For a moment.
It was a statement so unbelievable that I doubted if I had misheard.
“So… you’re saying that with this artifact, even I can become a magician?”
“It has no use for those who are already magicians, but for those who aren’t, it grants both talent and knowledge. While becoming an Archmage might be out of reach, becoming a High Magician is entirely possible.”
Not just a magician, but even a High Magician.
It was a statement I couldn’t bring myself to believe.
Not just because it was astonishing, but because, as the third son of a viscount, I had heard plenty of information, which made it even harder to accept.
Ever since I realized in my childhood that I had no talent for Aura or magic.
I had been searching for any possible method, just in case.
“From what I know, forcibly granting magical talent is all classified as Gold Technique.”
“That’s correct. But there are a few rare exceptions. This artifact has passed through many hands, so to speak, it’s a verified method.”
“…Could you explain in more detail?”
“Of course.”
Stella, sitting confidently with her legs crossed, reached out her hand, and the ‘Micro Planet’ orbiting around me flew into her palm.
Stella, stroking the rugged and crude orb, began her explanation.
“The artifact, ‘Micro Planet,’ was personally created by the 3rd Astron Tower Lord. Back then, magicians were even rarer than they are now, and the Tower Lord devised a way for non-magicians to become magicians to expand the tower’s influence.”
“And the result was…”
“This Micro Planet. True to its name, this artifact is a small planet created by Astron’s magic. Even I can’t handle it carelessly. It’s compressed with dozens of layers of Great Magic, perfectly harmonized. Its power allows even the untalented to become magicians.”
“So, just by having it, I can use magic?”
“The Micro Planet orbits around the user, assisting in the acquisition, use, and analysis of magic. With the Micro Planet, you can use magic as much as you want. Moreover, it contains knowledge of various magics, aiding in learning as well.”
In the end, it’s not so much that it turns the user into a magician, but rather that it allows the user to use magic through the Micro Planet.
But even so, as long as you have the Micro Planet, you can learn and use magic—that much was clear.
And that’s why it didn’t make sense.
“Is that all?”
“…Of course, there are drawbacks. If you’re not near the Micro Planet, you can’t use magic.”
“There must be more. If the artifact only had such minor side effects, it would already be famous worldwide.”
“…You catch on quick.”
Listening to Stella’s explanation, the Micro Planet seemed to have no real drawbacks, turning the untalented into magicians.
And of course, an artifact of that level would undoubtedly be known far and wide.
‘Adela seemed to know about the Micro Planet.’
The Byron Viscountcy is practically a family with influence close to that of a count’s, and as the third son of such a family, I had inquired about every possible method to become a magician.
But among the various artifacts I’ve heard of, the ‘Micro Planet’ was never mentioned, and its effects are unprecedented.
So, this couldn’t be everything.
Naturally, there had to be more issues.
“It’s not exactly a side effect, but there are a few disadvantages.”
“Please explain.”
“First, as I mentioned earlier, if you’re separated from the Micro Planet, its effects disappear, and the magic you can use through it is limited to Astron’s magic.”
“So, I can’t use magic from other Magic Towers?”
“To be precise, you can only use the magic recorded in the Micro Planet. Other Magic Towers wouldn’t allow their magic to be recorded in our artifact, would they?”
“Wait a minute, what you’re saying now…”
“As you might have guessed, the Micro Planet is strictly a rental. Of course, the rental period will be set until you return it or die, but in any case, you’ll have to return it after that.”
“………….”
“And………finally.”
Stella, who had been hesitating for a moment, unlike her previous attitude.
She clicked her tongue and continued.
“You must join the Astron Magic Tower and live there. Of course, you can go out as you please.”
“……Is it because of the risk of loss or theft?”
“The Micro Planet is the treasure of our tower. It’s only natural. Normally, it wouldn’t be a disadvantage, but…….”
Where Stella’s gaze fell.
There was Adela, who was unusually clenching her fists.
“Lady Stella Varnicion, what you said to me earlier was not disrespectful or arrogant towards our tower. I know that to an Archmage, other magicians are all the same.”
“…………Tsk.”
“But what you just said implies that your proposal is an attempt to transfer the affiliation of Kyle Byron, a noble and honorary elder of our Arkhé Magic Tower.”
*Thud.*
Adela summoned a staff from thin air and slammed it down.
Despite knowing the difference in their status, she confronted Stella.
“As a disciple of Master Olfin and a high magician of the Arkhé Magic Tower, this is absolutely unacceptable.”
“……I know it’s beyond rude. But more importantly, isn’t Kyle Byron’s will the most important? If he accepts, there’s nothing more to say.”
“Of course, that’s true. But you must also know that this isn’t something that can end so simply. Ultimately, this is a matter of pride among the six great towers, and you’ve officially proposed a transfer, which has been taboo among the towers!”
Transfer between towers.
Normally, it might be a common occurrence, but among the towers, it’s strictly forbidden.
For a tower’s magician to go to another tower is akin to leaking the magic and techniques learned there.
Especially among the six great towers, which are the most powerful, this tendency is even stronger. A hundred years ago, a war even broke out between Agni and Glesia.
It’s a fact I know, and Stella, the tower master of Astron, couldn’t possibly be unaware.
From the beginning, she must have been aiming not just for exclusive rights but also for my affiliation.
“If Master Olfin finds out───”
“If Olfin finds out? What can he do?”
“……What did you say?”
“Arkhé Magic Tower will soon be too busy to even blink. With large numbers of tourists flocking from the south, east, and center, can you afford to risk friction and confrontation with Astron Magic Tower?”
“………That is.”
“Thanks to Abracadabra, you’ve recovered from a deficit and are growing rapidly, but Arkhé Magic Tower’s influence is still the smallest among the six great towers. With only Olfin to rely on, do you really think you can oppose us, the number one tower? That’s a joke.”
“Master Olfin, whom we can rely on, will handle it.”
“Of course, he will. I know Olfin Glassburn better than you do. Given his temperament, he won’t let this slide………but.”
*Grrrrrr───*
The room vibrates, centered around Stella.
No, to be precise, that’s not quite accurate.
In an instant, the scenery outside the window changed from the territory’s landscape to the night sky.
Without even a gesture, Stella had transported the entire room to the night sky.
“What is this……!?”
“Remember this well. Olfin’s disciple.”
“………!!”
“From the beginning, I.”
“Don’t really like Olfin Glassburn.”
“……….”
“Back in the Abracadabra days, I only accepted his invitation to see the desperate struggle of Arkhé Magic Tower, and I came here with other archmages for the same reason—to give a proper response to Master Olfin’s arrogant remarks. Well, turns out I was wrong about that.”
Stella floats into the air, and stars rise in the room.
The Milky Way unfolds, a meteor shower falls, and the sun and moon orbit.
Before I knew it, Adela and I were floating in the middle of a vast night sky, no longer in the room.
……It was only then that I realized Sally and the Water Tiger weren’t here.
“Anyway, at this point, emphasizing that I can oppose Olfin doesn’t mean much to me.”
“………….”
“Arkhé and Astron weren’t exactly best friends to begin with, right? At most, there’s a connection between me and Olfin, but the towers have been growling at each other for over a century. Isn’t that right?”
“……What do you plan to do here?”
“Well, I’m not outright threatening anyone. In the end, what matters is Kyle Byron’s decision.”
*Whoosh.*
Just as we were instantly transported to the night sky, returning to the room happened in a flash.
Even though only Adela and I were caught up in it, Sally and the Water Tiger showed no reaction.
As if nothing had happened.
The Water Tiger was sleeping next to me, and Sally was just standing behind me.
“Adela, was it? Remember this well. The only reason I’ve stayed in Arkhé is because of Kyle Byron.”
“………….”
“I’ll leave the Micro Planet here for you to experience, so at least give me an answer by today. Kyle Byron? See you later.”
Stella, switching from a high-pressure tone back to her strangely polite speech, leaves the room.
I was just left bewildered, holding the Micro Planet in my hand.
But Adela seemed different, clenching her teeth.
“Adela.”
“……Are you planning to leave?”
“Adela?”
“Ultimately, it’s Arkhé that’s receiving all the favor one-sidedly. If you really decide to follow Stella……even the Tower Master won’t be able to stop you.”
That’s why Adela.
Quietly bowed her head to me.
“Please. Don’t abandon Arkhé.”
“………….”
“It’s true that Arkhé is inferior to Astron. If you go to Astron, you’ll receive better treatment and support than you do now. But if you leave Arkhé as it is───”
“No, Adela. I haven’t said a single word yet.”
“………You?”
“This Micro Planet artifact is impressive, but I can’t give you exclusive rights, let alone anything else.”
“B-but you were interested in the Micro Planet. If you were planning to refuse from the start, why……?”
“………It’s just a trivial dream. Seeing something I gave up on long ago right in front of me made it a little tempting.”
A childhood dream. The dream of becoming a magician.
It was also a dream I had after reincarnating in this world.
And a dream I had back in the orphanage.
‘If I could become a magician like in the fairy tales.’
Then I could’ve solved everything—the orphanage, the director, even the parents who left me behind.
Well, in the end, I was just clinging to the past.
So I grabbed the Micro Planet orbiting around me and placed it on the table.
“But this isn’t the end, is it?”
“……Stella’s desire for talent is famous even in the magic world. She’ll probably try to recruit you to the end.”
“Not just exclusive rights, but she wants me itself. Frankly, it feels strange.”
“I’ll inform Master Olfin, but……in the end, Stella’s words are true. The current───”
Arkhé can’t really be hostile to Astron, and only Stella-nim and Master Olfin know each other, but the Magic Towers themselves have never really gotten along…
“The point is to make Stella-nim give up on me.”
Is that even possible?
Saying that I can be hostile to Arkhé is useless, and even though Stella Varnicion is favorable to me now, who knows what will happen if I keep rejecting her. After all, she’s an Archmage, and she has plenty of means at her disposal.
Beyond political reasons, is there a practical way to make Stella give up on me?
“Sally, do you have any ideas?”
“W-well, she’s human too, so if you stab her, she might die, right?”
“…Just go make some tea.”
[What about this?]
“Leisha?”
Wait, weren’t you asleep?
Leisha’s voice, which I hadn’t heard in a while, came through the Water Tiger.
As the Water Tiger settled on my lap, it continued speaking.
[In the end, you just need to make that Archmage give up on her husband, right?]
“Leisha, do you have a way?”
[Of course I do. It’s my turn to help my husband this time.]
“…Princess Leisha, if I may ask, what is this method? If we’re not careful, it might provoke Stella-nim instead.”
[Magician, you worry too much. Do you think I wouldn’t know that?]
[Well, just wait.]
[I’ll solve it by today.]
*
Arkhé Magic Tower, VIP Room, Stella Varnicion’s room.
Having offered the Micro Planet as a bargaining chip to essentially pull Kyle Byron out of Arkhé, it was only natural to expect resistance from Arkhé.
That’s why I thought Olfin might come personally or that Kyle Byron’s rank might be raised, but…
[To the Master of Astron Magic Tower, Stella Varnicion.]
“……”
In her hand was a letter.
The letter, hastily written with ink not yet dry, was written in plain language instead of honorifics.
For someone of her status as an Archmage and the Master of one of the six great Magic Towers, this in itself could be considered a great discourtesy.
But the sender was someone for whom such discourtesy was permissible.
[I’ll be blunt. You’re probably used to that. I hope you understand that Kyle Byron, while affiliated with Arkhé, is fundamentally a member of the Everts Ducal House.]
“…Nicholas Everts.”
[Frankly, which Magic Tower Kyle Byron belongs to is his own choice, but staying exclusively at Astron is out of the question. After all, he is the son-in-law of my youngest daughter.]
“Son-in-law? Son-in-law, you say?”
[So be content with maintaining a friendly relationship and give up. This is not a suggestion but a warning. If you make any more rash moves, know that the Everts family will have no choice but to reclaim all the funds we have lent to Astron so far.]
“…Sigh.”
[Head of the Everts Ducal House, Nicholas Everts.]
“…Well, we’re screwed, huh?”
