Chapter 67

Lampades reluctantly managed to send Ortes away. After skillfully packaging the request for some time in various ways, he finally secured a brief reprieve.

The Thunder Lord was far too dangerous. Yet, it was just as powerful as it was perilous.

“A gift for Astrape…”

Typically, when a powerful artifact is gifted to a magic tower, it is designated for use by the most skilled mage within—the Tower Master.

However, Ortes declared it “for Astrape.”

“…There’s an intention here.”

It couldn’t possibly be as simple or absurd as merely boosting Astrape’s magical prowess.

But Lampades could not fathom the reason. He analyzed it thoroughly, suspecting some kind of mind-altering enchantment hidden within the Thunder Lord, yet found no such trap.

“Come to think of it, I heard Astrape said something strange.”

He decided to hear her out. Lampades summoned Astrape.

***

In the reception room where they waited, coffee and biscuits were courteously prepared.

While nibbling on pastries and waiting, the distant sound of footsteps approached. The distinctive clatter of boots echoed unmistakably—judging from the weight inferred by the sound, it had to be Lampades.

His complexion was unusually weary.

“…I know this may sound strange, but let me ask one thing.”

“Yes. If there’s anything I can answer, I will gladly do so.”

“Are you truly unacquainted with Astrape’s mother?”

He nearly dropped the coffee cup he held.

Why is this story resurfacing now?

Lampades slowly began to speak.

“They say Astrape lived with her mother in Etna City. At least, as far back as she remembers.”

Her mother was an excellent magician who taught Astrape the basics of magic but insisted that they keep their abilities hidden. And she advised…

“Didn’t she tell you that someday your father or his friends would come to help?”

“That’s right.”

He shook his head. Though the timing was oddly coincidental, he wasn’t some mysterious benefactor.

Astrape’s escape from Torres Tower wasn’t out of goodwill but rather a result of chance and calculated self-interest. While it wasn’t ideal for a child yearning for family, he had no connection to Astrape’s past.

“I saw the pendant Astrape’s mother left behind. It bore a symbol that anyone studying lightning magic and its history would recognize.”

“Oh. If there’s such a crest, perhaps we can find her father. That’s fortunate.”

Though outwardly agreeing, his thoughts grew complicated. Damn, if Astrape takes off now, I’ll lack leverage to persuade Lampades.

“No. You won’t find him. The tower has long vanished.”

“Vanished?”

If a tower fell, why remember? He recalled the list of extinct towers, especially those renowned or known for unique spells.

Among those wielding lightning magic…

“Manuvia. Once challengers of the royal thunder.”

The original narrative came to mind: the ‘Talisman of Thunder’ showed the highest compatibility with young Astrape before any significant modifications—even surpassing the master of Torres Tower at the time.

Wait…

***

Lampades observed Ortes’ reaction. As soon as the topic arose, the hand holding the coffee cup trembled—an unease Ortes would never show under normal circumstances. Lampades was convinced Ortes knew something about Astrape’s past and Manuvia Tower.

Ortes stroked his jawline and countered.

“Isn’t the fall of Manuvia Tower an ancient tale? Even the last Tower Master should have lived over a thousand years ago.”

“That’s true. The last Tower Master of Manuvia…the final movements of Thunder Giant Keronos remain unclear. He disappeared after relocating the tower’s magic core several times, and Manuvia Tower faded into history. I suspect Astrape’s father might be a distant descendant of a magician who escaped during Manuvia’s downfall.”

Ortes chuckled faintly. The world’s truths weren’t fully captured in the original narrative—a lesson he learned deeply while visiting Crete.

Still, the existence of this secret history regarding Astrape and the Talisman of Thunder was surprising even to Ortes.

‘I just thought I was talented because I was the protagonist.’

“In that case, Astrape becomes the sole inheritor of Manuvia Tower’s lineage—a promising talent to carry on and flourish your magic tradition.”

“Yes…that’s correct.”

Lampades turned his head briefly and took a deep breath. ‘Thunder Giant’ and ‘Thunder Lord.’ There was no way to overlook the connection between these names.

Ortes’ casual demeanor, pretending not to notice such details, was undoubtedly a poker face to conceal his confusion. Especially his unusual reaction upon hearing about Astrape’s mother.

Truthfully, Lampades hadn’t told Ortes everything Astrape recounted.

What he omitted was the story of Astrape being captured by slave merchants from Torres Tower. An unbelievable claim that Ortes searched for Astrape.

Lampades couldn’t imagine Ortes making efforts to rescue someone.

‘Let’s consider why Ortes acted this way.’

Two reasons surfaced in Lampades’ mind—one ominous, the other uncertain.

The ominous reason was naturally a scheme to exploit Astrape. If so, Ortes must have been closely tied to the cause of Astrape’s father’s disappearance—or perhaps the very cause itself.

Could it really be a coincidence that Hydra Corp established its presence in Etna City where Astrape and her mother lived?

And that Ortes was waiting precisely on the day Astrape arrived in Elysion?

…Too many suspicious clues.

On the other hand, the uncertain reason.

‘Is Ortes Astrape’s father?’

Images of Ortes in Elysion surfaced. His display of human warmth toward Carisia made it hard to believe he was the “faceless Ortes.”

Ortes seemed to extend unwavering trust to those who entered his inner circle, though the criteria were impossibly strict.

‘I’ve heard he didn’t threaten Astrape while waiting in the lobby. What if Astrape falls within Ortes’ inner circle?’

By revealing the Thunder Lord as a discovery from Torres Tower, its purpose shifts. It wasn’t meant as a leash to control Lampades but rather a safeguard to prevent Lampades from exploiting Astrape.

Lampades had always thought of Ortes as someone incapable of forming a family—but in this peculiar situation, doubts arose.

Isn’t this essentially giving the last relic of Manuvia Tower to the final inheritor of its lineage?

How could an outsider know Astrape inherited Manuvia’s tradition? Lampades could only conclude: “He’s known Astrape since the past.”

The Thunder Lord was far too precious to squander simply as a tether.

Yet, given who gave it, it was hard to view it purely as a gesture of goodwill.

Lampades organized his thoughts amidst the chaos. One way or another, Ortes intended to unload this invaluable gift onto Lampades’ tower.

Then at least, he needed to secure control of the situation.

“Astrape seems quite fond of the Thunder Lord. As you expected, her compatibility with the artifact is unsurpassed. I’ll gladly accept your gift.”

“That’s wonderful news. Our Chairman will also be pleased.”

“The initial work on the extraplanar radar is almost complete. Once finished, I’ll visit your Hydra Corp.”

He would personally go to Etna City to uncover clues about Astrape.

When he confronts the enigma of “Astrape’s mother,” he would discover whether it stems from a man’s sorrow for neglecting his family or a criminal’s attempt to cover his tracks.

***

I discussed with Kine about how nice it would be if Kine and Astrape became friends at Museion, indulging in some unexpected parental chatter.

Though technically, Kine’s plan involves excelling at Museion, receiving a recruitment offer from the Shadow Order, and becoming an apprentice magician—so they probably won’t have much free time together.

‘Still, having a couple of good friends around won’t hurt. Sometimes, it’s better to keep things simple.’

Since Lampades already announced his intent to bring the extraplanar radar to Etna City, this task was practically wrapped up.

‘Now…’

I read the holographic message projected from the gauntlet.

“The Theistic Order wishes to meet you.”

Time to prepare for a business meeting with the Order.