Chapter 568 – 46. Dejac Empire – An Empire Rushing Toward the End (2)
The situation at the Magic Tower was more difficult than Valdez thought.
The emperor’s anger ignored not only his close associates, but even Nathalie, who had one of the most powerful weapons.
If her personality had been a little worse, she would have kicked out of her seat right away.
“Ha. Yeah, it’s all my fault.”
Matapju, who became softer after realizing her love, meekly accepted the punishment.
It is also true that we did not know Sven’s true intentions for more than ten years after he became an elder.
It is also true that the isolation magic he used was not of any help to the terrorist attack as it could not be removed in time.
“But this is a bit too much…”
But sometimes I wondered if the emperor was crazy.
“Reduction in personnel.”
It was said that a garden would be created in the magic tower.
Even though it was simply a reduction in financial support, this was too much.
“It’s not even half of what it is now.”
The Imperial Magic Tower has never regulated the number of wizards.
Magic did not discriminate against people because it was fair to everyone.
It is inevitable that you will fall behind due to lack of talent.
However, this regulation of personnel has gone beyond the limits.
“…Whew.”
If it was all about personnel restrictions, Natalie might have somehow accepted it.
But this was not the end of the emperor’s mace.
‘Money, personnel, authority… There’s nothing I won’t touch. Are you that angry at the Magic Tower?’
Just a 30-minute walk away.
If you use magic, you can move instantly, but it took over an hour to disable it, so you should be angry.
Considering the amount of support he has received so far from the imperial family and from the emperor privately, it would be a great sin for him to kneel.
“But…”
If these measures continue.
Will the Magic Tower be able to function properly even then?
Can it be called a magic tower, as it has decayed like an emperor’s toy?
“…”
She hesitated.
Natalie’s loyalty to the Emperor is almost tenuous.
For her, her priorities are first herself and her students, then her magic tower.
‘If the situation arises, may I have to go into exile in another country?’
Therefore, even exile was considered as a measure without hesitation.
“…No. Could the situation really get that bad?”
Of course, it is almost the final option.
If possible, not only the disciples but the entire Magic Tower should be taken.
There may be an overwhelming number of things that cannot be taken care of, but the real value of the Magic Tower is the wizards.
In other words, it is talent.
If there are enough people, rebuilding the Magic Tower is not difficult.
But this should only be considered in the worst case, so other things took priority before that.
Natalie turned to her papers again to do the best she could right now.
Serious, but also dark complexion.
The fatigue and stress that had been going on for some time were eating away at her spirit.
The series of non-stop incidents made it difficult for even the greatest mage.
‘Ha. I need something, something to heal…’
Just as I was desperately looking forward to it, I heard a knock on the door at perfect timing.
Smart.
“…?”
When I raised my head, I saw the face I wanted to see through the open door.
“Bar, Valdes?”
“Hehe, yes. It’s me. I work so hard that even if I knock, you won’t hear me.”
“Ah.”
It looks like he knocked several times.
“Can I come in?”
“Uh, yes. Come in.”
Natalie let him in with a trembling voice.
Why?
Suddenly, my body started to become stiff and tense.
“You must be very busy.”
On the other hand, Valdes approaches her with a sly smile.
Natalie nodded, loosening her tongue that felt stiff.
“Anyway, yes, I’m very busy.”
Needless to say, her words were proven by the amount of paperwork piled up on her desk.
The thickness is something that you can feel with your own eyes, let alone decreasing day by day.
There is a lot of useless content and a lot of it was inevitably added because of the emperor and the former four elders.
“Wow, that’s no joke.”
Valdes made a fuss and showed an exaggerated attitude.
Natalie also burst out laughing, feeling good for something even though it was nothing special.
Hehe. That’s right.”
“…”
“…? What’s the matter?”
Valdez went behind Natalie with a sad expression.
He hugged her tightly along with her chair.
“Ah, ah, ah, Valdez?”
“Are you having a hard time? Just looking at your tired face.”
“…Yeah. It’s a bit… Difficult.”
Just two hours ago, Grand Mage Natalie showed off her proud appearance in front of the Emperor and the Tower elders.
Although she was a superhuman who had reached her highest level, she was still a human being.
She let out a sigh of relief as she grabbed Valdez’s arm with an expression she couldn’t show in front of anyone else.
“I wonder what’s really going on. These days, I even want to step down from my position as the head of the magic tower.”
“What are you going to do when you come down?”
“Uhm, okay. There is also a territory, so let’s go down there.”
For a woman with so much love for her magic tower, this is ridiculous.
However, Natalie was exhausted enough for this thought to occur even for a moment.
“There are better places than the estate.”
“Huh? Where?”
“Next to me.”
“…”
It was a word that left her speechless.
A way of speaking that feels like a confession but also doesn’t seem to be, which is good for confusing people.
She may have just said it innocently and without much thought, but she now knew a little bit about Valdez’s personality.
I think it was quite intentional, but it was still fascinating.
“Well, if you say it so vaguely… I get angry.”
“I’m quite serious.”
“Ugh. Well, I mean…”
“Sister Natalie.”
I flinch.
“You know I have a lot of women, right? Not just my sister and Adele…”
“…Yes. Everyone in the hero party, probably Vilma too. In addition, Ulstro’s princess sisters.”
“That’s right. And there’s more. Quite a lot, no, a lot. Tessa will be joining us soon.”
“…”
“I like my sister, but I can’t give up on other people either. And vice versa.”
“The opposite?”
“I can’t stand my woman leaving me.”
“…You’re greedy.”
“Hehe, there are a lot. She’s greedy. That’s a lot. And, my sister falls into the category of my woman.”
“…”
Natalie tried to calm her agitated heart with warm hugs and sweet words.
His whispers sound like trash, but strangely enough, they make you hesitate.
If this was love, I would have regrets, but unfortunately, I fell in love with him too much in a short period of time.
‘This is why I’m scared of anything at first, ugh.’
It’s already happened, so what can we do?
This too is a kind of fate.
Since this wasn’t what was important right now, she tried to remain calm.
“Valdes you…”
The timing at which I spoke was too elaborate to simply be distressed and shaken.
As if trying to confess or force something.
“What are you trying to say?”
“I’m a mixed race demon.”
“…You, really?”
“And a spy for the demons.”
“…!!”
A shocking confession.
I almost jumped out of my seat for a moment, but I was unable to move due to Valdez’s strength.
Her own body that doesn’t move even if she uses magic power.
There was no time to use magic either.
“Valdez. Who are you?”
“Haha, I’ve revealed it twice in this short period of time. His real name is Valdez. He’s a spy for the demons and a demon prince.”
“…”
A thousand thoughts came to mind, and there were many things I wanted to ask.
It’s just that my mind is so complicated that I don’t know what to say first.
Valdez spoke to her as if he had noticed it.
“Just three. I’ll only take questions from here.”
“What?”
“I won’t lie. I will answer very honestly.”
Three.
It’s a little bit, but it’s not enough.
She would definitely be able to find out his true feelings with three questions.
But Natalie couldn’t open her mouth easily.
‘Honestly. Honestly…’
These words stuck in my mind so much.
It was also fascinating.
“Former 4th Elder Sven’s terror, and the Emperor’s change. Is there a connection?”
Natalie suppressed his tickling inner thoughts and asked the first question.
Depending on the answer, I was prepared to sacrifice everything with him right here and there, without even needing to ask further questions.
“Doesn’t exist.”
“…Whew.”
Fortunately, that didn’t happen.
In reality, it had nothing to do with the two, so Valdes had no hesitation in answering.
Here, as a small gift, he told her about Sven’s identity, his purpose, and that the Emperor knew the former.
“Dopple, doppelganger. Ha. …No, there’s no reason to tell a useless lie here.”
Natalie wanted to believe him, and she also guessed that he wasn’t trying to trick her.
Considering the characteristics of the doppelganger in the first place, rationality is given to what he did.
It would have been a terrorist attack with a purpose that only a doppelganger could.
‘The emperor knew. Then, I ended up using it to my heart’s content…’
In Natalie’s mind, the emperor’s stock price keeps hitting the lower limit.
I didn’t like it at first, but now it even felt pathetic.
“Okay, next question.”
“Next… Question…”
My mouth was itching.
We’ve solved the most important thing, but there’s a lot more to ask.
However, the remaining number of questions must be carefully condensed to two.
But in the end, I couldn’t resist the urge.
“When you said you liked me, that you loved me… Did you mean it?”
“Yes. I can say that even if it means risking my soul and mana. …Well, I have more than one woman I love.”
“Pfft. It’s useless.”
Natalie turns her body and makes eye contact with Valdes.
She very naturally pulled him closer, closed her eyes, and kissed her.
“Yes, Chureup, Jjook…”
‘Ha, you did it.’
There were no regrets.
Perhaps, or certainly not, Valdez came to see him when he was weak.
Although it has nothing to do with the doppelganger and the emperor’s work, it is true that he saw an opportunity and did something mischievous.
Nevertheless, there is no way to escape the mind that is already immersed.
In that case, what you need to do, like a wizard, is to move forward without looking back.
Natalie, having completely made up her mind, pulled Valdez by the neck.
“Chuk, chwup… Yes, haha.”
“Ugh. The chair is so uncomfortable.”
“So, uh, shall we go to the couch?”
Valdes gently lifted Natalie by her waist and thighs as she asked carefully.
“Kyahh?!”
To her surprise, he sat her down at the edge of her desk.
There’s a pile of papers behind her and she’s sure to fall into her mess if she goes a little further back.
Nevertheless, Natalie’s attention was focused solely on the man in front of her.
“Do you need some documents?”
“…No.”
Shaking her head, Natalie spread her legs and hiked up her short skirt that reached her thighs.
“Don’t worry about that, haha, come…♥”
