Chapter 133 - Archmage (4)
After the light flashed, they arrived in an unfamiliar space with an impressive spiral staircase.
Shocked by the sudden change of environment, Howl shouted in a panicked voice, “What are you doing?!”
Howl quickly got into a fighting stance.
“I apologize, Your Majesty. I should have told you first, but I got too eager,” said Henry.
“No worries, this is pretty common so I’m alright. So, is this Teleportation too? The method that you used to take me to the mountains last time?”
“That’s right.
Herarion had already experienced Teleportation, so he was calm. However, Howl didn’t know about Teleportation, and to him, Henry had offended his king by using his strange power to change their location without any warning.
So despite Herarion’s calm reaction, Howl still had an angry expression and he continued to hold his fists up.
“There’s nothing to worry about since His Majesty has already given permission,” said Henry.
“That’s right. Howl, put your hands down and be respectful.”
At Herarion’s command, Howl finally lowered his hands and became polite again.
Herarion spoke to the talented people who still had their foreheads on the floor.
“You may raise your heads now.”
Only then did they look up, and like Howl, they looked around with startled eyes. The atmosphere gave Henry the perfect chance to introduce himself.
“Let me introduce myself officially. My name is Henry Morris and I’m the one who asked His Majesty to gather talented people like you.”
This was quite surprising, but no one voiced their surprise because the supreme ruler of Shahatra, Herarion Khan, was present. All they could do was look around in stunned silence..
Also, some of them were slightly afraid because Henry was an imperial citizen.
“It’s better to just show all of you than to explain it a hundred times,” said Henry. Looking at the anxious faces in front of him, he smirked and snapped his fingers.
Snap!
The windows inside the Snow Spire all opened at the same time.
Clank! Clank! Clank!
Whoosh!
As the windows opened, they could hear the sound of the blizzard outside.
‘Ah, so cold!’
Howl reflexively turned his head to check the cold thing that had touched his arm. However, there was nothing left except for a little bit of water.
At that moment, Howl saw something that looked like small white feathers falling right in front of him.
Howl looked up and saw white petals that he had never seen in his life slowly falling on him.
“This is…”
Howl cupped his hands together to catch a floating petal, which landed on his hands like fairy wings. It looked like a fragile piece of art carved by a skilled sculptor. Although it showed off its beauty, it couldn’t stand Howl’s warmth and quickly turned into a droplet and disappeared.
“...!”
Goosebumps appeared all over Howl’s body.
He had never seen anything like this in his life, but he instinctively guessed what it was.
“...Snow?”
“Yes, it’s snow.”
“...!”
Henry had watched Howl’s reaction and confirmed Howl’s guess in a calm voice.
Howl looked up at Henry's face, even more shocked.
Snap!
Clank!
Henry replied by snapping his fingers and opening the entrance of the Snow Spire.
Howl turned his gaze to the door, and he saw a white world the likes of which he had never seen before in Shahatra.
“W-what…!”
It was hard for people in shock to speak, but a wave of joy, excitement, and indescribable emotions raged like a typhoon on Howl’s face.
Howl looked at Herarion. Howl’s expression was filled with urgency and desperation; his eyes were filled with excitement and even his nostrils flared. He wanted to run into that white world right away, but he couldn’t be rude in front of the king.
Herarion smirked, guessing what Howl was feeling. He raised one hand and spoke in a benevolent voice, “Go ahead.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty!”
Howl politely bowed and ran out the door like a madman. He threw himself into the icy embrace of the snow-covered Salgaera fulfilling his lifelong dream in the raging blizzard.
* * *
“T-thank you. Ha…”
Howl smiled and accepted the warm tea the maid gave him, as did the other talented recruits.
Brrr…
Howl was shaking as if he had a chill.
The tip of his nose was red and all the other areas of his body with exposed skin, like his arms, were also red. He had lain in the snow too long without proper clothing.
Henry had waited until Howl had been fully satisfied rolling around in the snow. Only when Howl could no longer endure the cold did he return to the palace villa with everyone else.
‘He pretends to be an adult, but he’s still a kid.’
Although Howl was almost in his twenties, he was just a child to Henry, who had already lived eighty years.
Henry also knew that the younger the child, the easier it was to convince him.
Henry approached Howl and said with a small smile, “Howl.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Do you still want to become an illusionist?”
“No! I made a mistake and didn’t recognize the great power a wizard could have, hehehe.”
Howl smiled as he answered Henry’s question. It was a satisfactory answer.
Howl’s hostile attitude was now gone and he was now fully on board with using magic.
The apprehension of the other talented people had also disappeared.
Henry nodded with a satisfied expression.
Henry turned to Herarion and asked, “How are you doing, Your Majesty?”
“A-achoo! Hmm, thanks to Howl, I experienced something unique.”
At first, Herarion had tried to maintain the dignity of a king, but he had also gone out for a walk to touch the snow and enjoy Salgaera.
‘It seems that everything has been resolved.’
He had built the Snow Spire, where the new wizards could train, and he had secured talented people for the future.
Obviously, more people would be needed for the future war, but having a genius like Howl relieved a bit of Henry’s worries.
“If Your Majesty permits it, may I use this villa as a temporary educational institution for the students?” asked Henry.
“A temporary educational institution? Is it possible to do such an impressive thing in this small villa? I will have my people prepare a proper building in no time.”
“No, I think it’s great that we are within the royal palace, and this villa is the perfect size.”
“Are you really okay with this villa?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“Hmm… Okay, if you insist.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. From now on, this place will be the first magic educational institution in Shahatra, and as a symbol of the institution, I will build a teleportation gate that allows one to freely visit the Snow Spire.”
“Teleportation gate? Does that mean that one can see snow anytime they want?”
“That’s right, Your Majesty.”
“Hahaha, if that’s the case, how can I disagree? Do whatever you want, Lord Henry.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Henry installed a second teleportation gate in the villa of Shahatra’s palace. He named the gate Shahatra Gate, and this time, the shinal earring that supplied mana from the sun, was used as the heart. The coordinates of the Shahatra Gate were linked only to the Snow Spire. Henry could have connected the gate to other regions as well for convenience, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
Looking at the splendid appearance of the Shahatra Gate, Herarion asked, “Will you teach the students yourself?”
“It would be nice if I could teach them from start to finish, but… There’s only one of me and I’m short on time, so I’m thinking of inviting a good teacher to teach them the basics on my behalf.”
“Invite someone? Is there another wizard who knows your secret?”
“Of course, and you don’t have to worry about information leaking out, since that friend can keep secrets really well.”
“If you say so. I have no choice but to trust him.”
Henry suddenly felt a slight vibration coming from within him.
“Huh?”
It was the calling signal he had given Vant. Henry smiled and said, “Speak of the devil. Please wait a minute and I will bring the teacher that I just mentioned.”
“Alright.”
Snap!
Henry bowed to Herarion and snapped his fingers, disappearing with a flash of light.
* * *
Vant only had three reasons to call Henry.
First, if a powerful chess challenger appeared that he couldn’t handle on his own.
Second, if someone found out that the chess prize hidden in Vivaldi Tower was gone.
Third, if a certain man visited him.
“...Please call him.”
“Alright.”
The man was none other than Kale.
Kale had to visit the Vivaldi city hall once a week to see Henry because of the Narworm Henry had planted in him. If he didn't, the Narworm nesting in his heart would run wild.
Of course, he couldn’t let anyone know, and he hid his identity from Vant. Vant didn’t pry, and although the two didn’t know each other at all, they were able to do their business as normal, like gear wheels engaging with each other perfectly thanks to the engineer named Henry Morris.
Henry used Teleportation to reach their meeting place near Vivaldi Tower.
Henry had wanted to complete his business in the main room of the city hall, but because he hadn’t revealed to Vant that he was a wizard, he had to meet Kale somewhere else.
“You’re here?”
The meeting place was a small, shabby house that Henry had purchased.
Kale had already arrived, and when Henry appeared, he stood up and bowed.
“You never miss a day,” said Henry.
“...If I don’t come, I’ll die.”
“You don't have any spies following you, right?”
“I really don’t want to die.”
“Really? If you don’t want to die that badly, then do one more thing for me.”
“...What?”
“Are you a 5th-Circle master right now?”
“That’s right, but… What do you want me to do now?”
Kale felt uneasy because Henry had already asked him to do a lot, from little errands to even the subjugation of Shahatra.
“Teach some students.”
“What?”
Henry thus invited a sincere and talented teacher who was good at keeping secrets.
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