The Ulburg Duchy was located in the northern part of the Empire.
It had vast territories, but the largest portion consisted of dense, thick coniferous forests.
Many beasts lived in the forest, and rumors said that spirit beasts also dwelled there.
Freuden Ulburg once again set foot in his family's domain.
"The young master has arrived."
As he opened the door and entered, the family's knights lined up and bowed their heads respectfully.
They wore uniforms embroidered with the wolf emblem and were the Wolf Knights who protected the family.
The welcome might have been burdensome, but Freuden nodded with an unsurprised face.
This wasn't anything new, and he had more important matters at hand.
"Where is the head of the family?""As always, he went to the forest."
"I see."
And the same applied to this man who was now lazily casting his fishing line.
Though he outwardly welcomed with a smile, it was David, the current head of Ulburg, who organized and meticulously managed this dense information network.
That's why Freuden asked for help despite not having a good relationship with his father.
"Haha. To think I'd live to see this day. My son is actually asking me for a favor."
David burst into laughter, seemingly pleased with the fact.
Freuden was truly a son he cherished deeply.
Despite the pressure of being the next head of the family, he was bearing it well and still showing the excellent image of a wolf.
"But you're still immature."
"...Are you talking about me?"
Freuden asked, twitching slightly.
Having heard similar words from Rudger, Freuden couldn't help but react sensitively.
"What part of me is immature?"
"The fact that you react that way is proof of your immaturity. But more importantly... you hide your emotions too much."
"...Hiding emotions is natural."
"Yes. It's natural. But you hide them excessively. By doing so, you're practically advertising that you're deliberately hiding your emotions."
Freuden was left speechless at David's words.
"Truly not showing emotions means making others unaware that you're hiding your emotions in the first place."
"Are you saying you can do that?"
"I don't do it anymore because I don't need to hide. But son, you're not there yet."
David turned his gaze back to his fishing rod.
The float bobbing gently on the quiet lake showed no signs of movement.
"So who are you trying to find that you've come to ask me directly like this?"
"...It's a personal matter."
"Is it something your family shouldn't know about?"
"It's not something Lord Head needs to worry about."
"You seem concerned about that commoner girl."
"...!"
Freuden widened his eyes at David's words.
He glared at David's back as if asking how he knew.
David, without turning around, burst into laughter as if he knew what expression Freuden was making.
"Did you think I wouldn't know about such things? You seem to underestimate your father too much. That's a bit disappointing."
"...It must be Henry's doing."
"Stop that. Henry actually kept his mouth shut intentionally to maintain his friendship with you. I have many ears and eyes besides Henry. Well, I also had some help from a certain cranky old man."
David laughed flippantly, in a manner unbefitting the head of the family.
He eventually wiped his smile and slowly stood up to face Freuden.
"It's been quite some time already. Almost 10 years since that day when you were kidnapped."
"..."
Freuden didn't respond but recalled the same incident.
When Freuden was younger and much more arrogant than now, a youngster intoxicated with noble privilege, he was kidnapped.
The reason was also his own fault: Freuden, who was riding in a carriage for an outing, insisted on taking a detour through a longer route because he didn't want to take the usual path.
The Ulburg family was one of the three great ducal houses, but there were many families who kept them in check.
Freuden came into view of such people, and what followed was predictable.
The carriage was attacked, and Freuden was kidnapped by unidentifiable individuals.
That day was unforgettable for Freuden.
It was the day he first realized the harsh reality outside his family, but also because that misfortune, through twists and turns, presented him with an unforgettable connection.
"After being kidnapped, you were rescued by someone, and it took more than a month before you returned to my arms."
"..."
"But in that month, you grew from a clueless kid into a manlier person. I found that both regrettable and admirable."
"...Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I have a feeling this time is similar."
Looking at David's smiling face, Freuden realized why he was wary of his father, the head of the family.
His behavior was unbecoming of a noble family.
He was somewhat frivolous, flippant, and showed no trace of dignity no matter how hard one looked.
"Son. Fall in love."
David gently advised Freuden.
Fall in love? Isn't that something you'd find in a romance novel?
Nobles cannot freely fall in love.
They are bound to their families.
Born with the fate of having to enter loveless political marriages for the sake of their family.
"Do your best to be with the person you love."
This was especially true for the Ulburg family, one of the three great ducal houses.
The greater the reputation of the family, the greater the pressure it exerts.
Yet David was telling Freuden to fall in love, not to enter a political marriage.
"Even if it fails."
David nodded as if to say it was okay.
"The fact that you loved will remain in your heart."
Freuden realized the source of the displeasure he felt when looking at David.
It was self-loathing.
He always vowed not to become like the incompetent family head when looking at him.
But in the end, he realized that he was the son of such a head and not much different from him.
He wore a mask, deceiving his own heart.
He thought this was right, that this was natural.
So while he envied the honest David, he killed that emotion.
"Finally, you're seeing yourself properly."
David, who noticed this change in Freuden, burst into a broad smile, proud of him.
"...I just realized I'm still a youngster."
"Yes. We all are. That's how you grow step by step. Still, to realize this at your age, you truly are my son. Come, let me give you a hug."
Freuden raised his hand to stop David, who was approaching with open arms.
"That's a bit..."
"Hmm. Still too early for a hug? But since you've gathered your resolve, good. I'll provide you with assistance as you asked."
"Will you send the knights?"
"Someone even better."
-Awoooooo.
The howl of a wolf was heard from afar.
Freuden momentarily questioned the beast's sound coming from deep within the forest.
"This is...?"
Between the densely rising coniferous trees, navy blue shadows were seen moving swiftly.
Just as Freuden raised his guard, countless wolves revealed themselves around the lakeside.
"Don't be afraid. These children will help you."
"What exactly are these wolves?"
"My friends. And soon, they'll be your friends too."
No sooner had David finished speaking than a wolf emerged through the pack.
It had a body three times larger than the other wolves and was sleek. Its deep navy blue fur was like seeing the early evening sky.
The magical power flowing gently over its fur and dispersing like a mirage around it was a spectacular sight.
"A spirit... beast?"
"It's the guardian of our family and my longtime friend. This is your first time seeing it directly, I assume. I was planning to introduce you when I handed over the family's leadership, but I didn't expect the opportunity to come so soon."
"This spirit beast will guide me?"
"Yes. This child will find the person you're looking for. No matter where they are."
Even if it's at the end of the continent.
David approached the spirit beast and gently stroked its neck.
The spirit beast closed its eyes, feeling David's touch.
"I'm asking for your help, friend."
At David's words, the wolf spirit beast opened its starlight-like eyes and nodded.
The wolf spirit beast lowered its body. After staring at it for a moment, Freuden gathered his resolve and mounted it.
"...Thank you."
Before leaving, Freuden expressed his gratitude to David and disappeared like the wind with the spirit beast.
After sending off his son with the wolf spirit beast, David sat back by the lake and cast his fishing rod.
"In my life, I even got to hear a thank you from my son. Is this the fulfillment of being a father?"
His smiling expression turned cold.
"The situation has changed. The Bretus Theocracy, the Pablo family, and various magic factions. Above all, Lumos, you're finally making your move too."
His eyes were directed at the calm water surface.
"I wonder what's about to unfold in the Empire. I hope it brings great fortune."
"I heard there were many black magicians until recently."
"After receiving the news from you, I've been making efforts to contact black magicians in my own way. Especially since curse magic is important, I've been searching for black magicians proficient in that area."
"So did you find them?"
"I did. The Ancient Curse School. It's not just a name. It's actually historically old, and its origins are rooted in magic from hundreds of years ago. They were treated as black magicians because they were more vicious than modern curse and counter-curse magic, but the core is the same. And currently, the head of that school is estimated to be at least Tier 5."
"Tier 5. Not bad for a black magician, but it might not be enough."
"I said at least. They don't reveal themselves much externally, but considering that black magicians typically hide their power more than is known, they could be Tier 6."
"Is a person of that caliber hiding on this island?"
"That's because it's Isla Machina."
In Isla Machina, the black magician society was quite intricately organized.
The New Magic Tower, the actual power in Isla Machina, doesn't just leave them be for no reason.
Not only did the black magicians bring in money, but the main reason was that eradicating them wasn't easy.
"But a problem has arisen. The pipeline I had just established has fizzled out due to a recently rising power."
"You mean those humans with pale skin."
"Yes. I don't know what these suddenly appeared guys did, but they've swallowed several black magician schools and become enormously powerful."
Rudger nodded.
Considering that the Hellish Magic School had fled after being defeated in this fight, it was a predetermined course.
'It must be the experimental corps controlled by Nikolai. Now I understand why he's chasing me. I don't know how he knew I came here, but he probably thought it was a golden opportunity to kill me, someone he deeply resented.'
Nikolai was moving as if he would devour the black magician forces and dominate the darkness of Isla Machina but the black magicians wouldn't give in easily.
Feeling the crisis, they formed an alliance, unlike their usual individual actions.
"Currently, the black magician alliance and the new force are at a stalemate, but it's like a time bomb that could explode at any moment."
"We need to reconnect the pipeline with that curse magician."
"That's the real problem."
Gabriel paused before speaking.
"Although it's a stalemate now, the fighting continues. And unfortunately, the Ancient Curse School got involved."
"Don't tell me that's why the pipeline fizzled out?"
"That's right."
"They haven't been annihilated, have they?"
"They're not completely ruined yet. But they're not in a position to come out and make contact with us."
Gabriel looked at Rene with a regretful gaze and murmured.
"So we have to go find them ourselves."
They had to move directly into the center of that battlefield.