MPNS Ch 24

Chapter 24

The pallor in Lucien’s complexion, once pale, had regained a touch of color due to the recent commotion, making him appear far more handsome than when Nikiel had first seen him.

However, from Lucien’s profile — his gaze directed elsewhere — Nikiel could read traces of discomfort and unease.

‘Being embarrassed is one thing, but his expression is really bad.’

It seemed that surpassing the level of light skinship, like a handshake, with someone he normally despised — and going straight into an embrace, complete with an impromptu tango or samba — had put Lucien in a foul mood.

At such times, Nikiel thought, it was better for the one at fault — himself — to withdraw from the scene.

Moreover, to be honest, Nikiel didn’t particularly wish to remain here with him for long while still burning from embarrassment.

In terms of who had been more flustered, he felt he himself had the worse of it.

‘I only meant to shake his hand and show him my holy power… and suddenly I’ve been turned into some kind of pervert.’

This made it seem like his original plan to simply insist on a handshake would have been a hundred times better.

Just like with the other two, he had failed to soften even a bit of the hostility directed toward him, and that stung. He told himself it was a strategic retreat, but the truth was, there wasn’t much else he could do.

Nikiel’s thoughts about the Subjugation Tournament had shifted thanks to his research into magical beasts. Previously, when Yullan had told him not to go, he’d inwardly rejoiced with, “Yes. What would I even do there?”

But now, Nikiel dearly wished to witness magical beasts — mawūl — in person at the tournament and compile an ecological record of their group behavior.

Researchers are often obliged to rehash the same well-worn topics over and over again, because truly novel themes don’t attract funding — and topics that do bring in funding are often absurd.

“On the Practical Application Experiments of Lightning Arising from Thor’s Hammer: A Research Thesis Correlating the Energy to the Amount Required to Power 1,000 Households for One Month.”

You couldn’t expect him to work on something that ridiculous. On that note, the magical beasts of Ossinis were a gold mine for a zoologist specialized in animal ecology like Nikiel.

Completely untouched, pure research subjects. For someone with a PhD in ecology, the excitement was irresistible.

‘I absolutely have to go to the Subjugation Tournament.’

For the first time in a while, Nikiel felt ablaze with passion. He had even decided on his research topic — starting by categorizing magical beasts into harmful and non-harmful species.

But among the four commanders, one had yet to even show his face, the other two looked ready to devour him at first sight, and the last one — Lucien — now seemed to think of him as a deviant.

Nikiel found the situation unfair.

‘Still… it’s not like he looks as if he can’t stand the sight of me.’

Thankfully, Lucien did seem to have felt his holy power upon contact. Just as embracing the bird had allowed Nikiel to breathe more easily, after being held by Lucien he felt his whole nervous system relax.

Lucien appeared the same — the sickly pallor shifting into a livelier complexion, calling to mind a cream-colored rose blushed with pink toward its center.

If Yullan and Raymon were the distinctly masculine kind of handsome, Lucien — despite his broad shoulders, tall stature, and thick pectorals that showed clearly through his clothing — had the fine lines of a beauty rather than a handsome man.

Though not as willowy as Nikiel himself, Lucien still carried the clean, pure elegance of a refined beauty. And when that face came alive with color, he looked as if a flower had bloomed — impossibly beautiful.

Seeing that the contact had seemingly improved his complexion, Nikiel watched him carefully. This was likely Lucien’s first genuine contact with him.

The king had wanted Nikiel to subdue the four commanders with his holy power — a plan that failed because Nikiel, in truth, was petty and cowardly — but the king’s scheme had nonetheless erected a wall between Nikiel and the commanders.

Thus, this was probably the first true moment of contact for Lucien as well.

‘They may hate me now, but once they realize this is a win–win between us, we might be able to form at least some kind of amicable alliance.’

If that happened, Nikiel felt, he could conduct his magical beast research much more comfortably.

Having suddenly found himself in a strange new world, Nikiel had devoted himself first to maintaining his health — but that didn’t mean this place was comfortable to him.

Meals, for example, had to be formally moved to the dining room of the Prince’s Palace, which already clashed with the sensibilities of a practical modern man like Nikiel.

The absence of electricity and the internet was also unpleasant.

‘Can’t believe being a grad student — the untouchable caste of the modern world — is easier than being born a medieval nobleman.’

The clothes were heavy, the summers were sweltering, there was no air conditioning. The Prince’s Palace did have magical stones that lit at night, but they were nowhere near as bright as modern electric lights.

And because magical stones were expensive and didn’t shine forever, if Nikiel tried to read all night, Paul — who managed the household of the Prince’s Palace — would rush over in quiet irritation.

The total amount of magical stones allotted to the Prince’s Palace was fixed, so Paul dropped subtle hints about conserving them — much like a frugal father scolding his son for wasting electricity by gaming all night.

No matter how many attendants followed him around to feed him, dress him, put him to bed, and handle all tedious chores, living as a moderately wealthy Korean was far easier.

So there was no way Nikiel could truly like this place. But then he had encountered the mysterious and beautiful beings called magical beasts.

That was why the Subjugation Tournament had become so crucial to him. He was still thinking how best to persuade Lucien that contact with his holy power was in Lucien’s own interest when—

Just as Nikiel opened his mouth to invite Lucien to the Prince’s Palace for a game of Knis¹ next time, a deafening roar came from the western forest of the palace grounds.

The ground shook, and the sound was like a thunderbolt striking nearby. A sudden, powerful gust nearly made Nikiel lose his balance completely.

Lucien caught him by the waist, pulling him into his arms, and spread open the collar of his summer frock coat to shield Nikiel from the wind.

“Jiki!”

From within Nikiel’s protective hold — where he’d been shielding the bird — came the sound of frantic wingbeats.

Nikiel’s eyes widened. The bird nestled snugly in his arms seemed to shrink slightly and slip free — and before he could grasp it again, he had lost hold of it.

“No—!”

Nikiel cried out in alarm. But with a sharp hiss like wind cleaving the air, the bird soared into the sky. The black hawk-eagle that had been quietly in his arms now beat its wings with purpose toward the side where the gust had come.

Gasping, Nikiel called out to the bird, which was already a dot in the distance.

“Where are you going?!”

“Your Highness, that bird is fine. It also serves as a scout, so for now you must let it go.”

“How can a baby bird be a scout?!”

Nikiel shouted, pale with worry. Lucien kept his stern gaze fixed on the western forest, then glanced down at Nikiel with a look that seemed to question whether he’d heard correctly.

But regardless of that look, Nikiel was too preoccupied with worrying about the hawk-eagle vanishing into the distance.

The last time it had returned with a wing injury, he’d been worried sick — and even if it looked healed on the outside, damage to wing muscles could affect flight for a long time.

He called for the bird to come back, but it was already too far away to see.

Lucien clicked his tongue and muttered in a quick, dry tone:

“Your Highness, I will return with utmost haste.”²

Before Nikiel could ask “Return from what?” Lucien grabbed him by the waist, hoisted him onto his shoulder like a sack, and sprinted toward the Prince’s Palace.

“W–what the—! Duke, what do you think you’re doing?!”

Lucien didn’t reply, simply ran. The force of the wind rushing past Nikiel’s ears was intense, his speed inhuman.

He was moving so fast that, slung over like a bag of salt, Nikiel felt as if his insides were being crushed.

‘I’m going to lose my breakfast—!’

By the time his face had gone pale, they were already entering the courtyard of the Prince’s Palace — despite the long distance.

Still dizzy, Nikiel was torn between awe at Lucien’s speed and the nausea of motion sickness.

While Nikiel’s head swam, Lucien set him down and called out to the palace guards:

“Assist His Highness! It seems a magical beast has appeared in the western forest. Seal the Prince’s Palace and protect His Highness until the flare signal is given!”

“Yes, Your Grace!”

The guards, startled at the sight of their lord slung over a duke’s shoulder, immediately braced to attention at Lucien’s words, moving to steady Nikiel.

Even with his head aching from the motion sickness, Nikiel found it galling.

‘These men… Not only are they out of shape, they can’t even call him out for hauling the prince like a sack…’

But before he could say anything, Lucien, still wearing that grim expression, dashed toward the western forest.

His speed was once again beyond that of a normal man, and even through nausea, Nikiel couldn’t help but be impressed. Sickly though he was, Lucien was, after all, the head of House Turun — and possessed strength beyond human limits.

Frowning through the pounding in his skull, Nikiel looked toward the western forest where Lucien had gone.

notes:

1. Knis (크니스): Likely a strategic two-player board game unique to this setting, akin to chess or Go.
2. “망극하겠습니다” in the original carries a formal, lofty tone and can mean “I will serve you with utmost loyalty” or “I will fulfill my duty to the extreme.” It’s very archaic and formal, fitting Lucien’s speech style.