Between betrayal and loyalty.
Byro, the Chief of Staff of the empire, chose to live without the slightest hesitation.
What a joke—to be loyal to the empire, one must first be alive.
"You betrayed them a little too quickly, didn't you?"
Roland closed the book in his hand, a speechless expression on his face.
For him to give an answer so quickly, it was hard not to suspect that his surrender wasn't sincere.
"...Then do you think I had any other choice?"
Byro looked at Knightwalker, whose gaze was gradually becoming dangerous, and forced an ugly smile as he asked tentatively.
"Of course you do. The other choice is to die at Knightwalker's hands."
Sitting backward in the chair, Roland propped his chin on one hand, a slight smile on his lips.
Knightwalker... does he mean Erza?
Although the man looked old enough to have one foot in the grave, Byro's memory was strong, and he instantly remembered the owner of that last name.
"Then isn't that no choice at all—please don't kill me, I am willing to pledge my loyalty to you, just like Erza!"
Byro suppressed the panic in his heart and quickly bowed his bald head with an obsequious smile.
Although he didn't know why that woman had chosen to betray the empire, come to think of it, even the empire's strongest, Erza, had chosen to submit. What reason did he have to struggle?
He would surrender first.
After the two of them let down their guard, he would take the opportunity to escape and find reinforcements.
Having secretly made his plan, Byro quietly sized up the young man before him and said cautiously, "If you wish to understand the Anima magic, I can explain it to you in detail."
This Earth Land person had spoken the name Anima, so he was clearly here for it.
"If only Knightwalker had been so sensible back then. Alright, you can put down your spear now."
Looking at his subservient and fawning appearance, Roland couldn't help but chuckle and give the order.
This old thing is so afraid of death.
Knightwalker looked at him coldly and reluctantly put away her Ten Commandments Spear, standing quietly to the side.
She had been forced to defect, not bound by a Slave Contract. She was completely unlike this spineless creature.
"Phew..."
Seeing that the threat was gone, Byro wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"This—"
"Just call me Roland."
Looking down at the notebook in his hand, Roland said nonchalantly.
The writing in the two worlds was no different, so he could understand what was recorded in it—but understanding the words didn't mean he could understand the content.
It seemed he would have to let Levy decipher it.
"Lord Roland!" Byro said with a respectful expression. "The super-dimensional magic recorded in this book is the culmination of seven or eight years of the king's hard work. It will take a lot of time to learn."
"Is there a way to simplify it? For example, by removing the magic crystalization and large-scale use, and only opening a passage between the two worlds?"
Roland raised an eyebrow slightly and asked softly.
He needed a way to travel between the worlds, so that he could better prepare for his future plans.
"...That's simple enough, but—" Byro looked at him, hesitating, and asked in a small voice, "My lord, you are from the world of Earth Land, aren't you?"
Earth Land?
Knightwalker half-closed her eyes. She suddenly realized that this Chief of Staff seemed to be hiding something.
Hearing the old thing's tone, it was clear that he knew Roland was from a parallel world and had even come up with a name for it in advance.
"So what if I am? Are you going to turn me into a magic crystal?"
Roland glanced at him.
"No, I wouldn't dare! I would never have such a treasonous thought!"
Byro sucked in a breath of cold air and quickly shook his head with a dry laugh, at the same time tossing the magic crystal he had been playing with just now into the trash can.
Damn it, where did this guy find out about the magic crystals?
This plan has clearly not been made public. There are only five people in the empire involved—even the captains of the Magic War Divisions don't know about it!
"Hey, Byro!" Knightwalker frowned slightly and couldn't help but ask, "What are Earth Land and magic crystals?"
"This... can I tell her?"
Byro subconsciously looked at Roland beside him. Seeing him wave his hand casually, he explained with a pained expression.
Earth Land was the name for the other world. Magic crystals were formed from the living beings in the parallel world.
The super-dimensional magic called Anima was essentially a way to convert living beings with magic power in their bodies into magic crystals to be consumed by the empire.
"You should also know that if we continue to consume magic power like this, the magic power in our world will disappear one day. This plan is to solve the magic power problem."
As Byro's voice fell, Knightwalker fell into silence, her fingers slowly clenching into fists.
Of course she knew about the scarcity of magic power in Edolas. Over time, she had even developed a fear for the future.
If Roland didn't exist—after hearing this plan, she probably wouldn't have hesitated to join in.
"Are you resentful of me, Knightwalker?"
Looking at the faint look of unwillingness on her face, Roland unhurriedly walked over and said by her ear.
"No." Knightwalker shook her head decisively.
"Answer me again. From now on, you are only allowed to tell the truth."
"...A little."
Uncontrollably speaking her true thoughts, Knightwalker lowered her head, preparing to await the impending punishment.
"Why are you lowering your head?"
Roland pinched her soft chin, making her look up at him, their eyes meeting.
"If I have a way to make the magic power in this world abundant, would you be willing to follow me?"
Abundant magic power...
Knightwalker stared into his brown eyes, unconsciously drawn to the beauty mark at the corner of his eye, her heartbeat suddenly quickening.
"If you can really do it."
Knightwalker turned her head away and said in a small voice.
Wasn't the reason she had been hunting the Fairy guild for so long to delay the fact that magic power was disappearing?
If Roland could really do it—
"Don't worry, I never lie to you." Roland's fingertips traced the corner of her lips as he said thoughtfully, "Then, as payment, how about you show me your loyalty?"
Hearing the voice by her ear and the touch on the corner of her lips, Knightwalker took a deep breath, then looked up at him seriously.
"I hope you're telling the truth."
"Of course it's the tr—"
Before Roland could finish, Knightwalker grabbed him by the neck and kissed him very quickly.
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