Chapter 102: The Prelude
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 102: The Prelude
The departure for the Magic Tower had been hurried, but the arrival took unexpectedly long.
This was because Airune complained of severe motion sickness inside the carriage.
The party was flustered by this sudden bout of nausea she had never shown before, but Alto decided to take it slow for her sake.
With Yarismal—a priestess, after all—nursing her alongside Alto, and the former station manager showing that she still had her touch by driving the carriage with extreme smoothness, they spent more time on the road than anticipated.
By the time they finally reached the Magic Tower, it was already the middle of the night.
The Magic Tower provided the largest accommodations to its most distinguished graduates.
While Alto carried the limp, exhausted Airune on his back to their respective rooms to unpack, Narupa, acting as their representative, went for a private audience with the Dean.
“It’s been a while, Dean.”
“Muhu-hu-hu… It is a pity I cannot see you more often, given my current state.”
“How is your condition?”
The fact that the Dean was afflicted by the Curse of the Magic Stone Crystals was a top-secret matter.
This curse was the price he paid for nearly conquering the Magic Tower Dungeon single-handedly. It was a burden as harsh as the feat itself—the expansion of the Magic Tower’s territory, which he had completed around the time Narupa graduated.
Magic stones, having consumed the Dean’s mana, sprouted through his skin. Narupa would harvest these stones herself and, along with stones collected from other monsters, use them as core materials for magitech.
“It is getting worse. He can barely move now,” Silone answered sadly.
“At least his mind is still intact, so that’s a relief. As long as a mage keeps their wits, they can always find a way,” Narupa replied, seemingly indifferent.
Beside her, Adrian’s eyebrows twitched, but she quickly smoothed her expression.
Mages were simply like this.
The reason she reacted this way was likely due to her own affection for the Dean.
Furthermore, Narupa’s words were actually on the kinder side, meant as a form of consolation.
“A very logical point. When shall we begin the harvest? I am ready whenever. Even right now.”
“Well, we’ve just finished a long journey. Let’s set a date after we’ve had some rest.”
“A journey?”
When the Dean tilted his head, Narupa shrugged.
“Why act like you don’t know?”
“I truly have no idea what you are talking about, Mage Narupa.”
Sensing something was off, Narupa glanced at Silone.
Only then did Silone realize what she had omitted. She immediately prostrated herself.
“I am so sorry! I forgot to report the contact from the Adventurer Guild headquarters!”
Normally, she would have handled everything flawlessly, but Silone had been so intoxicated by the time she spent with the Dean the previous night that she had made a mistake.
Realizing the error of his disciple and attendant, the Dean’s face hardened.
“A message from the Adventurer Guild headquarters is a matter of utmost importance. I am disappointed that you handled it so carelessly.”
“…I am deeply sorry.”
What’s with her? Narupa thought. He barely even scolded her, and she’s already on the verge of tears. Hah, if she were under me, I would’ve fired her on the spot.
“Forget it. Here is the Quest Request Form.”
Adrian took the request and held it open so the Dean could see it clearly.
As the Dean read through it, he let out a low groan.
“Clear the Magic Tower Dungeon…!”
“I plan to pacify this place with my husband in the near future.”
“Do you believe a mere adventurer party can achieve a feat that even I could not?”
“Rene’s party defeated Barion of Solitude in the Dakuren Dungeon and completed the clear. Haven’t you heard?”
“I did not hear of it, but I felt it.”
Silone and Adrian both hung their heads simultaneously. It was a string of blunders unlike them.
“I felt a massive presence of demonic energy being violently severed.”
“I’m sure you did. My husband killed him personally.”
“Husband… that is pleasant news. You are the daughter of a hero, but it is truly gratifying to see the bloodline of a great mage continue. Tell me, who is the man who captured the heart of the difficult and arrogant Narupa Diberuper?”
“Heh.”
Narupa brushed back her indigo hair and laughed arrogantly.
This grated on the two attendants’ nerves once again, but they remained silent, knowing their own faults were greater.
Narupa noticed their irritation but didn’t care. Instead, with immense pride, she spoke her partner’s name.
“No. 1 National Merit Recipient, Alto Bertrand.”
“What…?!”
Adrian clumsily let out a gasp.
However, the other two were no different. Their eyes widened, and they were lost for words.
Narupa felt a surge of pleasure and thrill.
This was the privilege of having an incredible husband. Her proud husband, whom the world recognized and reacted to with shock or admiration.
Of course, Narupa would have been devoted and loving no matter who Alto was.
But in this moment, she decided to enjoy it.
This reputation was something Alto had built himself. As his wife, she had every right to be happy and proud. She was experiencing her magnificent husband through the eyes of others.
Narupa was allowed this much. She was quite impressive herself, after all.
“Alto Bertrand? That’s impossible. He was alive and well?”
“Yes, very much so. Do you know my husband?”
“How many people are there who don’t know Bertrand? Muhu-hu-hu…”
Narupa, who had intended to brag a bit more, felt an increasing sense of strangeness.
No matter how secluded the Magic Tower was due to its research, the man before her was the Dean.
As both the Dean and the Adventurer Guild’s Magic Tower Branch Manager, it made no sense for him to be so out of touch with external affairs.
However, looking at his appearance—practically embedded in magic stone crystals—it was hard to be purely suspicious.
“Ho-ho, we have some truly magnificent guests. Not just Narupa Diberuper and her husband, but a Hero-rank party as well. We must have a banquet soon.”
“No, we’re in a hurry. We’ll rest for a day or two and then clear the Magic Tower immediately.”
“Narupa Diberuper, I ask you as the leader of a group. Please delay your challenge to the Magic Tower Dungeon for a while.”
“Is there a particular reason why I should?”
The conversations of mages were slightly less roundabout than those of politicians, but their blatant greed and egoism were the same.
“There are two reasons. My desire to have these magic stone crystals removed quickly, and my greed to see the hero in person.”
Since the magic stones grew from the Dean’s skin, they had to be removed by cutting them with delicate magical skill.
Though it was gruesome, the magic stones that grew by feeding on his mana were of the highest quality.
For the Dean, who had difficulty moving, Narupa was practically his only salvation.
That was why even he couldn’t treat her poorly. Thus, the Dean was making a sincere request.
“That’s strange. If we clear the dungeon, won’t the Curse of the Magic Stone Crystals be lifted from you anyway?”
“If that happens, wouldn’t a great darkness fall upon the future of magitech?”
“You don’t want the dungeon to be cleared? You, who spent your entire life trying to conquer it?”
“Aha, I did it because it was necessary, and I did as much as was needed. Muhu-hu-hu… If the Magic Tower Dungeon is cleared, magic stones will no longer be generated. Could you expand your business without the magic stones that are the core material for your magitech products?”
“But the Kingdom wants it cleared.”
“To think that Narupa Diberuper, daughter of Bisharen, would move according to the Kingdom’s whims… the Great Mage must be lamenting in the afterlife.”
“Dean.”
An ordinary person would have turned red with rage.
But Narupa was different.
Smiling quietly, Narupa approached and grabbed a large cluster of magic stones attached to the Dean’s cheek.
Then, she plucked the stones away perfectly, without leaving a single scratch.
“Oh…! Thank you—”
“This is a satisfying harvest. It’s been an informative time. I’ll see you next time when your body is clean and the curse is lifted.”
Before the Dean could even feel the loss of weight and the cool air on his cheek, he hurriedly grabbed Narupa as she turned to leave.
“Forgive my rudeness!”
“No, this size and quantity are enough for me.”
“I misspoke! I made a grave mistake!”
“I can get plenty of magic stones from slaying monsters while clearing the dungeon anyway.”
As she reached the door of the Dean’s office, even Silone and Adrian knelt and clung to her.
“Lady Narupa! Please forgive the Dean and our rudeness!”
“It’s because I’m a novice who can’t do my job properly! That’s why all these mistakes happened!”
“Right. Don’t let it happen again. And don’t show your faces in front of me again, either.”
As Narupa prepared to leave, coolly waving her crossed fingers, the Dean shouted loudly.
“I was wrong!”
“Think nothing of it.”
“And I’ve met Alto Bertrand before!”
“…Huh?”
The aura Narupa gave off as she walked back was menacing.
If it had been the Dean from when she was a student, he might have stood a chance, but now he was a man stuck in magic stones.
“Dean, you’ve never left the Magic Tower. How could you be acquainted with my husband?”
“Nothing is impossible with magic. More importantly… I wish to speak openly with Alto Bertrand about clearing this Magic Tower Dungeon. Truly… and honestly.”
“……”
Looking down coldly at the panting Dean, Narupa picked up the magic stone crystal she had just removed.
Magical script formed a ring around her finger and rotated; then, she pressed the magic stone back onto his cheek.
Exactly where she had plucked it from.
“We have travel fatigue, so prepare a banquet for lunch or dinner two days from now.”
“Thank you.”
“Yes.”
Narupa gave a curt reply.
“Think nothing of it.”
The door clicked shut.
The Dean let out a long sigh. He had just shown his former student the pathetic sight of him being overwhelmed.
He was not in a good mood.
“Ugh…”
“Do not cry, Silone. It is not your fault. Muhu-hu…”
He tried to comfort her with a forced laugh, but there was no strength in his smile.
He couldn’t afford to be weak.
“Is Resin being prepared?”
“For now, we are providing her with meals.”
“She is an important material. Keep her fresh.”
“Yes, Dean,” Silone replied, wiping away her tears.
But before long, a frantic knocking troubled them once again.
“Dean? Manager? It’s an emergency!”
“What is it? Who are you to knock on the Dean’s door so recklessly!”
“Yes, Manager! It’s Madan, a student from the 2nd floor! It’s an emergency! A disaster!”
“What on earth is going on!”
“The guest, Resin, was making passes at Lady Narupa’s lover, and when that didn’t work, she started clinging to him! Lady Narupa saw it and is absolutely furious!”
Silone turned pale and bolted from her seat.
The Dean shouted at the stunned Adrian.
“You go too! Go! If Narupa gets truly angry, half the Magic Tower will be annihilated! Annihilated!”
“Yes!”
“You must keep Resin in a fresh state!”
However, his final command sounded somewhat strange.