Raising Villains the Right Way

On the road toward the Colony, Alon’s group passed through a dense forest and arrived at the edge of a sandy desert.

[Meow]

[It’s ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍hot]

Blackie ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍and Basiliora melted down and sprawled limply inside the carriage.

As ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Alon looked at them, Evan relayed a piece of news.

“The ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Empire isn’t looking good?”

“It’s ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Eastern Empire, but it seems to have gotten a bit worse than what I told you last time.”

It was news about the Empire’s recent situation.

“What’s going on?”

“They say the frequency of fights between the divine-blood has increased drastically. Because of that, the other empires bordering the Eastern Empire are also suffering a lot of damage.”

“Is there a reason for it?”

“From what I’ve heard, it’s because of the Fragments.”

“If you say Fragments—”

“Yes. It seems to be the same Fragments that were said to have fallen near the Colony.”

“Hmm.......”

Alon stroked his chin.

‘I figured things would escalate, but....’

When he had heard Evan’s report about the Fragments before, he had already anticipated it.

Alon had fought both first-stage and second-stage divine-blood, and had personally felt how absurd the gap between just one stage was.

‘From their perspective, it must be something worth risking their lives to obtain.’

As Alon’s thoughts reached that point, Evan continued.

“Oh, and as additional information. If you go to the Eastern Empire, they say you should watch out for the Predator.”

At the sudden name, Alon showed curiosity, and Evan elaborated.

“Yes, they say it’s an extremely powerful divine-blood at the moment. Other divine-blood apparently choose to run rather than fight if they encounter the one called Predator. Also, many groups have formed.”

“Groups?”

“Yes, starting with Astarote I mentioned last time, divine-blood like ‘Pureblood’ and ‘Closed Light’ are forming groups.”

Alon organized the information in his head and asked.

“Is there any information about divine-blood approaching the Colony?”

“I checked since you asked me to, and fortunately, it seems there’s none so far.”

“That’s good to hear. And—”

“You mean Seolrang? Likewise, there doesn’t seem to be any major issue.”

As Evan answered as if he had been waiting, Alon quietly nodded.

Beside him, Penia, who had begun fanning her collar due to the rising heat, spoke.

“Lord Alon, is something happening to Lady Seolrang?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Well, it seems like you’ve been worrying about her a lot lately.”

“I’ve kept quiet until now, but I am a bit curious as well. Is something going on?”

When they had seen her last time, she had seemed perfectly fine.

Evan recalled the past and looked at Alon.

After a brief silence under their gazes, Alon replied.

“It’s nothing you need to worry about too much. It’s not a big deal.”

At that, Evan smacked his lips, but—

“Understood.”

He nodded, and Penia did the same.

Right after that.

“Ahh—I can’t take it anymore!”

Unable to endure the heat, Penia quickly took out a mana stone and used a cold magic spell.

[Meow-!]

[O- Ooooo!!]

Blackie and Basiliora immediately gathered around her, making things noisy again.

Beside them, Alon thought to himself.

‘Something happening...............’

Alon recalled a memory from over half a year ago.

Seolrang smiling brightly at him, promising they would meet again next time.

The Seolrang he had seen then hadn’t seemed strange at all.

She had been lively as always.

But—

“Lord Alon,”

At the sudden voice, Alon’s thoughts were interrupted.

He looked silently at Penia.

“Um, would you like to come over here?”

Penia subtly shifted her body to the side, making space on her seat as she asked.

“It’s, um, a bit hot here.”

At Penia’s invitation, her cheeks slightly flushed from the heat, Alon shrugged.

“Very well.”

Indeed, after entering the desert’s edge, it had clearly become hotter, whether it was just his imagination or not.

There was no reason to refuse cold magic.

Alon immediately moved to sit beside her.

Then—

“Um, would you come a bit closer? The mana stone is small, so you can feel the cold better if you’re closer.”

With a slightly heated voice, Penia urged again.

Alon silently moved a little closer to her.

Basiliora and Blackie’s eyes turned cold at the sight without Alon noticing.

Their gaze seemed to say, ‘We have a lot to say, but we’ll endure because of the cold.’

Their full-fledged desert journey began.

After two and a half weeks of travel, Alon finally arrived at the desert city, Colony.

“We can finally see it................”

“Yeah.......”

Penia and Evan spoke weakly as they looked at the Colony.

Alon understood their reaction.

Last time, he had been too preoccupied with worry to notice, rushing day by day to reach the Colony, but crossing the desert alone without a merchant group was no easy task.

Mainly because of the heat, the heat, and the heat.

“Still, that’s a relief. It looks like the outer magic of the Colony is still being maintained.”

“I heard they took care of that first.”

Suppressing the heat, Alon stared ahead.

The scenery of the Colony looked more desolate than before.

The thick walls that once surrounded it had yet to regain their former glory, still broken in many places, and the inside was similarly filled with collapsed and ruined areas.

“Wow—”

“That’s amazing.”

Even so, Penia and Evan exclaimed in admiration.

They remembered how the Colony had once been completely reduced to ruins because of the divine-blood.

So the fact that it had been restored to this extent in about a year naturally drew admiration.

“I see.”

Alon as well.

With each wearing a surprised expression, they arrived before the wide-open gate and once again let out small exclamations.

Inside the Colony, restoration work was ongoing, just as it appeared from outside.

Hundreds of people moved in unison, diligently carrying goods.

As Alon smiled at the sight of daily life being gradually restored—

“Welcome!”

Someone from afar greeted them loudly.

Alon easily recognized the one approaching.

“It’s been a while, Lime.”

“Yes! Uh—no, if I speak like this—”

“You can speak comfortably.”

“Ah, is that really okay?”

“It is.”

It was none other than Seolrang’s secretary, Lime.

“Thank you!”

After briefly bowing her head deeply at Alon’s permission,

“But where is Seolrang?”

At the question, Lime let out a small exclamation.

“Ah, Lady Seolrang is currently outside the Colony for a bit due to some work.”

“What kind of work?”

“Well—recently, there have been some bandits appearing near the Colony. And they’re not exactly ordinary bandits—”

After saying that much, Lime glanced around as if she realized something.

“Um, would it be alright if I explained after we move somewhere else?”

“......Is it not something suitable to discuss out here?”

“Mm—yes, it’s a bit like that.”

At that, Alon’s group nodded and followed her.

As they moved while observing the streets of the Colony, Alon suddenly spoke.

“Lime.”

“Yes?”

“How has Seolrang been lately?”

Lime tilted her head at him.

“Lady Seolrang?”

“Yes.”

“Well—after you left last time, she was a bit down.”

“Was she?”

“But you don’t have to worry too much. Once her condition improved, she became completely fine again.” 

“Hmm, is that so?”

“Yes! And since the last divine-blood incident, she might have become just a liiittle more mature…?”

She added that it was just her personal opinion, as others weren’t sure.

“Anyway, Lady Seolrang is doing well.”

Lime concluded lightly.

Alon slowly nodded, without saying anything further.

***

Recently, the atmosphere of the Central Mage Tower had been somewhat strange.

More precisely, the atmosphere among the mages who were deciphering magic under Heinkel had become unsettled.

It was because of Heinkel’s absence.

Until a few weeks ago, she had been helping with calculations and occasionally passing on unexpected knowledge to the mages—a leader-like figure—yet she had suddenly disappeared.

Of course, there had been a letter saying she would be away for a while, but that had already been weeks ago.

And so the mages began to grow suspicious—

“......Where did Lady Heinkel go?”

“Hmm, I feel like she’s still somewhere in the Central Mage Tower.”

“I also find it a bit strange.”

Just as the Red Tower Master, Blue Tower Master, and Green Tower Master were speaking with puzzled expressions—

Thud!

With a loud sound, the door opened, and Heinkel entered.

All eyes turned to her at once.

And then.

”....”

“What......?”

“What is that?”

The mages who saw Heinkel all showed shocked expressions.

It wasn’t just them.

Even the Tower Masters, who had just been wondering about her whereabouts, stared blankly at her.

The reason was—

“She’s alive?”

The legendary mage who had existed in the form of a ghost, revered by all mages, now looked as if she were alive—

No, she was clearly moving with life.

“How is this......?”

As all the surrounding mages were astonished, Heinkel slowly looked around and thought.

‘Just as expected.’

The mages were astonished at her living form.

Letting out great admiration.

In truth, Heinkel had intended to provoke exactly this reaction.

Naturally, it was for Alon.

“.....”

When Heinkel first said she would help Alon, she had thought about how to package the Phrasesto assist him.

Basically, what worked best on mages was ‘magic.’

They were a kind that would dive headfirst into even filth if it meant pursuing magic.

However, Heinkel soon changed her mind.

What Alon needed, after handing over the Phrases to her, was faith.

Of course, mages would willingly offer faith for the sake of the Phrase.

They were mages, after all.

But that faith would neither be abundant nor strong.

Because while they would do anything for magic, they believed in nothing but magic.

So Heinkel decided—

To show a ‘miracle’ instead of ‘magic.’

“Sorry, everyone,”

Of course, for mages, ‘miracles’ were not considered particularly impressive.

But she knew why mages treated miracles that way.

To them, miracles were something they could reproduce themselves at any time.

Mages were, by nature, those who touched the ‘mysteries.’

And Heinkel, more than anyone, knew how to draw faith from mages.

All she had to do was show them a ‘mystery’ they could not reach—

A miracle.

At first glance, it sounded absurd.

But Heinkel had more than enough means to make it possible.

‘If I’m going to do it, I might as well go big.’

And so.

“It took some time, as I received ‘life’ from the Magic King.”

She spoke of a miracle.

A miracle that would never fade, one that would be engraved into the mages.

And.

It did not take long for the mages, who understood her words, for their eyes to widen as if they would tear apart.