Chapter 52

EP.52 Resty Eleonoa (3)

What kind of person is Elder Gileon?

Recalling my time as the next Tower Master, Elder Gileon was a decent person.

‘Though a bit creepy...’

He was helpful in many ways.

Our goals aligned back then.

‘Even if he sometimes overstepped, he wasn’t bad.’

I cultivated the Ashen Tower. I aimed to place the Ashen color at the pinnacle of all towers. Our goals aligned, so I had a not-so-bad relationship with this old man.

-But I don’t like it.

-Why not?

...Although I said that, it means I didn’t particularly dislike Elder Gileon.

‘After all, he was someone who sacrificed for the tower.’

I have a certain level of respect for that.

However, I know the depths of this old man.

I didn’t realize it when I was just starting to secure my position as the next Tower Master, but after I fully established myself, I confirmed that Elder Gileon’s impression was quite unique.

It was completely different from what I had seen on the surface.

‘He wasn’t sitting in the Elder’s seat for no reason.’

The more I got to know Elder Gileon, the more I found him to be a tiring and creepy person. He would pretend to be kind in front of people, but behind their backs, he would plot to take advantage of them.

‘As expected, his true nature hasn’t changed...’

He must have seen that his chances were slim and decided to come up with this plan in front of Resty.

“...”

I silently looked at the old man. I had a pretty good idea of what this cunning old man was planning.

‘It’s obvious, even without seeing it.’

He would recommend me as the next Tower Master.

There would be a plausible reason for the recommendation. But it’s not just about the reason; recommending me would automatically bring the support of my teacher’s faction.

A next Tower Master who receives the support of two factions would be born. However, the mages of the Ashen Tower, who don’t know that I am Laniel, would think:

‘Isn’t this mage still lacking in experience?’

Such doubts would arise.

This old man wouldn’t let that go.

He would place an inexperienced mage as the next Tower Master. The next step is obvious. The answer lies in the accumulated history of the tower.

‘Under the guise of guidance, he would seize power.’

Gileon would implement a major reform in the tower. It’s a solid plan, indeed.

‘If I were really an outsider...’

Pretending to accept Gileon’s proposal and then seizing power in the tower would be easy.

I’ve already experienced the position of the next Tower Master once.

If I did it once, I can do it again.

‘...I have some prepared materials, too.’

This isn’t the first time I’ve had this thought.

I had similar thoughts when I first came to the capital.

Accumulate achievements.

Attract the attention of the Ashen Tower’s personnel.

Then, return to the tower.

It’s unclear which faction’s candidate will become the next Tower Master, but they will likely be a mere puppet for the power struggle.

I will take that position.

I will become the Tower Master again and complete the reforms I couldn’t finish back then.

With these thoughts, I returned to the capital.

When I returned, I saw:

‘The newly elected next Tower Master.’

This child was not a mage selected among the Elders. She was chosen directly by the Elder who had selected me, and he bestowed her name.

Resty Eleonoa.

While staying in Aphria, I saw this child.

I observed her closely and tested her abilities.

-Is this right?

-Yes, I’ve finished it.

I saw it with my own eyes.

I made my own judgment.

‘More than enough.’

I also saw potential in her.

Resty is a child with completely different talents from mine. She might even be capable of reforming the tower in a better way than I could.

‘If I interfere here...’

That wouldn’t be right.

A child with sufficient qualifications is securing her position. She is still growing. Should I, who have already stepped down from the front lines, meddle in her future?

‘Still, I can do this much, right?’

I looked at the scum in front of me.

An old man who has already rotted, but whose eyes still flicker with the desire for power.

‘What do they call this?’

Recalling the word wasn’t difficult.

“What is this...”

“Elder Gileon.”

The first thing that came to mind when I saw the old man’s actions.

I said it out loud.

“Enough. It’s disgusting.”

2.

“Enough. It’s disgusting.”

Gileon’s eyebrows twitched.

His expression twisted nastily. Gileon hoped he had heard wrong and asked:

“...What did you say?”

“I said, enough.”

“You, to me?”

“Yes. It’s disgusting.”

The answer was the same.

Gileon’s fingernails scratched his cane. Gileon stared at the girl in front of him with narrowed eyes.

It was a completely disrespectful attitude.

An attitude that seemed to test Gileon’s patience.

‘...From the beginning to the end.’

He had endured until now.

Not answering his questions? Fine. Understandable. Being quiet isn’t necessarily bad. She might be a quiet mage, so I can understand.

Not even making eye contact? That’s also understandable. She might find him intimidating as a young mage.

I tolerated every small disrespectful act. It was bearable enough.

-But I don’t like it.

-Why not?

But this is too much.

-Enough. It’s disgusting.

Spilling coffee on the recommendation letter and showing such disrespect was something he couldn’t easily overlook.

Gileon is an Elder of the Ashen Tower.

He takes pride in that fact. While he isn’t someone who flaunts his power to belittle others...

‘He’s finally crossing the line.’

He isn’t the kind of person who can tolerate someone who mocks his authority.

“Hmm.”

Gileon spoke.

“One, it seems you’re mistaken.”

He raised his cane.

“I am an Elder of the Ashen Tower. One of the oldest Elders. I bowed my head to you for the survival of the tower. Don’t you understand the value of that?”

If you don’t understand...

“Feel the weight of it.”

I need to make you understand.

Gileon struck the ground with his raised cane.

Boom!

Mana surged from the cane.

Gileon’s mana merged with the ambient mana, creating an artificially generated mana field.

Creak, creak.

The dense mana pressed down on the surroundings.

The coffee cup shattered, the scenery distorted, and the wooden floor creaked.

Mana Field (Realm of Mana).

A spell that spreads mana to drastically increase the ambient mana density. The caster is also affected by the range, but Gileon is a mage who once wandered in uncharted territories.

He can endure this level of mana density.

Gileon crossed his legs while holding his cane.

“Do you understand the weight now?”

His voice remained steady even in the dense mana.

Emphasizing this, Gileon smiled.

‘Similar to the environment around the mana spring in Harmain.’

The density is similar to the area around a mana spring.

For a mage who hasn’t experienced combat, breathing in this level of mana would be difficult.

“Again, I ask, will you accept this proposal...”

“I already said no, why keep asking?”

...What?

Gileon’s eyes widened.

The girl’s voice was smooth, and her breathing remained steady.

“What are you doing?”

She lifted her head and stared directly at Gileon. Gileon, taken aback, increased the mana density. However, the girl’s breathing remained unchanged.

It was steady.

She still seemed relaxed.

The scenery was so distorted that it was bending, yet the girl tilted her head as if nothing was wrong.

In contrast.

Gileon’s breathing became slightly labored.

If he increased it any further, he wouldn’t be able to endure it himself.

‘...What is this?’

Everything was distorted.

But the girl remained unscathed.

“Hah.”

A smirk appeared on her lips.

She slowly lifted her foot, not high, just a slight movement while sitting.

Then, she lightly tapped the ground.

The movement was neither aggressive nor noisy.

Boom.

A light foot tap.

It was enough to disrupt the spell’s flow. The field cracked, and the crack widened uncontrollably.

Crack.

The spell was shattered. However, the ambient mana remained. What would happen to that mana?

The caster’s will.

And now, that authority lies with the girl who stole the spell.

Swish.

The girl drew a line with her finger, from top to bottom, about an inch long. Gileon looked at where the line pointed.

‘...My finger?’

He tried to pull his hand away, but the mana struck first.

Snap!

“H-Hah!”

Gileon gasped and looked at his hand. He clearly heard something break, but he didn’t feel any pain.

‘Ah.’

Only then did Gileon realize what had broken. It wasn’t his finger, but perhaps something even more important.

The ancient cane.

The top of the cane, a symbol of the Elder, was crushed. It was damaged but not broken.

Creak.

The sound of a chair being pushed back was heard.

Gileon lifted his head. He met the eyes of the girl standing up.

“Do you have anything else to say?”

Gileon swallowed hard.

“Then I’ll be going.”

She walked past Gileon with a relaxed gait, as if nothing had happened.

Creak.

As she put her finger on the doorknob.

Gileon, regaining his senses, gritted his teeth and spoke.

“...You’ll regret it.”

“...”

The girl turned to look at Gileon.

Gileon looked into her blue eyes and said:

“To oppose an Elder, especially me, and then to the Ashen Tower...”

“Elder Gileon.”

A cold voice.

“There won’t be a second time.”

Cold eyes stared at Gileon.

In those eyes, Gileon felt a familiar presence.

-Elder Gileon.

A completely different voice, but one with the same chill, echoed in his ears.

Even though it was over five years ago, the memory was vivid.

-Don’t overstep.

A mage who controlled six factions in half a year.

The voice of a mage more suitable than anyone to carry on the name ‘Ashen’ echoed in his ears.

-There won’t be a second time.

The image of that mage, sitting alone in a burning laboratory, came to mind. The chill in her voice echoed in his ears.

Gulp.

Gileon swallowed hard, unable to continue speaking. His aged body involuntarily hunched.

“You’re not the one to judge.”

She raised her finger.

It pointed at Gileon’s cane.

“Only I will see and judge.”

Creak.

As she opened the door, she said:

“Whether the mage is suitable for that position or not.”

What a presumptuous statement.

A mere mage daring to judge the qualities of an Elder, boldly uttering such nonsense.

But Gileon couldn’t say anything.

He just watched the girl leave the café.

“...Hah.”

The laughter that escaped was weak.

No matter how much he tried to straighten his back, his aged and sick body couldn’t do it.

“...Everything has been exposed.”

It felt like his inner thoughts were laid bare.

Gileon felt utterly diminished as he stroked his cracked cane.

3.

Research reports fell to the floor.

Reports he had worked on through sleepless nights. However, Resty’s gaze was not on the reports.

Her eyes were fixed on the letter Gileon was handing over. Resty’s pupils trembled.

“Ah.”

A sound escaped her lips.

Her trembling pupils settled. Her eyes couldn