Chapter 38
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: Desolate and Silent Woods
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A desolate and silent forest.
One might wonder how any forest could be desolate, but this scene could only be described that way.
Trees withered to the bone, bearing massive spores on their bodies, and undergrowth with heads drooped in decay.
As a result, nothing obstructed the view except for skeletal trees standing like toothpicks in a grotesque manner.
And that stretched all the way to the horizon.
Naturally, compared to those standing tall, there were unavoidable gaps everywhere.
“It's good to see you again.”
The Magic Tower Lord smiled as mildly as ever.
He'd been like that from the first impression, and that face never changed.
I was probably the only one who found it unpleasant; everyone else welcomed that affability.
‘Even though it's a mask.’
It wasn't that masks were bad, but it felt like he was hiding something rotten inside.
The Snowfield Magic Tower itself was heavily influenced by the imperial family.
Thus, its Tower Lord inevitably had connections to the political world.
It was only natural that Aiden, who despised political matters, viewed him with disdain.
“It's been a while. Did you sleep well?”
“I've been doing fine, Master. I didn't expect you to worry about my bedding.”
“Your complexion looks like it's been dipped in filthy sewage. Or did you wash your face in muddy water because there was no clean water? If so, I understand.”
“......”
The Tower Lord gave me a sidelong glance.
I was a bit surprised myself.
I had just meant to... ask if your complexion looks bad, if you're sleeping well. Something like a casual greeting...
In other words, it was a greeting thrown out because your complexion looked bad, implying you should sleep well.
If you look closely, it contained all the intended words.
The question about peaceful sleep was sarcastic.
The remark about the bad complexion was phrased as being dipped in sewage.
I understand if you're tired, and so on.
Yet the reason I came off so snide was simply because polite expressions didn't come to mind.
Even if your face really looked like it'd been dunked in muddy water multiple times, you shouldn't say it like that.
Yes, the intention was good!
‘Though I don't know how it'll be taken.’
After decades of wearing that mask, it seemed cracked as the corners of his mouth twitched.
Well... he'd probably take it in the best light.
...Let's believe that.
“Ha, haha. How have you been lately, Professor Aiden? It seems you're faring well even in this environment. It suits your taste quite a bit?”
I fell silent for a moment at the ambiguous words—whether they were polite small talk or a jab at sleeping soundly with legs stretched out in this hellhole.
Indeed, while others groaned under the high humidity and heat, I was unaffected.
No need for covers, and no chill.
At first, I thought it was because Aiden had reached the Master realm...
‘On the contrary, this place is more comfortable for me than the lab.’
In this land steeped in magic contamination, Aiden felt at ease.
Ironically.
“I like this environment.”
Unlike the spine-chilling feeling of hearing there's a cockroach under the bed, this place was peaceful.
It reminded me of a cozy home after a thorough pest extermination.
‘Unfortunately, no extermination was done.’
Looking at the chitinous insects... no, the people swarming around, they were still far from any extermination.
But the comfort was spot on.
I closed my eyes and immersed myself in the foul air.
My words must have been unexpected, as not only the Tower Lord but also the others waiting behind showed widespread surprise.
Their faces screamed, "Are you insane?"
But I was utterly sincere.
If anything, I could even offer a word of praise.
Though I hadn't expected to string together such flowery phrases.
“I've missed it. The barren land, the vicious earth that repels all life. The purple horizon. Isn't it a cursed land, elegantly wrapped like a vineyard in ecstasy?”
“I don't understand your intent... or rather, what you mean.”
The Tower Lord must have realized I was sincere, not mocking, as his eye twitched.
Irritation bubbled in a corner of his mind.
Aiden, who normally showed no emotional shifts, was this displeased. This weirdo truly felt fondness for this land.
“Your sensibility is terribly low, Tower Lord. How can you, who has enjoyed countless pleasures, fail to empathize like this?”
Tsk, tsk, tsk...
I breathed in deeply, raggedly.
As if inhaling a fragrance, I took a long breath, and the ecstasy bursting forth alongside the sigh was indescribable.
“It's like my homeland. A sensation I rarely feel since coming to the capital, but it has me thrilled after so long.”
The Tower Lord looked at me in complete revulsion.
Good. It was hard to disgust someone with just a few words, but Aiden nailed it perfectly.
As expected of the canon rice-taster—different even in that.
“...Leaving aside Professor Aiden's peculiar tastes, are you sure this is okay? Even bringing students?”
The Tower Lord strung together words that would pair perfectly with "pervert" inserted between "peculiar tastes."
“It's fine. If need be, I'll step up myself.”
“This is a high-risk zone. I don't doubt your skills, Professor Aiden, but to students, some things here might be a bit... grotesque.”
Grotesque, huh...
I spread my arms wide in a showman's flourish, as if asking what there was to fear.
Most of it was less my desire and more the body of Aiden moving on its own.
“That's why I made allowances for them to back out. I clearly said participation was voluntary. So, what do you say? Backing out now?”
I turned and glanced at the students.
But the students had already tasted the joy of pushing through once without giving up.
Having come this far, they had the guts to think nothing more could faze them.
And I'd frequently encouraged them whenever the Tower Lord voiced concerns, saying it wouldn't hurt to check once more.
One could say I'd set a bad precedent entirely.
But I had no intention of caring that far.
‘Even digging tunnels earlier, who knows how many would die. If they bail just because it's grotesque, training them this far is pointless.’
To reiterate once more here: beyond renewing my temporary professor position, I wanted ordinary students not to drag down the protagonists when they shone.
‘That's why I'm not teaching Aura Cultivation Method for nothing.’
Having Elin and Radia types screaming desperately for help while they moved was a pain.
At the very least, they needed to be able to fend for themselves.
In that sense, reassurance was needed, but shock therapy couldn't be overlooked.
I hoped the ordinary students would band together and endure.
If they panicked and floundered even when pooling strength against worthy foes, they were doomed anyway.
‘That's when the beast tamers come.’
They'd gather all sorts of repulsive, bizarre magical beasts and march on the academy. What then?
Pre-learning fear was a good method.
For survival's sake.
As I grinned unwittingly, the Tower Lord's face twisted.
He couldn't bear to watch.
“Still... it could hurt their feelings.”
Unlike with me, he cast a concerned gaze toward the students.
Yet the students remained steadfast.
Perhaps they were swayed by crowd psychology—everyone else staying, so they couldn't be the only ones to leave.
“Haa...”
The Tower Lord looked at the students, then back at me.
“I suspected you might be like this, Professor Aiden, but as expected, you're not cut out to be a benevolent educator.”
I drew a long arc with my lips.
Everyone saw me as a true educator who abandoned worldly glory, yet his evaluation was harsh.
When I questioned him with a look, the Tower Lord added an explanation.
“There's a myth that lions drop their cubs off cliffs to toughen them, but felines actually cherish their young dearly... What parent would just watch their child plummet to ruin?”
The Tower Lord was indirectly comparing me with a pointed remark.
I was the lion, the students the cubs.
The saying about felines cherishing their young was a common metaphor for educators loving their students.
Stating it upfront implied a negation would follow.
‘He wants to deny me.’
As expected, the Tower Lord narrowed his eyes and sniped at me adeptly.
“Thus, lions don't push their cubs off cliffs. Rather, those who can calmly shove their young off while saying 'grow strong' are...”
Not lions, but monsters.
A smile tugged at my lips at the Tower Lord's words.
Not too radiant, not too sinister—just perfectly in between.
“I am no monster, Tower Lord.”
“I never called you a monster, Professor Aiden. The lion story simply came to mind suddenly.”
His obvious evasion deepened my smile.
The dimple deepened, and the smile's depth grew richer.
I graciously smiled and humbly accepted the Tower Lord's words.
“Indeed, well said.”
No need for rebuttal or roundabout phrasing.
If he thought that way, let it pass.
I felt no need to be swayed by personal opinions.
As I tried to let it slide, a grumble emerged.
“But unlike the other students, why must Radia senior and I participate?”
Elin asked me.
Of course, she wouldn't back out even if told to, but curiosity was curiosity.
I responded brightly.
Normally, emotional expressions weren't this varied, but the thick magic contamination had me fully exhilarated.
“Because you two aim to stand above others. If you don't want to end up as mediocre as everyone else after time passes, don't bail.”
“Is that advice as a professor?”
“It's advice because I am a Master.”
Aiden as professor was me, and I as Master was also me.
They weren't separate entities based on status, but their implications were worlds apart.
Even the Tower Lord, who could claim to be among the empire's peaks, fell silent without rebuttal.
It wasn't that there were no counterarguments.
Just looking at his prickly demeanor, he had plenty to question.
But even a Tower Lord without peer in the empire was a firefly before the sun of a Master.
The only comparable figure was the Demon Emperor Oshua, yet even he wouldn't think himself on par.
For the record, I do match him.
I even won before.
‘Not a chance now, though.
Now it's me, back then it was Aiden.
Battles between Masters were classified, so no leaks to outsiders, but the higher-ups all knew.
‘One reason my stomach aches.’
I don't need that damn title—take it back.
Oshua would surely pester venomously later; I absolutely refuse.
“Then I'll follow.”
Elin acknowledged the weight and consented.
Radia nodded reluctantly as well.
Only Isel complained.
“Why don't you say that to me?”
“You can go if you want.”
“Wha... so why am I the only one discriminated against...”
“Aren't you an intern undergrad in my lab? No need to watch you sulk and whine jealously. Just stay bright as you are—don't get down for no reason.”
Pretending surprised, I parted my lips slightly, and Isel stared at me fixedly.
She quickly turned her head away, ears red for some reason.
“It's nice that you value me, but pl-please restrain yourself a bit. There are lots of ears listening...”
Huh?
That wasn't my intent?
Suddenly, sharp gazes pierced me, but I ignored them.
“Haa... Well then, with that settled, I'll guide you. This is the heart of the contamination... anything can happen.”
The Tower Lord turned his gaze to the students.
Still laced with worry.
“Please, don't lose yourselves. The vicious magic contamination will sometimes unearth even your unknown flaws to delude you.”
Taking the gulp from someone's throat as a signal, the Tower Lord stared straight ahead.
“Then, members of the Magic Tower, and the families who followed. Many have aided us thus far, but this matter remains the Magic Tower's affair to the end. Thus, it's fitting we conclude it.”
The Tower Lord exuded unprecedented charisma, rousing the crowd.
“Even if this is the Magic Tower's shame, we must raise its finale. Come, let us bury those irreverent defilers of our home beneath this snowy plain as well.”
Bury them.
His short speech, calmly igniting purpose, marked the point where the Magic Tower's mages advanced en masse.
Hundreds gathered from cleaning other layers.
In this hair-trigger moment before a large-scale assault, the finale of this incident ignited.