Embers (4)

Aten's clear eyes.

Philly stared at them for a moment before sighing.

"Haah, I see."

The ice flowers that had bloomed beside her disappeared, and the temperature in the reception room returned to normal.

"If Frondier's words are true, there's no time to hesitate."

Philly finally decided to believe Frondier.

To be precise, she decided to trust Aten, who trusted Frondier. Aten was Philly's top priority.

"But Frondier, persuading me alone doesn't mean gathering troops will be easy."

"You're right."

Frondier nodded.

Of course, to mobilize the scale of troops that Frondier desired, the consent of Empress Philly and even Emperor Bartello was essential, but they were just the starting line.

The nobles of the Empire, especially those from prestigious families, guarded their own territories and possessed their own troops.

The Roach Knights of the Roach family and the Shroud Knights led by Sanders were examples of this.

In exchange for money, honor, and power, they had a duty to protect their territories.

In other words, their status was built upon the risk of their own lives.

Therefore, they wouldn't move for matters outside their territory unless there was sufficient justification and reward.

From Frondier's perspective, the Manggot, who were about to invade, were the greatest threat to the Empire, but these nobles were unaware of the situation. They couldn't be moved by the mere mention of an "unprecedented threat."

Something else was needed to move them.

"The most important factor is the Zodiacs."

"...Yes, that's right."

The Zodiacs, the Empire's greatest weapons.

Most of them were nobles, and naturally, they had territories and troops.

Currently, the only families that could rival the individual strength and forces of these individuals, who were not Zodiacs, were the Roach family and the Rishae family, to which Elodie belonged.

Originally, in terms of individual strength, Ludwig von Urfa was not far behind, but he had also become a Zodiac and entrusted his family to his son.

"The only reason we were able to summon all the Zodiacs last time was because the Emperor was in danger. Without something like that, it will be impossible to move them."

At those words, Frondier raised his head. His gaze, looking up at the ceiling, seemed to be looking at something else as his eyes moved slightly.

'There's no need for all the troops to gather on the very first day of the battle. That's impossible anyway.'

As the fight with the Manggot continued, eventually, all the Empire's troops would be mobilized. It was a matter directly related to the existence of the Empire itself.

What Frondier hoped for was that the timing wouldn't be too late. It would be too late for the Imperial Palace to move in a hurry after already suffering significant damage.

The important thing was the first battle. The minimum number of troops needed to defend with minimal casualties had to be prepared for that fight.

"...Three of them."

After thinking for a moment, Frondier

spoke quietly.

"Yes?"

"Three of the twelve Zodiacs. I'll try to persuade them somehow."

At those words, Aten and Philly looked at each other.

Persuading even one Zodiac was not easy. To persuade three of them, who wouldn't move unless something significant happened?

"If you can really persuade three of them, it would be enough to serve as a signal."

Three Zodiacs moving. That alone would be enough to show the continent that there was a major movement, even before any justification. It would also be a good way to gather the Imperial Palace troops.

"But is it really possible? Frondier, you're still a student. You wouldn't have had time to build relationships with the Zodiacs."

"...Honestly, I think so too."

Of course, there was almost no time, but.

In life, time wasn't always the answer to building relationships.

"The Zodiacs are unique."

***

After his conversation with Philly, Frondier headed straight to Ludwig's mansion.

Among the Zodiacs, Ludwig was the only one Frondier had a proper relationship with.

He planned to meet the Zodiacs one by one, starting with those he thought had the most potential, but...

"...We're gathered like this again."

He had a hunch, and it was true. When he went to meet Ludwig, both Lily and Monty were there.

Seeing the three of them waiting for him at the round table, Frondier sighed.

As Frondier sat down, Ludwig spoke.

"This is your fault too, Frondier."

What?

Frondier looked at Ludwig, who was responding shamelessly.

Ludwig shrugged as if it were obvious.

"It was true that Osprey had disappeared. You were the only one who sensed it. After realizing that, these two also wanted to meet you."

"That's right! Right! How did you find out? And what did that Osprey guy do? Did he really become an Archmage?"

Lily picked up where Ludwig left off.

She slammed the table and leaned her face towards Frondier.

Her captivating eyes stared directly at Frondier, and Lily's charm offensive was exquisitely intentional, or perhaps not.

...To be precise, it was definitely intentional.

"He said he hasn't become one yet."

"What? Can you tell if you're an Archmage yourself? It's not something the Empire designates?"

Lily's question was natural. She thought that the Archmage, like the Zodiacs, was a designated position.

The reason the position of Archmage was currently vacant was because there was no overwhelmingly powerful mage worthy of filling the single seat.

However, the Archmage was different from the Zodiacs. It signified an elevation as a human being.

"That's what he said. I was surprised too."

Of course, Frondier didn't bother explaining and pretended as if he didn't know the person either.

"Then how did you find out? That Osprey had disappeared from the world. Even if it was an incomplete spell, you were the first to notice it, and the only one. Moreover, when another girl disappeared, you realized it right away."

Monty said, and

"Right! That's also what I'm curious about! Frondier, what are you? Are you an Archmage too?"

Lily echoed, slamming the table again.

How did Osprey's magic not work on him?

In fact, Frondier had experienced similar situations a few times in the past.

When Armel's God Lethe's divine power, memory manipulation, didn't work.

When the shadow agent Laurie's hypnosis missed.

Mental magic directed at 'Frondier de Roach' didn't work on him. It didn't work, or rather, it missed.

'I knew it from the beginning.'

Frondier was aware that he still had one foot halfway outside the world. He was an outsider in this world. That's what possession was all about.

"Constel, where Master Osprey, our Principal, resides, has more inconsistencies. Since it's the area where the Principal is most active, if he were to disappear, a large gap would open up. Even if it were filled with magic, there would be shortcomings. I just noticed that."

"Hmm. Even so, to be the only one to realize it while others were unaware..."

"He's hiding something, I'm telling you. There's definitely something."

Lily vehemently insisted to Monty.

It was so true that Frondier averted his eyes slightly.

"Anyway, that's not why I came here today."

"Right. I knew you wouldn't come here just to make such a report. You should be busy trying to appeal to the Zodiacs and build relationships, tsk tsk."

Ludwig clicked his tongue. He looked at Frondier with a pitying expression.

If he were Frondier, he would have made various appeals to increase his intimacy and solidify his position from the moment he met the Zodiacs, but Frondier's lack of action frustrated him.

And in reality, the current Frondier also strongly agreed with Ludwig's words.

He should have met the Zodiacs a little more. Then the conversation would have been easier.

"...Then I'll tell you."