Chapter 274 – Magicians of the Ancient Bloodline

Someone who knows about Mother…

I had thought there might be someone.

“…I think that’s probably right.”

“Probably?”

Still holding me, the person asks in a gentle voice.

“Mother went by the name Lisa.”

“I see… So she didn’t tell you about the old days.”

When I nod, she slowly pulls away. As she does, a hint of sadness briefly crosses her expression. It seems she sensed something foreboding in my words and Mother’s absence.

“I’m Valentina. I grew up with your mother like sisters. I was the younger one.”

Sisters… So that’s why she recognized me immediately despite my different hair color, since she was close with Mother. I take a deep breath and calm my heart.

“My name is Theodore. I had the opportunity to learn Mother’s spell formula and the other formula Her Highness Adriana had received from the academic alliance magician, so I came to return everyone’s memories. The issue you were concerned about has been resolved. The mastermind behind the incident has been defeated.”

“…I believe you. I’d like to hear more details, but everyone else is waiting too.”

Valentina stands up and addresses the Ancient Bloodline magicians whose memories haven’t returned yet.

“What this boy says is true. My memories have returned as well.”

Everyone’s gaze turns toward us, and one of them asks Valentina.

“About that mastermind you mentioned earlier?”

“You’ll understand once your memories return. I think explaining the circumstances now would only cause confusion.”

“…Understood.”

The man seemed satisfied with that.

“Then let’s proceed with restoring them in order.”

“In that case, I think it would be best to start with that person over there.”

Valentina indicates an elderly man with long white hair and a white beard. There are several people who carry the air of elders… and he’s one of them.

“Hmm. Me, is it?”

The old man rises with deliberate movements.

“Isn’t this person related to Theo? Their… eye colors are similar, you see.”

At Grace’s words, I look at the old man. …Indeed, they might be similar.

“That’s one reason too. He should also be familiar with the memory restoration magic.”

I see… If he entrusted the spell formulas to Mother and another magician, it makes sense that there would be someone who originally knew the complete form of the formula from the beginning.

If that’s the case, then by restoring his memories first, we can split up and restore everyone else’s memories from then on.

“I leave it in your hands.”

The old man, looking straight into my eyes, said quietly with a smile.

“Yes.”

I nod and proceed to use the Memory Release Formula as before. I deploy the Magic Circle and place my hand over his forehead. When the formula completes, the old man quietly opens his eyes.

“First… let me express my gratitude. My foggy head has cleared.”

Then he looks at my face and says.

“I see. Indeed, you resemble Patricia. Did you get your hair color from your father?”

“No. It’s actually the same color as Mother’s. I’ve just dyed it for disguise purposes… I’ll return it to normal once the situation stabilizes.”

“Is that so…”

After scrutinizing my face intently, the old man closes his eyes.

“You said your name was Theodore, didn’t you? I am Siegmund. Whether I have the right to call myself this or not, I suppose I would be your grandfather.”

“…Yes.”

…Grandfather. Even being told that, I can’t quite feel the reality of it.

“There’s one thing I wanted to ask. Why was Mother chosen to be the one sent out? Was it because she was the Sealing Shrine Maiden?”

When I ask this, Old Sigmund looks slightly surprised, but quickly regains his composure and answers.

“Well, we didn’t just send out the main candidates; we sent out several people. That one over there is one of them too.”

Old Sigmund points to the magician who had been under Subjugation Magic. The magician bows slightly at being mentioned.

Spreading them out would make it easier to escape, I suppose.

“As for Patricia, the reasons were the importance of her being the Sealing Shrine Maiden, her magical skills being sufficient to entrust with part of the technique, and trust that she wouldn’t betray us… But simply sealing memories wasn’t enough. The vice chancellor at the time was seeking someone of the Wilcloud family bloodline. He probably wanted to give symbolic meaning to the disclosure of technology through an engagement with the Wilcloud family.”

In other words, merely sealing memories was insufficient to protect her from Volheim. They needed to protect both the secret technique and the Sealing Shrine Maiden.

“Let me confirm something from our side as well. You said the mastermind had been defeated?”

“Yes. Both of the central figures involved in the academic alliance’s internal conflict.”

Since there are still those whose memories haven’t returned, I don’t mention Zadias or Volheim by name. But they should understand from that.

“…I see. We both likely have many things we want to say and ask, but let’s first complete what needs to be done.”

“Understood.”

The two of us split up and begin applying the memory release spell formulas.

“You have remarkably precise magic control for someone your age.”

“As expected of Lady Patricia’s son.”

As memories are restored, people offer words along with their self-introductions. Since there’s a line waiting, I can’t have long conversations with each person individually… but piecing together what I hear gradually, it seems the ones called elders are seven senior magicians.

The Ancient Bloodline is comprised of seven families, and the family heads have traditionally been called elders. Among them, my grandfather Old Sigmund’s family, the Wilclouds, apparently serve as the central figures among the seven families. And Valentina too is apparently someone from one of the elder families.

“May I have a moment?”

The king’s messenger approaches, looking somewhat apologetic.

“What is it?”

“His Majesty instructed us to assist you, but we haven’t been told the details. Does His Majesty know about this matter?”

“Yes. I received permission from His Majesty Eberhart and Her Highness Adriana.”

Both were present in the audience chamber, and it was the perfect opportunity to explain the situation. Both were quite surprised, but they also ended up requesting that I look after the elders.

“I see. Even though we can provide healing… I was somewhat wondering why you people were accompanying us… Now I understand. This matter… I will need to report to His Majesty…”

“Then could I ask you to handle that? I still have things to discuss here.”

“Understood. I have no intention of interfering with a family reunion either. Consider this part of the treatment process, and I’ll leave it in your hands here. I need to command the soldiers upstairs. I’ll leave a few soldiers here, so if anything comes up, please use them as messengers.”

“Yes.”

The messenger leaves the scene in my care and returns upstairs to command the soldiers. The magician who is Elliot’s acquaintance also went with the messenger, as he needed to have his Subjugation Magic removed.

After restoring everyone’s memories, we moved from the underground hall to the great library to continue our conversation. Once seated, Old Sigmund asks.

“Now that everyone’s memories have returned… first, could you tell us about Patricia?”

Old Sigmund, Valentina, and everyone else turn their attention toward me. Right. This is probably what they’re most concerned about too. It’s definitely not good news, but… I have to convey it properly.

I return a small smile to Grace and the others who are looking at me with concern, then begin speaking.

“This is what I know… Mother went to Termwills in the Kingdom of Verdugal and apparently worked as an adventurer there while delving into the Boundary Labyrinth.”

“The Boundary Labyrinth, huh… She was exceptionally talented in magic, but she sometimes had health issues. She probably thought that if she defeated monsters in the labyrinth and gained power, she could compensate for that.”

Probably… that’s right. I nod at Old Sigmund’s words and continue.

“She apparently attended Peresford Academy too. That’s where Mother met my father. Henry Verdim Gartner, a noble of Verdugal.”

“Count Gartner…”

“That would be the previous Count Gartner, I suppose?”

“Most likely.”

…I can’t avoid mentioning House Broderick either.

“There were apparently various complications regarding marriage talks between the previous Count and House Broderick… I haven’t heard the detailed story, but in the end, Father and Mother never married. So I’m considered the Count’s illegitimate child.”

When I say this, Old Sigmund frowns. …Well, this probably isn’t pleasant news for Old Sigmund either.

Perhaps noticing my gaze, Old Sigmund sighs.

“…I understand. Patricia was using a false name and didn’t reveal her identity. That’s my responsibility too. I can’t say much about that matter.”

I bow slightly at Old Sigmund’s words and continue.

“Mother fought a demon that attacked Verdugal six winters ago… She defeated it, but fell ill due to that battle—”

When I get that far, everyone makes pained expressions. I probably don’t need to say what comes next.

The Ancient Bloodline magicians. They’re all people who knew Mother… While I’m happy to have met them, thinking about what comes next also weighs on my heart. Because I absolutely have to convey this news.

“I see… We sent her out to protect her, and yet… in the end, we survived while Patricia never returned…”

Old Sigmund shakes his head.

For a while, silence dominates the room, but eventually Valentina speaks quietly.

“But… you came to us.”

Then Valentina looks straight at me.

“You, Patricia’s child and no one else, came to help us. That makes me happy. Patricia would surely…”

“…Yes, I think Mother would be pleased.”

That’s the kind of person Mother was. There’s no doubt about that. I answer with a small smile, and Valentina also smiles while wiping tears from her cheeks.

“Mother wasn’t disliked or driven out by those around her. If you say it was to protect her… then I’m glad I came here too.”

If these are people who would listen so seriously and think so carefully about Mother, then that makes me happy too.

“There’s just one thing I want to make clear. I remember the days I spent living with Mother as happy ones. Mother seemed happy too.”

“I see… So Patricia was happy.”

At my words, Old Sigmund smiles somewhat sadly.

“This place may not be that kind of place for you… but thank you for returning to us, my grandson.”

“…Yes. Grandfather.”

I take the hand he extends.

Grandfather, huh. It’s still a somewhat unfamiliar word. But this word too… will probably become more natural to say eventually.