It was on the fourth to fifth day of the so-called One Week War.

　The army that was at war with King Fardham's country suddenly changed direction and at once fell into the country of King Domorgal.

　With 30,000 cavalry and 60,000 infantry, King Domorgal's country was overrun without a second thought, and most of the northern lands were taken away.





　'It's just as Lord Merlin advised,' he said. I never thought it would work out so well.
　King Roselle couldn't help but mutter.
　Merlin replied to that.

　''It's thanks to the dragons. These boys made it easier for me to know what's going on.'
　Merlin patted the small dragon on his shoulder.
　A small flying dragon, a dragon that can reach speeds of over five hundred kilometers per hour, would be easy to check the battle situation at any time.

　It was only yesterday that he learned that the army had moved from the northern border to relieve Domorgal's army that had been defeated by Rosais' army.
　When Merlin learned of this immediately, he suggested to King Roselle that he move his army.
　Thus, he succeeded in cutting off a large amount of territory.

　'The Domorgal army that invaded King Rosais's country was hit hard and unable to regain its strength. They are exhausted and useless. It will be hard to just hold the current borders anymore. We don't have the strength to regain the south or the north.

　That would mean the collapse of one of the three major powers in the northern part of the Southern Adelian Peninsula.

　''Should we continue to attack King Domorgal's country?''
　No, we'll have to wait for our time. The commander of the southern expedition was the First Prince Carlo. But he's not going to make it. He'll probably be stripped of his crown prince's title. There will be strife as to who will be the next Dauphin. We'll take advantage of that. But the infighting hasn't surfaced yet. They say it will bite a distressed cat. Let's keep King Faldum's country a little richer and stronger for a while. ........And besides, the unification of Gaul isn't over yet.

　The Roselle Kingdom only controls the southern part of Gaul.
　There are thirty-two tribes in Gaul and twenty tribes conquered by the Kingdom of Roselle. There are still twelve tribes that are rebellious.

　It is preferable to take control of the Adelunian Peninsula in earnest after the leveling of Gaul.

　I see. You're the man, Merlin. You have always been a great help to our country, haven't you?
　''Hmm, I am the first vassal and foster parent of His Majesty the First King. From my point of view, this country is like a .......grandson.

　Merlin smiles inappropriately.
　She looks like a daughter of seventeen or eighteen years old, but the expression on her face is truly a witch who has lived a few hundred years.

　''Then, Your Majesty, it is time for me to return home. I have some research to do.''
　Merlin flipped his black cloak and walked away.
　Many generals looked off his back with a look of respect and awe.





　Merlin's house was very small on the outside.
　But underneath it is a huge basement.

　Inside, there is an intricate geometric pattern painted on the inside, and there are shelves of chemicals on top of the shelves that are used for who knows what.

　Merlin sat down on the sofa.

　'Hey, are you there?'

　-Yeah, I'm here.

　A childlike voice answers Merlin's voice.
　However, this voice can only be heard by Merlin. Perhaps if other humans saw it, it would only look like Merlin is talking to the devil.

　'I've been thinking about this for a while now. I'd like to see you guys.

　-No, no. It's embarrassing. It's embarrassing for you to hear your voice.

　The words come back to me in a derisive tone.

　-How's the research going, by the way? -

　Yes. Ninety percent.

　-It was worth the 500 years you've spent. It's all worth it, really.

　Oh, this "Elixir of Life" thing.

　Merlin said and cut off his own finger with a nearby knife, showing it to him.
　Fresh blood flowed, but in no time at all, the blood stayed, the section rose and the finger regenerated.

　'You're right, it's not so much immortality as keeping the physical body in the best shape it can be at all times. Dead cells regenerate instantly. But if the head is crushed and the body leaves the soul, it's over. That means you're not going to die instantly. It's not immortality....

　Merlin mutters with a sigh.
　It's fine that she can live longer, but when she dies, she dies.
　Besides, she's suffered a lot because of this blessing.

　The fear of death has been made stronger than ever by the fact that she lived so long.
　It would have been better for her to die young.

　-It's not much of a choice. We can turn the one into a hundred, but we can't turn the one into nothing, and we can't turn a hundred into an infinity.

　All living things have life and death.
　They are two sides of the same coin.

　To be alive means to die one day.
　Immortality is as contradictory as a card that only has a front.

　It is a prohibition that cannot and must not be done instantly.

　 Twisting and rewriting the reasoning of the world. Rebellion against God. That is, the realization of magic.

　-It's exciting. You're going to be able to do things you can't do. I can't wait to see it. The magic. What's really going to happen?　Will it be a heavenly world where no one dies? Or.....

　Will we visit a hellish world where no one can die?
　Or will the world itself crumble and break down?

　'I don't want to die. Not like Etzel. I will crawl and live.

　Merlin laughs.

　-Speaking of which, those guys are trying to interfere again. They're getting serious this time. Be careful what you wish for.

　'It's the tenth time I've heard that. Most of them are no match for the Kingdom of Roselle that I control. 'Who?　Emperor Persis?　That old man has no intention of coming here.

　-Transmigrant. But my body is from this world. Only the soul is from another world. Was it meant to be, or was it an accident? Well, it could have gone either way. My name is ...

　-Was it Alms or something like that? -

　Well that's interesting.

　Merlin brews his own tea and drinks it.
　It's green tea from the East.

　It tastes bad compared to tea from Merlin's homeland, but he still likes it better than wine.

　-They're boring, aren't they? Afraid to learn what you can't do. The unknown is the most fun.

　You're the only freaky elves who enjoy the thrill of the possibility of death.

　-Is that right?　Well, I don't really care about the other guys. Well, you can count on it.





　-Marri Kurosaki.



　The voices fade away.
　Merlin-Mari puts her empty cup on the desk and stretches.