Chapter 340
Chapter 340
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 340
Chapter Title: Epilogue: What the Tower of Fantasy Left Behind -1
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"One million gold coins."
"Dad's fortune?"
"Debt...! Graaaah!"
I clutched the compensation claim and howled in despair.
The price for blowing away half of the Academy, the empire's most critical facility, had come back as a debt so massive that even selling the family pillar wouldn't cover it.
===============================================================
The victims' treatments were finished, and the collapsed buildings had been partially rebuilt using the lingering power from dismantling the Tower of Fantasy. Still, there was a long way to go.
The biggest issue was the destruction of all those facilities loaded with expensive reagents.
Last time, when I threw down with the fake Mimma in Crown Hall, there was at least the excuse that evil black mages had attacked. I managed to cut costs on repairs by using the brainwashed black mages.
But this Tower of Fantasy incident that swallowed the Academy... Strictly speaking, it was black magic-related, but the one who went berserk was Yuna.
Telling the victims, "Our Yuna got caught in some evil bastard's scheme and lost control of her power for a bit. Please send the compensation claims to the mysterious 'Lamb' out there somewhere," wouldn't fly.
In the end, it was our debt to pay.
But we didn't have that kind of money. Paying it off right away would leave the entire Violet Magic Tower out on the streets. How ruthless capital could be.
In this unprecedented crisis, the Mimma family gathered together. We were about to hold a meeting on how to navigate this mess.
Yuna clenched her fist with a resolute expression brimming with duty.
"I-I'll earn it somehow."
"How?"
"M-mercenary work..."
How many lifetimes would it take to earn that much through mercenary jobs? Even the highest-ranked mercenaries couldn't pull in sums like that.
But our Magic Tower Master operated on a different scale.
"If I take a mercenary job... and wipe out a kingdom for the pay, it might cover it...!"
"Oh, Dad, that's a good one. Let's do that."
"What's coming at you? No way. We're busy fighting black mage scum as it is—making more enemies? And there are ethical issues too."
"No one's worried about whether we can actually do it...?"
Selbia floated a question mark over the grand scale, but that was our sole gain. The Tower of Fantasy had massively boosted the Mimma party's power.
I could now transform into an Armored Mega-Beast. Right now, I could grow huge with a roar and wrestle the Academy's famous dinosaur golem.
Yuri seemed to have gained some enlightenment deep within too. Her experience of entering the Null Zone with her limbs severed had apparently been a huge inspiration.
And above all, our Yuna.
"Mm. I can do it. If it's me... Yuna thinks this meeting needs to end in 30 minutes. Yuna and Yuna still need rest. Handle the annoying stuff yourself, wizard... Agh, don't pop out suddenly...!"
Her incomplete ascension had somewhat stabilized, and as an extension of that, she could now clearly perceive another version of herself—effectively gaining an extra head. It was like a permanent double projectile event.
Right now, she could really do it. Wipe out a whole nation—!
While we were high on the spec-up rush, Aisha pulled the conversation back on track.
"This isn't the time for that, right? We need to find some way to make money fast."
"......"
Her casual attitude, like it was none of her business, grated a bit. I immediately tested the waters with an idea.
"I'll do a TS and become a duo idol ruling the entire empire. By the time we finish a nationwide tour and dome concert, we'll have enough to pay off the debt."
"Duo?"
"Yeah. Me in white tones and you in black tones, a two-girl group. With a bit of skin and cuteness, conquering every man's heart on this continent wouldn't be a dream."
"...I'm absolutely not doing that?!"
"For the record, my character is the lone wolf, and yours is the cute kitty. Mixing in some yuri appeal with this setup will grab attention—"
Of course, it was a joke. This method would definitely make money, but I'm not the heartless skin as before. And now, plenty of people know my identity.
If some idol suddenly appeared and swept the continent, Roderus and Irid would figure me out in a heartbeat. For my social face, I wanted to hold off on the idol plan.
"If you're that desperate for money, Professor, I can borrow some budget from the Crimson Tower Master. Just sign this paperwork."
"I think you brought the wrong papers. That's a marriage certificate, Selbia."
"I brought the right ones."
"......"
Right after, a small skirmish broke out between Yuna trying to shred the marriage certificate and Selbia defending it. I watched and reached a conclusion. There really was only one answer.
"Do you have a plan?"
"Yeah."
We had our trusty trump card to solve problems like this.
"Yuri, prepare protective gear. Yuna, talk to Centra and prepare tribute. I'll... go meet Prince Irid."
"I chatted briefly with Analyst C about post-processing, and she said they're on high alert if the crazy wizard shows up."
"......"
I geared up with extra-thick protective equipment and went to see Irid.
===============================================================
I opened the door very carefully.
"Excuse m—..."
My words caught in my throat. On Prince Irid's desk sat a morningstar bristling with spikes.
I eyed it warily for a while before slyly pulling a letter from my pocket and placing it down.
"This is a love letter from Centra..."
"......"
Irid picked up the morningstar, slid it under the desk, and placed an iron six-sided bat instead. I got the rule.
"Th-this is a sweater Centra hand-knitted..."
"......"
"And this is an orb with Centra's healing bedside ASMR..."
"What's ASMR?"
After several tributes, the iron bat downgraded to a wooden club, then to a foam bat. Only then could I relax and sit in front of Irid. That thing wouldn't hurt even if it hit.
I greeted him warmly.
"How have you been?"
"If no one caused incidents."
"It was an unavoidable accident."
"I know. We'll cover the compensation costs."
Eh, cooler than expected.
I'd long known Second Prince Irid was shrewd, merciful, with a heart vast as the sea, but I figured he'd scold me a bit before paying up.
Irid read my look. He answered the silent question.
"Can't blame those caught in a disaster. And... right after the Tower of Fantasy collapsed, the black mages' movements shrank back a lot. What happened?"
"I put a hole in one bastard's head."
"Yeah. The world may not know, but I do. You're not the type to just take it lying down. Let's drop the compensation talk. There's a more important matter."
A more important matter.
"After this winter, the Imperial Throne Selection will begin."
I straightened up and leaned forward. This was something to hear carefully. It was the big event deciding the empire's master.
"...Wasn't that the year after next?"
"I asked Sis and Sledo to send a joint petition to His Majesty. All imperial heirs wish for the Throne Selection to be advanced."
"Why? He wouldn't move it without reason."
"I saw this as the timing to wrap it up swiftly."
Creak.
Irid stood and walked to the window. Sunlight streamed through, sparkling his golden hair. Resolve flashed in his blue eyes reflected in the glass.
"Thanks to you, all three heirs are cooperating. The throne is essentially mine. So the Throne Selection takes on new meaning."
"...Root and stem, cut it all."
"Exactly. Using the heirs' scramble as cover, consolidate all imperial power into one point, and excise every cancerous lump. Especially Duke Redburn. Time he passed the seat to his son and retired."
"You're drawing the sword."
Time to settle old grudges and purge the black mages infesting the empire. I stood, knelt on one knee, and showed respect.
"If so, Your Highness, what mission do you entrust to me?"
"Do whatever you want."
"...Pardon?"
The answer was freedom. Irid pressed his furrowed brow and spoke.
"I won't cage your pissy... no, chaotic, no, abundantly creative talents with orders. Move as you please and deliver results. I'll handle the aftermath."
"Your Highness...!"
They say people are moved by those who recognize their abilities, and it was true. Entrusting me like this filled me with joy. My chest tightened a bit.
With infinite freedom granted, I'd repay with results.
"Then, I'll sweep them appropriately. Just give me the nobles' list. Convert the neutrals to pro-imperial, crush the Redburn faction, smash the evil schemes."
"...A word of caution: don't overturn too much. Even I have limits on what I can clean up."
"Heh heh heh, I'll push it well."
"You've never failed so far, so maybe I can trust you, but I'm worried what incident you'll cause next. Making people this anxious is a talent. That's all. Get out."
Irid waved me off.
"......"
I lingered, hesitant to leave. I had one request I was debating.
Irid turned and asked.
"What?"
"...Your Highness, prospective Emperor Irid. This humble one has an earnest plea. Might your benevolence and generosity grant it?"
"...What is it? What are you asking for?"
"Th-that thing, um..."
I squeezed my eyes shut and said it.
"I-I haven't done the formal meeting with the in-laws yet. Yuna's parents think I'm trash. It pisses me off. It's childish, but I want revenge. Ideally, hype how successful I am to boost Yuna's spirits. Could you give a little push...?"
"......"
Yeah. I wanted to drop a hype house on the Yurensuto count family stage. See Yuna, now married to the emperor's closest aide with skyrocketing political status, get respect from her parents.
Beat those oblivious parents—who never knew their daughter's pain—with the glory and feats they crave.
Just throw a dopamine cider party. To heal Yuna's heart a little.
"Hmm..."
Irid pondered briefly.
"Invite all the empire's dukes, summon the Capital Knights, Defense Bureau, and Sis to accompany. Call the Magic Tower Masters too. Bring the Pope via your saint friend."
"...I'm not saying let's go demon king hunting."
Scale too huge. Gathering that many key figures would look like war to outsiders. And scary because he seemed serious—those eyes weren't joking.
His pure love for Centra made him radical for others' too. Of course, if it happened as he said, it'd be great... but!
I didn't plan to tilt the whole empire for one hype house. I calmed the crazy pure love machine Irid.
"Just... a letter would do. Something like 'we're close,' ceremonial feel..."
"That enough? When visiting the Yurensutos, let me know. Imperial carriage, 100 escorts, step out with me. Even an idiot will know you're my right-hand man."
Honestly, didn't expect this much.
His total imperial force idea was too grand to grasp, but scaled to my common sense, the emotion hit. Overwhelmed, I trembled.
"I shall serve you with lifelong loyalty...!!"
I offered a full grand bow to Emperor Irid, then crawled backward in a headstand to lick his feet. My utmost respect.
Irid freaked.
"Cut the crap and get out, you crazy wizard!"
Then I got kicked out.
===============================================================
The debt problem was solved. Now, just honestly and diligently finish the repairs. Fixing the fantasized students was no trouble at all. My ruthless computational power could handle it easily.
But one problem arose—
That bastard in black robes, arrogantly lounging on the throne. He was the issue.
"You've arrived, wizard. Keeping this seat waiting so long—prepared to pay the price? Or... entertain me with that silver tongue?"
"...Enbus?"
"Speak not that name. From the moment I ascended to the heavens, I shed worldly titles. I am the Heavenly Demon Namgung Cheonghwi."
"......"
The Tower of Fantasy slowly expanded its domain bit by bit, and someone had to resist. Enbus stepped up.
He figured his own deification, being domain-occupying, might push back the tower.
Within the Fantasy Realm's influence blurring illusion and reality, the moment Enbus unleashed his deification Emperor Sword Form.
Part of that infinite trajectory, filling the area with info, materialized—and what materialized was the Heavenly Demon's martial principle, so...
"Strength... is this lonely."
The Heavenly Demon attribute partially dwelled in Enbus, and the kid lost his marbles.
"Yuri, get the bat."
"Yes."
I grabbed the tools first.