Chapter 176
Chapter 176
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 176
Chapter Title: The Collapsing Mage Tower
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The mage barely managed to work his dislocated jaw, crushed by that terrifying grip, and forced out a sound.
"Ha... pwease wet me go..."
The little one stared indifferently at the saliva coating his hand, then wiped it off on his own robe as he replied.
"I won't kill you. There's no benefit in creating karma tied to life and death."
"Pwease wet me go. I-I'ww do anyfing..."
"What could you possibly do at the level of drawing spells directly on the ground one by one?"
The little one muttered as if the mage were truly worthless, then snapped the jaw back into place. There was a sickening crack, but the pain in his jaw was nothing compared to the sting of having his skills belittled.
Magic circles were incredibly complex. Simple or commonly used spells were one thing, but intricate ones were exhausting just to draw out with mana alone.
That's why most mages first sketched the spells by hand, then overlaid their mana atop them.
It wasn't for nothing that mages carried scrolls with pre-drawn magic circles!
But as the little one studied his face, he muttered in genuine surprise.
"No way... are all mages around your level?"
At the sincere reaction, the mage barely held back the crumpling of his features.
He was among the elite of mages, top-tier talent. He'd never been dismissed like this even in the Empire...
'Could he be... a dragon?'
But that came with its own problems.
The little one pondered as if trying to find some use for him, then spoke up.
"Do you know anything about a child named 'Dia'?"
"I... just the name alone, I c-can't know anyfing."
The mage decided to play along with whatever the little one wanted. Escaping this place alive came first.
"Hm... I suppose so."
The little one nodded as if that made sense, sinking back into thought. Only after a long pause did he continue.
"Light brown hair and eyes. Hmm... hair about this length, and the clothes she last wore..."
The description was so absurd that the mage forgot his dislocated jaw and gaped in disbelief.
This wasn't some missing child search. What kind of description was this? Brown hair and brown eyes—the most common colors around.
"Age... just shy of 600."
"...?"
The mage opened his mouth to protest, then froze at the next words.
600 days...? No, couldn't be—he wouldn't be looking for a two-year-old from him. 600 months? That's fifty years?
"Lost for about 500 years, and she was at the 8th Circle back then..."
"..."
"8th Circle wasn't common, but as you know, during the Heavenly Demon War 500 years ago, they popped up like weeds..."
Know what? He knew nothing of 500 years ago. That war, where single beings wielded power like disasters, had wiped out human civilization and records alike.
"Not sure if she survived or died."
"..."
"Oh, she was human, at least."
The mage's mind raced. This little one definitely wasn't human. A human wouldn't assume someone from 500 years ago could still be alive.
"...I've heard nothing."
"I see."
So she must have died then. The little one muttered bitterly, ending the conversation. Then he slowly extended a hand toward the mage's forehead.
"W-W-W-Wait...!"
A surge of dread hit the mage; he twisted his body wildly to dodge the hand.
"A-Aren't you c-c-curious about the 1st P-Prince's w-weakness?"
"Weakness?"
Luckily, the little one showed interest in the 1st Prince. Seizing the chance, the mage pressed on.
"P-Promise to s-spare my life, and I'll tell you the 1st Prince's weakness."
"I already said I wouldn't kill you."
"T-Then promise not to h-harm me in any way..."
"You, who tried to gouge out my eyes?"
"..."
"And even thought of touching our kid."
"...That hasn't happened yet..."
Cold sweat trickled down his back. The little one had been calm and serene from start to finish, but that had nothing to do with a soft heart. Hadn't he emotionlessly snapped the mage's fingers and ankles first?
Unsure how to respond, he hesitated—and the hand reached out again.
"M-Magic artifact!"
"Hm?"
"The 1st P-Prince always wears a m-magic artifact!"
"That earring?"
"...!"
No way, he already knew...!
"You're not calling that his weakness, are you?"
"..."
"Pathetic."
With a small scoff, something shattered, and the mage's vision went blindingly white.
Having absorbed every last drop of the mage's mana, Nihil slowly rose from his spot.
The mage lay collapsed, foaming at the mouth and eyes rolled back from the shock of his mana heart shattering.
He hadn't wanted to absorb non-natural mana due to suppressing his growth, but it seemed better to regain strength faster, even if just a little.
Nihil rummaged through the mage's lab again. He pocketed any promising magic artifacts and popped every mana stone he saw straight into his mouth.
Crunch, crrrunch...
He wondered if chewing tough things nonstop might loosen his teeth, but as his jaw grew sore after the third, he decided to swallow them whole from then on.
'Still not enough...'
But it fell far short of what he needed to recover his body. He'd been steadily absorbing natural mana even normally, and a few stones made no real difference.
If gathering mana in a massive tank was like dripping one drop at a time before, now it was maybe two.
Still, as a mage stronghold, plenty of mana was pooled here, so Nihil began seriously siphoning it.
Right—he'd only meant to gather mana, not collapse the tower from the start.
Boom, rrrumble!
"..."
Focused on absorbing mana in meditation, Nihil looked up at the resounding crash overhead and the pebbles raining down, falling into contemplation.
'Did I take too much...?'
The mage tower, despite its name, had only two floors aboveground, with fifteen underground. He'd apparently drained too aggressively; it started crumbling from the top.
Better to be buried underground or crushed from above? Neither would hurt him, but escaping from the surface seemed easier.
But he had no choice. He was already on sublevel 14.
The mage who'd set up his lab on sublevel 14 must have held a surprisingly high position in the tower, unlike how he saw himself as worthless.
'This situation feels oddly familiar somehow.'
Shaking off the strange sense of déjà vu, Nihil crawled under a desk and curled up. He had to stay cautious until it all collapsed. No need to get hurt and make his seaweed cry again.
As he huddled, he noticed his sleeves seemed subtly shorter.
'Did I grow a bit...?'
He must have sucked up a considerable amount of mana to destabilize the tower this badly.
Keep steadily absorbing like this, and it'd look just like natural growth.
'I want to grow up quick, too.'
Suddenly, he recalled the little one's sullen voice in front of the mirror.
"Maybe I'll grow taller later."
Matching his growth didn't sound bad.
Sir Evan caught his breath atop a warehouse roof.
"My research data's down there!"
Below was a mess of mage tower rubble, but aside from mages trying to dig into the ruins, it wasn't as chaotic as expected.
"It collapsed properly, huh."
"...Y-yeah."
Lianus replied a beat late. He'd been busy searching for his dear friend.
"He couldn't be crushed under there, right?"
"No way. He'd have come out and collapsed it after."
"Then why no message last night?"
"Well..."
Because it was bedtime for Your Highness...
Evan swallowed the words rising in his throat and scanned the surroundings.
"Sir Evan, let's check over there!"
Evan leaped straight into the alley Lianus pointed to, staying vigilant.
The wildcat would likely be hiding somewhere, sense their presence, and come find them.
Or appear without a sound, so he had to be ready...
"Puppy."
"...!"
Whoosh!
With senses on high alert, Evan reflexively leaped back at the voice right by his feet.
The wildcat was crouched inside some discarded crate, hand outstretched as if to grab a hem—frozen like an abandoned stray.
Suddenly feeling guilty, Evan mumbled awkwardly.
"I told you not to appear without a presence..."
"I've been here the whole time. Didn't you spot me and come down?"
I just assumed since he headed straight here. Nihil, who'd been napping in the wooden box, stretched languidly as he said it.
"Nil, you okay?"
"Yeah. I'm fine."
Lianus circled Nihil, inspecting every inch as if "fine" wasn't convincing enough.
"But Nil, your hair... it's gotten a lot longer?"
"Ah, yeah... it just happened."
Nihil twirled a strand swaying past his shoulders, then compared the tops of their heads by pressing down alternately. Height seemed matched perfectly, at least.
"You'll brush it for me, right?"
"Yeah! I'll do it!"
"Sure. But..."
Nihil trailed off, glancing up at Evan. For some reason, the puppy's mana was depleted.
"Did you ride the puppy here?"
"Uh, well... Sir Evan brought me."
Lianus couldn't quite affirm the sharp wording and corrected himself instead.
"How were you planning to get back?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Puppy's mana is empty."
"...!"
At that, not just Lianus but Evan's eyes widened too. They must've rushed out without thinking.
"Money?"
"Uh, don't have any."
Lianus rolled his eyes, then eyed a button on his cuff.
"...Think this would sell?"
Nihil chuckled at the kid gauging his reaction and pulled a platinum card from his pocket.
"Let's go to Allie Merchant Group."
* * *
Lianus glanced around the parlor. Showing the platinum card to a staff member had gotten them ushered here smoothly.
"Nil, where'd you get that?"
"The boss gave it to me."
"Baron Allie?"
"Yeah."
Never thought I'd use it like this. His dear friend sipped tea leisurely as he said it.
Soon, Baron Allie appeared, somewhat disheveled. He dismissed the waiting staff, gave Lianus a light bow.
"Your Highness the 2nd Prince, I trust you've been well."
"Long time, Baron. Thanks for coming despite your busy schedule."
"No trouble. I was nearby on business anyway. And to begin with..."
Morris trailed off, glancing at Nihil. He always puzzled over how to address the little one.
A commoner boy smaller than his own son, yet the prince's dear friend, his son's benefactor, and his business partner.
"That... Master Nil... can't be exposed publicly."
"Right. Chat freely with Nil! I'll stay put here."
"...Yes."
Feeling oddly like the roles had reversed, Morris made a subtle face before settling on the sofa.
Nihil scooted Lianus right beside him, then pulled a pouch from his pocket.
"Not much business, really..."
As he spoke, he cleared the snacks aside, opened the pouch, and dumped it out. Items poured forth.
"...?!"
Clatterclatter—
They kept coming.
"W-what is all this...?"
The table filled quickly. Nihil snatched a rolling orb and spoke.
"Magic artifacts. Sell 'em for me, whatever you can."
He nodded at them, but Morris couldn't tear his eyes from the pouch in Nihil's hand.
"...That one..."
"Not selling this."
"But that's the best..."
"No."
Nihil flatly refused and pocketed the pouch again. Mishandling a subspatial pouch could endanger the user.
"...A shame."
Morris didn't hide his disappointment at the firm refusal, but the other artifacts were all top-grade, rekindling his gleam.
"Did you make these?"
"Nah. Snagged 'em from the mage tower. I don't make junk like that."
"...They look top-tier to me."
"Low quality."
"..."
Fine, if you say so. Morris nodded along to humor his impressive partner.
"Skip the contract. I trust you'll pay fair."
"Like before, settle to the prince?"
"Yeah."
Lianus's eyes went wide as he stared at Nihil.
"What? Why?"
"Rian, your money's my money, and my money's your money."
"Oh... right! Cool, use my allowance however!"
"Thanks."
Nihil smiled lazily, ruffling Lianus's hair. Watching awkwardly, Morris gathered the artifacts and spoke.
"These fetch good prices, but black market fees are steep."
"That's how backdoor deals go. Prep transport back to the palace."
"Official outing?"
Morris quickly eyed Nihil and Lianus's attire.
His partner's clothes were a bit... dirty, but unlike before, it was proper high-end outing wear.
For official, he'd need a fitting carriage.
"Unofficial kidnapping, so something inconspicuous."
"......"