Chapter 43

About the Dark Magic Used by the Lumos Empire’s Royals

The map that civil official showed me indicated a distance like that between Tokyo and Niigata…!

Surprised, I looked at His Highness Lian, who gave a knowing smile.

“There’s a trick to it. Don’t worry, we’ll be back within the day. After all, it’s just a [walk].”

…Apparently, His Highness Lian’s definition of a [walk] is quite expansive.

As I boarded the carriage, he sat across from me.
When the door closed, His Highness Lian began chanting something like a spell.

“—”

The next moment, a staff appeared in his hand.

(This is the Five Elemental Magic…)

I stared, dumbfounded, and he explained.

“This is dark attribute magic.”

“Dark!?”

Not one of the Five Elemental Magics!?

My eyes widened in shock, and he laughed.
Mischievously. With the sparkling eyes of a child whose prank had succeeded.

“Surprised?”

“Y-Yes… I was!! I haven’t even seen the Five Elemental Magics yet…!”

“Oh, right.”

“Exactly!!”

His Highness Lian tapped the carriage floor with his staff.

“—”

The next instant—I felt the carriage shake violently… or so it seemed.
It wasn’t a jolt but more like a dizzying spin, as if the world tilted.

Yet, my body didn’t sway, so it wasn’t dizziness or the carriage moving… was it?

Confused, I looked up.
His Highness Lian, still holding the staff to the floor, rested both hands on its handle.
A faint glow emanated from beneath the staff, forming what looked like a magic circle.

(This is dark magic—)

Not knowing what kind of effect this magic would have, I braced myself. His Highness Lian began speaking calmly.

“As I mentioned earlier, traveling from the Lumos Empire’s castle to the Tower of Grief by normal means would take over a week one way. So, we’re simplifying it like this.”

I took time to process his words.
Then, I arrived at a conclusion.

“…So, this is some kind of teleportation magic?”

To my guess, however, His Highness Lian replied, “No.”

(It’s not!?!)

“This is a state where we temporarily erase our coordinates from reality. I think the principle is similar to time-leaping magic.”

Casually, he said something outrageous.

“Originally, dark magic was a violent magic used to attack enemies. After the great war ended, there was no need to use it to defeat foes… but I’ve been thinking for years about how to make dark magic practical.”

He looked up, smiling brightly.
His long blonde hair swayed gently at his chest.

“The ability of dark magic is [enabling attacks from the void]. This time, I’m applying it in reverse—to make us slip into the void.”

“…!?”

His explanation made my spine stiffen.

(So… what??)

I still didn’t fully understand dark or light magic, but I’d heard they were exclusive to the Lumos Empire’s royals.

And now, he’d explained the nature of dark magic.

Slowly digesting his words, I pieced together our situation.

(So… what?)

Right now, we were—

“Not in the real world!?”

I jolted up, making the seat clatter.
He gave a troubled smile.

“That’s right. But don’t worry. We’re set to arrive at the designated coordinates in about an hour.”

“—!!”

I was so shocked I couldn’t even speak.

(We’re not in the real world right now.
And if we’re in the void…)

There’s a very real chance we could just… disappear…!!

A wave of dizziness hit me.
His Highness Lian, still gripping the staff’s handle, gave a wry smile.

“My apologies for the delayed explanation.”

I forced a stiff smile and mumbled a lifeless “It’s fine…”

Seeing him hold the staff without letting go, I figured something bad would happen if he did.
I was so overwhelmed with confusion, panic, and tension that words from my previous life nearly slipped out.

It felt like I’d been tricked onto a rollercoaster with no stops.

(What… is with this guy—!!)

Everything he does is so reckless!!
Is this what the Lumos Empire’s royals are like…!?
His Majesty, too, summoned me for an audience out of nowhere…!

(It’s the blood…!! This is the blood of the Lumos Empire’s royals…!!)