Chapter 4

Carisia, more accurately Baegmun from the original work, clashes with the protagonist.

Here’s the problem: what is the first instance where the protagonist becomes aware of Hydra Corp?

Baegmun had little interest in managing Hydra Corp.

He only viewed acquiring the qualifications to manage a magic tower as a means to expand his power and reach the Ten Sages, showing indifference to what his subordinates were doing.

Thus, the eight board members, including Carisia, were free to conduct any “business” as long as they met their individual quotas.

Kreton chose violence as his business method, and his product was slaves.

“What are you talking about? I am a fair merchant. Even if I’m directly under the president, I won’t─”

And typically, slave traders in novels are destined to entangle with the protagonist and meet ruin.

Unfortunately, Kreton was no exception.

“I am well aware that your dealings with them are not merely those of a merchant and customer.”

Kreton flinched. His body trembled, his skin tinged an odd color by the green blood flowing through him.

“The Torres School was involved in modifying your body. You selected the most talented among the slaves you secured and offered them as tribute.”

“…Is it Arabel?”

The question: did Arabel, Etna City’s foremost information broker, uncover his secrets? I decided to enhance Arabel’s reputation and standing slightly.

She is one of the more reasonable and capable among the board members, so granting her some authority could prove helpful later.

“No. This was something that didn’t require asking Lady Arabel.”

Arabel has the ability to uncover your secrets. However, my source of information isn’t Arabel’s Information Guild.

This sentence carried two meanings. Kreton seemed to grasp them, falling silent in thought.

In several ways, Kreton’s inhuman body was the creation of the Torres School.

Especially their nervous system modifications, which provided reflexes dozens of times faster than an average human, were their specialty.

Though primarily a group of mages dealing with electrical attributes, the Torres School preferred tinkering with brains rather than shooting electricity from their hands.

Claiming that controlling the body ultimately depended on the brain’s electrical signals, they enjoyed implanting miniature magical drive cores into the brain to create puppets.

As a side effect, they also developed methods to optimize the body for electrical signal transmission.

Like other mage groups, the Torres School’s ultimate goal was accessing the Ten Sages’ knowledge, but their methodology was somewhat innovative.

“If we can’t gain access through skill, then just getting connected somehow is enough, right?”

Their ultimate goal was creating the ultimate magical hacker who could illegally infiltrate the Ten Sages’ Ethereal Space.

However, the protagonist interrupts this process midway during the modification of a potential subject.

While Simon, the Wizard King, was contemplating ways to access the Ten Sages, he clashes with the Torres School and rescues what would have been their greatest masterpiece:

A cyborg heroine who manipulates electricity – Astrape.

Though Astrape’s personal storyline seemed to conclude with a battle against the Torres Tower…

“The question of who originally sold Astrape as a slave eventually leads to Hydra Corp becoming Simon’s enemy.”

The hidden force under Baegmun plotting to destroy the Ten Sages was exposed due to this very Kreton.

This butterfly effect continued, ultimately leading to Baegmun’s catastrophic downfall alongside the Ten Sages.

If Carisia were to die as in the original work, the world’s genre would shift from arcanepunk to apocalypse.

In a society where civilization existed but only the powerful could enjoy it…

It would collapse entirely, leaving only a current struggle against eldritch horrors.

“In such a world, I couldn’t survive.”

I’ve barely managed to secure the ability to look after myself while rolling around various situations, so what if the entire world collapses?

Therefore, my first goal is to prevent Carisia from dying as in the original story, and secondly, to retire at the appropriate time and live leisurely.

Since I’ve already amassed enough wealth for a comfortable life, all I need is for the world to remain intact.

I’ve pondered for quite some time how to achieve Carisia’s objectives without interacting with the protagonist.

During this time, Kreton remained silent.

Seeing that Kreton’s thoughts were taking too long, I decided to offer an easy option.

***

“When is the date for your tribute visit to the Torres School?”

“Tribute?! We are equals! It’s business─”

Kreton faced the president’s confidant. Their gaze, whether mocking or serious, was unreadable, like thin threads.

The eerie blue light shining beneath their eyelids felt aimed at his heart.

“I’ll handle things simply for you. I’ll accompany you on this tribute trip.”

The crude promise implied ominousness.

This person was declaring they would single-handedly eliminate the Torres School’s branch.

No sense of confidence or arrogance came through.

Just a calm declaration that it “will naturally happen,” as if stating “1 plus 1 equals 2,” further tightening Kreton’s unease.

“That place is merely a subsidiary of the Torres School…”

The only words Kreton could muster were references to the school’s influence, unsure if it was a threat to Ortes or an excuse for following their demands.

Ortes’ lips curled upward, a smile more pronounced than usual.

“Good.”

Kreton gave up trying to understand this person.

“Fine. I understand. I’ll follow the order. But…”

There was something incomprehensible. He hadn’t betrayed the company.

He merely maintained a special relationship.

Wouldn’t Hydra Corp, as a rising power, usually consider how to utilize connections with established forces?

The Torres School wielded significant influence across multiple cities, controlling countless magic towers.

With Etna City’s slums already under Hydra Corp’s control, expanding this relationship could bring the unification of Etna within reach.

Why such a strict directive to sever ties?

“Supporting transactions with the Torres School could bring great benefits. Are you not even considering cooperation?”

“Hmm.”

Ortes seemed not to understand, stroking their chin.

Then they spoke.

“The one we serve does not associate with such small fry for grand endeavors.”

***

Through his discovery of Astrape, Kreton earned approval for direct exchanges with the Torres School’s main tower.

The fact that Astrape hasn’t yet been sold to a subsidiary indicates the transaction is still in its early stages.

This allows us to preemptively prevent events that would draw the protagonist’s attention!

For Kreton, cutting ties before the relationship grows too large minimizes losses, making it a sensible choice despite dissatisfaction.

Ending deals with subsidiaries versus the main tower differs significantly in repercussions.

That’s what “good” meant, though why did Kreton keep looking at me like that?

When answering his complaints by leveraging Carisia’s name, the indescribable emotion in his gaze deepened.

Shaking my head a couple of times to clear scattered thoughts.

Worrying about events from days ago now serves no purpose.

“How much longer until we arrive?”

“It’s about a 30-minute drive!”

The driver of the magic-engine trailer assigned by Kreton answered tensely. In the cargo area behind the cab, collected slaves lay unconscious.

“Ah. I’ll handle everything, including the disposal of the slaves. Please leave early.”

If chaos erupts upon arrival at the slave depot, there’s a high chance things will go awry.

Can I really take on all the mages at the subsidiary alone?

If a low-ranking member alerts the main tower about a mysterious intruder while I’m detained, it will complicate matters.

On the other hand, occasional slave escape incidents due to lax supervision are common. They likely wouldn’t immediately report such minor disturbances to the main tower.

While lower-ranked members move en masse to recapture the slaves, it’d be advantageous to systematically eliminate the subsidiary’s responsible parties who have communication privileges.

“Dispose…of them, you mean?”

The driver looked at me doubtfully, perhaps feeling threatened.

“Ah, don’t worry. Nothing like what you’re thinking will happen. After you arrive, please stay far away and wait until I return, no matter what sounds you hear.”

As a final reminder to the hurriedly nodding driver:

“If you leave early, it’ll cause me great trouble.”

Because I don’t know how to drive this thing.