Chapter 109
Chapter 109
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Love Goggles (2)
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"Mage Tower Lord...!"
The name Rona had just mentioned hit me like a blow to the back of the head.
"What, is it that shocking?"
"No, but thinking about it now, it's just ridiculous."
"Ridiculous? What's so ridiculous?"
"That the very concept of a Mage Tower Lord had completely vanished from my mind."
My most recent dilemma had been, "Is there nowhere I can observe a 7th Circle mage?" And looking back, that was an utterly absurd worry.
Which made sense.
I belonged to a mage tower, and at the top of that hierarchy sat the Mage Tower Lord.
For someone like me in the tower's ranks, when wondering, "Is there some inhumanly powerful human around?", the obvious, no-brainer answer should have been, "Oh right, the Mage Tower Lord."
Yet here I was, agonizing over it internally without even considering them.
'Where the hell is our Mage Tower Lord?'
It suddenly struck me anew: our mage tower was really far from normal.
Well, that's probably why they took in a bastard like me and made me an honorary mage, pampering me left and right.
Perhaps reading my complicated thoughts, Rona burst into laughter.
It was the kind of refreshing smile that would make any woman squeal, "Kyaa! Prince charming!!!"
"I hear he's got a bad case of wanderlust or something. Can't keep his butt in one place. You've never met him?"
"From what the tower folks say, his visits happen on a yearly cycle at best."
"...So the tower runs without its lord?"
"No, there's a proxy for that."
"A proxy as amazing as the lord?"
"Her name's Dmia. She's a doll the lord made in her own image to handle the work. Doll or not, no one would suspect she wasn't human until she said so herself."
"...You're talking about creating something that's basically a person like it's no big deal."
"That's the weight the name 'Mage Tower Lord' carries."
Monsters at the pinnacle of magic.
The weight of that name rivals a Sword Master, or sometimes surpasses it.
In that sense, this was perfect timing.
'Monsters like that could easily recreate the realm of the 7th Circle for me, right?'
It was a golden opportunity for me, thirsting for a glimpse of the 7th Circle.
Overjoyed, I grabbed both of Rona's hands and said,
"Rona. You're the only one for me. How do you always hit exactly what I need—? How did I even survive without you? I can't remember."
"Wha!? Uh..."
Had I overdone the enthusiasm? Rona's body flinched and stiffened.
But only for a moment.
"Unexpected. Totally the opposite of what I thought."
Rona glanced at our clasped hands, then continued in a strangely pleased tone.
Probably part of her prince charming mode, that intimate vibe.
Every action screamed, "This is why girls fall head over heels."
"Opposite of what you expected?"
"I figured you'd hate this kind of thing. Elites gathering to one-up each other: 'You're great, but I'm greater!'"
"Ah."
"So I even prepared how to convince you—and then what? Some wind change your sails? Hanging with councilors got you craving power?"
Rona playfully laughed and lightly smacked my arm.
"Huh?"
But suddenly, the prince's expression turned serious.
I matched it gravely.
"Why? Something wrong with my body?"
You're the doctor, I'm the patient.
If you check me out and react like that, of course I'd get serious.
"Huh? No—um..."
Rona brought one hand to her mouth as if realizing something, then started kneading my arm with the other.
The epitome of a dedicated doctor performing her examination with utmost sincerity.
I, too, cooperated fully, awaiting the doctor's verdict.
"So?"
"Hm... surprisingly... well-trained... you've been working hard?"
"Until I got hurt, yeah. Why? Should I ease up?"
"No, you're doing great. Perfect."
Do doctors in this world diagnose just by feeling arms?
Modern medicine. You lose.
Holy power trumps all. Fair fight, good game. Can't even cure baldness.
"That enough?"
"Huh?"
"You know everything from just the arm?"
"Uh, well..."
The doctor pondered. Her eyes sparkled nonetheless.
Probably the noble sense of duty as a saint kicking in.
"Then hold still—"
After that, Rona earnestly poked my chest, squeezed my thighs, and so on with full dedication.
Moments later, she nodded in satisfaction.
"Excellent."
"Excellent?"
"Yeah? I mean—your condition, no, your physical state is—"
"So, thanks to my diligent training, my body's recovering fast?"
"Exactly what I was trying to say."
"Whew, getting the saint's stamp of approval puts my mind at ease."
With the checkup done, conversation resumed.
I explained to Rona why I'd shown interest in the banquet.
"You're on the cusp of 7th Circle, so you want to witness it firsthand?"
Rona blanked for a second, then nodded in understanding.
"Got it. You're right there at 7th Circle. Totally natural. So natural it's not even surprising."
"Your tone's a bit weird."
"Probably your fault."
"Maybe. Anyway—do you know more about that Mage Tower Lord? Anything useful for my request? Oh, right, haven't asked: which tower's lord? Hoping for Gray Mage Tower Lord, personally."
"Too bad. The one's attending is the Blue Mage Tower Lord. Precisely, the former lord of the Blue Tower."
"Ah, retired. Makes sense why they'd attend a merchant banquet out here. Disappointing."
"Disappointing?"
"If other towers' lords were as absentee as ours, I'd feel a bit better."
"You're twisted..."
"Twisted environments breed twisted kids. Wait—thinking about it, I've been abandoned by every superior: Bendel family head, my master, the tower lord—"
"Not a topic for haha's, so changing subjects. About that lord: word is, he's love-struck right now."
"Love goggles?"
Fallen head over heels?
Stepped down from the tower for forbidden love?
As my imagination bloomed, Rona continued.
"Lately, he picked up some woman—"
"Whoa, this story's veering dangerously."
"She has insane magical talent, apparently."
"Ah, phew."
"To the point he's seriously considering returning to the tower for her. Wants to take her as disciple and teach properly."
"For a Mage Tower Lord to take that much interest, she must be a freakish monster."
"?"
Rona gave me a strange look.
"By the way, Rona. How do you know all this in such detail?"
"Guild master mentioned it in a letter."
"?"
"Karia told me."
"...That Karia girl, she's okay, right?"
I asked cautiously. Rona flashed her signature prince smile.
"What a thing to say. She's precious. Of course I'm treating her well."
How well, exactly?
The words rose to my throat, but lacking the guts to voice them, I swallowed back.
"Oh, right—and one more thing."
"One more?"
"Great noble. A young master and lady from a great noble house are attending too. Heard of them? Mastien Family."
Great nobles.
Nobles among nobles. Rulers of this world.
Even those ignorant or indifferent to nobility knew all the great noble names.
I was no exception.
And among them, Mastien rang especially familiar.
"You call that a question? Think I wouldn't know the genius mage, pride of our Gray Mage Tower?"
"...Genius mage, pride of the Gray Tower?"
"Yeah. Representative boast, nothing to be ashamed of."
"...Never say that to her face."
"?"
"Anyway, you know the Mastien lady? Great chance. Make nice."
"Make nice? I can't pull off your moves."
"?"
"You know, like, snap, girls fall for you? Not telling me to do that?"
I rubbed my hands vigorously, mimicking her talent.
The prince sighed wearily.
"Think I'd task you with that? I'm not crazy."
"Ah. True. Zero talent there anyway."
"..."
"?"
Rona eyed me oddly, then continued.
"Anyway, point is: leverage that connection to network with great nobles."
Lately, hobnobbing with councilors and city nobles had me feeling a bit cocky.
But great nobles?
Not easy ruling a major city like Bondalles.
Great nobles dominated the entire continent.
Different scale entirely.
"Me, in front of those people... Hm..."
"What's the worry? Snap, like you did with councilors?"
She mimicked my gesture playfully.
"Maybe...? But I'm not used to those scenes."
"Don't sweat that."
Rona smacked my arm with a prince smile.
"I've got you."
"...Damn, did those girls fall like this too? I might be smitten right now."
Afterward, Rona explained the banquet schedule.
"Tomorrow morning, attendees start gathering at the mansion. Main event kicks off evening. So? Meet people with me from morning? Or show up when it starts?"
"What about you, Elon?"
"Me? Mingling from morning. Lots of new faces this time. Time to expand my network."
"...Friendly advice: go easy on taken girls... You're a walking disaster for those poor guys."
"That worried? Stick by my side and babysit?"
"Ha. Fine. Morning it is."
Rona grinned princely, kneading my arm playfully.
"Smart choice. Late-hero entrance works for someone your caliber—but too many big shots this time."
"True. Former tower lord, great noble heirs."
How long did our chat go on?
"Oh, duh. Mission accomplished. Time to bounce."
"That urgent?"
"Has to be. Late hour. Been too lax staying this long."
"Don't worry. I don't care. Between us, no biggie."
"Between us...?"
I smiled, smacking her arm like she had.
"Stay comfy. Overnight if you want."
"..."
Rona's eyes gleamed briefly.
"...Ah."
As if realizing something, she sighed, face changing.
Dress tomorrow for sure...
A sigh-like mutter escaped the prince's lips.
"What?"
"I'm out."
Rona stormed out with oddly irritated steps.
"Earrings?"
"Huh? How'd you notice?"
"You keep brushing hair behind your ear."
"Whatever. Tried them—thoughts?"
"...Too pretty. What if they clock you're a guy?"
"Never pretended otherwise? Anyway, pretty?"
"Oh, sorry. Offended?"
"...Yeah? Not some dame."
The next day.
I trailed a strangely cheerful Rona around the mansion.
"This is Lord Koldor, eldest of Dvadiun Family."
"Oh, that Dvadiun wine—"
"Spot on. Our vineyards' pride."
"Lord Koldor, this is Rishir—heard the name?"
"Rishir... Ah, no way, the one who smashed the back-alley syndicates...!"
"Not smashed, exactly—"
"Honored! Rishir! Let's meet often!"
Rona introduced me to her connections to help me blend into the banquet crowd.
How many had we met?
Suddenly, an odd feeling hit me.
"This is Lord Dobaf, second son of Kalenon."
"Lord Kezen, third of Drubuan."
Imagination?
'Why all guys?'
Speak of the tiger...
"Ah...!"
A woman spotted Rona from afar, beaming as she approached.
"Enough here—next spot?"
"Huh?"
Before she arrived, Rona dragged me elsewhere.
"You good? That lady seemed to recognize you, wanted to greet."
"Just vibes. Ignore."
After, I met more nobles, all guys.
The weird vibe was just that, per Rona—no overthinking.
As we hustled, the mansion grew crowded.
Afternoon now.
Attendees pouring in.
After a sweep, Rona and I strolled the garden, scouting fresh targets(?).
"Over there."
Subtly gathered crowd.
Subtly buzzing air.
The vibe when you want nearness but hesitate.
Sure enough.
Familiar face amid them.
Vivid golden hair like a different shade setting, porcelain skin.
Screaming "noble blood!!!" from every pore.
Great noble Mastien lady—and Gray Tower classmate—Hainya Ye Mastien stood there.
'Huh? Is that—'
With a similarly noble-looking blond man.
Obvious at a glance.
Her brother.
Nobles around queued invisibly.
Order by rank.
They waited patiently to greet the great noble siblings.
"Huh?"
Then.
The lady handling nobles beside her brother locked eyes with me.
"You! What're you doing here!?"
Tone scolding, but face lit with joy.
Hainya ignored the nobles, heading straight for me.
"Hainya?"
The great noble heir followed her.
"What? Friends with Lady Hainya?"
"That's Elon...? Connected to great nobles too?"
"Who's the newbie beside?"
All eyes on us instantly.
"Rishir, perfect timing!"
Hainya grinned boldly, ignoring stares.
"Follow me!"
"Huh? Where?"
"Anywhere! Spar with me now!"
"Spar?"
"You don't know how long I've waited. To avenge that humiliation!"
A tiny vortex swirled above her palm.
"See? I'm 5th Circle like you now! Brace yourself!"
"..."
"..."
Rona and I awkwardly averted our gazes.