Chapter 143

A workshop built deep within the thick roots of a tree over 100 meters in diameter.

A workshop where bright flowers always bloom.

A workshop where students of the Academy and disciples experiment, interpret grimoires, and draft incantation circuit proposals day and night.

Mage Sererassie shouted so loudly that the workshop seemed to tremble.

“What nonsense are you saying!”

Blue flames flickered from head to toe, and her long navy hair surged toward the sky.

The students trembled in fear at the anger of a guild master-level mage, while the disciples gathered around, pleading for her to calm down.

Candles flickered, and the bright flowers that emitted light turned their heads away as if in hiding.

However, Valenciaunos sat calmly on the sofa, legs crossed, shrugging his shoulders.

His fingers casually unbuttoned his white uniform and adjusted his collar, while his golden eyes shone with inhuman confidence.

“No, sister. Listen. You really worked hard this time. It’s only right for the Ivory Tower to give you something as a token of gratitude.”

“I didn’t do it expecting a reward.”

Sererassie replied sharply, and Valenciaunos shook his head.

“If you don’t accept a reward this time, you might end up managing the incinerator poorly again.”

“No matter how well I manage, what can I do about those merchant scoundrels invading?”

“Don’t reason it that way. You know what I’m trying to say. The Ivory Tower needs to know that this happened.”

Sererassie narrowed her eyes, and Valenciaunos continued with a theatrical flair.

“What if the treacherous lords or infiltrators were plotting something similar to sow discord between the Imperial Court and the Ivory Tower, and you couldn’t stop it?”

“…Are you saying that I wouldn’t be able to stop it?”

“No, that’s not it. Don’t nitpick. You need to inform them of these weaknesses. Then the Ivory Tower can manage things well enough to avoid any problems. If there’s a hole in the dam, it needs to be patched. You can’t keep blocking it with your arm forever. You need to ensure it can be handled by itself.”

“I’ve struggled to avoid hearing the suggestion of having the Ivory Tower break apart, and now you want me to do that?”

“Don’t repeat the same story. Just go and say it. That this happened. Then the Ivory Tower will surely respond. The important thing is to inform them. They might offer something within their capacity. You’ll be able to see your master and your cute juniors after a long time.”

The genius mage, who had lived locked away in the workshop for 41 years, could not match the deceptive tongue of the wastrel.

“Just so you know… if I go and whine for something, I might get singed by lightning. And don’t call them cute juniors. Hearing it from you makes me uneasy.”

“Of course not. I’m just going along as your escort. Additionally, I’ll greet them as an observer from last time. …You’re not seriously believing any rumors about me attacking someone, are you?”

A moment of silence hung in the air.

Valenciaunos stared intently at Sererassie, while she avoided his gaze, which was of a different color.

“Let’s go.”

“Alright. Let’s go.”

The two ascended to the ground, where another figure was waiting in the hall.

“Princess Sererassie.”

Rudi, who had been hiding behind a wooden pillar like a shadow, suddenly popped out and bowed his head.

Sererassie inhaled sharply.

It was because of the near-death experience she had the day before with the chimera.

“My, I’m startled. I can’t feel your presence at all now.”

Rudi smiled with a crescent moon-like grin.

With clear green eyes and soft cheeks, she bore a gentle and kind expression, but Sererassie knew that she had disguised her neat maid outfit with liquid metal armor and always carried a magic lance and dagger.

Rudi followed behind Valenciaunos, grinning as she replied.

“Concealment, stealth, or mobility, and shooting. Basic skills of a maid, you see.”

Both Sererassie and Valenciaunos let out a sigh.

“Why is that the basic skill of a maid? Why are you reciting Warlock teachings?”

“Rudi, I am sorry.”

Rudi naturally followed the two, and after a moment, Sererassie abruptly halted.

Her keen insight shone, alerting her to danger.

“Little brother.”

“I’m listening.”

“I assumed you didn’t want to take Rudi to the Ivory Tower after she was turned away by Niar last time, but why are you bringing her along this time?”

“To buy a magic tool.”

“What more do you need when you already gave her up to ‘Aquatec’?”

“That’s….”

As Valenciaunos was about to speak, Sererassie quickly covered his mouth.

“Don’t say anything. You make too many excuses.”

“Then let’s hear your thoughts first. What is it?”

“It seems you are trying to pressure the mages from my hometown to get another magic lance using wicked tricks.”

“…….”

“…….”

Another moment of silence passed between them.

This time, Valenciaunos stealthily averted his gaze.

“You rotten wastrel brother!”

Sizzle!

* * *

The room of the Grand Mage Gestarte was luxurious as always.

Purple curtains adorned the walls and windows, embellished with tapestries featuring magnificent illustrations, while a chandelier decorated with jewels the size of fists illuminated the room.

Gestarte was dressed grandly today as well.

Her wide-brimmed black conical hat was decorated with everlasting flowers and peacock feathers, veiling her face with a sheer mesh, and she draped herself in a purple dress with blue jewels and shimmering black fur across her shoulders.

Next to her sat her disciple Niar, a mage with a proud appearance, sporting cream-colored hair with reddish tips and eyes that mixed red and cream.

She had earned Sererassie’s recognition as a ‘junior’ by wielding the tri-elements of fire, lightning, and earth when battling artificially created ancient beings.

Having saved my life because of her, I politely bowed my head.

Although Gestarte and Niar were both familiar faces, the person sitting next to Gestarte was someone I had never seen before.

I had a rough idea, and judging by the atmosphere, it seemed like he was already acquainted with Sererassie.

“Nice to meet you. Lord Valencius, Princess Sererassie. I am Crioss, studying and teaching chimera research in the Ivory Tower’s biological sciences faction. It’s a humble position, but I hold the title of elder.”

He was a neatly groomed man with black hair tied back.

His eyes and lips were red, his skin clear, adorned with a red tie, and dressed in a black suit, while also wearing white gloves.

“It’s been a while, Professor Crioss.”

“Princess Sererassie.”

“You don’t need to call me that. I came today just to reminisce about old times. Please ignore whatever my little brother asks. I just… can’t bear to see my hometown burning.”

Sererassie began her tale.

Merchants had smuggled chimera creations made in the incinerators for sale, and the chimera that had leaked out caused issues, which Emperor Jeilliris scrutinized, attempting to extract something from the Ivory Tower.

As the story progressed, Crioss’s face turned pale.

“Your Highness, I’m deeply sorry. It pains me to hear you went through such hardships due to our shortcomings. I will slay those merchant scoundrels immediately.”

“Professor, it’s not the topic at hand.”

“……Sererassie.”

It seemed the two had quite a good rapport.

Additionally, judging by their reactions, it appeared that Crioss, this mage, was more in tune with things than I had thought.

Niar wore a puzzled expression—as if questioning what this had to do with us—while Gestarte remained utterly unmoved.

I realized anew that they were a race that cared nothing for the workings of the world outside.

However, at the part where Sererassie got hurt, Niar’s face contorted, and Gestarte clicked her tongue as if displeased.

“I don’t recall teaching you that. I told you a lightning spell must be done in an instant.”

“Yes, Master. I should have finished it the moment I entered the room.”

I recognized that this was the perfect moment for me to dig in.

Sererassie may be one of the wealthiest people on the continent in terms of gold coin reserves, but she did not buy magic tools wildly.

It was partly because she lived as an inquisitive ‘mage’ rather than a combat mage ‘warlock’, but also because her robes and hat were all magic tools given to her by her master, Gestarte.

Yet, no matter how I thought about it, it was madness to fight in a narrow area wearing robes with no defensive properties and just a wide-brimmed hat.

Though the battles ahead would become increasingly perilous, it was essential for Sererassie to elevate both her gear and mindset.

“Lady Gestarte.”

As soon as I opened my mouth, all five gazes turned to me.

Rudi, Sererassie, Gestarte, and Crioss all tensed visibly, bracing for what I might say.

Sererassie’s eyes glinted coldly.

“Little brother. I….”

I brazenly turned my gaze from her and spoke to Gestarte.

“I believe the master feels uneasy as a teacher considering that her disciple is facing dangerous situations outside.”

“I told you to shut up!”

“I thought you wouldn’t feel at ease since a disciple of the electric arts has had to deal with the mistakes of the biological sciences faction.”

Sererassie shocked me by charging a lightning bolt to her two fingers, aiming at my throat.

I summoned the energy of incantation to surround myself with scales that would deflect the mana blade.

Perhaps feeling embarrassed about having to ask her former teachers for compensation, Sererassie’s usually haughty face turned bright red.

“If you could show a bit of goodwill….”

However, my feelings of shame had long been extinguished; they were her teachers, not mine, and above all, I felt significant apprehension regarding what had transpired the previous day.

Had Lady Trentia not arrived in time, Sererassie could have been seriously injured or even killed.

I was a fighter, and Lady Trentia was a professional combatant, while Sererassie was a mage.

Just because she could use offensive magic didn’t mean she was a skilled combatant.

There was no guarantee that in future fights, we could just protect her while she unleashes a powerful spell from the rear.

“I must have been a fool to trust you!”

So, I needed to wrap Sererassie in magic tools even if it meant enduring the insults.

She would never ask her former teachers for magic tools even if it killed her.

She still held a sense of indebtedness to the Ivory Tower.

If someone had to shamelessly extend their hand for greed in her place, that person would have to be me.

“You left this place with nothing. Because of that, you’ve suffered an unbearable amount over the past year. Wouldn’t it be joyful to share a parting gift and deepen the bond of teacher and disciple now?”

As I finished speaking, Crioss and Gestarte nodded.

It was a reason Sererassie could not refuse.

“Sererassie.”

Gestarte called her name.

Sererassie waved her hands in denial.

“I’ll decline, Master. I must take care of myself….”

“I’m sorry for having rushed you out without being able to prepare anything.”

There was a twitch in her haughty face.

Crioss echoed the same sentiment.

“Right, Sererassie. You must protect yourself in the harsh outside world. I regrettably sent you off without providing you anything as your professor.”

Sererassie shot me a resentful look.

“Little brother.”

“What’s up, sister?”

“What have you done to make me seem like an increasingly bad person?”

“Just your perception.”

“I didn’t expect you to have that burden, wishing I would ask for just one more magic lance other than those.”

“!”

I gasped in surprise, unknowingly inhaling sharply.

I had no idea how Sererassie, who typically acted nonchalant, could come up with such a thought.

Thinking it over, it seemed to be a fair idea.

Wondering how I could possibly land on a magic lance, I decided that obtaining just the lance would be fine too.

Good magic tools could be purchased with money, after all.

Crioss and Niar stared at me with looks akin to viewing a bug.

“Lord Valencius, it seems the rumors haven’t reached you.”

“Are you treating a senior like a chess piece?”

This was an unexpected opportunity.

Of course, taking advantage of this would only further tarnish my reputation at the Ivory Tower.

This could very well trip me up significantly in the future.

It reminded me of the sparring with Sir Bonnel.

Ultimately, I was just living with my face turned forward.

Yet, the magic lance was a magic tool worth that much.

Sererassie, Crioss, and Niar gazed at me.

Their stares felt fiery and chilling at the same time.

I smiled shamelessly and leaned back against the chair.

“Well, this indeed has become quite embarrassing.”