Price of Management

“Would you like to admit it now? Aesthetics is a natural harmony. Only dark magic can oppose the will of nature. ”

“I'm not here to watch you act like a smartass. ”

Earl Ruogel expressed nervously anger.

The old man laughed.

“Well, I knew you'd come back. We worked hard on animosity in our own way. There was a breakthrough.”

“Achievements?”

Earl Ruogel looks radiant. With that achievement, public status and advancement were guaranteed.

“I sought cooperation from a lesser spirit. ”

“You had a cooperating spirit? ”

Earl Ruogel was astonished. In the meantime, it was because no spirit had come to ask for a big reward with the Imperial Court.

“Of course, I struggled with being an uncooperative spirit, but I took my family hostage and barely studied them. ”

“Just like you. ”

A group that will do anything to explore the Dark Magic. Earl Ruogel is in a position of desperation for their help.

“This is what we have achieved. ”

Suddenly, the old man reaches out to Earl Ruogel. The thin old man's grip is made of black magic. Earl Ruogel, who was shocked, responded immediately.

“Shield!"

Mana's protective shield wraps around him.

At the same time, Black Magic was released from the old man's hands. The Black Magic Power has taken on the shape of a rope, wrapping the Earl Ruogel's shield several times.

Earl Ruogel exclaims in anger.

“What are you doing?! You want to give it a try, you pricks? ”

“Is that possible? Rest assured, it has no effect on the Count. ”

“You expect me to believe that? ”

“Try me.”

“… good. ”

Earl Ruogel chants again, keeping the shield intact. Three fireballs were then created in the air. The raging fireballs hover over the old man's head.

“If you're playing tricks, I'll make you a lump of coal. ”

The old man nods without any fear.

Earl Ruogel has unlocked the shield. If this strange Black Magic Rope restrains itself, I intend to burn the old man without delay.

As the shield disappears, Rope oversees Earl Ruogel.

Earl Ruogel flinches for a moment, but even with the rope wrapped around his body, he feels relaxed without any restraints.

I took a step forward.

His body passes straight through the rope. As the old man said, it had no effect on Earl Ruogel.

As he escapes, the Black Magic Rope circles around the air with no one in it, then fades away with a black light.

“I see you've surprised me. Forgive my rudeness.”

“Do this one more time and I'll kill you. ”

“I'll keep that in mind.”

Earl Ruogel snores and removes the clumps of flames from the air.

The old man still said with a sly smile.

“What I just showed you is spirit restraint magic. Dark magic that binds spirits with dark magic. As you just saw, it has no effect on anyone other than the Spirit. ”

Earl Ruogel opens his eyes.

“Bind the Spirit? Is that true?”

“Yes.”

“Tell me about the ritual! If I interpret your dark magic with magic like before, I will be able to create a new spell...! ”

“Now, calm down. This does not satisfy His Majesty. ”

“Excuse me?”

“This spiritual restraint spell we've created is not complete either. ”

Only then did Earl Ruogel leave his excitement and calm his mind.

“What's the problem? ”

“It is possible to bind spirits. However, even if they are bound, they cannot be stopped until the summons are released. ”

“...... I'll just have to recall it again after I undo it. ”

“Yes. If you're a skilled enough spirit, you'll only need 3 seconds to clear it and recall it again." It would take less than a second if you were a processing spirit like Caroc Ligand. ”

Earl Ruogel felt devastated in that description.

“How long will it take to make up for that weakness? ”

“I don't know. It might take at least two or three years, since we need to figure out how to seal the spirit's affinity itself so we can't summon it." ”

“Too late! ”

“Now, calm down. ”

The old man speaks as if he were Earl Ruogel.

“That doesn't mean there's no way around it. because this study has shown us the weaknesses of the Spirit Company. ”

“Weaknesses?”

The old man chuckles.

“It's a family of Spirits. ”

Earl Ruogel was flawed.

“Z, are you trying to take Caroc Ligand's family hostage? ”

“Exactly. Caroc ligand has a young son. ”

“Fools. ”

Earl Ruogel was a cynic.

“You think our imperial family didn't think of that? Earl Ligand's villa is home to the Spirit of Water Wounded by Caroc Ligand. To take care of my son. If he tries to harm his son, Woundee will respond immediately, and Caroc Ligand will notice it and fly in in 60 seconds. And yet you claim you can kidnap the son of Caroc Ligand? ”

“That's right.”

“What are you talking about? ”

“With the restraining magic I just showed you, we're going to seal off Woundee and kidnap her son. If you take your son and hold him hostage, even if Caroc Ligand returns in 60 seconds, you can escape safely. ”

Earl Ruogel is stunned by the old man's explanation.

…… a plan that was definitely feasible.

The weakness of spiritual restraint magic is that it can only be recalled once it has been unsummoned.

However, the weakness disappears when you break into a mansion while Caroc Ligand is working in the Royal Palace.

If you hold your young son hostage like that....

"Possible!"

Even if it's an aesthetic countermeasure, stopping the Caroc ligand is not necessarily an advanced aesthetic.

He is a terrible lover of his family. If he takes his son hostage, he will not be discouraged.

"Somewhat despicable, but for the greater good! It is for conquest of the continent, so the emperor will forgive you. ’

Where is forgiveness?

If you do well, you will achieve more success than anyone else. I think Emperor Kars is more wary than anyone else. He's a Caroc ligand.

“What do you want? ”

The old man's smile darkened.

“If this succeeds, the Earl will have the chance to win, as well as the territory. ”

“I will. No ball is bigger than taking down a Caroc ligand. ”

“Please transfer a portion of that territory. ”

“What?”

“What we want is a land where we can live in peace. And to do that, we're willing to do dangerous things against the Caroc ligands. ”

I saw strong aspirations and obsessions in the eyes of the old man smiling in a consistent manner.

Earl Ruogel had a moment of conflict.

‘I won't be able to escape if I find out that I've teamed up with the Black Wizard. ’

The old man added, "Do you know the worry?"

“Even if we fail, we will claim to be the sole perpetrators of the Horn Empire." This should be enough to satisfy you. ”

After much thought, Earl Ruogel nods.

“I see. If you succeed, I will appoint you as my vessel and sever a portion of the territory in a manner that will serve as my vomit." ”

“Fine. But we'll keep the son of Caroc Ligand hostage until the promise is fulfilled." ”

‘Tsk. Thorough bastards. ’

Earl Ruogel fills his tongue, but does not hesitate.

“Suit yourself. ”

That's how the deal went down.

* * *