Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 169 (Part 1)

The Marquis of Rotten kidnapped Hamilton Kylas during the night. With so many troops away participating in the territorial war, the abduction hadn’t been difficult.

Of course, even if the defenses had been tighter, the result would’ve been the same.

The Marquis of Rotten was a 7th-circle dark mage. Unless the area had been swarming with 6th-grade knights or 6th-circle mages, there was no way he would have failed.

‘Just who the hell is that guy?’

The abduction had been a success—but the subordinates left behind had all been killed. Originally, he had planned to shake up the Richmond Marquisate one more time, but he hadn’t even been able to attempt it.

“Can’t we pick up the pace?”

“This is the best we can do, Your Highness.”

Although he wore the shell of a ‘Marquis,’ the man inside was none other than the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bolas—his true name was Aicosiel.

Those who knew his true identity referred to him not as Marquis, but as ‘Crown Prince.’

“Of all times, it had to rain.”

“Do not worry. We’ll soon reach the main road.”

“And what about him?”

“He’s been cooperative so far. However, he still refuses to say where in the Kingdom of Luvain it is.”

The “him” Rotten Marquis spoke of was Grand Steward Hamilton Kylas. Kidnapped the night before, he was currently tied up in a wagon.

“The Kingdom of Luvain, huh… It used to be part of our kingdom. Tch.”

“Are you alright?”

“Not really. This body isn’t holding up.”

When Aicosiel sealed his soul, he had been 34 years old—a rather young age.

But when he awakened here, after leaping across time, the body he inhabited was 41 years old. A difference of seven years had occurred.

Just seven years. Not a particularly long time, but enough to throw off the resonance between soul and body. Though this body was constitutionally similar to his past life’s form, it could not fully accept his soul.

“If we recover the Legacy, you’ll be able to reclaim your original body as well.”

“We’ll see. Do you really think Father kept my body preserved?”

The current body of the Marquis of Rotten was slowly breaking down. At best, it had a few months left—perhaps a few years before its functions shut down completely.

“He surely must have.”

“Forget that. What’s Buel doing?”

“He hasn’t awakened yet. It seems there’s some issue with the body.”

“Phew. Even though I tried to find a matching one…”

Buel was a nickname for Bronaiel.

He currently held the identity of Raven, a mage of the House of Rotten—but his soul was that of the Crown Prince’s younger brother.

“There’s no major issue yet.”

“Anyway, by now, the Marquis of Richmond must’ve figured things out.”

“Even so, he won’t be able to find us.”

“No, if he suspects our destination, he’ll follow us all the way to the Kingdom of Luvain. We might even run into him there.”

The relationship between the Marquis of Richmond and Kylas went beyond mere titles. They had studied together since childhood and trained in swordsmanship side by side. They were practically brothers.

Hamilton Kylas had become grand steward to properly assist his friend, the Marquis of Richmond.

Given the nature of their bond, there was no way the Marquis would abandon Kylas. At the very least, there was a high chance he’d follow them to the Kingdom of Luvain.

“If we get there first and claim the Legacy, wouldn’t that be enough?”

“That would be true—if we could use Fly magic. But you know the reality, don’t you?”

The Marquis of Rotten glanced toward the wagon where Hamilton Kylas was bound.

Leaving Kylas behind was one thing—but if they took him along, they couldn’t move quickly.

“Isn’t that exactly why he’s enduring it? To hold us back for Richmond’s sake.”

“Exactly. He’s intentionally tying us down. And we know it, but there’s no real solution.”

Hamilton Kylas was a 4th-grade knight. Before he became Grand steward, he had made a name for himself as a promising swordsman.

Not only was he highly skilled, but he also possessed an impressive amount of aura. Because of that damn aura, even brainwashing didn’t work on him.

“Should we try torturing him?”

“Forget it. You can’t break a knight’s will with pain. You know that too.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Let’s just focus on recovering the Legacy. If we can wake up the others, it’s not impossible to build a nation here. The body… it’d be nice to have, but…”

Only three souls from the Kingdom of Bolas had awakened so far.

The Crown Prince Aicosiel, possessing the body of the Marquis of Rotten. His younger brother Bronaiel, in the body of the House’s mage, Raven. And Tankonaria, formerly a knight named Jensen, who had shattered his aura and filled the void with dark magic.

Just the three of them had to find the Legacy and awaken their comrades.

It wouldn’t be easy, but they had at least narrowed down the general location of the Legacy.

Kylas likely hadn’t lied. He had a reason to tell the truth—there was a chance he could reunite with the Marquis of Richmond.

“It will work out, Your Highness.”

“Yeah. Let’s get moving again.”

“Understood.”

Tankonaria, in the body of a knight, climbed onto the driver’s bench and took hold of the reins. The wagon began to move once more.

—

There were six people who knew the location of the Bolas Kingdom’s Legacy. Excluding Prince Harrison, who was dead, the only one not present now was Grand Steward Hamilton Kylas.

Through magical communication, the Marquis of Richmond had also learned of the Marquis of Rotten’s objective. He had departed from the Richmond territory and was now steadily making his way south into the Kingdom of Luvain.

However, there was one person here who didn’t know where the Marquis of Rotten was headed.

Tamia, the Master of the Chronoa Magic Tower, gave Rodin and the Marquis of Richmond a sharp glare as they conversed knowingly.

“Mage Rodin, it seems there’s something I ought to know. Would you care to explain?”

“I’m afraid I can’t say. It’s not my place—it belongs to another.”

Tamia’s gaze was piercing. It felt like she’d take action if she wasn’t told.

Even so, Rodin stepped back.

The pendant didn’t belong to him. It had originally belonged to Prince Harrison Richmond.

Since Prince Harrison was dead, the one to decide whether its existence should be revealed was none other than the Marquis of Richmond.

“Marquis Richmond, is there something I need to know?”

“Hm…”

The Marquis of Richmond hesitated for a moment.

It wasn’t that telling the truth was a problem.

The Marquis of Rotten was suspected to be a 7th-circle dark mage. Chasing him down alone was already a heavy burden. If he could gain the assistance of Tamia, Master of the Magic Tower, it would be an immense boon.

But adding more people could also slow them down.

Rodin was someone who always traveled with two carriages. Not exactly suited for a high-speed pursuit.

Tamia, as the head of the Chronoa Tower, would inevitably have to pause here and there for official duties. That, too, would slow their progress.

“Your Grace. I’ve returned.”

“You’ve done well.”

Hyung_Otaku2

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