Chapter 81

I ended up playing the role of the adopted daughter too well 081 Chapter 6 The Sixth Tower was the tower farthest north from Mona, the center of the Central Continent.

In other words, it was at the northernmost end of the Central Continent, and it was also the tower closest to the Winter City.

Kromson was born and raised in the tower.

Like most wizards, he had the grand ambition of becoming a master of magic and establishing the eighth tower during his childhood.

However, the wall of reality was high.

Unfortunately, Kromson's talent and understanding of magic were inferior to those of other wizards, and he eventually came to realize this himself.

During his childhood, Kromson refused to acknowledge this fact.

'No, it's not that I'm lacking.'

He thought it was because the teaching methods of the tower didn't suit him.

Time passed.

"Hmph! I'll be the one to abandon this tower first."

Even in his thirties, Kromson couldn't admit that he was lacking.

At the age of thirty-six, he finally decided to leave the tower.

"You have requested voluntary dismissal. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

"What is your reason?"

Kromson still hadn't given up on his dreams.

"To showcase my grand ambitions as a wizard and to spread the greatness of magic to the world."

"I see."

The formal procedures and a brief interview were completed.

"All the benefits provided by the tower will be revoked. Do you agree to this?"

Kromson almost wanted to say, "Hmph! Benefits, my foot. Were there even any benefits?" but he held back.

He agreed and signed.

"You may leave. May the mana bless you."

When Kromson, at the age of thirty-six, first stepped out into the world from the tower, he soon found himself in a difficult situation.

Money was needed everywhere.

He wasn't unfamiliar with the concept of money.

However, it wasn't something that was closely tied to his life.

"You thief! If you eat, you have to pay, don't you!"

He scolded the arrogant restaurant owner with a simple spell, which led to the village guard being called.

'Damn! That money! Money! Money!

When he was inside the tower, he never had to worry about where to sleep, what to eat, or what to wear.

This was because the basic necessities of life were sufficiently provided.

For Kromson, who had to solve these problems on his own for the first time, the world was a very harsh place.

As time passed, he realized something.

He had to work and earn money to survive.

That was how he should live after leaving the tower.

In the end, he decided to work.

After all, even wizards have to eat.

However, it wasn't easy.

"How dare you request such menial tasks from a wizard of the tower?"

"It's not a menial task."

"You insolent brat! What else could it be, making ice for a noble's daughter? How dare you insult me!"

The wall of reality was harsh and high.

The tasks and commissions that he thought 'real wizards' should perform were already being carried out by elite wizards dispatched from the tower.

The tasks and commissions given to him were not something he thought a 'real wizard' should do.

Another year passed, and at the age of thirty-seven, he finally managed to compromise with the world.

'Well, if it's a commission from Bella, it's worth taking.'

He thought the world was finally recognizing him a bit.

The Sixth Tower was the closest to the Winter City, and he had heard that even the excellent wizards of the tower feared the purebloods of Bella.

Kromson, who had never left the tower, had only heard many rumors about Bella, and he had high expectations.

But what were these lumps of flesh in front of him?

'One of them is a cripple.'

Can a cripple be called a Bella?

He had heard that Bella's swordsmanship was faster than magic.

Yet, there was a young girl sitting in a wheelchair who couldn't even take care of herself, let alone perform Bella's sword techniques.

'The other one looks like she's not even ten years old.'

He was very disappointed.

After all, a proper Bella wouldn't go to a place like the Parva Viscountcy, known for luxury and extravagance.

'Damn!'

He thought he understood why the great house of Bella, which could contact the tower, had chosen him.

It was probably because these were young children who had either fallen behind in Bella or hadn't even participated in the succession competition yet, so they didn't need the wizards of the tower.

'This commission would be an insult to the wizards of the tower.'

He had taken on a commission that would be an insult to the wizards of the tower.

He was very angry.

"Didn't you say they were the famous ladies of Bella? What are these lumps of flesh?"

"......"

"Are you ignoring me because I'm no longer affiliated with the tower? Is that it?"

At that moment, Viola moved.

***

Viola slapped Ersa's cheek with all her might.

Slap!

Ersa's head turned with a loud sound.

Ersa's head turning so far to the side startled Viola.

'Really, it didn't hurt, did it?'

Ersa was a warrior known as a 'sword demon.'

A twelve-year-old girl like Viola wouldn't hurt her with a slap.

Knowing this, Viola had slapped her without hesitation.

She hadn't expected her head to turn so far to the side,

'It must have turned on its own, not because of the slap.'

This thought made her feel better.

On the surface, she glared at Ersa.

She had to scold her properly.

This schedule was Ersa's responsibility, and Ersa was the one who had hired such an arrogant wizard.

As a Bella, Viola had to hold Ersa accountable.

"Ersa, are you going to handle things like this?"

"I apologize, Lady."

Even if Ersa was a butler to Hera, she was still a 'sword demon.'

It was hard to scold her further, even for Hera's sake.

Actually, she didn't want to scold her any more.

"Thank you."

Kromson involuntarily swallowed hard at the chilling scene.

He was a wizard and had a much more sensitive affinity to mana than ordinary people.

He was sensitive to the movement and flow of mana.

'Just now... what was that?'

He knew she had slapped her.

But that small hand contained the power of a typhoon.

If that hand had hit him?

If he hadn't been able to defend himself with magic and had just taken the hit?

Kromson's body trembled.

'His neck would have broken.'

That much destructive power and strength were contained in it.

It was a stronger force than any child he had ever seen.

For a moment, their eyes met.

'Ah.'

Her eyes were purple.

But to Kromson, they seemed closer to red.

It was strange.

Clearly purple, why did they feel like red eyes?

Those red eyes belonged to a fierce predator.

His body trembled.

"Sister, if you're okay, I'll reschedule the meeting for three hours later."

"Sure."

Hera smiled.

She spoke to her butler, Ersa.

"In three hours, I'll be back here. Ersa, you should have a private conversation with the employee in the meantime.

I don't like rude people."

***

Zyon smiled and pushed Hera's wheelchair.

"Good luck, Butler Ersa."

After Viola, Hera, and Zyon disappeared somewhere, Ersa was lost in thought for a long time.

She had momentarily forgotten about the wizard in front of her.

She recalled Viola slapping her.

'The mana moved naturally.'

Viola used mana as naturally as breathing, without exerting much effort.

She had heard that Viola hadn't learned any significant mana spells or sword techniques.

'The mana reacted, and mine moved without me noticing.'

She had protected her cheek with mana.

It was an unconscious reaction.

'She's a twelve-year-old 'White Bella.' How can she do this?'

After experiencing it firsthand, he understood.

Viola's mana was enormous.

It was a type of mana he had almost never encountered before.

Although she was young and didn't have much of it, the purity and concentration of her innate mana were beyond imagination.

'She's said to be more Bella than the Bella.'

Today, he truly realized this.

Even if he didn't know, she seemed to be on par with the next head of the family, Lady Medea.

'No, just in terms of mana quality, she might even surpass Lady Medea.'

This was a fresh shock.

And it was even more surprising that a lady with this level of talent and mana quality had chosen to become a 'White Bella.'

"Hey, are you okay?"

Kromson's voice reached him.

Only then did Ersa regain her composure and look at Kromson.

What kind of conversation should she have with this rude and arrogant wizard?

"Let's have a private conversation for a moment."

"Private conversation?"

"Just the two of us, somewhere no one can see."

Ersa took a few steps closer to Kromson.

As Ersa's face approached, Kromson swallowed hard.

"Y-Yes, that would be good. I'll listen to you."

Three hours passed.

***

"I will start the physical conversation."

Ersa tore a magic scroll to block sound from escaping and began a merciless beating.

"I'll only hit places that can't be seen, so don't worry."

She was indeed a 'sword demon.'

Instead of a sword, she was a 'club demon' with a wooden club.

"There's more to the world than just sunlight. Sometimes typhoons blow, and the rainy season comes, and lightning strikes."

She swung the club.

Crack!

The loud sound didn't escape the room.

Nor did the screams.

He tried to resist with magic, but it was impossible.

For the first time in his life, he felt helplessness.

"I'll be the lightning today. I hope you'll come to your senses after being struck by lightning."

Ersa smiled.

"Please think carefully about how you should treat your employer as an employee."

Those terrifying three hours passed.

When Viola and Hera arrived again, he was mentally prepared.

He bowed deeply.

"Oh, customers, you've arrived?"

Kromson rubbed his hands together.

His appearance was like a fly rubbing its legs.

"I am Kromson, an employee who will comfortably escort you to Parva. I am a 2nd Circle wizard and plan to use the Fly spell to guide you. I will do my best to ensure a pleasant and comfortable journey, hehe."

Social skills that he hadn't developed in 37 years sprouted and grew rapidly in just three hours.