Published: August 10, 2026
Using the copied teleportation circle, I arrived at the national border gate. Since the inside of a national border gate doesn't differ much no matter where you go, the only way to tell is by the symbol of the great god drawn into the magic circle. There was the symbol of the goddess of earth, Gedrurihi, so this was definitely Classenburg's national border gate.
"All I have to do is pour mana in here, right? ...Gultrishite!"
I took out The Book of Mestionora, moved up to the wall, and pressed it against the national border gate with a smack. I'd done the same thing at Ehrenfest, Dunkelfelger, and Arensbach's national border gates, so mana replenishment was easy.
...Easy peasy, easy peasy. Ufufun.
As I felt my mana flowing into the national border gate through The Book of Mestionora, the teleportation circle suddenly flashed. While replenishing mana, I reflexively looked back.
...Huh? What?
This teleportation circle can only be used by someone who possesses The Book of Mestionora or the Gultrishite hidden deep in the underground archive of the library. Since there are no royals who can enter the underground archive, the only ones who could possibly teleport here are Ferdinand or Gervasio.
...No way he's trying to interfere, is he...?
The moment I thought that, I identified the visitor.
"Lord Ferdinand, is it!?"
"Well spotted."
As I'd expected, it was Ferdinand who emerged from the teleportation circle.
"You didn't make some adorable mistake like accidentally coming here... I knew there was no way Lord Ferdinand would do that. Based on my experience so far, I concluded that you intended to interfere with the competition decided by the goddess and Lady Aervelmine. I see right through you!"
When I declared that with a triumphant pose, Ferdinand naturally confirmed it with a look that said, "If you've figured that much out, then this will be quick." It was a little concerning that he'd turned out exactly as I expected. It was impossible, but I really would have preferred him to deny it.
"What are you plotting? How do you intend to interfere with me?"
"What would I gain by interfering with you? The one I am stopping is Gervasio."
The contest to see who could dye the national border gates the fastest was a very straightforward way of measuring the mana capacity of the one who would become Zent. Even the start of having to draw the teleportation circle yourself could measure how much of Mestionora's wisdom one had obtained, and how skilled one was at handling magic.
"I used copy-and-paste, but there was a pretty big difference in the speed at which we drew the teleportation circles, wasn't there? I don't know how much you've recovered from the mana you used in battle, but I think Lord Ferdinand, who has powerful healing potions, has a pretty big advantage. Since this is deciding which Zent will dye the foundation, why not compete fairly and squarely?"
As I said that I thought there was no need for strange interference or underhanded schemes, Ferdinand's lips twisted into a cynical smile.
"Fair and square? And this coming from you, the greatest contributor to interfering with Gervasio?"
"...Did I do anything? I have no memory of it."
"You still haven't connected your memories? Or do you simply lack awareness?"
Ferdinand explained with a light tap-tap against his temple that, incredibly, I was the reason Aervelmine had decided to show the winner the route to the foundation.
"I didn't think you were this oblivious, but you did interrupt and interfere when Gervasio was receiving wisdom, didn't you? Because of your interference, the Book of Mestionora Gervasio received seems to be quite incomplete. And since you've already absorbed it, even if he visits the Garden of Beginnings again, it appears he won't gain any more knowledge."
I remembered how I'd been annoyed when he'd blocked me as I tried to charge straight into the magic circle and enter the Garden of Beginnings directly, and how I'd spread out the Cloak of the God of Darkness to absorb mana and recover. I clapped my hands together.