Chapter 32

The day of a magician begins swiftly.

Early in the morning, before the sun had risen, Sererassie left the manor and headed towards the east of the Imperial Palace to the Court Magic Guild.

The Court Magic Guild was established to foster magical talents independent of the Magic Tower, and under its auspices was the Royal Magic Academy, which nurtured talented young magicians.

In truth, Sererassie wasn’t from there; she was a graduate of the Magic Tower.

So, she didn’t have a single classmate or acquaintance there.

Rather… it was filled with magicians who had been her competitors along with her brothers in the past.

When she felt that, it made her feel nostalgic, yet she considered it a happy struggle.

“Ha.”

She chuckled softly.

It felt like a distant memory when she had lived immersed in medicine, alcohol, and gambling.

Her long navy blue hair shone, and both her yellow and navy blue eyes sparkled with hope and determination.

Wearing a cloak with an exterior as navy as the dawn sky and a lining as red as wine, and a pointed hat with a navy top and red underside, Sererassie looked every bit the part of a magician.

The badge of golden and silver decoration, proving her affiliation with the Imperial Palace, gleamed brightly under the sky.

“Thank you.”

As she handed a copper coin as a tip to the coachman, who seemed a bit slow today, she got off the carriage.

The Court Magic Guild was made from a single gigantic tree.

It stood about 100 meters tall, and with a diameter exceeding 300 meters, it almost seemed like a bundle of vines intertwined rather than a tree.

Even the entrance was naturally shaped from a gigantic split.

She entered the hall with calm strides.

“Sererassie, you’ve come!”

A handsome man with a neat impression, albeit ill-suited for a pointed hat, greeted her with a polite bow.

His hands were full of burdens.

It wasn’t just Sererassie’s day that began swiftly.

With a strange feeling, Sererassie waved at him.

He was a man who graduated at the top of the Royal Magic Academy and entered the guild of the 5th Circle Court Magicians as an apprentice.

These days, he claimed he was working so much that there were more days he couldn’t leave.

The reason for her strange feeling was that he was a promising genius who had competed with her during her Magic Tower days across various academic meetings.

After Jeilliris’s ascension, while Sererassie had fallen into the red-light district, he graduated and became an apprentice to the Court Magician.

Now, while he was busy organizing potions or doing other menial tasks in someone else’s guild, Sererassie had become a proper Court Magician bestowed with her own guild.

As long as she diligently carried out the research assigned by the Emperor or the head Court Magician, she was a Court Magician with free rein over the remaining budget and time.

“Come, let’s go together. It’s just the next guild along. I’ll take you there.”

With leisure came kindness.

“I’m deeply grateful for your kindness, Guild Master.”

He expressed exaggerated gratitude, and Sererassie took the potion bag he was holding.

They entered a large cage set in the center of the hall and pulled the lever down.

The cage was octagonal with eight compartments and served as an elevator for the guild.

With a screech, the cage slowly descended the vertical shaft.

“I heard the underground structure was made by dwarves?”

“Yes. They pre-dug tunnels and corridors to guide roots of the tree in certain directions and shapes.”

“And this tree is from the seeds given by the elves?”

“They say it’s the seed of a tree considered second only to the World Tree. It’s not something to say in front of His Grace, but the truth is it wasn’t given; it was taken—no, it wasn’t something to say in front of His Grace.”

“That’s enough. It’s alright.”

“The tower was built by humans, right?”

“Yes. Magicians forced slaves to do the labor. They said it was true magic as the tower was built without using mana. It was nice there, but I think this place is even cooler. It feels more like a magician’s dwelling, doesn’t it?”

“I think so too.”

The Court Magic Guild utilized the hollow trunk of the gigantic tree entirely.

Colorful, glowing flowers bloomed everywhere, making it well-lit even in the underground, and several ventilation holes allowed fresh air to circulate even deep underground.

Clunk, the cage came to a stop.

Sererassie pulled the lever down once more.

The layer where their guild was located was at a mid-depth, arranged based not on skill or position, but on the type of research.

Research related to corruption or magical realms took place in the deeper lower levels, magic tool-related research in the shallower upper levels, and general magical research in the middle levels.

“They do assign us to different layers, don’t they?”

“Yes.”

“It’s based on how much equipment and potions are needed, right?”

“Yes. Research on corruption or magical realms doesn’t require much in terms of documents or ancient magical tools because it’s based on study. In contrast, those working on magic tools need a lot of parts and components. They requested another cargo elevator.”

“That makes sense. It seems busier than ever lately. During my descent, I noticed the guild lights are still on.”

The man clicked his tongue.

“Don’t even get me started. The Emperor has been squeezing us, saying they plan to install street lamps powered by focused light in the capital.”

“Is the budget sufficient?”

“Everyone’s receiving ample funds. Haven’t you received an increase recently?”

Sererassie nodded.

“Yes. Thanks to that, I think I might be able to purchase a staff.”

“I’ve heard rumors that the gold coins harvested from the tax hike are being distributed to us.”

“Then the folks upstairs will also have good pay.”

“Not exactly.”

The man shook his head.

“Why not?”

“The budget is received per guild unit, and its distribution is at the discretion of the Guild Master. If there’s a surplus, they’ll buy their staffs or start the projects they want, but they won’t raise salaries.”

Sererassie looked at him with sorrowful eyes.

“You too?”

He fell silent for a moment.

In the gentle darkness, only his shoulders heaved slightly.

After a moment of hesitation, Sererassie spoke.

“Would you like to come to my guild? I feel like I need at least one apprentice. There will be a lot of bothersome tasks, but I won’t make you do all the tedious and difficult ones.”

With a momentarily hesitant expression, the man slowly shook his head.

“The current guiding Court Magician is someone I’ve respected since my academy days. It’s tough, but it’s something I really want to do. It’s alright.”

“Alright. I understand. To be honest, I expected you to say that. I know you won’t come, but I’ll always leave one spot open.”

They were magicians, individuals who reveled in handling their own mysteries.

Sererassie felt they had become a little closer.

Before long, they headed towards their respective guilds.

The vine door opened smoothly, and at Sererassie’s gesture, the flowers in the ceiling bloomed, lighting up the guild with a soft glow.

“Meow.”

A plump, horned cat acted adorably at her feet.

She smiled contentedly and checked the grimoire she had left open from the previous day.

Although it wasn’t a house in the forest, it was a workshop within the tree, and she had a cat to keep her company.

One day, when she became a big shot, she wanted to have a feline race as an apprentice.

“Hey!”

The cat cried as if asking for her attention.

“What is it?”

Then, she discovered a face she could never forget.

The tall man with dazzling platinum hair, Valenciaunos, was lying in the middle of the guild.

* * *

“No way. How did you get here at this hour? I almost unleashed a spell on you.”

“The Minister of Finance told me to deliver a decree while I was heading to see you.”

“The Minister of Finance?”

“From what I skimmed, he was saying something about providing ample investment, so could we shorten the deadline?”

Sererassie let out a deep sigh.

“Yes, it’s possible to reduce time with the budget, but—.”

“Anyway, I came down here after passing on that to the guild masters upstairs. I thought you would be with the battle magicians upstairs, but that wasn’t the case?”

Valenciaunos raised an eyebrow in surprise.

The Sererassie he knew before her return was the battle magician among battle magicians.

Casting lightning from the sky on a broom, she was so skilled in swordsmanship that she could have been called a magic swordsman.

“If the Emperor wishes it, he can assign you to that side immediately, but for the next few years, it’s only about research and development. My hands and tongue have grown stiff from not casting spells.”

“You want to do research too?”

“Yes. I haven’t even looked at my books for a year.”

Sererassie stroked the grimoires with a wistful gaze.

Valenciaunos scanned her desk and said.

“Then why not come with me to buy a staff? I also need to purchase something from the Magic Tower, but if I go with you, I think they’ll let me choose what I need.”

“A staff? Sure. I was actually planning to buy potions and other materials anyway. Let’s go together.”

* * *

The city walls surrounding the imperial capital, Solettarion, were nearly perfect circles.

However, if one looked down at the capital from the sky, they would notice a wide semicircular protrusion next to the west gate.

That was a self-governing area of the Magic Tower since the establishment of the Empire.

Even high-ranking officials of the capital, titans of the red-light district, lords who had come to the capital, and luxurious court nobles would remove their hats or dismount their horses to show their respect upon entering that area.

A carriage drawn by undead horses roamed the streets, golems pieced themselves together to construct new stone houses, and a cat larger than a tiger darted through the crowds while a witch in a pointy hat apologized to people around her, chasing after the bell’s sound.

“Wow…!”

With colorful water bubbling from a fountain, multicolored paper birds flying in the sky, and instruments moving on their own to play cheerful music, Rudi stood mesmerized.

For someone from a fallen low-ranking noble background like her, the city of magicians desperately seeking unattainable items was far too expensive.

‘It’s been a while.’

Valenciaunos bit his lip as he looked at the self-governing area devoid of a single infiltrator.

He recalled the moment when all the eccentric individuals searching for truth declared that they had found that truth in the magical realms and the otherworld, summoning dozens of ancient evil gods.

Sererassie smiled radiantly, more brightly than ever, blending into the scenery.

“I’m back.”

The girl, who had once indulged in alcohol, drugs, and gambling, was no longer there.

It felt as if the past year had been completely cut out and pasted together anew.

“Valenciaunos. Let’s hurry. I know a good potion shop.”

“Starting there? Wouldn’t it be better to buy the staff first and stop there on the way back?”

“Ah, hurry!”

“Val, let’s go. You said you wanted to go.”

Rudi gently pushed Valenciaunos’s back.

She felt that Sererassie was thoroughly enjoying herself.

She had to inform the clueless young master who was inefficient with his route that it wasn’t that simple.

“Alright, let’s go!”

He smiled and walked forward.

However, despite the lively beginning, Sererassie was heading toward the northwestern side of the Ivory Tower, where sunshine did not reach all day due to the tower and the walls blocking it.

The sounds of music faded away, the air grew cool, and the number of people with hoods covering their faces gradually increased.

As Rudi spotted a fallen paper bird, he spoke in a creeping voice.

“Weren’t there many pretty shops ahead?”

Sererassie shook her head firmly.

“There’s no way to find what you want in shops that cater to visiting noble lords who only want trinkets. Besides, as I handle lightning magic, the potions are precious and expensive.”

Valenciaunos asked.

“Then, is this a place you’ve frequented since old times?”

“Yes. This area is known for selling to students from the Ivory Tower. Sometimes, lower-level magicians will secretly sell results from their assignments or experiments, so there are good magical tools available from time to time.”

“Don’t the higher-ups at the Ivory Tower know about that?”

“They endorse it. They say that nothing is as important for a magician as managing oneself without their master knowing.”

“Without the master knowing?”

Rudi couldn’t comprehend what kind of train of thought led to such a conclusion.

However, both Valenciaunos and Sererassie nodded at each other and called out to the shopkeeper.

“Come here!”

Sererassie winked at the shopkeeper, who seemed to recognize her, bringing her finger to her lips.

“Shh.”

From there, she purchased spider silk, crystal powder, high-grade flint, clear refined oil, leathers from cows, crocodiles, and orcs, silver powder, and thin thread-like silver wrapped around for failures.

“Also that.”

“That’s not in stock right now. We haven’t had much inventory coming in lately.”

“I’ve heard that from you at least ten times since my days as a student at the Ivory Tower, yet it always seems to be available.”

“Everyone bought a lot to prepare for the mid-terms….”

Sererassie began to recite an incantation.

The shopkeeper screamed and ran to the inside store to bring something tightly wrapped in rubber and scented wax.

Seeing the smoke rising, Rudi gasped and asked.

“What is that?”

“It’s the horn of a blue drake.”

“Best reagent for lightning magic. How much is it? Since I’m buying it with the Emperor’s money, please write a receipt.”

The shopkeeper wrote down the price steadily on the paper.

“Total: 43 gold coins, 3 silver coins, and 8 copper coins. I’ll exempt the copper coins.”

Hearing the amount of 43 gold coins, Rudi’s eyes widened as if he was about to faint.

That was equivalent to her four years’ salary.

However, Sererassie paid the amount as if it was no big deal.

Rudi marvelled, murmuring.

“A wealthy and splendid lady.”

Sererassie chuckled and shook her head.

She was only a year older than Rudi.

“Valenciaunos, what are you planning to buy? Ask if they have it here.”

“I’m planning to stop by again on the way out. If I fail, that magical tool will no longer be needed.”

“Fail? Are you going to steal it?”

“No, I plan to threaten them.”

Rudi blinked, thinking she had misheard.

“What? Val, what did you just say?”

“Threaten? No, why would I need to threaten if I’m here? They’ll sell me just about anything.”

Sererassie chuckled, thinking he was joking.

“I think it’s probably true, but what I’m looking for is somewhat special.”

“What are you searching for?”

“A magic cannon.”

“You’re kidding.”

Sererassie’s expression hardened.

Magic cannons were items not supplied even to the Imperial Palace, used only under strictly limited conditions within the Ivory Tower.

In the first place, it was rare for anyone to even know of their existence.

“Yeah, that might be a bit difficult. So, what materials are you thinking of using to threaten them? I’m curious to hear it.”

As they left the shop and headed toward the western gate of the Ivory Tower, Sererassie asked.

Valenciaunos leaned in to whisper in her ear.

It was loud enough for Rudi to hear.

He was clearly letting her know on purpose.

“Do you know that not long ago, Urglim’s penpoint went missing and Lady Trentia came to look for it?”

“I heard about that. It was when I was still at the casino.”

“The mastermind behind the attempted theft was the Ivory Tower.”

Rudi pondered how Valenciaunos knew such things and why he had to hear this, but ultimately, her concerns faded into resignation.