Chapter 39

EP.39 The Magic Tower - 1

The Magic Tower

It is a federation of wizards, a society for the study of magic, or an administrative body that oversees illegal magic and magic development.

Currently, it is divided into the Blue Tower, Red Tower, White Tower, and Black Tower, each specializing in different fields.

This division is not only for efficient specialization but also to balance power and prevent any one tower from going astray, ensuring they can check and cooperate with each other...

<...That's the surface-level explanation.>

In reality, the core of the matter is so rotten that it would be better if it were empty.

<Most magic research has turned into a patent war, and some wizards are no longer just supervising magic but trying to monopolize it.>

Even in the era when the Sage lived, magic was not studied purely for noble intentions.

However, at least back then, the value of magic as a field of study was placed higher than its use as a means of business and power.

The Sage himself could take pride in that.

[...And? Who are the wizards dabbling in dark magic?]

Feeling a mix of emotions as his pride was trampled, the Sage asked. With his sigh, Leo revealed something that would make the reality even more dire.

[...What kind of notebook?]

<If I could, I'd ask you to open it yourself...>

But as a ghost without a physical form, that would be too much to ask.

<Let me just flip through the table of contents for you.>

[...Why is this notebook as thick as a novel?]

As the Sage said, the notebook Leo held was quite thick, probably comparable to the Magic Tower's textbooks.

The table of contents alone was ten pages long, making it seem like a small dictionary.

[1st rank, 2nd rank, 3rd rank... What kind of ranking system is this for people? And it's not just a few.]

<It's not that I did it out of preference. Systematic information organization is better, right?>

Roughly, it focused on the number of people killed. Additionally, it recorded the danger level, personality, and activities of each person, making the notebook inevitably thick.

[So, who's the first one to be killed?]

<...I won't kill anyone. Not yet, at least.>

It's also an event that hasn't happened yet, and killing someone because of it could make him suspicious.

<So, the approach should be this.>

[What is it this time?]

Flipping to the back, a page titled "Immediate Execution Candidates" appeared.

<There are people like that Fedo kid who are already plotting behind the scenes in the Magic Tower. Some of them have already delved into dark magic.>

[...Oh...]

The Sage showed a satisfied, albeit rotten, smile. After all, if he had the chance to beat up a junior who had done something despicable, he would probably have the same expression.

“We've arrived! Over there, right?”

Aria waved her hand and called out to Leo. While it wasn't clear why she was so excited, there was no need to rush if she was happy.

“Yes, that’s right.”

At the spot Aria pointed to, four tall towers stood. They looked more like pillars of different colors, but a square-shaped building connected them.

[...There was no such square building in my time?]

<The number of people in the Magic Tower increased so much that they had to build additional structures to accommodate more people.>

[Oh, that's not bad. It seems they've become more flexible.>

Leo also agreed that the approach was good. It had helped reduce the distance between people and magic and the Magic Tower.

“Let's go in.”

With Leonardo’s words, Aria nodded and headed towards the Magic Tower.

“Lios...?”

At that moment, a woman with messy hair, brushing it back, looked at Aria’s group and asked. Her prominent ears hinted at her race.

“Yes?”

“Oh... no, I'm sorry. I must have mistaken you for someone else.”

She yawned repeatedly and rubbed her eyes, which had dark circles under them. It was clear she hadn't slept for days.

“How do you know my brother's name?”

“Your brother...? You're Lios' sister...?”

The woman, who looked exhausted, asked in a weak voice. She seemed like she would faint if lightly touched.

“Yes...? But...?”

“Mr. Geoffrey went to see him off... didn't you meet him...?”

Leonardo explained the situation lightly, including the commotion on the train and Geoffrey's refusal to guide them.

“...I see... You must be very tired...”

Actually, the one who looked tired was her.

[...Why is she like that? Is she a lich or something?]

<That's a bit harsh. She's a half-elf.>

The pointed ears confirmed this to the Sage. However, there was still one thing he couldn't understand.

[Then why does she look so dead?]

<She's a graduate student.>

[She's given up on being human in a different way.]

<You got that right.>

“Sorry for the late introduction... I'm Ameri Esp. I'm a graduate student at the Black Tower, a half-elf, and a 4th Circle Mage...”

She introduced herself with half-open eyes. Ariasfil looked at her with a worried expression.

“...Are you okay?”

“Ahahaha... I'm fine. I just didn't get enough sleep...”

She forced a smile and held up five fingers.

“...Five hours...”

“Five days of all-nighters... Coffee will help...”

She smiled, but no one responded. Instead, a cold and sympathetic atmosphere filled the air.

[She'll turn into a lich in a day.]

Leonardo couldn't deny it.

“...Can you guide us, perhaps?”

Worried that she might faint on the way, Leonardo asked considerately.

“Yes...? Is that okay...?”

Ariasfil, who might have been a bit jealous under normal circumstances, couldn't bring herself to refuse, seeing how pitiful the woman was.

“Yes... I'll do my best... to guide you...”

“Thank you.”

She stretched her bent back and led Leonardo’s group.

“Then... shall we... go to the Black Tower...?”

“Yes, that would be great.”

Originally, he might have asked for a bit of a tour, but he didn't want to impose such labor on the pitiful graduate student.

“Then... I'll guide you...”

She took out an old piece of paper and unfolded it.

“...Huh?”

In an instant, the group was transported to the front of a building. Without any magic circle, the sudden movement left Ariasfil bewildered.

“How...?”

“Instant teleportation magic... I came as fast as I could...”

“No, that's not it... How did you do it without a magic circle...”

No spirits were visible, and it didn't seem like she had quickly formed a magic circle.

“The magic circle... is on the floor... and...”

Ameri showed her tattered paper.

“This map... is connected to the magic circle and coordinates... allowing instant teleportation from anywhere...”

[This is impressive. In my time, such magical tools were rare.]

The Sage's praise was matched by Leonardo's amazement. Having dabbled in magic, Leonardo could only marvel at the utility and value of the map.

“How did you make it? It's really impressive.”

“Hehe... I didn't think it would work... Actually, professors often called me in the middle of the night... without transportation... and no carriage... so I made it... hehe...”

Why was everyone looking at her pitifully when she was smiling?

The reasons were too numerous and obvious to ignore.

“Mr. Lios... helped a lot... He's good at instant teleportation...”

Though the intention was good, the result made it hard to offer praise or encouragement.

Having seen a case where a mining explosion spell was misused for terrorism, the Sage, who was watching, understood why.

“...Then I'll call the head of the Black Tower...”

Ameri knocked on the door with trembling hands.

“...Huh...?”

When there was no answer, Ameri looked at the door with trembling eyes.

“...He's not here now... He's probably having lunch...”

“Then it's fine. We'll come back later.”

“Then... shall I guide you...”

That was a request she couldn't grant.

Ethically and morally, it was impossible to allow it.

“It's fine. Just show us a place to rest... like the library...”

“Ah... I understand...”

She took out her instant teleportation map, the product of her effort and suffering.

With a blink, they were at the library entrance.

“Thank you.”

“Would you like a book recommendation...? I'll do my best...”

“No, that's fine. Thanks to you, we can move around comfortably.”

It wasn't that he disliked her.

It was just that her gaze, which seemed to have lost its focus, made her look unstable.

“Then I'll go buy the coffee I was planning to...”

“Just go to sleep.”

“...Yes...?”

“We can use the excuse that you were guiding us. You can go to your dorm or home and sleep.”

“Ah...”

Her eyes, which had been unfocused, became clear.

“Thank you so much...! I haven't slept in a long time...”

At that moment, the watch on her wrist glowed.

“What's that?”

“Just a moment...”

She brought the watch close to her face and started a conversation. After a few "yes" and "no" responses, she had to answer dejectedly, “I understand...”

“...I'm sorry... I have to go to a professor...”

As her dream of sleep was shattered, everyone silently mourned.

[...Honestly, I can understand if she becomes a dark mage.]

<But in my past life, I continued to work as a white mage. Fortunately, I graduated from graduate school.>

[...Humanity wins. Truly, humanity wins.]

If it came to praising humanity, Leonardo would probably bring up this woman's story.

Not as a joke, but with genuine admiration.

“...But... this is...”

Ariasfil picked up a tattered wallet. From its ragged state, it was clear whose it was.

“It must have fallen. I'll return it.”

“Do you know where she went?”

“From the magic formula she used, I can tell the general location. It's nearby, so I'll be back soon. Please read a simple book in the meantime.”

Ariasfil nodded without objection. She was also tired and thought reading a book wouldn't be bad.

“Then I'll be back.”

“Yeah, come back quickly.”

Leo left the library to return the wallet.

“...But what book should I read?”

Ariasfil, who was not well-versed in magic, found the Magic Tower's books as difficult as encrypted texts.

《Advanced Elemental Symbols for Magic Fusion》

【Magic Circles for Stable Magic Array Construction】

“All of them are difficult...”

As she flipped through the books, one with familiar terms caught her eye.

「The Mysteries of the Human Body and Life」

“This looks a bit easier...”

Understanding the human body and life would certainly be relevant to swordsmanship and physical techniques. To supplement her theoretical knowledge, Ariasfil opened the book.

By the time Leo returned, Ariasfil had learned about “how babies are made.”

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