved the long conflict in the northern part of the continent. The territory of Lairon, which could've been the seed of a dispute, was then divided among nations without a single armed conflict. Over the next 20 years, they would be too busy clearing the land to turn their eyes elsewhere.
In the southern part of the continent, the swamp was receding, and there was so empty space. However, it wasn't easy to deal with because the monsters in the continent renewed their grip on this land. In particular, the southern kingdoms lacked strong combat power.
As long as this balance didn't collapse, there would be at least one or two centuries of peace.
"On behalf of the Meltor Kingdom, I will declare to all countries!" In this unprecedented golden age of Meltor, Kurt III declared to the world, "From this day on, Meltor is no longer a kingdom! As a true magic empire, I declare that we are the Magic Empire of Meltor!"
The Magic Empire… Andras had been downgraded to a kingdom after being defeated in the war. Even the empire in the East Continent had collapsed. No nation objected to Meltor's claim to becoming an empire. In the central square of Mana-vil, Kurt III, now an emperor, stood on the high podium and raised one hand to the cheering people. "Wait! The auspicious news doesn't end here!"
Expectations filled the eyes of the people gathered in this square. It was already surprising that Meltor was reborn as an empire. Now there was something else? Kurt III raised the tension for a few seconds before glancing at someone standing by. Then he shouted in a voice that rang through the square, "You must know as well! The chief of the magic towers that oversees the whole of the Meltor Kingdom—no, the best magician of the empire!"
Theodore walked slowly and stood before Kurt III on stage.
"The hero who has built up countless achievements, the one who ended the war with Andras and whose reputation stretches to the East Continent…! I will give Chief Tower Master Theodore Miller a position worthy of these merits!"
At least thousands, perhaps even tens of thousands, of people forgot how to breathe as they looked at this scene. This was a day which would be written in Meltor's history books and a day that they wouldn't forget. It was Kurt III's accession as the first emperor of Meltor and the appointment ceremony for Theodore Miller.
"Listen up, Theodore Miller."
Theodore bowed slightly without kneeling. As a 9th circle magician, he was qualified to do so.
"Will you give wisdom to this Meltor as a teacher of the state? Will you be the pillar of the empire's strength and honor?"
"Yes."
"Are you willing to become a companion of this Meltor Empire and pursue a future with it?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Kurt III smiled at the answer and pulled something out from under the podium. "Then all the people here will stand as witnesses! If you have eyes, look! If you have ears, listen! I, the first emperor of the Meltor Empire, will give my first imperial order!"
He held a luxurious item with a mysterious glowing gem hanging from its end. The item was 50 centimeters in length, and the magic power rising from its surface proved that its value was huge. It was a rod. The rod, known as a magician's special weapon along with a staff and an orb, was a national treasure managed by the royal family.
"You will be treated as the head of our imperial court, a teacher, and a guardian. You can exercise any command equal to an imperial order in any domestic or foreign affairs. The leader of all magicians, the head of the magic towers, Theodore Miller! I, Kurt III, today appoint you as the Imperial Guardian!"
It was a position prepared only for Theodore.
"It is the glory of my life, Your Majesty." Theodore politely stretched out his hands and accepted the rod. Feeling uncomfortable, he laughed. It had been more than half a year, yet he still couldn't adapt to this. There was a faint smile on his face as Theodore raised his left hand up to the sky.
"Wahhhhh!" The roar of the crowd shook the heaven and earth.
'There is a commotion.'
Cheers reverberated throughout all of Mana-vil. The whole castle seemed to be shaking. The pigeons sitting on the castle walls flew away, and the flags of each house fluttered vigorously. It was the day that the Meltor Empire was announced. After grabbing the rod which symbolized the Imperial Guardian, Theodore looked down at the landscape below his feet. The people currently looking up wouldn't know about how a person raised in a rural area had reached this place and what hardships he had overcome.
The world's best magician was once the dunce of Bergen Academy…? It was a story that even he couldn't have believed in those days. The sky, which he looked up at, was blue as always and clear without any clouds. Emotions rose and sank quickly. He wasn't so immature as to be swayed by this. Still, wasn't it okay to return the cheers once?
"Um." Theodore raised the rod in his right hand and aimed it at the sky.
The people who saw his movements became silent. They watched the best magician of this century with curious eyes, wondering what he would show on this auspicious day. Would it be fire? A lightning strike? This was the perception of those who didn't know much about magicians. They thought Theodore wasn't that different from the other great magicians.
'Okay, this is fine.' Theodore visualized it in a matter of seconds and carried out the magic. The gem at the end of the rod shone once before dimming. The central square fell silent, expecting something tremendous. However, nothing happened.
One of the disappointed people sighed and looked up. "…Eh?"
Then his loud exclamation shattered the heavy silence, "T-The sky! Look above you!"
People raised their heads as soon as his voice was heard. It wasn't just the people gathered in the central square but the magicians around the stage as well. All the citizens of Mana-vil looked up at the sky, which had blackened. Like the sky from half a year ago, night had come despite the sunshine. However, unlike Doomsday, this night sky was beautiful. The blue sky still remained at the edge, a color border that decorated the night sky. Additionally, starlight shone in the warm darkness. Due to Theodore's magic, the night sky was closer and clearer, captivating everyone's eyes.
He was a magician who covered the sun in daytime and brought the night! This alone was enough to cause awe. However, Theodore's magic didn't end there.
"Ohh! The curtain of light in the sky…"
"These jewel-like lights… are really beautiful!"
"An aurora over Mana-vil…!"
There was a whirl of light where the color couldn't be determined. Some people recognized it as an aurora, while others didn't. However, everyone didn't hesitate to admire it and rejoice. In front of Theodore's magic, both the young and old were joyful. The aurora in the sky gathered in one place and started to draw several complex patterns.
Someone saw through the meaning and cried out in a loud voice, "That… is the flag of the empire!"
The first and most dramatically drawn pattern was the flag of Meltor. The eagles, spires, and crown pattern planted a flame in the hearts of the crowd. The next pattern consisted of the symbols that represented the magic towers.
Owl, owlet, crow, and osprey—when the four wise birds flew in the sky, the people became speechless. The symbols of the nation—the magic empire, Meltor—they would live as in the future were filling the sky.
"…Hooray!"
Nobody knew who opened their mouths first.
"―The Imperial Guardian, hooray!"
Once one person cried out, the ten people around them also shouted. It wasn't long until ten people grew to the hundreds, and hundreds grew to the thousands. The crowd in the central square cried out in one voice.
"Imperial Guardian, hooray!
"His Majesty the Emperor, hooray!
"Theodore Miller, hooray!
"The magic empire, hooray!"
The voices of the 10,000 people were almost like a storm. The passing wind was broken, and the surprised birds fell out of the tree. The patriotism and pride that resulted from Theodore's magic inspired the people. Later, historians would assert:
It was said that the endless glory of the Meltor Empire began with the first cheer.
* * *
The Imperial Guardian could speak on the same level as the emperor and be involved in any policy domestically and abroad. It was legally absurd, but Theodore's transcendent power and achievements made the exception possible. In the first place, if he decided on something, who would dare argue against him? The position of Imperial Guardian was just a deception.
Of course, it seemed great for those who didn't know the circumstances behind it. It did make it easier for Theodore to do his work.
"Sigh…" Theodore returned to his office on the top floor of the central magic tower and took off his tie.
Despite obtaining a tremendous position, his work hadn't changed much. Theodore was still mediating disputes between nations, dealing with the aftermath of wars, and stabilizing the unstable dimension. He wandered around the world from dawn to early evening and then checked the faces of Adellia and his brides.
Theodore buried himself in the armchair and whispered in a low voice, "Goetia, assistance."
[Yes, Master,] a voice emerged from the ring on his right hand. [Aquilo has sent a message that she has normalized the water vein in Austen. Elvenheim said that the condition of the world tree will be normalized in approximately two or three months. In the East Continent, the Western Xia has dispatched reconnaissance troops across the border. Half of them were wiped out by the border guards in the south. The establishment of the Science Academy is 72% completed as scheduled. The screening of magicians who are suitable as researchers for the 'magic engineering' is delayed a bit.]
"…I see," Theodore said and closed his eyes, summarizing the situation before replying, "I will return to talk to Aquilo directly. It is pleasing that the recovery of the world tree is twice as fast as expected. Mitra and the spirits added strength. I need to get some gifts."
[Yes, I will act according to Master's will.]
"But the Western Xia…"
It was Baek Dongil's native kingdom. Theodore could understand why the Baek Family left the East Continent. When did a person reveal their true colors? The leader of the Western Xia was filled with inferiority and jealousy. Now the leader had no more patience left to watch.
"Just leave it alone. The power of the South Kingdom and the New Central Kingdom isn't bad. They will take care of it."
[I understand.]
"And the lack of researchers for 'magic engineering'… There aren't many magicians interested in science? We can support it with the budget."
Thanks to the 9th circle magic, Materials Conversion, money and materials wasn't a problem. Additionally, the materials which were essential to magic engineering were steel and lead, not mithril or orichalcum. There were many studies that could be done with rare metals. However, there was still a long way to go from the beginning.
Goetia laughed at Theodore's words and said, [The magicians of this age are only focused on magic. It is hard to study a new field.]
"It would be quite helpful for magic too… Well, it can't be helped."
There was no point forcing magicians to participate. If he built an academy and taught people from childhood, the problem would be solved after one generation. This was a blueprint made for a thousand years. He could afford a margin of error that was one generation. Therefore, Theodore abandoned his impatience.
"Is there anything else to report?"
[Yes. There are a few more things, but I can handle them autonomously.]
"Okay, you have worked hard today. Get some rest."
[I understand, Master. Please have a comfortable night.]
The blinding light of the ring stopped shining. Theodore took it off and placed it on the desk. The darkness that came in from outside the window cast shade over the small silver ring. It was the night view of Mana-vil with countless stars and lights.
'It was quite busy today.'
Theodore sat in the chair and looked at the scenery as he thought back on this day. It was better to be busy than to be bored enough to yawn. If he didn't enjoy life, then he wouldn't be able to live for a long time. He calmly looked out the window at the lights and the people wandering below.
'…How long can I carry on with my life?'
When there was no work to do, many thoughts were born. Theodore recalled the words that Paragranum had said a few months ago. He was different from the people down below. He would live endlessly, unlike the people caught on the wheel of yesterday, today, and tomorrow. This was why transcendents left the world or went into hiding.
Those who lived finite lives and those who were immortal—there was a gap that couldn't be narrowed down between the two.
Theodore could live like this for another 100 years. There would be no big problem after 200 years. But what about 1,000 years? 2,000 years? After everyone he loved died and he was alone in this world, it wouldn't be possible to live like he did now and he would stop breathing.
Once he closed his eyes, the infinite vortex appeared in his mind. Right now, it was like he could grip omnipotence in his hands. It would be easy to lead all the surrounding people to transcendence and build a paradise that would remain until the end of the universe.
"Hah!" Theodore scoffed and shook off the temptation. "It isn't funny."
Even if his loved ones left, there would be children connected through his blood and name. It was the bond he'd created with Sylvia and Adellia which kept him in this world. Remembering the past and preparing for the promising future was the right way to live. It was against Theodore's principles to fear the unfamiliar future and hold onto a past that should be let go.
Theodore sat back in his chair and said cheerfully, "We are born, born, born, and born again. But we can't understand where life begins."
Those were the words of grand Buddhist master in the East.
"We will die, die, die, and die. But we won't know the end of death."
Even a transcendent who had seen a part of the truth couldn't understand universal life and death. Theodore was the same despite having looked at Akashic. If he were asked why the universe existed, he would answer that he didn't know. This answer was the truth of everything. The existence of life and death was an existence complete in itself.
"Without her, without him… As long as there are traces of them left in my descendants in the future…"
Theodore Miller wouldn't forsake this world. He pledged this once more and picked up a book from his desk. There was no title, and the notebook had no words.
"Hrmm."
Life wasn't meaningless. He wasn't sleepy and there was still time left in the night, so Theodore didn't hesitate to pick up a quill pen. He thought it wouldn't be bad to write about his own life in print. It would be an autobiography. Theodore brought the tip of the pen to the notebook. There was a text that should precede the table of contents.
One title came to mind—[The Book Eating Magician.]
The palm of his left hand tingled. Theodore wrote the first chapter without disturbing the illusion. It was a story which began by meeting a bad book in the library.
…And that story wasn't over yet.