Title: Papers (2)

The melody of a classical orchestra flowed through a garden where fountains sparkled and gushed.

“Max, I’ve been thinking about what you said back then.”

Ezel spoke. Behind her, roses bloomed like a painted backdrop.

“Could a magic that requires someone to eat… specifically a ‘head’… actually exist? I searched the entire Mage Tower library. I even went to the Undercity. Max, have you ever heard of a magic called 「Brain Chimera」?”

“No.”

“It’s a chaos magic that allows you to recreate a person’s body by eating their brain.”

My brow furrowed instinctively.

“The success rate is extremely low, the casting method itself is horrific, and even if you succeed, it comes with immense side effects… but look at this.”

Ezel handed me a piece of paper from her pocket. It was covered in complex formulas.

“I’m no mage.”

“To put it simply, you know how the brain’s mana composition is a bit different from other parts of the body because of the blood-brain barrier?”

Mana circulates throughout the body, but a certain amount of an ‘inexplicable’ unique mana always accumulates in the brain. It’s an energy that even modern magitech hasn’t been able to define, an energy some scholars call a part of the soul.

“This 「Brain Chimera」 feeds on that energy. First, you peel off all of your own skin, then you consume the target’s brain on top of a magic circle.”

“…You peel off your own skin?”

“Yep. You have to tear off the skin from your face, too. The brain energy then transfers to the body and transforms it. But in the process, drastic side effects occur. The only way to stop it is to periodically consume fresh brains to replenish that energy.”

Ezel pointed to a certain part of the paper.

“This formula here, π ∝ ΣΜ x L, means that the reduction rate of the rejection reaction is proportional to the total amount of mana contained in the consumed brain. Therefore, if the initial rejection value is too high, the magic won’t even take hold.”

“So Faxy was targeted because her initial rejection value was low?”

“Exactly.”

If this thing had been ‘mimicking’ Faxy’s entire body, then I could understand how it had been able to perfectly disguise itself as a noble all this time.

“Is there no way to catch it?”

“No, there is. By my calculations, Faxy has to perform her next ‘consumption’ within 50 days from today. The margin of error is 10%. So, somewhere between 45 and 55 days.”

I looked at Ezel.
Ezel met my gaze and asked.

“Are you ready to fight the Kandel family?”

“…The problem isn’t the Kandels, but ‘Jun’.”

Jun Kandel was Faxy’s backer. A very solid, devoted backer.
I asked Ezel,

“What about physical evidence against Faxy?”

“Unfortunately, it’s very faint for now. It’s just that magic residue in the shape of a tire track I mentioned before.”

“Should we tail her for 50 days? We could catch her in the act.”

“What if she commits the crime inside the Mage Tower? The tower is much larger and more secluded than it looks. Access is strictly controlled. Can you keep tailing her even inside the Mage Tower?”

“…Then?”

“We have a more legitimate procedure than that.”

Ezel pointed at my Sentinel uniform.

“The knight’s right of detention. You’re a knight, you know it well, right?”

A knight possesses the authority to detain a person suspected of being a threat to the Empire for up to 35 days without a warrant.

“That’s only 35 days. What about the rest of the time?”

“I’ll buy it.”

“Can you? With them watching you.”

“That’s exactly why I can buy time.”

Ezel was fearless. In a way, she seemed a little crazy.
As if reading my mind, Ezel grinned.

“Max, are you sure about this?”

“I’m sure.”

“Then, as sure as you are, so am I.”

Ezel took a sip of her cocktail and took a few steps back.

“Now go enjoy the party. Make a donation or two, you know.”

Night had fallen, and the charity event was now crowded with people.

“I was planning on donating anyway.”

“Oh, really? Then hurry up.”

Ezel waved at me.

“Be careful, Ezel.”

“You’re the one who should be careful, Sir Knight.”

I smirked and left.
First, I focused on the Virus’s senses and entered the mansion. I walked through the party hall, which was filled with people.

Thump—

My heart jolted. I looked toward the source. A colonel of the Royal Guard was there.
Forn Sommer.
I memorized his face and name.

Thump—

Next, a businessman I didn’t recognize. Flamboyant blond hair and golden eyes, the perfect appearance of an Imperial, but he was an Isenheim.
I approached him as he conversed with others.

“Ah, a pleasure to meet you, Sir Maximilian.”

He recognized me first. I offered a faint smile.

“And you are?”

“I am Johann, vice president of ‘Golden Gate Trading’.”

Johann of Golden Gate.
Memorized.

“Enjoy your evening.”

I scanned the area, adding names to my kill list.
Exactly five people were recorded.

“And now… we will begin the auction of prized possessions.”

In the meantime, the charity event’s staple event, the auction, had begun.

“Our first item is the Morning’s Tear necklace, donated by Countess von Hausen. The proceeds from this bid will be donated in full to an orphanage foundation.”

The countess came up onto the stage to explain the item, while the so-called leaders of society sat at their tables, smiling elegantly as they participated in the auction.
I picked up a numbered paddle as well.

“Alright, number 58, 300,000 dollars! Ah, and right after, number 83 bids 350,000 dollars!”

In that fashion, the necklace was sold for 500,000 dollars.

“Next up is an ancient Horn Flute, donated by Mage Rendry! The proceeds from this will be donated as a scholarship to the Novus Mage Tower…”

The horn flute donated by the mage professor sold for 400,000 dollars.

“Now, for our next item! From the commandant of Empire Point, Lieutenant General Rietruman!”

The next turn was for Lieutenant General Rietruman.
I had been informed beforehand that he would be participating in this charity auction. As the commandant of Empire Point, he was one of the reasons I had bothered to come here.

“The prized item is the command sword that the Lieutenant General personally used during the past Western War. The proceeds from this bid will be used in full to support wounded veterans. Lieutenant General, please come up and introduce the item.”

Rietruman stepped onto the stage, his face stiff, as if he were unused to such occasions.

“Yes. This command sword is from the Battle of Rostallen Heights during my time on the western front…”

The commandant recounted the story of his sword. However, most of the guests seemed uninterested and didn’t actually participate in the bidding.
A few military personnel raised their paddles to save Rietruman’s face, but the price was significantly lower than the previous auctions.

“Alright, 10,000 dollars. Do I hear any other bids? The command sword of Lieutenant General Rietruman! Ah, 15,000 dollars!”

The nobles of the Empire, successful businessmen, the bourgeoisie, mages, and even the knights subtly looked down on the military. Quite a few of them outright disliked it. The biggest reason for the immediate rise in the central tax rate was the defense budget, and the image of the Royal Guard, one of the pillars of the military, had never been particularly good.

“15,000 dollars, any more bids?!”

Such was the current state of the military.
Perhaps this subtle disdain and dismissal was one of the reasons the Imperial Army would later explode with such ferocity.

“The command sword of Lieutenant General Rietruman. Any bids higher than 15,000 dollars? If not…”

As Rietruman’s face slowly turned red, I quietly raised my hand.

“Ah, the Sentinel Knight!”

The auctioneer pointed a hand in my direction.
I gladly called out the price.

“Two million dollars.”

In that instant, every eye in the room turned to me. On the stage, Rietruman’s eyes were as wide as cannonballs.

“Two… two million Imperial Dollars. Is that correct?”

The auctioneer asked again, his face a mask of shock.
I gave a relaxed nod.

“Two million.”

“Yes, yes! That is correct! Two million dollars, two million dollars! If there are no further bids, I will close the auction!”

Clack. Clack. Clack.
The auctioneer immediately struck the gavel, and I raised my champagne glass to Lieutenant General Rietruman on the stage.

“For the devoted wounded veterans of the Empire.”

Lieutenant General Rietruman’s lips twitched for a moment before he responded with the brightest smile he could muster.

“For them!”

A round of applause erupted along with his shout. It was all directed at me.
With this much money, you can be treated well. With honor, you can earn respect.
A person who has both can be the protagonist, no matter the stage.

“Please come up and receive your prized item.”

I went up on stage and received the command sword directly from Lieutenant General Rietruman.

“I will respectfully preserve this sword, which carries the hardships of the Western War.”

I filled my words with respect. This kind of posturing was easy now, and Rietruman replied with a genuinely delighted expression.

“Thank you. Sir Maximilian’s contribution will heal the bodies and souls of our wounded veterans.”

I didn’t believe a word of that bullshit. Rietruman was not an upright soldier. He’d probably pocket half of it himself, distribute the rest to his subordinates as pocket money, and only the loose change would ever reach the actual veterans.
It didn’t matter.
I had come to see him for a separate favor, after all.


Back in the Sentinel Knights’ office after the charity event.
I stared blankly at a single sheet of paper on my desk.

[Emergency Detention Order]
Subject: Faxy von Argen (5th-rank Mage, Sentio Mage Tower)
Contents: By the special authority of a knight, the aforementioned person is to be detained for a maximum of 35 days, effective today.
Executing Officer: Sir Maximilian von Ebenholz, Sentinel Knights

This was the paper that carried the greatest risk among all the powers I held as a knight.
If I execute this, how will Jun Kandel react?
He was a highly emotional and unpredictable person, so it was better not to try and predict him at all.
The problem was Jun’s sibling.
The true master of the Kandel family. Not now, but the one who would be, someday.

“Not an easy one.”

There was no physical evidence against Faxy right now. But if this single sheet of paper prevented her from consuming a head, that’s when the evidence would appear. Her very existence, with the magic dispelled, would become the evidence itself.
I clicked my tongue and stood up from my seat.
I was about to head down to the underground training hall for a workout.

“Max!”

Someone called my name. It was Leon and Tiana. In their hands were large helmets and some sort of suits.

“When are you flying the transport again?”

We had flown for the first time at last week’s training session, and these two had already gone and bought their own gear with their own money.
They were already hooked, it seemed.

“Tomorrow night. It’s a night flight. Be at the Point by 23:00.”

“Confirmed. 23:00.”

“By 23:00 tomorrow…”

Tiana and Leon diligently checked their schedules on their terminals before heading back to their own office.


THOOM— RUMBLE—!

Empire Point, with the new semester just around the corner, was bustling with construction.
Commandant Dane had received a thick bundle of papers today from Maximilian’s aide. He had come in person out of fear of external leaks, and the documents were a draft of a new training manual.

Dane let out a deep sigh.
The 300-year tradition of Empire Point was not something that could be easily changed. Especially not its military doctrine. It was close to impossible for an individual’s opinion to be reflected in the inviolable principles built through countless wars and sacrifices.

“Knight airdrops… what in the world…”

A knight conducting an airborne operation. Commoner-born cadets might be fine with it. But could he possibly teach airdrops to the high-nosed nobles who valued tradition, honor, and form? Would they even be willing to learn?
That was Dane’s concern.

RUMBLE—!

Right now, Empire Point was using Maximilian’s donation to replace its old facilities.
Nevertheless, this was by no means an institution that could be swayed by an individual.
Maximilian had politely asked him to ‘protect his position until retirement,’ but if that was just a means to use him, then the premise was flawed from the start.

Thududududu—!

Just then, a tremendous roar echoed from outside the window.

“What?!”

Dane rushed outside. A massive transport ship was landing in the middle of the parade ground.

“What in the world…”

School officials came running in a panic. Dane placed a hand on the hilt of his sword.
From within the safely landed transport, Commandant Rietruman emerged.

“Brigadier General Dane.”

“Allegiance. Commandant, sir, what is the meaning of this?”

“Take this.”

Rietruman, with a stern expression, held out a single sheet of paper. It was an official document.

[Official Authorization from Imperial Command]
Subject: Regarding the official adoption of the new training manual, 「Strategic Utilization of Knights Through Aerial Assault」, and the introduction of its training program.
The aforementioned manual, authored by Sir Maximilian, is to be officially adopted as the next-generation tactical doctrine of the Imperial Army. Empire Point is hereby ordered to organize the relevant training programs for its elite course at the earliest possible date.

It was an order, agreed upon by Rietruman and the military command, to adopt and teach the new tactics.
Dane felt a strange sense of confusion and futility.
The old traditions of Empire Point, which he had thought impossible to change, which he had given up on ever being able to alter, were being torn down with such ease by the young knight from Ebenholz.

“You all will manage this transport ship. From now on, it’s an official asset of Empire Point.”

Dane stared blankly at Rietruman. As if understanding his bewilderment, Rietruman laughed heartily.

“Haha. It means this transport was donated. The maintenance costs are covered for the next ten years, too.”

Rietruman patted the iron behemoth proudly. Dane looked back and forth between the ship and Rietruman, dumbfounded.

“Sir Maximilian is supporting the future of the Empire. He’s even establishing a foundation for wounded veterans. You should make sure to express your gratitude sometime, too…”

Thanks to that, Dane was finally able to understand the cause of all these phenomena.
The same words carry different weight depending on who says them.
The same money has different power depending on how it’s used.

Maximilian had somehow become someone who understood that principle better than anyone.

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Pub: 01 Nov 2025 21:59 UTC

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