Glaiftrum War Chronicles The Salvation Strategy of Matthias, the Smiling Strategist
Unified Calendar, Year 1192, May 7th.
The capital city of the Kingdom of Glaiftrum, Shwerrenburg ; the residence of Viscount Lauschenbach . Martin Netzer, Senior Magician.
It was purely by chance that I, Martin Netzer, met the eight-year-old boy Matthias von Lauschenbach .
Matthias was frail from birth and had suddenly developed a high fever. Since he remained in a coma for three days, his parents, Viscount and Viscountess Lauschenbach , requested my help as a renowned senior magician and healer.
Several hours after I began treatment, his condition, which had been dire, dramatically improved.
However, I couldn’t determine whether it was due to my healing magic, his own vitality overcoming the illness, or some other factor entirely.
Usually, I would feel some sense of feedback when using my magic, but this time, there was none at all. That’s why I can’t shake the feeling that his recovery was merely a coincidence.
Though he recovered, Matthias was still extremely weak. His memory seemed hazy, and initially, he didn’t even know who he was. He stared at his hands with unfocused eyes, muttering incomprehensible words under his breath.
Given these circumstances, at the strong request of his parents, I continued visiting him every few days for check-ups even after his recovery. Whether it helped or not, I don’t know, but he gradually regained his strength.
I also grew more comfortable around him, and we began conversing during my visits.
One spring day, about two months into these routine visits, I felt an overwhelming sense of unease regarding him.
This was because his behavior didn’t seem like that of an ordinary eight-year-old boy.
As he recovered, Matthias started reading books from his father Viscount Lauschenbach ’s study, perhaps to pass the time. These weren’t children’s stories, however, but rather texts on the kingdom’s history and diplomatic relations with foreign nations—documents used by the viscount for reference as a civil servant.
At first, I thought he was simply browsing through them out of boredom since there were no children’s books available. However, he occasionally asked me about the meanings of certain words, so I knew he was making an effort to understand the content.
On that particular day, he was reading about the unified nation known as “Frieden,” which existed roughly 1,200 years ago.
Frieden was a nation created by the common people, the Mensch, after the disappearance of the Administrator God, Herscher . Ancient texts referred to it as a utopia.
It was called a utopia because all the nations and communities on the continent of Endelant had been integrated, bringing an end to centuries of conflict between states and races, ushering in an era of peace.
Not only that, but with the unification of the state came the standardization of writing systems, measurements, and calendars. Anyone who desired could receive an education, and knowledge was shared freely.
The wealth previously monopolized by a privileged few was distributed equally, freeing the populace from hunger.
Moreover, advanced medical care from magicians became available to everyone, eliminating the fear of disease. The only remaining threats to their lives were old age and the occasional Uuntia, monstrous beasts that appeared in the frontier regions.
When I first heard these stories, I strongly wished I had been born in Frieden.
However, this peaceful era lasted only about thirty years before collapsing. The cause of Frieden’s downfall was a rebellion led by a group of greedy magicians called the Orkus.
Out of curiosity, I casually asked Matthias:
“What do you think caused Frieden’s collapse?”
Matthias, who had been bedridden, looked less like a boy and more like a delicate fairy, almost resembling a beautiful girl. Tilting his head slightly, he began answering my question.
“I believe it’s because the rulers of Frieden failed to truly understand human nature.”
I was slightly taken aback, expecting him to blame the malevolent Orkus. Trying to challenge his statement, I pressed further.
“Magda, one of the advisors known as Belator , is credited with creating Frieden. She was said to be as wise as the Administrator God Herscher . What do you mean by saying they didn’t understand humanity?”
The Advisor Belator , also known as the Great Sage, was the founder of our Magician’s Tower, the Guardians of Wisdom (Weisswache), and its current supreme leader.
I had interacted with her often and was confident in her immense knowledge and insight. Her wisdom had just been questioned, so I found myself speaking a bit harshly to a child.
But Matthias showed no sign of being affected by my tone and responded calmly.
“In any organization, especially large groups, a clear ‘enemy’ is necessary. Without an external enemy, internal unity crumbles, and enemies are created within. A utopia like Frieden is likely a myth, something impossible in reality.”
His words hit me like scales falling from my eyes. Reflecting on my own experiences, I found myself agreeing with much of what he said.
However, I was puzzled: how could an eight-year-old boy articulate such ideas?
“Did you read this somewhere?”
Matthias hesitated slightly before responding.
“I think I read it somewhere, but I don’t remember clearly.”
That moment deepened my unease.
Until then, I had felt like I was conversing with an adult of great intellect, but his sudden shift to a childlike tone made me realize he was deliberately altering his speech.
Likely, he realized that his words weren’t typical of an eight-year-old. Fearing he might be seen as strange, he hastily reverted to a more childish manner of speaking.
Afterward, Matthias became guarded, offering only childlike answers to my questions. This reinforced my suspicion that he wasn’t the ordinary boy he appeared to be.
I reported this matter to my superior in the Magician’s Tower.
The distance between the capital, Shwerrenburg , and Glaiftrum, where the tower stood, was about 400 kilometers in a straight line. However, communication was possible via the magical tool Werkzeug, allowing for two-way contact. This technology, exclusive to the Guardians of Wisdom, demonstrated our superiority over other towers.
Though information traveled quickly, I didn’t expect immediate action from the tower based on my report.
However, the very next day after informing my mentor, an unexpected visitor arrived at my residence: the Great Sage Magda herself, the Advisor Belator .
Magda, the highest authority in our organization, rarely acted personally on reports from someone of my rank. So, I was utterly surprised when she appeared so quickly.
She arrived in her usual guise—an elderly woman in a black robe—but once inside my office, she transformed back into her true form: a youthful beauty with lustrous black hair exuding sensuality.
“Would thou tell me about this child thou hast encountered?”
Her voice changed from the raspy tone of an old woman to a smooth, melodious one, though her manner of speech remained archaic.
After I relayed my report, Magda gave a small nod.
“I shall meet with him directly.”
With that, she resumed her elderly appearance and gestured for me to lead the way.
“Take me to him promptly. Time is of the essence.”
The sudden visit would surely confuse the viscount and his wife. Normally, advance notice would have been given to prepare them, but Magda was incredibly busy.
Constantly traveling between countries and frequently summoned by the king, her lack of time was understandable, so I nodded without hesitation.
I sent a messenger ahead to the Lauschenbach residence before heading there myself.
Upon arrival, I informed the butler of my intention to meet with Matthias alongside the Great Sage Magda. Though flustered, the butler quickly informed Viscount Lauschenbach .
Soon, Richard von Lauschenbach and his wife, Lady Hedda , both in their early thirties, appeared. Their confusion at the unexpected visit of the legendary figure was palpable.
“It is… truly an honor to welcome the Great Sage into our home…”
Though known as a capable official, the viscount was understandably nervous in the presence of such a legendary figure.
“…You wish to see our son, Matthias? Might I ask why?”
“I’ve heard from Martin here that there is a remarkable child too precious to lose to illness. I’ve come to examine him myself. Now, lead us to Matthias’ room.”
Though bewildered, the viscount could not refuse Magda’s request.
Stopping before the door, Magda glanced at the viscount and his wife.
“From here onward, only Martin and I shall proceed. Understood?”
Their authority left no room for argument, and the viscount and his wife could only nod.
Thus, I bore witness to the encounter between Magda and Matthias.
