The banquet hall of the Golden Hand was dazzling at first glance, but in reality, it was like a chalice filled with poison.
Those gathered there each had a sword of venom in their stomachs.
Among them, Relodian was considered an outstanding figure among Niruin’s grandsons. He was intelligent and cunning, knowing how to handle people. Although he was somewhat arrogant, he demonstrated his abilities and achievements.
Relodian did not particularly like his cousins merely because they were competitors. He especially despised those who were incompetent yet greedy. Therefore, Morontius, who lived in the south and was his uncle Amic’s son, was also included in the list of people he despised.
Uncle Amic had just entered the banquet hall. Relodian felt that everyone’s attention was directed towards him.
Although Uncle Amic was not as skilled as his big uncle or Relodian’s father, he excelled at handling people. Despite pretending otherwise, Relodian sensed a similar ambition in Uncle Amic. This was the kind of ambition only those who shared it could understand.
There were five such individuals in the hall, including Relodian. He also added his father, Brinus, the second son of the Golden Hand, to this list. Though not immediately, he viewed his own father as a potential competitor who would eventually need to be set aside.
Typically, such individuals would have one or two trustworthy aides.
Oswald, Niruin’s eldest son, had Mage Grandel.
Brinus, Niruin’s second son, had Knight Bilebault.
Nora, Niruin’s granddaughter, had Female Knight Ganesha.
And Relodian had Mage Skemen, who held a high position within the Sacred Mage Order.
Skemen recognized a familiar face.
“Huh, the commander of the Golden Dragon Mercenary Corps.”
Relodian had already heard from informants that Princess Cecilia of the Mercenaries had arrived.
She was a notable figure in the mercenary world, a reinforcing mage who dealt with front-line combat. It was said that even monsters were no match for her reinforcing spells.
“Who is that person beside her?”
“It is said to be Ior’s private tutor. She seems to have brought him along as a companion.”
Though he couldn’t see clearly from afar, he could tell that the man was tall and handsome.
Morontius, who was already present, approached his father, Amic Schrifpen, and embraced him. Among the onlookers, Nora was the first to approach them, as expected, given her reputation for being quick-tempered. Relodian had anticipated this as well.
Next, Relodian moved. However, he didn’t go directly; instead, he made it look like he bumped into them by chance.
Relodian wanted to show Amic and Morontius his superiority. The banquet hall of the Golden Hand was a stage where he could freely showcase himself. He was willing to tolerate light disputes or rivalries.
In the past, he had even provoked knights into fistfights on behalf of his superiors. Using mana to suppress another’s momentum was still a common occurrence among mages.
The Golden Hand Niruin despised his descendants clinging to wealth. Instead, he preferred to place them on a sharp blade or a test stand. Naturally, Relodian fully agreed with his grandfather’s perspective.
“Uncle Amic.”
“Oh, Relodian.”
Relodian finally faced Amic. Morontius looked slightly uneasy. He didn’t think highly of his cousin Relodian, who often caused conflicts.
Relodian greeted his aunt and youngest daughter, Ior. Particularly, Ior had grown into a beautiful young woman, resembling her mother.
While the superiors exchanged greetings, the subordinates exchanged silent nods. Mage Skemen observed two other mages standing a step back.
What caught Skemen’s attention was not Cecilia, but the handsome mage standing beside her.
Cecilia posed no threat. Although she was a mage, she specialized almost exclusively in reinforcement spells, making her more suited to be a warrior than a mage.
However, that wasn’t the case. The man beside her was extraordinary enough to make Skemen feel uneasy.
Soon, the time came for introductions of the subordinates.
“Mage Skemen.”
“Commander of the Golden Dragon Mercenary Corps, Cecilia.”
“Mage Yuric.”
The banquet hall of the Golden Hand was a stage for showcasing oneself.
Regardless of whether it was temporary or permanent, anyone entering the hall sided with Amic Schrifpen.
Mage Skemen had the obligation to overshadow the other mages with his dignity and talent.
Especially this individual in front of him—cutting off the sprout early was the right thing to do.
Skemen stared intently at Yuric, who returned his gaze.
Mana surged rapidly. Even ordinary people who couldn’t sense mana felt a chill down their necks.
…
Yuric was forcibly invited into Skemen’s illusionary world by gazing into Skemen’s eyes. This was the illusion magic that had made many mages in the hall tremble.
Due to Skemen’s illusion magic, most mages in the hall lowered their eyes when he appeared.
Skemen’s illusionary world, created over half his life, did not directly harm its targets. However, simply being trapped in his world induced overwhelming disorientation, fear, and helplessness. For a mage, nothing was more terrifying than being controlled by another.
A truly great illusionist could even trap parts of the world within their illusions, but this was far beyond Skemen’s reach. Even his master, Grand Mage Bajos, could only create illusions as large as a mansion.
‘Alright.’
Skemen felt that his world and Yuric’s mind overlapped.
If he took a few more steps forward, Yuric would enter his world. Of course, there were experienced mages who could defend themselves quickly, but it was nearly impossible unless they were also illusionists.
Just as Skemen took another step to enter Yuric’s mental world—
‘……?’
His body stiffened as if turned to stone.
At the same time, his limbs trembled involuntarily.
Grrr.
A low rumbling sound echoed.
From the darkness, something gradually revealed itself.
On yellowish-white eyeballs, black pupils widened.
-Human mage.
Skemen couldn’t believe his eyes.
Why.
A dragon here.
Why.
-That’s enough.
A pitch-black dragon, blending with the darkness, glared at the human mage.
-Go.
Without hesitation, Skemen retreated. At the same moment, his mana collapsed. Only the two of them knew what had happened.
The illusionist opened his eyes wide and looked at Yuric, who also narrowed his eyes slightly.
This.
What is this?
Skemen had never felt so powerless before. The opponent’s defensive system was terrifying. If he had taken another step forward, he might have been the one who suffered.
He instinctively avoided the opponent’s gaze. The terror he felt mentally was beyond imagination.
It was a primal fear of dragons imprinted on both his mind and body.
Of course, humans couldn’t possess dragons. Perhaps this defensive system was a manifestation of humanity’s innate fear.
Relodian glanced at Skemen, who was staggering, and immediately left, sensing something was wrong.
“Why are you acting this way? Is there a problem?”
Skemen wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.
“That man, Yuric… is no ordinary person.”
“…What? Yuric? …Not that woman, Cecilia?”
Strictly speaking, he had been thoroughly outwitted, but Skemen, with his strong pride, didn’t reveal the truth.
“I encountered some resistance.”
“What resistance?… Magic?”
I thought so. Skemen had never disappointed Relodian until now.
“I may have approached too casually.”
But Relodian wasn’t slow to notice. He knew Skemen wouldn’t approach casually after spending years together.
He felt the need to think more carefully about this situation.
“Tell me your thoughts. Honestly.”
“Perhaps… he came with a specific plan.”
“So he revealed his hidden card? That’s him?”
“It’s highly likely.”
Relodian already knew through an informant that his grandfather, the Golden Hand Niruin, had organized this banquet to celebrate the birth of his fifteenth child. This was just an excuse.
The Golden Hand Niruin had obtained the tenth treasure map of the ancient mage Durall, known as the Treasure Mage. He wanted to obtain an invaluable human treasure through it.
The Golden Hand was famous for repaying debts in full. Relodian suspected Amic’s intentions lay there.
“My grandfather has something he wants. Definitely.”
He might ask for full control over the southern trade route. After all, it was the most active area for money flow in the continent.
“A crisis is an opportunity.” This was the phrase the Golden Hand Niruin lived by.
Of course, he wouldn’t get full control over the trade route for just one treasure, but he might still give away a significant portion as a stimulus to other descendants.
Relodian was not pleased that his subordinate had been powerless, but he understood their intentions.
“Should we try again?”
“…We need to prepare.”
…He replied, but honestly, Skemen didn’t have the courage to break through Yuric’s mental defense.
Yes, that’s right. Relodian sighed, watching Skemen continue to express regret.
Unfortunately, he could only push against Skemen so far. Still, there were many ways to deal with things. Objectively, Relodian had advantages over his uncle Amic in many areas.
‘…Yuric…’
Though he smiled naively, Relodian wasn’t fooled. This mage had shattered Skemen’s infamous illusion magic instantly.
He might be as crafty and relentless as Grandel, the mage of his big uncle.
Seeing Commander Cecilia of the Golden Dragon Mercenary Corps, who seemed anxious, he realized she had already fallen under his influence.
Her deviousness, luring women with her face and setting traps with magic…
Relodian instinctively felt.
He needed to be cautious of Yuric.
