Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Tower of Wisdom: Lua Polaris (1)
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The Fantasia Repository, Celestia.
Inside the massive library, I was currently gazing at a beautifully crafted glass vial.
Slosh, slosh—.
Every time I lightly shook the hand holding the glass vial, the liquid inside, infused with multicolored light, rippled gently.
—Elixir.
A legendary phantom potion passed down only in myths among the continent's alchemists.
The spiritual medicine that the Doctor had poured immense funds into creating was now emanating a brilliant glow right in my grasp.
“Its name is Elixir, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct. It’s something we specially recreated for the Great One’s descent ritual!”
As I listened to the Doctor’s explanation of the Elixir, I examined the glass vial with keen interest.
According to the Doctor’s report, the Elixir was an incredibly finicky potion to produce.
Absurd material costs.
The hassle of aligning times and dates.
Even a high level of alchemical knowledge—.
Synthesizing even a single drop of Elixir required overcoming a tremendous number of obstacles.
It was the supreme treasure that might have been impossible to complete without the full backing of the Celestia Secret Society.
That was the Elixir.
‘Every time we repeat the descent ritual, the costs involved are skyrocketing absurdly.’
Perhaps because it had required such massive investment to create.
The Elixir possessed a beauty befitting its value, shimmering with a radiant glow.
The problem was that it wasn’t just for display—it was a consumable that vanished after one use.
“…….”
Swish—.
After staring intently at the Elixir for a good while.
Having observed the iridescent liquid, I soon turned my gaze toward the Doctor.
Then, to the researcher wearing a monocle, I asked about the amount of Elixir produced so far.
“This isn’t all the completed Elixir, is it?”
“Of course not. This particular Elixir is naturally the one prepared as an offering to you, the Great One.”
“…….”
“We’re continuing production on the Elixir needed for the descent ritual.”
The Doctor said this while gazing at the Elixir’s shimmering light.
The multicolored hues reflected off his monocle, creating a bizarre spectacle.
“To stabilize the vessel for containing the Great One, we plan to use a diluted solution. Before that, we prepared this pure Elixir separately as an offering.”
Hearing the Doctor’s explanation made the vial containing the Elixir seem different somehow.
No wonder it felt so meticulously crafted for merely holding a potion.
It seemed the Doctor had set this aside from the start, specifically to present it to me.
‘I can store it in Celestia’s treasury.’
The beautifully engraved glass vial gleamed like a gem cradling radiant light.
If I placed the completed Elixir in Celestia’s treasury, any member in need could take it by paying contribution points.
With the sparkling glass vial before us, the Doctor’s explanation continued.
“We’ve already secured the recipe for producing the Elixir, so we should have enough diluted solution ready by the end of this month at the latest.”
“That’s good news.”
“After that, we’ll conduct the ritual to bring the Great One down to the earthly plane using the Elixir.”
“…….”
“However, to keep producing Elixir continuously… we’ll probably need… a budget of similar scale…….”
As the Doctor brought up future plans, he suddenly trailed off, adopting a cautious demeanor.
His already deferential attitude grew even more obsequious than before.
It was because the amount spent this time had been so substantial that Peria had worn a deeply troubled expression.
I could somewhat guess why the Doctor was acting this way.
‘No matter how great House Alperatz is, there are limits to Peria shouldering all the costs alone.’
Running an organization required enormous expenses.
From the Doctor’s research on the descent ritual to building surveillance networks and developing magic-engineered mechs.
The current Secret Society operated at a massive expenditure.
It seemed like it was time to secure more funds again, if only to alleviate some of Peria’s burden.
“I’ll… discuss that matter separately with Peria.”
“Understood. Then I’ll take my leave accordingly.”
Heh heh heh—.
No sooner had the conversation ended than the Doctor let out a creepy laugh and headed off somewhere.
Probably toward Celestia’s dining hall.
Leaving him be, I shifted my gaze toward a certain mage somewhere in the library.
The Secret Society’s funding issues.
Conveniently, someone who could help with that was present in the library.
A mage wearing a large witch’s hat, earnestly sorting through papers with a serious expression.
It was Lua Polaris, the Blue Tower’s tin-can Archmage.
“Ugh… I don’t understand any of this……!”
Rustle—.
In her hands, white sheets of paper were being crumpled up wildly.
It was the second magic tool she’d unveil soon.
She was compiling a paper on the technologies to be used in ‘Polaris No. 2’.
‘Considering the popularity of the magic tool she sold before, the next one should get a good reception too.’
Lua’s previously released Polaris No. 1 was still hugely popular.
Among the capital’s nobles, those without a crystal orb were treated as out of fashion.
Moreover, every move by Lua, hailed as a genius mage, drew public attention.
So it was about time to release the next-stage item.
“Lua Polaris.”
I called out to her name as she sat at the table sorting papers.
Lua lifted her head blankly and met my eyes.
“……Lord Johan?”
Her gaze held worry as it fixed on me.
“I have instructions for you. Come closer.”
“Y-Yes!”
Soon, having heard my order, Lua approached me.
Swish—.
With hesitant steps, she drew near, looking at me with a face full of concern.
I brought my face close to her ear and spoke to her in a gentle, affectionate voice.
“Sorry, but you’ll need to work two more hours a day.”
“……Pardon?”
It was time for the tin-can Archmage, Lua Polaris, to mobilize.
* * * * * *
If you asked residents of the capital whether they knew of the Mage Towers, most would nod as if it were obvious.
And if you asked which was the most famous, they’d all name the same one without hesitation.
The Blue Tower, Ortheus.
This ancient tower near the capital had recently gained fame among the nobles.
All this renown tied to the Blue Tower stemmed from one girl belonging to it.
The genius mage, Lua Polaris.
The girl hailed as a rising star by the tower’s mages was unleashing theories in academia that carried massive impact.
Moreover, the magic tool she created—‘Polaris No. 1’—had its sales commissions become the tower’s main revenue source.
That’s why the silver-haired mage received long letters daily from countless scholars and nobles.
“Um, Lord Johan…….”
- “…….”
“Is it really okay for someone like me… to be sending letters to such high-ranking people……?”
And now, Lua Polaris was writing invitations to nobles with her own hand.
She, who had rejected countless invitations before, was now drafting letters to send to nobles—an odd situation.
Even from Lua’s perspective as she wrote, it was inevitable to feel somewhat uneasy.
- “You worry too much about needless things.”
The reason Lua was writing polite letters to the nobles.
Naturally, it was due to a certain magic tool placed before her eyes right now.
—Polaris No. 2.
The second magic tool to be released under Lua Polaris’s name.
Ahead of the public demonstration she’d hold soon, she was writing invitations to gather attendees for the event.
- “No need to be intimidated. Calm down and finish the invitations.”
“Ugh… Just seeing the names I have to write makes my spine tingle.”
Scratch, scratch—.
As Lua busily moved her pen, her gaze fell on the names written on the envelopes.
Count. Duke’s daughter. Marquis. Count—.
Every single one was a heavyweight she wouldn’t have dared glance at before.
For a novice tower mage to invite, their statuses seemed far too exalted.
“We’ve reserved the grand hall, but I wonder if they’ll all actually come just because I called…….”
Honestly, Lua felt more worry than anything.
Would all the nobles who received her invitations really show up at the tower?
She imagined herself alone in an empty grand hall, fiddling with the magic tool and chattering to no one.
Such thoughts lingered as Lua tilted her pen, staring blankly at the magic tool.
ZZzt, zzzt—.
Soon, a clear voice emanated from the brooch she wore.
- “Lua Polaris.”
“……Y-Yes.”
- “Don’t forget who you’re acting on behalf of.”
“……Yes!”
The library’s Archmage, Johan.
He warned her in a serious tone.
If Johan spoke so firmly, Lua had no choice but to see it through.
‘Am I… acting as Lord Johan’s proxy……?’
He was the one who had toppled even the Seven-Winged Lord of the skies and forced submission.
Would such a man fear mere imperial nobles?
So Lua simply wrote the invitations to the nobles as Johan instructed.
*Today, when I get back to the library, I’ll pick out all the strawberries from the strawberry cake—.*
Harboring such wicked thoughts, Lua busily penned the letters.
She focused intently on writing the invitations for a while—.
“…….”
Thud, thud, thud!
Suddenly, a knock echoed from the lab door.
Someone was knocking on the research room door.
One of the tower’s mages had come to see Lua Polaris.
- “Looks like a guest has arrived.”
“Seems so. Hold on!”
Swish, swish—.
Confirming the knock, Lua hurriedly gathered the scattered letters.
Then she quickly went to the door, opened it, and peeked her head out.
Creak—.
In the corner of Lua’s vision as she flung the door open, a familiar-faced mage awaited her.
“It’s been a while since we last met like this, Lua Polaris.”
“…….”
—Blue Tower Elder, Garion LineNote.
One of the interviewers from Lua’s promotion exam had shown up unannounced at her research room.
Ahem, ahem—.
As Garion, gripping a thick wooden staff, cleared his throat, Lua offered him a polite greeting.
“Elder Garion, it’s been a long time…….”
“Yes, good to see you.”
“But… what brings you to my research room……?”
Lua eyed the visiting Garion warily.
Lately, many colleagues had been asking her to lend them money.
To that, Garion replied with a kindly smile.
“Does a senior need a special reason to visit a promising junior—?”
“Even so, I can’t lend money…….”
“—I was going to say that, but unfortunately, I’m not here for that today.”
A brief joke.
A leisurely laugh flowed from Garion’s mouth after.
Lua’s stiffened face looked at him.
“…….”
Heh heh—.
Stroking his beard with a light chuckle, Garion soon got to the point with Lua.
“This time, it’s not me—it seems the Tower Lord has business with you.”
“……Pardon?”
Tower Lord.
Lua’s mind froze briefly upon hearing the familiar term.
Lifting her head, she spoke to Garion with flustered eyes.
“No, I mean… the Tower Lord has business with me?”
“Yes. The Tower Lord has been deeply impressed by your activities thus far.”
“…….”
“He’s been away from the tower for a long time, but he never neglects interest in the next generation.”
Tap, tap—.
Garion’s staff tapped the floor with an amused smile.
—The Blue Tower Lord.
She’d heard the name a few times, but Lua had never met the Tower Lord face-to-face.
That made sense, as the Blue Tower Lord spent most of the year outside the tower.
How he maintained his position despite being absent so often was a mystery.
“The Tower Lord has recommended you for the next permanent committee member.”
“P-Pardon……?”
“In fact, it means he’s considering grooming you as the next Tower Lord.”
Moreover, what came from Garion’s mouth was more shocking than Lua could have imagined.
A permanent committee member of the tower—.
Given Lua’s age, it was an utterly implausible proposal.
Hierarchy in a group wasn’t simply ranked by skill.
Plus, most of Lua’s own prowess came from the library’s Archmage.
‘What if they test my qualifications as a committee member by grilling me on tough magic knowledge?’
Lua’s tense face met Garion’s.
She worried if accepting this might expose her shortcomings.
Even such absurd concerns arose.
“It’s not a bad deal for you. You’d gain access to the upper archives, which are normally off-limits.”
“…….”
“But before the vote, the Vice Tower Lord wants to meet you first. There’ll be an interview in three days—keep that in mind.”
That seemed to be why Garion had come.
An interview with the Vice Tower Lord.
He’d visited to notify her of the schedule.
Naturally, Lua had no right to refuse.
Sigh—.
A heavy sigh escaped Lua’s lips.
Before the highly tense Lua, Garion added a brief remark.
“By the way, this is really trivial, but—”
“Y-Yes…….”
“I happened to hear you reserved the tower’s grand hall to invite distinguished guests.”
Lua snapped to attention upon hearing Garion.
Word of the grand hall reservation had already spread that far?
Swish—.
As Lua eyed him warily, fearing another money request.
A slightly tense voice leaked from Garion’s mouth as he faced her.
“And apparently, you’re planning to unveil a new magic tool there…….”
“…….”
“Could you perhaps spare… two seats? No, make it three?”
Lua’s eyes widened round as she stared at Garion.
Gone was his earlier dignified air; Garion now looked somewhat servile as he spoke.
“Among my close noble friends are your ardent fans. They asked me to get them invitations this time.”
“…….”
“I’m an elder, after all—how could I flatly refuse? So… could you help save face for your senior?”
Blink, blink—.
Lua’s eyes blankly fixed on Garion.
He held up three fingers, eyes sparkling.
Looking at him, Lua soon replied in a reluctant tone.
“Fine. I’ll prepare three invitations for you.”
“As expected, you’re the only one fit to be the next Blue Tower Lord! You’re our tower’s future……!”
A profound bard’s quote flitted through Lua’s mind.
The world of mages was unknowable, even if you thought you understood it.