Chapter 39
Chapter 39
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: A Better Use for the Magic Circle
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Because of the magic circle incident, Nick visited the Rub mansion much faster than I had expected.
It was right as I was about to go to bed after a tiring day. I heard some rustling sounds from outside.
'What was that noise?'
It wasn't the time for the maids to be working. Curious about the sound, I opened the door, poked my head out, and scanned the second-floor hallway.
"Huh?"
"Ah, Lady Morton. It's a tiring night."
Nick, who had been about to open Billy's office door, made eye contact with me and stopped. After that unusual greeting, he slipped right into the office.
Seeing him exchange just a greeting and head straight into the office, it seemed he had urgent business with Billy.
'Is it about the magic circle?'
The magic circle that had been hidden until now was revealed right in front of many Wolf Beastkin enjoying the festival. Nick had wanted to destroy it, so now that it was public knowledge, it must have been a real headache for him.
I was curious about what Billy and Nick were discussing in the office, but I couldn't just go and eavesdrop on their conversation. There are times when it's appropriate to insert oneself and times when it's not.
I suppressed my curiosity and closed the door. Lying back in bed, I calmly recalled the events from the original story.
'The first thing Ed did after becoming the Magic Tower Lord was to make use of the magic circles.'
What would happen if they carried out something Ed was supposed to do much later, way ahead of schedule?
I didn't know how the future would change, but with the magic circle now exposed, the immediate priority was stopping Nick from destroying it.
To improve the Magic Tower's image the way I knew from the story, we couldn't afford to get the first step wrong.
Pondering how to persuade Nick, I drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, I bolted upright the moment my eyes opened and headed straight for Billy's office.
Knock knock.
I stepped back after knocking and waited. Soon the door opened from inside, and Billy's face appeared first.
Peeking over his shoulder into the office, I dejectedly lowered the magpie feet I was holding. I had hoped Nick might still be there, but he was nowhere to be seen.
"What brings you here so early in the morning?"
Billy stepped aside to let me in, asking in a gentle voice. Just to be sure, I glanced around the office again before answering.
"Has Nick already returned to the Magic Tower?"
"Mm, we talked briefly last night, and he left right after. Is it about the magic circle?"
"Yes. There's a better option than destroying it."
I looked straight up at Billy and spoke in a firm voice. It was to make him want to hear me out, and it seemed to work.
"Something to improve the Magic Tower's image?"
"You could say that."
Billy agreed it was worth hearing and guided me to the sofa. Sitting across from him, I began explaining how to utilize the magic circle based on the original story.
In the original, after Ed became the Magic Tower Lord and learned about the magic circles in each territory, he wanted to turn the Magic Tower into a space open to all Beastkin.
The method he came up with was to 'turn the Magic Tower spaces connected to the magic circles into a magic item shop.'
Honestly, when I first read that episode, I had a hard time understanding Ed's intentions.
'The Beastkin across the continent already fear the Magic Tower— what good would opening a magic item shop do?'
I remembered lots of comments like mine back then, all of them negative.
But not long after that episode, it became clear why Ed made that choice.
I emphasized that part especially to Billy, who was listening with a serious expression.
"Of course, the scary Magic Tower Lord is the biggest reason, but I think the environment surrounding the Magic Tower makes it impossible not to be afraid."
"I agree. The sky and the forest around it are definitely not ordinary."
"Even in that scary environment, we need to show that the Magic Tower itself isn't frightening."
In the original, Ed opened the magic item shop with that idea in mind and sold magic items to Beastkin who came from all over the continent.
At first, of course, it was a total flop—no one visited the shop. But a small number of Beastkin with incredible daring started using the magic circles.
You know, there are always those types.
The kind who get more reckless the more people warn them it's dangerous.
'To motivate those people, it's best to stoke their competitive spirit.'
Ed boldly held an event for the Beastkin who visited the Magic Tower via the magic circles.
It was a first-come, first-served event for the first 1,000 visitors, giving away popular items that many Beastkin needed: magic scrolls.
The news of free magic scrolls spread quickly across the continent, and Beastkin who threw themselves into all sorts of dangers from everywhere challenged themselves to visit the Magic Tower.
'Truly, there's every kind of Beastkin in the world.'
That was my impression after reading that episode.
The magic circles transported them safely to the Magic Tower, and the magic item shop, decorated to match the eerie atmosphere, captured their interest.
Ed used the magic scrolls at first to draw in visitors. Over time, the shop gained fame as a place to test one's courage.
'Of course, it was already famous as an official Magic Tower magic item shop.'
But there's a world of difference between knowing that in your head and experiencing it firsthand. Even Beastkin who hesitated because of the fearsome Magic Tower image eventually tried the magic circle at least once.
That was how the Magic Tower's scary image gradually transformed into an element of fun that sparked a spirit of challenge.
Billy, who had been listening, spoke up with a subtle expression.
"If they visit and don't experience anything scary, their perception could change. Toward the idea that the Magic Tower is safe."
"Right?"
"We can use the ones rolling around in the Magic Tower warehouse for the scrolls. Of course, we'd need to make more."
I was about to say that some losses were acceptable, but it wasn't necessary. Those expensive scrolls were just gathering dust in the warehouse—and there were enough that he thought we could use them!
"Then please tell Nick as soon as possible!"
"I will."
Billy chuckled at my outburst and promised he would. We chatted a bit more afterward, but when Billy checked the time and slowly stood, I got up too.
Billy walked leisurely to the office door and held it open for me to exit first.
"I have business to attend to, so rest well."
With that, he headed straight down the stairs.
'Is he going to the Zebra?'
Watching Billy's back as he descended brought back yesterday's nightmare. Recalling that moment of overwhelming hostility toward me contrasted with such incompetence just soured my mood.
'Has Ed woken up yet?'
I thought of Ed, who must have crashed early after an amazing day yesterday.
Even though it ended in chaos with the attack and the magic circle fiasco, when we got back to the mansion, Ed's face was still full of excitement and joy.
As I crossed the hallway toward Ed's room, I ran into a maid coming up to the second floor with his meal.
"Good morning!"
I waved awkwardly with a greeting that was starting to feel natural. Technically, you don't need to raise your hand when greeting, but my pre-possession habit of waving made it hard to break.
"Is that Ed's breakfast?"
"Yes. For today's breakfast, we prepared tender cuts that are easy to digest."
The maid briefly explained Ed's meal. I looked proudly at the well-cooked steak on the tray she held.
Next to the steak was a thick purple sauce of unknown origin. It seemed to be for Ed, who wouldn't touch meat without sweet sauce.
"I'll take it from here!"
I took the tray from the maid and stood in front of Ed's door. Knock knock. After two knocks, I heard Ed's voice telling me to come in.
For some reason, his voice sounded different from usual, and I flinched involuntarily. Ed was a carnivorous Beastkin, but he'd been so cute that I hadn't been scared—until that voice made me tense up.
'Is he tired or something?'
But no matter how much I rationalized it, scary was scary. No matter how cute Ed was, the fact that he was a Wolf Beastkin made my body stiffen.
When I didn't enter after just knocking, perhaps finding it odd, Ed opened the door himself and stepped out. The moment he saw me holding the tray with his meal, he startled and looked around frantically.
"Lady Lami?! Why are you holding that?"
"Ah, I wanted to bring it myself."
At my answer, Ed led me into his room. Worried by his slumped shoulders for some reason, I followed him inside.