"The Imperial Family?"
"..."
"What's your name?"
Could this child be the third princess? Is that it? Of course not.
The child lowered her head, her face full of intimidation.
"R-Ren."
"Ren?"
"It's the last letter of my mother's name. I was never given a name, so I use this."
"...?"
What in the world was she talking about?
"Me and Greg... my brother are illegitimate children."
"Our mother, a maid, had a relationship with some noble father and... I think that's how we were born. I don't know the details."
"Why don't you know? She's your mother."
"We grew up in an orphanage. But unlike the other children, a woman would visit us every month to bring us food and clothes."
"Then one day, my brother overheard that woman talking to the director."
"You're saying that woman was your mother."
"Yes, we even found out... her name. But the next time she came, my brother confronted her. She looked surprised, left, and never came back."
So these two weren't natural bodies created by Red Lotus, but half mages born from a maid and a noble. I knew that if a mage married a mage, they would produce a mage 100% of the time. But in the beginning, they started increasing the number of noble mages through marriages between mages and nobles.
So, if a mage married a commoner, it seemed their child had a high probability of becoming a mage, even if it wasn't 100%.
"Are you twins, by any chance?"
"... Oh, yes. We are. How did you know?"
And if they were twins, I could understand how they beat the odds and produced two mages at once. Was there really a reason to abandon them? If it were me, I would have used this to turn my life around.
No, they wouldn't have known they were mages until they were ten, so that method would have been impossible. As I considered the possibilities, Ren slowly lifted her head.
"After that, my brother told me to forget about our mother, that she was a bad person who abandoned us."
"But I can't forget. She's my mother. So I named myself after her. On my own."
"You want to see her. That's your goal, right?"
"Yes. I want to meet her one last time and ask. If she abandoned us, why did she keep visiting?"
"I see. Hmmm..."
Compared to a request to save her life, this was a much easier task. I'd have to think of a way to get into the Imperial Palace, but compared to saving a fallen one, this was a piece of cake.
"Alright. Follow me."
I brushed it off and entered a nearby inn. I went to an empty restroom, opened the door to a small cleaning supply closet, and carefully checked if the inside was completely sealed. Ren tilted her head.
"What... are you doing?"
"Ever heard of a mage's workshop?"
"No..."
"Well, now you will."
Click.
I turned the special key and opened the door of the cleaning supply closet.
"Woah, woah..."
Ren was astonished even at the sight of my desolate workshop. To be precise, she seemed surprised by the workshop's very existence. Then she looked around, amazed, and muttered.
"I had a feeling, but you really were a noble..."
"No. I was an orphan just like you."
"... What?"
"A lot of things happened. I was lucky."
I took out some potions from my workshop that would help with burn treatment, a painkiller, and a pearl-type restorative pill I kept on hand.
"Take and apply all of this, and you should feel a bit better. Just don't die, and hang in there."
"O-Okay..."
"And let me ask you something. Where is your heart-realm?"
"My heart-realm... you mean the place where I am, right?"
"Yes."
Ren scanned her surroundings as if something was there. In reality, there probably was something around her that I couldn't see.
"It's hot. Everything around me is burning. If I touch it, it all bursts into flames."
"The world itself doesn't change?"
"...?"
"Uh, yes."
It wasn't the Great System, then. But it was just as serious. Looking at her blister-covered face, I didn't say it out loud, but I could tell Ren didn't have much time left.
"I first realized it when I was washing my face in the bathroom. I'm sure I splashed cold water on my face, but it was so hot that I got burned..."
"If it's hard for you, you don't have to say any more."
"N-No, it's okay."
"Did anything happen when you were younger, or after you had a divine fever? Something emotional?"
"... I'm not sure. But whenever I thought about my mother abandoning me, my chest felt hot."
I couldn't figure out the trigger. For now, it didn't seem likely that this child had been boiled in water or had gone for a swim in lava, or some other outlandish thing. Even though she said it was fine, she looked like she was struggling to speak, so I changed the subject.
"What does your mother look like?"
"Brown hair, short, pretty, and she had pretty eyes."
"Something more specific."
"Umm... I think she always limped a little on her left leg."
"That's enough."
A limp in her left leg. That was something I could find immediately with Tide Sense. Having gotten all the information I needed, I laid her on the bed, stood up, and gave her a warning.
"I'll let you out when we get to the Imperial Palace. You won't be able to leave before then, so if you have any questions, ask now."
Ren blinked her eyes, then asked as if she didn't understand herself.
"Why, why are you helping me this much...?"
"What?"
"I can't do anything for you..."
It was a ridiculous question. I stared at her with cold, dead eyes.
"You're the one who asked for help."
"Y-Yes, but people don't usually help criminals."
"Are you a criminal? Have you ever killed anyone?"
"No... But I ran away from the knights. More importantly, if you help me, you'll be in danger too..."
"If I thought it was really dangerous, I wouldn't have helped."
I was Dersia's disciple, Elysia's master, and an apprentice of the Black Magic Tower. Even a Divine Punishment Knight couldn't touch me without steeling themselves for the consequences. Go to the Imperial Palace and find a maid with "Ren" in her name.
I could certainly do that much. At least it was better than watching a tragedy unfold.
"You. If I hadn't stopped you, you were going to use heart-realm magic in the middle of the market, weren't you?"
"..."
When I asked with a bit of displeasure, Ren's head drooped.
"I don't think what the Empire is trying to do now, isolating people for life and confining them to the frontiers, is a good solution."
"I wouldn't want to be exiled like that until I die either. That said, I don't think attacking innocent people is right. How would that make us any different from Red Lotus?"
"I-I didn't want to do that either. But I lost my brother, and I thought I would never see my mother again, so I was scared..."
"Then think of that as the reason I'm helping. I hate Red Lotus, and I don't want to see more people like her."
"If getting you to meet your mother stops you from causing a scene, that's a cheap price to pay."
"... Thank you."
"No need for thanks. Instead, from now on, think about what you'll do after you meet your mother."
"Whether you run away, go to an isolated village, end it with satisfaction, or struggle desperately like me."
I calmly listed the possibilities. Ren, who had been staring blankly at me, chuckled for the first time.
"Sorry. I don't think I could ever do what you do, not even if I died."
"... Ah. Right."
Was it because of the medicine? She seemed to be in slightly better condition.
I closed the workshop door, left the inn, and looked at the clock in the plaza. It was almost 3 o'clock. I first went to where the carriage was to wait for Brimdal, and I saw a dwarf with a greatsword, who hadn't been there when I arrived, leaning against a lamppost and grumbling.
As soon as Brimdal saw me, he shot at me.
"Why are you so late?"
"I was right on time."
"You're not supposed to be just on time. This is why mages are..."
As Brimdal, who was finding fault with absurd things, climbed onto the carriage, I shook my head.
"Something came up that I need to do. It seems you'll have to go on ahead."
"... What? What are you talking about all of a sudden?"
"Well..."
After a moment of hesitation, I just went for it.
"I've discovered a promising terrorist. If left alone, they'll either be caught and killed by the knights or captured by Red Lotus and turned into a monster. Since I've already seen them, I can't just ignore it."
Brimdal scratched his head and asked again.
"Do you see yourself in that fallen one with no options?"
"What? No." "Then why go out of your way to help?"
"I don't want to attach a reason to saving one kid."
"What the hell... what kind of nonsense is a brat who can't be more than twelve spouting? You're the kid here."
"I'm eleven."
"Tsk, if you're not back in two days, I'll assume you're dead, so do as you please. Giddy-up!"
Brimdal didn't say a single word about helping and set off with the carriage. But the act of not intervening was, in itself, helping me. I was currently under Brimdal's training, so if I caused any trouble, he would also be affected.
The fact that he let me do as I pleased was as good as permission. His speech is foul and his main job is to beat up kids to crush their dreams, but is his nature on the good side?
How strange.
I had a plan. On my way to the Imperial Palace, I saw knights running frantically through the main street.
"Find them! They couldn't have gone far!"
"Hey, have you seen a child with severe burns on their skin?"
Naturally, they started asking bystanders for witness accounts. We were on the outskirts now, but it wouldn't even take 30 minutes for them to reach the fruit stand owner. If that happened, the following would naturally occur.
1. I saw a young apprentice from the Magic Tower take them, saying he was their older brother!
2. What?
There can't be many people that unusual...
Jern? Dersia's disciple.
3. The one who was kidnapped by Red Lotus... Aha, so he was one of them! That would probably take about an hour.
If that happened and I was subjected to a thorough inspection, there would be no way out. I would have to give up everything and flee the comfortable Empire. Time was tightening its grip.
I entered an alley before reaching the Imperial Palace.
"Shape: Burn." -Sizzzle!
"Ugh..."
It was a good thing Dersia had trained me by setting me on fire. I clenched my teeth so hard they might crack, feeling the distinct red marks forming on my face and body. The pain of searing my skin with fire was excruciating.
Even compared to not being able to breathe, it was far worse. It would be the same in any world, but Ren was experiencing a pain unfitting for her age.
"Hoo."
After composing myself to some extent, I headed towards the front of the Imperial Palace. The Imperial Palace, as befitting its name, had enormous walls several meters high, and I estimated at least a hundred guards patrolling along them. As soon as I got a little closer, a shout loud enough to deafen me rang out.
"Halt! Identify yourself!"
"I am Jern Aspandil, an apprentice of the Black Magic Tower and the adopted son of Dersia Aspandil."
I held up the key, but the guard commander approached without lowering his spear, his voice laced with distrust.
"I have not heard of an apprentice this young at the Black Magic Tower."
"My talents are what they are. You are welcome to go and confirm."
I said it a bit arrogantly.
"Wait here."
Still under suspicion, a guard commander headed inside the wall. It seemed they had some way of contacting the Black Magic Tower. I was slightly worried that the council might feign ignorance and say they knew nothing, but...
"... What business does the Magic Tower have with the Imperial Family? If you wish to visit, please follow the formal procedures."
It seemed they weren't that bad. A short while later, the report that came back must have confirmed the name Jern Aspandil, because they lowered their spears, but the suspicion in their eyes didn't vanish as they questioned me. Well, it seemed the Magic Tower itself was something the Imperial Family was a bit wary of.
I pulled back my hood to show the burn marks and explained calmly.
"A moment ago, I engaged in combat with a fallen one in the middle of the capital."
"... What do you mean by that?"
The guard commander's gaze changed slightly.
"They used magic without using mana. They were close to citizens, so I tried to lure them into an alley and talk them down, but they attacked me immediately."
"I managed to escape after a battle, but I came to the Imperial Palace because there are things I wish to report about this."
"Please wait a moment."
The guard commander's expression became urgent, and he went back inside the wall. This time, he came out much faster, running breathlessly and giving orders to the other guards.
"It's true. This is a top-secret matter, so do not speak of it. Everyone, return to your duties!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Sir Jern. You've done very well. We've called for a doctor to treat your wounds first. We will call for a knight shortly, so if you could just tell us the details-" The guard commander's tone had done a complete 180. He was much more cordial now; it seemed this incident was quite serious.
I slowly shook my head.
"Could you postpone that for a bit?"
"...?"
"That is the reason I came to the Imperial Family instead of the knights. I am merely a 1-Star mage, yet I was able to fight that fallen one properly."
"There is no way the knights would lose a fallen one of that level, is there? It is only a guess, but I believe there was someone among the knights who colluded to help the fallen one escape."
"Excuse me?"
The guard commander looked dumbfounded as he retorted. No matter how you looked at it, his expression said, "What kind of nonsense is this?"
"That... sounds a bit unlikely."
And it was indeed nonsense. -If not for Red Lotus. I wore a puzzled expression and stroked my chin.
"That's true, please forget I said it. Now that I think about it, it does sound a bit nonsensical."
"For something like this to happen, Red Lotus would have to be 'disguised' as a knight. There's no way that's possible."
"...!"
Hearing those words, the guard commander's eyes widened. His expression became one of serious contemplation. There was a real precedent, and the fact that I, who shouldn't know, had pinpointed it exactly, would make it hard for him to just dismiss.
"Then I will wait here until the knights arrive. My wounds are bearable."
"... W-Well, it seems you can give us the details inside."
"Inside the palace? Wouldn't that be too much of an imposition?"
"Not at all. There is an infirmary inside, so let's go in first."
"I appreciate your kindness."
I smiled gently and, escorted by the guard commander, entered the Imperial Palace. The palace I entered was... Literally, another world.
"... This is incredible."
"Hm? Ah, is this your first time inside the Imperial Palace?"
"Yes."
Outside, it was winter. But inside the Imperial Palace, it was spring. Colorful larks sat on cherry blossom trees in full bloom, creating a beautiful harmony.
The ponds, far from being frozen, formed a clear river that flowed through the palace, and the temperature was perfectly pleasant—cool when the wind blew, and warm when it didn't. Nowhere I looked was there a monochrome landscape.
It was a space where all the beautiful scenes of the world had been cut out and stitched together, and not just patched up, but arranged so that each part could show off its beauty to the fullest while blending with the others.
As I watched a butterfly brush past my shoulder, harboring a sense of envy for the imperial family, we arrived at an infirmary larger than any major hospital.
"Ah, Guard Commander. What can I do for you?"
"A burn patient. How many doctors are available?"
"I'm sorry. They're all upstairs at the moment..."
"What? Why?"
"Well... something urgent has come up."
"All those doctors? Tsk, never mind. Is emergency treatment possible?"
"Yes!"
"Then clear the pharmacy immediately. Sir Jern, my apologies."
"Not at all. I'm grateful for even emergency treatment."
With more than ten nurses attending to just me, the treatment was over in a flash. Not that the quality was low. After disinfecting, applying medicine, and carefully wrapping bandages, I took advantage of a brief pause to spread my Tide Sense.
"... Hmm."
Not even close. They definitely used some kind of spatial expansion magic. From the outside, it was certainly big, but my Tide Sense also had a wide range, so I thought I could find her quickly if I just walked around a bit.
But by my calculations, it would take at least 20 minutes of walking to scan the entire place. An excuse to wander around the Imperial Palace for 20 minutes. Hard to come by.
"Please wait a moment. I will call for the Imperial Knights."
"... Yes."
To make matters worse, the nurses were still hovering around me, making it even more difficult to move. After a moment of thought, I raised my hand. Maybe I should try the method that always works.
"Excuse me, to the restroom-" "Yes, please wait a moment."
"?"
What was this? Before I could understand, a nurse brought a glass bottle whose purpose was obvious. I waved my hand with a serious expression before the nurse could touch my pants.
"I'm suddenly fine. Really."
"Yes, understood."
The Imperial Palace was the Imperial Palace, after all. I couldn't find a single excuse to move. I guess I'll have to wait for the Imperial Knights to come and take me somewhere.
I was lying down with a sigh when it happened.
"Did I not make it clear? I said I only need the medicine!"
"But Your Highness, if this insomnia continues, it will affect your mind and body, and sleeping pills are not good for..."
"You're noisy. Tsk, I'll find it myself."
"Ah, Your Highness, that's where the patient is-" -Thud!
The door flew open violently, and a girl with unforgettable red hair glared at the closed door with an annoyed look. It was a familiar face. I hurriedly tried to hide under the bedsheets, but she turned her head before I could.
"So noisy, honestly..."
"Oh."
"?"
Our eyes met. For a while, we stared at each other in silence. This silence was dangerous.
I spoke first.
"Greetings, Your Highness Princess Lumia."
My tone was one of complete deference. However, it seemed it didn't satisfy the princess.
"... Dr." "Pardon?"
"Dr-Dream... it's not a dream... why, why are you here...?"
Watching terror fill the princess's large eyes, I was certain of one thing. Karma most definitely exists.