Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Magic Tower (5)
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After finding the Tome of the Sovereign Emperor,
I diligently wandered around, checking out the artifact shops, but...
'Too bad...'
In the end, none of the hidden artifacts I was after—the ones that boost the stats I need most right now, like the {Dream of the Divine Beast} or {Memories of the Goddess}—turned up.
'At least I got one...'
Of course, missing out on stat-boosting artifacts was pretty disappointing,
but I couldn't conjure up something that didn't exist...
So, I gave up,
picked out two more artifacts,
and approached Eris.
Then, showing her the three I'd chosen, I continued.
"I think these three will do."
"Only three? You could pick more..."
She said I could take more than three
and looked over the ones I'd selected.
Soon enough, her gaze locked onto the Tome of the Sovereign Emperor.
"That's no ordinary book, is it?"
Her eyes gleamed sharply as she pointed out that it wasn't just any book.
As expected, her draconic eyes had spotted it as a skillbook.
Of course, I'd half-anticipated that,
and there was no real reason to hide the tome's nature from Eris,
so I continued in a hushed voice, careful not to let the shopkeeper overhear.
"It's a skillbook."
"You know what skill it is?"
"Of course."
I had a rough idea of the skill inside this book.
Passive Skill {Emperor}
It constantly radiated an emperor's charisma,
though it wasn't much use in combat.
In the game, it boosted persuasiveness
or suppressed the opponent's actions,
but
'In reality, who knows how it'll play out...'
What effects it would have here was anyone's guess until I actually learned it.
'Still, it won't be anything bad...'
Assuming it worked similarly,
it wasn't a bad pick for someone like me, who figured people would often mistake me for a regressor and need convincing.
I planned to use it myself once I got the Emperor Sword.
"I see...? Fine then. I'll buy them. Let's go."
After I confirmed I knew the skill,
Eris didn't seem curious about the details.
She replied curtly and headed to the shopkeeper with the items to pay.
'As expected of Eris—befitting the chairman of the great academy...'
To my eyes, she looked radiant, like a halo shone behind her as she carried the artifacts for checkout.
Right now,
she was my one and only goddess.
As I silently praised my goddess Eris,
she finished the purchase and handed me the three artifacts.
"Here, all paid for."
"Thank you, Chairman!"
I took them with overflowing gratitude.
Eris gave me a briefly exasperated look before speaking.
"You're full of energy at times like this... Anyway, why'd you buy that one?"
She pointed at one of my artifacts and asked.
The one she indicated had a cute, familiar design.
"Ah, this...?"
It reminded me of a modern burglar alarm buzzer,
and its effect was no different.
Just like a regular one,
pull the string, and it signaled the preset person...
Among the ones I'd bought, it was the cheapest—even I could've afforded it.
Just a plain, ordinary item.
"It's for Isabel."
It was perfect for Isabel, who was being targeted by Baal.
'Never know when she might get kidnapped...'
Baal's kidnapping of Isabel
and his demon contract
would happen during the week the chairman was away after midterms,
but the game never specified the exact timing.
This was insurance—for any unexpected situations I hadn't foreseen.
"Isabel? You mean the Magic Tower Lord's disciple."
Eris continued cautiously upon hearing that.
"What happens to the Magic Tower Lord's disciple...?"
She clearly knew what the artifact did.
If the supposed regressor gave something like this to Isabel,
anyone would assume danger was coming her way.
"It's nothing... You don't need to worry."
But I couldn't tell her.
It was a future event without an active quest yet, and...
'Even if I did, Eris couldn't help directly...'
She had to be away that week no matter what.
Indirect help was possible, sure, but...
'No need for that...'
Without her direct involvement,
indirect aid might just lead to annoying explanations on my end,
and moving too many people could tip off Baal, forcing him to change plans.
Handling this quietly on my own was the most effective approach.
"I see...? Still, if you need help, don't hesitate to ask. I'll do everything I can to help stop the apocalypse."
After I brushed it off,
Eris nodded briefly and urged me to speak up if needed.
"Thank you."
I thanked her in return,
and since there was no reason to delay,
I left Eris behind and approached Isabel to hand over the artifact.
'Might as well do it now that I remember.'
"Isabel."
"Yeah...? Oh, Aden. Done picking?"
As I called her name to give her the artifact,
Isabel, who was checking out a pile of artifacts, turned and replied.
"Yeah, got everything. Here—a gift."
I handed it over without hesitation,
but Isabel shot me a sullen glare.
"What... is this supposed to mean...?"
'Ah...'
Only then did the artifact's appearance really hit me.
The cute, dainty design with its pull-string.
Anyone would think it was a toy for kids...
Her misunderstanding and glare made perfect sense.
"No, it's not like that... It's for use if you're ever in danger."
"I can take care of myself just fine...!"
I hurriedly explained it was for emergencies,
but somehow that sparked a different misunderstanding—she snapped back even sharper.
From her reaction,
it seemed she'd taken my words as some fresh provocation.
But I couldn't just not give it to her.
I didn't know exactly when Baal would strike,
so this was essential insurance against sudden curveballs.
An important tool to react anytime if I missed his plan or a variable popped up.
I desperately clarified that handing it over wasn't meant as a taunt.
"It's not that I'm looking down on you. I just have a bad feeling..."
Not underestimating her,
just a gut feeling of unease.
I explained carefully to avoid hurting her pride...
"Oh...?"
Finally, the tension eased, and she accepted the artifact with a lingering pout.
After that,
once she'd finished paying for her remaining items,
we headed to Eris to return to the academy.
"Chairman, I think we're good to head back."
"Looks like you two are done shopping..."
As I told Eris we were ready,
she replied simply,
then fixed an incredulous stare on Isabel.
"Ahem..."
Catching that look, Isabel averted her eyes and cleared her throat awkwardly.
I turned at the sound and glanced at her,
and it clicked.
'She bought a ton...'
Anyone seeing the mountain of artifacts she'd hauled out would call it overspending...
'But it's all Helm marquisate money...'
Thinking of it as the Helm family's cash made it oddly satisfying.
"I need all of them..."
Sensing the extra scrutiny,
Isabel muttered the classic overspender's line in a small, timid voice.
"Yeah...? Fair enough. Let's go."
Eris had no intention of ribbing the saintly overindulgence further.
She said we should head out
and gave a curt farewell to the Magic Tower Lord, who was still grilling the shopkeeper.
"We're off."
"Huh...? Ah! Safe travels, Chairman!"
Bella perked up instantly, waving us off with cheery theater-kid flair.
Then, Eris's teleportation circle etched itself on the floor.
"See you next time, top student—and disciple!"
With Bella's final wave,
the circle activated, shifting our vision.
Light from the magic flooded our sight,
and a sensation of weightlessness carried us back to the academy.
A mere day,
yet it hadn't felt short at all—
a packed, eventful Magic Tower trip
had now come to an end.