Chapter 23
Chapter 23
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: I Let My Guard Down
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I let my guard down.
I'd never even imagined a situation like this could happen. I'd never even thought I'd have any reason to come to the Magic Tower in the first place.
Ah, this is driving me crazy!
Squeeze. My finger, frozen in hesitation until the very end, finally pressed one of the choices. Just like that, the trembling in my body subsided as if by magic.
Flick. One corner of my mouth quirked up. It wasn't my will at all.
"Whether this kid came here to play or not, what's it to you? If it bothers you that much, why don't you go complain to the Magic Tower Lord?"
My head tilted to one side, my crooked gaze landing on the hulking mage.
The other choices had been too provocative; I couldn't bring myself to pick them.
"......"
And then I stood ramrod straight, my face draining of color. Shocked stares flew at me and stabbed right in.
The mage who had started the commotion gaped at me in disbelief, just like the rest.
'Why's his face like that...?'
Even after hearing that sudden barbed insult, he wasn't flushing red with rage. His eyes bulged like they might pop out, and his mouth flapped open and shut. It looked downright weird.
The other mages around us were the same.
It was only after I realized their gazes had shifted from me to somewhere behind me that I heard the chilling voice from the back.
"Exactly. Why don't you come complain to me?"
Me...?
Creeeak, creeeak. Where my head turned, Billy stood grinning like he might topple over, next to a stranger wearing a gentle smile.
They say if you're terrified of a beastkin, you can't even scream. I froze right there on the spot.
"What was it that dissatisfied you so much?"
The question was directed at the hulking mage. He'd gone from pale to ghostly white, like a beastkin on the verge of death, and thudded to his knees on the floor.
For some reason, it felt like if I added even one more word, I'd end up the same way. I dragged my heavy feet backward quietly. Sitting beside Ed, I clamped my mouth shut obediently.
"Ma-M-M-M-Magic Tower Lord!"
The man called the Magic Tower Lord still wore that smile. An unwavering one, like it was his default expression.
'I said that in front of the Magic Tower Lord...'
Maybe it would've been better to go with the one about the Tower's standards?
There had never been a moment when the lack of a single decent choice felt this resentful.
As my mental state crumbled in real time, I caught sight of Ed. His eyes sparkled excessively at me, whether the Tower Lord had shown up or not.
He seemed deeply moved by my words just now.
A 4% jump in favorability all at once.
Well, sure, this was more dramatic than everyday little acts of kindness or care. Perfect for boosting favorability.
I should be thrilled at a rise like this, the first of its kind...
But I glanced pitifully at the mage, still kneeling with his forehead to the ground, not even attempting an excuse.
'Am I next...?'
Before coming to the Tower, I'd heard the Lord had changed and asked Billy about it.
"What's the new Magic Tower Lord like?"
"A pervert."
"...Huh?"
"He enjoys tormenting mages while smiling."
That line replayed endlessly in my head: Someone you don't want to get too close to.
Drip—cold sweat reliably trickled down my spotless back.
"Stand up. I'll hear the details later."
The Tower Lord spoke kindly, still smiling.
That's even scarier.
The mage rose, trembling like a beastkin handed a death sentence, shot me one glance with drooping eyes, then quickly looked away.
His gaze made me avert my eyes too.
"Lami Morton, right?"
"Y-Yes? Oh, yes!"
I shot to my feet at attention and answered. The man—radiating a refreshingly bright laugh that made me doubt he really enjoyed tormenting mages—spoke.
"I'm Nick Fren."
After the brief introduction, Nick looked at me with intrigued eyes.
"You're even more fascinating in person."
...What is?
"Let's head up to my room."
With no further explanation, he snapped his fingers with a tak.
Once again, the scenery before my eyes flipped. This time, it was a neatly organized office-like space.
Unlike the Tower's other flashy floors, the Lord's room was incredibly modest. I wasn't sure if he'd remodeled a gaudy one on purpose, but it clearly reflected Nick's tastes.
"Have a seat here."
Following Nick's guidance, I shuffled with creaking steps to the sofa. He sat across from me. Billy leaned against the office desk, watching us, then sighed heavily at Nick.
"Um, you... called me because you had something to ask, right?"
Nick nodded readily at my question, replying in an endlessly gentle voice.
"Yes. But honestly, that was just an excuse."
"Huh?"
"I just wanted to meet the beastkin who sent a letter to the Tower."
...?
"You don't seem all that brave."
???
Wait, that tone feels familiar.
Then it hit me—a memory from when we'd been communicating with the Tower from the Morton estate.
-Didn't I say to come in if I opened the door?
-The Tower doesn't do those kinds of deals, so I recommend trading with the Zebra Territory.
-It was intriguing, the first private letter sent to the Tower. I got curious about who it was from.
-Ah, my ears hurt, so speak a bit softer, please.
This subtly rude... no, mildly irritating way of speaking.
"N-No way...?"
"No way?"
"That weird new communicator from back then...!"
"Oh, you just figured it out? You're slower on the uptake than I thought."
Wow, it was him. It clicked now.
The messenger bird's audio had been poor, so I'd never realized the voice was familiar.
Ed, sitting beside me, leaned forward a bit to look up at me. His bright eyes brimmed with curiosity.
"Lady Lami, do you know the Magic Tower Lord?"
"Huh? Well, not exactly know him, but..."
"They know each other. They've even exchanged secret messages."
"What are you saying?!"
This Tower Lord didn't match the rumors of him being a demon king in disguise at all?
The more we talked, the more this carnivore beastkin made me drop my guard without realizing it.
Nick laughed it off as a joke, cleared his throat with a cough, and got to the point.
"Truth be told, I did call you for a real reason, not just curiosity."
The reason he'd summoned me to the Tower was, as I'd heard, to investigate life in areas lacking proper mages.
When I asked what the purpose was, and he replied it might lead to the Tower dispatching mages, I was genuinely shocked.
The Tower didn't have that image at all.
Seeing my stunned expression, Nick said brightly,
"I want to try a different path from the previous Lords."
The reason was simple. Not about changing the Tower's image or doing good deeds—just personal interest.
He was doing this because he was interested, and he could drop it anytime the interest faded.
The Q&A wrapped up quicker than expected.
I even learned some news I hadn't been curious about.
"I hear the Sheep Territory re-contracted with the Kangaroo Territory for magical support. For quite a hefty sum, too."
So it ended up that way after all. Well, with my marriage falling through, Ramen probably had no choice but the kangaroos.
Exhausted despite doing nothing much, I slunk out of the Tower Lord's room. I'd planned to just take Ed and head down, but Nick and Billy followed too. We went to the floor below, a warehouse-like space.
Mages transporting magical items created by other mages came into view. Herbivore beastkin dotted among them, easing my tension a bit.
Ed eyed the magical items—packed in transparent boxes of various shapes—with eyes full of wonder.
Thinking we'd be leaving the Tower soon loosened me up. With a soft smile, I was about to ask Ed if any item caught his interest.
The Tower Lord had come down with us, but since we wouldn't see him again soon, I minded less than before. He was still scary, though.
But the choices had no intention of letting me have my peace.
1. Kids will be kids. Look at him, tail wagging over something like that.
2. What's so fascinating about those? Aren't they all commonplace?
3. If there's something you want, tell your uncle. Who knows, maybe I'll shove the Tower Lord aside and give you the whole Tower.
What kind of crazy talk is that?
Things have been going so well lately...
'Why are you doing this to me?!'
For now, none of the items being transported looked commonplace at a glance. Picking 3 would probably mean never seeing Nick or Billy again, so pass.
'But 1...?'
No way.
I glanced at Billy and Nick, still standing beside me, with wavering eyes.
Whichever of the three I picked here, it seemed certain to irk them.
That was when it happened.
Crash!
"Heok!"
A mage who already looked drained tripped over nothing and dumped a box of magical items right at me.
'Huh...?'
The shove made my body lurch against my will, pressing one choice.
Soon, a sharp voice burst from my mouth.
"Kids will be kids. Look at him, tail wagging over something like that."