Chapter – 15
At the sensation of a whole hand touching hers, Lirier slowly opened her eyes.
Soon after, the magic device let out a loud beeeep.
Feeling the flow of magical power running through her fingertips, Lirier turned her gaze toward the device.
The devices on their wrists vibrated briefly.
And there it showed:
[Final Synchronization Rate: 5%]
Lirier tried to hide her relieved expression.
Although she had been startled when Aldehyd suddenly grabbed her hand, she had managed to adjust the synchronization rate appropriately.
It was a number that often appeared when an ordinary intermediate stabilizing mage attempted to stabilize someone of a higher rank.
In other words, it shouldn’t look suspicious.
Putting on a slightly regretful act, Lirier spoke:
“That’s a relief. The synchronization rate is too low, so I don’t think I can properly help stabilize you.”
What she said wasn’t wrong.
A rate of 5% was far below the normal synchronization levels.
However, Aldehyd looked into her eyes and raised one corner of his lips.
“It’s been a really long time since I last measured my synchronization rate.”
“Ah… I see.”
He leaned toward her ear and whispered quietly:
“And… this is a top-secret only the old emperor and I know about.”
“…What? You’re telling me something like that?”
“Yeah. Actually, I can’t synchronize with ordinary stabilizing mages at all.”
Lirier’s brown eyes shook violently.
Seeing her expression that looked completely unaware, Aldehyd whispered softly:
“So you’re the first.”
The first person with whom synchronization didn’t feel unpleasant.
The first person for whom the synchronization test ended safely.
But to him, Lirier was still a question mark.
With his other hand, Aldehyd released the seal while recalling the warmth from the fingertips that had touched hers.
It didn’t feel like when he first held his sister’s hand.
That burning sensation from her wrist wasn’t there.
Aldehyd narrowed his eyes.
Seriously… what am I supposed to do about this?
* * *
Right now, I honestly felt like I was dreaming.
After silently staring at me, Aldehyd escorted me without saying a word.
He looked like someone whose body and mind were completely out of sync.
A face that looked like he could kill someone, yet such gentlemanly escort manners.
Thinking he was truly incomprehensible, we arrived in front of the Ability Stabilization Room.
I should ask others what this situation even is.
Wanting to understand exactly what was going on, I opened the door and went inside.
The stabilization room was crowded with knights and stabilizing mages.
“Lirier! Did you hear? Lord Aldehyd took a synchronization test with you?!”
“Yes, that’s right.”
“He’s never voluntarily taken a test before!”
“The Emperor begged him several times so he did a few unwillingly, but willingly? This is almost the first time…!”
“So everyone’s going crazy over it!”
I see. That explained the atmosphere.
However, I still didn’t know why Aldehyd—who had avoided tests—suddenly decided to take one, so I cautiously asked:
“Really? It’s not common for an ability user to refuse synchronization tests either. So why did he suddenly take one?”
“How would we know?”
Ah… the theory that I looked suspicious was gaining weight.
What should I do? Forget world peace—should I just run away for my own safety?
As I awkwardly scratched the back of my head, a red-haired mage I didn’t know spoke sharply:
“I seriously don’t get it. Even among intermediate mages, why did he pick you? So annoying.”
“Yeah, why would he?”
“Don’t get arrogant. It’s not like you’re special.”
Only then did I properly turn toward her.
She seemed to be a stabilizing mage like me, though not directly attached to the knight order.
“And who are you to speak casually to me?”
I’m not the type to just take insults.
Because I might not even have a tomorrow.
The red-haired woman looked flustered and muttered:
“M-my name is Namia. I’m a public stabilizing mage of the Imperial Palace.”
“Oh really? Seems like you already know about me, so I’ll skip introductions.”
When I fell silent, she spoke again with an uncomfortable expression:
“A-anyway! Lord Aldehyd only did a synchronization test with you. He’s not going to mark you or make you his exclusive stabilizer, so don’t get ahead of yourself.”
“Sure~”
“…Well, at least you know your place.”
“Yes. I’m good at math. The synchronization rate is only 5%.”
A marking only happens when the mutual synchronization rate exceeds 80%.
Three seconds after smiling brightly at my answer, Namia’s face twisted.
“Wait. Then even if marking isn’t possible… you could still become his exclusive stabilizer?”
“How did you even reach that conclusion? That’s some miracle logic.”
But Namia just glared at me, fuming, unable to respond.
A knight next to her poked her side and said:
“Calm down. Becoming Lord Aldehyd’s exclusive stabilizer—do you know how honorable and blessed that position is? Would he pick someone with only 5%?”
“Y-yeah… that’s true.”
“If you’re his exclusive stabilizer, everyone envies you. You automatically become one of his closest people, you could become a candidate for his marked partner, hold hands, and maybe even marriage… hehe… that kind of…”
Namia covered her face with both hands, blushing.
So she likes Aldehyd. What unusual taste…
But there was something I really wanted to tell her.
“Really? Anyway, it won’t be me.”
I had no intention of becoming Aldehyd’s exclusive stabilizer.
Why would someone hiding their identity—someone who would soon die—form deeper relationships?
I just wanted to observe Aldehyd as an insignificant nobody and then leave the knight order.
* * *
Meanwhile, the situation was unfolding completely opposite to what Lirier expected.
Aldehyd walked into the sealing chamber.
He intended to conduct synchronization tests with other mages besides Lirier.
He needed to confirm whether he would feel something similar with others—or if that woman alone was suspicious.
The lowest underground level of the knight order.
The sealing room where ability users on the verge of rampaging were confined.
Aldehyd stood there with his eyes closed among the old sealing devices.
An anonymous stabilizing mage from the stabilization room carefully reached out.
“I will now attempt to control Lord Aldehyd’s power through contact.”
“…Hurry.”
“Y-yes! Attempting first synchronization.”
Click—!
Instantly, with a sharp noise, the hand was thrown away.
Aldehyd’s eyes flickered red, and the air tightened.
The moment the mage’s fingertips touched his arm—
Bang!
A violent backlash exploded, throwing the mage backward.
Black waves rose like thorns around Aldehyd.
[Synchronization rate cannot be measured]
“Cough—!”
The mage coughed blood and barely got up.
What he felt during the test was violent rejection.
Aldehyd himself wasn’t completely fine either.
His breathing grew rough, and the dark red letters on his wrist wriggled before stopping.
“Ha… as expected. Still doesn’t work.”
He roughly tore off the restraints and ran a hand through his hair.
Then he smiled like a mad dog.
The stabilizing mage flinched, but Aldehyd ignored him and gestured for him to leave.
As he walked out himself, he muttered calmly:
“As expected, no one else works at all. Disgusting and unpleasant.”
How strange.
The feeling of touch, the estimated age, the background—everything was different from his sister.
Everything is different. So why…?
His sister walking through a rainy night in a gray robe.
That memory slowly overlapped with the woman in a gray robe who had saved someone at the harbor.
Aldehyd slowly rubbed his wrist.
Ten years ago, after holding his sister’s hand, a scar-like mark had appeared there.
He believed it was a mark.
But even when he was with Lirier, the mark showed no reaction.
Aldehyd’s eyes narrowed.
He needed to make absolutely sure.
