CHAPTER 59…………
“Immense energy?”
“If we’re talking about natural energy, think of it like the energy that can make a volcano erupt. With that much, even the engine I designed could run.”
That meant if such energy could be obtained, not only would processing magic ore be possible, but even jet engines could be developed.
It sounded so sweet when put that way.
“Is that even possible?”
I already had a sinking feeling it wasn’t, and my excitement deflated.
“If it were possible, I wouldn’t have hesitated to mention it… what a shame.”
Alfeo shook his head as if regretful.
It was an annoying attitude, but I didn’t have the leisure to point it out.
Where could we even get such immense energy…
My eyes drifted, and before I knew it, they landed on Lennox, who was quietly reading a book.
Sensing my gaze, Lennox looked up and met my eyes.
“Ren, could you come over here for a moment? It’ll only take a second. I won’t do anything weird.”
“You saying that makes it sound like you’re definitely going to do something weird.”
Alfeo’s voice chimed in from the side, but I ignored him.
Without much suspicion, Lennox walked toward me.
“Could you hold this magic ore… and use some aura on it?”
“Hmm…”
Alfeo’s reaction was lukewarm, but I ignored him and handed the ore to Lennox.
Lennox gazed quietly at the magic ore resting in his hand.
Soon, a green aura—matching the color of his eyes—began to shimmer from his hand.
—Woooong, woooong!
The magic ore lit up, shining in a way I had never seen before.
Alfeo’s eyes widened in shock.
Please…
Crunch.
The magic ore turned into something like a crispy fried snack.
No way…
No, not even fried—more like pulverized into powder.
I stared blankly at the disappearing ore in his hand.
“…I’ll try again.”
“It’s fine.”
Even if he tried again, the result wouldn’t change.
It wasn’t hard to guess why.
The Euclide family’s ability… was destruction.
I had been so drunk on peace that I had momentarily forgotten.
The fact that he was a son of the Euclide family.
I never expected that would affect the very nature of his aura.
“…Wait a second.”
But someone was still stuck in awe of what had just happened.
Alfeo, half dazed, was staring at the remnants of the powdered ore.
“I… I don’t even know what I just saw. Are you saying a human’s aura alone can erase magic ore? Is that even possible?”
His gaze shifted to Lennox, as though staring at some kind of monster.
Wait… is this normally impossible?
Only then did I realize the gravity of the situation, and cold sweat trickled down my back.
Such an irregularity was not good for Lennox, who was hiding from the Emperor.
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Perfect timing!
At the sound of my savior knocking, I quickly called out with relief.
“Come in!”
But the one who entered was none other than Aron Helverto.
“Aron?”
“Greetings, Master.”
Lennox was the first to greet him. Aron nodded back.
A rather dry reunion for teacher and student.
Then Aron’s gaze shifted, and when he saw Alfeo, he bowed his head.
“Your Highness, Prince.”
It was a perfectly formal greeting.
“Ah, it’s been a while.”
Alfeo also seemed to know Aron.
Come to think of it, I’d heard that Aron often came and went from the Imperial Palace since he was young.
As I was marveling at this unexpected connection, Alfeo suddenly spoke.
“Wait, Sir Aron, you can use aura too, right?”
He immediately held out the magic ore to him.
“Try holding this and use some aura.”
Inside, I screamed.
No!
If Aron used aura on the ore and nothing happened, then it would be obvious.
Alfeo, with his sharp mind, would instantly deduce Lennox’s identity as the one who destroyed the ore.
And right now, Lennox was still a most-wanted fugitive of the Empire. His identity had to remain hidden.
I hastily snatched the ore from Alfeo’s hand and shouted.
“Are you crazy? You’re just going to waste a valuable magic ore like that?”
Aron looked at me with rare surprise.
“Clemens, I think the crazy one here is you.”
Sure, yelling at a Prince like that made me look insane, but I didn’t have time to care about appearances.
“I’m perfectly rational right now. I’ll buy the ore myself, so—”
“Wasteful extravagance won’t be tolerated. If aura doesn’t work, then there’s no reason to test it twice.”
With that, I quickly shoved the ore back into the drawer.
“Hmph…”
The look Alfeo gave me screamed world’s stingiest miser, but what of it?
I swiftly changed the subject.
“Aron, what brings you here?”
“…”
Unusually, Aron avoided my eyes. From that alone, I instantly guessed why he had come—but I played dumb.
“If it’s something to discuss privately, let’s step outside.”
Getting him away from Alfeo was top priority.
Without waiting for an answer, I grabbed his arm and hurried him out of the lab.
Once we were a good distance away, Aron finally spoke.
“Clemens, you’re unusually flustered.”
So the block of wood was sharper than I thought.
“Did you come in your brother’s place again?”
“Yes. Which brings me to the point—can’t we renegotiate?”
He went straight to the matter: haggling over the commission fee I had set in the contract with Admiral Hermann, his older brother.
“No.”
“For the sake of the Empire’s security, I earnestly ask you to reconsider, Clemens.”
“Nope. Forget it. Go back.”
“You’re too heartless for a friend.”
But he didn’t really look like he expected me to agree anyway.
“Is Admiral Hermann getting chewed out by the Emperor?”
Instead of answering, Aron let out a long sigh and leaned against the wall. His silence was an admission—at least with him.
“Well, it is quite a big sum, I admit.”
“It’s not just big—it’s ten thousand gold per kilometer.”
“Hey, inflation adjustment.”
Of course, Admiral Hermann never expected the war to drag into a long campaign when he made that contract.
But I did.
Now… when does this war end again?
Digging into my memory of the original story, I quickly recalled the timeline.
About ten years later.
I was reminded once again of just how deranged Emperor Seriel was.
To start a war on a whim, and then keep it going for over a decade… certifiably insane.
And that also meant Hermann would be getting roasted by the Emperor for ten whole years.
“Hm… still no.”
It was unfortunate for him, but I had to separate personal ties from business.
Seeing me hesitate, Aron’s eyes lit with fleeting hope—but it quickly dimmed into disappointment.
“You’ve killed me twice.”
“People can’t die twice.”
…Or can they?
If I died in my past life and then died again in this one, that would make two deaths.
Meanwhile, Aron gave up on bargaining and started walking back.
“Wait a second, why do I get the feeling my ‘friend’ is heading back into my lab? Just my imagination?”
“There’s someone I need to see.”
Since he didn’t use honorifics, it wasn’t Alfeo. That meant it had to be Lennox.
What now…
If Alfeo told Aron to try aura again, things would get really messy.
I could deflect once, but not twice.
“If you need to talk to Ren, I can set up a meeting. I know a nice café that’s good for private conversations.”
But Aron’s rejection was firm.
“Going back and forth twice is bothersome.”
…That sounded suspiciously like payback. Just my imagination?
No. His sulky expression made it clear.
