Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Tower of Wisdom: Lua Polaris (7)
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A massive table located on the lowest floor of Celestia, the Phantasmic Archive.
At that very moment, a single mage wearing a witch's hat was busily moving her hands to carry out her work.
Lua Polaris, an official mage of the Blue Tower.
Was it because the public demonstration she had held in the tower's grand hall had been a resounding success?
Right after the demonstration ended, consultation requests from nobles eager to place orders came pouring in like an avalanche.
Because of that, even though Lua had worked late into the night, she was continuing with additional tasks here in Celestia.
"This is so unfair..."
Swish, swish—
Lua's slender fingers danced through the air, rapidly inscribing spells.
It was the task of replicating the magic formulas to be embedded into the magic devices.
The most essential step in completing "Polaris 2."
She had once considered assigning an apprentice mage to handle the replication, but security concerns with the formulas made it impossible.
In the end, Lua had to inscribe the formulas into every single magic device herself.
"I just worked hard, that's all... Why does the work keep piling up...?"
A faint complaint slipped from Lua's lips, shadowed by dark circles under her eyes.
At the sound of Lua's voice, Peria, who was sitting beside her, immediately reached out a hand.
Slide—
Peria's hand, which had passed through the dessert tower, held a single pink macaron.
"You've been working so hard, Lua!"
"...Yeah. This is all Johan's fault."
Peria was trying to feed Lua the dessert herself, since both of Lua's hands were occupied with the ongoing work.
Lua accepted Peria's gesture without refusal and promptly popped the offered macaron into her mouth.
Munch, munch—
With her cheeks puffed out, Lua's hands continued to inscribe spells in the air.
"Mmm, mmph...!"
"Lua. You should stop talking while eating."
"Mmph...?"
"By the way, it seems like something big happened in Celestia while you were away."
Peria was sharing the library's news with Lua, who had been munching and chatting.
An incident that had occurred in the library during Lua's absence.
Upon hearing about it, the mage swallowed the macaron filling her mouth.
'An incident in the library?'
Even hearing the word "incident," Lua didn't worry much.
She figured that any trouble in the library where Johan resided would have been swiftly resolved by him.
Who would dare defy an archmage's will in Celestia, the Phantasmic Archive?
As if proving Lua's prediction, similar words flowed from Peria's mouth.
"Fortunately, Johan handled it right away. But he seemed more worried about something else."
"..."
"Did anything happen to you today? You mentioned some important event."
Gulp—
Having swallowed the macaron completely, Lua turned her gaze to Peria.
This time, Peria was asking about the event that had taken place today.
In response, Lua replied to Peria in a drowsy voice.
"Looks like there were a lot of incidents today. Actually, I had a huge accident during my public demonstration too..."
"Something happened to you as well?"
"Well, it was toward the end of the demonstration—"
Lua recounted her memories from the public demonstration as she spoke.
The solo presentation of the magic device in the grand hall.
There, she had witnessed something utterly absurd.
Was it because the audience's reaction to "Polaris 2" had been overly intense?
An incident that wouldn't normally occur in the Blue Tower had taken place.
"Some of the invited nobles were so excited about the launch of Polaris 2 that they fell into a coma."
"...Pardon?"
"They passed out right at the end of the demonstration and still haven't woken up. Isn't that weird? No matter how great the magic device is..."
As she spoke, Lua popped another macaron from Peria's hand into her mouth.
Munch, munch—
Savoring the sweet taste, Lua pondered.
Was her presentation just too amazing?
Perhaps she had a talent for presentations that even mocked the gods.
Toward Lua, lost in such thoughts, Peria asked with an awkward expression.
"By any chance, were there two nobles?"
"Two? Probably. I think Elder Garion said that much."
"..."
"They say there's no major health issue. My presentation must have had a huge impact on them."
Lua nodded in agreement to Peria's question.
Right after, Peria leaned close to Lua's ear and whispered.
"Lua... the reason Johan was worried about you earlier... was actually because of this situation, and he was afraid you'd be in a tough spot..."
Whisper, whisper—
Peria's voice echoed in Lua's ear.
Immediately after, Lua jumped up from her seat in shock.
"Eeeh?!"
Her lips trembled faintly now that she knew the full story of the incident.
Vice Chairman of the Zealous Magic Research Society.
And one of the Five Candles of the Veil of Truth.
Lua's face lost all control upon hearing those heavyweight names from Peria.
"Aaah, aaah...!"
"Lua, are you okay?"
"I'm embarrassed... so don't talk to me..."
A voice soaked in shame leaked from Lua's flushed face.
It seemed she didn't have a god-mocking talent for presentations after all.
Truly, a pity.
* * * * * *
Ten days had passed since the new product launch by the Blue Tower's genius mage, Lua Polaris.
In those ten days, "Polaris 2" had sold like hotcakes.
As if proving the grand hall event's overwhelming success, crowds gathered daily in front of the Blue Tower.
Numerous servants sent by the empire's nobles.
They visited without fail, striving to secure even one more magic device.
Backed by the capital's trend-sensitive nobles, Lua Polaris's magic devices spread rapidly across the empire.
Consequently, the profits pouring in for Lua Polaris were no small amount.
Greater fame. And greater gold.
The genius mage who had already stirred up the capital was now an idol among mages.
"Hello, Elder Garion—"
The one issue was that the magic devices' popularity directly translated to Lua's workload.
Having pulled all-nighters in Celestia without a single day off, she now faced the elder with dark circles heavy under her eyes.
Slide—
Seeing Lua seated at the table, Elder Garion sat across from her, wearing a sympathetic expression.
"Being too popular can be a problem too. Work is good, but taking it easy is important."
"Th-thank you—"
The words from the elder they met in the dining hall.
They were words of encouragement for Lua.
The kind of talk rarely heard among mages.
'Even the elder thinks I look exhausted.'
Lua, staring at her plate of food, put her fork in her mouth.
It was something she never could have heard as an apprentice.
Mages in the lab never told apprentices to ease up on work.
'At least it sold well, so that's good?'
Still, she was satisfied that "Polaris 2" was achieving tremendous results.
Even the notoriously picky Archmage Johan had been praising her nonstop lately.
Just yesterday, he had patted her head, saying she was working hard.
Encountering the archmage's softened demeanor was delightful.
If only her workload hadn't increased.
"A talent like you collapsing would be a huge loss for our tower. Moreover, you're now a symbol of the Blue Tower."
"..."
"It's good to be diligent in research, but try to take care of your health too."
Sigh—
As Lua sighed deeply at her plate, Elder Garion spoke while mashing potatoes.
Truly unhelpful advice.
Easy to say, hard to do.
"There are still a lot of people who want my magic devices."
Especially with nobles desperate for ones they couldn't obtain.
"Quite passionate. No wonder those nobles are hounding you."
"...Yeah."
And indeed, the nobles who hadn't secured any pressured her daily.
The letters arriving every day were proof.
Sigh—
Lua let out a short sigh and set down her fork.
Thinking of the nobles had ruined her appetite.
"I'm not hungry today. I'll get going first."
As Lua tried to stand.
Slide—
Suddenly, Garion raised his staff to stop her.
"...Elder?"
Lua's puzzled gaze turned to Garion.
Did he have business with her?
Her contemplative stare lingered on him briefly.
Soon, Garion began to speak in a slightly trembling voice.
"By the way, you see..."
"Yes."
"Do you perhaps have any spare magic devices in your lab?"
Lua had to look at the elder in bewilderment at his question.
"Do magic devices even have spares...?"
An absurd question.
Magic stones for them weren't cheap; how could spares pile up?
Yet Garion continued confidently toward her.
"You work on so many magic devices. So, surely one or two must be left over."
Faced with his brazen attitude, Lua couldn't help wondering if she had any spares in the lab.
Hmm—
As useless thoughts swirled in her head, she recalled a magic device tucked in a corner of the lab.
"Come to think of it, there's one that produces water when turned."
"No, not that kind..."
"..."
"I'm talking about that special one for conversing over long distances or exchanging letters."
Lua mentioned spares, but Elder Garion's response wasn't positive.
Moreover, as he sought spares, picky conditions poured from his mouth.
Slide—
Lua shot him a sharp glance.
"Well, I'm not asking for free, of course. But if you happen to have a spare 'Polaris 2,' I could buy it on the spot, right?"
"...Elder."
Only then did Lua understand Garion's true intent.
So that's what he was getting at—skipping the line for some stock.
Hard to believe from the same man who just told her to take it easy.
Sigh—
Lua let out a short sigh and lifted her head.
"...I'll set aside a few separately."
"As expected of you! I've always said you're the future of our tower..."
Elder Garion's praise didn't last long.
Lua cut him off directly.
"Don't do this again next time."
"Y-yeah, got it—"
Their conversation ended there.
Tin-can Archmage Lua Polaris's gaze lifted to the tower's ceiling.
The Blue Tower was far too vast and complex.
Ever since Archmage Johan descended to the mortal world, maybe it would be better to demolish it and build a dessert tower instead.
Such a thought crossed her mind.
* * * * *
The empire's northern borderlands.
In the federation's territory bordering a massive mountain range, two barbarians cloaked in mantles were on the move.
The savage warrior Woki, with a hefty axe slung over his shoulder.
And the grand shaman Korkia, stepping in Woki's shadow.
Each of the two barbarians crossing the borderlands carried a large sack.
"Once we cross that rock, we're in imperial territory, Korkia."
Woki, advancing with his sack, soon eyed the grotesquely carved rock and spoke.
A sharp rock hewn by imperial knights.
A mark no federation warrior could miss.
It meant imperial border patrols roamed frequently from there on.
Crossing it meant clashing with imperial soldiers at any moment wouldn't be strange.
"Kekeke— I know that even without you telling me."
"You know, yet you're still crossing? This beast hide won't even hide our identities properly."
No matter how valiant a warrior Woki was, he couldn't breach the imperial border alone.
Thus, he warned Korkia.
But the shaman Korkia didn't halt her steps despite Woki's concern.
She surely wasn't relying merely on the beast hides covering them—
Gazing down at Woki's dissatisfied face, Korkia pointed to the pouch at her waist.
"Would this old one recklessly cross the border trusting merely that beast hide?"
Her face brimmed with confidence as she spoke.
She wasn't crossing thoughtlessly.
"Then..."
"Use your head, young warrior. Do you think this body is called the greatest shaman for nothing?"
Plunge—
Korkia's finger delved into the massive sack.
Woki's gaze quietly watched her.
Slide—
Soon, she withdrew the finger she had plunged into the sack.
"It reeks. Did you bring blood in the sack?"
Woki spoke, eyeing the grand shaman's fingertip.
At Korkia's fingertip.
A thick red droplet of blood trickled down.
"Deer blood."
"Deer blood... You've brought some bizarre stuff."
Deer blood—
The red liquid on Korkia's finger was none other than beast blood.
"From now on, the beast's scent will mask our own."
"..."
"And the flow of great nature will mask our faces."
Slide—
Korkia's finger traced a line on Woki's mantle.
A vivid red streak spread across the mantle made from untanned beast fur.
"What are you doing...!"
Woki's face twisted instantly as his cherished mantle was stained with blood.
But Korkia's actions didn't stop there.
Plunge—
Her finger drew a clear line across Woki's contorted face.
"What the hell is this, you damn old hag—!"
"Foolish warrior. I have shielded you with the earth's energy and protected our fates with the energy of life."
"..."
"Fear not. Unless one wields spirit power, discerning the flow of great nature won't be easy."
Woki, glaring at Korkia, shut his mouth.
The old woman's pupils, seasoned by years, held an eerie chill Woki faced for the first time.
A bizarre aura unlike any human's.
Her chilling voice, laden with that aura, resounded.
"As if those stupid elf ears would be lingering around here."
Kekekeke—
Grand Shaman Korkia's laughter echoed clearly.
The cold northern sunlight illuminated the barbarians.