***Chapter 270 Moonlight Legacy III***

15,000 soldiers against 1,000.

It was a battle in which the inferior side should have had no chance of victory.

Yet, they were terrified of this small force.

*"Surrender. I do not favor futile battles."*

In the center between armies, walking in midair, was a man.

His black robe fluttered in the wind, bearing the emblem of crescent moon shining on the capital, his long hair and beard swaying.

The soundless voice echoed in the minds of all present.

It was as if the inside of their head was being stirred, sending a chill down everyone's spine.

Everyone understood who it was, even if they didn't say his names.

The Magic Emperor Elgainst Ramil, leading the all magicians of the continents.

――Also known as Alberinea.

"It’s just a bluff! Don't worry about it, he’s just walking in the sky, they don't have magic weapons or Jareia Gashea! Archers, come forward!!"

The opposing general, Genirua, on the other hand, shouted.

He had exerted all his effort to disperse the invading Kleimeer forces coming from the Far East.

Elgainst’s right-hand man, Waltza Remin, was far to the south. The enemy was unable to coordinate with their ally, and was isolated with only about 1,000 soldiers.

However, the number 1,000 was abnormal.

Anyone with a rational mind wouldn’t made their main force so small. And instead of fortifying themselves in the rear fortress, they chose to confront on this plain.

The utmost caution was taken against ambush soldiers.

There was nothing in the fort, and there was no enemy in sight for dozens of li around this battlefield.

If those thousand were a thousand units of Jarea Gashea, it would be another matter, but they were merely soldiers.

There should have been no chance for them to win. But here, Kleinmeer’s leader Elgainst appeared openly.

Genirua issued orders to dispel the unease among his troops.

Kleinmeer’s threat lay in the magical weapons inherited from Alberan.

Without those, their conditions wouldn’t differ much.

Elgainst’s surroundings were engraved with lightning-like blue formula.

The unknown that thing the Kleinmeer magicians called magic.

But they must end it before it was unleashed.

"――Advance! Archers, target that nuisan, guh――!"

――In an instant, a blue light connected Elgainst and the general.

Anyone near the general would have heard the sound.

A sound like that of an egg cracking.

The helmet shaped like a leopard fell to the ground, and blood rained from the horseback.

The soldiers froze, realizing their highest commanding officer no longer had a head.

The man floating in the air waved his arms and drew countless lines in the sky.

The technique, which was engraved smoothly yet fast like a lightning, swelled, producing three lights

All the man did was point his palms forward, and they fly into the line of battle with unimaginable speed.

The flash gouged out the three corps commanders who were there, along with the terrain, and wiped them out with an explosion.

The soldiers, stunned, turned to face their commander who had disappeared.

――Once again, the soundless voice echoed in their heads.

*"I do not favor futile battles. Remove your helmets and lay down your swords. You have no chance of winning."*

Those who had been frozen in place looked up at the man floating in the air.

One knelt down and put down his sword and helmet, and those around him followed suit.

Alberan God of War, unknown to no one on the continent.

Her name had faded into the distance, and it should have been lost.

However, what was in front of them now was something that called itself Alberinea.

The Absolute who they should never cross.

A god among men, equal to Dragons.

He turned, descending as if walking down stairs towards his subordinates.

The mere thousand soldiers raised a loud cheer, chanting only one name to honour their lord, Alberinea.

Yet, as the man watched the joy and praise, he neither boasted nor rejoiced in the title.

He closed his eyes without saying anything.

Inside the large tent used for sleeping.

Elgainst was writing on parchment when an old man arrived with the sound of hooves.

“Waltza, how’s it going?”

"It's going great. We'll be able to go south as it is, so I'll leave it to my grandson."

His hair, wrinkled and slicked back, was pure white.

However, Waltza sat opposite the ageless Elgainst with the same old smile

His hair almost touched the ground when seated, and his beard reached his chest. Despite being well over a century old, he showed no signs of aging.

His narrow eyes, which made it hard to tell if they were open or closed, the deep wrinkles between his eyebrows, and the length of his hair and beard gave him an older look, but his appearance remained the same.

"It seems you've done something quite reckless, haven't you? I've brought an army with you, so stay just behind me like an emperor."

"It wasn’t reckless, just a performance. The enemy seemed foolish. …Freezing up against magician and letting them made a long speech. I wanted to eliminate them before they could prepare countermeasures."

For those who didn't know, the magic engraved in the air was an irrational force.

But humans using it weren’t omnipotent.

The destructive power was no more than high-powered siege bows, but in terms of overall power, Boumje Ira, which explodes magic crystals, was more powerful.

A magician who has learned magic engravings is simply a mobile siege weapon, and is by no means invincible, and was is difficult to accurately aim at magic possessors who move around at high speed.

There weren’t many magicians who could unilaterally wipe out magic possessors who took evasive action.

‘Currently’, even for Elgainst, the highest level magician, in the end was still fall within the realm of human.

If those 15,000 had just come desperately towards them, Elgainst would have died too.

However, people are afraid of the unknown.

A single individual, unfazed, removed the general's head from the battle line and displayed it.

The blow to morale caused by such a performance was tremendous.

A battle was not about reducing numbers, but about demoralizing each other.

If the will to fight is broken, no matter how large the army, only one head needs to be taken.

"That's why I released the prisoners, and they'll probably make a fuss over there if they think I'm scary...Let's keep going without stopping the momentum. While the smokescreen, that is magic engraving is in effect, the battle would be one-sided.”

“Indeed. They now believe Alberinea is still here.”

Elgainst reacted to those words and glared at Waltza.

“… I am still not convinced. I will never be convinced.”

“Just accept it. You are Alberinea. Make the people understand that. …Whether you accept it or not, I’m a soldier and I will demand what’s necessary.”

“The name Alberinea is not one that people can use lightly.”

"That Alberinea threw everything away and left it to us. I'm sure she won't have any complaints."

The old man said, ‘Get used to it’ exasperatedly, and folded his arms.

“Thanks to that name, many people have followed us...Aside from you, all the young people are thinking of you as Alberinea's successor, with a glittering eyes. Such support is essential for the peace you speak of. A country cannot exist without symbols.”

"...I don't want to understand."

"...That part of you hasn't changed since you were a kid, Elgainst. Look, aside from you, I'm an old man who even has a great-grandchild. How old do you think I am?"

Waltza gestured to his wrinkled face with his finger.

"You invited me, Elgainst. In return, you will abide by the conditions I give you. That's what we agreed upon."

"...Coward."

"Soldiers seek results. Unfortunately, unlike you, I can only see what's in the immediate future."

Standing up, Waltza stretched his back.

“I’m old. Long journeys are tough. …Let’s finish this quickly so I can rest. Once this war is over, there’ll be peace for a while.”

“…Right.”

‘I'm going to sleep, said Waltza, and left the tent just as he had arrived.

Elgainst watched him go, then looked at the pendant around his neck――‘Frying Pan’.

"...peace, huh?"

The unchanged engraving still shone as it did in his childhood, despite the passing decades.

"...After that, what on earth should I do...Alberinea?"

Elgainst just looked at it and muttered.

No one could hear that voice.

―― It was thirty years after she disappeared that he unraveled that magic crystal.

After listening to Waltza's words, he did the bare minimum and became the director of the Magic Research Institute, and from then on, he continued to face the magic crystal that she had left behind every day.

At first, he worked alone, not seeking help

It was not work but Elgainst’s own issue.

While doing his job as director, Elgainst spent his free time doing this, but without realizing it, the magicians who finished their work began to visit Elgainst.

Though he refused, saying he wouldn’t pay, they insisted on helping, eventually joining the work energetically as if it were their own.

Elgainst realized that Alberinea was also an irreplaceable presence for them.

Like him, they deeply mourned her absence.

It was not a job.

However, it wasn't just Elgainst's problem.

After he realized this, he started spending more time talking with them.

Previously, he thought he couldn’t relate to them.

There was no one who could answer Elgainst's questions, and they were walking far behind Elgainst.

But he was no different from them.

Just as Elgainst was trying to understand Alberinea, they were also trying to understand Alberinea and Elgainst.

When he realized this, he pondered just what everything he felt could be expressed as.

Then Elgainst learned to look back and decided to lecture them step by step, as one would do to a child.

Just like Alberinea did for him.

Little by little, they were able to understand Elgainst's words, and they began to give useful opinions on the elucidation of the magic crystal.

In particular, the Magic Analysis Machine would not exist without them.

When he once again thought about what the difference between Alberinea and himself was.

Everyone believed that there was purely a huge gap in pure thinking ability, and one of them suddenly said that they wished there was a way to get even just a little bit closer to it.

For Elgainst, these words were like a revelation.

Elgainst saw Alberinea as someone he could never reach or catch up with.

Eternally incomprehensible figure, like the moon.

However, that was for individually.

If alone was not enough he could use all available technology to supplement their cognitive abilities.

Applying Jarea Gashea's signal processing, they incorporate a formula that would do calculation processing for them.

Combining multiple high-purity magic crystals in parallel to increase processing power and analyze the magic crystals she left behind.

After 10 years of research, from production to analysis, it came to the conclusion that it was impossible.

The analyzer said that it was a puzzle that theoretically could never be solved.

Everyone was disappointed, but Elgainst was different.

The magic analyzer clearly taught them the fact that it would never be possible to solve the problem with conventional, existing means.

Alberinea's magic crystal was placed on a pedestal, and there were dozens of magic analyzers surrounding it.

The magicians looked down, and only Elgainst approached the pedestal.

"...Is that what she meant?"

“Director...?”

What Elgainst remembered was what he saw that day.

The formula was engraved into the space around him, dancing, and he felt as if he was trapped inside the magic crystal.

“A long time ago, Alberinea said that it was easy once you understood it.…Maybe that’s what she meant.”

Crushing one magic crystal and turn it into magical power.

Then, he grasped that magic power and engraved the formula inside it.

“…That’s”

"It’s what she showed me that day when Alberinea departed. ...I did thought maybe, but…by grasping the dense magical power and engrave the formula inside it, the magic would be just as effective as engraving it on a magic crystal.''

It's a shift in thinking, Elgainst says.

Alberinea filled the world with magic power through Heavenly Pole.

He finally understood the reason.

It's easy once you understand――Elgainst knew that. He was being taught.

That was definitely not something that Alberinea could have done.

In the first place, Alberinea and the others could use magic without using magic crystals.

The way they fought in the sky, and the formula he saw that day, wouldn't work if it wasn't for that.

Why didn't he notice――It was because he didn't try to remember.

About that day when he thought he had been abandoned.

But, no.

Alberinea had not abandoned him.

Thirty years ago, she illuminated his next path.

"...This magic crystal rejects all interference. No new spells can be carved into it. However, the spell can be carved on the outside."

What is in front of him was a magic crystal that can never be solved.

In the first place, it's a magic crystal that didn’t even need to be solved.

After assembling a formula to disassemble magic power, the magic crystal was gradually disassembled from the outside.

The magic crystal melted into magic power, becomes smaller, and the endless puzzles that troubled Elgainst and the others disappear.

Leaving only the central part, in front of Elgainst.

It was not that Elgainst stopped it there. The moment it touched there, the magic crystal stopped Elgainst's formula.

His hands were shaking.

When he reached out to the magic crystal and poured magical power into it, which no longer had any barriers――it shone brightly and collapsed, creating a blue mist and forming an image.

"Alberinea..."

The mages stiffened, and so did Elgainst.

“Selene, ready? Hmm...watching this mean you unlocked the magic crystal Krische left behind.''

The beautiful Alberinea smiled, her voice as sweet as ever.

*“Krische made it so that it would be easy to solve by engraving the formula with fuyo-fuyo, but it's quite. Krische made Jagashanka so you can't solve it properly, so please give up.”*

As if looking at Elgainst, and yet not.

He understood it was a message.

*“――Magic should not be used for evil, but for peace.”*

She raised a finger sternly, repeating ‘don’t use it for evil’.

It was a nostalgic sight of her acting like an older sister in her young form.

"...Ah, it might be unlikely but, if Krische is still nearby, then call Krische to come and Krische'll praise you directly."

Alberinea said, waving her hand.

That was the end of the message.

The image fades, and Elgainst stretches out his hand, but it flies through the air without touching anything.

No one said a word, confused by the ending, which seemed too simple considering decades of hard work had come to fruition.

Everyone looked at each other, wondering if just one word was the end, and Elgainst looked at his hands that hadn't touched anything, and then looked back at them.

"……thank you"

And then he just bowed his head.

"Director..."

“...It may have been a disappointing result for you guys, but in the first place, this is definitely what it was meant to be. ...This was created in order to give us magic――magic.”

He continued, ‘saying it couldn't have been done without all of you’.

"...I probably wouldn't have noticed it on my own. I was able to notice it because I created the Magic Analyzer together with all of you. I knew the answer thirty years ago, but I took a long detour.''

He said as if he was laughing at myself, and then ‘aah’ he realized.

‘...What do you think Her Majesty and Alberinea were trying to make peace for? It was for the people to live happily right.’

‘The most important thing is to do your best for someone's little happiness.’

When he thought back, it was always only about himself.

Even though he was being taught something more important, it seemed like he understood it, but he didn't.

Seventeen magicians in front of Elgainst.

Those who have devoted much of their lives to supporting Elgainst for years and decades.

Even those who fell down along the way entrusted their wishes, leading them to this place.

Hearing such a message here was perhaps the greatest happiness.

“...Alberinea gave us magicians a place to live and happiness. We have received enough. That is why we will give the happiness we have received to the people.'”

As his grandfather said,

‘...First of all, understand that magic is a tool for that purpose.’

That's the beauty of magic.

"...Magic is a tool, a means to make people happy. The technology we mentioned earlier, which was named magic, is the same thing. I want all of you who are here to understand that first."

A formula that could be engraved into space.

The restrictions of the magic crystal that existed until now no longer exist.

With the immense magic power of the Heavenly Pole, the possibilities were endless.

"Magic is a great power that should be for the people, not for ourselves. ...And Alberinea was probably entrusting it to us to the future, believing that we would use it that way."

The power of magic was for peace.

That was the only point she wanted to get across.

"Her Majesty and Alberinea are gone――eventually, this country, which has lost its guideposts, will follow the path of destruction. War may once again strike the world."

And they were given the tools to do so.

There was only one thing to do.

"To leave this peaceful world...the legacy illuminated by moonlight in a good form for future generations. I will continue to work hard to achieve that goal."

If that was Alberinea's wish, there was no need to think about it.

"Thank you for following me up until now. ...And once again, I would like to ask for your cooperation if you here, received the same message."

――I need you, he continued.

He would never be able to do it alone.

Just as Alberinea had built relationships with many heroes, Elgainst also needed allies.

"...No need for that after all this time, Director. You have shown us many paths. ...and in the future too. We will only move forward, aiming for you as thr guidepost."

One person stepped forward and placed a hand on Elgainst's shoulder, who had bowed his head.

"You are Alberinea, and we, ...Nothing has changed and we will follow you as always."

When he looked up, the magicians smiled and nodded, saying the same thing.

Dumbfounded, he covered his eyes with his hand to suppress rising emotions.

"...Thank you. I'm proud to have solved Alberinea's crystal with all of you."

"We are proud to be with a magician like you."

‘But it's good’, he continued.

"The world created by Her Majesty and Alberinea――the one that protects the legacy of moonlight. … calling it as is in the old language, Kleinmeer, how’s that?"

"... Kleinmeer"

“From now on, this name will represent our unity, Director.”

――Then, Elgainst secretly took control of magic weapons and prepared for the coming day.

He made plan with Waltza, and it was in the 123rd year of Unification that he took advantage of the times and started.

It was about eighty years after Alberinea departed.

Elgainst continued to be the leader they needed.

He called himself Alberinea, and told the people that he is her rightful successor, and spoke to his followers.

For the people, for Alberinea.

Aside from the shameless act of claiming Alberinea's name, moving for the mission was fulfilling.

It was along the shining path Alberinea had shown.

After conquering the eastern continent, peace would return.

Alberan ended, and Kleinmeer began.

After the reign of the Children of God, those who protected their legacy.

Due to the concerns of the people and his own thoughts, Elgainst did his best to not change the state of the country from the Alberan era.

The royal council quickly stabilized, and so did local politics.

Just like Alberinea, Her Majesty the Queen was a great monarch worthy of being called Child of God.

The system she created was so perfect that even without the presence of a king, the country could be managed without any problems, and remained stable for half a century.

Elgainst decided to use himself as a symbol, and as per the previous rules, the main body of politics was the parliament.

Gradually, the people accepted Elgainst, the country became stable, and the chaotic public order soon calmed down.

The feeling of being trapped, as if his neck was being strangled with cotton wool, turned from a premonition to certainty.

Kleinmeer inherited Alberan, a nation that was completed in the first place.

Using the power of magic given to him by Alberinea, he reunited the continent in a short period of time.

――The world was at peace.

Then, what should he do next?

The more he thought about it, the more he felt like everything in front of him was going dark, and he felt like he was having trouble breathing.

As if to escape from that, Elgainst resumed his research alongside his political duties.

It wasn't supposed to be a bad day.

On the contrary, from the magicians' point of view, Elgainst was spending his time in a place that could be called paradise.

Abundant funds, Heavenly Pole ――enormous magical power given by the World Tree.

Now that he had the revolutionary power of magic, he could uncover many unknowns and reach out to everything that was previously beyond his comprehension.

There was an unknown in front of Elgainst that could not be solved even if it took a lifetime.

People praise Elgainst.

Revering him as both emperor and Alberinea.

What Elgainst had gained could be described as everything in this world.

Even so, what Elgainst felt was a sense of confinement.

On days that should be filled with happiness, he felt empty and at a loss.

The joy of knowing comforted Elgainst for a moment, but it soon faded into nothingness.

“…To learn, to uncover, and then what?”

He sat on the branch of the World Tree and looked down.

The white city of moonlight came into his eyes, and he looked at it and touched the branch on which he was sitting.

It's fun to know things he didn’t know.

He knew the joy it brought, and he hadn’t lost it.

Many of the magicians simply spent their days smiling and enjoying the joy of seeking knowledge.

When Elgainst devised new magic, they rejoiced. When he taught them something simple, they looked at him with admiration.

He understood their feelings and found them endearing.

Once, he too was like them, one of them.

Alberinea was the unknown――a great pioneer and an eternal goal.

Something that he tried to understand but couldn’t fully understand.

There was nothing more gratifying than such an existence for those who seek it, and the infinite unknown that was now in front of Elgainst was probably equivalent to that.

In a sense, the quest for knowledge was equivalent to a meal for a magician.

The finest dishes were lined up in front of them.

No matter how much they ate, they were still hungry, and the options for cooking were endless.

He was given a fork and a knife, and a plate was placed in front of him ―― but for some reason, his hands stopped.

Though he knew the food was delicious and satisfying, he couldn’t bring himself to reach for it.

With a gesture, he engraved a formula.

The magic transformed and created a likeness.

The figure of a girl appeared, unchanged, smiling kindly at Elgainst.

"...I have unlocked your magic crystal. The world will remain peaceful, just as you wished."

The girl just smiled.

“I have become much better at magic since then.”

There was no response. The image dissipated, and tears rolled down his cheeks as he looked down.

A small drop of rain fell from the height of the World Tree onto the city below.

No one noticed the rain falling from the cloudless night sky.