Chapter 342: Dropping the Magic Tower
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 342: Dropping the Magic Tower
To say I could hardly think straight would be the perfect way to describe the situation. I didn't know what others might think, but that was, at the very least, how Isaac felt. He felt like a princess in a fairy tale.
He had experienced warm welcomes many times before, but the memory of today felt like it would last a lifetime.
- Heeheeheehee.
“What is it? What’s so funny?”
- N-Nothing.
At Blood Dagger’s question, Isaac shook his head and replied. It wouldn’t do to look too happy. Even after entering the castle, Isaac walked with his hand held tightly in Blood Dagger’s, while the humans around them watched. Seeing as Choi Seulgi and his other women said nothing, it seemed they had already given their tacit approval. He might be a married man with children, but heroes and warriors of old often had many wives.
This was hardly a flaw.
The members and executives of the Blood Dagger Clan were moving quickly. They were undoubtedly heading straight for the conference room. Isaac hesitated, wondering if he should go too, but seeing as Blood Dagger was still holding onto him, it was probably a sign that it was okay.
When the doors opened, a grand conference hall came into view. It seemed preparations were already complete, as famous humans and mages began to catch his eye. Although there were many empty seats, those who weren't present were likely maintaining the front lines against the undead. He had heard that Han So-Hye, the Queen of the North, was also at the ice wall.
“The Blood Dagger Clan.”
“We greet you.”
After striding in confidently and taking his seat, the sight before him was like that of an emperor who commanded the continent. Afraid someone might steal his spot, Isaac hurriedly rushed forward and claimed the seat right beside Blood Dagger.
What was a little unsettling was that Choi Eunju was also sitting near Blood Dagger. The two of them didn't speak to each other, but Isaac subtly avoided Choi Eunju's gaze.
“Let’s have a brief progress report.”
It was less of a meeting and more of a report on the war’s progress. The atmosphere was quite relaxed, which was a plus, as it lessened the pressure. Isaac nodded, becoming engrossed in the story being told by the Blood Dagger Clan’s Jung Hayeon.
She spoke of the current state of the war, the campaigns to capture small and large cities, the samples they had collected so far, and information about the undead. The mages and priests from the city were tirelessly transcribing her words by hand. The information shared today would likely undergo further research before being sent to the front lines.
“How is the research I assigned coming along?”
It was Choi Eunju who answered.
“Yes… thanks to Sir Isaac, it’s progressing well. However, we still need to determine how much mana the sorcerers possess…”
“Hmm… so you’re curious about my and Isaac’s exact mana levels.”
“Yes.”
“I was planning to test it out anyway, so I’ll be able to tell you soon.”
“What about the divine power?”
“It seems directly storing it in a medium is a bit difficult, so it looks like we’ll have to load it directly.”
“You’ve worked hard.”
“Yes… th-thank you. The others worked much harder than I did.”
Choi Eunju’s face flushed slightly at Blood Dagger’s words. It was only natural that Isaac’s heart ached at the sight. Just as Choi Eunju was about to speak again, Isaac couldn’t hold back any longer and blurted out.
“Ah… and Sir Isaac is…”
- I… I’ll be right back! I just need to go to my room for a moment!
As he scrambled out of the conference hall, a voice pierced through the air from behind him. It was Blood Dagger’s voice, but the words were the most bewildering he had ever heard.
“Bring your main body, too. It seems we’ll need to test the integration.”
- What…?
“Did I not write it in the letter?”
- B-But! Here?
“It won’t take long.”
- B-But… even so…
“Isaac…”
- Y-Yes…
He couldn’t resist. He didn’t know what he had just heard, but he began to resent the version of himself from moments ago who had just nodded his head. He had lost to that serious gaze. No, he just couldn’t comprehend how they were going to… u-unite… here of all places.
‘What is this…’
It wasn’t unreasonable for him to think that. Then again, it wasn’t entirely strange. Recalling the time he witnessed Choi Seulgi and Blood Dagger making love, he wondered if this might be some peculiar initiation ceremony he wasn't aware of. But to do such a thing in front of Choi Eunju was unimaginable.
- W-What should I do, Wilson?
Isaac let out a deep sigh, but no voice answered. Besides, he couldn’t understand why his staff was necessary. He had read countless romance novels, but never once was a staff required.
‘W-What on earth is he going to do…’
His face began to turn beet red. His mind couldn’t comprehend it, and while he knew something was wrong, his breathing grew ragged, and he started to fear that something was wrong with his body.
- I… I should just refuse firmly, right, Wilson? You think I should accept?
Wilson, too, seemed to nod as if telling him not to lose courage. Isaac clenched his fists once more and started toward his room. He didn’t know how things would turn out, but he thought it was best to be fully prepared.
Isaac muttered to himself as he picked out his underwear.
- Green Skins really are different… Should I wear something sexier?
The cultural differences between Green Skins and humans were far greater than he had heard. The hurdle was high, but he had to overcome it. Isaac quickly entered his room, grabbed his staff, and then scurried out as if he were up to no good. He wore a large robe that covered his body; underneath, there was nothing but his special occasion underwear.
He tried to recall everything he had practiced in his mind.
But it would all be meaningless once the real thing began. His mind was already going blank. One more step, and he would say goodbye to the Isaac of the past forever.
Goodbye to the lonely, solitary Isaac who had endured for over ten thousand years. It was somehow both liberating and bittersweet. He was hesitating in front of the conference room where Blood Dagger and the others were waiting. It was then that he overheard a conversation between two nameless people passing by.
“Still, it’s amazing he could think of something like this.”
“I know. I don’t know if all Green Skins are as smart as him, but I’m certainly glad Blood Dagger is on our side.”
It was about Blood Dagger again, as expected.
“How did he even think of dropping a giant magic tower? I never even knew it could be moved.”
“Isn’t that what we’ve been researching all this time?”
- Huh?
It was only natural that he felt something was strange. He hadn’t heard exactly what they were dropping, but he was sure they had said “magic tower.”
“The idea of dropping a magic tower filled with pure, condensed mana from over ten thousand years… This war seemed like it was going to be a tough one, but…”
“It’s not certain yet. The higher-ups said not to get our hopes up too much. For now, we should just focus on the research.”
“Yes, you’re right.”
A magic tower filled with pure, condensed mana from over ten thousand years… It sounded very familiar. Of course, his mind instantly became a jumble. The events of the past few days began to flash through his head like a panorama.
- N-No way…
The possibility that this was all a misunderstanding. The sudden warmth from Blood Dagger and the pitying look in Choi Eunju’s eyes kept coming to mind.
- It can’t be.
He was probably just having strange thoughts because a big event was about to happen. Isaac squeezed his eyes shut and opened the door to the conference room. What he saw was Blood Dagger and Choi Eunju looking surprisingly affectionate. He was even stroking Choi Eunju’s white hair. Seeing Choi Eunju smiling happily, the anxiety in Isaac’s heart began to grow.
What’s more, the meeting was still in progress. In the center of the conference room, a miniature of a building he had seen many times before was being maintained by mana.
- H-Huh?
He rubbed his eyes in confusion and looked at the miniature building again, but anyone could see that it was the secret magic tower where he had lived for so long.
“First, we plan to fill the top floor of Isaac’s secret magic tower with divine power. This is to prepare for the possibility that the undead might use defensive magic, so we’ll use a condensed form of divine power… On the first floor, the largest concentration of mana will be…”
- ………………….
Unless you were a fool, you would have figured it out by now. And Isaac himself was a man who had been called a genius. It didn’t take long for him to realize that everything he had believed was a lie.
- Hic… sob… sob…
“S-Sir Isaac?”
- Waaaaaahhh! I hate everything!
“Isaac…”
- I hate youuuu!
Isaac swung his staff. But his untrained body wouldn’t even allow him that.
His feet got tangled, and he went tumbling to the floor. And that wasn’t the end of it. His foot caught on the robe covering his body, and it was instantly stripped away. He managed to plant a rather spectacular face-first kiss on the floor, dressed only in his underwear.
“Wh-Why are you in your underwear…”
He instantly felt like an exhibitionist. He was too embarrassed to even get up.
- Hic… sob… sob…
The warm gazes, the friendship with his fellow mages, the time they had spent together—just as it all began to feel like a lie, he felt someone lift him into their arms.
- Blood Dagger?
Picking up the large robe made of magic cloth and wrapping it around his body, he looked just like the hero he had seen moments before. He looked a little less graceful, and the scene was quite different from what he’d pictured, but he was still the prince saving the heroine in distress.
‘Was the love not a lie? Is it for real?’
It wasn’t unreasonable for the thought to creep into his mind. And that wasn’t all. Looking around, he saw all his mage colleagues looking at him with concern.
“Are you alright, Sir Isaac?”
“Are you okay?”
Park Hansu, who specialized in artifact magic; Jung Sanghee, the flame magic expert; Choi Jihye, who was interested in alchemy; even Choi Eunju was sending him an apologetic look. The thought that their friendship might not have been a lie either cautiously began to surface. As tears welled in his eyes, he heard Blood Dagger’s voice. He felt a large hand stroking his head.
“I’m sorry. I should have told you beforehand. I didn’t realize you hadn’t heard. We can discuss the details inside.”
- Hic… sob…
Looking at his face, tears began to well up again for some reason. Isaac clung tightly to Blood Dagger’s body. Then he remembered—he was currently in his underwear. His face turned red with embarrassment, but a wave of happiness washed over him.
He had found true love. Thinking of the magic tower as a dowry made it strangely acceptable, though his heart still ached. But Isaac, wanting to appear as a wise woman, slowly opened his mouth.
- It’s… it’s okay. It can’t be helped.
Blood Dagger’s face visibly brightened. It was indeed the right choice.
‘Isaac, the wise wife.’
It had a nice ring to it. Just as he nodded, he saw him open his mouth again.
“Then, shall we get started?”
- H-Huh? W-Wait a minute.
“It’ll be quick.”
- B-But, on second thought, the situation right now is a little…
“Don’t worry.”
- N-No! S-Still, really!
He tried to shout, but it was no use. As a hand took hold of him, Isaac slowly gave himself up and began to tremble. It was then that a light suddenly burst forth from his body.