Maybe It's Not So Bad?
Not bad at all, perhaps? It had been a thoroughly awkward reunion after five long years. Even before I reached the entrance, a thunderous voice shook the air.
“Magic Tower Masterrrrr! I’ve come to see you! Just as you commanded, I’ve become more beautiful and stronger, so please accept my heart!”
The shout reverberating through my skull made my hand instinctively rise to my forehead. The mages who had stepped outside for experiments were now staring at me with identical expressions of confusion and horror. Even I, who normally had skin thicker than a dragon’s hide, couldn’t maintain my composure this time.
Did that girl have no concept of shame whatsoever?
Swallowing every retort I wanted to spit out, I headed toward the source of the voice. After crossing the Magic Tower’s garden, I arrived at the massive entrance. The voice echoed from beyond it, but what filled my eyes was the figure of a single woman.
Beyond the gate stood someone who resembled the pure white snow of the north. Long, flowing hair as white as fresh snowfall. Clear blue eyes that seemed to hold an untouched mountain lake. In both aura and appearance, she surpassed every woman I had ever seen.
My impression was the same as it had been before, yet what rose first in my chest was pure annoyance and irritation. I kicked off the ground lightly and appeared right in front of her.
Her pupils dilated dramatically the instant she saw me.
“Pirna. What the hell are you doing here?”
“Haaah…! Th-the Magic Tower Master said my name…!”
Pirna Milaze. Daughter of the Northern Grand Duke—one of the four pillars of the empire. Despite her normally cold, elegant face, she was now flushed crimson like a lovestruck maiden. The sight made me press my hand to my forehead again on pure instinct.
“Sigh… You came here to confess?”
“O-of course! I’ve become stronger and prettier, exactly as the Magic Tower Master instructed! If you look, my chest is now much more—”
“No, no. Stop right there. If your father comes storming in, I’m the one who’ll have to deal with the aftermath.”
As her snow-white hair suggested, Pirna was the Northern Grand Duke’s only daughter. Knowing that man’s personality, I could already feel the coming disaster looming over me like an avalanche. I knew exactly how that insane, daughter-obsessed lunatic would react to this news.
“Just asking—does the Grand Duke know about this?”
“No! I didn’t tell him because it might cause trouble for the Magic Tower Master.”
“Good, good. At least you have that much sense. Still, do you realize that standing in front of the Magic Tower and screaming at the top of your lungs about confessing to me is already causing trouble?”
“B-but I remembered what you said five years ago and came back! I like you, Magic Tower Master! I don’t mind being a concubine! Ah, no… that does hurt my pride a little. If possible, I’d rather be first! Can’t we make that work…?”
I genuinely couldn’t decide which part of that sentence to address first. The whole conversation was dizzying on multiple levels.
“Who said you could decide on concubine status or being first? I have zero intention of dating anyone.”
“Then marriage—!”
“Marriage is the same.”
Every single day was packed with magic research. Dating? Marriage? What a load of crap. I had already torn up the Emperor’s recent marriage proposal. Now I had to deal with a proposal from the Northern Grand Duke’s daughter? Could any life be more cursed than this?
“What I said five years ago was just thoughtless nonsense, so stop reading meaning into it. Above all, I need to focus on my magic research. I have no interest in such childish things.”
“I-if you’re worried I’ll bother you, don’t be! Three hundred and sixty-five days! Twenty-four hours! I will devote myself entirely to being the Magic Tower Master’s wife and supporting you with everything I have. Mother taught me all sorts of techniques, so if you just say the word, you can use me however you wish…!”
“That’s enough. Any more and I’m genuinely afraid your father will come bursting in.”
I clicked my tongue at Pirna’s terrifying tenacity. At this rate, simply telling her to leave wouldn’t be enough. The easy solution would be to beat her up and chase her away, but even I wasn’t enough of a heartless psychopath to go that far.
After a moment of thought, I let out a long sigh.
“Calm down first. Let’s go inside and talk. This isn’t exactly the best spot for a conversation.”
“Yes!”
We stepped inside. Pirna’s eyes sparkled as she looked around, clearly thrilled. The mages of the tower watched us like we were exotic zoo animals.
“They say the mages belonging to the Magic Tower are on another level. I think I finally understand why people say that.”
“Were you doubting their skills?”
“Not at all. It’s just that so few mages ever appear in public.”
“Fair enough.”
In this medieval world, mages were generally treated with great respect. Magic wasn’t something one could simply learn, and it only bloomed for those with true talent. Besides, becoming a mage opened up countless possibilities. A mage of sufficient skill could easily claim a baron’s title.
‘And yet the ones who actually reach that level are few and far between.’
When I established the Magic Tower, I had one clear goal: to gather every exceptional talent who shared my passion for magic in one place. Ten years later, I had successfully brought in every top-tier mage in the empire. Every single person in my tower was the cream of the crop.
Most mages outside these walls couldn’t even reach the level of our apprentices. Since everyone here cared only about magical research and rarely showed themselves in public, wild rumors were all that circulated. Outsiders almost never entered the tower, so Pirna’s reaction was perfectly understandable.
‘And yet that damn prince who knew all this still looked down on mages.’
The memory of his contemptuous eyes flashed through my mind. Maybe I should have plucked them out back then. The belated regret passed quickly; I decided to let it go. That bastard was currently locked in solitary confinement, his emotions surgically removed by the Emperor’s magic. His obsession with that flower-brained young lady had surely been erased. This would be a good chance for him to come to his senses.
‘The other two princes said they liked her too…’
The Emperor could deal with that mess himself.
Anyway. Once we reached the inner areas of the tower, I used spatial movement. The targets were myself and Pirna. The destination: the reception room.
“Sit over there.”
I flicked my fingers, summoning tea and light refreshments. The moment I set them down, Pirna’s eyes sparkled like stars.
“T-tea and snacks from the Magic Tower Master…!”
“You’re not even part of the tower. Why do you keep calling me that?”
“Th-then what should I call you?”
“Just use my name. Roughly.”
“Gasp…!”
“There’s no deeper meaning, so stop imagining things. So… you really came all this way just to confess? Seriously? No jokes?”
When I asked with genuine seriousness, the smile vanished from Pirna’s face.
Her voice was cold and resolute, completely at odds with her earlier stuttering affection. For a moment, she looked exactly like her father. As expected of that man’s daughter. When she adopted that particular atmosphere, the resemblance was striking—not in looks, but in sheer presence.
“Yeah, yeah. I can tell you’re serious.”
Seeing such sincerity, I realized a casual rejection wouldn’t suffice. It wasn’t a fleeting crush—it had remained unchanged for five years. Maybe this deserved more consideration than a simple dismissal?
I hadn’t been thinking about it seriously before, but now that I looked closer… her face was exactly my type. Her figure was outstanding. An incredibly beautiful woman who was devoted solely to me? She even understood and supported my obsession with magic?
‘Huh? When I think about it like this… maybe it’s not so bad?’
She had approached me with complete sincerity, so I had intended to reject her with equal honesty. Instead, my thoughts began sliding in an entirely different direction.
‘Wouldn’t refusing actually be the bigger loss?’
I would still focus on magic for now. But people’s minds could change later, couldn’t they? Even if it sounded hypocritical coming from me, no one could devote themselves to a single pursuit forever. Even within the tower, relationships that developed into romance were surprisingly common.
It was right when I was seriously considering accepting her confession that—
Kwaaaaaaaaang!
The sudden explosive roar made my head snap toward the window.
“Tsk. So he really came.”
“What? Who?”
“Who do you think?”
I straightened my robe as I answered Pirna’s question.
“Your dad.”
The Milani family, guardians of the north. They were one of only four households in the empire granted the title of Grand Duke. For countless generations they had protected the northern lands, earning them the well-deserved title of the empire’s pillars. Their achievements were worthy of endless praise.
Especially the current Grand Duke. His power transcended humanity itself. People unanimously called him the Guardian Deity of the North. A being so formidable that even if a sword cut him, one doubted blood would flow. Yet even this invincible man had one weakness.
He was an absolutely, terrifyingly doting father.
The Northern Grand Duke cherished his daughter more than anything in the world. He had torn up every single marriage proposal sent her way. He had even sent a warning to the entire noble society: if anyone dared send such a letter again, he would personally visit and tear them apart. Thanks to his extreme protectiveness, his only daughter had been able to pursue her desired career in the Audit Department and even earned the prestigious title of one of the empire’s Seven Stars.
The Grand Duke had been happier than anyone about his daughter’s growth, but now—
“I… I must have misheard that, right?”
“...It is exactly as reported. Lady Pirna has been confirmed to be heading toward the Magic Tower Master’s location to confess her feelings...”
“That damn bastard…”
The Grand Duke’s face twisted like a vengeful demon. His eyes churned with a mixture of madness and fury.
“He dared to seduce my daughter.”
His hand gripped the handle of the massive axe embedded beside him. With a violent sound, the weapon was ripped from the ground. The Grand Duke’s voice came out crushed beneath the weight of his rage.
“Steward. I’ll be stepping out for a moment. Watch over things while I’m gone.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Kwaang!
The moment he heard the reply, the Grand Duke kicked off the ground. His figure vanished instantly, leaving only savage footprints carved into the snow.
The steward watched his master’s retreating back and rubbed his eyes. Knowing both the Grand Duke’s and the Archmage’s personalities well, he couldn’t help but feel deep concern on multiple levels.