Chapter 41

EP.41 Tower of Magic - 3

"...Phew... I barely managed to refuse..."

The Black Tower Master continued to persuade the graduate student to sign a slave contract. With so many people around, it took more than a couple of hours to refuse.

[You did the right thing. Look at him. That’s not something a human should do.]

As the Sage said, the slave in front of him, a graduate student, was no different from an undead contracted with a necromancer.

At least the undead didn’t feel pain, which made it a bit less tragic.

"...Still... it’s a relief... You’re still young... You can take your time thinking about graduate school..."

She was almost a saint.

If it were me or the Sage, we would have tried to drag her along, like a water ghost, suggesting we die together.

"...But why did you become a graduate student, Ameri?"

He asked the question that had been nagging him, subtly and naturally.

Why would she go to such lengths to become a graduate student? As a fellow human and living being, he couldn’t help but be curious.

"Because magic is fun. Hehe... It’s still fun... And I thought it would be nice to get a degree later..."

It was certainly a commendable reason, but why did it seem even more tragic?

The question was a riddle that everyone knew but couldn’t solve.

"I heard it takes a long time to graduate from graduate school..."

"It’s fine...! Half-elves live long, you know...!"

The reason made sense, but it was too pitiful.

[...Is this a bright future for magic?]

<...I think so. How many black mages have you seen who didn’t fall into darkness?>

It was better to think positively. Worrying from the side when she said it was fine would only be a nuisance.

"Then I’ll go...! I need to prepare for my assignment..."

"...Okay, go ahead."

[She won’t die, right?]

<Yes, unfortunately.>

The Sage and Leo silently mourned the slave with the degree.

May she find a peaceful place someday.

[By the way, where’s Aria?]

<...Ah, I’m late.>

Just giving her the wallet led to a lecture and even a permit for intermediate magic. It must have been at least three hours.

[...She must be really angry, right?]

<...Yes, definitely...>

[Apologize profusely. That’s the only answer.]

The Sage, as always, gave a wise answer. It seemed his wisdom had increased in the tower, which felt like home.

"...Miss Aria...?"

Entering the library, he quietly called out her name, gauging her anger by her reaction.

"..."

Aria didn’t respond. She just silently turned the pages of her book. The redness of her ears and cheeks confirmed his suspicion.

[...She’s really pissed, right?]

<...Yes, very...>

Leo carefully approached Aria, prepared to die if necessary.

"...Miss Aria..."

"I didn’t think of anything!!"

A sudden outburst.

Everyone in the library looked at Aria in surprise.

"...Why...?"

Even Leonardo was taken aback by her outburst, slightly stepping back as he looked at her.

"...Wh...Why...!? That... That’s because...!"

She glanced at Leonardo and the book, then quickly closed and flipped it over.

"That’s... I was just so focused on the book that I got startled... Hehe..."

It wasn’t a lie, but there were too many suspicious aspects.

"Did you get so focused on the book? What book was it?"

"That... That’s..."

She tried to cover the book with one hand, sweating profusely. Then she remembered the note in her pocket.

"Oh...! By the way, Mr. Anus said someone wanted to pass a note to you?!"

"Huh? That’s right..."

"Let’s go! Hurry!!"

Ariasphil, uncharacteristically excited, grabbed Leonardo and ran out. Given her usual demeanor, it was clearly suspicious.

<...Why is she like that? Not like her at all.>

[Maybe she was reading some smut in secret?]

<...Is that a guess? There’s no smut in the tower library.>

The Sage’s guess was close, but Leonardo’s point was valid. The Sage couldn’t be sure and just tilted his head.

[...But, your expression is just like when you wet the bed...]

<Just shut up. I shouldn’t have asked.>

The Sage clicked his tongue, but there was no need to take the old pervert’s words to heart.

"Then let’s ask her to show us a suitable place."

"...A suitable place...?!"

Suddenly horrified, Aria looked at Leonardo’s crotch. Leo, a bit flustered by her strange gaze, continued.

"...There are extra dormitories in the tower, right? I meant to ask you to show me one... Do you mind?"

"A...A... No, I’m sorry."

Not sure what she misunderstood, but he apologized first and decided not to press the issue.

[She really read some smut, didn’t she?]

<No, she didn’t. The tower might be corrupt, but not that much.>

[But why did she look at your crotch? It’s clearly that, right?]

Leonardo, finding the idea ridiculous, shot a glare. But for some reason, he felt his gaze also drifting in that direction.

It was probably just an illusion. Probably.

***

The rooms in the tower were individual, with Aria heading to the women’s dormitory and Leonardo to the men’s.

Aria seemed a bit disappointed but followed the rules without complaint.

[What are you going to do now?]

The Sage asked, looking at Leonardo lying on the bed. Leonardo, stretching his tired body, replied.

<First, I’ll stay in the tower during the vacation. I’ll use the excuse of researching 3rd Circle magic.>

The tower’s resources and research were indeed better than what Rios taught, so no one would suspect.

[Will you catch all of them in three weeks?]

<That’s too difficult. I’ll focus on those who deserve immediate punishment.>

He wouldn’t catch them all, but he would monitor them closely.

Even if they didn’t have grounds for arrest, their evil deeds were etched in Leonardo’s mind.

[Will you be okay? I heard some of them committed mass slaughter.]

The Sage had a point. For safety, it might be better to eliminate them.

But

<Still, they deserve a chance. I don’t know if I have the right to judge, and I don’t think killing them now will solve anything.>

Leonardo didn’t want to cross that line.

[You’re irresponsible.]

<It’s not irresponsibility, it’s minor responsibility.>

[I get it. You’re a minor scoundrel.]

Impressed by the wordplay, Leonardo got out of bed.

<Then let’s start.>

[Start what?]

<We need to gather evidence.>

Leonardo stroked the bracelet that had transformed from the black stone and walked out of the dormitory, heading down the corridor.

[Will it be that easy? The tower was strict even in my time. It must have improved, not declined.]

The Sage’s point was valid.

On the surface, it seemed open, but in reality, it was an organization that tried to hide its dirty aspects.

Personal corruption and evil deeds were no exception.

[Even if you hide well, you can’t bypass the magical security system... Do you have something I don’t know about?]

<No, you’re right. I can’t bypass the security with my abilities.>

The tower had surveillance orbs, alarm spirits, and thoroughly corrupt individuals who might have created special locks or secret spaces.

No matter how hard Leonardo tried, it was impossible to bypass everything.

[Then what will you do? Trick them into letting you in?]

<There’s a better way.>

Leonardo looked at the wise ghost beside him.

No human, spirit, monster, or even mage or spiritist had ever noticed the ghost’s existence.

As a ghost, he could pass through and see through any object, and his magical knowledge was excellent, making him adept at identifying relevant items.

That meant

<The Sage can go in.>

If the Sage went in, it would be a perfect crime that wouldn’t be discovered.

[...Really?]

<...You only noticed now?>

[Hey, that’s actually helpful. You could abuse this, you know?]

The meaning and direction of the words were strangely off, but since he was a helper, Leonardo nodded.

[But how will you get the evidence out? That’s impossible even for me.]

<We can do that after finding the evidence.>

The key was whether the evidence existed.

Knowing where it was was important, but so was verifying the accuracy of the information.

<Let’s go after this guy first.>

The top priority on Leonardo’s list was

[Jeffrey Pednian]

A pedophile who had been caught by Ariasphil.

***

[...Hey... Let’s take a break...]

<One more place.>

[You’ve said that for four hours, ten times!]

As the Sage said, Leonardo had been moving around various rooms and places for six hours without rest.

If it were just moving around, the Sage wouldn’t be annoyed, but passing through all the walls, floors, and ceilings of designated rooms was tiring.

<Since you don’t sleep or get hurt, why are you complaining?>

[Hey... You can’t see. Earlier, there were mice on the floor, moths on the ceiling, and cockroaches on the walls, showing the birth of life in real time. Did you see that? Did you see it?!]

<I did see the intimate parts of an old man.>

It was an event from over two years ago, but a trauma Leonardo would never forget.

[That was a service. A service.]

<......>

[I get it. It was a bad move.]

This time, he admitted it quickly, which was fortunate.

<This guy is really a scumbag. He stole all his students’ ideas and then kicked them out of the tower...>

[Let’s go. Such scumbags should all be killed. Especially the one with a beautiful wife 25 years younger.]

It was a bit crude, but the goal and intention were the same, so Leonardo nodded and started the guidance.

“Hey...”

Someone called out to Leonardo cautiously. The call made him tense, but he tried to respond naturally.

“Yes? Who... Damn it!!”

Cursing in front of someone was certainly rude. It would be rude to anyone.

But there was a reason.

[...It’s the graduate student slave from earlier. I thought he was an undead and got scared...]

The person in front of him had a haggard expression and a shadowy gaze, looking at Leonardo in the dimly lit corridor, which added to the eerie atmosphere.

“...Ahaha... I’m sorry... I must have startled you... I’m sorry...”

“I...I’m sorry too. I was startled... I’m sorry for shouting.”

She scratched her matted hair and laughed. Honestly, he was relieved, but now he was worried for a different reason.

“...But why did you call me...?”

He didn’t understand why she called him. He had been careful, but...

“...Ah, I thought I knew what Leonardo was looking for... I think you’re looking for the same thing I am...”

This was an unexpected reason.

He didn’t expect anyone else, besides himself as a regressed person, to notice the tower’s corruption.

Especially someone as weak as Ameri...

“Are you looking for the Sage’s legacy in the tower? Is that it?!”

Ameri’s eyes spark