Chapter "380"

Phillis cheerfully took the book and shut himself away in his room. Reading books was all he could do, but Phillis didn't particularly dislike it.

For the sickly boy, it was the only window to connect with the world. Once he got into that mode like that, Phillis wouldn't come out for at least several hours.

Plimene wanted to tell him to read books in moderation for his health, but she didn't want to take away her younger brother's only pleasure, so she didn't stop Phillis.

"He's a smart child. If only his body becomes healthy, he could surely become an excellent doctor."

"A doctor? Even so, there's no need to praise him that much."

"No, no. This isn't a simple exaggeration but my sincere opinion. Phillis' comprehension is...how should I put it. Even from my perspective, he sometimes surprises me."

For Julius, who was none other than a mage, to say such things. Even if it was just flattering words, Plimene smiled because it felt very good to have her only younger brother praised.

"Hmm. It's not something I said just to sound nice. I was being sincere."

"I know, I know."

It was a place that had become like a habit for them to sit whenever they had conversations. The house being so small that there was no other space to sit also played a part.

Plimene likes having conversations while facing this man like this. It's definitely a happy time. There's no room for denial about that.

But sometimes, she has such thoughts.

Why does such an excellent man like her? She's just a civil service exam candidate preparing for public service exams. She's even so poor that she has to work three jobs a day to support her sick family.

Because he's attracted to her appearance? Julius could meet as many prettier women with much better conditions as he wanted.

He holds a considerable position in the mage school he belongs to. With such talent at a young age, he's probably been promised the position of the next school head.

Being a mage already puts him on the path of social elite, but even there, he was advancing far beyond others.

The fact that such a person likes her was something she was grateful for, yet it didn't feel real.

Such enormous happiness actually acted as poison that caused anxiety.

And naturally, Julius was also vaguely aware of Plimene's anxiety. He wasn't particularly attentive to women's hearts, but he wasn't so insensitive as to not notice the anxiety that occasionally showed in Plimene.

But the reason he didn't point out that fact was because, ultimately, this problem belonged to Plimene, and he judged that he shouldn't interfere until she brought it up first.

He was just waiting for Plimene to speak first.

In the end, it was Plimene who sighed in defeat.

"To be honest, I'm still anxious."

"What on earth are you anxious about? I'm here."

"That's exactly the point. The more you're with me, the more I worry that this happy reality might end someday."

Plimene honestly confessed the anxiety dwelling in her heart. Being with Julius was happy, but that happiness was far too much for her current self.

"Plimene. There's no such thing as excessive happiness."

Julius firmly refuted that statement.

"When you feel great happiness, just enjoy that moment. Worrying about a future that won't come only makes you torment yourself."

"But... you could meet a good woman even if it weren't me."

"No. I can be certain of this. No matter how much time passes, I won't meet a woman like you."

Julius said with a confident smile.

"Because you're the woman I chose."

"...But there must be many women prettier than me?"

"Aren't you underestimating your own appearance too much? And besides, it's not like only faces determine everything, right? For instance..."

Plimene noticed that Julius' gaze was directed toward a certain part of her and lowered her head. Her face immediately turned red, and she covered her chest area with both arms.

"Pervert!"

"Ah, no, I didn't mean it that way! Though of course, there is that aspect too."

"...There is that aspect?"

"Well, it can't be helped."

When Plimene glared at him coyly, Julius cleared his throat.

"Anyway, men really are..."

At Plimene's glaring look, Julius laughed mischievously like a playful boy. Though Julius said that, he remembers that moment when he first saw Plimene.

The sight of Plimene working hard alone, diligently carrying food, somehow caught his eye. Yes. It was definitely just interest at first. When a fellow mage caused trouble there, it left a bad impression, and when he asked for her name, he was nicely rejected.

Usually, when women learn that someone is a young mage, their eyes change first. They try to somehow become friendly and close with him. Julius was sick and tired of that materialistic response.

So Plimene's reaction was quite refreshing to him. But that was all.

The decisive moment was probably when they met at the flower shop where she worked. He happened to stop by a place he was passing while running an errand for his master, and he met and recognized her there. Plimene also recognized Julius.

Having a brief conversation with her there, he could tell she was definitely different from other people.

First interest. Then curiosity. After that, favorable feelings.

And when he came to his senses, he had somehow fallen head over heels for the young lady named Plimene. She was spirited despite being young, and never gave up despite difficult circumstances.

Yes. Now he seemed to understand the reason why his gaze had gone to her as if bewitched by something when he first saw her.

It was because he saw the flame of firm will to never give up, even in this harsh world that was violently fluctuating within her eyes.

Of course, he didn't bother to say that fact. It would be too embarrassing to say that much.

"But the situation doesn't look good."

Plimene, whose gaze had suddenly gone to the newspaper, muttered that.

"Ah, the war."

The front page of the newspaper still had articles about the war. The war that broke out after the declaration of war seemed to be flowing unfavorably for Tirna due to the kingdom alliance's aggressive offensive.

Naturally, Tirna also did their best to stop them. With superior technology and weapons, they began to hold out well against the kingdom alliance despite being outnumbered.

But the difference in military strength was unavoidable.

The kingdom alliance continued to push the front lines by pouring in massive quantities of troops, even while suffering many casualties on their side.

Tirna realized that a complete response with existing military forces was difficult. So to supplement the insufficient troops, Tirna was now accepting voluntary enlistments.

Julius looked at the text written in the newspaper with a stern face.

[We will never let the deaths of those who have fallen be in vain.]

Due to the shortage of troops, they were accepting voluntary enlistments even from those in their mid-teens. Even people who knew nothing were shouting that going to war was honorable, claiming it was to protect the city's freedom and justice.

Perhaps due to such issues in the city, an atmosphere was being created among teenagers where those who didn't submit enlistment applications were treated as cowards.

'Going to war at a young age and fighting with guns is honor.'

As if that could be true. But to mock them, the current flow itself was heading in this direction. Even if an individual voiced an opinion, no one would listen.

"It's okay, right?"

"What do you mean?"

"I heard that mages also go to the battlefield."

"You don't need to worry about me. Our old man is quite a recognized person. I can get out of it somehow. Of course, I'll be pointed at as a coward by those around me."

"That's not true at all. Rather, it's reassuring for me."

"Thank you for saying that."

Julius said that while looking down out the window. Children who appeared to be Phillis' age were running around playing war games with toy model guns.

Kids who were 2 or 3 years older than them were heading to government offices with enlistment papers, carrying lofty dreams.

Those children don't know the weight that the name 'war' carries. Of course, Julius hadn't experienced it directly either, so he couldn't properly explain that weight. But even without experiencing it, there are things you can know.

'Right now, Tirna is definitely in an unstable state.'

For now, they were accepting voluntary enlistments, but the moment this war became even slightly more unfavorable, there was a high probability they would resort to forced conscription.

He was a mage and his master was providing convenience, so such hands wouldn't reach him, but that didn't mean he could be completely at ease.

'I should pray that it ends safely.'

While drinking the coffee Plimene had made, Julius wished for that.

The war continued.

The front lines that had initially begun to be pushed back took on the momentum of pushing forward instead, thanks to the reinforcement of troops through the voluntary enlistment of Tirna's young men.

Not to be outdone, the kingdom alliance poured in even more troops.

Naturally, the fighting didn't remain limited to infantry alone.

Mana users and mages also stepped forward, as did superhumans who used all sorts of strange abilities. In the battles of such people, the lives of infantry could only be like autumn leaves in the wind.

The front lines that had been repeatedly pushing and pulling eventually became fixed at one location.

"Really?"

"..."

"...Sorry, old man. I won't joke around, so don't be so gloomy."

Jokes aside. The master cleared his throat and asked.

"So, how is the research progressing?"

"Yes, well, it's flowing exactly as expected."

"That's also remarkable. Usually it would be much slower than expected."

"Did you call me to say that?"

"It's for another reason. Lately you haven't been able to concentrate on research at all, is there something going on?"

"..."

At the master's sharp question, Julius asked.

"What. You knew?"

"Stupid boy. How long do you think I've been watching you? I've known for a while that you've been distracted. I was just holding back from saying anything since it wasn't affecting your research."

"It's just, well, personal matters."

"..."

The master stared at Julius intently, then turned his head away with a click.

"Fine, fine. If you say so, then that's what it is."

"Huh. Weren't you going to nag me?"

"What nagging would I give to someone who does well on his own? You'd just make fun of my hair again anyway. Ugh, tsk."

The master's reaction was blunt, but Julius knows how much he cherishes and considers him.

The usual master-disciple relationship among mages wasn't one where you could joke around like this.

"Thank you. Old man."

"If you know, then do well, you brat."

It was also thanks to the master that he wasn't dragged off to the battlefield. Julius was very grateful for that.

"Ah, old man. Can I take a flower?"

"Why? Not going to secretly take it like last time?"

"You knew about that too?"

"Julius. It seems you've met a woman you fancy."

The master suddenly became serious-faced. It seemed like he was about to say something significant, so Julius also made a similar expression.

"Julius. Let me ask you one thing."

"Yes, master."

"Since she's someone you're seeing, her face must naturally be pretty, so what about the other parts of that young lady... how are they?"

"Other parts?"

"Oh come on. You know what I mean."

This perverted old man. I thought he was going to ask something serious since he was acting unusually weighty, but he's asking strange questions.

But the master's expression asking that question was serious, and naturally, as his disciple, Julius also answered seriously.

"...Amazing. Like nothing I've ever seen before."

Having received that definitive answer, the master nodded with a satisfied face.

"One flower isn't enough, so take a bouquet. How can you be so clueless about women's hearts? It's frustrating just watching."

"Hey, you never even got married yourself..."

"I didn't fail to get married, I chose not to!"