The Master of the Ice Tower
Shopping took about two hours to finish. Most of what they bought were clothes and accessories, totaling seven billion in expenses. As promised, maxing out the card limit proved impossible, but even so, the spending was enough to tear a hole in anyone's wallet.
Perhaps that was why Lakrina couldn't hide her anxious expression. She looked as if a single theft would spell disaster. Maybe she even saw herself as the thief in question—a destitute disciple emptying her master's purse in the worst possible sense.
"Calm down. Anyone watching would think you'd just committed a robbery."
"B-but… the outfit I'm wearing right now costs four hundred million… Someone like me wearing something like this—"
"Just act like you belong. You'll be operating on the front lines eventually. The protective artifacts you'll need then will cost about that much anyway."
Enoch lied smoothly. In truth, equipment costs for front-line personnel did reach those figures—but only for elite operatives, not ordinary soldiers. The Empire's treasury wasn't so generous, nor did it have the luxury. Lakrina, however, didn't know that. And Enoch rather enjoyed leveraging his informational advantage to steer people exactly where he wanted them.
"Lakrina."
"Yes?"
"This isn't the time to be trembling. You have something you need to say to me first, don't you?"
Lakrina snapped back to attention. With a soft "Ah," she straightened her clothes and bowed her head with proper decorum.
"I-I am grateful for Teacher's kindness. I will never forget the gifts you gave me today and will repay them without fail."
"Good. That's enough."
Enoch patted her head, then turned her toward the waiting vehicle. It was already three in the afternoon.
"Let's go. The longer you shake, the more you delay my rest."
"…Yes."
@
The city where Enoch lived, Magnusra, was divided into four districts: the commercial district to the west, the noble and bureaucratic district to the east, the military district to the north, and the mage district to the south. Most imperial cities followed the same layout.
Enoch's residence, the Crooked Fish Pub, sat on the eastern outskirts. Commoners and the middle class lived there; those poorer still clustered in shantytowns along the commercial district's edge or beyond the city walls.
Shantytowns… might be useful if handled right.
Enoch drove from west to south. Following the well-maintained roads, they arrived in under an hour.
"We're here. Let's go."
"Yes…"
Lakrina stepped out of the car with a tense expression. Dressed in luxurious clothes, carrying expensive accessories, and even wearing elegant makeup, she still looked frozen, unable to keep up with the situation.
Well, adapting right away would be difficult.
Enoch didn't scold her. He himself had felt much the same at first. Time would solve it for both of them. He gently pushed her stiff back and led her into the mage district toward the Ice Tower's Magnusra branch.
A massive blue ivory tower greeted them. Roughly seventeen stories tall—impressive for a building, but ordinary for a magic tower. This was merely a small branch in one city.
The main Ice Tower in the game had been at least seventy floors. Even if I don't visit now, I'll be stopping by often later.
Enoch gazed at the tower, already picturing the future. The Ice Tower would likely contact them first once they recognized Lakrina's talent. They wouldn't leave someone with absolute-zero potential alone.
Reception was quick. Their waiting number was three. They entered the assigned waiting room and sat, enjoying tea and refreshments, until an apprentice mage arrived and called Lakrina's name.
"Waiting number three. Miss Lakrina."
"Ah, yes."
"You have your ticket, correct? Please bring it with you. Your guardian may accompany you as well."
The apprentice guided them to another room. Inside stood several mages in blue robes beside a massive magical apparatus. They regarded Enoch and Lakrina for a moment, then offered polite nods.
"Welcome. Thank you for waiting."
Their manners were impeccable—nothing like the mad scholars people imagined mages to be. Lakrina leaned toward Enoch and whispered.
"Teacher, why are they being so courteous?"
"Probably because of your clothes. They look expensive, so they assume you have noble connections."
"But I'm just an orphan with no family name."
"Use your imagination. Plenty of nobles hide their surnames for various reasons. They probably think you're one of them."
Enoch nudged her forward.
"Go on. Enjoy the noble treatment. Being mistaken for blue blood can be quite entertaining."
"P-please don't push…"
Lakrina muttered and stepped toward the mages. They smiled and gestured for her to approach.
"First, drink this. It's a mana-awakening potion. Then step onto the apparatus. The rest will be handled automatically."
"Ah, yes."
Lakrina followed their instructions without complaint. Once on the platform, she closed her eyes. The door shut, and a low hum filled the air.
—Zzzzzz—
The aptitude test took about five minutes. When the entrance reopened, Lakrina emerged amid a cloud of white vapor.
"Thank you for your cooperation. The results will be ready shortly. Please wait in the reception room, and we'll inform you as soon as they're complete."
"Ah… Th-thank you."
"Not at all. This is simply our duty."
The mage smiled and turned away. Lakrina hurried back to Enoch.
"Good work. Tired after your first time?"
"No… Honestly, the treatment is what makes me nervous. I've never been treated like this before…"
She fiddled with her silver hair, twisting it around her finger. Enoch gently pushed her hand down.
"We're done here, so let's leave. Stop touching your hair—you'll ruin the styling."
"Yes…"
Lakrina lowered her head, looking slightly deflated. As Enoch prepared to depart, he noticed her fingers twitching restlessly.
Her fingers… People feeling anxious often prefer holding something tight.
He recalled a psychology book from his old world. It had mentioned that clinging to a cherished object could ease anxiety—stuffed animals, favorite pillows, that sort of thing. Lakrina probably needed something similar.
Buying a doll on the spot felt awkward, so Enoch sighed and reached out instead. He took her hand and held it firmly.
"…?"
"There. Satisfied? Let's go."
"Ah… Yes."
Warmth passed through their fingers. Surprisingly, it worked.
"Okay!"
Lakrina beamed, visibly relieved.
@
They waited in the reception room. Enoch sipped warm tea while Lakrina nibbled cookies, her tension gradually easing. Eventually, a new mage entered.
"My apologies for the wait. Compiling the results took some time."
"Not at all. We appreciate your thoroughness."
Enoch offered polite praise. His expensive coat lent his words extra weight. The mage's demeanor softened further.
"In truth, Miss Lakrina's test produced rather unexpected results."
"Unexpected. What exactly do you mean?"
"There's no cause for concern—it isn't negative. It's simply that our current apparatus cannot provide an accurate measurement."
The mage explained further, stating the conclusion first before elaborating.
"As you likely know, Miss Lakrina possesses ample talent. What was unexpected is the sheer scale of it. Our branch's testing device is adequate, yet unfortunately insufficient for precise readings."
"I see. Where should we go next, then?"
"I would recommend visiting the main Ice Tower headquarters near the capital. Not because of affiliation, but because we detected an ice attribute in her."
The mage spoke respectfully, claiming no personal stake. Enoch already knew of Lakrina's talent and didn't press the point.
"Understood. We'll visit the headquarters when the opportunity arises. However… I recall that entering a tower's main headquarters requires certain qualifications depending on one's affiliation. Is that correct?"
"Impressive. Outsiders rarely know the headquarters' internal affairs."
"It's nothing special. I simply have sharp ears… Haha."
Enoch laughed lightly. The young mage cleared his throat.
"To answer your question, yes, it is true. Magic towers maintain a rather closed image—and in practice, they truly are. Non-affiliated outsiders cannot freely enter the headquarters."
"Then what should we do? Please share your thoughts."
Enoch asked with genuine courtesy. Even facing a single mage, there was no need to flaunt wealth or status and create enemies. The mage's reaction, however, was unexpected. He studied Enoch carefully, then suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Ahahaha!"
"…? Is something wrong? Did we make a mistake?"
The mage wiped tears from his eyes and replied warmly.
"Ah, my apologies. I find it delightful when my expectations are overturned."
"…?"
"There are many talented mages and many polite mages, but those who possess both are exceedingly rare. The young lady's conduct was so impressive that I couldn't help but laugh."
The mage smiled, his youthful appearance giving way to a more seasoned presence. He adjusted his robe and offered Enoch a formal bow.
"Since I've been discovered, I should introduce myself properly. My name is Nordila. I am a Boundary-level Mage who governs ice among the Eight Elements, and the current Lord of the Ice Tower."