Author: rolypoly

「Wizard Asto is looking for you.」

 

After hearing the story told by the young wizard in black robes, Noah nervously adjusted his mask and headed straight to his room.

 

In fact, since returning to the wizard’s castle in the spring, Noah had visited Alstair several times.

 

Actually, he didn’t have any idea what kind of conversation they should have, but he still felt like it would be refreshing to see that face right now.  

 

However, Alstair didn’t meet Noah due to all his schedules. 

 

Noah wondered if the reason he was acting this way was because he really killed the wizard Mavis.

 

And at the same time he was a little surprised.

 

It is natural to have such thoughts. It seems to mean that Noah is still ‘suspicious’ of Alstair in the depths of his heart.

 

Not certainty, but suspicious. 

 

‘It’s like this.’

 

Noah stopped in front of Alstair’s room and adjusted his mask for a moment.

 

‘Doesn’t it seem like I still want to trust him?’

 

Even though there was clear evidence from the stone, the inability to come to a firm conviction amounted to nothing less than doubting Clarisse’s abilities.

 

Clarisse and Alstair.

 

The fact that Clarisse was more precious among the two was a fact that didn’t need to be considered. 

 

‘And yet.’

 

Noah just stared at the door without knocking. 

 

‘…I.’

 

Did he sense the presence? Soon, the door opened, and Alstair, no different from before, smiled widely and spread his arms. 

 

“My little brother!”

 

“….”

 

As Noah just stared at him, he paused for a moment with his arms wide open.

 

“N, no way? Can I hug you now? Even though you’ve never allowed it before…!” 

 

Noah felt strangely relieved to see him making a fuss with emotion.

 

It was such a strange thing. He never really thought of this man as his real brother.

 

“I never gave permission.”

 

Noah raised one of his hands, clearly rejecting him.

 

Then he started crying again.

 

“I guess so. You wouldn’t want the arms that held Miss Grezekaia to be contaminated by someone else… especially not by a thirty-seven-year-old man.”

 

“D, don’t say anything weird!”

 

When Noah screamed, he clenched his fists and brought his face close to his face.

 

“Did you really hug her?”

 

“….”

 

“Ha, you must have hugged it tightly, didn’t you?” 

 

“….”

 

“Just taking in her scent too, right?”

 

“….”

 

“Oh my goodness! My brother has truly returned as a man! Is anyone there? Let’s have a grand party tonight!”

 

He started screaming across the hallway, so Noah quickly pushed him into the room and slammed the door.

 

“Stop talking nonsense!”

 

‘What do you mean by nonsense! Oh my, look how tall you are.” 

 

He looked up at Noah again and was amazed.

 

The boy who was about waist height had grown up so much that it must have been quite new to look down on him.

 

“Well, are you going to turn eighteen soon?”

 

He wrinkled his nose, spun around, walked through the messy room, and opened the window.

 

He said he was busy with his latest experiment and couldn’t meet Noah, but it seems he wasn’t entirely lying.

 

Dismantled wooden dolls were strewn about his room. On the floor, a blurry blue magic circle remained after the engine started.

 

“I’m researching movement magic.”

 

“Are you saying not a wizard, but moving an object?” 

 

Alstair nodded his head.

 

“But it’s not easy. It’s like its arms and legs are missing one by one. Its hair is also falling out easily.” 

 

“….”

 

“Well, since it’s ugly, shall we clean it up?”

 

As if he was embarrassed by his disorganized room, he belatedly started moving the pieces of the wooden doll around, but it didn’t actually have much effect.

 

“There is no need to clean it up. I never expected Wizard Asto to be clean at any time.”

 

“Well, I guess so.”

 

He stopped tidying up and leaned against his window sill.

 

Sunlight came down from behind him and gently enveloped his silhouette.

 

As Noah looked at the blurred features of Alstair in the backlight, he couldn’t help but be reminded of someone else.

 

Master, Jonah Asto.

 

A kind adult who approached Noah, whom everyone was hesitant to approach, and taught him affection. 

 

The benefactor and Alstair, who stood by him until the end and worried about him, were remarkably alike.

 

Indeed, it’s natural for fathers and sons to resemble each other in appearance and lifestyle habits.

 

“My father was a messy person. It’s funny, but I ended up being the one who cleaned up his room for him when I was still a kid. It must have been annoying for you, right?”

 

“…No.” 

 

Noah shook his head sincerely.

 

It was learning, not organizing.

 

Noah always asked questions about the strange documents, tools, and creatures in his room, and his teacher answered them without any hesitation. In addition, he also waited for Noah to think on his own.

 

It was all a game and a great lesson.

 

Noah loved all those years and still very much.

 

“Noah.”

 

So when he faced the man who resembled his mentor even in voice.

 

“…Wizard Asto.”

 

Noah’s heart weakened.

 

To the point where he couldn’t even remember Clarisse’s cute voice telling him to be careful of him. 

 

“Anyway, I’m glad that you’ve found someone precious to you.”

 

“….”

 

“Now that you’ve spent a lot of time together at the monastery, I’m sure you value it more than your life.” 

 

“Stop talking nonsense.”

 

Noah answered nervously, but didn’t dare to deny it. 

 

It was only natural that Clarisse’s existence was more precious than his life.

 

Even if nothing like that… happened in the monastery. Like hugging or kissing on the forehead. 

 

Of course, it was true that that rude incident made his desire for Clarisse even greater.

 

“Why are you blushing all the way to your fingertips? What were you thinking?”

 

“I, it’s not like that!”

 

Noah quickly hid his hands behind his back and raised his voice for no reason.

 

“Please tell me why you called me. You’ve been ignoring me since you got back.”

 

“You were sulking as expected.”

 

He stepped in front of Noah and smiled.

 

“Sorry, I’ve been a bit busy. Um, if I tell you it’s about work, will you get mad at me again?”

 

“Don’t treat me like a child.”

 

“The guest will come.”

 

Alstair’s expression and tone have become serious.

 

“…A guest? Is it important? ”

 

“It’s not that it’s important… more like…”

 

He touched his chin for a while.

 

“Because it’s a somewhat unexpected person.”

 

“Who is it?”

 

“The royal family.”

 

“…Are you talking about the Saphers royal family?” 

 

Alstair nodded immediately. 

 

“You know that too, this is the first time the royal family has spoken to us since the collapse of the Golem.” 

 

This is the first time?

 

So what was the letter Mavis took? Noah was about to point out that part, but stopped.

 

“Why are you… telling me this fact?”

 

“As you can see, I’m a bit busy.”

 

He clasped his hands together neatly, assuming a posture that seemed almost pleading.

 

“I wonder if you could do it for me.”

 

Is he letting a monster handle his guests? 

 

Normally he would have said that, but Noah didn’t really refute it.

 

If the current suggestion is part of some grand plan Alstair has devised, it might be better to go along with it for now.

 

“…I understand for now.”

 

“Hmm? You don’t refute it? “I thought you would rebel and say, ‘Are you letting a monster handle your guests?’”

 

Noah was a little offended, but he pretended not to notice and answered confidently.

 

“If I answer like that, you’ll start blabbering about Clarisse again!”

 

“That’s true. I’m worried that you won’t be able to get proper permission to marry from the Duke later if you don’t entertain the royal guests well… Ugh!”

 

Finally, Noah couldn’t stand it anymore and kicked him hard in the shin.

 

“Please do it properly! Properly!” 

 

“Of course, I would gladly approve of their marriage… Ouch! Stop hitting me!”

 

“What right does the wizard Asto have to allow my marriage!”

 

“Huh? That’s.” 

 

He made eye contact with Noah, who was visible through the mask, and smiled softly.

 

“Of course, as an older brother who loves his younger brother?”

 

“….”

 

Noah couldn’t drop his gaze towards him.

 

Alstair may be very mischievous, but in the end he is always this kind, smiling person.

 

It truly fits the word ‘brother’…

 

Was it really this person?

 

Did he kill the innocent wizard Mavis with those hands?

 

Noah couldn’t bear to nod his head.

 

Even if that were true, there may have been something going on.

 

Alstair was the actual person in power who kept the wizard’s castle peaceful.

 

Maybe the wizard Mavis made an irreparable mistake and he chose to deal with it quietly. To reduce confusion.

 

Just look at the Duke of Sheridan right now.

 

He too was a murderer of criminals for the sake of peace. It may not have been a happy act, but it was unavoidable for the greater good.

 

Wouldn’t that have been the same thing?

 

“Anyway, I trust you’ll handle it well. I don’t know what they’ll ask, but I’m sure you’ll make a wise decision.”

 

“Are you even leaving the judgment to me?”

 

“I don’t think you’re wearing white robes as a form?”

 

“….” 

 

“I will support whatever decision you make as Wizard Sinnet. Do whatever you want.”

 

Are those seemingly solid words of trust really not sincere?

 

Noah couldn’t come to a conclusion.

 

* * *

 

Who would be the guest from the royal family?

 

It was clear that whoever it was, it was Queen Amelda’s person.

 

Since she holds substantial power within the royal court, sending people to the wizard’s castle would also likely be under her direction.

 

What is the purpose? What does it have to do with Alstair?

 

And above all.

 

Why did Alstair entrust this task to Noah?

 

As his doubts deepened and his heart grew troubled, Noah instinctively headed towards the grave of his mentor, as he used to do in his childhood.

 

However, he wasn’t at peace today even in the place that always gave him stability.

 

Because Alstair is becoming more and more like him…

 

Sssrrrk.

 

Was it because he had fallen into deep thought?

 

Noah didn’t notice this until the crowd got quite close.

 

He turned around in surprise.

 

“…Ha.”

 

Similarly, there was Valentine, whose eyes were wide with surprise.

 

Author's Thoughts

Hello everyone,

Thank you for your support so far. Unfortunately, I have to announce that I will be dropping this novel as the official translation will be released through Tapas. The advance chapters will be released as scheduled, but there will be no new chapters after Chapter 170. I hope you will support the official translation as well. Thank you.

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