Chapter 209: All Sorts of Branches (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 209: All Sorts of Branches (1)
It didn't take long to capture the sinner, Violet.
No matter how much she fought by absorbing the Academy Director’s mana through the Magic Sword’s ability, she had to use her own mana in the beginning.
That alone had depleted a significant amount of Violet’s reserves, so there was no way she could escape once the Director’s mana was completely spent.
Perhaps that was why.
"This is unfair."
As soon as she was caught, Violet pleaded her innocence.
Well, she claims it’s unfair every single time. But this time, she seemed to mean it.
"I think I reached a sort of... enlightenment this time?"
Kneeling, Violet maintained her innocence.
She claimed that while throwing around those massive spells, she felt like she was on the verge of realizing something profound. So, she needed a moment of solitude away from the crowds to organize her thoughts.
"But then I was interrupted! I’m the victim here! You told me to become the future Leon Tower Master! Instead of helping, isn't it too much to get in my way?!"
Seeing her get genuinely angry, it seemed she was actually serious.
Then again, to use the Magic Sword and the Helmet properly, she would have needed help from either Daisy or Delmoa.
One was sitting on my lap, and the other was watching from a distance.
Unless she had kidnapped one of them, she would have had to come back eventually, even if she did manage to run off with the sword and helmet.
However.
"The Leon Tower Master?"
"Yeah! You told me to do it!"
"You should have accepted back then."
Back then, Codename Boradori would have been an excellent candidate for Tower Master, but not anymore.
There are plenty of candidates now, and the top priority is...
"Delmoa."
"Why?!"
"For starters, she’s cute."
Half-joke, half-serious.
One might ask what being cute has to do with being a Tower Master.
But is our Magic Tower exactly... normal?
The Leon Magic Tower is a place filled with mages who run laps shirtless with the knights at dawn.
At the very least, if Delmoa becomes the Tower Master, they might show some restraint.
...Actually, maybe Delmoa would make them exercise even more.
Normally, one wouldn't commit such atrocities, but since it’s the Leon Magic Tower, I couldn't be certain.
"And she’s already signed a memorandum."
"That’s a fraudulent contract!"
"She said she was satisfied."
"To a kid who knows nothing! What could the Leon Magic Tower possibly offer her?!"
"What else?"
Wealth, fame, power—other places could provide those.
But there was one thing only the Leon Magic Tower could offer.
"Bread."
"What?"
"Delicious bread."
Did you know?
The Leon Magic Tower possesses a rising star in the baking world who single-handedly took down the Empire’s historic and traditional bakery, A Cup of Warm Tea—also known as T1.
"...No, how do they even do that?"
"You put in sugar."
"Wait, don't other bakeries put in sugar too...?"
"They put in a shitload..."
"......"
If the taste is lacking, one must first consider if there isn't enough sugar.
"But sugar is expensive..."
"Our Tower has plenty of money."
"With that kind of reputation, why do you have so much money...? Do you know how much a Magic Tower usually drains?"
"Because the Tower doesn't spend any."
"...Why?"
"They don't do research."
"Ah."
They just use leftover training equipment from the Knights Order or bulk-buy surplus gear at the end of the year.
On top of that, due to a promise made to the first Tower Master, the Leon Magic Tower receives top-tier support from the Royal Family, so they’ve never been short on cash.
In fact, they spend so little that they often return their budget.
If they were just freeloading parasites who did nothing, it would be one thing.
But their combat power is second to none, and they faithfully execute the Royal Family's orders—excluding research. Aside from their lack of utility, the Leon Magic Tower is the best there is.
Therefore, the Royal Family doesn't complain if they splurge a little on their diet.
They literally provide everything except for things like Teleport Gates and high-end magic tools.
"If Delmoa just does that, the Royal Family will probably fill the Magic Tower with sugar for her."
"I’m scared because I think they actually would..."
Thus, the current number one candidate for the next Leon Tower Master is Delmoa.
Codename Boradori is probably around 6th or 7th on the list.
"...Isn't that too low?"
"So work harder. If you don't become the Tower Master, you're just a deputy-level agent."
"Isn't that treatment too harsh?! Am I not already at deputy level?!"
"You're an entry-level employee."
"An entry-level employee gets paid this much?! Maybe being a deputy isn't so bad..."
"Hey."
Seriously, you should be thinking about working hard to get promoted.
Don't just settle for what you have.
Anyway.
—Urgh. To think my escape failed like this...
Unlike Boradori, I decided to punish the one who was actually serious about escaping.
—Aaaargh! A Hexagonal Water Cutter! There's no way water magic gets stronger just by doing that!
After putting the Helmet through a full cycle of the pseudo-science series, I placed the now-delirious thing on Delmoa’s head.
The Magic Sword was also recharged.
"The Goddess won't take away my Divine Power for using it like this, will she?"
"The Goddess is so incompetent that she either wouldn't have given it to you in the first place, or she can't take it back. If she could, the former Cardinals wouldn't have been able to use their Divine Power."
"That’s true."
Of course, it wasn't free.
Whether she hated using Divine Power or just found it tedious, Delmoa had declared a strike. I had to hand over a newly made garlic baguette to get her moving again.
Bread for Divine Power—a truly magnificent trade.
"Where is your conscience...?"
"It’s not like I’m paying for the Divine Power; she’s getting it for free from the Goddess anyway."
"Well, that’s true, but..."
"And she’s satisfied too."
Looking at Delmoa’s expression—utterly stoic, yet filled with satisfaction if you looked closely enough—Violet could only sigh.
"...I give up."
Violet just shook her head and let out a deep breath.
At any rate, after catching the runaway Boradori and returning...
The situation was a total mess.
"You lost? And not to the Holy Kingdom, but to Academy students?"
The 1st Prince couple, who had started this whole mess but were suddenly summoned to the Imperial Palace, had returned and were now throwing a fit.
"No, a student literally dropped the sun..."
"Even if you're lying! Director, I know you care for your students, but lying to the Imperial Family is..."
"I’m telling you the truth!"
The Director, who had been slumped over from mana exhaustion, bolted upright in a frenzy.
The Imperial chronicler nearby showed the 1st Prince couple the magic he had recorded using video magic tools.
"Hey, the Princess Consort’s gaze is a bit weird, isn't it?"
"Don't look. Don't make eye contact. Absolutely not."
"Why are you acting like—oh, shit."
I knew exactly what was happening, so I was poking and teasing Boradori until I locked eyes with the 1st Prince and quickly looked away.
And in another corner...
"We were lacking, and thus failed to fulfill God's will."
"Please punish these incompetent sinners."
The knights of the Holy Kingdom were praying, asking for punishment for failing to carry out the divine will.
"If that were possible, the Holy Kingdom would have been a sea of fire long ago..."
"Leave them be. Those people care more about God's will than anything else. They consider themselves greater sinners for failing God's will than the Cardinals who brought the Holy Kingdom to this state."
"No way."
"It’s true."
I had my doubts, but seeing Boradori’s indifferent expression, it seemed to be the case.
As expected, nothing good comes from getting too close to religion. The problem is that in this medieval fantasy world, faith is a passive trait.
And there was one more thing.
"Violet..."
Beyond faith, the fact that there are so many people related to religion around me is also a problem.
Our little Pope, who approached Violet with teary eyes, was a prime example.
"Do you... hate us?"
"......"
Some were merely following God's will.
Others might have had political motives.
But our Pope had likely followed along purely because she was told she could be with Boradori.
Seeing her struggle so hard, it wouldn't be strange for her to feel rejected.
Knowing this, Boradori let out a deep sigh and was about to start comforting the Pope.
Tug, tug.
Feeling the familiar tugging, I automatically pulled bread out of my subspace pouch.
I thought I had packed quite a lot, but she’s already finished most of it.
Tug, tug.
"...Already?"
Just as I was wondering how much she could eat, I felt another tug on my sleeve. I looked down to see a piece of bread she hadn't even taken a bite of.
"Give me more."
She asked for more, so what could I do?
Feeling the weight of the Magic Sword, now fully charged with Divine Power, I handed her another piece of bread.
"Huh?"
As soon as Delmoa received the bread, she trudged over to Boradori and the Pope.
"Eat."
"......?"
She stuffed the bread into the sobbing Pope’s mouth.
"Delmoa?"
Was it because she stuffed bread into the Pope’s mouth?
Or was it the shock of seeing Delmoa actually share food with someone else?
Ignoring Violet, who was staring in wide-eyed horror, Delmoa took a large bite out of another piece of bread, chewed, and looked at the Pope.
"It’s good, right?"
"......"
Our Pope also seemed startled by the sudden bread in her mouth, her eyes wide with surprise.
But she nodded, and Delmoa, seemingly satisfied, finished off the rest of her bread.
And then.
"......"
Daisy, who had appeared out of nowhere, approached them quietly with a look of great anticipation.
It seemed she thought this was her chance since Delmoa appeared to be opening her heart, even if just a little.
"Pui."
"......!"
Delmoa swallowed the bread she was chewing and spat on the ground with a cold gaze.
"She... she only hates me..."
At that, Daisy burst into tears and lunged at Violet.
As a result, Violet, now burdened with two crybabies, looked at Delmoa with a miserable expression.
"Delmoa, Daisy too..."
"......"
Even if it was Violet asking, was that too much?
Delmoa gave a rare huff, turned away, and walked back to me.
Seeing this, Violet could only let out a small sigh and set about comforting the Pope and Daisy.
Should I call this the epilogue or just cleaning up the mess?
To sum up what happened afterward, first, the Holy Kingdom gave up cleanly and withdrew.
"We cannot break a promise made in God's name. It is frustrating, but until next time..."
These guys said they promised in God's name, so why are they talking about a "next time"?
When I asked Violet, she said that because the promise was made in God's name, if God were to go back on His word, they would come right back.
Of course, even if it’s the Goddess of Light... I wondered if she would really do that.
But on second thought, it seemed entirely plausible, which was a bit terrifying.
Anyway, Boradori managed to comfort the tearful Pope and sent her on her way.
...For some reason, the Pope was holding bread as she left, which was also a bit scary.
Surely we aren't adding another bread-obsessed kid to the mix?
"......"
And as for the Empire, perhaps because the Holy Kingdom had withdrawn so cleanly...
They also withdrew... quite cleanly.
"......"
However, the Princess Consort’s silent, piercing gaze directed at Boradori was like a hawk watching its prey.
Boradori, who was inexplicably more popular with women than men, did her best to avoid that gaze and stay out of the Princess Consort’s sight.
"...They won't come back, right?"
"Why are you asking me?"
Anyone would think I actually knew the original story.
"This kind of thing wasn't in the original..."
"You always say that. Figure out how to survive on your own."
"Save me! You said you'd take responsibility!"
"...If the Princess Consort takes an interest in you, wouldn't you actually live a better life?"
"Let's see if you can still say that when the 1st Prince is right next to the bed!"
I should probably make sure the 1st Prince couple has as few reasons as possible to visit the Academy.
Anyway, the Holy Kingdom’s visit ended as a minor incident.
And once a minor incident ends, naturally...
"It’s a Dark Mage!"
It was time for those bastards to show up.
However.
"A Dark Mage has kidnapped Prince Arwen!"
Shit, I didn't see that coming.