Eric was greatly bewildered as he looked at Marquess Lancaster, who was round and staring at himself.

He had been waiting for his return, but when they finally faced each other, he found it difficult to figure out how to handle the situation.

“Where have you been until now?”

“To investigate various matters.”

“So, are you going to continue staying in the capital now?”

“Yes, I suppose. There are matters to attend to.”

Continuing to implement sorcery and observing the results, Marquess Lancaster, who had been responding indifferently to Eric’s questions, suddenly raised his head and looked at Eric.

“But who are you?”

“I am Eric Russell Gloucester.”

“And?”

“Yes?”

“You are the acting commander of the Zero Knights.”

Observing the situation, Kive, who had been watching, intervened between the two and answered on behalf of Eric.

However, Marquess Lancaster wrinkled his face as if displeased.

“Acting? Why? For what reason?”

“He was recommended by the commander, vouched for by the deputy, and approved by the Emperor.”

“Hmm. Is it because of good connections or skill?”

“Skill. Why would the commander recommend anyone without skills?”

With an expression that seemed dissatisfied, Marquess Lancaster grumbled bluntly, and Kive smoothly intervened between the puzzled Eric and the frustrated Marquess.

“But he won’t kill, right? As an Archmage, he won’t engage in criminal activities. Or is that not the case? Are you aiming for full-fledged crime?”

“Is that supposed to be comforting?”

“Oh, dear.”

Avoiding Eric’s displeased expression, Kive awkwardly chuckled and quickly moved away.

Watching the busy figure of Marquess Lancaster, Eric sighed softly with a perplexed feeling.

He had never found someone difficult to deal with before.

Even the Emperor or the Deputy was approached without any burden. Still, Marquess Lancaster was surprisingly challenging.

Stopping the implementation of sorcery and gazing at Marquess Lancaster, who seemed lost in thought for a moment, Eric asked him.

“Did you find out something?”

“Roughly. This place is the starting point of everything.”

“Starting point?”

“A place where people’s footsteps were severed, unnoticed.”

Eric and Kive exchanged tense glances and looked around again with a nervous gaze.

“This place collapsed ten years ago. That’s when it started. And right away, the Temple was attacked.”

“Ah, is it the time when the Document Tower collapsed?”

“That’s right. But that place has nothing to do with the legend. I still don’t know why.”

Lancaster Marquess, who mumbled seriously, suddenly turned his head to look at Eric and Kive.

“By the way, who are you?”

“Lord Eric Lancaster Gloucester.”

Kive’s answer made Marquess Lancaster nod.

“Do you all know the legend of the founding of Britannia?”

“The story about the sorcerer Sevier, the witch Lektana, and the first Emperor Keigan? Yes, we know.”

At Kive’s response, Marquess Lancaster nodded approvingly.

“The end of the legend is the founding of the Britannian Empire. It’s a happy ending, but in reality, it wasn’t an ending.”

“?”

“Because Sevier made a contract with demons, complete elimination of the sorcerer was difficult. His soul was divided into seven pieces, sealed, and the empire was established on top of it. The important thing here is the seal.”

As Marquess Lancaster’s expression became more serious, Eric, who noticed, asked.

“Does that mean if the seal is broken, he can be resurrected?”
“True. In the documents I found from a certain region, it is recorded that Sevier left a message at the end, saying, ‘He will resurrect in 500 years.'”

“So, is this place also one of the places where the soul was sealed?”

“Yes. It’s not clear where the seals are. It seems that the locations were not recorded to prevent potential misuse once revealed. Thanks to that, we, 500 years later, are going through all this trouble.”

While Lancaster Marquess grumbled with a sigh, Eric seemed to guess the locations where monsters and sorcerers had appeared so far.

“So far, the Plaza, Opera House, and Imperial Museum have been attacked. If we assume it’s a sealed place, that makes four, including this one.”

“Then where are the remaining three places?”

In response to Kive’s question, the Archmage frowned.

“There are suspected places for two of them. The problem is where the other one is.”

“Then where are the two places?”

“One is where the tomb of the former Emperor is located in the Royal Palace. Since it is related to the former Emperor Keigan, it is likely to be correct.”

“Then where is the other one?”

“That’s on private property, so you don’t need to worry. I’d like to investigate other places where monsters have appeared, but shall we return to the capital for now?”

As Marquess Lancaster started walking, Eric and Kive followed suit.

Eric quickly caught up with Marquess Lancaster.

In the moment when Marquess Lancaster seemed to be about to approach him warmly, Eric, who had come closer, opened his mouth first.

“There might be something you want to talk about.”

“Yes. Father.”

“I have no sons like you.”