Chapter 111
Joshua’s heart started beating rapidly as he exited the palace.
It was all because of the individual waiting for him outside. The young man’s light blue hair that flowed down to his waist and his eyes that looked like brilliant gems plucked out of the heavens mesmerized Joshua.
He had a small stature of less than 160 cm, but his body proportions looked great. The young man couldn’t compare to Charles’ beauty and petite figure, but he had his own charm in the form of his adorable appearance.
“Icarus?” Joshua doubtfully called out.
“Ah…?” Icarus was looking up at the skies, but he immediately turned around when he heard Joshua’s voice. He smiled upon seeing Joshua. “Lord Joshua.”
“My word!” Cain went agape upon hearing Icarus’ pleasant voice. “My lord! Who is this gorgeous lady?”
“I don’t know. I think my mind is playing tricks on me.” Joshua shook his head, convinced that he was seeing things. He knew that Icarus was pretty, but wasn’t this a little excessive? He really looked like a woman after growing out his hair.
‘Wait, is he actually a woman all this time?’
Joshua shook his head again. There was no way he would know for sure because he had never actually met Icarus before he regressed. However, one thing was for sure: Joshua had failed to take gender into account.
He couldn’t really be blamed for it. Avalon was a patriarchal empire, so he had always assumed that Kaiser’s strategist had to be a guy.
‘Now that I think about it, men have more opportunities than women in this empire. Perhaps that’s the reason why Icarus had been working so hard before I regressed?’
Icarus approached Joshua and said, “It has been a long time, Lord Joshua.”
“Your hair…”
“Ah...” Icarus raised his hand and fiddled with his hair.
“Does it look odd? I have been growing it out for quite a while now,” asked Icarus, seemingly expectant of a positive response.
“No, no… I mean, it looks good on you.”
Icarus’ face lit up.
“But you see…” Joshua muttered, and his gaze fell on a particular part of Icarus’ body.
“Yes?”
“If you were a girl, you look a little too…”
“Where do you think you are looking at!” Icarus hurriedly covered his chest with his face flushed.
“My lord!” Cain was enraged. “How could you be so rude to a lady?”
While Joshua was stewing in his own thoughts, Cain stepped forward and said, “Ah, yes, Icarus-nim. I have heard the rumors. The most brilliant strategist in the academy and one of the top students among the nobility. I could have never known that such a brilliant person would be so stunning!”
“I’m sorry… but who are you?” asked Icarus.
Cain gesticulated and greeted. “I am Cain. Lord Joshua’s first knight.”
Meanwhile, Joshua finally recovered his wits and asked, “So, are you really a woman?”
“Well… Is that important?” Icarus replied. He seemed annoyed with Joshua’s question.
The ignored Cain straightened his back with a glum expression, but he stepped aside in the end.
At that, Icarus asked, “Do you have some hidden prejudice against women, Lord Joshua?”
“What do you think?” asked Joshua.
“Of course not.” Without hesitation, Icarus responded to Joshua's question. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have come this far.”
“It’s an honor,” said Joshua with a smile.
While staring at the smiling Joshua, Icarus said, “I came here to fulfill my promise. Will you finally accept me?”
“Huh? What is going on?” Cain interjected. Icarus’ words sounded ambiguous.
“You’re such a player, my lord! Aren’t two out of the three most beautiful ladies in the empire enough? Why are you going after the Avalon Imperial Academy’s brightest student as well? Isn’t that a bit too much?” accused Cain.
“Two out of the three most beautiful ladies in the empire?” Icarus’ eyes turned cold, and he stared at Joshua with disdain before saying, “I believe an explanation is necessary, Lord Joshua.”
Joshua broke out in a cold sweat as he said, “You’re making the conversation weird, Cain. Icarus, calm down and listen to me.”
“But I’m not making it weird—” Cain started. However, Joshua’s glare made him back off with his tail tucked between his legs.
“Anyway, did you just say that you came to fulfill your promise?” asked Joshua.
“That’s right. You didn’t forget it, did you?” Icarus asked, seemingly suspicious.
“No way…” Joshua smiled and extended his hand out. “If you hadn’t come here, I would have come to you because there’s no one else like you.”
“...” Icarus' cheeks flushed again.
Joshua knew Icarus' skills more than anyone else, so Joshua knew that there was no one else like Icarus. However, Joshua’s words sounded different in Icarus’ ears.
“There is a saying that a strategist has to refuse twice before meeting a lord who can see their true worth."
"And there is also a saying that one must look for them three times to get a good strategist.” Joshua continued.
At that, Icarus responded, “If you really came looking for me twice, I might really turn you down twice.”
Icarus' smile deepened and grabbed Joshua's hand.
“Are you guys going to continue to give me the cold shoulder?” Cain swiftly approached the two and place his hand on top of both Icarus's and Joshua's.
“Let’s do well from now on, Military Advisor.”
“That’s not a bad title,” Icarus smiled brightly.
“All right, so now…” Joshua's eyes brightened as well as he took a step backward. “Should we discuss our plans for the future?”
“Plans?”
Cain and Icarus tilted their heads.
Joshua nodded and explained, “I’m thinking of requesting an audience with His Majesty the Emperor and then leave for Reinhardt.”
“The Neutral City of Reinhardt?” Cain's eyes widened.
“Like you, I intend to leave the Imperial Knights Order,” said Joshua.
“Will His Majesty allow it? You know what will happen to the 11th and 12th battalion if you leave, right?” asked Cain.
“That’s why I’m going to His Majesty, and I’m also planning on informing the 11th and 12th battalions…” Joshua grinned softly and said, “We’ll meet again if fate allows it.”
“You ruthless and cold-hearted lord!” exclaimed Cain.
Joshua ignored that and said with a stiff look, “As for you two, I have a favor to ask.”
“Favor?” Icarus’ eyes widened.
“I’m really sorry, but…” Joshua grimaced. He seemed regretful as he said, “I don't want you two to go to Reinhardt. I need you two somewhere else.”
“What do you mean by that, my lord?” Cain asked with raised brows before saying, “Is my lord saying that we will have to split up once more even though we just met after a long time of separation?”
“...” Icarus’ face stiffened as well.
At that, Joshua hurriedly explained, “Please don't get me wrong. It’s only for a few months, and I’m asking you two for a favor because only the two of you can possibly pull this off.”
“...” Both Icarus and Cain went silent. Eventually, Icarus broke the ice and said, “All right, let’s hear it. Where do you want us to go, and what do you want us to do?”
“Both of you should go here…” Joshua said, “Here, to the Pontier Family.”
“The Pontier Family?”
Icarus and Cain blinked.
Joshua nodded before going into detail. “You see…”
***
On the top floor of the Magic Tower.
The First Tower Master of the Magic Tower, Ian tun Murray, sat in front of a roundtable.
“Theta.”
“Yes, yes?” Theta immediately sat straight.
“Did you hear what I said?”
“Code Zero will be joining the Masters' Battle, right?”
“Right.” Tower Master Ian shook his head and said, “You will represent our Magic Tower for this year’s Reinhardt Masters’ Battle.”
“Eh?” Horrified, Theta leaped out of his chair. “Why me? I won’t gain anything playing with those kids. Besides, the Reinhardt Masters’ Battle has seen only one instance of a mage participating in the battle, right?”
Tower Master Ian stared at Theta. He seemed annoyed by the fact that Theta just couldn’t keep his mouth shut. “The champion of the Reinhardt Masters’ Battle will have the privilege of facing the Nine Stars and the Twelve Superhumans of Igrant. You know that every participant in the Reinhardt Masters’ Battle is a potential Master, right? After all, only Masters could challenge the Nine Stars and the Superhumans.”
Theta remained silent. Still, Tower Master Ian continued. “There are two reasons why you have to join this year’s Reinhardt Masters’ Battle. Firstly, we need to learn more about Code Zero and locate the target. Lastly, I’m getting old.”
“...!” Theta's eyes widened.
“Shouldn't I prepare a successor at the very least?”
“Tower Master?” asked Theta, seemingly dumbfounded.
“And my successor should have enough credibility as one of the Nine Stars. Otherwise, the people will ignore our Magic Tower.”
“But why must it be m—” Theta muttered.
Ian and Theta’s gaze met in mid-air, and the former explained, “It’s because you have already reached the border.”
Theta trembled. “You knew?”
“Who do you think I am? I have long noticed the subtle shift in the mana around you. In terms of pure magic, only me and Evergrant can rival yours.”
“...” Theta kept his mouth shut.
“Theta,” Ian called out.
“Yes, Tower Master.” Ian’s eyes brightened at Theta’s quick reply as he said, “I want you to avenge Jack’s death, and I also want you to remind everyone that our Magic Tower is still standing. You’re the only one who can do this…”
Ian stared at the silent Theta for a while before asking, “Are you up to the task?”
At that, Theta sighed and turned around. He was silent for a while before saying, “I’ll try my best.”
On the top floor of the Magic Tower, Tower Master Ian’s satisfied voice echoed softly throughout the floor as he grinned gently and said, “It is settled, then.”
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