Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: The Arrogant Tower of Knowledge
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Emperor Darcor's morning was refreshingly clear for the first time in ages.
After thoroughly purging those rat bastards, both his Madness Level and fatigue had vanished completely.
It should have been a peaceful morning in the imperial palace.
But the emperor, seated at his desk in the office,
Darcor's expression was incredibly grim.
It was because of the unidentified liquid bubbling vigorously right before his eyes.
"Your Majesty, please eat up. This is my vitality soup, brewed personally while thinking of you all night long."
Empress Elena clasped her hands together, her eyes sparkling.
"Haa..."
Darcor picked up the spoon with a trembling hand.
Purple bubbles burst, releasing a nose-assaulting stench that poured in.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Warning.] [Target: Troll Semen Soup.] [Status: Extreme Toxicity Detected.] The system window floating before his eyes flashed noisily,
sending out a warning.
'What kind of vitality soup is this? It's a one-way ticket to the afterlife.'
In the novel, Elena had the trait of being a terrible cook.
The problem was that she firmly believed her cooking was the pinnacle of love.
Refusing it was unpredictable; who knew what she'd do in her despair.
"Your Majesty, is the food not to your taste? Or maybe it doesn't taste good..."
As Darcor hesitated without answering,
tears welled up in Elena's eyes.
Eyes ready to burst at any moment.
'Damn it, whatever happens, happens.'
Darcor squeezed his eyes shut and dumped the soup into his mouth.
Slurp. Gulp.
"Hng..."
The burning pain scorching his esophagus.
The horrific sensation of his stomach twisting and screaming
slammed into his frontal lobe.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [Skill: Extreme Poison Resistance activated.] [Neutralizing toxins spreading through the body.] Darcor broke out in a cold sweat, one bead trickling down,
as he desperately forced the corners of his mouth upward.
"Delicious. Very delicious. Burp..."
"As expected, everyone else has terrible taste. Your Majesty always eats my food so well..."
Elena beamed, her face blooming like a flower as she was deeply moved.
"See? You can't live without my cooking!"
Her delusion grew even more solid.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The long, hellish breakfast finally ended.
As Elena left with the world's happiest face,
Escort Knight Edel entered the office.
"Your Majesty, here's the Death Note you ordered, but... the contents are a bit strange."
Edel placed the Death Note on the desk with a puzzled expression.
"Ah, damn."
Darcor reached for his teacup to drink some tea.
But was it the aftereffect of that soup?
His slightly trembling fingertips knocked the cup over.
Splash.
The spilled tea instantly soaked the Death Note.
As Edel hurriedly reached for a handkerchief in her bosom,
Sizzle.
The wet parchment began wriggling, emitting a grotesque sound.
As if the letters were alive, they tangled together, forming bizarre patterns.
"W-What is this?"
Edel's eyes widened like saucers.
In that instant, a system window appeared before Darcor's eyes.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ [System: Powerful sealing magic detected — ‘Vow of Silence’.]
data-start="169" data-end="172">[Seal must be lifted to view contents.]
data-start="217" data-end="220">[Seal Removal Conditions]
data-start="251" data-end="254">• Top-grade, high-concentration mana stone
data-start="298" data-end="301">• A high-ranking mage capable of removing the seal 'A top-grade mana stone, huh...'
A flashing memory crossed Darcor's mind.
'Blue Diamond.'
Darcor snapped his fingers.
"That's it."
"Pardon?"
Darcor grinned and rose from his seat.
"So I've got the materials. Now I just need a technician."
Darcor's gaze turned to the map on the wall.
Not far from the imperial palace.
A massive ivory tower piercing the skies.
The holy site of mages,
the empire's sole extraterritorial zone.
The Magic Tower.
"Lady Edel, prepare for an outing. We're going to the Magic Tower."
"Y-Your Majesty? The Magic Tower?"
Edel panicked and blocked Darcor's path.
She would normally obey any imperial command without question.
But this time, she was utterly resolute.
"Tower Master Veronica is not right in the head."
"I know."
"It's not just 'not right in the head.' She ignored the previous emperor's summons because she was in the middle of an experiment, called the Imperial Academy dean a blockhead..."
Darcor was well aware of Veronica's notoriety from the novel.
"Arrogant, socially inept trash with zero manners."
A once-in-a-generation genius and irredeemable hikikomori Tower Master.
"Perfect."
"Pardon?"
"I hate pleasantries too."
Darcor clenched his fist.
Crack.
"If she doesn't get the message, I'll prescribe her the express treatment."
📜 NEW QUEST 📜 The Arrogant Tower of Knowledge
[Objective: Subjugate Tower Master Veronica and lift the seal.]
🎁 Reward: Key of Truth
'Great timing. Time to educate the Tower Master.'
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ In front of the imperial palace stood a woman dressed in dazzling splendor.
Saintess Chloe.
She was covered head to toe in luxury new arrivals, courtesy of the bonus from Darcor.
"Oh my, Your Majesty, where are you off to?"
Chloe approached with exaggerated fuss.
"Shopping again? Or off to handle some... ahem... profitable state affairs?"
"Something like that."
"By the way, Your Majesty, don't I look different somehow?"
"Yeah. You look pretty today."
Darcor tossed out soulless compliments.
"As expected, Your Majesty has an eye for this."
As Chloe wriggled happily,
"I was just about to call for you. Lend me that necklace for a sec."
"Huh?"
Chloe clutched the necklace with both hands.
"Give it? You can't just give and take back! This is my baby now."
"Who's taking it? Just borrowing for a bit. Need it at the Magic Tower."
"M-Magic Tower?"
Chloe's face paled as she shook her head frantically.
"Absolutely not! If that crazy Tower Master sees this, she'll leave it alone? She'd dissect it on the spot."
Darcor scratched his head irritably.
"Then you hold it and come along."
"Me?"
"Just come and see."
"B-But it's dangerous there..."
"Fine if you don't want to. But then I'll reclaim that bonus from last time."
"I-I'm going! I'll go!"
Chloe made a tearful face and boarded the carriage.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Magic Tower entrance.
Floating stones soared skyward, exuding grandeur.
A powerful barrier emitting intense mana enveloped the tower.
No one could enter without permission.
Just like this.
"Halt. External entry is strictly prohibited right now."
As Darcor's group arrived at the entrance,
robe-clad gatekeeper mages blocked their path.
Their expressions were the epitome of arrogance.
"How rude! This is His Majesty the Emperor. Open the way at once!"
Edel stepped forward and bellowed with dignity.
An imperial procession.
Normally, they'd prostrate themselves begging.
But the Magic Tower gatekeepers didn't even lower their stiff necks.
"Doesn't matter who it is."
The gatekeeper tilted his chin up.
"The Tower Master is in the midst of an experiment. She strictly ordered no interruptions. Even His Majesty needs an appointment."
"Y-You insolent fools!"
"Lady Edel, calm down. Whoa, whoa. Use words."
Darcor held Edel back and leisurely approached the gatekeeper.
"Appointment, huh."
Darcor smirked.
"Of course I have one. Wanna see?"
"What..."
The gatekeeper lowered his stiff head.
That instant.
Bam!
Darcor's fist accurately smashed
the gatekeeper's jaw.
"Gahk."
The gatekeeper flew into the air.
"Wh-What the."
The other gatekeeper beside him too.
Crack!
"This is my appointment."
Darcor stepped over the fallen gatekeepers.
Crunch.
The massive iron gate made of mana stone.
Covered in all sorts of defensive spells.
Darcor took a deep breath and kicked the door with all his might.
Boom!
With a massive roar, the Magic Tower's iron gate crumpled and flew off.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The top floor of the Magic Tower was no different from hell.
Carcasses of various magical beasts lay dissected everywhere,
and colorful aphrodisiacs bubbled over.
Crackle.
Irregular mana spewed from the magic circles covering the walls.
At the center of it all, the Magic Tower's master.
Disheveled purple hair down to her waist,
a robe stained with blood and aphrodisiacs.
Tower Master Veronica.
"Just a bit more, twist the mana circuit here and..."
Sweat dripped from her forehead.
As she concentrated fully on the experiment,
Boom.
The lab door shattered,
grazing her cheek and embedding in the wall.
"......"
Veronica's hand froze in midair.
Crackle.
Then it began trembling violently.
It was the critical moment requiring delicate mana control.
And yet.
Someone dared.
'To interrupt my sacred experiment?'
Without even turning around,
she flicked her finger.
Dozens of fireballs flickered into existence in the air.
"I don't care who the lunatic is. You'll pay for interrupting my experiment."
Whoosh.
The fireballs shot toward the entrance.
Ting. Ting ting!
With cheerful sounds, the fireballs bounced off in all directions.
As Veronica turned in panic,
a man stood there.
Covered in dust,
grinning nonchalantly.
Soon, his form shimmered like mist and vanished.
"Wh-What?"
As Veronica whipped her head around searching for the man, behind her.
"Hey."
A low voice sounded.
Turning there,
Darcor tilted his head cockily and spoke.
"You the Tower Master?"
No one in the empire dared use informal speech to the Tower Master.
Veronica's eyes narrowed.
"Who?"
At her question, Darcor's lips curled slyly.
"Who else."
He leaned to her ear and whispered softly.
"Your master."