Chapter 211
Chapter 211
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Yellow Magic Tower
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A deeply bowing apprentice exits the room.
The proxy Tower Master, Dmira, spoke up.
"This concludes today's interviews, Master!"
"…"
Sigh.
The gray girl—
Remier let out a deep sigh and caught her breath.
"How is it that this feels even more exhausting than wandering around?"
It wasn't an idle complaint; her face was plainly etched with fatigue.
For someone with her personality, conducting mandatory one-on-one interviews with every member of the Magic Tower was profoundly draining labor.
"What do we do, Master? Are you worn out!? You did so well! Really! Here, have some of my rainbow cake to cheer up!"
"No. I'm fine."
"Ah! D-Does the Master not like rainbow cake!?"
"…"
Remier gazed at her creation's face.
The sight of her declaring she'd share her snack looked as agonizing as if she were offering up a piece of her own flesh.
How could she possibly take it away and eat it?
Remier gave a wry smile and said,
"Don't you need to eat well and study hard to make rainbow cake? So, I'll yield it to you for now and look forward to you making some for me later. Consider it an investment of sorts?"
"I-Is that what it was!?"
The gray lady.
Her eyes sparkled like a rainbow.
"To think the Master is so looking forward to my rainbow cake... Got it!!! I'll do my best to live up to your expectations!"
Dmira set out a plate and began savoring her rainbow cake with gusto.
"Mmm... Ah! What do I do? I just swallowed it whole...!"
Even as she focused all her senses on her taste buds to analyze the flavor, she suddenly realized she'd been mindlessly inhaling the cake and startled herself.
Remier sipped her coffee, watching her creation with a fond smile.
She enjoyed this brief moment of respite.
But soon enough, her gaze shifted back to the desk.
Documents compiling information on each apprentice lay there.
The gray girl scanned them with her characteristic impassive expression, recalling today's interviews.
"…"
Then, an odd look crossed her face.
In truth.
Remier had been harboring considerable anxiety while grasping the state of the Magic Tower as its Tower Master.
"Rishir..."
What if another such enigmatic being existed right under her nose—what then?
What if not just one, but several beings like 'Rishir' existed?
And the tower's people accepted it as normal?
In that case.
Remier lacked confidence in upholding the worldview she'd established as a mage.
Fortunately, and predictably.
Rishir's existence was utterly unique.
Having confirmed this while surveying the tower, Remier felt a profound sense of relief.
And so.
The Tower Master's attention refocused on that being.
"Just what is that mysterious creature..."
At the gathering of the masters, she'd been swept along by the flow and vaguely accepted his existence, but Remier had no intention of leaving it at that.
She needed to 'understand' that enigmatic entity somehow to satisfy her curiosity.
It was a matter of pride for the Tower Master, hailed as the pinnacle of the magical path.
Thus, to the present.
Remier was approaching the issue in her most confident manner.
"Magic swordsmanship..."
Rishir's unique technique.
She aimed to dissect it from a magical perspective.
Remier closed her eyes and concentrated.
Then, the magic swordsmanship she'd witnessed before vividly reconstructed itself in her mind.
From the mana structure comprising its power to the finest flows.
"…"
Ha.
A bitter chuckle escaped her lips.
Analyzing it in detail made her freshly appreciate just how abnormal that power was.
Dissimilar forces deploying simultaneously.
However.
Even such wondrous power was far from flawless.
Remier replayed Rishir's magic swordsmanship countless times in her mind.
At some point, an imagined Remier stood before the imagined Rishir.
The imagined Rishir unleashed magic swordsmanship upon the imagined Remier.
"…"
Remier observed the scene calmly, as if it were unfolding right before her eyes.
How much time passed like this?
Remier slowly nodded.
She recalled Rishir's request from before.
The plea to witness his magic swordsmanship and offer observations and advice.
That meant pointing out flaws or suggesting improvements.
At the time, she'd been too stunned to say anything—
But Remier thought.
Now, she could meet his expectations.
Just then.
As the Tower Master immersed herself in analyzing the magic swordsmanship.
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
"Hm?"
"?"
The gazes of the gray girl and lady, each absorbed in their analyses, turned to the window.
Something outside was tapping on the window.
"That's—"
A pigeon adorned with ornate yellow patterns.
Remier opened the window and let it in.
"Surprising. So the rumors were true?"
The pigeon spoke, eyeing Remier.
Its voice was as flamboyant as the yellow embroidery on its feathers.
Remier knew the owner of that flashy voice.
"Golden Star. What brings the master of the Yellow Magic Tower to our Gray Magic Tower?"
"I couldn't contain my curiosity upon hearing that the Wandering Star had settled in one place. Remier, what wind blew you here so suddenly? Surely your thrill addiction hasn't been cured here in the Gray Tower."
Remier curled her lips in a sardonic smile.
She sensed the inherent disdain for the Gray Magic Tower in his words.
"'Surely your thrill addiction hasn't been cured here in the Gray Tower'—what's that supposed to mean?"
"Haha. Why so sensitive? It's something you admit yourself, isn't it? That there's nothing in the Gray Tower to pique your interest. Otherwise, you wouldn't have wandered outside all this time."
"Fair point."
"Right?"
"But it's not something for you, who knows nothing, to spout."
"Is that so?"
An utterly self-centered tone.
Remier didn't let Karzen's attitude bother her individually.
She knew his personality well enough not to waste emotions on it.
"Enough. Tell me why you've come here."
"Huh? Did I speak incomprehensibly just now? Or do you want to hear my beautiful voice again?"
"I'm not talking about noisy pigeon chatter. I'm referring to the Yellow mages who sneaked into the city on the sly."
"Harsh words. Anyone would think our kids did something shady."
"They didn't do anything good, at least. Not considering the number of Yellow mages who infiltrated Bondales this time."
"Watch your words. Infiltrate? We entered proudly through the main gate."
"If it was so proud, you would've tipped us off before our tower even started investigating your purpose."
"Why would we?"
"Tell me. Would you have acted this way in a city with the Red or Blue Towers?"
"Who knows. What I do know is this city lacks both."
Dmira, listening beside her, bristled at the blanket dismissal of the Gray Tower—
But it didn't last long.
In the past, when the tower's situation was dire, maybe—but now they had the leeway to brush off such insults.
Remier felt the same.
"So Yellow Tower mages are thuggish rogues who pick and choose their victims? Coming from a Tower Master, that carries weight. Did I get that right?"
"Hahaha! Getting feisty, Wandering Star. Since when did you grow so attached to the tower you abandoned?"
"Attached? Even a bug on my restaurant plate would annoy me. Last chance, Karzen. Tell me what conspiracy you're plotting in Bondales."
"Truth is, it's not some grand secret worth hiding. But—I'll keep quiet here. No need to get your 'permission' to proceed. The deal with the principal party is already done."
"Bondales is unequivocally our turf."
"Not codified in any laws."
"You might not grasp it, but there's such a thing as unwritten rules. Magical affairs in the area including a city with a tower are handled by that tower—by convention."
"Don't be so stingy. We'll handle our business quick and leave. The more you interfere, the messier it gets."
"Please stop meddling?"
"I never said it that strongly. Besides, your meddling changes nothing."
"Then I'll gladly, diligently interfere all the more."
"Aren't you already? That Master Didoa was zealously prowling near us. Results aside."
Thud. Thud.
The pigeon demonstratively tapped the desk.
"Think it over, Remier. This stems from the principal party coming to our tower and entrusting it to us. If your tower butts in suddenly, how do you think they'll react? Hm? Don't waste energy. Why not back off gracefully here? If you're craving a piece of the pie that badly, I'll save some for later."
"I let your rambling slide, but to sum up: follow convention. Right?"
The gray girl said to the gray lady.
Dmira nodded vigorously.
"Yes! Master! That's what it seems to mean!"
"Haa. So frustrating. Words fall on deaf ears. Fine. Do as you please. If your justification is that solid, help yourselves."
Oh right.
Just before the pigeon departed the window, it tossed indifferently at them.
"If you're this uncooperative, we might have to reconsider your request."
"Request?"
"You requested joint research from our tower recently, didn't you?"
In the past.
The Gray Tower had requested joint research from another tower on an ongoing project.
To summarize the request—
Share the results in exchange for research materials.
"We were going to cut you some slack seeing your dire straits."
Remier realized the basis for the Golden Star's arrogance.
She looked at Dmira.
"Ah, th-that, Master—I'm sorry... It was about a year ago... We did make that request..."
Dmira looked mortified.
Remier gazed at her and offered a kind smile.
"Why apologize? You did what was needed for the tower. Quite impressive, really. Not many could swallow their pride in your position to make such a request."
Moreover.
Remier added, eyeing the pigeon.
"Dragging up something from a year ago now?"
"On that note, forgive us. Our tower is swamped with public and private affairs; even reviewing agendas takes time."
Moreover.
The Golden Star added, looking at Remier.
"Help is always welcome whenever, right?"
His brazen attitude carried conviction that the Gray Tower's circumstances hadn't improved much.
Natural, of course.
A tower's finances didn't change overnight.
Not without successive 'enormous upheavals.'
"As you know, our Yellow Tower has ample leeway. So, our conversation thus far can be seen as positive discussions to align views."
Bow your head now.
The Golden Star said smugly, implying as much.
"…"
The gray girl glanced sideways at her creation.
"Wh-what will you do, Master...?"
Dmira fretted, fearing her master might accept the offer.
The Tower Master's will was the tower's will, after all.
"What do you think, Dmira?"
"Pardon?"
"You've been managing the tower in my absence."
"…"
The proxy Tower Master looked stunned.
To think she'd respect her opinion here of all places.
Soon.
Dmira addressed the Golden Star.
As proxy Tower Master, not as creation.
"In conversing with you, I felt no respect whatsoever for our tower. Thus, we politely decline your proposal."
"…"
The pigeon's beak stilled, caught off guard by the unexpected response.
"So-called honorable stubbornness? Respect."
Dismissing their reaction as bravado or pride to preserve honor—
The pigeon maintained its leisurely demeanor.
Remier ignored it and said,
"For you to push this far, it must be quite significant? Even mobilizing your precious self to command personally."
"Oh dear. Can't deny that. My precious self is indeed here."
Well said.
The pigeon turned from the window again and spoke to the two.
"Keep obstructing steadily, and you'll meet our person in charge. Rokad. My disciple."
The pigeon's beak twitched.
As if forming a smile.
"Do take good care of him. He's got a very distinctive personality. Might be more than you can handle in many ways."
"That statement. It's true, right? That you have more spirit cores than you know what to do with in the Yellow Tower. So, you'll gladly provide them."
"What is this suddenly...? Do you think I'm saying something I didn't?"
The Gray Tower Master, Didoa—who'd been locked in a fierce war of nerves until moments ago—suddenly clung fervently.
In this incomprehensible situation, compounded by clashing intuitions, chaos was about to erupt.
"Master Yerika."
A new figure entered their room.
He wore a golden cape casually.
A man in flamboyant attire, bedecked with ornate accessories that asserted their presence.
Rokad, disciple of the Yellow Tower Master.
He looked at Yerika and said,
"Let's call it here for today."
"Pardon? But—"
"They suddenly asked for time to think and deferred the decision. Looks like the Gray Tower pulled some trick. Since the Talent Collector's name came up."
Irritatingly.
He voiced his blatant dissatisfaction despite the Gray Tower Master being right there.
"Hm?"
Then, noticing Rishir belatedly, he smiled as if nothing happened and spoke.
"A mage of the Gray Tower? Pleased to meet you. I'm Rokad of the Yellow Tower."
"Ah. Rishir of the Gray Tower. Pleased to meet you."
He scanned Rishir up and down, a subtle smile playing on his lips.
A smirk that, if called out, would paint the caller as odd—
Such a subtle smile.
"By the way, what were you discussing—"
"Oh, Rishir! There you are!"
Dray cut off their conversation just as it was about to get underway.
He spotted Rishir through the open door and approached.
"Heard from the guards. Did you meet the person you were looking for?"
"Ah, yes!"
"Everything sorted out?"
"Pardon? Is something the matter?"
"Nothing major—Halona wants to see you."
"Ah. Is it about that!?"
"Yeah. You free now?"
Exchanging a glance with Didoa, he followed Dray.
And.
Rokad followed after him.
"Haa. This is something. Is this really okay?"
"Hm?"
As they walked the corridor, Rokad suddenly muttered.
Dray and Rishir's gazes focused on him.
Rishir said,
"Is something wrong, Sir Rokad?"
"While out and about outside the tower, a worry I left behind came to mind."
"A worry?"
"Yes. Truth is, the Yellow Tower recently started new research. And the results of that research..."
Haa.
Rokad sighed, trailing off.
His expression brimmed with concern, desperately needing words of comfort.
"Oh dear... What sort of research could it be..."
As Rishir prompted, Rokad opened his mouth immediately, as if waiting.
A subtle smile tugged at his lips.
"Research on forming equal relations with high-grade spirits dominating the region."
"Ooh."
"If successful, it would allow securing large quantities of high-quality samples through them. But... the research didn't go as planned, stopping at merely gaining a high-grade spirit's interest. Far short of the original goal."
If.
A typical mage hearing Rokad's tale would frown deeply.
His tone overflowed with worry—
But the content.
It was tantamount to bragging, 'We bought a high-grade spirit's interest!'
A sly deception disguised as lament.
The kind that evokes inferiority in the listener and leaves them unsure how to respond—
Rokad knew this.
He knew his actions would fluster the other party.
With considerable frustration from Dray's intervention derailing things, Rokad decided to vent on the Gray Tower mage this way.
Thus.
Rokad watched Rishir's reaction, full of anticipation.
"Oh no..."
Rishir furrowed his brow, emphasizing his voice.
Rokad was inwardly startled.
To react so intensely from the start.
Heightening his expectations, Rokad focused on Rishir's follow-up.
"To merely gain a high-grade spirit's interest... My condolences. Surely better results next time."
Rishir's continuation.
It echoed Rokad's words exactly, conveying sincere sympathy.
"…"
Rokad felt confusion.
It had to be sarcasm, yet his sympathetic demeanor rang with genuine sincerity.