Thump, thump, thump.
“…!”
Nigel’s eyes widened in surprise. The vibration transmitted through his palm was too vivid. It was to the extent that it felt like he was holding someone’s heart in his hand.
“See? I told you the response speed is amazing.”
Veil chuckled and pulled the hand he was holding, drawing Nigel into his embrace. The distance narrowed unexpectedly. Beyond the mask, amber eyes stared at Nigel piercingly.
“Why is it ringing so loudly?”
Nigel asked as if displeased. Veil naturally placed his hand on Nigel’s waist and brought his lips to his ear.
“This artifact is sensitive. When it detects something incomplete, precarious, or about to break nearby, it cries out like crazy.”
Veil gripped Nigel’s hand tighter and smiled bitterly.
“Like your body’s condition right now.”
But unlike when he cast the spell to change hair color just before, he didn’t look very happy.
Veil’s gaze lingered on Nigel’s sweat-beaded forehead and pale lips. Though he was outwardly pretending to be calm and sarcastic, Veil’s fingertips gripping Nigel’s wrist were trembling faintly.
He wasn’t angry. But this feeling that his existence didn’t seem to be helping Nigel Kaiserion dragged Veil’s mood down into the mud.
‘Does Rowen Ashfield even properly know that this guy’s body is in this state?’
Veil pointlessly directed the arrow of anger toward Rowen.
“…It takes after its owner.”
Nigel muttered with a frown. Veil shrugged without denying it.
Just then, a grand waltz melody began to echo across the lake.
“Then shall we go, Nigel?”
Veil reached out his hand toward Nigel.
“What?”
“Since the music has started, we need to go dance. Take it, and don’t act all stiff and step on my feet.”
“Don’t be ridiculous.”
Nigel sharply turned his head. The jaw muscles revealed below the mask were rigidly set.
“Hm?”
Veil, who had been about to walk out to the party venue, turned around with wide eyes. There he saw Nigel’s face with only one corner of his mouth raised, looking down on him.
Nigel was in his own state of disbelief.
“You’re going to lead me?”
“…What?”
“I’ve never once in my life followed someone’s steps from behind. I’ve always taken the lead. And you dare to lead me?”
But Veil scoffed.
“What.”
Was it just because of that?
He found Nigel’s childish stubbornness absurd, yet at the same time, he liked that arrogance that wouldn’t break even while dying.
But now wasn’t the time for that. Veil’s eyes sharpened.
“In this situation where your life is hanging by a thread, does something like who leads on the party floor even matter?”
“…What?”
“Anyway, I’m the only one who knows you’re the great Nigel Kaiserion. Just go along with me this one time.”
Veil decisively caught Nigel’s waist. By whose permission? Nigel glared ahead with furrowed brows.
“Just leave it to me. It’s just this one time.”
“……”
Just this one time. Right, there absolutely won’t be a next time. For some reason he didn’t know, Veil Khalid saying that somehow looked like a fox begging for food. Perhaps it was because he was cunning and had red hair that naturally led to that image.
If no one would recognize him anyway… it should be fine. Besides, as long as he didn’t really come here to dance, following the lead was more comfortable.
After thinking for a very brief moment, Nigel chose to move his feet in sync rather than bicker more with Veil.
Perhaps because the ballroom was right above the lake, every time he placed his feet on the ground, it felt like walking on water. In time with the gentle melody, Veil Khalid extended their clasped hands into the air.
The lead, which he must have carefully learned from childhood, was natural. He definitely thought it would be uncomfortable, but it was more comfortable than expected. Once he actually danced, rather than who was leading, what bothered him was the distance that was close enough to almost touch but not quite.
Woom—
Through Veil’s palm firmly supporting Nigel’s waist, he could feel the vibration of mana. It was the effect created by Veil’s artifact, “Guardian’s Eye.”
“…Still, you seem to be in somewhat better condition today?”
Veil, wearing a mask that covered half his face, said with a grin.
“Even when I’m fine, it gets worse at some point.”
Due to the unfamiliar role, Nigel glanced down at his feet to pay attention to his steps.
“I didn’t come here for small talk. As promised, explain exactly why I’m in this state right now.”
“You have no romance at all. You want me to lecture you while dancing?”
While grumbling, Veil pulled Nigel’s wrist that he was holding and placed it over his bracelet.
Bzzzzt— Thump, thump.
Mixed with Nigel’s pulse, he could feel the irregular rhythm created by Guardian’s Eye.
Whoosh—
After extending their clasped arm straight at a right angle, Veil and Nigel crossed the party venue in wide strides. Then, with a swoosh sound, Veil spun Nigel around clockwise. If Nigel had been wearing a dress like the other students, the long fabric would have swayed in an arc.
“……”
Can’t he just sit still and talk? Nigel’s eyes narrowed beneath the silver mask. ‘Does that guy really know something?’ Just as fundamental doubt toward Veil Khalid was raising its head.
After spinning Nigel, Veil held his waist, tilted his upper body slightly, and whispered softly.
“Nigel, what exactly do you think an artifact is?”
“…Ancient magical tools.”
“Hmm. Half right and half wrong.”
Veil began to explain in a low and smooth tone, like a professor teaching a student.
“Artifacts are on a different level from magical tools made by humans. The products of magical engineering have blueprints and principles. You can fix them when they break. But artifacts aren’t like that.”
“……”
It was similar to the explanation he’d heard from the Magical Engineering Department student just yesterday.
Why is everyone explaining artifacts to me? It seemed to be a characteristic of students who study academia. Veil Khalid’s expression as he explained was sparkling as if excited.
While thinking this, Nigel unconsciously tried to extend his right foot, but soon realized he wasn’t leading the dance and moved his left foot to match Veil’s steps.
“Artifacts are objects imbued with ‘incomprehensible power’ that humans dare not imitate. We only know the results they produce, but no one knows the process of what principles they’re made by.”
Veil firmly grabbed and stopped Nigel’s waist as he tried to move slightly too fast for the beat. You need to feel the music, Veil Khalid muttered while staring intently at Nigel.
“Since we don’t know the principles, we can’t control them. That’s why artifacts are dangerous. They can give users miraculous power, but sometimes they also produce unpredictable terrible effects. A double-edged sword that humans cannot understand.”
His amber eyes scanned Nigel eerily.
“But I know how to handle that sword.”
Even though I don’t know real swords, for Veil, magic was an ability he was born with. He gestured to his wrist with its bright yellow gold color and said.
“I’ve been communing with this artifact my whole life. So I’m certain. That the power inside your body is the same as this.”
It was a gaze like a wild animal going out to hunt on a dark night.
Nigel didn’t give any answer. Veil also didn’t seem to be waiting for an answer.
“Until now, no one has been able to plausibly identify the cause of your body’s condition, Prince.”
It was true. The severe headaches that had continued from some time, and even turning into a frog several times after that pain. Even Headmaster Silvanus hadn’t properly explained this situation.
What state have I fallen into right now? Is it a curse? Or an assassination attempt? Or something else?
Unable to identify the cause and an uncontrollable situation. All these things mentioned were words Nigel hated most. He’d been barking up the wrong tree for days, but finally felt like he’d found even a small clue.
“Then… my body being like this now, is it because of an artifact?”
Mm, Veil neither affirmed nor denied Nigel’s question. Instead, he slowed the tempo of the dance slightly and looked intently into Nigel’s eyes.
“But something’s twisted.”
Veil’s hand slowly traveled up Nigel’s spine. It was a touch as if tracing the path of magic flowing along the spine.
“The artifact inside you seems to be… repeatedly activating and then stopping.”
