Chapter 139 : Conversation with the Magic Emperor
It was midday after the Royal Knights Squad selection exam.
Sunlight illuminated a corridor, tall stone pillars supported a flat roof, blocking out the sun, and a gentle breeze stirred.
A man with his hands in his pockets was preparing to leave the Clover Kingdom's capital. Amidst the crisp sound of his footsteps, one could faintly hear him muttering to himself: "I lost... The magic that guy unleashed at the end was too fast; I had no time to react."
"Still, making it this far is good enough. After all, I wasn't aiming for the championship."
"My journey in the capital is pretty much over. Alright, alright~ It's time to leave this place..."
Zora ripped off his Purple Orca cape from his shoulder, casually tossing it to the ground, and walked away without looking back, towards a place where the sky was wider.
"Are you going back?"
A steady voice from behind made Zora's footsteps falter slightly. He glanced back, and the tall, golden-haired man was none other than the one respected by all Magic Knights—Magic Emperor Julius.
"Oh, it's Magic Emperor Julius, hehehe... What is it?"
Julius opened his mouth and said, "Although you didn't achieve the final victory, and your choice of words when evaluating others was terrible, thank you for pointing out the problems for those who lost the matches."
"If the ambitious ones can seriously heed your advice, they will surely become even stronger."
"Your trap magic and the knowledge you possess are essential to us. Your Royal Knights Squad test should be considered passing. Please look after us from now on."
"Huh?" Zora turned his head, continuing to walk forward, "What are you talking about?"
...You probably already knew, didn't you? I'm not Zacks. I'm leaving.
Julius smiled: "But if you're also a Magic Knight, then there's no problem, right? Zora Ideale, my young friend?"
...
Zora, who had walked out of the corridor, stopped, and the sunlight fell upon him.
Julius's voice continued: "In the past, there was a Magic Knight very much like you. Although he was a commoner, he was a man who was a model Magic Knight."
"I conceived the star system precisely because I hoped that figures like him could also be recognized. It seems it's because those of us in higher positions are too incompetent that we've troubled you to step in."
"But it's about time you put on your own squad's cape, isn't it?"
Zora thought in silence: 'My own squad's cape? That's quite an old story.'
'Ah, right.'
'The current Wizard King's full name seems to be Julius Novachrono... Novachrono... How many years ago did my father mention that name?'
"Zora, Zora?! Today I fought alongside a super amazing Magic Knight. He used extremely rare Time Magic. Someone like him will surely go far in the future, won't he?"
'So, the guy who once fought with my father has become the current Wizard King?'
'But...'
"Hehehe... Does the Wizard King also talk nonsense? Ideale, who's that? I don't know anyone like that."
His shadow stretched long in the sunlight.
"I'm just someone who occasionally passed by and didn't become a super Mage."
...
Looking at the gradually receding figure, Julius recalled someone and sighed: "He's completely different from his father Zara's cheerful personality, but... what's in their bones is still very similar."
After speaking, he turned and walked into the castle connected to the corridor.
His gaze swept over, and someone was leaning against the wall, standing quietly there—it was Bai En.
Seeing Julius's gaze, he said, "Sorry, I wasn't intentionally eavesdropping. I was about to leave after visiting Yuno and Asta, but I didn't expect to see..."
"It's alright."
Julius maintained a kind smile and said, "Congratulations, Bai En, on achieving the final victory in this Royal Knights Squad assessment."
"Your sword magic and the large-scale magic you unleashed at the end were very impressive."
"Thank you."
"Hmm..." Magic Emperor Julius stroked his chin, pondering for a moment, "Your sword magic shouldn't be complete yet, should it? I always felt something was missing during the match."
Bai En gazed at the middle-aged man before him, 'Is he simply asking?'
'Or is he probing about what happened that night?'
'His eyes are really sharp, but if it's the Wizard King in this state...'
"There's still one sword that hasn't been tempered," Bai En replied to Julius's question.
"Really? There's another sword?"
Julius's eyes lit up. He grabbed Bai En's hand and asked, "Does that sword also have different abilities like your other swords? What could it be?"
"Oh, oh~ I really want to see it."
"I'm really looking forward to seeing your magic complete. Please be sure to show it to me as soon as it's finished, please!"
Bai En withdrew his hand and calmly replied, "Alright, I don't think that day will be too far off."
"By the way."
Bai En changed the subject: "Is the Wizard King very familiar with the vice-captain of the Purple Orca?"
The smile on Julius's face gradually faded, "Not really. It's more about my connection with his father. The 'star' system among the Magic Knights today was also something I was able to conceive because of his father."
"Speaking of which, what are your thoughts on the 'star' system among the Magic Knights?"
The two began to chat.
"Not bad?" Bai En commented, "Similar to the establishment of the Magic Knights, it effectively eased the conflicts between the upper and lower classes."
"I'm not very knowledgeable about politics, but in any case... governing a large country is like cooking a small fish."
"Moreover, compared to the violent reforms of the previous Wizard King, Conrad, a top-down reform will result in fewer bloodsheds. However, reform is not an overnight process, and... if there's any change midway, the entire reform can easily fail."
"Conrad?" Julius fell silent upon hearing the name. His dark eyes deepened, as if recalling many past events.
After a short period of thought, he came back to his senses: "Sorry, I unconsciously thought for a bit too long. I didn't expect you to know Conrad. That's a very distant matter for me."
"I saw records about him when I was looking up information in the Royal Library before."
"By the way," Bai En asked Magic Emperor Julius for the first time, "Lord Julius, what is your view on violent reforms involving bloodshed?"
"If someone uses magic to try and create a nearly perfect and happy world, would you... strive to stop them, or help them and achieve this together?"
...