My late mother used to say:
‘Live freely,’ she’d say.
‘Do what you love, regardless of talent,’ she’d say.
‘I’ll create a world like that for you.’ With those words, she set off for the battlefield and never returned.
However, even now, those words bind me.
I constantly strive to live by her last wishes, but it’s not easy. ‘I’ have no freedom.
There are too many things only ‘I’ can do.
”Advance!! The enemy forces are retreating! Today, we shall conquer the Lutetia Empire!”
The general leading an army of 100,000 soldiers shouted with vigor.
The Galiaar Empire, a superpower that claims nearly half the continent as its territory, invaded the Lutetia Empire’s borders this morning.
It’s now midday.
The defending forces, numbering 20,000, fought valiantly to delay the invasion, but stopping 100,000 enemies was impossible.
Somehow, we managed to buy time and retreated to the border fortress.
Watching from above, I identified the enemy command center and directed my right hand toward it.
The sudden surge of magic alerted the enemy, but it was too late.
”A black-robed sorcerer in the sky! We can’t confirm their face due to the hood… but is that…?”
”Nonsense! He should be in the imperial capital! The strongest mage who wields ancient “Abyssal Magic”…!!”
“Is the rumor of his unpredictability true!? Defensive stance! Hurry, activate defensive magic!!”
A semi-transparent membrane enveloped the entire army, centered around the command post.
As expected of Lutetia, known as the ‘Land of Magic,’ their defenses were formidable.
However, that’s from the Galiaar Empire’s perspective.
From where I stand, it’s woefully inadequate.
‘Come forth, Spear of Divine Wrath—[Luminous God Spear Brünhac]!’
Five magic circles appeared in the sky.
From them descended five massive spears of light, striking the command center one after another.
The enemy’s defensive magic couldn’t even withstand the first blow, shattering instantly. The command center overseeing the 100,000-strong army was obliterated in an instant.
With the chain of command completely broken, the massive army stood there, dazed, staring at the sky.
And someone whispered:
”Is that… the “Black Sage” Eclipse…!?”
Simultaneously, the retreat began.
More like a rout.
Fear-stricken soldiers hurriedly returned to the empire.
With the command center destroyed, there was no one left to lead the entire army.
If the empire remains quiet for a while, that would be ideal.
But I can’t be bothered with every little thing.
Thinking so, I made my way toward the fortress.
“The enemy has retreated. You can relax now.”
“As expected of the strongest sorcerers boasted by Lutetia. Ranked first among the ‘Twelve Celestial Mages,’ it’s Eclipse-sama! Remarkable job! I’ve had the pleasure of working with members of the Twelve Celestial Mages a few times, but I’ve never seen such grand magic before!”
The general who led the border defense force said so, praising me.
He’s probably new, since he’s never seen it before.
He seemed very excited after seeing my magic.
“Don’t get carried away. There’s no need for pursuit. Strengthen the defense for a while. If there are orders from the king, I’ll come again.”
‘Are you leaving already? Shouldn’t we celebrate the victory?’
”I said not to get carried away, General. Besides, “I” am busy. Urgent matters require my attention. Farewell.”
With that, I vanished.
Using a special teleportation technique that ordinary mages couldn’t possibly perform, I returned to a small room.
I quickly dispelled the clone lying on the bed and made sure to undo the transformation.
Checking the mirror, instead of the suspicious black-robed mage with deeply covered hood, there stood a boy with dull gray hair and black eyes.
Hunched over and looking sleepy. A height of around 170 centimeters.
The expression “listless” suited him perfectly—me, the usual me.
Roy Luvell was there.
After confirming that, I changed into my uniform.
I had an audience with the king as Eclipse this morning and discussed countering the enemy’s attack, so I was still in my nightclothes.
Classes had already started, and it was now lunchtime.
I was cutting it close.
Being late was already commonplace, but even so, someone would come to wake me up without fail once lunchtime passed.
So, to make it in time, I tidied up quickly.
If the people of the Lutetia Empire knew that the urgent matter of the Black Sage Eclipse was to return by lunchtime, they would surely be shocked.
Once I hastily put on the “white uniform,” there was a knock on the door.
”Ah, I’m awake”
“Excuse me. Onii-sama.”
The door opened.
In walked a petite girl with neatly trimmed gray hair at her shoulders.
Rena Luvell. My younger sister, one year younger than me. Unlike me, she was a model student. She was wearing the “black uniform” properly, and her grades were excellent.
Despite being my sister, she looked surprisingly elegant as she gazed at me with the same black eyes.
“I’m surprised to see you already wearing your uniform.”
“Isn’t it early?”
“But it’s already lunchtime.”
She sighed in exasperation.
But even so, my sister, exasperated as she was, still looked dignified. She’s always exasperated with me, but she’s usually a flawless beauty who manages most things with ease.
We share the same blood, but why are we so different?
“Are you planning to attend the afternoon classes today?”
“Yeah, I am.”
“In that case, let’s have lunch together. I’ve made yours as well, Onii-sama.”
“I’m lucky to have such a capable sister.”
And with a deeper smile, she said, “You just don’t do it. That’s what I think.”
“Here we go again…”
My sister Rena seems to have an overly high opinion of me.
It’s not entirely wrong to be troubled by that.
I am the most powerful mage in the Lutetia Empire, known as the Black Archmage Eclipse.
But the problem isn’t just that.
I’m currently in the Grand Duchy of Bellrand.
A small country sandwiched between the Lutetia Empire and the Kingdom of Albios.
I’m the second son of a minor baronial house in that country.
It would be troublesome if they discovered that such a guy is the true identity of Eclipse.
…But my secret doesn’t end there.
A message from the Kingdom of Albios echoes in my mind.
It’s a summons from the king—not the Emperor. The Imperial invasion has caused chaos in the kingdom as well.
Albios, known as the Land of Swords.
There, skilled swordsmen called the Seven Celestial Swordsmen exist.
Only the strongest among them can claim the title of Sword Saint, equivalent to Eclipse’s position in the Lutetia Empire.
The current Sword Saint is Cloud, the White Sword Saint.
That’s also me.
To put it another way, I’m a pivotal figure in both countries. It would be troublesome if it were known that I’m just the second son of a small noble family in a small country. Their pride would be hurt, and they wouldn’t allow such a guy to roam freely.
The three nations are currently allied against the Galiaar Empire’s invasion.
While I hold the titles of Sword Saint and Grand Archmage, I don’t particularly enjoy fighting. My dream is to travel the world freely and create landscape paintings as a hobby.
To achieve that, I must avoid revealing my true identity. After all, the war with the Galiaar Empire won’t end until the current emperor dies. If Albios Kingdom and Lutetia Empire fall, my homeland—the Grand Duchy of Bellrand—will also be invaded.
Hence, I play the roles of both Sword Saint and Grand Archmage, symbols of martial prowess in both countries. But I wish a successor would step up soon. It’s our own country; we should defend it ourselves.
Until a replacement emerges, I’ll continue. Once that’s done, I’ll take Rena and embark on a journey. I refuse to be entangled in a war with no clear end.
Revealing my identity might earn praise from many and allow me to prove myself. However, it also means becoming a pawn in the war, sacrificing even the scant freedom I currently have.
I’d rather be underestimated as the “Fallen Noble” than lose what little freedom remains—even if it means enduring ridicule.
