Chapter 30: The Emperor and the Grand Archmage

   Aresia’s leave was smoothly approved. Due to her outstanding performance, Professor Alvin readily approved her leave, allowing her to procure experimental equipment from outside.

   Aresia busied herself with purchasing a heap of experimental equipment and magical materials, with the bills sent directly to the Duke’s mansion. Once the laboratory was properly arranged, she wasted no time diving into it. After receiving the bills, Duke Rogest proceeded to the palace to meet the Emperor of Holy Lotean.

   Within the city of Holy Lotean, there were reputable monster merchants with a fresh batch of high-quality beast and beast eggs. Duke Rogest bought some and successfully secured a supply route from the arena. He then chose an appropriate time to enter the palace and meet with the Emperor of Holy Lotean.

   Hearing that Duke Rogest had arrived, the Emperor found it peculiar. The Duke rarely sought an audience, and each visit seemed to be for reasons not readily apparent.

   He instructed his attendants, “Let him in.”

 The  Emperor, surpassing Duke Rogest in age by more than a round, was approaching sixty. A sixth-level mage, his potent magical abilities made him appear much younger and more handsome than the Duke. Despite his commanding presence, he exuded a unique air of calm authority that only a powerful sovereign possessed.

   When Duke Rogest entered, he cut to the chase without much pleasantries.

   “Rare to see you at the palace. What brings you here, Duke?” he said straightforwardly.

   Duke Rogest was not one for small talk. With a nod, he got straight to the point.

   Initially, the Emperor anticipated some official matters. However, upon hearing about the Duke’s involvement in magical beast companion contracts, specifically the submission of creatures bound by a magical pact, the Emperor’s expression stiffened, teetering on the brink of disbelief.

   It wasn’t a pleasant surprise; rather, the Emperor suspected the Duke of jesting with him.

Emperor: “Are you sure you’re not joking? How is such magic possible? Have I, a sixth-level mage, been ignorant of this?”

The Emperor, a skilled mage despite the demands of his rule, found time for magical research. His deep understanding of magic was not to be underestimated, being a sixth-level mage. Even if he didn’t practice every aspect, he was knowledgeable enough to at least have heard of Duke Rogest’s claim of a magical beast companion contract, something he was certain did not exist.

If it were true, even if practiced by some obscure group or individual, there should be traces or records of someone having successfully tamed magical beasts. The Emperor was confident that news of even a single magical beast being subdued would have reached him. He couldn’t fathom how such magic could exist.

Duke Rogest directly handed over a replicated copy of the beast companion contract notes to the Emperor.

“This contains information about the magical beast companion contract. Your Highness, read this, and you’ll know whether I’m joking or not.”

The Duke’s demeanor was calm, raising suspicions in the Emperor’s mind about whether he had been woefully uninformed.

Could such magic truly exist? The Emperor hesitated.

As a mage, even with his recent busyness and neglect of personal studies, the Emperor had not forgotten his magical knowledge. Even if the information was not entirely comprehensive, he could understand the magical script used in the incantations.

Magical script was a unique form of writing, said to be created by magical deities. It possessed inherent magical qualities, and if written in magical script, the incantations themselves carried magical power and reliability.

Because of his understanding of the content of the incantations, he became increasingly astonished and intrigued.

At first glance, these magical incantations were extremely profound. Unlike the usual praises to magical deities and magical elements that most people were familiar with, which were typically along the lines of “Oh, mighty magical deity, grant me the power of XXX,” the incantations recorded in this document were different. They were complex, with deep meanings, almost making the Emperor, who was once proficient in magical language, doubt whether he had missed a certain course.

Each character was recognizable, but when strung together, it was completely incomprehensible.

He carefully reviewed it several times, repeating the process, before finally grasping a bit of understanding.

It truly seemed like a thought of Odd-Eye.

Doubting the accuracy of his judgment, the Emperor decided to seek powerful external assistance.

Summoning a servant, he instructed, “Bring Antonio here.”

Antonio, the Chief Mage of the Empire, was one of the most powerful mages in the entire Holy Lotean Empire, a rare eighth-level Grand Archmage globally. He was considered the pillar of magical strength in Emperor Holy Lotean’s court.

This Chief Mage often secluded himself in the mage tower, rarely appearing in public. However, due to the Duke Rogest’s coincidental choice of timing, Antonio happened to be in the palace. Even though it was rare for the Emperor to summon him, it spared the need for the Emperor to visit the mage tower personally.

The wait was agonizing, and during this time, the Emperor reviewed the document once again. Despite having gleaned some understanding, he still harbored doubts about the authenticity of the information.

He wondered whether this was the fabrication of a mad mage or an unfinished study awaiting confirmation.

His expression changed constantly, seemingly reaching a realization of some sort, and he looked up at Duke Rogest.

“Is it really possible for such a ludicrous and unquestionably authentic document to be produced? Odd-Eye, have you conducted any experiments? I have reason to doubt that you are wasting our time.”

Duke Rogest frowned. Due to recent progress in the magical beast companion contract, he held great respect for an unnamed mage, even going so far as to make it as Aresia’s teacher and he treated it with reverence. Hearing the Emperor’s dissatisfaction, he suppressed his displeasure, respecting the Emperor’s status.

“I have already had someone conduct experiments. This magical beast companion contract is indeed valid.”

Duke Rogest handed over another set of documents. These records detailed the situations of several people, including Duru, who had formed contracts with magical beasts. The focus was on the changes brought about by forming a magical beast companion contract.

Due to the short duration of the contracts, the changes in the magical beasts were not significant. However, it was certain that, in the presence of the contract holder, even aggressive magical beasts exhibited a more docile demeanor. Their aggressive tendencies diminished, and even when faced with unfamiliar individuals, a simple command from the contract holder would calm them. Their obedience was remarkably high, and even newly contracted magical beasts, in the initial stages of bonding, exhibited a cooperative attitude.

The mutual understanding between the contract holder and the magical beast increased significantly. Taking Duru as an example, his Gryphon had regained its health after a period of care. Although others were not allowed to approach, in Duru’s company, the Gryphon did not show signs of irritability. It even circled around the Duke and his son when they met — narrowly avoiding an incident where the Gryphon almost knocked over someone. This was an unprecedented achievement, enough to secure Duru’s place in magical history.

After reviewing both sets of documents, the Emperor, already leaning towards belief in half, was stunned by the part detailing ordinary people with magical potential forming contracts with magical beasts.

“Ordinary people with magical potential can form contracts with magical beasts?! Are you sure this is true?”

The Duke nodded, “Yes, there are detailed records, and successful cases have been achieved.”

He recounted instances where he had purchased several horse-shaped magical beasts, which ordinary carriage drivers successfully bonded with. Additionally, steward Aaron, successfully hatched a magical spider from the Arachness race. Despite not having used the contract scroll provided by Aresia, he used a well-prepared magical crystal and recited a well-practiced incantation, successfully forming a magical beast companion contract with the newly hatched Arachness.

This newly bonded Arachness, just a freshly hatched creature, had a more effective bond with Aaron compared to other contracted magical beasts.

At just over three months old, the Arachness displayed intelligence comparable to a child. It showed strong dependence on Aaron, reaching a level where it obeyed him without hesitation, even when it came to his closest relatives. This scene amazed the Duke and his son, who happened to witness it, and both were envious of their bond.

In the meantime, Amos carried the Gryphon egg everywhere he went, fearing the critical period of hatching would be missed. The Duke was considering whether to raise a magical beast egg himself until he found a suitable contracted magical beast. After all, he found the charm of magical creature hatchlings irresistible, with their initial intimacy being exceptionally high.

Perhaps, he thought, he could choose a strong and suitable magical beast egg for his wife as a gift. With both sets of documents, even before the arrival of Antonio, the Emperor was already half-convinced by Duke Rogest’s magical beast companion contract.

Excitedly standing up from his chair as the Duke paced around, the Emperor couldn’t conceal his enthusiasm. He appreciated the Duke’s thoroughness, as a document related to magical research was challenging to him.