The Knight Who Devours Magic - Chapter 14

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 14. The Princess’s Ambition
‘Why…….’
His confusion lasted only a moment.
Muno quickly realized this was standard protocol for such gatherings, and the instant the princess drew near, he dropped to one knee in deference.
“I greet the ruler of the north, the rose that blooms upon steel, the regent of Trian.”
The words were somewhat stiff, but they seemed correct enough—the princess’s face, glimpsed from the corner of his eye, bore a faint smile.
“Prince Muno Drasen. How delightful to meet you.”
As he leaned forward to brush a light kiss against the hand she extended, he moved to rise—
But Carina, who had been standing behind the princess, stepped forward and drew her blade.
Clang!
‘What is this?’
He felt no killing intent, so he remained still. The princess, however, accepted the sword that Carina offered hilt-first, her eyes cold as she spoke.
“Kneel again, more formally, my lord.”
What?
‘Is she picking a fight?’
He’d never heard of such a thing.
Bewildered, he glanced back to find his father staring at him with wide, startled eyes—and at that wordless signal, Muno understood. He knelt again.
The princess then laid the blade across his shoulders.
“By the will of she who is the rose that blooms upon steel, and in the name of House Trian, I confer upon Muno Drasen, firstborn of House Drasen and possessing of sufficient merit, the rank of Knight.”
The sword lifted from his shoulders and head, each in turn.
The princess smiled once more and extended her hand.
In her palm lay a Silver Identity Badge inscribed with the name “Muno Drasen” and marked with the symbol of a grey rose—the emblem of a Semi-Noble.
“Forgive the discourtesy of my earlier test. It was my grandfather’s wish as well—to see if this gift was truly fitting for you.”
And only then did gasps erupt from all around.
“Oh……!”
“Truly……?”
“Goodness…….”
Everyone present knew the truth.
That Muno Drasen was adopted into House Drasen, and that ultimately, the second son bound by blood to Trian would inherit these lands.
Yet if the rumors of his brilliant talent held any truth, he possessed more than enough merit to take a Knight Rank in another house.
But for the renowned House Trian to grant a Knight Rank under its own name without even receiving a sworn oath of fealty meant—
“You have become a Free Knight guaranteed status by Trian. No one in the kingdom will dare slight that name. Of course, if you wish, I could have you instated at once as a regular Knight of the Trian Knight Order.”
Just as the princess said, the border count who guarded the northern reaches was personally guaranteeing his Semi-Noble status.
The badge Muno now held was, in effect, a universal pass that would secure him the treatment of a low-ranking noble anywhere in the kingdom.
A far more precious gift than any trifle.
And yet, for Muno—who had been confident he could secure a Knight Rank anywhere—even this felt somehow hollow.
‘I’d rather she gave me an artifact. Wait, is that too greedy? Ugh……. Ah!’
Lost in such thoughts for a moment, he became aware of his parents’ meaningful glances and hastily bowed, accepting the badge with both hands.
As he touched it, he realized it was far more than mere silver—hardened by some special force—and his eyes brightened at the sensation.
It was as though it recognized its master and responded to his touch.
‘Is this Spirit Magic?’
The Unique Ability to shape the forces of nature and elements through will—Spirit Magic.
Unlike his Demon Devourer, which had reacted strangely to the otherworldly power of Magical Power, the badge radiated only comfort and gentleness.
Surely this was not a gift meant for him alone.
Muno caught his father’s eye and smiled, bowing once more.
“……I am grateful for Your Highness’s kindness.”
The princess received his bow with a radiant smile.
“My grandfather cherishes talent, as does my father, who will inherit the title. Trian will always be waiting for you, my lord.”
At the princess’s final words, Carina—standing behind her—stiffened almost imperceptibly, and the surrounding guests’ eyes gleamed anew.
Muno had wondered if the flower of Trian had come to his Coming-of-Age Ceremony to propose a betrothal, and surely everyone here had entertained the same thought.
Yet her words just now seemed to suggest she hoped he would come to Trian not as her partner, but as a knight in service.
Those who knew anything of House Trian’s affairs could not help but recall the whispers that had circulated since Roanna Trian’s own Coming-of-Age Ceremony.
Words that had spread before even the rumor that Earl Enoch Tritan loved his granddaughter so dearly he had arranged no betrothal.
— The flower of Trian has no intention of marrying.
Having left such ripples in every mind, the charming princess withdrew from before Muno.
From that moment, other nobles approached him in turn, offering their greetings.
Attendants bearing all manner of Coming-of-Age gifts, and accompanied by young ladies of Muno’s age who were, it must be said, quite lovely.
* * *
“Ugh……. I’m exhausted.”
All told, there had been scarcely nine greetings, even counting the princess, yet a weary groan escaped Muno’s lips.
His father, who had stepped closer, regarded him with an expression of disbelief.
“Ha. All of them such lovely ladies, and that’s truly the extent of your appreciation?”
“Lovely? No, well… it’s mainly the smell, actually…….”
The moment Muno lowered his voice and pinched his nose slightly before his father, Rayan found himself recalling a fact he’d nearly forgotten.
That his eldest son was uncommonly sensitive to scent.
‘Of all things…….’
As his plan to redirect his son’s thoughts crumbled, his expression twisted.
And then.
“Still, it feels good though. Finally I’m not being treated like a child anymore.”
Muno raised his cup with a smirk, and seeing that faintly flushed face, Rayan couldn’t help but let out a wry laugh.
He’d toasted with the young ladies offering their greetings — all of eight times, excluding Roanna.
The sight of his son drinking for the first time was simply amusing.
“You’re too hasty, you fool. Once this winter passes, then we’ll share a proper drink together, you and your old man.”
Seeing his son already showing signs of intoxication, he gently took the cup from his hand.
In the instant their hands brushed, Muno swiftly wrote characters across his father’s palm.
As Rayan’s expression stiffened slightly, his son began to sway more dramatically.
“Ah, I’m getting dizzy…….”
“Don’t drink any more, you fool. Go get some air.”
As his son kept stumbling, he steadied him with a subtle arm around his shoulders.
“Ah, yes. A little…….”
Muno’s fingers, gripping his father’s shoulder, wrote swiftly across it once more.
This time the message came through even more clearly.
[Toyne Landdel, Acting Proxy for the Konnel Barony. Mage.]
“Mm…….”
The moment he, who was poor at acting, let out an awkward groan.
‘He’s understood now.’
Having passed the troublesome matter to his father, Muno began moving toward the second-floor balcony to clear his head.
Though he had exaggerated his drunkenness as an act, since it was his first time drinking in this body, he truly felt a little dizzy.
But then.
“Ah. Young Master, you seem to be quite intoxicated?”
That mage, the one he had just communicated his identity to through his father, had appeared before him.
“My, you seem to be struggling quite a bit.”
“Hm?”
A middle-aged man with warm features and brown hair.
Toyne Landdel, a semi-noble who had come as acting proxy for Moeno, one of the three barons of House Trian.
“……Ah, yes. A little, I suppose. Is there something you need?”
“There’s something I failed to mention earlier.”
“……What is it?”
— Kill it! Eat it!!
As before, the moment Muno looked at him closely, the Demon Devourer raged all the more fiercely in his mind.
Trying to split his consciousness while slightly drunk caused his expression to darken.
‘Damn thing…….’
Setting aside the unpleasant sensation, he wanted nothing more than to interrogate him on the spot — the possibility that this man before him might be involved in the Ilaye incident was too great — but.
Killing a mage, who was not a demon, would only leave behind the corpse of an ordinary person.
Among grand mages who had reached the pinnacle, there were tales of some transforming into monsters upon death, but the magical power possessed by most mages was foreign energy that could not adapt to this world, so it simply dissipated into the void.
He’d heard rumors that this left behind a corpse that rotted with alarming speed, but it was only hearsay that he’d caught in passing.
He couldn’t very well test that theory by carelessly killing someone in the middle of a party.
‘That won’t do.’
While he was certain the man was a mage, acting rashly would only create problems between the Drasen Domain and the Konnel Barony.
To deal with him, he needed concrete evidence that the man was indeed a mage.
And then.
“The scent in my gift has the effect of making people a little intoxicated, you see.”
“What?”
Toyne’s eyes, as he drew closer, gleamed with an eerie light.
In that instant, a strange force spread through Muno’s mind, beginning to numb his thoughts.
And as Muno’s perception clouded, Toyne leaned in closer and whispered softly against his ear.
“I have much I’d like to ask. The place here isn’t ideal. Find me tonight. Understood?”
“……Yes.”
Muno nodded blankly.
Toyne, satisfied with his smile, patted Muno’s shoulder repeatedly while continuing to nod.
“You really are impressive, young master. Truly remarkable! Well then, I’ll be off…….”
Toyne offered a loud greeting for all to hear, approaching with disarming warmth and an embrace.
In that instant, light flickered back into Muno’s eyes.
The moment Toyne turned with a smile, a cold edge crept across Muno’s lips as he watched him go.
‘This bastard…….’
The instant murk rose in his mind, what seized his consciousness wasn’t Toyne’s magic—it was the Demon Devourer responding to it.
Thanks to that, the drunkenness vanished in a heartbeat, and his stomach even felt oddly settled.
Faking the vacant stare was simple enough—just a matter of splitting his awareness and slipping back into the sluggish state of the past.
He’d wondered why this body grew drunk so easily.
‘So there’s an amplifier for magic separate from the Demonic Power itself…….’
If he wanted to dig his own grave, well—Muno would just oblige him by lying down in it.
“Muno, are you…….”
“Ah, it’s nothing. I’m just a bit intoxicated.”
His father approached, concern darkening his gaze as he studied his son.
Muno stumbled again, feigning drunkenness, and leaned against his father’s shoulder—and in that moment, his fingers moved swiftly.
“I, I…….”
“Your physical strength is one thing, but it seems you’re quite weak to alcohol.”
“……That’s my weakness.”
To anyone watching, it looked like an intoxicated Muno swaying helplessly, struggling to stand as he bickered with his father.
[He tried to cast a spell on me.]
[Are you alright?]
[Just as you expected, magic doesn’t work on me. He’s calling me over tonight, but I’ll handle it myself.]
[……Be careful. I’ll prepare something on my end as well.]
The truth, however, was far different.
Through the supporting clasp of his hands, father and son exchanged hand-written words, their eyes flashing with lethal intensity.
Muno continued toward the balcony, still dodging the weight of countless stares.
And there, of all places, he found the Trian princess and her entourage.
“Ah, young master Muno.”
The princess raised the cup in her hand in greeting.
‘This is awkward.’
Startled though he was, his mind raced like lightning to find appropriate words.
“So you were here. I didn’t see you earlier.”
“Were you looking for me?”
“I wanted to express my gratitude for such a generous gift.”
He thought he’d covered well enough, but the princess let out a soft laugh.
“You should understand—that gift was only possible because you possess the skill and talent to astonish Carina. If your reputation had remained merely rumor…….”
“If it had remained merely rumor?”
“Then it would have ended with a single, high-quality Lamasan Diamond.”
Hm.
‘That would’ve been nice too.’
Afraid his true thoughts might show, Muno kept his expression of surprise and offered a smile instead.
“It’s thanks to Carina’s favor that I’ve come this far.”
He shifted his gaze past the princess’s shoulder and bowed briefly, while Carina responded with an impassive face and only a slight nod of acknowledgment.
“With skill comes recognition. In any case, I was impressed as well. A talent who can hold his own against a 3-Star Knight at sixteen—I’d have been less amazed if you were also a 3-Star.”
“……You’re too kind.”
Despite her cherubic face, this girl—no, this woman—seemed to embody the perfection of a true aristocrat of this world.
“However, even if you were to fall for me, I’m afraid I have no intention of marrying young master Muno.”
……It was somewhat troubling how she took it for granted that every man would fall for her.
Perhaps it was simply common sense born from her life’s experience, but here and now, that statement triggered an unexpected reaction in Muno.
“Pfft……!”
He barely managed to stifle the laughter that nearly burst out at the sight of this plump-cheeked little cherub being so absurdly haughty.
‘Damn it!’
……But it was already too late.
“……What does that smile mean?”
Damn.
‘I’m screwed.’
His mind suddenly overloaded as he frantically searched for an excuse.
But when he met the princess’s cold gaze, a strange feeling washed over him.
Those transparent blue eyes—as if they could see through any ordinary lie in an instant.
In the end, Muno trusted his instinct and simply threw caution to the wind.
“Lady Roanna, I apologize, but my tastes are rather peculiar. I confess I find myself drawn more to someone like Lady Carina here than to a woman as universally admired as yourself.”
Behind Roanna, Carina—who had been listening quietly—felt her composure shatter once more.
“I heard that during your last bout you even goaded Lady Carina about her weakness. And yet again you… no, wait. Surely you’re serious? This is amusing. How delightful.”
Roanna studied Muno’s eyes for a moment, then laughed with genuine delight, her gaze luminous.
Even Rokam, who had stood silent until now, gaped openly with a bewildered expression.
Carina’s eyes widened slightly; she glanced toward Muno before turning her gaze sharply away.
The nape of her neck flushed visibly crimson.
Observing their reactions, Muno felt his expression stiffen.
‘Could she actually believe that?’
His words surely violated the common sense of this world. Yet Roanna had accepted them without hesitation, and those around her harbored no doubt.
‘I should have seen it coming.’
Whether she possessed some innate talent or employed methods he knew nothing of, Roanna appeared to possess an eye for seeing through falsehood.
That would certainly explain such a reaction.
‘This truly is a fantasy world. Nothing surprises me anymore.’
Though exceedingly rare, this world contained unusual abilities like his own Metal Control—gifts that fell outside magic, Spirit Magic, or body-strengthening techniques, or so he had heard.
Unique Abilities, bestowed upon only a scant few.
‘Though they likely have their limits.’
Though the situation had grown awkward, he couldn’t help but smile ruefully at having revealed his preferences. What did it matter?
Then Roanna’s eyes suddenly gleamed as she broached an unexpected subject.
“Since you’ve laid bare your heart, allow me to share something of my own.”
…No, that’s really not necessary.
“I once wished to succeed my grandfather as count. But everyone around me said it was impossible. After my grandfather would come my father, then my eldest brother. It was all predetermined, they said.”
Good grief.
Muno felt his expression growing grave as he found himself drawn into a serious conversation, but Roanna was undeterred.
“So I became defiant. If I could not become a count, I would rise to an even higher station.”
In her eyes, refracted through the glass she held, her secret ambition seemed to shimmer into view.
She then raised her glass toward the moon hanging in the night sky.
As though she wished to fill that very vessel with the moonlight itself.
“To achieve that, my husband cannot be merely a knight or a nobleman of some provincial barony. He must be from a greater, more illustrious house—from royal blood, perhaps.”
“The royal family…”
At Muno’s inadvertent murmur, Roanna—her gaze still fixed on the heavens—turned to face him with an ambitious smile playing at her delicate features.
“Yes, exactly. The rumors of your inarticulateness appear exaggerated. That makes you all the more intriguing. Sixteen years old with that martial prowess, and a mind that’s not without merit…”
Wait. Something in her gaze had shifted.
“Truth be told, I find myself in need of trustworthy bodyguards these days—there are certain threats to my person.”
“My lady.”
Despite Rokam’s admonition, Roanna shook her head and continued.
“If you’ll serve as a mediator between myself and Lady Carina, I’ll assist you however I can, Sir Muno.”
Her blue eyes, raised toward him above the rim of her glass, gleamed with unmistakable clarity.
“My lady!?”
“Aha, I jest—merely a jest.”
Roanna laughed it away, but no one else found the humor in it.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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