TYND 115

Side Story 1. Stop Being So Cute

After a long war, Theon Dert Palsen returned to Palsen with his partner. The Archduke’s consort, named Rothy Sear Palsen, was a lovely person with snow-white hair and emerald jewel-like green eyes. Most notably, he was the youngest Archmage in Arasis history to reach the 7th Circle.

The Archmage Archduke’s consort brought a new and warm breeze like the spring sunshine to the harsh, frozen land.

Starting with the reactivation of the climate control Trimulle, he completed the restoration of the northern grand mine, which was expected to take at least half a year, in just one day, successfully established the wooden doll hunting competition, and returned the Demon Lord who had been stealing the Trimulle to eternal darkness.

In addition, he also founded the first-ever wizard organization in the magic wasteland of the north, called Rosiar.

The north changed because of Rothy, and the changes in the north brought a wind of change throughout the Sivia Empire, and the changes in the Sivia Empire, the center of Arasis, brought changes to the entire Arasis.

As time passed…

“Your Highness Rothy, happy twenty-third birthday.”

“Thank you, Tzudepa.”

Now Rothy was a full-fledged young man of twenty-three.

He had come to Palsen Territory at the age of sixteen and spent eight years there.

In the Sivia Empire, unless one was of imperial blood, it was customary not to hold birthday banquets except for the first coming-of-age ceremony, so Rothy also spent his birthdays modestly, celebrating only with family and acquaintances. This natural custom gave rise to voices of discontent.

‘We also want to celebrate the Archduke’s consort’s birthday.’

‘Why can’t we give gifts to His Highness?’

‘We also deserve to celebrate the Archmage’s birthday!’

‘Let us celebrate His Highness Rothy’s birthday!’

For reasons no one expected… a small-scale protest group was formed in Sov Central Square. It was not a protest in the general sense, but simply an event-like gathering, so there was no need to respond seriously. Theon did not report it to the Imperial Palace, but one day the Emperor contacted him.

‘I heard that the northerners protested recently to hold a birthday banquet for Archduke’s consort Rothy?’

‘It’s not a serious matter.’

‘Actually, complaints are pouring out from the central nobles regarding that matter.’

Theon stared at the Emperor’s face in the communication device and created the frown lines on his forehead that Rothy called ‘Level 3’.

‘Doesn’t Your Majesty know? There is no need to keep Rothy in check. He has no interest in power at all and is someone who worries about how to make the empire more peaceful.’

The Emperor gave a strange smile.

‘You’ve got it wrong. They say they also want to celebrate Rothy’s birthday, but they can’t celebrate because of the damned tradition, and they need an opportunity to resolve this frustration and dissatisfaction.’

‘…….’

‘It seems that popularity becomes like this when it crosses a certain wall. It’s such a high dimension that even those stuffy guys like Phillip and Osonthe say it’s better to hold a grand banquet once. They say he has surpassed the level of doing petty things like keeping him in check.’

‘…….’

‘Hold a grand birthday banquet this year. This is also the Emperor’s order.’

So Theon accepted the Emperor’s request and held a grand birthday banquet.

It was ‘grand,’ but not as big as the coming-of-age ceremony. The traditions of the Sivia Empire could not be completely ignored, so it was held on a smaller scale than three years ago. However, only the scale was modest; the gifts that arrived were not modest at all.

Starting with Droid sending the latest video sphere blueprints… Solten sent sacred water that could not be bought even with mountains of gold, Gibak sent gemstone ore mined from a mine that only opened for ten days a year, and Toran sent the finest silk fabrics spun from Toran silkworms that only grew in Toran.

The Plant, the Sivia Imperial Palace wizard organization, permanently donated three of Plant’s magical copyrights to Rosiar, High Priest Depaten promised to build five temples in the north within ten years, and Emperor Diam transferred one Trimulle owned by the Imperial Family to the Palsen family. In the meantime, the Emperor decided to play Ashina’s seventh birthday congratulatory song through the video sphere.

Celebrations continued not only in the Western Continent but also in the Southern and Eastern Continents.

The gift brought by the diplomat of the Haul Empire in the Southern Continent was a 7th Circle staff made by a Haul Imperial artisan. Until then, Rothy only had wands made in temples, so it was a very useful gift.

The Eastern Continent sent gifts through Tzudepa.

An attendant received the gift from Tzudepa and delivered it to Rothy. Rothy immediately unwrapped the gift. It was a palm-sized, flat metal object. There was a button on the top, a long groove on the bottom, and a transparent lens embedded in the upper right corner.

Rothy turned the object around and asked.

“What is this?”

“It’s a camera, an object recently invented in my hometown. If you insert special paper into the groove and press the button, the scene reflected in the lens will be printed on the paper. It’s similar to image magic in the genre of everyday art.”

“You’ve turned magic into an object.”

“Yes, that’s right. Since we can’t use magic in the Eastern Continent, we imitate magic and create objects like this.”

“It’s really amazing and great. You must have worked hard to make it. Can I use it right away?”

“Of course.”

Rothy put his eye to the lens and aimed it at Theon.

“Theon, smile.”

“…Rothy, Chi-chi’s pose looks like a stunt.”

When he turned his gaze at Theon’s words, he saw Chi-chi sleeping in a crescent moon pose in a fluffy cradle. He was so cute that Rothy ended up dedicating his first photo to Chi-chi.

“Wow, it’s exactly the same as the real thing. It’s so amazing. How could they invent such a machine? People in the Eastern Continent are all so smart.”

In fact, there was no reason to be amazed because there was already similar existing magic. Nevertheless, everyone smiled as they watched the kind and cute Archmage, who appreciated the sincerity of the Eastern Continent and reacted enthusiastically.

“Jay, give Tzudepa a return gift.”

“Yes, Lord Rothy.”

The common return gift was Magic stone, a specialty of Palsen Territory.

“This is a considerable high-quality product. I will take it to Bleutree and use it gratefully.”

Every time he received a gift, he gave Magic stone as a return gift, but everyone liked it every time.

“By the way, Your Highness is now truly a respectable adult. No one will see Your Highness as a child anymore.”

“What are you talking about? It’s been three years since I became an adult. It’s really embarrassing for a twenty-three-year-old man to hear that.”

“Is that so?”

“Thank you for the compliment anyway. Is Bleutree doing well? Is there any new news?”

“Doing well? We’re too busy just trying to make a living. We’re even about to reduce our existing business.”

Tzudepa complained that it was difficult to make money because of the crackdown on black wizards.

Rothy smiled with round, innocent eyes.

“I heard that you met with the Guild Master of Mematri in the East. I hope the merger goes well in the way you want.”

“Ah….”

Tzudepa sighed in vain.

“It was supposed to be a secret, but you’re talking about it so casually that I don’t know how to react.”

“I also welcome Bleutree growing bigger. I want to visit when I go to the South later.”

“If you contact me in advance, I’ll show you what a southern-style banquet is like. Ah, I also want to experience a banquet held by the Palsen family. I heard you’re holding a grand banquet tonight? Can I enjoy the banquet too?”

“You can’t come…. You’re a black wizard.”

Tzudepa smiled, curling up his bright red lips.

“You’re really like you’re endlessly soft, but you’re also as firm as a knife.”

He didn’t feel bad about the direct rejection; rather, he had a pleased expression.

On the other hand, the ends of Rothy’s eyebrows went down to the four o’clock and eight o’clock directions, respectively.

“Was I as firm as a knife? I’m sorry if that’s how it felt….”

“I was just joking. You’re a kind person. Then I’ll step down now. Stay healthy until we meet again, Your Highness the Archduke’s consort. Please take good care of His Highness. Your Highness the Archduke.”

Tzudepa received Theon and Rothy’s greetings and stepped back. Soon after, the next guest entered the audience chamber, and the Archduke couple exchanged friendly greetings with the next guest again.

Tzudepa encountered two wizards standing in front of the entrance. As the magic research lab was established in the Palsen mansion, the number of resident wizards increased. However, only two wizards were qualified to assist in the reception room: Chungnip and Naran Daisy.

Chungnip, who boasted the most outstanding achievements among the wizards from the Eastern Continent, and Naran Daisy, who had achieved outstanding results in both black magic and general magic. Tzudepa was also interested in both of them.

“Lord Chungnip, Lord Naran.”

“…Guild Master.”

When Tzudepa greeted them first, Chungnip also nodded. Naran only glanced at him.

Tzudepa licked his lips as he looked at them.

He pretended to be fine in front of Rothy, but his fortress was still there even after five years. No, in fact, it had become even worse.

Originally, the person he would be most lustful for was the Archmage Rothy, but after learning that Rothy’s magical abilities far exceeded the imaginable dimensions, he began to treat him as a completely different being.

He was also afraid of Rothy’s partner, who looked at him as if he would cut his throat with a freshly sharpened sword every time he faced Rothy.

In comparison, Chungnip and Naran were not only great in magical abilities, but also had cute reactions when teased.