Chapter 93

093.

Laris’ question of whether he could offer help.

Given that Kalen had already followed this far, it seemed there was no answer other than a resounding yes.

Laris’ insistence on revealing her inner thoughts and reconfirming was more out of courtesy than necessity.

She herself didn’t know how Kalen had created a mental image, nor did she fully grasp the process—even the idea that it was possible felt unbelievable.

Listening to Kalen, though, it seemed the process wasn’t easy either.

Talks of risking one’s life and the task being extremely perilous made it clear that this was no trivial matter.

Thus, Laris’ attitude towards Kalen was more akin to gratitude than persuasion.

And this gratitude was not solely due to the situation.

It had weighed heavily on her for a long time—this ‘long-standing wish’ she’d concealed so fiercely but now felt too heavy to bear.

The very act of confiding in Kalen felt like a relief.

Laris had always believed that opening up to others, seeking their empathy, was a childish act—a reliance on others’ kindness.

Could Kalen be special?

The seriousness in his demeanor made Laris want to confide in him, to trust him instinctively.

It was during their stay at the inn because of the Ecclesia incidents that she realized something. Even though they hadn’t shared any deep conversations then, Laris became aware that Kalen had a special way of listening to others.

Perhaps it wasn’t a coincidence that the daughters of the four great families sought him out. Looking at it one way, this boy possessed an awareness, and simultaneously, an ignorance that made him unique.

In any case, Kalen’s assistance now seemed certain, and Laris waited for his response with newfound optimism.

However, contrary to Laris’ expectation of a prompt answer, Kalen took his time.

Just as Laris began to fret, wondering if something was amiss:

“Alright. Since I’ve come this far.”

Thankfully, Kalen’s reply was what she had hoped for.

Laris let out an internal sigh of relief but managed to hide it as she questioned him carefully:

“Was there something troubling you? You seemed lost in thought.”

“Ah.”

People generally avoid dwelling on past incidents, especially when they’re unsettling, as it could jeopardize a decision already made.

But Laris knew Kalen wasn’t the type to let past regrets weigh him down—this short time since the banquet had made that much clear.

“It was nothing.”

This only deepened Laris’ curiosity.

Prompted by her unspoken question, Kalen spoke calmly:

“I was simply imagining what it would be like if the Ryle Guild failed to honor their promise.”

“…Excuse me?”

Despite his calm tone, the words struck Laris with profound weight.

“Didn’t they warn you? They said they’d resort to force if you continued to resist.”

“Indeed, they did.”

“We are now in a situation dominated by those with considerable strength. In your request to sacrifice a talented young lady with a mental image to arrange your mother’s funeral, there seems to be no other option.”

“…”

“Although, if we conduct the funeral first, I wondered whether they would just leave the renowned socialite who awakened the mental image alone, given the force at their disposal.”

This was a harsh statement for Laris, pushing her last remaining hope into despair.

But ignoring this was not an option if she was to avoid being used and abandoned—a fate Kalen found unbearably tragic, especially after hearing her story.

“I… I’ve never… considered it before.”

Laris was clearly disconcerted.

It’s often said that clinging to ambiguous hope can lead to despair. Despite her intelligence and wisdom, Laris was still a young woman, and thinking coldly and rationally about something desired for so long was nearly impossible—let alone when it meant extinguishing her own hope.

Seeing her sink into gloom, her head beginning to bow:

“But as I understand it…”

It was Kalen’s voice—unshakably calm—that halted her downward motion.

The same steady, natural voice that didn’t seem to care about anything that had been said so far.

When she instinctively looked up, Kalen continued his calm explanation:

“The Lord of the Plache family is reportedly the least magically accomplished among the current Lords of the five great families, isn’t he?”

“Yes. At least when compared to the Lord of Hiart, who held onto the era of the sword right until the end. However…”

The ‘era of the sword’ refers to a time prior to the advent of magic, when it was mostly a privilege of the nobles. Strangely, it was the nobility themselves who were slow to embrace magic, even with the establishment of knights as revered figures, skilled in the art of swordsmanship. This delay was understandable given the context.

The Plache Lord, despite placing knights as gatekeepers in his mansion, valued the principles of knighthood significantly.

Unsurprisingly, the Lord started studying magical talents much later. Unlike his contemporary, the monstrously talented Lord of Hiart and father of Serasie, his magical accomplishments were relatively modest.

Still, befitting his position as the Lord of one of the five great families, he had surpassed the fourth level of magical achievement, even if not venturing into the fifth level like Lords of other families such as Lacaetus or Hiart.

This information was widely known.

“My father… was a man who rose to prominence with a sword. He was unmatched in the art of swordsmanship—so unmatched that even the master of the north avoided dueling him…”

“Is your father the strongest?”

Laris had a bad feeling about Kalen’s line of questioning. It seemed he was contemplating a confrontation with the Lord.

Their previous conversation had touched on betrayal and use of force, so it wasn’t surprising she’d think that way.

However, Kalen quickly interrupted her thoughts, leaving Laris no choice but to respond.

For some reason, she felt it was necessary to. The serious demeanor of the boy, who was usually surrounded by women and looked somewhat absent-minded, now seemed very different.

It was overwhelming.

Even her father, who she remembered as a knight during her mother’s lifetime, wasn’t this imposing.

“…The Ryle Guild does have a large number of mercenaries, but in terms of sheer strength, my father is likely the strongest.”

Upon Laris’ answer, Kalen simply nodded, as if satisfied.

This confused her further. They had already discussed the vast numbers of mercenaries, and she had acknowledged her father’s superior strength.

Yet Kalen seemed relieved, and Laris, well-versed in social circles, knew how illogical this was.

Typically, a young lord or lady with some magical talent was expected to achieve the first tier when they debuted in social circles, considered promising if they could adeptly handle it. Furthermore, magic was no longer used for combat, unlike in its infancy, but for educational purposes.

Lords studying magic didn’t do so for combat but achieved a modicum of martial success incidentally. Magic now served as a form of education.

Kalen had yet to debut in social circles because he hadn’t held an initiation ceremony, and even with talent, achieving the second tier would be extraordinary for someone his age.

Moreover, a second-tier mage couldn’t defeat a fourth-tier mage. Laris’ own father was also a swordsman. Combined with the mercenaries of Ryle Guild, they were far beyond what someone like Kalen could handle.

Laris wasn’t inexperienced in such matters. She had considered hiring mercenaries to pressure the Ryle Guild. She abandoned that idea solely due to respect for her father.

Her father’s association made his presence command respect, deterring even the fifth-ranked Lord and battle-seasoned mercenaries of the Ryle Guild.

“Then it’s fine. My worries seem unnecessary.”

“Excuse me?”

“Lady Laris.”

However, Kalen didn’t seem fazed by her comment. On the contrary, he seemed more determined.

Laris tried to add her thoughts, but Kalen cut her off as he had done previously. It was as though he understood her feelings and wanted her to stop worrying.

“Did you not ask for my help? Then focus on making it happen. You mentioned this was a heartfelt, longstanding wish, did you not?”

“…”

“Besides, this risky task may resolve itself more easily than expected. I’ve been pondering how to create a situation where life is truly in danger for the sake of forming a mental image.”

“Surely you don’t mean…!”

Fearful of being interrupted again, Laris spoke with urgency, surprising herself with the intensity of her voice.

It was clear from Kalen’s words. To achieve the mental image, a life-threatening event was necessary. He clearly planned to confront the Plache Lord and the Ryle Guild to accomplish this.

Had he gone mad?

Or was she just misjudging his sanity based on his pleasant appearance and female admirers?

Kalen’s thinking bordered on the insane.

Regaining her composure, Laris continued her query, relieved that this time Kalen allowed her to finish.

“Surely you don’t think that undertaking such a dangerous task will succeed merely by chance?”

Kalen shook his head while looking directly at Laris.

“Of course, nothing is certain yet. There is a chance they might break their promise, and most importantly, there’s no guarantee I’ll manage to create the mental image. But…”

His unwavering gaze throughout made Laris realize one thing.

“Even so, I feel confident in this bet.”