Chapter 81

EP.81 The Tower of Oddities (2)

The Ivory Tower of the Magic Society has five pillars.

The five pillars support the Ivory Tower.

Those in charge of the pillars are great scholars.

Scholars who have made a mark in the field of magic.

They take pride in their ability to draw circuits.

A circuit is a letter to the stars.

A circuit sent to the great stars must be beautiful. Each stroke must be imbued with sincerity. Even a seemingly casual straight line must carry beauty.

To them, a circuit is a work of art.

If the ultimate goal of the magic tower is to develop new spells, the ultimate goal of the Magic Society is to draw the most beautiful circuit.

‘The 300 circuits created by the ancient mage.’

Based on these, they aim to create artistic circuits that will be remembered in history. This is a goal that contrasts with the practical pursuits of the mages of the magic tower.

The leader of the scholars who pursue such art.

Togel, one of the five pillars of the Ivory Tower, was breaking out in a cold sweat trying to keep his wandering gaze in check.

······Originally, there should be no reason for Togel to be on edge inside the Ivory Tower. Nevertheless, the reason he is so restless now is... due to a person who has visited the Ivory Tower.

A person who has barged into the meeting room of the pillars.

Not one of the five pillars of the Ivory Tower, but a person who has earned the honorary position of a pillar due to their outstanding interpretation skills and discernment of circuits.

‘...Why is this person here?’

I cannot understand their intention.

Why would such a noble person come to such a place? If I were to guess the reason, there is only one possibility.

‘...To meet Professor Lania?’

Is it to meet a person who has recently become a topic of discussion? Even that is uncertain. If this person wanted to meet her, there would be no need to use such a setting.

‘I don’t understand.’

Ultimately, only questions remain.

Togel shook his head to clear his thoughts and responded to the scholar knocking on the meeting room door.

"Come in."

The door eventually opens.

Outside the door, a scholar bows, and a girl walks into the meeting room under his guidance.

Ashen hair and blue eyes.

The first thing that catches the eye is her symbolic colors. Next, her youthful appearance stands out.

‘...She’s young.’

I had heard rumors, but she looks even younger than I imagined. Instead of the usual somber atmosphere of a mage, she exudes a composed elegance.

The first impression is not bad.

While unfolding the problem he had received in advance, Togel inwardly marveled.

‘Could such a young mage have drawn this circuit?’

Interpreting and activating a circuit are matters of different dimensions.

While the mages of the magic tower excel in activating circuits, the scholars of the Ivory Tower are experts in interpreting them.

A circuit is the essence of magic.

It contains the life of the mage who drew it.

Scholars who interpret circuits can read the habits of the drawer just by looking at the circuit. They can predict the path of magic the drawer has taken.

‘...It’s been a rough journey.’

The life read from the circuit in front of him is not smooth. It’s like looking at a cliff that has been carved over a long time and become sharp.

‘Rather than a young mage’s circuit...’

It feels like the work of someone who has dedicated their entire life to magic, with the atmosphere of a senior mage from the magic tower. Togel blinked once and opened his mouth.

"Welcome to the Ivory Tower, Miss Lania."

The girl bowed her head in response.

When she lifted her head, the pillars tapped the table.

The ceiling of the meeting room flips.

The circuit of the problem they had received is engraved on the ceiling, which resembles a display of constellations.

It must be a surprising sight for someone seeing it for the first time, but the girl remains unperturbed. Her reaction is as if she has experienced it before.

"Please provide a brief explanation and solution to the problem."

"Yes, then... "

The girl eventually speaks.

The explanation was not lengthy. They were well aware of the high quality of this problem from the beginning.

At first glance, it’s a problem like a maze.

However, the solution is surprisingly simple.

‘The most basic concept.’

A problem that can be solved with just one basic concept. Its value lies in its use for learning rather than as a difficult problem.

"…That’s all."

The girl eventually finishes her explanation.

It’s a concise explanation. There’s no need to test the value of the problem further.

‘It’s a problem that could be published in an academic journal right away.’

However, Togel couldn’t easily open his mouth.

"Hmm... "

The other pillars were the same.

They were stroking their chins while observing the circuit.

‘Something...’

Something is missing.

The value of the problem is high. What’s lacking is the circuit. Of course, there’s no major issue with the circuit itself.

‘Rather, it’s perfect.’

A perfect circuit. A circuit that’s impeccably clean.

However, to the eyes of the pillars, it feels like an unfinished work of art.

The art it reminds them of is pottery.

It’s like a pristine white porcelain.

The curves of the pottery are beautiful. It’s a simple work of art. To the eyes of the pillars, it feels like a blank, white canvas that hasn’t been filled.

‘If it were just a little more...’

If the circuit were just a little more decorated.

It would be a circuit that could enter the realm of a masterpiece, a work of art. The unfinished blank spaces are only regrettable.

‘This... It’s like looking at the circuit of the Ashen Mage from the past.’

When the Ashen Mage was the next head of the magic tower.

The Ivory Tower often clashed with him. It wasn’t that they disliked him. They just wondered why he didn’t refine the circuits that could be perfected with just a little more effort.

‘It’s the same now.’

This circuit is no different from the circuits of that time.

To the scholars of the Ivory Tower, such circuits are a form of torture.

‘For a young person to be like this already...’

How many circuits will be consumed without becoming works of art? The pillars sigh at this fact. Eventually, Togel, representing the pillars, spoke.

"The explanation is perfect. The value of the problem is also high. However, Miss Lania?"

Togel pointed to the circuit.

"I’m referring to this part, this part. Could you tell me why you handled it with a single line?"

"Because it’s cleaner that way."

"But, if you were to decorate it more... "

"I was taught that cleanliness is a virtue in circuits."

"Who exactly taught you that... "

Who is the crazy mage?

Togel hastily covered his mouth. The girl’s name flashed through his mind.

Lania von Trias.

So, the adopted daughter of the Trias family.

The great Roselle, who raised the Ashen Mage, is the girl’s teacher. Even as a pillar of the Ivory Tower, it’s not right to speak ill of the sage Roselle.

"…I don’t know who the great mage is,