The carriage arrived at the imperial palace not long after.
I, who had appeared in Duke Roam's carriage, naturally drew much attention. Whether my father had given some prior warning or not, there was no one bold enough to approach me, asking if I had been kidnapped and spreading rumors.
That was a bit disappointing. I had been looking forward to seeing my mother's face pale upon hearing the rumor that Roam had monopolized the Resurrected One, even resorting to kidnapping.
Of course, even without such troublesome efforts, my mother's complexion was already poor now. Because of me, the entire Roam family was becoming a spectacle.
My mother, who had always been the object of envy and subservient gazes, seemed to find the curious stares extremely displeasing.
However, the displeasure my mother faintly displayed posed no threat to anyone.
Only my father tried to shield her from the eyes of others.
"This way, please."
The place we were guided to was the central hall of the imperial palace. Originally, the audience chamber would have been opened, but I heard the location had been changed midway for some reason.
*Don't worry, it will go as you wish.*
When I contacted him via magical artifact last night, Xenon had said that with a confident smile.
At least regarding magic and the Magic Tower, he had assured me several times that I could trust him completely. While his words felt quite reckless at first, hearing them repeatedly made me somewhat hopeful.
*'Speaking of which, the Magic Tower's guarantee...'*
I had used many magical artifacts certified by the Magic Tower, but this was the first time I would witness the certification process itself.
Probably everyone present here would feel the same. After hearing about the 'Magic Tower's guarantee' from Xenon, I had looked it up separately, but even reading the written explanation didn't quite resonate.
*'Will Xenon step forward himself?'*
The thought that I might see his magic again after so long made my heart flutter slightly.
Although the number of his spells I had seen from the beginning wasn't many, those few spells were all beautiful. So, secretly wanting to see them again wasn't strange.
While I was lost in such thoughts, the gatekeeper announced the arrival of the Emperor and Heinri. Following them, Samuel in formal attire appeared with several priests.
The Emperor seated on the throne spoke first.
"We are pleased that you have responded to Our will to clearly reveal the truth of this incident."
At the Emperor's words, a priest presumed to be the representative of the Temple group stepped forward. Judging by his attire, he seemed to be a high-ranking priest.
"I am Morico, who serves the goddess. The Temple prays that the goddess's protection reaches the trembling citizens of the Empire as soon as possible."
Introducing himself as Morico, he turned his head with a benevolent smile.
A coincidence? Without hesitation, he accurately looked straight at me.
"And we believe the Resurrected One, blessed by the goddess, will ably resolve this incident."
At his softly added words, Lilia's shoulders trembled.
Lilia, who had tried to cause discord between the Temple and me, seemed bewildered that this monster attack incident was flowing in a direction that would elevate the Resurrected One's prestige.
It likely hadn't happened that way in the 'future' she knew, so her bewilderment was understandable.
"And the mage from the Magic Tower?"
The Emperor changed the topic as if he did not wish to hear about the Resurrected One.
According to Heinri, the Emperor was quite suspicious of my divinity, just as he was suspicious of the Magic Tower. He was thinking exactly as Lilia had intended.
*'Facing him like this, it's clear now.'*
It seemed certain that Heinri had been pulling strings separately. Seeing Heinri standing calmly beside the Emperor only solidified that thought.
"He has arrived."
Almost as soon as someone's report ended, the hall doors opened and Xenon appeared.
Although we had been communicating, it wasn't in a projected state, so seeing his face felt like it had been a very long time.
Was that why? It seemed his facial features had grown sharper over the past few days. How long had it been since I last saw his face? Had he been suffering more since then?
"Ah, you've come."
The Emperor seemed somewhat uncomfortable. Having consistently believed this incident was caused by magic, it might be a natural reaction.
However, regardless of the Emperor's discomfort, Xenon stood impassively.
He was wearing a robe that revealed his affiliation with the Magic Tower. It was slightly different from the splendid one he wore at the banquet, appearing more practical.
"I have heard the Magic Tower's guarantee supports only the truth."
Morico spoke first with a voice tinged with laughter. Xenon nodded toward him and replied.
"Yes, that is correct."
"It is said there is absolutely no falsehood because it is an oath sworn upon the caster's magical power."
A faint curiosity also seeped into Morico's voice. Seeing his sparkling eyes, I seemed to have seen correctly.
Xenon, perhaps annoyed by Morico's interest, gave only a short answer.
"Yes."
"It is much like a prayer offered to the goddess."
At those words, I saw Xenon subtly furrow his brow.
"Magical power is a force that exists in this land."
"The goddess also resides everywhere in this land."
Morico retorted with a smirk, and I clicked my tongue, thinking he was no ordinary person, when Morico suddenly turned to me and spoke.
"Is that not so, Resurrected One?"
Asking me, whose throat had been attached and then detached, such a thing...
"...Of course."
I could only affirm.
Besides, it was true that a goddess existed. Even if that goddess was quite different from what was commonly known.
Xenon, though awkward, did not let the remark slide. Instead, he glanced slightly toward the hall entrance.
Just then, a waiting imperial palace mage shouted.
"I sense a magical reaction!"
"It's the mages of the Magic Tower!"
The nobles gathered in the hall murmured softly. As everyone turned their gaze to the firmly closed hall doors, I looked at Xenon.
Xenon, who had been looking indifferently toward the entrance, glanced up at the ceiling. Then he shifted his gaze to me.
A spring-like warmth spread across his face, which had been impassive all along. Seeing the noticeably curving shape of his eyes, my stomach churned strangely.
*'If he can't even hide his feelings like that...'*
The higher the nobility, the more skilled they are at hiding their true feelings and freely changing their expressions. I too was taught that way, and everyone around me did so to me.
Thus, such openly displayed emotions brimming on his face could only feel unfamiliar.
In the past, I might have clicked my tongue, calling him an immature person who couldn't control himself.
But... well, seeing him unable to restrain his fond feelings like that didn't seem entirely bad.
"Ooh!"
A gasp from someone reached my ears, which had been briefly captivated by Xenon's smile.
Along with it came the sound of Xenon grimacing and muttering softly.
"Always so flashy."
In the center of the hall, I saw a whirlwind of light particles. It was a sight I had seen once before.
It was the warp magic I had seen when Xenon had suddenly warped to the middle of the garden.
"How dare you use magic in the heart of the imperial palace...!"
The indignant voice was drowned out by the sound of tearing air. A fierce wind swept through, causing the nobles' hems to flutter, and just as the startled guards stepped in front of the Emperor and drew their swords—
*Whoosh.*
The air suddenly settled into stillness, and in the place where the light particles disappeared, several shadows revealed themselves.
The first to step forward was the mage at the very front.
Behind the mage, who was surveying the surroundings to assess the situation, was another mage with a slightly smaller build who looked older.
Leaning on a staff, he wore a Magic Tower robe similar to Xenon's. On either side of him stood two wolves, revealing sharp intensity.
"It seems we have arrived correctly, Tower Master."
The mage who had been looking around spoke toward the mage with the staff. The Tower Master looked around with a displeased expression.
Just as the Emperor's guard knight was about to address them, one of the wolves standing beside the Tower Master growled lowly.
*[Fragile male! Came to save you!]*
The familiar voice and address made me feel like laughing for some reason. I clenched my molars, desperately holding back the rising laughter.
I wished I could act familiar right away, but it was a shame I couldn't.
*[My, little one. It's been a while.]*
A female wolf with a slightly smaller build than Nessi slowly walked toward Xenon.
Xenon reached out his hand toward the wolf without any tension.
"Gamon came too?"
It seemed this wolf named Gamon was likely the wolf said to be Nessi's companion.
"Warping into the heart of the imperial palace isn't enough, and now wild beasts too..."
A nearby noble muttered in a bewildered voice. He seemed unable to believe that beast footprints were being stamped on the beautiful hall of the imperial palace.
Of course, the Emperor seemed equally surprised. However, in addition to his surprise, he also appeared slightly angered.
From the Emperor's perspective, the Magic Tower's visit might have seemed to disregard procedure.
Whether unaware of this atmosphere or not, the Tower Master sharply shouted, striking the staff he held against the floor with a *thump thump*.
"Is this the place where my disciple was imprisoned?"
"T-Tower Master. This is the imperial palace."
"Imperial palace or whatever, you locked someone's precious disciple in a room with a magical nullification spell cast on it! You wretched things!"
My surprise at the unrestrained remarks made even in front of the Emperor was brief, and I soon furrowed my brow and tilted my head.
Someone's precious disciple?
"The Tower Master's disciple!"
"Good heavens, does that mean that mage is the next Tower Master?"
Amidst the astonished conversations, I looked at Xenon in a daze.
Xenon, who had been exchanging pleasantries with Gamon, felt my gaze and glanced this way. Seeing him cough awkwardly with an embarrassed face left me even more dumbfounded.
Judging by Xenon's reaction, my understanding seemed correct. But is that really alright?
Xenon is the Tower Master's disciple? The next Tower Master?
*'...Is the Tower Master trying to ruin the Magic Tower by doing that?'*
Where does he see in that fragile man to entrust the Magic Tower to him?