Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: An Unlikely Alliance
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-Breaking news. A magic attack has occurred at the Royal Palace, resulting in the deaths of 23 2nd-Circle mages, 9 3rd-Circle mages, and 34 civilians. Among the victims was Hirisi, the 12-year-old grandson of Wilderness Magic Tower Master Hirkhus, sending shockwaves through the public. According to the City Police Department, the suspect in this magic attack is likely the Ranker Ixion, who reportedly fled immediately after the indiscriminate massacre. The following is CCTV footage released by the Royal Palace management team.
As soon as the anchor finished speaking, high-definition recorded footage played vividly on the hologram TV screen.
-Help….
-Please don't! I'm….
-Aaaargh!
Isabelle bit her nails, her bloodshot eyes fixed on the scene of the massacre.
She didn't know why Ixion had appeared at the scene, but she knew one thing.
Lee Si-woo was involved in this absurd act of terrorism.
And once again, she realized.
That man was a complete lunatic.
‘Sixty-six people died in broad daylight. What’s even crazier is that they were all family members of powerful local figures. But the most ridiculous part… compared to the death of Hirkhus’s grandson, it wouldn’t have mattered if a hundred of those other nobodies died. Lee Si-woo, you crazy son of a bitch… Him… You should never have touched that child.’
There's a line for everything.
But the act of terror Lee Si-woo had just committed had crossed that line by a mile.
At this rate, a truce would be impossible, not even if he offered up a king's ransom in elemental stones.
Hirkhus, having lost his own flesh and blood, would only want ruin.
“Are you watching the video?”
Startled by the monotone voice coming from behind her, Isabelle whipped around.
Seeing Lee Si-woo standing behind her without a sound, Isabelle immediately grabbed him by the collar.
“Lee Si-woo! You crazy son of a bitch!”
Lee Si-woo carefully pried Isabelle's fingers off his collar one by one and said,
“Are you worried? That we won’t be able to secure a truce later?”
“…You knew that and still caused this mess?”
“Actually, I was set up too.”
“What?”
“It’s true that I brainwashed Ixion through certain means to use him as a disposable pawn. But I only wanted him to cause enough terror to provoke the Wilderness Magic Tower’s anger. I never wanted him to kill Hirkhus’s grandson. I, too… wanted a truce at the right time, just like you, Lady Isabelle.”
It was a lie.
Even if things had gone smoothly with Badu, he had intended to escalate the war by assassinating Hirisi midway through.
Because what he wanted wasn't a truce, but an end to the war.
“You piece of shit… you bastard! How can you even say that! Didn't you see the news?! What are we going to do about this now?!”
“What do you mean? We just have to win.”
Unable to hold back any longer, Isabelle shrieked.
“What are you talking about, you lunatic!”
“I don’t know how Ixion broke my brainwashing and betrayed me. Perhaps his spirit, prepared for death, created a miracle, or maybe my brainwashing was a bit clumsy. Well, seeing as Elder Allen doesn’t know about this yet, it doesn’t matter either way. Because I’ve already… taken care of Ixion.”
Isabelle flinched at Lee Si-woo's cold declaration that he had dealt with Ixion. The chilling ruthlessness of the man struck her anew.
After catching his breath, Lee Si-woo continued.
“Nevertheless. I admit it. Both the process and the outcome were clearly my fault. But the situation isn’t all bad, Lady Isabelle. Our forces aren’t exactly outmatched, are they? Even if the two Magic Towers were to join forces.”
“That may be true, but… what are you going to do after you lure Allen into a trap and kill him? You know, right? Losing a 5th-Circle mage is an unbelievable loss.”
“Allen can die. I’ll bring reinforcements. And a powerhouse at that, someone who makes the likes of Allen look like a novice.”
He wouldn't even have to bring him.
His master, Autoreu, would never stand by while his home, the Magic Tower, was under attack.
In fact, with Autoreu’s mere presence, this war was impossible to lose.
As long as Autoreu, a 6th-Circle mage, was on their side, victory was theirs, even if the Wilderness and Old Tree Magic Towers joined forces.
The only downside was that Autoreu was a passive card, not an active one, meaning he could only be used as a defensive measure, not an offensive one.
‘As long as we have Kenyon, the ultimate spear, and Autoreu, the ultimate shield, this war… is impossible to lose.’
And through the process of ending the war, Lee Si-woo planned to elevate his own standing to rival Allen's.
Yes, even higher than Isabelle's, if possible.
“Such a powerful person… exists? Where?”
Lee Si-woo smirked and said,
“Lady Isabelle. Don't forget who is behind us. With his power, a war like this is nothing more than child's play.”
Just as the two words 'Faceless Lord' surfaced in Isabelle’s mind, Lee Si-woo's phone rang.
Lee Si-woo checked his smartphone and said,
“It’s Badu. Now, Lady Isabelle, you'd better brace yourself. From this moment on… we’re walking into the tiger’s den.”
***
Arriving at the bar where he had met Badu before, Lee Si-woo and Isabelle found that, unlike last time, the place was packed with customers.
Isabelle swallowed nervously at the sea of orange robes filling every remaining seat in the bar.
It seemed as though every 4th-Circle mage from the Wilderness Magic Tower was gathered here.
Lee Si-woo’s gaze, however, was focused not on the 4th-Circle mages, but on the bar counter.
A dwarf who looked inexplicably anxious—Badu—and an elderly goat-man silently downing his drink were sitting there.
Lee Si-woo recognized the elderly goat-man at once.
He had seen his face during the process of deciding his placement after the selection tournament.
‘Wilderness Magic Tower Master Hirkhus. He came in person, just as I expected.’
After all, how could he stay cooped up in his room when his grandson had been killed?
He had every reason to flip the entire board.
As Lee Si-woo and Isabelle sat at the bar, Badu began to speak.
“You two, about what you said before….”
Hirkhus cut Badu off.
“Sloppy.”
Lee Si-woo asked in a calm tone,
“What part of it?”
“It’s not Kenyon’s style. It’s not precise; it’s impulsive. If it were him, if he truly wanted war… he wouldn’t have used such a petty method as targeting my grandson.”
“What method do you think Lord Kenyon would have used?”
“He would have struck immediately. So fiercely you couldn’t even breathe. He would have led all his elite mages, stormed our tower, and come for my head first. Because that’s the most certain way.”
“But he can’t do that. Because of the Old Tree Magic Tower.”
“Correct. After Kenyon reached the 6th Circle, our tower formed a secret alliance with the Old Tree Magic Tower. That tipped the scales in our favor. No matter how strong Kenyon is, it’s impossible for him to face the combined forces of two Magic Towers alone.”
“I see.”
Hirkhus continued with a dry laugh.
“That’s what people think. But the reality is completely different.”
Reading an unusual nuance in Hirkhus’s voice, Lee Si-woo fell silent.
He judged that this was a time to listen, not to speak.
Hirkhus glared at Lee Si-woo and Isabelle, his eyes gleaming with killing intent.
“Your mistake was not knowing our private circumstances. You fools. A war between the three great Magic Towers can never happen. Do you know why? Because the Senior Magic Tower has already won.”
“…Don’t tell me, even with the two towers combined, you can’t do anything to Tower Master Kenyon?”
A strange light flickered in Hirkhus’s eyes.
“A perceptive one. Cunning as a snake, clever as a fox. That’s right. From the moment Kenyon reached the 6th Circle, the Wilderness and Old Tree Magic Towers became powerless against the Senior Magic Tower, even when combined. A 6th-Circle mage… is just that kind of being.”
“They say the gap between Circles widens as you go up, so I imagine the 6th Circle is even more extreme?”
“It’s on a different level. Yes, a completely different level. That’s why I said you made a mistake. Why would Kenyon start a war he’s already won, and why would Allen, who has already been designated the successor, start a war? So, if there’s anyone with a motive, it’s only one person. The troublesome brat, Isabelle.”
Under Hirkhus’s sinister gaze, Isabelle’s shoulders trembled like a deer caught in a snare.
But Lee Si-woo showed not a single flicker of emotion.
Hirkhus was impressed by Lee Si-woo's calm demeanor, as serene as the surface of still water.
‘He really is something else. To be this calm in this situation? Heh heh… I made a big mistake. On the day the selection tournament ended, I should have done whatever it took to make him mine. If I had… perhaps poor Hirisi wouldn’t have died….’
Was it because the death of his beloved grandson, Hirisi, came to mind?
Hirkhus’s breathing grew heavier.
Noticing the killing intent emanating from him growing thicker, Lee Si-woo said with a blank face,
“You’re mistaken.”
“…About what?”
“The part about Lady Isabelle having a motive, and Allen having none.”
“Why is that?”
“Because the person designated as the successor isn’t Allen.”
“Hahaha, what magnificent bullshit. If not Allen, then who is the successor? That brat of a girl? Or you?”
As Hirkhus’s index finger pointed at him, Lee Si-woo promptly nodded.
“Yes. It’s me. And that’s why Allen wants to start a war. He needs to kill me secretly during the war so he can become the successor.”
It was utter nonsense, but on the other hand, it sounded plausible.
Lee Si-woo's growth rate and momentum were indeed extraordinary.
At this point, short of entering Allen’s mind itself, there was no way to know his true intentions.
“What… did you say?”
“A once-in-a-generation talent who reached 3rd-Circle Expert in less than a few months after joining the Magic Tower. A prodigy who not only consumed an elemental stone but also defeated the Ranker Ixion to enter the rankings. A talent so great that the Master of the Wilderness Magic Tower would regret and lament having missed him.”
Lee Si-woo was lavishing himself with praise, but the strange thing was that no one could refute his words.
Because, except for the last statement, it was all fact.
“…I regretted and lamented missing you?”
“My apologies if that’s not the case. But well, I don’t think it would be anything to be ashamed of even if you did, Tower Master. Why wouldn’t you? I am, after all, the son-in-law officially recognized by the 6th-Circle mage Kenyon. It’s not shameful to covet your rival’s brilliant son-in-law, is it?”
“Hahaha… This one’s a real piece of work. So? Are you claiming that Kenyon has appointed you as his successor? A mere human like you, not Isabelle or Allen?”
When Hirkhus pointed out Lee Si-woo's greatest weakness—his race—Lee Si-woo replied calmly.
“Blood is thicker than water. A daughter’s son-in-law is better than a complete stranger. It’s not as if Allen and Lady Isabelle can get married, is it?”
“True. That’s impossible. They’re sworn enemies. But… even so, why would Allen do something so stupid….”
“He would. Because that’s what greed and ambition are. And… you’re talking with us because you have a sliver of doubt yourself, aren’t you, Lord Hirkhus? If you were certain, you might have spared Lady Isabelle, but you would have struck me dead on sight. The fact that you didn’t….”
Lee Si-woo twisted the corner of his mouth into a smirk.
“...means you can’t understand and are suspicious as to why Ixion, Allen’s man, came all the way here to commit such a heinous act.”
“……”
He was right. That was the very part he couldn't understand.
According to their investigation, the one who hired Ixion was Allen.
The story of his subsequent defeat by Lee Si-woo and disappearance was famous even in Granada.
And yet, that same man had suddenly appeared here and committed an act of terror.
Why would he do that? Could it have been on Allen's orders?
Or could Ixion have been recruited by Isabelle’s side? No, that was too much of a stretch.
The grudge between him and Lee Si-woo made it unlikely for Ixion to join them.
In the end, it was a confusing situation.
“Your suspicions must have been directed at us. That would be more logical. But the circumstantial evidence points to Allen, so you must have been confused. But… how about now? I think by now, some of that suspicion has shifted toward Allen.”
“…Before that, let me ask one thing. Why did you contact us? I doubt you came to warn us about the war out of pure goodwill.”
Between Lee Si-woo's narrowed eyes, his black-pearl-like pupils glinted sinisterly.
“Allen’s death.”
Hirkhus let out a light snort and clicked his tongue, then straightened his posture.
“Fine. To be honest, I still don’t trust you, but it seems I should at least hear you out. Very… seriously.”