‘……The first thing I need to get my hands on would have to be those relics.’

Relics—remnants of a declined magic, ancient objects that allowed one to use the brilliant power of a past that the current age could never reproduce.

Of course, not every relic held the power to overturn the world. Most were modest tools at best.

But very occasionally, relics of tremendous power appeared, capable of shifting the balance of the world entirely.

Nine hundred years ago, a relic discovered by a small desert tribe created a vast lake in an arid desert without a single drop of water.

Six hundred and fifty years ago, a relic that appeared in a southern port city had the ability to control the sea around that city at will.

And three hundred years ago, a relic that fell into the hands of a wicked sorcerer was used as a tool to incinerate hundreds of thousands of people.

Beyond those, certain relics discovered from time to time contained the overwhelming magic of the ancient world.

That was why the Cassian Empire and other nations, countless noble families, and even ordinary people searched for relics with burning eyes.

And now, Ines also needed to find those relics.

The difference was that she already knew where they lay dormant. She also knew what power they held, and how to use them.

‘My lord, imperial soldiers have appeared outside the castle walls!’

‘……The relics.’

Imperial soldiers appearing suddenly in the North not long after a declaration of war.

‘Activate the relics!’

At someone’s shout, a blinding light erupted, and the defensive barrier protecting Rupert cracked deeply.

Both had been the power of relics.

The Emperor had poured countless other relics into that battle as well. But none had caused as much damage as those two. So those were the two relics Ines needed to obtain first.

Fortunately, the times at which the Emperor would acquire those two were a few months from now and two years from now.

‘I remember where they were found, so the problem is convincing Killian……’

Ines was absently biting her lip when her eyes drifted, and meeting someone’s gaze at that moment was unexpected.

“What are you thinking so deeply about?”

Only then did Ines remember that it was dinnertime. And that she had spent the entire meal lost in thought, barely eating half her plate by the time Killian finished.

“Ah…… I’m sorry. I had something on my mind for a moment……”

Ines smiled sheepishly, and Killian gave a sigh-like laugh.

“It seems Marisa worked you too hard today.”

“Th, that’s not it……”

Ines quickly waved her hand.

The thought of causing trouble for Marisa made her heart rush involuntarily.

“Then what is it?”

Killian tilted his head slightly as he asked, and Ines moved her lips.

It was something she had to tell Killian anyway.

She knew where the relics were, but bringing them back would require Killian’s knowledge. Ines had no particular faction of her own, and no one she could trust.

The difficulty was in not knowing how to bring it up in a way that sounded convincing without being strange.

“So……”

Killian waited without pressing her.

“……It’s a little awkward to talk about here. Could we go upstairs?”

After deliberating, Ines put it off for a little while.

It was not without reason. However much she trusted the people of Rupert, this was not a conversation light enough to have in an open space.

Killian looked at Ines quietly for a moment and made a briefly unreadable expression, then nodded.

“Of course.”

The meal ended there.

Killian asked, seeming mildly displeased, whether he should have more food brought out, but Ines shook her head.

“I had a snack earlier. I’m full.”

“……Is that so.”

“You don’t look like you believe me.”

Ines gave a small laugh as she carefully climbed the stairs, and Killian smiled loosely and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Honestly, it’s hard to believe. In my life I have never met anyone who eats as little as you…… ah, I don’t mean it badly, I just find it remarkable.”

Come to think of it, Killian ate very neatly himself, so it might not have seemed like much, but the amount he ate was actually quite substantial. He trained every day and his body was large and solid, so naturally it took a lot to maintain.

“I don’t move around much, after all. Maybe that’s why.”

“Hmm……”

Even at her explanation, Killian looked unconvinced. Then he murmured something quietly, and all Ines caught was something like rabbit.

“……Rabbit?”

“It’s nothing.”

Ines tilted her head and murmured, and Killian changed the subject with an easy smile.

He had definitely said rabbit……

But unable to find the connection between the topic at hand and rabbits, Ines quickly forgot about it.

“Hmm. Going straight to the bedroom would be a little awkward, so shall we go to my study?”

“Ah, yes. Anywhere without other people is fine.”

It was all right for Killian to pass word to his own people, but before that, it was better to be careful about who might overhear.

After Ines nodded, Killian said nothing more until they reached the study. Ines was not talkative either, so the walk was quiet throughout.

“……Thank you.”

Ines stepped through the door Killian held open, and he followed and closed it behind her.

Click.

The sound of the door closing rang clearly in her ears. It was not a particularly loud sound, but the reason it was unusually audible was surely psychological.

Ines resented her own subconscious a little. Having become aware of it, Killian’s presence felt overwhelming.

“It’s a bit late for coffee, but I have chamomile tea. Would you like some?”

“Ah…… yes, please.”

She had been about to decline, but feeling her lips already going dry, she nodded half a beat late.

Clink.

Sitting quietly with her hands folded on her lap, she looked around the study when her gaze moved toward the sound. He was placing a kettle on a mana stone-powered stove and adding tea leaves.

“……Do you always brew your own tea?”

When the faint fragrance of tea began to drift, Ines asked.

“More or less.”

Killian picked up two teacups and slid one toward Ines as he answered.

“My skill is nothing special, but the tea leaves are good.”

The added remark was rather playful. Ines knew it was modesty. Not in this study, but once, early in the morning, he had brewed tea for her himself.

Ines smiled without meaning to and took the teacup. Her palm was warm.

“Thank you, Killian. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Think nothing of it.”

She took a slow sip, and a gentle flavor spread through her mouth.

Clink. Ines carefully set the cup down and traced the handle with the tip of her index finger.

As before, Killian did not rush her. A brief silence passed.

“Killian……”

Ines opened her mouth slowly.

“……Have you ever heard of a relic that can move tens of thousands of people from one end of the continent to the other in a single use?”

Killian paused for a moment at the sudden subject.

“Long-distance movement…… and tens of thousands of people at once, you say.”

“Yes.”

He returned to his usual expression quickly and tapped his thigh a couple of times with his extended index finger. Sensing from that manner that Killian was taking her words seriously, Ines felt a small, fresh gladness.

Killian seemed to think a little longer, then nodded.

“I don’t know whether it actually exists, but I have heard of it.”

That was unexpected.

“Really?”

At her surprised question, Killian elaborated.

“I once cleared out a ruin. At the time, I found something like an old journal, and it described a relic similar to what you mentioned.”

“Ah……”

“Though at that time it seemed to still be under study, as there was nothing about a completed version.”

Then the journal Killian had seen was written before the materials the Emperor had found.

It was slightly disappointing, but even what he knew made explaining things easier.

Ines curled her hands and looked directly at Killian.

“That relic exists, Killian.”

“……”

“And I know where it is.”

Killian looked at Ines quietly for several seconds. His eyes seemed to be gauging whether her words were true.

Ines did not look away.

Several seconds passed.

“Was that the relic you were thinking about throughout dinner?”

Killian asked.

She had expected him to ask first about whether it was true, or how she knew, or where the relic was. Ines nodded in a mildly dazed way.

“Yes, more or less……”

“So that was why you were barely eating.”

Killian murmured quietly and let out a low sigh. He seemed somehow relieved, and also a little deflated.

Ines blinked and looked at him.

She had brought up a relic, and the topic that had come out was her barely touching her food.

“……Were you displeased that I didn’t eat well?”

She asked carefully, and Killian shook his head.

“Not displeased. Worried. You spent all day on unfamiliar work, and then you barely ate on top of that. I thought perhaps you had pushed yourself too hard.”