Legarda’s Will resembled a dragon.
Vitalicus’s Will was like a lion.
Atawolf’s Will was a formless black mist.
Of course, Hio didn’t know what was contained within those forms or what they signified.
He simply guessed that such manifestations of Will shared many similarities with the individuals themselves.
‘Maybe those are the forms they ultimately desire to take,’ he thought.
So, he asked Legarda.
Legarda responded with a rare, faint smile.
“My Will resembles a dragon? That is a great compliment.”
Legarda responded that way even though anyone looking at it would clearly see the shape of a dragon.
‘Did that mean the form of one’s Will appeared differently to different people?’
“It might be so, or it might not. If you call it a flower, it will approach as a flower; if you call it a dragon, it will become a dragon.”
Hio almost shouted to ask what kind of nonsense that was, but he held it in.
There had to be a meaning behind those words.
If he couldn’t grasp the meaning, it was likely because of his own shortcomings.
“Do not be too impatient, Magician. Knowing one’s own conviction is no easy task.”
“Conviction… how can one find that?”
Hio knew it was a foolish question, but his heart felt so stifled that he had to ask.
Legarda remained silent for a moment before giving a surprisingly sincere answer.
“Most people do not possess conviction.
Even those who do often do not know what their conviction truly is, or they are mistaken about it.”
“Mistaken…?”
“They shout that their conviction is this or that, but in reality, that is rarely the case.”
Conviction was a heart that believed firmly.
“It does not matter if you believe it yourself. It does not matter if you shout it to the world. However, if that is all it is, you will never be able to handle your Will, even if a lifetime passes.”
‘What should one believe in firmly?’
The pathetic king had knelt, wondering if there was any meaning in death.
He believed that life held more value than death.
He believed his role as a king was to keep his people alive.
Because there wasn’t a single shred of doubt in that belief, he could be as groveling and subservient as possible without hesitation.
That was conviction.
Len Hank believed that humans must never turn away from the pain and despair of others.
He said that one must never lose their humanity.
He firmly believed that even if the end was death, he must act if his sacrifice could turn the despair of tens of thousands into even a moment of hope.
That was why he continued to cry out even as his body twisted and he turned into a monster.
This, too, was a noble conviction that left no room for refutation.
‘Then, did he possess such a conviction?’
‘Was there something he could believe in so firmly that he wouldn’t waver even in the face of death?’
“……I don’t know.”
He didn’t know.
His thoughts began to wander aimlessly.
Legarda left after giving one last piece of advice: not to rush.
Hio remained lost in thought for a long time before immersing himself once again in the study of the Ancient Grimoire: Book of Dragon Summoning.
One month passed by in such a manner.
There was no such thing as a perfect, finished magic in the world.
Even widely distributed magic books were simply the most efficient versions selected after repeated research and modification.
Depending on the situation, a different variation could be more useful.
Thus, it wasn’t the first time Hio had tried to change an existing magic formula.
At most, he had previously only changed the order of the Circle Inscriptions or slightly increased the amount of Magic Power, but even that had been a significant experience.
It helped him greatly in modifying the dragon summoning technique.
First, he removed the compulsory nature.
Since there were dozens of Circle Inscriptions related to that alone, he significantly reduced the number of symbols he had to engrave.
Some level of summoning compulsion was necessary, but he eliminated every other effect besides that.
Next, he tinkered with the summoning method.
Originally, the effect was that the summoned creature would appear beside the caster whenever and wherever they were called and remain there.
The modified method was different.
He intentionally applied a penalty by making it an incomplete summoning rather than a complete one.
Therefore, after a certain amount of time passed—or if Freya wished—she would return to wherever she had been.
This was to avoid stealing Freya’s freedom.
Once he solved the two biggest problems, the rest wasn’t very difficult.
Since there was no coercion and it wasn’t a complete summoning, the Magic Circle to be engraved on Freya’s body became much simpler, and the number of Circle Inscriptions was greatly reduced.
A complex magic that was supposed to bind soul to soul and force obedience had been transformed into a simple, incomplete summoning spell.
Of course, since the subject of the summoning was a Dragon, it wasn’t exactly easy, but he had managed to pull it off somehow.
The magic was complete.
He had finished the final review with Furnel, so it was certain.
The only problem now was that he needed Freya’s permission.
‘Hadn’t he gone through all this trouble for the sake of this gentle child’s freedom in the first place?’
If she said she didn’t like it because it felt unpleasant, he intended to give it up even if it was a magic granted by a goddess.
Of course, he was going to do his best to make sure that didn’t happen.
“How should I say it so Freya doesn’t get scared and accepts it?”
-Her soul is still that of a child, so wouldn’t something a girl that age likes be best?
“What would that be?”
-How should I know?
“Sigh. Figures.”
-……If you tell her while feeding her something sweet, wouldn’t the chances of success increase?
“Something sweet?
Oh, that sounds plausible.”
He had heard that there was nothing better than sweet food for soothing a crying child or a woman.
Freya happened to be both a girl and a child.
Since she fell into both categories, wouldn’t the effect be doubled?
-You ignorant…
As he was busily planning, a shadow suddenly loomed over him.
Legarda had approached Hio’s side.
“Tsk.”
He had quite a displeased expression on his face.
“……Hm? Why? I’m really not doing anything bad!”
Hio muttered to himself out of a guilty conscience, but fortunately, Legarda’s business was something else.
“Those bothersome fools have come again.”
“Bothersome fools?”
“Yes. It seems they intend to approach Arilleia.”
“……Ah? Was that it?”
Arilleia Island was still surrounded by the Cursed Waters.
Of course, it wasn’t actually cursed; it was the influence of a semi-permanent Magic Circle installed by a mysterious Archmage.
“Is it a bit too early to reveal it to the world?”
“Not yet. Not until Freya is mentally more mature and can handle her power properly.
Only then will I release the magic and head out.”
“That’s a good idea.”
It felt a bit early for Arilleia to step out into the world.
The world wasn’t backed into a corner enough to need the power of the Elves, and the Abyss conquest was progressing steadily.
Most of all, Freya still needed a lot of time to grow.
“However, I find the rumors linking the Gates to Arilleia quite unpleasant.”
That was the reason why uninvited guests had been frequently visiting the Arilleia sea lately.
The Abyss Gates.
It was because groundless rumors were circulating that the Gates—which had been announced to the world as Magic Realms—started from Arilleia.
A sea where storms raged all year round.
The legend of Legarda, who was said to have lived for hundreds of years.
Such stories mixed with the anxiety over the Magic Realms had given birth to ridiculous rumors.
“I will go handle it.”
“I guess the Sea Dragon alone isn’t enough this time.”
“The scale is quite large. It seems the Kingdom dispatched an investigation team.”
“……I see. You’re working hard.”
Legarda nodded once and immediately threw himself toward the sea.
Watching his retreating back, a thought suddenly struck Hio.
‘Is this…… an opportunity?’
Of course, Hio had nothing to be ashamed of before heaven and earth.
Regarding the engraving of the dragon summoning magic on Freya, that is.
He was going to perform it only after receiving Freya’s permission in a very honest and fair manner, and hadn’t he put so much effort into modifying the magic for that very reason?
However, it was true that Legarda had been getting on his nerves for some reason.
It felt like trying to offer a child junk food in front of an overprotective parent.
But now, that overprotective parent was gone.
It was the perfect chance to offer the junk food to the child.
Having finished his thought, Hio spun around to find Freya.
In the middle of the clearing, Freya was diligently practicing Dragon Tongue in her human form.
Hio approached Freya with a broad smile on his face.
Just like that time he first met her at the succession ceremony in the Huang Palace.
It was the ultimate smile meant to put a child at ease.
“Ehehehe.”
At the sound of that laughter, Freya’s gaze turned toward Hio.
Her round eyes watched Hio as she stopped mumbling her Dragon Tongue practice.
“Freya.”
「Yes?」
“Do you want to go eat something delicious with me?”
Just like before, his tone was suspicious as could be.
It was the kind of scene where anyone who heard it would have turned on a recorder and reported him to the police station immediately.
Even so.
「I’d love to!」
Freya jumped for joy, raising both arms.
It seemed she didn’t even remember Legarda’s teaching to always be careful of those close to her.
***
“W-we are the official investigation team of the Akaia Kingdom, so quickly o-open the path…… Aaaakh!”
With a single gesture from Legarda, the seawater rose, and the three ships rocked violently.
It was the first warning issued because communication hadn’t worked.
“Go back.”
Legarda’s voice rang out clearly even amidst the storming sea.
However, the Akaia investigation team did not give up.
“Suspicion has been raised that the Magic Realms began in Arilleia!”
“Do not tarnish the honor of Arilleia with groundless rumors.”
“If it truly is a groundless rumor, then you should open the path and show us!”
They were stubborn.
Their will was firm.
In that case, he simply had to give a second warning.
The Sea Dragon, understanding Legarda’s intent, gathered lightning in its eyes and mouth and spat it out.
K-boom!
“U-uaaaah!”
“C-crazy!”
The lightning struck mercilessly around the ships.
Of course, no one was actually harmed, but there were likely several who had wet themselves.
“This is the final warning. Go back.”
Despite this, an answer still came back.
“What are you plotting inside the Cursed Waters! What kind of wicked deeds are you hiding and—aaaaaaah!“
When they didn’t listen to even the final warning, a fierce storm struck the ships.
It was a massive gale that could blow away even heavy vessels.
It was a storm that would only stop after they had been pushed outside the area they called the Cursed Waters.
The ships might break, capsize, or people might get hurt if things went wrong, but they wouldn’t die.
Every sailor seemed to have a decent level of skill, as if the claim of being the Kingdom’s official investigation team wasn’t a lie.
“You wicked Legardaaaaaa!”
Legarda turned his back to the screams of resentment from the ships flying far away.
It took quite a while because of those fools who wouldn’t listen.
Nothing would have happened in the meantime, and the Magician was by her side, but hadn’t he sworn never to be careless again?
Thus, he had to return quickly.
Leaving the patrol of the sea to the Sea Dragon again, he arrived back at the island.
In the clearing prepared for Freya, the Magician and Freya were sitting side by side.
Fortunately, it seemed nothing had happened.
He slowed down and walked toward them, but then a somewhat strange sight caught his eye.
“Oh?
You’re back?”
「Welcome back!」
Hio offered an unusually awkward greeting.
Freya was her usual self, but the problem was the pile of things next to them.
Looking closely.
“……It’s bread.”
It was bread.
Soft, fluffy bread that looked full of sweetness.
He could guarantee that such bread could never be found in Arilleia.
Freya was munching away with a mouthful of that bread.
“It’s good, right?”
「It’s so delicious! (><)」
“Then you should tell Legarda what you promised to tell him, right?”
「Oh, right!」
After swallowing the bread, Freya delivered her message with a bright face.
「I got a job!」
Legarda couldn’t help but smack his forehead.
“No, Freya.
You’re skipping the beginning and the end again.
You have to explain it properly to Legarda.”
「Yes! >m<)7」
Freya nodded at the Magician’s request for more explanation.
「The Magician bought me bread and signed a contract with me!」
Contract?
At the word “contract,” a sudden sense of unease washed over Legarda.
He asked cautiously, hoping his suspicion was wrong.
“What kind of contract are you talking about?”
「Um…… a slave contract? (^~^)」
Sparks flew in Legarda’s eyes.
“……What on earth does this mean, Magician?”
“No, that’s not it, Freya is just joking……”
***
After nearly an hour of explanations and demonstrations, Hio finally managed to obtain Legarda’s permission.
Though there had been a minor issue, the contract for the dragon summoning technique was successfully completed.