Limit Breaking Genius Mage Chapter 268

Episode 268 National Treasure (1)

A faint smile appears on his lips.

The expression on Silis' face, dressed in a white dress, was even brighter than on the day of her coronation when she was torturing the various spirits.

Is it the freedom that comes from having achieved revenge, or the excitement of having a new goal?

Whatever it was, I could tell she was sincere.

'I will live for those who protected me.'

It is a new goal and dream that started with the advice of others.

However, it was Silis himself who made it concrete. It was the same with him who decided to take a different path.

The will was firm.

Verden took Silis' decision to heart.

Because one day you may make the same, similar, or completely opposite choices.

The journey he was about to embark on, unlike Silis's, was not over. At best, he had only just begun.

Verden nodded.

“I see.”

“……Is that all?”

“Should I have reacted differently?”

Silis shook his head.

“That’s not it… but I thought at least my answer wasn’t what you wanted to hear.”

“I didn’t come here to hear the right answer.”

Verden did not answer.

That silence became an answer.

'Even though I had that much power, I couldn't achieve it.'

It must at least be a higher ideal than that of Silis, who wanted to destroy the royal family.

Silis thought about the chaos the man in front of him would cause.

The outcome was impossible to predict exactly. Whatever they did, it would have a huge impact that would shake the entire continent.

The person who single-handedly defeated the strongest man in the kingdom, the one closest to being transcendent among those Silis knows.

Will surely reign over the world.

But you should be afraid, but not stay away.

Before the pragmatic decision to establish friendly relations with the strong, he was a benefactor to Silis.

I had no intention of making the same mistake I made when sealing Loafra. I had already seen with my own eyes that it was wrong.

So this time I plan to go the opposite way.

“Asher, I don’t know what you’re dreaming about. Except that it’s something very important to you.”

but.

“If we could give them some compensation, it would definitely help.”

Silis said confidently.

What on earth were you trying to give me that you're so confident about? I didn't do it to get paid at all… … Well, since you're giving it to me, I have no choice but to accept it.

There was no reason to make a fuss about refusing.

“But before I show you the reward, there’s something you should take care of.”

Silis snapped his fingers.

From behind the throne, a bracelet with luxurious decorations flew out.

If you have the eye for magic items to use <Emotion>, you can tell at a glance that it is not an ordinary item.

Moreover, that bracelet was an accessory I had seen before.

“Is this Leonil’s artifact?”

“After investigating the entire royal capital, we found that it had fallen in a remote alley and was picked up by a citizen passing by. We also obtained testimony that it had fallen together with the left arm, which was almost completely destroyed. So we paid a small fee and legally recovered it. Would you like to see it for yourself?”

Silis recommended checking.

Berden, with his gaze fixed, used <Emotion>.

'The name is Absolute Will. An artifact that allows you to gain control over projectile magic for a certain period of time in exchange for sacrificing your lifespan.'

If you think about it, it has endless effects.

For example, by manipulating magic arrows, you can easily shoot targets that would normally be out of reach.

Especially, manipulating meteors like Leonil and changing their location at will is enough to be a disaster in war.

The problem is that life expectancy is reduced.

Even though he could freely control 7th-tier siege magic, if even Leonil hesitated to use it, it must mean that the backlash was great.

Since the exact figures are not known, we cannot help but be cautious.

'I guess I have nothing to write about.'

Verden lost interest in an instant.

Because he had been living a life with a limited time to live, he was extremely reluctant to talk about anything related to life expectancy.

Even if you use it directly, it is ambiguous.

Because I didn't think I could get any utility beyond the power Verden currently had, beyond the lifespan it consumed.

It was a negative opinion rather than a question.

Silis said.

“As expected, it seems like the performance is satisfactory.”

“Not all artifacts are good. It’s actually rare to get your hands on one that’s right for you.”

“Even without this, it would be even more so for someone strong. However, the ownership of this artifact is entirely yours. So, if you don’t need it, I would like to propose purchasing it from the royal family.”

“……In the royal family? Is there any other use for it?”

“Even without that, artifacts are valuable. The problem is that they use up their lifespan as consumables, but that doesn’t mean they can’t be used at all. If you keep them, there will come a day when you can use them. Even without them, they can be used to decorate your treasure trove, so it doesn’t really matter. What do you want to do?”

There is no need to worry about it.

It's obvious that having that bracelet would just be a waste of time.

“I don’t accept the offer.”

“Okay. I’ll give you a reasonable price.”

Silis moved his magic.

The will of the absolute being that had been floating in the air settled in a corner.

“Now, let’s get to the main point. Three rewards from the royal family. Unlike Leonil’s artifact, this time you can look forward to it.”

Is this more than an artifact?

When you say it like that, I can't help but feel excited.

Silis manipulated magic.

This time, a certificate and a medal with writing on them each flew in and she held them in her hands.

A sign modeled after a sharp shield.

Both have royal symbols clearly engraved on them.

Finally, Silis declared.

“Asher, I hereby grant you the title of Honorary Count of the Kingdom of Estyria.”

* * *

The nobility is a privileged class that dominates the class system.

As times have progressed, the cases of ruthless tyranny in the territory as in the past have decreased significantly, but they still hold great power.

As anyone who was an ordinary citizen would have imagined themselves becoming noble at least once, the nobility was not a class that anyone could reach through hard work.

But Verden's reaction was quite lukewarm.

“Oh, you don’t like it?”

“Because it’s useless.”

Honorary Count.

The highest honorary title that can be awarded in the Kingdom of Estyria, it cannot be inherited and does not grant any land to rule.

Of course, he could receive treatment befitting a count in many ways, but it was mostly limited to the Kingdom of Estyria. It was unnecessary for Verden, who was leaving the kingdom soon.

He expressed slight displeasure.

“If you intend to make me a member of the kingdom by chance───”

“Hey, no way. I had no such impudent intentions. I was only trying to give you noble status. If I had wanted to capture you in the first place, I would have given you a title higher than count, and even given you a fief.”

Silis clapped his hands slightly.

“Oh, is that what you were hoping for? If you intend to have enemies in the kingdom, I will give you a fertile and wide territory. And the position of Chief Magician of the Court, and even the title of Duke. You can have it all if you wish.”

It's a suggestion that's a mixture of seriousness and jokes.

Even though he knew that Verden would not nod, he meant that if he accepted, he would really give him full authority.

Of course, the answer was set.

“I’m sorry, but I have to decline.”

“Well, I knew that would be the case… but it’s a bit disappointing. It would be great if you could settle down in the kingdom.”

Silis let out a small sigh.

This was sincere. He quickly shook off his regret and continued speaking.

“Actually, this is why I gave you the title.”

Silis took out an envelope.

It was luxuriously decorated with a green painting on a white background, and was preserved in an undamaged state through magical treatment.

The seal has a different picture than the royal symbol. Verden's eyes widened slightly as he witnessed it.

“……The mark of the Artesian Tower?”

“I see. That’s right. This is a permit to build a ‘large-scale flying machine’ that is to be auctioned off to the nation by the Artesan Tower.”

Not just anyone can build a flying machine and not just anyone can own one.

If not careful, it could cause great chaos in society. Especially, those made for medium-sized or larger or military purposes are extremely dangerous.

A flying plane with a siege magic circle can instantly turn a city into a wasteland.

The Artesian Tower has a production technology that no other tower can match.

As time goes by, I don't know, but for now, it's the only place that can build large-scale flying machines.

“As you know, there are only a few countries in the world that can afford to own a large fleet of flying ships. And this license is designed to be used only by the Estyrian royal family or nobility. I think this is a reasonable compensation for you.”

The minimum rank required to manage a large fleet of aircraft is a count or higher. There are no exceptions, as this is a rule established by international agreement.

In other words, Verden, who had just become an honorary count, was more than qualified to do so.

“Granting a large-scale flying license to an individual. Isn’t the compensation too high? If I were to operate the flying vehicle maliciously, it would cause great damage to the kingdom.”

“If that were true, I wouldn’t have warned you like this. Rather, I only gave you permission to build a large-scale flying boat, and the cost of its production is your responsibility. Of course, if you come to the Kingdom of Estyria, I’m willing to provide you with the funds, even if it means going to great lengths.”

The last words were lost in thought.

‘… … It’s a private jet.’

Even if you raid Grond's vaults, you won't have enough money.

There is no particular need for it at present, but it is certain that it will be easy to use in the future. A large airship is a powerful force in itself.

“Then I will gratefully accept it.”

"you're welcome."

Verden packed his honorary count's certificate, the royal medal certifying him, and the Artesan Tower's permit into his space bag.

The satisfaction was doubled because it was a big, unexpected gift.

'I'm curious about this.'

The previous compensation was like this.

So what on earth is the third and final compensation?

But I couldn't get an answer right away.

“The third one isn’t here. It’s still in production.”

… … In production?

Silis smiled bashfully at Verden, who was expressing his doubts.

“So please wait a moment. It won’t take long.”

The way she answered, sweeping her platinum hair behind her ear.

He was showing more confidence than before.

I don't know what it is, but it seems like there's a reason to stay in the palace a little longer, separate from the problem with Grond's vault.

* * *

At that moment, Callia was alone with the Marquis of Esperenza.

Even though several minutes had passed, she still had no idea why she had been called. Aside from the initial greeting, there had been no conversation.

I carefully sipped the steaming tea and watched my father, who was lost in thought.

A quiet silence hangs over the place.

At that moment, the Marquis' voice broke the silence.

“Calia.”

“Oh, yes, father.”

I hastily put down my teacup.

The Marquis, who had been watching him, narrowed his eyes.

“I see you’ve been hanging out with Asher lately.”

Kalia's eyes filled with confusion for a moment.

He quickly avoided eye contact and scratched his chin with his finger.

“Not only Asher, but also Fernet and Karanth are accompanying us……”

“I heard that there are cases where the two go together.”

Kalia closed her mouth.

It was difficult to understand what his father was trying to say.

In such cases, the answer was to just keep quiet. I knew full well that clumsy psychological warfare would not work at all.

Of course, it didn't really mean anything.

In terms of personality, Kalia inherited the Marquis's tendencies more than her other brothers.

For the Marquis, a seasoned nobleman and father, it was easy to see through his son's thoughts.

“In that sense, I have something to ask you to do.”

"……yes?"

Kalia blinked.

“Is something urgent coming up?”

“If we really have to be specific, it won’t take much time. But it’s not that difficult. Rather, it’s a very simple task.”

The curiosity deepened.

I was not used to such ambiguous commands.

“If you want to refuse, you can. It’s not something you have to do.”

If that's the case, then there's no need to use a sword.

There must have been a reason why he specifically singled her out.

“……I’ll listen first.”

The Marquis, without hesitation, revealed the inside story to Kalia.

A serious voice echoed softly throughout the room.

After the explanation was over, and even after understanding his intentions, Kalia could not bear to refuse the opportunity her father had given her.