Sage 32

“The Great Sage is certainly a dangerous individual.”

“What about the other three?”

“They disguised their identities, but they’re from the Red Hawk mercenary group of Kaman. It’s not a large group… but their main force, the captain, is included. One of the three is a mage.”

“He’s been out of contact for years, and he’s returned after establishing such a peculiar force in the outside world. It’s a real shame. We should have broken him somehow instead of letting him escape.”

Radanta looked at the young nobleman whose shoulders flinched at his words.

It was amusing that there were those who cowered even at a subtle display of malice. The surroundings of Radanta Agniel Robain, the First Prince and Crown Prince of the Robain Empire, were full of older, cunning snakes rather than young whelps.

“Oh, should I have softened my words for Sir Melkin?”

“…No, Your Highness.”

“First Prince. It’s best not to speak in a way that diminishes your own dignity.”

A white-haired man, who must have swallowed a dozen snakes whole, spoke up for Sir Melkin, who was starting to sweat.

“You should heed your grandfather’s words. I apologize if anyone was offended by my words and actions. Even though I’m old, I’m still not used to these kinds of settings, so I always make these kinds of mistakes.”

Duke Bechel, Radanta’s grandfather and the maternal grandfather of the imperial family, was the de facto head of the noble faction. He had made his daughter the empress since she was over forty and, excluding Irkus, had the only surviving bloodline of the imperial family as his grandson.

Even though his ambitions had waned somewhat due to his old age and frailty, he was someone who had no intention of letting go of what he had, even if it meant dying of old age.

Radanta smiled innocently at his grandfather, the corners of his lips turning upwards.

Radanta Agniel Robain had inherited Duke Bechel’s insidious personality. They say blood is thicker than water, and unlike the empress who had no interest in politics, Radanta, Duke Bechel’s grandson, enjoyed subtly suppressing and tormenting people. While acting like an innocent puppet who didn’t know anything on the outside, he relished in making his grandfather anxious while beheading his siblings.

“I understand everyone is worried about the Third Prince’s return, but frankly, I’m happy.”

“Does the First Prince think this is a good thing?”

“Of course. A sibling who was thought to be missing has returned on his own two feet, even bringing the Great Sage with him. Isn’t Irkus also a sibling? Even if he is only half.”

It’s easier to attempt an assassination if he is close.

Radanta didn’t bother adding those words. Even if the Great Sage, a huge obstacle, stood behind Irkus, it was he who ultimately controlled the Imperial Palace.

“Even though he is recognized by the emperor, he is not of pure blood and has no power within the palace, so he won’t be a significant threat.”

“That’s right. The emperor’s faction, who values legitimacy so much, is unlikely to side with the Third Prince against us. Even if they wanted to, they lack the justification.”

“The problem is the Great Sage. The fact that the Great Sage has become the Third Prince’s backer.”

“The imperial mages are already making a fuss. Even though there has been no official announcement of the Great Sage’s entry into the palace…”

Small sighs escaped from here and there.

Immortal, the Great Sage Yoo-an of the Southern Forest. Despite his long seclusion, the Great Sage was still the most famous person on the continent.

Humans, who were destined to die eventually, had long admired immortal beings. The actual immortal was a target that not only the Magic Tower, but also the temple, coveted.

So, if the Great Sage were to directly involve himself in politics, even the nobles and forces outside the Imperial Palace, who had remained neutral, would readily turn to Irkus.

“Is there no way to bring the Great Sage to our side?”

“I hear he’s the Third Prince’s magic teacher.”

“Oh, Elios… So that’s why the magic shackles didn’t work on the Third Prince.”

“The Third Prince’s mother was a witch, so he must have been born with magical talent.”

“Is this alright? Even if the Third Prince has no power, isn’t it dangerous that the magic shackles don’t even work on him…?”

“I investigated and found out that he worked as a mercenary before entering the palace. He’s proficient not only in magic but also in swordsmanship.”

Radanta checked the faces of the heads of the noble faction, one by one.

They were cunning people. They weren’t blood-related to him like Duke Bechel, so they would switch sides like baby bats if the power dynamics shifted, after observing the situation.

In politics like this, there were no eternal allies or enemies. It was natural to shake hands while stabbing each other in the back and to pretend to push someone into the water while throwing them food.

How many of these people, discussing the future of the Robain Empire with such excitement on their faces, were actually thinking about the interests of the Empire? They were only concerned with their immediate gains and losses, so they were the kind who would only think about when and how to switch sides when they felt that the power was shifting from Radanta to Irkus.

“I wonder if the Great Sage is truly immortal?”

After silencing the small commotion with a single word, Radanta smiled with narrowed eyes.

Succession battles were always bloody fights, and maintaining a position you have gained was never an easy task. He had to show them that the appearance of the Great Sage would have no effect on him.

Bringing the Great Sage to his side was impossible. Even though the bond between teacher and disciple wasn’t stronger than blood ties, it seemed strong.

Even when the Imperial Knights went to the Southern Forest to bring Irkus back, the Great Sage protected Irkus even at the cost of making an enemy of the Robain Empire.

It was certainly strange that the Great Sage, who had been secluded in the Southern Forest and hadn’t shown any interest in the affairs of the continent except for magic research, had shown displeasure with the Empire because of Irkus.

“Isn’t it strange that an immortal would help a mortal without any purpose or reason?”

“Are you saying the Great Sage has some ulterior motive?”

“Of course. Even if he’s closer to a god than a human, the Great Sage is still human and can only act according to his own interests.”

Radanta recalled Irkus’s face.

Just picturing that excessively beautiful face, resembling his witch mother, made his stomach churn.

Not of pure blood, yet the most beautiful and strongest among his siblings. Irkus’s existence was always a threat to Radanta.

He should have killed him when he was young. He hadn’t caught him when he ran away and had neglected him, and now he’s returned in a state where he’s difficult to handle.

After Irkus’s mother gave up on living among humans and left the Imperial Palace, it was Radanta who had cut off all the helping hands extended to the young Irkus.

Radanta hated Irkus, who wouldn’t die easily like his other siblings. Beings that didn’t bend to his will always irritated him. If he couldn’t kill him, he wanted him completely isolated and withered away.

“We need to find out if the Great Sage and Irkus have a normal teacher-disciple relationship.”

“…Pardon?”

“I don’t know the Great Sage’s purpose, but the knight captain said that the two of them looked quite affectionate. The Third Prince is quite lovely, so it’s only natural to be suspicious.”

“However…”

“Don’t be mistaken. Even though he’s immortal, the Great Sage is still human.”

It’s difficult to tarnish the reputation of a deified being. Especially when there’s only suspicion and no evidence.

But even a stone will crumble and get scratched if you keep hitting it. Even something that didn’t happen will become embellished and become evidence after passing through the mouths of the imperial servants a few times.

Radanta racked his brain to find a way to destroy the Great Sage’s reputation.

If he couldn’t be won over, he had to be eliminated by any means necessary. A joker that shakes up the game should be removed from the deck in the first place. He couldn’t allow any variables in a game he was winning.

First, he had to devise a plan to separate the Great Sage and Irkus. He had no chance of winning if they were together, since it was already difficult to deal with them individually.

“Sir Melkin.”

“Yes? …Ah, yes.”

“Would you contact the Magic Tower?”

The nobles, who had been talking amongst themselves about the Great Sage’s greatness, all turned to Radanta at once. Duke Bechel sat beside him, calmly waiting for what his grandson would say next.

In Duke Bechel’s opinion, his grandson Radanta was a great masterpiece. Unlike his granddaughter Maria, who was ignorant of worldly matters and full of childish whims, he was thoughtful and merciless.

Hadn’t he killed his own siblings and smoothly buried the incident as if it never happened? Such a child wouldn’t be unable to get rid of a Great Sage who had been in seclusion. Even if he couldn’t kill him, he would have the strategy to drive him out of this game.

“Radanta, what are you planning?”

“What do you mean?”

“About the Great Sage.”

“Oh my, even you, Your Grace… aren’t you speaking too casually in such a refined setting?”

“My apologies. This old man seems to have forgotten what kind of setting this is because the topic of the Great Sage has been going on for so long.”

He’s someone who cunningly acts towards even his own grandfather, who was supporting him in every way for the sake of the family. Duke Bechel didn’t feel insulted by Radanta’s arrogant attitude towards him. Rather, he felt proud of his grandson.

Even if he wouldn’t be a wise ruler, he was a child with enough qualities to be an emperor. Even though he couldn’t become a mage, he was a child with a bloodline and a heart several times superior to Irkus.

“What I’m planning… what great insight could I possibly have? I’m still just a child compared to you, Your Grace.”

Radanta’s manicured fingertips began to lightly tap the marble table in the meeting room.

“I’m just thinking of contacting those who need the Great Sage the most. The Magic Tower has always admired the Great Sage, hasn’t it?”