In conclusion, the next day I was able to hear from Sergei about the hidden secrets of my origins.
According to Sergei’s claim, the founder of Landgritz was indeed the Demon Emperor who led the Age of Magic.
However, in the process, I was able to hear a few things that I did not know.
[This is the timeline separator]It was around the next afternoon when I went to see Sergei.
Kardiel and Sergei were in the middle of a lesson.
The timing was appropriate in that I didn’t have to make a separate appointment, and also because it was a busy time for Euphemina and Chersion.
“I had already asked Sir Sergei about various things regarding the Age of Magic.”
I sat in the reception room of Kardiel’s room with Sir Joseph.
From what I heard, it seemed Kardiel had already asked Sir Sergei about chronomancy.
Sir Sergei was very embarrassed at first, but after understanding the situation, he willingly shared the knowledge he had.
“…What I need to say in advance is that I am merely in the position of a researching scholar.
In other words, apart from the facts I learned through clear records, most of it is speculation and hypothesis.”
Sergei humbly brought his large luggage bag.
Judging by the fact that it was the same as what Teacher Jephet had before, it seemed to be an item given to the sages of the Tower of Honor.
The bag was filled with countless records.
There was nothing brought from the Tower of Honor, but they were materials recording the books stored there.
They were all necessary for Sergei’s thesis that would fill his jubilee year.
“First, it would be best to explain why the current Magic Emperor and successor of chronomancy, Sir Joseph, has to suffer from headaches.”
He was certainly a good teacher. It was evident in the way he thoroughly covered the basic theories.
In this process, even I learned some new facts.
“So, even if they ascend to the throne as the next emperor, those who inherited the official bloodline are separately classified as ‘heirs’, while those who didn’t inherit the bloodline but are qualified are classified as ‘successors’, is that right?”
And that ‘qualification’ meant the ability to learn chronomancy.
In other words, perfect memory ability.
And chronomancy was a power that could never be handled by those who were not qualified.
Because of this, the next generation emperor who would inherit chronomancy had to be brought in from outside.
“But if you do that, doesn’t the bloodline of the Magic Emperor eventually become nominal?”
It meant that the emperor’s bloodline would change.
To put it more extremely, it meant handing over the entire family to a complete stranger.
Then Sergei shook his head and showed a certain record he took out of his bag.
“That’s not the case. It was originally recorded that only those who inherited the official bloodline of the Magic Emperor could use chronomancy without side effects.”
“What do you mean by side effects?”
“I’m talking about the headaches that Sir Joseph feels.”
In short, unlike heirs, successors face a system where they die before the age of 30.
According to legend, the first Magic Emperor was said to be the son of a god, but the founding myth of the ancient era that perished is not so important now.
“Then couldn’t the successor designate a new heir before the age of 30 to continue the lineage?”
Kardiel asked. But I was negative about that method.
Humans with such greed eventually dream of immortality.
What fool would inherit the chronomancy of the Magic Emperor, blinded by momentary power, knowing they can only live until 30?
Sergei also shook his head and said,
“According to what I’ve confirmed, there must be a way for the successor to live out their full lifespan without pain.”
My eyes flashed open. When I hurriedly asked, “Why do you think so?” an unhesitating answer poured out.
“Because there are clear records of successor-born emperors who lived to seventy or eighty, even a hundred years old, which is too many to say that all successors die before thirty.”
Sergei slightly frowned his left eye, which had lost sight due to burns, and continued.
“And in common, they all united with the bloodline of the Magic Emperor. To be precise, it would be correct to say they united with the direct line designated by the Magic Emperor.”
“When you say united, do you mean marriage?”
“That’s right. So in fact, I have been speculating that there might be some kind of ritual included in ‘marriage’ itself. But judging from the example of the Duchess and Sir Joseph…”
“They have to have constant physical contact with someone who has the bloodline, so they have no choice but to get married?”
“…That’s what I think.”
Aha.
Only then could I clearly understand the succession system of chronomancy.
I also understood how the bloodline of the Magic Emperor was maintained.
‘Simply put, it means they brought in a capable son-in-law from outside.’
However, after understanding that, there was a part that had to be addressed.
“But I… It’s news to me that the Landgritz baronial family is the bloodline of the Magic Emperor. I heard that the founder was a magician, but doesn’t that mean he was the Magic Emperor?”
It’s confusing, but since it’s a matter of life and death, we need to be certain.
As everyone’s gaze focused on me, Sergei spoke in a firm voice.
“I need to correct one misunderstanding. In the Age of Magic, only the Magic Emperor could call himself a ‘magician’. Because the emperor was the true bloodline of magicians.”
He said that others had to be granted magic through the Magic Emperor’s tower.
“I’m not sure how the previous generations of Landgritz tried to pass down the family lineage. However, if contact with the Duchess was effective in alleviating Sir Joseph’s pain, I think it’s almost certain.”
“Ah…”
If that’s the case.
Only then could I accept my bloodline. Wow…
‘So I’m really the bloodline of the Magic Emperor?’
Of course, it wasn’t something I could immediately realize even if that was the case.
But as someone who has studied magic for nearly 10 years, it was sufficiently plausible.
It was quite a strange feeling to learn the secret of one’s birth. It was as if new blood had been transfused.
“Then, really… Can Sir Joseph completely escape from the curse-like torture of chronomancy by marrying me?”
And live beyond thirty years old! My voice trembled with joy.
But to that question, Sergei’s face became rather ambiguous.
“If the Duchess is truly the ‘direct line designated by the Magic Emperor’, then certainly that will be the case.”
What does this mean now?
It was an ambiguous answer, like pouring cold water. I furrowed my brow and pressed Sergei.
“Sir Sergei. Please speak more precisely, more accurately.”
Is it that I can’t, or that I can?
What does ‘direct line designated by the Magic Emperor’ mean?
Sergei exhaled with a very troubled face.
“I told you at the beginning. I’m just a researching scholar.”
“…You did say that.”
“Unfortunately, this is all I have discovered and all I know about the Magic Emperor and the succession of chronomancy. I could form a few hypotheses, but I think they won’t be of help due to lack of evidence.”
Oh no, that’s the most important part.
I bit my lower lip with furrowed brows.
Kardiel had been listening to the story with an expressionless face from earlier, and Sir Joseph…
“May I ask one thing this time?”
“Yes, I should be able to answer as far as I know.”
When Sergei gave permission, Sir Joseph posed his question.
“You probably know this part as I read it in a book at the Tower of Honor, but do you know what it means that ‘the Magic Emperor adopted a qualified child as his son and raised him as his heir’?”
Oh? Even I, who was listening, blinked my eyes.
Didn’t he just say that external blood that didn’t inherit the lineage was classified as a ‘successor’?
I stared at Sergei. Unfortunately, even to that question, Sergei only furrowed his brow and couldn’t give a clear answer.
“I apologize, Sir Joseph. I remember that part too, but I haven’t been able to clarify it either.”
“Ah ha ha. Don’t worry about it. I just asked in case you might know.”
Sir Joseph shrugged lightly with a smile. He added that if it was recorded by someone who didn’t know well, they might have misused the term.
“Hmm…”
And after hearing the conversation between the two, I exhaled with anxious impatience at the fact that less was revealed about the Magic Emperor than I had thought.
Well, if you think about it, it’s only natural.
It’s been a thousand years since the Age of Magic perished, so it’s not easy to find materials about the Magic Emperor, the most mysterious being among them.
If anything had remained in Alperon land, Sir Joseph would have already read it all.
‘Still, the Age of Magic was a long history that lasted for thousands of years, it would be nice if even a little bit of material remained somewhere…’
Ah.
At that moment, a thought flashed through my mind like lightning.
“Dorothea…!”
I jumped up from my seat, forgetting all decorum.
Yes, I remembered a certain clue she had dropped.
She said there was someone who dealt with items from the Age of Magic. From what I heard, it wasn’t a one-time thing either.
‘Maybe…!’
If we can find that person, we might be able to find more records from the Age of Magic.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
