Chapter 37
Chapter 37
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: Parasite (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
‘What the hell is this guy?’
Tulran stared intently at the man before her.
The man who had disrupted the atmosphere she’d been so carefully orchestrating.
‘He’s not from the Magic Tower. He looks like nobility, but not high-ranking, and his attire suggests he’s not from some wealthy family either. His realm is just barely at the early stage of the 4th Circle.’
In an instant, Tulran sized him up and concluded he was insignificant.
Even the apprentices she had handpicked and brought along were mages at a similar level or higher than him—not to mention they were scions of renowned families she could proudly boast about.
Tulran was the type who could be endlessly ruthless toward people like this. In fact, she had her followers ostracize and ruin the reputations of Magic Tower affiliates who fell out of her favor. That was how she had solidified her position in the Tower.
‘Humiliating me in front of everyone?’
She wanted nothing more than to do the same to this man right now.
But Tulran decided to hold back for the moment.
Not for any other reason, but because Master Meltas stood behind him.
Master Meltas was a mage respected even within the Magic Tower. For someone like that, Tulran’s way was to win them over and use them to her advantage.
From the start, she believed this was all just a minor misunderstanding or misconception.
What idiot would pick a fight with a master to defend a half-demon apprentice girl who could barely speak up in public?
Tulran was confident she could clear up the misunderstanding with the man and Meltas and bring them to her side.
“Sorry about that. I was lost in thought for a moment. Could you say that one more time?”
“I asked Didoa to assist with the elixir intake.”
“How kind of you. You’re looking out for Didoa’s face, aren’t you? But everyone here is my precious guest. Even if I didn’t formally invite you?”
Tulran’s expression twisted into a playful, friendly smile.
“You came to my lab because you needed my help. As the owner of this lab and a master, I want to provide you with the best assistance possible. So please—don’t refuse me.”
They say you can’t spit in the face of someone who’s smiling. Tulran’s current expression was the perfect example. Her followers’ eyes sparkled as they looked at her.
Tulran had no doubt that Rishir and Meltas would react the same way.
“By ‘best assistance,’ you mean—using your vast alchemical knowledge to perfectly analyze the elixir and provide the optimal opinion—”
“That’s right.”
“In that case, may I ask once more?”
Rishir held out the elixir toward Tulran.
“What do you think of this elixir?”
“Hey, you.”
She couldn’t take it anymore!
Tulran’s follower, Sophia, raised her voice.
Sophia, who at a young age aspired to formal mage promotion, came from a high noble family and held influence in both mage and noble circles.
Not even the Magic Tower’s formal mages or the city nobles of Bondales could treat her lightly.
The man’s behavior was treading on Sophia’s nerves.
He didn’t look like someone who could act so freely in this place.
Sophia spoke with subtle authority in her tone.
“You’ve been way too rude from the start. Isn’t it disrespectful to Master Tulran, who’s been so gracious despite your uninvited arrival? Above all, shouldn’t you at least introduce your name and background before trying to converse?”
“...”
Rishir observed Sophia with an intrigued gaze.
‘Here we go again.’
It happened the moment Sophia mentioned Tulran.
Rishir sensed a sudden surge of black magic from her.
‘Master Meltas was fine at first too, but after he started mentioning Tulran, the black magic aura became detectable.’
And that aura resonated with the surrounding energies.
With the black magic auras felt throughout the lab.
With the black magic aura emanating from Tulran.
And with the black magic auras from everyone except himself.
Rishir had already shattered mental interferences multiple times with his Normalization ability.
He had the confidence to call himself an expert when it came to mental manipulation.
At this moment, Rishir reached a conclusion.
‘Tulran is using the lab itself as a medium to impose mental interference on others.’
He prepared to activate Normalization immediately—but
‘...No.’
Through Sophia’s reaction just now, Rishir had glimpsed the bizarre structure of Tulran’s mental magic.
It only manifests when the target becomes aware of Tulran.
And it only takes on black magic properties in that reactive moment.
Rishir focused on the black magic aura in the lab.
‘It’s stronger than before... but still not enough. If I destroy it now, the black magic might not be fully eradicated.’
Rishir arrived at one hypothesis.
To completely destroy Tulran’s black magic, he needed to draw out its properties fully.
And the way to do that was—
‘Make more people focus even more intensely on Tulran.’
Maximize the black magic’s activation.
“Hey! Are you ignoring me right now?”
“...Ah. My apologies. I was lost in thought.”
Rishir snapped out of his reverie at Sophia’s irritated voice.
“I’ve been remiss in introducing myself. I’m Rishir. I have no affiliation, and I haven’t been permitted to reveal my family name.”
A bastard with no affiliation or family to boast of.
The followers’ gazes toward Rishir grew even bolder.
“I’m Sophia of the Lerotin Family, affiliated with the Gray Magic Tower. Rishir, apologize to Master Tulran right now. And make your request more politely.”
“Fine. I apologize.”
At that moment, Meltas stepped forward and intervened.
“...Master Meltas?”
“I’m the one who brought him here. I’m the one who wanted to introduce him to Master Tulran. So any dissatisfaction you feel right now is entirely my fault. Tell me—how should I apologize to put your minds at ease?”
The followers, who had been aggressively pressuring Rishir, faltered in confusion.
Tulran, who had been outwardly embarrassed but inwardly enjoying the spectacle, was no different.
Master Meltas was stingy with his recognition.
Countless mages in the Tower had sought to become his disciple, but not a single one met his standards.
Yet here he was, staking his reputation to defend this man.
A nobody bastard with no affiliation or family.
“N-No, how could I dare...”
This Rishir guy.
He wasn’t just some simple bastard.
It was no wonder he was among Tulran’s followers.
Quickly recalculating, they stepped back and lowered their eyes.
With things at this point, even Tulran had no choice but to drop her benevolent facade.
Because Meltas protecting Rishir’s face was tantamount to denying her own.
‘What the hell is wrong with this old coot all of a sudden?’
Tulran was considerably flustered by the atmosphere turning more serious than she’d anticipated.
This wasn’t mere misunderstanding or misconception.
To Tulran, it was clear that Rishir and Meltas were openly hostile toward her.
‘No way the barrier... No, the barrier’s fine. Then what... Could it be—’
Tulran glared at Didoa.
Didoa’s bewildered gaze at Rishir, unable to keep up with the situation, appeared entirely different to Tulran.
‘Didoa...!’
It was obvious. Didoa—that wench must have pulled some trick.
“...”
Rishir read Tulran’s agitation and pressed her even harder.
“Master Tulran. You still haven’t answered my question.”
Pushed into a corner, Tulran made her decision.
“Sophia? Could you go fetch Master Parozan right now?”
“M-Master Parozan?”
“Yes. I was planning to meet him later anyway, but it looks like it might take a while. I’ll explain the situation myself.”
Tulran had been rattled for a moment but quickly regained her composure.
Right now, with Meltas’s authority, he might suppress her here.
But what if others were watching?
Would he dare antagonize a master like her over a worthless half-demon apprentice in front of another master?
Could he convince the other master of his reasons?
Tulran was confident she could manipulate the situation, just as she always had.
She watched Sophia’s retreating figure as she went to fetch the other master, smirking inwardly.
Rishir, observing Tulran, nodded to himself with a different intent.
Each harboring different thoughts and goals.
The two fell silent in unison, as if by agreement.
Tension filled the lab.
And after a brief moment—
“Master Tulran! What’s going on!?”
Having heard something from Sophia, Master Parozan burst in like a hero rescuing a damsel in distress.
The plump middle-aged man panted heavily, wiping sweat from his brow with a handkerchief.
A train of apprentices trailed behind him.
Tulran’s lab quickly became crowded with onlookers.
“What’s the fuss?”
“Who knows?”
“Isn’t it that half-demon girl causing trouble?”
“Ah...”
“Tch. I don’t get why Master Tulran keeps her around.”
“Exactly.”
“She’s too nice for her own good.”
It was the ideal situation Tulran had envisioned.
She opened her mouth as if she’d been waiting.
She explained the events in the lab clearly and deliberately, loud enough for all to hear.
In no time, countless gazes locked onto Rishir’s group.
Parozan spoke on their behalf.
“Master Meltas. What is the meaning of this? This is Master Tulran’s lab. Even for you, this is unacceptable.”
There weren’t many in the Magic Tower higher than Meltas.
Parozan certainly wasn’t one of them—but
Even so, he voiced his opinion clearly.
No matter how lofty Meltas’s position was in the Tower, it couldn’t surpass the collective weight of all the mages present.
“Ahem.”
As expected, Meltas showed considerable embarrassment at the uncontrollably escalating situation.
He whispered cautiously into Rishir’s ear.
—Rishir. You’re certain Tulran is bewitching others with black magic?
—Do you trust me?
—Of course! I saw with my own eyes how you defeated that vile black mage, necromancer, and assassin!
—I never defeated any assassin, but anyway—that part is certain. Thank you for believing me. I’ll make sure to repay your faith.
—If this gets me ousted from the Tower, you’ll have to take responsibility for me!
—Sounds like you want to be my disciple. Do you have to phrase it so creepily?
Afterward, Rishir explained his plan to Meltas.
—We need to make as many people as possible focus intensely on Tulran. So Master Meltas, you should—
Meltas nodded and stepped forward before the crowd.
“Tulran. First, I apologize for barging into your lab and acting as I pleased.”
A apology from Master Meltas.
Tulran felt a shiver of pleasure.
But only for a moment.
“However, I want to make one thing clear. This man here—Rishir—is someone whose special abilities I trust completely. So I’d appreciate it if you answered his questions sincerely.”
“Master Meltas!”
Parozan stepped forward in Tulran’s stead.
“Even now, you intend to defend him?”
“Defend? That’s an odd way to put it, Master Parozan.”
“...!”
Under Meltas’s steady gaze, the aggressive Parozan flinched.
“Speak. Are Rishir’s actions truly that wrong?”
“H-How could they not be! He denied Master Tulran’s abilities and praised her assistant instead! That’s an insult to Master Tulran!”
“Parozan. Do you know where we are?”
“Shouldn’t you be asking yourself that, Master Meltas! This is Master Tulran’s lab, and others are watching. Wouldn’t it be better to show her a little more respect?”
“That was the dumbest answer you could’ve given.”
“What—...!”
“This is the Magic Tower. A place to pursue mysteries—not to ape politicians and cling to absolute authority.”
“...!”
“Here, authority is a byproduct of knowledge, not the other way around. I just don’t understand. Is this really worth complicating things this much?”
Parozan could only work his lips without replying.
The other apprentices watched Meltas with shining eyes.
It was speech worthy of a mage’s exemplar.
Having delivered such a brilliant oration, Meltas inwardly—
felt considerable embarrassment.
‘We’re technically in the wrong here...!’
Talk of pursuing knowledge.
Wasn’t this basically trashing someone else’s lab?
If Tulran weren’t a black mage, Meltas never would have sided with Rishir.
At that moment, Rishir stepped forward and took up Meltas’s baton.
He faced Tulran and said,
“Master Tulran. If my actions caused you discomfort, I apologize. But from my position, it was unavoidable. This elixir is extremely valuable to me. Please understand my pursuit of even slightly better options regarding it.”
“...Understand? I respect your decision to seek help from Didoa instead of me.”
Tulran ground her teeth inwardly. Such humiliation.
She vowed to make them pay for this disgrace.
“No, Master Tulran. I’m not insisting on Didoa’s help.”
“Then what are you trying to say?”
“I told you. I’m only seeking the best option. I chose Didoa because you withheld your consultation on this elixir. Unlike her.”
“...”
“Since it’s come to this, I must have your consultation, Master Tulran.”
‘That bastard...!’
Tulran belatedly realized Rishir’s intent.
He planned to compare her to Didoa in front of everyone.
To undermine her and elevate Didoa.
“...”
It was Tulran herself who had plotted to steal the alchemy master Didoa’s identity.
To prepare for such situations, she hadn’t neglected building her alchemical knowledge.
Bolstered by black magic, her achievements were impressive.
Enough not to fall short of the master title.
The problem was that they paled in comparison to Didoa, who had risen through the ranks despite her half-demon origins.
Most of the accomplishments Tulran had racked up after stealing Didoa’s life were actually Didoa’s, appropriated under her orders.
—If you don’t cooperate with me, you’ll never reclaim your original life.
It was possible only because she had mentally cornered and dominated Didoa with such unfair threats.
But now?
Tulran glanced at Didoa, who was watching from afar.
“...”
Her expression remained impassive as ever, fixed on Rishir.
But her eyes.
Those eyes shone brighter than ever before.
As much as they had in the days when she proudly bore the title of master, before losing everything.
Perhaps even more so.
At this moment.
Tulran was certain.
A crack was forming in the plan she had built atop Didoa’s fragile mental state.
But it was fine.
She could still salvage it.
“Master Tulran, why the silence?”
“Why do you think! She’s offended! Isn’t it obvious?”
“Being compared to that half-demon girl—how could she not be?”
“Even if Master Tulran speaks up here, the half-demon’s the one who’ll be humiliated...”
Authority precedes knowledge.
‘Master Tulran’ was the Tower’s foremost alchemist.
Who would deny her knowledge?
The moment Tulran spoke on the elixir, her words would become the definitive truth.
“Master Tulran...”
“Master Tulran...”
Tulran felt the crowd’s attention focused on her, and the black magic surging in response.
It was the source of her confidence.
“If you want my opinion that badly.”
Brimming with confidence, Tulran confidently extended her hand to Rishir.
The elixir. Hand it over.
Rishir didn’t let go.
“Didn’t you ask for my consultation?”
“Is there a problem? Didoa was proceeding like this.”
“...That’s because Didoa—never mind.”
Tulran examined the elixir closely.
“...”
Her brow furrowed—not from concentration, but something else.
‘What is this...’
Unfamiliar. And complex.
Despite her vast experience as a master, she couldn’t discern anything.
Other than that it contained powerful energy.
Her fluster was brief. Soon, she thought this might be better.
If even she couldn’t identify it at all, others wouldn’t fare much better.
It would make misleading them with authority far easier.
“This is an elixir from the Derdaal alchemists.”
“Derdaal?”
“Yes. Extreme pragmatism with no distinctive features. That’s the hallmark of Derdaal elixirs.”
“You just said it has no distinctive features?”
A triumphant smile curled Rishir’s lips.
Tulran felt an inexplicable chill and hurriedly added,
“Now you’re nitpicking? If you keep this up, I can’t hold back anymore!”
“Rishir. Hand the elixir to Master Parozan.”
An emotionless voice cut across the room.
Following Didoa’s instruction, Rishir passed the elixir to Parozan.
“...”
Suddenly?
Parozan was bewildered but complied for now.
“Master Parozan, rub the neck of the elixir bottle.”
“...This is?”
“You’ll feel subtle embossing. And also—”
Didoa proceeded to point out the countless hidden details on the bottle.
Directly refuting Tulran’s claim of no features.
“...—For those reasons, it’s more accurate to say this is an elixir from the Gossalta shamans than the Derdaal.”
The crowd murmured.
Tulran, believing the crowd would back her voice, was about to shout—
“Gossalta... Gossalta... Yeah, I think I’ve heard of their elixirs somewhere before.”
But Parozan’s mutter stopped her.
Parozan, who was utterly enthralled by Tulran.
Flustered, Tulran said to him,
“P-Parozan...? Are you saying my opinion is wrong and Didoa’s is right—?”
“...”
In that instant, Parozan’s face went blank, as if he’d just woken up.
He soon spoke.
“Well, of course. You’re just an apprentice, and Didoa is... Huh? What’s going on here—?”
The sense of wrongness spread like a contagion.
“What? Why is Tulran wearing a master’s robe? Where’s Master Didoa?”
“Obviously Tulran is... Huh?”
Tulran realized too late.
The black magic that had been surging moments ago had vanished without a trace.
‘Why!?’
The answer to that question.
Rishir was looking at Tulran with a meaningful expression.
“Y-You, you, you—this bastard...!”
Tulran lost her reason.
It was the moment her mask fully shattered.