Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: Black Magic Tower (3)
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After Alex, who could no longer ride his horse, was urgently transported back to the fortress on a stretcher, the 9th Legion Northern Defense Army and the Steelore Knight Order safely broke through the horde of undead and arrived before the magic tower.
They had expected morale to plummet in the leader's absence, but surprisingly, the knights moved with perfect discipline. It was because they had gotten a clear look at the true nature of the Northern Defense Army's deputy commander—the man who had forced their captain onto that stretcher.
"All the nearby undead have been cleared, brother. Once they finish their business inside the tower and come out, we wait and withdraw. Mission complete."
Wagner, who had inexplicably adopted a deep, resonant tone, now sounded just like a warrior of the plains. He seemed to have grown stronger for having overcome hardship, but there were side effects.
"Looks like that maid hovering around the young lady is getting under your skin. Mind if I handle that prey for you? Even a woman who can't use any force right now—I can treat her like a proper warrior. All thanks to your teachings, brother."
"......"
I never taught him anything like that. Nerisa was non-combat personnel, but leaving the maid behind felt like a guarantee we wouldn't see her again when we came down from the tower—so we'd brought her along.
Still, I had asked why she'd followed us all the way to this forsaken wilderness. For a servant attending a noble lady, it seemed like she had ulterior motives.
"I don't know the full story, but it seems the Steelore family wants to maximize the efficiency of their first-ever unique magic circuit. Her tagging along is part of that."
"Efficiency?"
"As you saw, she creates armor with absurd performance. And it's not bound to the owner, either."
The armaments born from Rubia's unique magic could be wielded by anyone. Arming their soldiers with them would obviously boost the family's power immensely.
"Apparently, she endured all sorts of emotional abuse growing up. They'd call it 'training,' of course."
"Doesn't sound like a great plan."
But there was one fatal flaw: it merely distributed one person's power among many. Keep squeezing out emotions like that, and eventually, she'd wear down until she couldn't even think straight. Hardly ideal. Not for Rubia herself, at least.
"She's still a top candidate to become the next Minister of Justice, isn't she?"
"Someone as emotionally stunted as she is now—easy to sway with a little influence—would be far more convenient for the family elders to manipulate. Different culture, but surely you have a few around you with impure motives like that?"
Did we? I might be a lone wolf, but Harald had plenty of wives. Each scheming to nudge his decisions toward their tribe's benefit—only for Olgen to shut them down every time, cold as steel.
Behind Harald's tent lay a secretive space strewn with skewers topped by beast skulls. Get summoned there once, and most came back meek as lambs.
Rubia, it seemed, had grown up alone without anyone like that at her side. No husband, no retainers.
"I heard even her birth mother—who gave birth to her not long ago—died of illness. If things keep going like this, people like Alex or Nerisa will..."
"We're about to head out. Will that barbarian of yours be coming up with us too?"
Nerisa cut into the conversation. Unlike Alex, the snake-eyed maid didn't outright scorn barbarians. If anything, she seemed convinced she could use me—per the family's will—to wring even more emotion out of Rubia.
She'd watched the arrow of vigilance choose me up close. And she'd felt the emotions blooming in Rubia whenever she dealt with me.
"I saw you hurl that flag earlier. You're strong—won't you watch over us inside the magic tower? I can't fight on my own out here."
—Brother, remember what we just talked about? Leave it to me—that bitch is full of openings.
"The other knights will be tied up fighting the tower mages. The young lady's strong, sure, but as you know, she's short on consideration. She won't spare a thought for me if things get hectic."
—Just distract the other troops for a second, and I'll take care of it. Won't even take one.
"Of course, there'll be compensation. Money, goods... or even byproducts dropped by the mages..."
—Right now, brother. Trip her leg first, gouge the eyes, then one clean axe stroke to the ne—
Ignoring Wagner's devilish whispers at my side, I dismounted Uni and addressed her.
"I'll climb the magic tower."
"Really?"
"In exchange, I want a shield."
"A... shield?"
Nerisa paused, piecing together what I meant. Then, as realization dawned, she pointed at Rubia.
"Ah, you want armor like the young lady made earlier! But sorry—what can I do? 'Shields' and 'armor' are especially rare, even among her armaments. We can't hand them out, not even to family."
The performance of Rubia's created armor scaled with the intensity of the emotions poured into it. Stronger feelings yielded exponentially better results.
Defensive gear meant to protect the body demanded something primal—a defensive instinct. Nerisa jabbed a finger at a black suit of armor bristling with spikes and let out a crude laugh.
"Take that armor—it's the most refined-looking one, right? Because it's forged from Lady Rubia's shame, fear... and her notions of chastity, all under control..."
"Rudeness has its limits. Is that how you serve your mistress?"
Shing. Wagner finally drew his sword. Long years serving Serath Icefern—he could tolerate no more.
If he actually lopped off her head, the fallout would be severe. I calmed him down. A true warrior mastered his emotions. He had to seem harmless. Especially in front of prey.
"Fine. We'll sort out compensation later. But one condition."
"A condition? What kind?"
"Simple. Wagner—got any rope?"
"Hold on."
Moments later, I rejoined the knights with Nerisa in tow. Rubia, wary of losing it again, had reabsorbed the arrow I'd returned into her own body.
The inner side of her pale forearm, bared by peeling back part of her armor. The black arrow wriggled like it hated touching flesh, then slithered inside. Stubborn bits went in via her armpit. Apparently, it could absorb through various spots.
Reasserting her vigilance, she put a step's distance between us. Then she spotted the rope binding my wrist to Nerisa's.
"What are you doing?"
"Well... this barbarian says on the plains, this is how you protect someone without drifting apart."
"You're going up the tower too?"
She'd assumed the guide would stop here. Her face twisted—vigilance, irritation, a touch of displeasure... and an inexplicable jealousy.
"This is imperial territory, enforcing the law by the Emperor's decree. Tower Lord Belmore especially—he's a master of black magic that summons the souls of the dead. Dangerous."
"No issue. I won't get in the way."
"Right? And I need someone to protect me."
Nerisa—who'd observed Rubia far longer than I—quickly read the emotions churning in her. If Uni weren't glaring at her with what looked like bloody tears, she might've pressed right up against her.
"......Do whatever."
With a faint sigh, she approached the massive door. It swung open to reveal robed figures, gaunt and barely distinguishable from the undead, waiting inside.
Rubia drew a golden scroll from her bosom and recited its contents to the one in front: produce all data and persons connected to the black dragon's rampage.
"Your answer?"
"......"
"—."
"—!"
"Yeah. Understood."
The mages began chanting without hesitation. At the sight, Rubia sheathed her weapon and triggered her unique magic.
Dozens, hundreds of black tendrils pierced through foes from earth and sky in an instant.
Like a spider's web, they densely filled the magic tower's first floor with armaments. Rubia recovered them swiftly—glaring our way the whole time. She seemed convinced they'd target us by mistake. A few thorns did probe our vicinity.
"Let's climb. The tower's tall."
"Yup!"
And so began the full assault on the Black Magic Tower. While Rubia caught her breath, the knights handled the black mages. I occasionally swatted incoming attacks aside with my axe, trailing quietly behind.
"Um..."
"What?"
"Ah, young lady. Thirsty? I've got cold tea here if you'd like some."
Nerisa was just using me to stoke Rubia's jealousy further. She didn't want to lose her armaments, though—so whenever she spoke to me, I shut it down immediately.
No respect for her mistress, as Wagner said. Emotions like proper indignation were missing from Rubia, leaving her unable to retort to interruptions or open rudeness.
Halfway up the tower, preparations complete, I pulled out the carrot pouch.
"Uni—if you help me, all of this is yours."
"Prurruk!?"
Her former owner had strictly limited her to two, but I needed her. Clever Uni caught my whisper, snatched the pouch, and charged the enemy lines alone.
"Kraaak!"
"What is that magical beast?!"
The black mages writhed under the light spewed by the Horn of Purity. Indistinguishable from undead, they unleashed every spell they had at her.
Boom, kwaang—!
One blast punched a hole in the wall. Wind from the dizzying heights rocked everyone.
In that instant, Uni twisted midair to dodge a spell, then wheeled back toward us—just as a massive boulder hurtled her way. Right through my position.
"Eek! Young lady!"
True to expectations, Nerisa called for Rubia when things got real. I gripped my axe. Child's play to cleave that rock blindfolded. Instead, I let it hit.
"Wha...?"
The barbarian tumbled out the hole in the wall in a flash. And she was roped to him.
The rope snapped taut, yanking her wrist—dragging Nerisa after me before she could even scream. Far below our last floor. Along the magic tower's outer wall.
Perfect timing—I flicked the rope. The rebound hauled her up. My calm expression tipped her off that something was wrong.
"W-what... You said you were climbing the tower...!"
"I am. Never said anything about stairs."
"Huh...?"
No plans to plod up steps like some dull-witted civilized fool. Why toil when there was a smarter way? Just scale it like a giant boulder mountain. No need to fight every mage inside.
"And I did say I needed a shield."
Like that boulder mountain, though, beasts floated in the sky here too. Eagle-like things that struck visible prey, dropped it, and picked at it slowly.
I used the rope to sling Nerisa upside down across my back. Then began inching toward the tower's peak.
No shield handy against those, unfortunately. But a fine substitute was at hand.
"You turned it down. Deal with the rest yourself."
"......!!"