Using the teleportation device to arrive in Soboster, Gibnen couldn’t immediately meet Riley.

The somewhat large city of Soboster had only one supplied teleportation device. Magic tools utilizing magic were nowhere to be found, and with carriages or rickshaws being used for transportation, the environment was rather backward compared to Blesstige.

The distance from Soboster to Rupla, where Riley lived, was quite significant.

For Gibnen, who had been enjoying the conveniences of a civilization built on magic, the inconveniences were more than just one or two.

Of course, Gibnen was capable of using teleportation magic freely, but due to the vast size of the land here, moving at once with magic was impossible, plus being unfamiliar with the geography, the situation wasn’t suitable for using magic.

“If you catch a carriage now, you should arrive in Rupla in about half a day.”

“……Half a day.”

“If you’re thinking of using magic, you’ll have to request permission from the magic department now, but it might take about half a day to get a response here.”

“…….”

“Or you could pull out your control needle. Of course, inspectors dispatched from the magic department will come out as soon as you remove it… just saying.”

Ordinary magicians are not implanted with control needles. Although unauthorized magic use is specified as illegal, most magicians turn a blind eye to the simple use of magic for convenience.

However, this magic control was strictly applied to a minority of magicians. A few elites. Talented enough to use not only magic for convenience but also more complex and dangerous spells.

The country showcased control over this minority. It was a method imposed since every magician couldn’t be controlled one by one, but the magicians who were implanted with this control needle were subject to excessive control.

Whenever magic was used, the magic data was transmitted to the magic department for monitoring. A few instances of simple magic for convenience were overlooked, but if deemed to exceed standards, inspectors came out, grilled the person, investigated, and imposed heavy fines.

Fines were not an issue, but the act of grilling people with inspections was stressful.

“……Catch a carriage.”

Feeling disillusioned in an ironic world where the convenience of magic was maximized, yet magicians’ magic usage was controlled, Gibnen had no choice but to take a carriage.

·

·

·

He arrived at Rupla, that is, at Riley’s house, when it was almost dawn.

He moved to book the best hotel room in the withered Rupla, and Gibnen headed to the Earl of Eardalin’s house to make sure Riley was safe.

He lightly jumped up a tree and soon used his scrying magic from outside.

Riley was not visible in any room. But one room caught his irritating attention.

‘……Signs of intrusion.’

A disheveled room, a wideopen window. Dirt and leaves scattered on the floor.

The alien appearance of the room, the path of Count Ermaintz. The unseen figure of Riley. With situations fitting together perfectly, Gibnen was convinced that Riley faced danger.

Gibnen yanked out the control needle that was stuck in his ear with all his might, expanded his magic power, and broadened his scrying range.

Then he hurriedly started to find Riley, sending telepathy to Sakk.

(This is a time separator.)

A dramatic person appeared at a dramatic moment.

Count Ermaintz was so surprised that he stumbled backward, gaping like a goldfish. Whether he did or not, Gibnen, moving gracefully between the floating assassins, stopped in front of Riley.

Tied with ropes, covered in dirt and dust, her disheveled appearance was met with a cold chill in his face. He carefully untied the ropes and dusted off her clothes. Then he gently embraced her trembling small body.

“Are you alright?”

“…….”

Understandably, she was not alright. Riley was too surprised to answer.

“Now, what brings you here?”
Gibnen, instead of answering, embraced Riley and looked at those floating in the sky. When he slightly moved his finger towards them, the bodies floating in midair flew in an instant and were pinned to a tree.

All the assassins fainted, unable to overcome the tremendous shock inflicted upon them.

“My wife wanted to see me, so I came all the way from a distant place.”

“…….”

“My lovely wife is not here, but there’s only trash who carried my wife away late at night. What’s the matter?”

“……Wife?”

“Didn’t you know? I thought you knew. Weren’t you the one who tied our marriage into a scandal and published an article about it?”

Count Ermeintz was at a loss for words.

Marriage? Wife?

「Is there really talk of that guy marrying that woman?」

「No, there’s no way. It was just exaggerated for sensational reporting.」

The bribed journalist said it was made up for sensational reporting, didn’t he?

“You’re marrying that woman?”

“That’s right.”

“……Why?”

Count Ermeintz genuinely did not understand their marriage.

“What are you lacking?”

“Who I marry or not is not something for you to concern yourself with.”