When it was time for the children to go to bed, Alseid headed alone to Garcia's tower.
Garcia stood up in panic at the words of the escort knight that the lord had arrived.
"Your Excellency, I was going to visit you even so..."
Alseid sat down in Garcia's desk chair and nodded towards the bed.
"What if someone moves? You look tired."
"My head is clear, but my body is not feeling well; you still don't know."
Garcia said teasingly, and Alseid laughed.
"The name is the best sword on the continent, Marston, but I'm already so tired that I need to use it. The children are young, too."
"Still, you have grown up a lot. Master Shion is no longer a baby."
"...How do you look, Liana?"
"She's stable. I'm very happy... I also see how hard Caliph must have worked."
Alseid nodded in agreement.
"Caliph has a lot of trouble."
Garcia added in a sad tone.
"Still, I wish he had manifested a little later. That's a pity so far."
Alseid's low sigh flowed from the top of the west tower.
"That's something I can't help anymore."
Garcia nodded, and Alseid finally got to the point.
"The one who impersonates Orbit, the magic tower shaman in the capital, knows where he lives."
"Did you say that the attack-type shaman is correct?"
"Yes. While dealing with him, I found a mercenary who was paralyzed. It was a bit difficult to understand because his mind was not perfect, he said... When the shaman's body came into contact with it, the centipede would torment him like a limb crawling on his limbs, and then he would die as if he were strangled by a snake. What does that mean? Is it a hallucination?"
"Do you feel like insects crawl when you touch it?"
"...Well, that sounded like that. Do you know what it is?"
Garcia nodded blankly.
"It is said that such a spell existed, but there are very few reported cases..."
Alseid asked frustratedly.
"What do you think?"
"...I feel like a painter just by hearing that..."
"What?"
"I've never actually seen it either. Otherwise, he must be a powerful hallucinator."
Alseid asked again, in a worried tone.
"Can you defend it?"
Garcia grinned.
"Your Excellency. Among the same shamans, the one who defends wins. It's when the defender is alive."
Alseid chose his words again.
"Is it worth holding on to him even if you risk your life?"
Garcia looked up at the pitch-black sky and watched with satisfaction as a large red star shone in the northern sky.
It was in front of the Grand Duke, but she muttered to herself.
"No, Sir..."
Then, out of nowhere, she looked at Alseid again.
"Don't lose your child, Elias."
The eyes of the shaman, who called out the nickname of the Grand Duke, which no one had ever called since the ascension of the previous Grand Duke, glowed yellow like a beast.
Alseid sighed softly and put his hand on Garcia's shoulder.
She asked back, coming to her senses.
"What did I say, Sir?"
A large hand tapped the shaman's small shoulder.
"It wasn't a big deal. You've had a hard time, Garcia."
***
"Are you going to Zantar? Garcia?"
It had only been a week since Garcia returned, so I couldn't help but ask back, furious.
Fearing that Garcia would get tired, I forced myself to resist even wanting to go to the West Tower...
Alseid's answer hesitated a little, perhaps because of my sharper tone than ever.
Then Caliph quickly interjected and replied.
"Garcia came back because she had to stop by Zantar."
"What's going on?"
When I asked him about the privilege of being a five-year-old, Shion shook his head in embarrassment.
I pretended not to know and asked again.
"Why does she have to go, yes?"
"Hmm..."
Alseid chose his words for a moment and then answered.
"I heard that there is a famous shaman in Zantar these days. I'm going to meet him with Garcia."
"What is it for?"
Caliph intervened again.
"Liana, shall we talk to your eldest brother again later?"
"Are you sad?"
For some reason, Shion's face turned even redder at my unreasonable opposition.
Do you think I'm ashamed of myself like this...
While Caliph sighed, Alseid explained again without showing any signs of fidgeting.
"That shaman... He uses quite powerful magic. Liana wouldn't be worried if your father met such a dangerous shaman without Garcia's protection?"
Why is that?
I don't even worry about my stepfather. If he meets Bachel.
His sword is faster than Bachel's lips.
But I couldn't respond like this, so I puffed out my lips and muttered.
"Liana thought Dad would win everything..."
Laughter erupted here and there.
Alseid coughed and retorted as if holding back a laugh.
"Of course. That said... But we have to be prepared."
There must be other reasons.
Alseid is afraid of one shaman, so he calls Garcia from the north wall to accompany him.
That would only deceive Shion.
***
But in the afternoon, Shion asked in the playroom.
"By the way, Father. Why are you really going to Zantar?"
...I should have deceived Zion.
I had no choice but to take Alseid's side.
"What. Meet a famous shaman."
Then Shion let out a big sigh.
"Fool, the famous shaman is in the Mage Tower."
What, fool?
I reflexively wrinkled my brow, but when I thought about it, Shion's words made sense.
'Why did a famous shaman suddenly appear in Zantar?'
Shion continued.
"Even if there is a famous shaman in Zantar. The lives of famous shamans are very difficult. That's why they choose to belong to the Mage Tower to protect themselves and those around them. However, if you want to belong to the Mage Tower and earn a lot of money and be protected, you must make a Neutrality Oath."
"...Neutrality Oath?"
It was the first sound I had ever heard.
If there is a Neutrality Oath, what is a shaman like Bachel?
What about Garcia?
"Yes, the Neutrality Oath. Mage tower shamans contracted with the mage towers cannot work for a specific estate."
"And what about Garcia?"
When I asked him right away, Shion clicked his tongue.
"What is Garcia? Garcia only stays in Halias, but her main role is to protect the north wall. Protecting the North Wall is for the sake of the entire continent, not just for Halias. Garcia works for everyone."
...So what is Bachel?
Bachel brainwashed two children for de Haan's sake?
Me, and even Edipa when he was a child...
"Well, then, are there any shamans who don't want to belong to the Mage Tower?"
Then Shion chuckled.
"Why not? Liana, you have it."
"Me?"
"You don't need to belong to the Mage Tower. Halias will protect you, right?"
So, as long as you have someone's strong protection, you don't have to choose a mage tower...
Shion sighed frustratedly.
"But shamans like you are rare. Among the families famous for their magic, Meridy is now the only one that still retains that power. Other than that, they only inherited a little bit of shaman's blood, but most of them are descendants of weak families. Ordinary people are so afraid of shamans who don't belong to them, so it's hard to even make a living. That's why being a member of the Mage Tower is a common dream of shamans, and it's a natural job."
"...But if someone protects you like me, how can you not belong to the Mage Tower?"
Shion replied coldly
"If someone protects you, gives you money, and gives you a house to live in, it might be like that."
Therefore, de Haan gave Bachel a castle, gave him money, and kept his existence a secret.
Then Zantar could have a shaman who is protected by someone like Bachel.
"...If so, there might be another shaman like that."
Shion asked.
"Why?"
"Suppose I wasn't adopted by Halias, and I was kidnapped by someone. Then maybe I go to Zantar for one reason or another and become famous?"
Shion slapped me on the forehead.
"Don't make any terrible noises, Theo. When he comes back, everything will be done."
"Why, Theo? Theo... If he wants to come back, go far."
Shion narrowed his eyes and looked at me.
"I saw him earlier, and my eldest brother looked at you too much. Don't you like it? If I had said that, would you have made me kneel on the spot right away?"
That's because Shion is overinterpreting Caliph.
Caliph is scared by words, but he never punishes me or Shion so harshly.
"The same goes for my father. I've never seen my father put up with the question of why in such a row."
"That's because no one usually asks questions..."
"Well, there was a reason why no one asked questions."
Shion clicked his tongue, but I was busy thinking about the shaman in Zantar.
After clearing my mind, I asked back
"Let's say there is a shaman in Zantar. Why should my dad meet that shaman even though he is emptying his nature?"
Shion looked back at me with fresh eyes.
"Do you understand a little bit now? That's what I mean. Why does Halias need another shaman?"
In an instant, Garcia came to mind, and my heart raced.
In the past, when I was nineteen years old and invaded Halias, Garcia did not exist in this world.
Although it was still 14 years later... So is he looking for Garcia's successor?
But what If that... Alseid will not be able to find Garcia's successor in the end.
When I invaded Halias, this castle didn't have a protective wall like Garcia's.
But what if all of these variables are caused by me... Is it possible to get a new shaman?
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