“Let’s try to extract the Ether from inside, somehow.”
Asteria, being a mage herself, quickly understood that the object contained Ether and had no trouble agreeing with my plan.
We moved to Asteria’s personal training room.
“Is there a large box or something that can contain it? We can’t let the Ether escape.”
“Hold on.”
Asteria spoke to her attendants and soon returned with a glass box, roughly the size of a large kimchi container.
“Will this do?”
“Yes, we don’t need to break it with any force.”
To be precise… we shouldn’t break it at all.
When you think about it, it’s a simple problem.
“This hourglass, in essence, was a container for Ether.”
“…Ah.”
At first glance, its classic hourglass appearance almost fooled me, but the fact that it could hold Ether alone made it incredibly valuable.
‘I need a container for Ether too.’
“So, rather than breaking it…”
“Yes, opening it intact would be more beneficial in many ways.”
Now, how should I open this?
I placed the hourglass inside the box and pondered with my chin resting on my hand.
On the surface, it was a beautifully crafted hourglass, about the size you’d get when spreading your thumb and index finger wide.
“Do you see any seams?”
“No, I don’t see anything.”
Asteria, too, was now immersed in the puzzle alongside me.
It was too perfect, with no visible seams or signs of how it was molded—just a flawlessly crafted hourglass.
“How did they put Ether inside?”
“Exactly. There should at least be traces of a small hole.”
I agree.
Unless they sealed the Ether inside and then covered it with glass, there’s no logical way.
“It’s been a while since I’ve solved a puzzle like this, and it’s giving me a headache.”
I couldn’t agree more. My head was starting to ache too.
Wait a second.
“A puzzle, huh…”
The puzzles never exceed the concept of the object they’re tied to.
For a question like “How do you take something out of a strange box?” the answer wouldn’t be something like “smash it with a hammer.”
‘…If that’s the case.’
After all, this is just an hourglass.
What can you do with an hourglass?
‘The only thing to do is flip it over to measure time.’
Thud.
I flipped the hourglass over.
Tiny Ether particles gently began to fall.
There’s definitely some significance to this.
“… Wait, Ian, do you see this?”
Asteria pointed to one side of the hourglass with her hand.
Something like faint, translucent letters appeared.
“It looks like it’s forming the shape of ‘て,’ as I see it.”
Asteria traced her fingers through the air, drawing the shape.
Hmm. On closer inspection, it was clear.
But why was this shape drawn here?
“… Just a moment.”
If this letter… if I flipped it and viewed it from the opposite side…
[ て ] -> [ 2 ]
It would look like this. Let’s wait until all the sand falls.
“… As I thought.”
The symbol soon changed to 1.
The meaning was simple.
I quickly flipped the hourglass again.
Barely 10 seconds passed before all the sand fell.
[ 1 ] -> [ 0 ]
Asteria suddenly pointed with urgency.
“… Ian!!!”
One side of the hourglass.
Ether began to flow out of it, passing directly through the surface as if stars were rising over the horizon—a truly mystical and unique sight.
It wasn’t pouring out too quickly.
But if we just stand by and watch, the Ether will disappear into the air.
Will it stay together since Ether tends to clump?
Anyway. Focus.
The first step of [Extraction].
I closed my eyes, concentrating on feeling the Ether.
I reached out and felt it pass through my hand.
‘So this is how it feels.’
Formless and yet with form. Defined and yet undefined. Its existence was almost philosophical, something I sensed through both reason and intuition.
Then it became visible.
A thin white thread extended from the tip of my fingers, linking to a single element of Ether.
It was an image drawn in my mind.
I call this process a link.
As soon as I completed the link with one element of Ether, white threads expanded like a web.
When all the Ether was connected.
— Woong
I drew it into my body, circulating it through my mana circuit as I considered what form to shape it into.
What should I manifest it as?
This was my first time handling Ether. Let’s think of the most basic and powerful weapon.
Yes. A sword would be good.
“Kuh… It’s big and beautiful.”
With the princess’s muttering, I opened my eyes.
In my hand was a shimmering, translucent sword.
Beyond Classification Material.
A sword forged from Ether, the only one of its kind in this world.
“… This actually works?”
Ether was known to simply exist, a material no one could control.
Asteria, her face a mix of disbelief and amazement, stared at my creation, her fingers moving in disbelief.
I have to admit, I’m surprised too.
“I’ve surpassed expectations.”
◆
The banquet hall was vast, luxurious, and dazzling.
The celebration for the Second Prince’s birthday.
This grand event, attended by carefully selected elites of the Britannian Empire, buzzed with conversations that filled the air.
“Oh my, Lady Laurent, it’s been so long.”
“Nice to see you, Countess Montmartre.”
“Sorry to ask as soon as we meet, but your dress is just stunning. May I ask who designed it?”
“Fufu. It’s from our Laurent trading company’s head designer, Charelle, for the new season.”
Silvia gracefully navigated through the hall.
There was the wife of a duke.
Over here, a prominent merchant.
Even high-ranking government officials with political connections.
Silvia deftly strengthened her ties with these important figures or expanded her network with new introductions.
Her eyes then caught sight of Emilia Raymond.
Like Silvia, the young lady also commanded attention from everyone in the hall.
Their eyes met, exchanging an intense glance.
But only for a moment.
Called by someone, Emilia quickly put on a practiced smile and turned around.
‘… I can feel Emilia’s influence weakening compared to before.’
Gossip spreads quickly among nobles.
Since Silvia had taken the lead in Lichten, this was her first banquet, and she could sense that she was rapidly closing in on Emilia.
The way Emilia furrowed her brows at the sight of her wasn’t by chance.
‘… Hmph.’
With a light smile, Silvia elegantly sipped her champagne.
Then, a firm voice rang out from the entrance, not loud but commanding enough to catch attention.
A kind of announcement reserved for only the most important guests.
“Her Highness, Asteria Estrid, the Third Princess, has arrived.”
The hall remained lively, but many eyes turned toward the entrance.
There, two figures walked in side by side.
“… Whoa.”
The men gasped.
Wearing a dress so thin it was unclear if it concealed her chest or only covered the essential parts, the princess entered with a deadly, femme fatale smile.
“… Wow…”
A few women also let out soft gasps, among them was Silvia Laurent.
The man with black hair escorting the Third Princess caught Silvia’s eye.
Dressed sharply in a formal uniform, she was certain of one thing.
Ian Blackangers had undeniably grown more handsome.
It wasn’t just his deep, melancholic eyes. His already tall frame now boasted broad shoulders, the kind that practically invited you to fall into them.
Despite undoubtedly sensing the gazes around him, he appeared completely unfazed—a cool indifference that only added to his allure.
And the way he wore that impeccably tailored uniform, incorporating the little details Silvia had taught him… it was a rare sight.
“… Take me.”
Silvia muttered under her breath.
Startled by her own words, she quickly clapped a hand over her mouth and glanced around. Thankfully, no one seemed to have heard.
Trying to calm herself, Silvia fanned her flushed face, embarrassed by the absurd line that had slipped out so impulsively.
Luckily, her moment of fluster didn’t last long.
“His Highness, Prince Guillotine Estrid, the Second Prince, has arrived!”
The main event had begun.
All eyes turned to the prince.
Silvia, too, quickly shifted her gaze from Ian, swallowing hard.
If she kept looking at him, she felt like her rationality would melt away.
Instead, she focused on the prince.
Blond, objectively handsome, with a face that could inspire endless poetic descriptions.
But to Silvia, it meant little.
She was known for her coolness, rarely sparing a glance at things that didn’t interest her.
In contrast to his looks, the prince’s expression wasn’t particularly good.
‘That’s because Richard has been removed from the picture.’
The two major pillars of support for Guillotine were Richard Pierce and the merchant houses led by the Raymond Ducal House.
One of those pillars had crumbled, thanks to the Emperor’s recent reward to Ian Blackangers, and Guillotine’s sour mood was understandable.
‘It must feel like being abandoned by his circle of opportunistic sycophants.’
The political landscape of the Britannian Empire was beginning to shift rapidly.
The downfall of Guillotine Estrid, second in line for the throne, was a critical event.
For Silvia, and everyone in attendance, the significance of Guillotine’s birthday banquet was clear.
The orchestra began to play softly as the banquet commenced.
Meanwhile, Ian, who had been keeping a low profile, slipped out of the banquet hall.
From a distance, he noticed figures in masks darting across the rooftops of the imperial palace.
