21st Century Archmage

“Yaaaaaaawn….”

The bright morning sun shone into my room. Like Snow White waking up after eating a poisoned apple, a certain woman slowly opened her eyes while stretching wide.

“!! K-Kyre-nim…”

After a nice, long stretch, the woman was startled by the sight of me as she opened her eyes.

“Did you have a nice dream?”

“Yes… But when did you come back?”

As if she had dreamt long and sweet, Aramis slept for another day after being brought out of the magic box. She looked at me with surprised eyes, as if completely unaware of what had transpired.

“You don’t remember anything?”

“Huh? Remember? Um… It feels like I fell asleep after praying in the temple… Why am I here? In Kyre-nim’s room…”

Aramis stopped, her face turning red.

‘What a relief.’

It seemed she had slept while inside the magic box. Rather, she seemed to have forgotten that she had gotten kidnapped altogether.

“Haha. I’m not sure, I also found it strange. I came back quickly because I wanted to see you, Aramis-nim, but I was very surprised to find you sleeping oh so peacefully on my bed.”

“O-Oh my, really? I was?” Aramis’ large eyes grew wide.

“That’s right, would I have laid Aramis-nim on my bed? Would I, a person of chivalry, have possibly been so shameless as to kidnap the pure Aramis-nim and bring her to my room? With my subordinates watching with wide-open eyes, at that?”

“T-Then…”

Trailing off, Aramis covered her face with the hem of the blanket.

‘What a relief.’

I had been worried that the kind-hearted Aramis might have gotten traumatized, but she didn’t remember anything. My regret for failing to protect her became quite a bit lighter.

“Wake up already, sleepy Princess. You should eat and find the strength to comfort the weary souls waiting outside, should you not?” I said jokingly, approaching Aramis, who was still covering her face with the blanket.

“M-Meanie!” she murmured from the blanket.

‘Thank you, Aramis.’

I was so thankful that she had appeared in front of me again like this without a single injury.

I softly embraced Aramis, whose face was covered.

As I did so, she trembled delicately like a bird in the rain.

“Tonight… Let us go to the sea.”

“Yes…” responded Aramis bashfully.

‘Oh Neran…’

Gratitude towards the goddess above surged within me.

I bowed my head with sincerity towards the Goddess of Mercy, Neran-nim, who sent this angel to my side.

* * *

‘I love you…’

Aramis remembered everything that occurred from the moment she was kidnapped.

Locked in the small box, she was unable to move, but she could hear everything. If things went wrong, it was possible she might have been dragged to the temple and would have never been able to see the light of day ever again.

However, Aramis never gave up.

She prayed desperately.

She prayed that the man who brought happiness to the depths of her soul, the man who would certainly be sent by God, would come and save her.

And God answered.

God sent that man to save her, the faithful child who never gave up and continued to pray. Sweeping away adversity and danger, he delivered that man to save Aramis from the hands of darkness.

‘This, I vow. Until the day you come to rest, I will be your eternal shadow.’

Aramis keenly felt the warmth of the man’s arms and chest softly embracing her.

Resisting her brimming tears, Aramis vowed not to God, but to herself.

She vowed to live for God and this man, until the day she met the Reaper of Death… 

* * *

Reaper Scans

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* * *

“He must absolutely not be forgiven! If we do not act this time as well, the nobles and every citizen and soldier of the kingdom will turn their backs on the Royal Family!”

“Indeed. A definite answer has already come from the Bajran Empire, after all. They said the Imperial Family never gave a command to attack, and any punishment will be entrusted to our kingdom.” 

“If we convene the Southern Army and the Royal Family’s Skyknights, as well as the Skyknights of the nobles with pent-up anger, we can easily reach a force of 200. If we dispatch the available 100,000 soldiers at the same time, we will be able to hunt down the Lord of Nerman!”

“Please lay down your decision, Your Majesty! He may be a count of the Bajran Empire, but we cannot simply forgive him and move on!”

“He is an arrogant man. He has offended most of the magic towers on the continent, a major merchant group, and this time, he even killed temple paladins! He must be punished in the name of the Royal Family. Please permit the expedition! Your Majesty!!!!”

Inside the royal palace of the Havis Kingdom, one of the oldest kingdoms existing on the continent, King Germanian, a ruler struggling to raise the wavering spirits of a kingdom that had passed its glory days, was listening to the vexation of the nobles with a look of fatigue. 

Ten days ago, a battle had broken out in Calvaron County, the territory in charge of the northern border. The Lord of Nerman, a man named Count Kyre, crossed into the kingdom’s territory with a formation of wyverns and attacked. 

At first, the nobles of the kingdom thought it was a warning from the Bajran Empire, so they stayed mum. However, on the chance that they were mistaken, they sent a letter to the Imperial Family, and the response had everyone who could claim to be a patriot squawking noisily at the palace for ten days.

Even though there was only half the number of nobles giving impassioned speeches compared to when the King was young and though Havis was no longer the kingdom it had been in the past, the nobles believed national power had been restored to some extent and that the glory they lost could be regained.

“Everyone, silence. His Majesty the King must have his own thoughts.”

“…..”

One of the two dukes of the kingdom who represented the nobles, Duke Hanskane, hushed the nobles into silence. 

Instead of serving the King, the symbol of royal authority that was as infirm as the kingdom that was breaking apart and crumbling down, the nobles of Havis Kingdom were now basically vassals of the two empires that shared borders with the kingdom.

For the first time in a while, those nobles sought the King’s opinion. Hiding their deep ire and eagerness to punish Nerman, they left the formal decision to King Germanian. 

‘In the end, will the kingdom’s history end with me….’

The kingdom did not even have a prince to carry on the line. For whatever reason, for several generations, the Havis Kingdom had struggled to produce heirs. The life of the Royal Family that had barely managed to make it this far had reached its end. The only person he could call his descendant was a single, beautiful princess, and the King was tired of everything. He just wanted to toss away the crown of empty power and rest.

“From what I have heard, Count Kyre possesses considerable military might, so will it do to attack him? If we are, gods forbid, defeated by him, then the existence of the kingdom itself could be endangered.”

Havis was a kingdom that could crumble at any time, but even so, he was a king who could not give up like a madman on the kingdom his ancestor had protected.

“Your Majesty! Please do not say such a timid thing! I fear that the people may hear.”

“Indeed. Other nations are already calling our kingdom a lame kingdom, but if you say such things, Your Majesty, what will become of us?”

“You are all impudent! How dare you make such ludicrous remarks to His Majesty the King!”

“What ludicrous remarks?! Most of the nobles here think that way! Sir Coberon is the one who should watch his mouth!”

“You….”

The few loyalist nobles present could only grind their teeth in fury at the nobles who treated the King and the Royal Family like cowards. However, that was all they could do. They may be called loyalists, but now, their numbers were so few that they could no longer ensure their own safety.

“Please stop. Everything happened because the Royal Family was lacking power. The Royal Family will settle this matter.”

A clear voice rang out within the royal palace, which was quickly becoming stormy. The nobles turned towards Princess Rosiathe, who was sitting next to the King.

“By settle, you mean….”

Duke Hanskane, who had the face of a catfish with wide-set eyes, indirectly turned his fire on the Princess. He had the expression of someone delighted to catch prey. A prey much more fun to play with than the old king.

“I heard that the matter occurred because the paladins of Neran kidnapped Nerman’s Saintess. I shall personally visit the Lord of Nerman, Count Kyre, hear what he has to say, and settle the negotiation.”

“Hooh, are you saying you will personally go, Princess? If something were to go awry, would that not endanger the safety of the kingdom? Moreover, the Crown Prince of the Bajran Empire has his heart set on the Princess, so if something were to go wrong….”

Hanskane trailed off, examining Princess Rosiathe with a sly gaze.

‘Ah… This isn’t a kingdom, but a dirty pigsty,’ thought Rosiathe with sadness.

Many of these nobles were staring at the Royal Family’s successor, the one who would become their next master, with unclean looks. It was no different from the way it felt when the Crown Prince of the Bajran Empire was looking at her.

“I clearly said so, did I not. The Royal Family will take responsibility for everything.”

The King was sitting next to her, but Rosiathe spoke firmly, with strength.

At that sight, the nobles flinched. Ever since the King became sick twenty years ago and lost his will to protect his standing, the Havis Royal Family had been nearly reduced to figureheads.

However, they were surprised when the princess they had considered a pretty, ornamental flower, not a competitor, stepped forward with such resolve.

“By those words, do you mean to say the Royal Family will take all responsibility for this incident? If negotiations fail, then not only will you have to pay reparations for Calvaron Territory, but you may also lose the trust of many nobles and citizens. May you think well and make your decision, Princess Rosiathe.”

Hanskane emphasized the word “Princess.”

Anyone with half a brain could feel it. That right now, Duke Hanskane was mocking the Princess and the Royal Family.

“I will do so. If I am unable to settle matters amicably, as a loyal vassal, you can personally lead soldiers to catch the Lord of Nerman, Duke Hanskane.”

Not to be outdone, Rosiathe glared at the duke while emphasizing “loyal.”

“If that is what you intend, Princess, then do as you please. Whatever anyone says, Havis Kingdom belongs to His Majesty the King and the Princess, does it not.”

Bowing his head to show respect, Duke Hanskane took a step back.

‘If things go wrong….’

The topic was Nerman’s invasion, but there were many nobles intending to threaten the King whether this matter went well or not. The possible dethronement of the king had hung in the air for several years. They did not move because of a lack of pretext, but as long as there was justification, they would act right away.

‘This might have been for the best. Count Kyre…. if it is him, he might be able to save this rotten kingdom of mine.’

She had shouted confidently at the nobles, but Rosiathe was a young woman not even twenty years old.

Unbeknownst to her, she ended up leaning on Kyre, who had a sturdy back she wanted to pin her hopes on. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to shout so confidently in front of the nobles like today.

Then, we shall move to the next item. The upcoming harvest season….”

The meeting of nobles continued, save for Rosiathe, who was lost in thought thinking about Kyre.

The nobles in the palace did not know.

They did not know that they were baring their blades at someone they should not have even thought of messing with….