Return of The 8th Class Mage

Fashionable Society (3)

“Sir Oliver?”

Ian was surprised. It was Captain Oliver.

The reason Ian was surprised was due to Oliver’s tuxedo.

Ian hadn’t seen him wear anything but heavy armor.

He looked quite awkward wearing formal attire.

“Sir Ian.”

It seemed that he didn’t like his current appearance either.

Even without Ian asking,

“His Highness, The Crown Prince ordered me to do so.”

He told Ian why he was wearing a tuxedo.

It seemed the crown prince had invited him as well, and he might have been ordered to wear formal attire and not armor.

“I guess you are better suited to wearing armor.”

“Khm!”

With Ian’s joke, he coughed.

He has never shown this embarrassed side of him before.

He wasn’t the type of man for the Fashionable Society.

“………”

A silence followed after Ian’s joke.

It was Oliver who broke the silence first.

“…….. I heard about it.”

“What did you hear? What are you talking about?”

“People are saying that you defeated archmage Helene in combat.”

“You heard about it? That’s strange; the Ivory Tower usually prefers to keep their internal activities a secret.”

“Without intelligence activities, there is no use for knights in this era.”

In this era.

It was an era where mages are considered as the strongest force available.

Swordsmen were just consumable units. Or considered as housekeepers.

Or even as decoration.

Oliver’s voice had an edge of bitterness to it.

“And I read the letter you had sent to highness, as well.”

“So, is that part of ‘intelligence activities of knights’ as well?”

“No. The crown prince highness showed me directly.”

Ian tried to make a joke, but Oliver didn’t sway this time.

“I was surprised. Your born talent can explain why you became Archmage at a very young age, those sort of things. However, the content of your letter….. It seems you know not only the political circumstance of the crown prince, but also see through his characteristics as well.”

The current circumstances the crown prince confronted and his characteristics.

Like in Ian’s former life, it was headed for the worst case scenario.

Nobody considered the crown prince to be capable of taking the position of the emperor.

Even his royal servant, Oliver as well.

“It made me suspect whether you are just a young boy.”

“Haha, I just went through a complex life……”

Ian made an excuse.

Oliver had a sip of alcohol.

Although he didn’t look like he was drunk, he was.

“However, the most surprising thing was that His Highness, The Crown Prince tries to listen whenever you say something. He even ignores the Emperor’s order, but he listens to the advice of a young mage.”

To Oliver, it was an amazing thing.

It seemed the crown prince might be able to change into a better man.

“So, I have to confirm.”

“Confirm?”

“Who did you choose?”

Oliver had to find out.

Whether Ian was a powerful ally or a dangerous enemy.

“It doesn’t matter who you support. It will rather be who do you stand for. As I know, the Ivory Tower supports the 5th prince. So I want to ask. Are you standing with the Ivory Tower?”

His question was straight.

It wasn’t a proper question for a young kid.

However, Oliver was serious.

Age didn’t matter to him.

He already saw Ian Page’s power.

Due to Ian’s letter, he already knew Ian’s capabilities.

Also, he already felt his bravery at his mansion a few months ago.

“I think you are drunk. I didn’t make a choice……”

“Sorry, but I need a clear answer. So I can judge,”

Suddenly, Oliver’s eyes shone.

His monstrous mental focus had drawn away from the drunkenness at once.

“Ally or enemy.”

The mage of the Ivory Tower, who may be able to control the crown prince.

Oliver had to define this dangerous boy clearly.

Oliver could choose a different prince and be the most famous and glorious knight in history.

However, he chose to be the first knight of the crown prince.

So, he wanted to find out.

“It’s a meaningless question.”

Ian opened his mouth slowly.

It wasn’t the answer that Oliver wanted.

“Who would speak the truth in this situation?”

What he said made sense.

He could just lie to him that he will support the crown prince.

There was no point to the question.

“Whether you speak lies or truth.”

However, Oliver wasn’t a fool.

He already considered that.

However, the reason he was so desperate was,

“I will decide to believe it or not.”

Because he saw some possibility from Ian.

He concluded that Ian might support the crown prince.

“Well, I don’t know yet.”

“I only want a clear answer.”

“But I really don’t know.”

Ian replied seriously.

He never planned to support someone.

He didn’t care who would become the next emperor nor about the unity of the continent.

He just wanted to interrupt every single plan of Ragnar.

And he wanted to take revenge on him at a very critical point.

At that point, he might restore most of his power.

Then, he’d just happily live with precious people.

“But.”

Ian looked at Oliver’s eyes straightly.

The 2nd royal knight captain, Oliver Reywood.

The last knight who guarded the crown prince before he died.

Ian could give him some different answer.

“I will NEVER support the 5th crown prince.”

Surprised, Oliver looked around.

It was a much more straightforward confirmation than he had expected.

However, there was no chance that anybody heard what Ian said.

Ian had already concealed his surroundings with a silence spell.

Only Oliver could hear Ian’s answer.

“Is it enough?”

“For now, very.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Then, may I ask you one favor?”

“Speak first, I will decide later.”

“Before you choose which side you want to support, be my duel opponent.”

“Duel opponent?”

With the unexpected question, Ian shook his head curiously.

Not only checking Ian’s standing but now Oliver asked Ian to be his duel partner?

“I need the power to confront.”

“A mage?”

“That’s right.”

It was quite a rare opportunity for knights to duel with a mage.

There was no chance at all.

And Oliver needed it the most.

“Your sword may be pointed at me later, might it not?”

“I won’t deny it.”

“You are thick skinned.”

Oliver didn’t deny it either.

He was desperate, though.

He needed to have some combat experience against a mage.

“I refuse.”

“May I ask you a reason?”

“There is no benefit for me.”

It was a straight and clear reason.

There was no benefit.

“What if I pay you some reward?”

“I don’t know is there any reward that will satisfy me.”

Whenever Ian had time, he trained himself.

From inventing mana breath to improving spell formulae.

To Ian, time was essential.

No amount of money was enough to move him.

He might have to do it if the emperor or crown prince asked him to.

“This necklace,”

Oliver unchained a necklace on his neck.

It was a necklace that had no decorating jewels at all.

“When I was ordered to serve the crown prince on the first day, the queen highness gifted it to me. She said it has special magic on it so that it will replenish my mind clearly.”

A magical necklace?

Ian looked at the necklace carefully.

There was nothing special about it.

“When I put on it, it does have some power indeed.”

And now Oliver said it does work.

Then what she said must be true.

Oliver was also a knight, with a mana heart.

‘Ah, maybe then,’

An old memory struck Ian’s head.

The lost royal treasure artifact which was never, of which the queen was the last owner of.

And it was said to be a necklace.

‘It can’t be.’

It was very likely to be it.

In his former life, Oliver’s body was split into pieces.

As numerous high-class spells struck him.

The necklace was very likely to be burnt together with Oliver.

“I will give it to you as payment. I am sure this will work much better on you, rather than me. Mages rely on their head, but swordsmen rely on their instinct, don’t they?”

And that’s why he needed to duel with Ian many times.

An instinct that needed to be awakened against mages.

His body didn’t have such an instinct yet.

“But isn’t it the necklace left by the deceased queen?”

“She gave it to me so that I can protect the crown prince highness better. And I want to duel with you to keep her last words. So I think the queen Her Highness will understand my decision.”

Oliver was determined.

To Ian, it was not a bad trade.

Mages always had to ready their brain at best.

Those level of high-class artifacts might be quite useful to him.

“Fine, that’s a deal.”

Gently, Ian received the necklace.

As he injected a bit of mana, it started to oscillate.

A unique reaction that could be only observed by an artifact with high-class magical formulae.

All of sudden,

*BANG!*

A sudden explosion was heard from outside of the royal palace.

A dark smoke was rising.

And that didn’t end.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

The continuous explosion occurred in order.

It wasn’t explosions that were massive enough to shake the ground.

However, it threatened the whole royal palace from outside and inside.

Most of all,

Baaaang!

A similar explosion occurred from inside of the ballroom.

At cornered site, a small fire was burning.

Fortunately, there were no one injured severely.

“Your highness!”

Oliver rushed to the crown prince.

Ian also brought his mother’s arm and stood next to the crown prince.

With the princess who was with Vanessa.

“Mana barrier.”

Ian generated shields on to the crown prince, his mother, and princess.

Without hesitance, Ian asked princess.

“Do you know how to inject mana to the barrier?”

“…….. What?”

Ian’s question contained many meanings.

Embarrassed, Princess Hyree’s eyes shook.

It was a secret that she was training with magic.

But how does the youngest archmage know it?

“Calm down, just answer my question.”

“I, I did learn…..”

“Inject a little amount of mana. It will remain for a while.”

After ordering, Ian looked away.

It was such an urgent situation that Hyree couldn’t ask further.

She decided to focus on the barrier.

“It’s too small an area. Shouldn’t we leave the room?”

Oliver asked with an urgent voice.

They needed a wider space to defend against further attacks.

Ian had thought in the same way

A few seconds ago.

‘Something is not right.’

Precisely, It was too unprepared.

Chain explosions occurred from the outside of the royal palace.

It must’ve been planted previously.

‘What is the purpose?’

As the explosions were from the inside of the palace, so there must be a spy.

It must have been prepared a while ago.

However, It was too weak.

Ian couldn’t find any particular benefit of the explosions.

It wasn’t huge enough to destroy the royal palace.

Rather, it was not even strong enough to destroy a single castle wall.

Also, it seemed the explosion didn’t aim for killing people.

“Your Highness! Are you okay? Your Highness!”

After they had heard the explosions, the 2nd royal knight order arrived quickly.

As they were trained, they made a wide formation.

A formation to protect the crown prince firmly.

“Captain, any injuries?”

“I am fine. what’s situation out there?”

“We activated emergency communication orb.”

The emergency communication orb of the royal palace.

It was connected with the headquarters of the Knights order, The Imperial Barracks, and to the Ivory Tower.

An emergency call to assemble most of the forces to the royal palace.

An emergency operation was just activated.

‘Emergency communication orb?’

Most of the forces were coming to the Royal Palace.

What if this explosion was aiming for this?

What if it wasn’t unprepared, but their best?

‘Perhaps.’

Ian approached the corner of the ballroom.

There were maids who were shaking body while laying down.

“Turn up your heads, please.”

“S, sir! W, we don’t know any……”

“You just need to answer my question.”

With his saying, maids raised their head slowly.

All of their faces were frightened.

“A maid of the separated palace, Isabel. have you heard of her name?”

All of sudden, why did he ask her name?

A maid who looked afraid opened her mouth.

“Y, yes I know.”

“Did she come to the ballroom?”

“Yes? Ah, yes! She said she wanted to visit and experience it, so she swapped with my friend who was supposed to come……”

The maids of the crown prince palace were expected to be here today, and Isabel switched her position with one of them, with the excuse that she wanted to see how the ball goes.

‘Coldwalker.’

The maid of the separated palace, the future chief maid of the separated palace, Isabel.

She was one of the Coldwood Empire spies, A Coldwalker.

Ian had mentioned her during combat between Cecelia.

Isabel must be the one who planted the bomb in the ballroom.

‘It’s a deceiving movement.’

A faint motion that was prepared by spies for a long time.

Fortunately, there was the announcement of the Fashionable Society, so they found the proper time to act.

A terrorist act, that happened while most of the high nobles were gathered at a single place.

It was good enough to confuse them and blind their enemies’ eyes.

So they operated the emergency call.

Like now.

‘Their real purpose must be to rescue Cecelia.’

When the Ivory Tower lost its guards, they would infiltrate.

Rescue her? No, it wouldn’t be possible.

Even a Coldwalker wouldn’t able to rescue her.

For a brief moment, they would try to contact her.

And after they took the information from Cecelia,

‘They will eradicate her.’

It was a natural process to erase the trail.

The death of Cecelia wouldn’t be a problem at all.

However, information related Ian, such as that the boy called Ian Page knew the existence of coldwalker and knew most of their lists.

Ian had to stop that.