076. Intersection (4)
Upon hearing Kyle’s story, Owen began to delve into past records.
Thanks to Kyle’s help, Owen was able to discover records related to dimensions and dimensional travel.
As Kyle said, there were indeed those who crossed dimensions in the past.
The forms varied, but one thing was clear: there were traces of having opened a rift in the dimension and crossed it.
“I thought it was just a world in a book…”
Owen realized belatedly.
He realized that this place, which he had thought of as a fictional world depicted in ＜The Flower of the Empire＞, was ultimately just another dimension.
While he could glimpse stories of the world through web novels in Korea, it didn’t seem like this world was created by a single person.
Though he didn’t know, there seemed to be a more intricate connection to something.
“We need to find ancient spellbooks.”
In his study, surrounded by books, Owen turned his gaze towards Kyle’s voice.
Currently, the two of them were setting aside time every day to gather information.
Thanks to Kyle dedicating his time and space, things were progressing relatively smoothly.
However, he hadn’t been able to ask about Bella yet, as he hadn’t met Owen.
“Though it’s a record from 300 years ago, it says they drew a magic circle to open a rift in the dimension. There’s a spellbook with drawings of the magic circle, so if we find that, we should be able to succeed, right?”
“Just knowing the appearance will guarantee success?”
“What are you taking me for? Of course.”
Kyle confidently chuckled.
His casual response was so reassuring that Owen chuckled along and said, “I’ll try to find the ancient spellbooks. It should be easier to handle this kind of thing at the mage tower.”
“Thank you.”
“Enough with the formality. By the way, they said the saint resolved all the incidents, right?”
In response to Owen’s gratitude, Kyle curtly answered before turning back to his work.
Upon hearing about the unresolved incident involving the saint, Owen nodded his head.
“So they say.”
“He’s going north. Going to set up a barrier. The name of the barrier is…”
“The Shield of Protection.”
Owen quietly held the name of the barrier that Kyle couldn’t recall.
‘The Shield of Protection.’
It was the barrier Bella had set up in the northern forests in the latter part of “The Empire’s Flower.”
Thanks to that, the demons couldn’t escape beyond the forest anymore.
“The Emperor himself asked to join the trip for that purpose.”
“Both of us, you mean.”
“Yeah. Probably a request from the saint.”
Owen easily grasped the situation.
The Emperor wouldn’t have personally chosen a force that wasn’t close or friendly, so the one making the request wasn’t from the royal family.
That left only Bella.
“If only I were chosen, I might refuse, so you were called too, right?”
“You know me quite well.”
“Like I said, a fan.”
“A fan of the body’s owner, not you?”
“Anyway, I was pretending to be that person. Now we’re becoming the same person.”
Kyle responded affirmatively to Owen’s explanation, as if he understood.
Then, with a sigh, he got up from his seat.
“Then we should hurry. We need to bring the ancient grimoire before heading north.”
“…Is that possible?”
Owen asked at Kyle’s mention of hurrying.
He was concerned about acting hastily because of that.
“It’s not impossible. Can I borrow some of your information?”
“That’s my job, so of course.”
“Yeah, that’s right.”
Kyle chuckled leisurely.
Leaning on his desk with a confident expression, he said, “Although you haven’t fully realized it yet, your body’s owner’s family is quite remarkable.”
“I’m aware of that.”
“Yeah. It’s not just remarkable…”
Kyle went to the window and gestured outside.
As his gaze followed, the view outside the window came into sight at a glance.
The tower was an exceptional high-rise building in this world.
Kyle’s space was located on the 100th floor, making it a super-high-rise.
Thanks to that, even the gate resembling the entrance to the capital city could be seen far away.
“If you set your mind to it, you could even swallow a capital city. No, you could even grasp the empire if you wanted to.”
“Be careful with your words.”
When Owen cautioned him, Kyle chuckled and shrugged his shoulders.
“It’s true, though. With military power, intelligence, and wealth backing it all up. The Berdine Duke’s just not rebelling. It’s not that he can’t.”
“Rebellion… what are you…”
“Annoying stuff. That’s all.”
“…”
Although he had been told not to say nonsensical things, it was true and also a hassle, so Owen simply fell silent.
Seeing this, Kyle sat back in his chair.
“It’s kind of funny to describe you as the body’s owner. In the end, we’re becoming the same person. So, well, it does match your family, right?”
“…That’s true.”
Listening to him say that, it felt oddly unsettling.
Like taking something away from someone else.
So when Owen hardened his expression, Kyle waved his hand casually.
“Why make such a serious face? It was something both of us wanted, right?”
“Right.”
“In that case, don’t worry. It’s not something that will change by overthinking.”
Kyle said it as if to say, why deeply ponder over something so simple.
For Owen, who was always overthinking things, it was not an easy task, but he found comfort in Kyle’s words.
“That’s true.”
Perhaps it was because of the concerns and thoughts embedded in Kyle’s words.
“Now Owen Berdine is you. Or more precisely, both you and him. Anyway, this fact can’t be denied, right?”
“That’s right.”
“Right. So. Just focus on the things you need to solve right now.”
Kyle lightly tapped Owen’s shoulder and said.
Owen nodded in response to his words.
“Yeah, I should do that.”
“Whatever. You’ve got your engagement ceremony coming up soon.”
“Yeah…,” Owen replied softly, prompting Kyle to smirk mischievously.
“You really look awkward when dealing with these kinds of things.”
“As if you’re an expert on it…”
“Well, I might be better than you.”
Teasingly, Kyle got up from his seat and headed towards the desk.
He opened a drawer and took out a box.
“I mentioned the video disc before. I was supposed to give it to you, but I’ve been busy looking for data recently.”
Owen carefully received the box containing the video disc.
He then cautiously opened the box to check its contents.
The deep blue video disc was filled with magic and enchantment.
“Thanks. I almost forgot about it.”
“Really? That’s why you didn’t ask for it.”
“If someone saw, they’d think I’m just someone who keeps asking for favors.”
“Well… so far, that seems to be the case.”
“…I’m speechless.”
Short, playful remarks were exchanged.
In the end, both of them burst into laughter.
Owen took out the video disc carefully placed inside the box.
He activated it and captured Kyle’s image.
From Noble mtl dot com
“What’s this? Leaving my video behind?”
“Yeah.”
“I thought you’d start with Lady Edelte’s video.”
“I was planning on that. But I need to make sure it works properly first.”
“Oh, am I a test subject then?”
As Owen lightly teased, Kyle retorted, and then rose from his seat with a grin.
“If you’re leaving a video, shouldn’t you be in it too?”
Sitting next to Owen, Kyle naturally turned the video disc he was recording.
Both Kyle and Owen appeared in the video.
“What’s the point of this?”
“It’ll probably mean something when we look back, right? And if it doesn’t, so what. It’s just recording.”
Kyle responded simply, urging Owen to think that way.
Then, as if suddenly remembering, he asked, “Did you paint the portrait?”
“The portrait?”
“Yeah, you said you were going to have a new one done at the banquet.”
“Oh…”
Owen shook his head at that and continued, “Not yet. I’ve reserved an appointment with a painter Lucia likes and I’m waiting.”
“You’re really something, aren’t you?”
Kyle’s eyes conveyed a sense of being fed up.
“The engagement ceremony is next month, right? In October?”
“Yeah. And now that I think about it, autumn is already here.”
August, when the banquet took place, quickly passed by.
Time flew as events unfolded, investigations were carried out, and a month passed swiftly into September.
The end of summer brought the early days of autumn, with the weather now quite mild.
“Since we’re heading to the north next week, there’s not much time left. Did you schedule the portrait appointment before the engagement ceremony?”
“No. I specifically timed it for the engagement ceremony.”
“Oh, surprise event?”
“Well… something like that.”
“You’re quite good at these things. You’ll probably make good use of the video disc then.”
“I suppose.”
Kyle sighed, rolling his eyes in exasperation.
“You’re living with such an extraordinary amount of effort, does Lady Edelt know?”
“It’s not that extraordinary…”
“What are you saying? Knowing everything your lover likes, preparing it all meticulously, isn’t that something?”
Owen remained silent.
Feeling embarrassed, he couldn’t utter a word.
“Save that expression for Lady Edelt. It’s creepy.”
“…Why do you have to say that?”
“I just sighed.”
Kyle spoke firmly.
Cutting to the chase, he grabbed his head and continued.
“Well, Lady Edelt seemed similar.”
“Huh?”
“They both seemed quite into each other. Meeting alone seemed to suggest that.”
Owen narrowed his eyes in confusion.
Seeing Owen’s lack of comprehension, Kyle sighed and added an explanation.
“It’s very obvious. The signs of love are so apparent. That’s why it makes others uncomfortable.”
“Is that so…?”
“Yeah. But they seemed oblivious to each other, it seemed like they would go crazy.”
“…”
Oh.
Owen now wanted to disappear into a mouse hole out of embarrassment.
“There are rumors of them dating, but it seems like they don’t know if they like each other. Isn’t that strange?”
“Well… it couldn’t be helped.”
“What couldn’t be helped? You understood each other perfectly.”
Kyle’s tone was mocking, causing Owen to shrink.
Looking at Owen in that state, Kyle clicked his tongue.
“Hey. Is it reasonable for you to run out of the tent worrying about Lady Edelt without even knowing your own feelings?”
“Well, I just…”
“Just what? Oh, were you detached from reality, living in a different dimension?”
Pierced to the core, he finally fell silent.
Owen felt like he was digging up embarrassing history and turned off the hologram.
Seeing this, Kyle chuckled and said, “Lady Edelt is the same. How can she be so jealous and not realize she likes him?”
“…How can you not realize it yourself?”
Finding Kyle’s quick wit unusual, Owen asked.
To which Kyle responded with a bewildered look, “What are you talking about? Everyone in the world knows, except you and Lady Edelt.”