If the photo had been just that.
Adela and Leisha would have torn Shisha’s face in the photo to shreds countless times.
But unlike the front of the photo with Shisha’s writing, the back had a familiar handwriting in a postscript.
“I’ve finished everything, but I still have things to do, so I’ll be staying at Glesia Magic Tower for a while………”
“So there’s plenty of time to make popcorn…… No, it seems like you’ll have to wait a bit longer, Adela.”
“…No, that won’t be necessary.”
“Adela?”
“I can’t wait any longer.”
In Adela’s mind, the contents of a novel she had read recently flashed by.
A couple who promised each other a future—the boyfriend leaves for success, and the girlfriend waits endlessly for him. Later, a photo of the boyfriend bowing his head with another woman is delivered to the girlfriend——
“I need to go to Glesia Magic Tower.”
“What?”
——Upon receiving the photo, the enraged girlfriend goes to where the boyfriend is, smashes the pot of the woman who dared to steal her man, and reclaims her love.
For some reason, Adela felt as if she had become the heroine of that novel.
It was a book titled *How to Reclaim Love*, which she read out of curiosity, but it was quite entertaining.
Adela carefully selected a staff, not her usual one, but one perfect for smashing pots.
“Senior Vermily, could you relay a message to Master Olfin for me? Tell him I’ll be away on a business trip to Glesia Magic Tower for a while.”
“…Got it. Guess I’ll have to give up on the popcorn.”
“Huh?”
“Ah, never mind! I’ll go!”
Perhaps because she had recently made a tidy profit selling popcorn snacks to tourists, Vermily had become unusually obsessed with popcorn. Adela watched her back for a moment before turning her gaze to the Water Tiger.
“Princess, what will you do?”
[……Why even ask? Of course, I’m going to catch the homewrecker.]
“Isn’t the fact that he’s cheating a sign that your charm is lacking?”
[Exactly, that’s why I need to stomp out those who dare to flirt with my husband. Or maybe I should just lock him up in a turret?]
“If you want to see the turret collapse, go ahead.”
Perhaps because she had traveled with Kyle Byron before, Adela quickly packed her travel bags and glared at the Water Tiger.
It wasn’t out of spite—there was a reason for her actions.
[I’ve prepared the carriage. Let’s go and get in.]
“I can see why you’re right about these things, Princess.”
[Do you even realize you’re being harsh to the youngest daughter of the Everts Duke’s House?]
“And I haven’t forgotten the comments you made about the High Magician of Arkhé Magic Tower and Master Olfin’s top disciple.”
[Alright, enough. Let’s just go catch my husband. Why would he even look at some old lady when he has a young, fresh wife waiting at home——]
If Shisha heard this, she’d freeze the entire Everts Duke’s House without a second thought.
Adela and Leisha set off toward Glesia Magic Tower.
*
Glesia Magic Tower is located on the eastern coast of the continent. No joke, to get from Arkhé Magic Tower to Glesia Magic Tower, you have to cross almost the entire Empire.
Even with a specially prepared carriage from the Duke’s House, the conditions were the same. Adela and Leisha had to spend about a week together in a space that wasn’t exactly cramped but not exactly spacious either.
So, was that time unbearably awkward?
[The opponent is an old lady, a shameless homewrecker, and a pervert who gets massages, but she’s still an Archmage. We need to plan carefully.]
“There’s almost no general information about Shisha Glesia. All we know is that she’s the Empire’s youngest Archmage.”
“There’s nothing here, you could say there’s no useful information.”
[Then should we ambush them right away? That maid will probably be by her husband’s side too.]
“Sally won’t be much help in terms of combat. Since the opponent is an Archmage, she probably won’t be swinging a dagger… or at least I don’t think so. Considering her obsessive personality, it’s highly likely she’s already been subdued.”
By now, Adela and Leisha had grown accustomed to each other.
Although they often bickered, Adela and Leisha didn’t genuinely hate each other. But if you asked if they were close, absolutely not.
When it came to anything else, they might not agree, but if it involved Kyle Byron, they could join forces.
That was exactly the kind of relationship Adela and Leisha had.
While they were seriously contemplating a plan to rescue Kyle Byron from Shisha Glesia…
The carriage finally arrived at the icy sea of the Glesia Magic Tower on the eastern coast.
[………Magician. I’ve never been outside the turret, and I’ve only seen the Glesia Magic Tower in pictures, so I have to ask…]
“……You can keep talking.”
[Was there always… an ice statue like that at the Glesia Magic Tower?]
They had stepped out of the carriage, determined and ready to execute their plan, but…
They couldn’t help but freeze at the sight before them.
The Glesia Magic Tower stood on an icy sea. This icy sea had been expanded over generations by the mages and Archmages of the Glesia Magic Tower, who personally froze the sea. It now boasted a size larger than most major cities.
Moreover, this icy sea wasn’t just frozen on the surface but deep below as well, thick enough to support the massive magic tower and various buildings of the city.
However, as the icy sea continued to grow, it wasn’t feasible to expand the city every time. So, unused areas were blocked off with ice barriers to prevent anyone from accidentally falling into the sea.
These areas had rough, unfinished ice surfaces, making them difficult to walk on, and they were devoid of people or buildings—just ice.
But right there, in that desolate area, stood a statue. A massive one at that.
The statue, seemingly made of ice, was smaller than the Glesia Magic Tower itself but larger than most buildings. It was so conspicuous that even from a distance, it was impossible to miss.
At first glance, you might think, “Oh, they’re building a statue?” and move on.
But the problem was the number of statues.
[One, two, three, four, five………Why are there so many?]
“No, that’s not the important part.”
[Huh?]
“Look at the other statues.”
[………Huh?]
There weren’t just one or two massive statues—there were about five being constructed.
What caught Adela’s attention was *what* the statues were depicting.
The first statue that caught her eye was of a human king, standing solemnly with a sword. That was it.
But the other statues were of entirely different races.
“Elf, Dwarf, Dragon, Orc.”
[……Aren’t those races from the Age of War? The kind you only see in books?]
These were races that had gone extinct hundreds of years ago, now only found in outdated textbooks.
Well, except for the dragon—the last one had been killed by Master Olfin Glassburn.
As for the others, they belonged to the distant past, the Age of War………
“……No, that doesn’t seem to be the case either.”
[Huh?]
“There was a Dwarf in the photo, wasn’t there?”
[………Right, there was. It was faint, but it was in the background.]
Thanks to Kyle Byron getting a massage and Shisha Glesia causing a scene, they hadn’t paid much attention to it at the time.
But it was definitely the figure of a Dwarf.
[Could the rumors of a hidden Dwarf Village actually be true?]
“Even the princess of the Everts Duke’s family seemed to believe it was real…”
“Don’t you know?”
[I was stuck in the turret for a while, but you know how it is with Dwarf Villages, right? Even though the era of war ended hundreds of years ago, weapons and armor made by dwarves are still circulating, so rumors spread.]
“I feel the same way.”
But that’s just a rumor. It’s the kind of nonsense that street gossips spread, just a tall tale.
No one in their right mind would go to the royal palace and ask if it’s true. It’s just a baseless rumor, like a legend told at drinking parties or to children.
But.
Is it real?
“……Once we meet Kyle Byron, we’ll know everything. Let’s move.”
[Yeah, yeah. The important thing is my husband, after all.]
For a moment, they were overwhelmed by the giant statues, but that doesn’t mean the reason they came to Glesia Magic Tower disappeared.
Adela and Leisha, who decided to prioritize Kyle Byron, entered the city on the icy sea.
“Hey, magician! Our eyes met!”
“……Are you talking to me?”
“Of course, I’m talking to you, not the spirit next to you! Come on, take out the other me, named Miniature! Just so you know, my main race is Orc!”
“Huh?”
“Let’s start War’s Hammer!”
They encountered a man who suddenly accelerated from the city entrance.
Even after running away without understanding what was happening and barely shaking him off.
“Roll the dice. Just so you know, if it’s not a 6, your special equipment crafting is over?”
“Got it! Please, please………Kyle Byron! Please grant me luck!!”
“Wha, what!? It’s really a 6? You little brat! What did you do!!”
“Hahaha! Or you can pray to Kyle Byron too!”
“Darn it!!”
The name that was all too familiar to them was often used like a wish-granting spirit.
“Miniature painting service! Any color you want, anything is possible!”
“Get your own miniature! With expert craftsmanship, we can change existing miniatures into any pose you want!”
“100% genuine miniatures for sale!”
“That, that guy! The one who made fake miniatures with scrap metal!!”
“Get him.”
“Gah!?”
In the shop district, there was even a merchant selling miniatures who got caught by the mages of Glesia Magic Tower.
Especially since one of those mages was someone Adela knew, she couldn’t help but freeze.
“……Greetings to the Deputy Master of Glesia Magic Tower.”
“Huh? Who are you………Ah, aren’t you Master Olfin Glassburn’s disciple? I think I saw you at the last Magic Tower Master meeting.”
“That’s correct. I’m Adela.”
“Welcome to Glesia Magic Tower. Hmm? By the way, if you’re Master Olfin’s disciple……….”
A middle-aged mage with a solemn expression, the Deputy Master of Glesia Magic Tower.
The reason she deliberately approached him wasn’t just because they were acquaintances.
“Let me get straight to the point. You’ll understand when you see this photo.”
“A photo?…………Oh, my.”
“I came to find Kyle Byron, the honorary elder of our Arkhé Magic Tower. Can you guide us?”
“Honorary elder……honorary elder, you say.”
“Deputy Master?”
“Of course, I’ll guide you. It’s actually a headache-inducing situation, so this works out.”
A headache-inducing situation?
At the Deputy Master’s sigh, both Adela and Leisha, who was synced with the Water Tiger, tilted their heads in confusion.
After hesitating for a moment, he muttered with a slightly drained expression.
“Actually, this is good timing. With someone from Arkhé Magic Tower here, things will get easier.”
“Can you explain?”
“Let’s talk while walking. First, take a look around. Do you notice anything?”
“Not noticeable, huh?”
If we’re talking about things that stand out, there are plenty.
Right now, those giant statues are the most eye-catching.
But haven’t you seen something like this in the city before?
“……Are you talking about miniatures?”
“To be precise, they’re tools used in the board game called ‘War’s Hammer.’ I don’t even need to say who made it, do I?”
“Kyle…?”
“Anyway, thanks to that creator’s board game, Glesia Magic Tower has been completely turned upside down for the past week. Even among the elders, there’s talk of… making a move.”
“……What are you saying?”
“Appointing Kyle Byron as an honorary elder of Glesia Magic Tower.”
“That’s…”
It’s similar to what happened with Stella.
Adela momentarily released her magical energy, carrying a threatening intent.
The opponent is the Master of the Sub-Magic Tower of Glesia Magic Tower, classified as a High Magician, but the chances of winning are almost nonexistent.
Still, since Adela is now considered the representative of Arkhé Magic Tower, it was a necessary action.
“I believe you are well aware that this is a grave insult to our Arkhé Magic Tower.”
“……I know, that’s why I’m telling you. Because I’m against it.”
“If the Master of the Sub-Magic Tower is against it, then it’s over, isn’t it?”
“Normally, that would be the case. But I’m not the Master of the Sub-Magic Tower.”
“……!!”
That simple answer carried a clear meaning.
The Master of the Sub-Magic Tower, who had created an ice path in the air to reach the upper levels of the Magic Tower at the center of the icy sea.
With a truly earnest expression, he guided Adela and the Water Tiger (Leisha).
“Please, take Kyle Byron with you.”
“………”
“It’s not because I dislike him. Absolutely not, but……”
[……Grr.]
“I’ll do my best to stop Shisha.”
There was a door in the wall of the Magic Tower, not a window. Perhaps it was made for the convenience of Glesia’s mages, who usually create ice paths in the air to travel.
Just before the Master of the Sub-Magic Tower opened the door.
“Chunsik, take off your clothes.”
“B-but, Madam.”
“I’m not the only one asking, am I? If I tell you to take them off, just do it! At least when I say it nicely──”
“Breaking through.”
[Husband! I’ll save you!!]
Bam!!
Adela and Leisha immediately smashed the door and entered.
Inside the room, an undeniable situation was unfolding.
Shisha Glesia, almost in her underwear, and.
“Young Master… don’t resist, please!”
“No, Sally! Adela and Leisha are here! Sally!!”
“J-just your back! Just let me see your back…!!”
Kyle Byron, lying helplessly subdued.
And Sally, with bloodshot eyes, trying to take off Kyle’s clothes, not even caring that the door had been smashed.
“……..?”
[????]
Adela and Leisha.
They couldn’t understand how the situation had come to this.
