Chapter 320
Chapter 320
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 320
Chapter Title: Ashen Mage Tower (3)
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"It's not as big a deal as I thought."
Raniel smacked her lips in pointless disappointment. The black mage Zakel didn't possess the information she'd been hoping for.
Not particularly connected to the Ashen Mage Tower, either.
It had nothing to do with Elder Krenbel Eleanor's recovery.
Of course, it was entirely unrelated to the Ashen Mage Tower.
What had been happening here didn't stray much from what Raniel had anticipated. Sacrificing captured people as offerings to amplify mana—classic black mage stuff.
It's almost too predictable...
It was almost deflating.
It felt a bit contrived for a coincidence, but she'd gone after him on a hunch from the start anyway.
"Sigh."
Raniel let out a sigh and ruffled her hair. She had the nagging feeling she'd overlooked something crucial, but she couldn't pinpoint what.
"Smack..."
She smacked her lips again and let her gaze drift. Glancing at the former black mage, Raniel recalled his final words.
「The Prophet foretold it!」
He'd said,
「One day, a figure with one eye stained black will appear—that will be the signal I've sent. Wait for that day...!」
The Prophet had sent a telepathic message.
「G-Great Lania. I beg your forgiveness for not recognizing you, but that's truly all I know!」
The Prophet.
Likely the one leading them, the central figure.
"The Prophet, huh."
Raniel muttered the words.
She'd heard the term somewhere before. Not too long ago. Digging through her memories brought up a past incident.
An event buried under a much larger one.
"Ah."
Raniel clapped her hands.
"The corrupted assistant professor."
The incident where one of Max Hart's assistant professors had defected and attacked Aphria.
The motive had seemed oddly convincing, but soon after, Skeval had overrun Aphria, completely erasing it from Raniel's memory.
Come to think of it...
That defector had mentioned a "Prophet" too. So what exactly was this Prophet? She'd tried digging deeper, but no matter how much she beat him, the answers never changed—probably nothing more to extract.
"Tch."
Raniel clicked her tongue sharply.
" spineless bunch. They spill everything under a beating anyway—why bother resisting?"
What a hassle.
She muttered as she turned, locking eyes with Kalt. He stared at her with an oddly ambiguous look, and Raniel shot out bluntly,
"What? Got something to say?"
"No, just... very on-brand for you, Senior."
Kalt replied with an awkward expression.
"Beating him half to death until he addressed you with honorifics, pounding away until he used polite speech, and keeping at it until he repeated the same answer three times..."
Beat, and beat some more.
"Impressive. Really."
"I am pretty impressive."
"Ah, yes..."
It was textbook "beat just short of killing"—her control over her strength was uncanny. As Kalt marveled in disbelief, Raniel tossed out casually, as if nothing was amiss,
"This counts as a solid interrogation, right?"
"Inter...rogation?"
This? An interrogation?
Kalt let out a hollow chuckle and countered.
"Don't you mean torture?"
"Wanna try it yourself?"
"......"
"Well."
"...No, I was thinking we should head up soon. The air's stuffy, the vibe's grim—not a place to linger."
"Oh."
Raniel smiled.
"What a coincidence. I was thinking the same."
Kalt swallowed tears inwardly.
Even after reaching superhuman heights and earning the honorable title of Guarder, his duties hadn't changed much. How could they?
The boss hasn't changed.
A mage who beat foes barehanded like a superhuman.
Good or evil? Leaning good (?), but hardly pure-hearted—a prickly, tough mage.
"Let's hurry."
Glancing at his boss's back—someone not yet thirty but already embodying old-man energy—Kalt swallowed more tears.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 2.
A few days passed.
After much deliberation, Raniel visited the Ashen Mage Tower.
There were still unknowns like the Prophet and all that, but... the Elder rising from his sickbed was cause for celebration regardless.
I wanted to see him personally, too.
Thinking about it, she'd received so much from him.
His trust, expectations, and guidance.
To Raniel, Elder Krenbel Eleanor was a benefactor and mentor figure. If Rosel was her teacher in magecraft (??), Krenbel had taught her the mindset of a Mage Tower Lord.
...A truly respectable man.
She muttered as she walked on.
The moment she stepped into the Mage Tower lobby, Raniel sensed the atmosphere had shifted greatly from her last visit.
Back then, control was just beginning, everything still in disarray...
Now it's sorted out.
A tower's mood showed in its mages' expressions, voices, and strides. To Raniel, the current Ashen Mage Tower felt orderly, stable.
"Ah, Professor Lania."
Raniel turned.
There was Resti approaching, robes of the next Mage Tower Lord fluttering. Raniel noted the other mages' looks toward her.
Last time, it was fear. Now, respect. Not the gaze for a tyrannical ruler, but for a guiding leader.
It meant Resti had fully earned the mages' recognition and was excelling as the Ashen Mage Tower's next lord.
Good for her.
Raniel felt joy at her junior—her disciple—doing so well. Her expression softened naturally. With a faint smile, she waved.
"Hey, Resti."
"Hello. I heard you were coming to see the Elder..."
"Yeah. My brother asked me to pass on a message."
No one was unaware of the Ashen Mage and Lania van Trias's connection. With her position as official heir declared, Raniel had plenty of excuses to use.
Leveraging the family name, sure...
Whatever. It was her name anyway.
Raniel doubled down shamelessly.
"I've owed the Elder so much."
"The Ashen Mage?"
"Yeah. A lot. My brother said he was like another teacher... someone he truly admired."
"Is that so?"
It was praise for the Elder, but Resti beamed as if it were for her.
"I'll show you in."
Raniel silently eyed Resti's back as she led the way. Resti usually came off as calm and cool-headed, but now...
Still a kid.
She radiated childlike energy.
Her joy was unmistakable in her buoyant steps. Light-footed and excited, her purple hair swayed, lips curved in a smile.
Her emotions overflowed uncontrollably.
Fair enough.
He was like a mentor to Raniel, but to the girl, just the Elder. Raniel imagined if her own master Rosel endured the same, rising after long years bedridden.
...Wouldn't be much different for me.
I'd be thrilled, childish even.
Itching to spill every story. Resti seemed the same, lips twitching nonstop. Raniel smiled faintly at the sight.
Good thing.
She'd get rewarded for her efforts.
After all, Resti had run this hard to show the Elder.
Before long, they'd reached the Elder's office.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Now that the Elder had been conscious for a while, every day was joyful for Resti. It felt like recompense for all her hardships.
「Such things happened, did they?」
「Must've been tough. You took a lot of flak.」
「Well done, Resti.」
Each tale brought his kind smile. Sometimes wide-eyed surprise, sometimes a head pat with "good job." Resti loved that touch.
「You've grown so much while I was away.」
「Hate the pats? Tell me if you do. You're so different from my memories—hard to adjust.」
Whenever he sheepishly withdrew, Resti shook her head vigorously. How could she hate it? She'd waited years for this.
Every day was bliss.
Her efforts, the days scorned by elders, the unyielding persistence—all rewarded. Her smile never faded. Maybe this was her true self.
Bright, energetic, chatty.
Recalling the nature she'd long suppressed, Resti called out in high spirits.
"Elder! You have a visitor!"
A response came from within.
Permission granted. Resti opened the door, entering with Lania.
"This is Professor Lania from Aphria Academy, my teacher."
She gestured to Lania beside her and continued.
"She's also the official heir who inherited the Ashen Mage Raniel van Trias's magecraft—Lania van Trias."
"Oh," the Elder exclaimed briefly.
"What an esteemed guest."
He started to rise but groaned, leaning back.
"Resti told me. You taught her in my stead? Thank you."
He smiled, extending a hand to Lania.
Lania bowed slightly and grasped it. In that instant, she flinched.
"What's wrong?"
"...Nothing."
Lania shook her head and spoke.
"I've heard much about you from the Ashen Mage. I'm Lania van Trias. Greetings, Elder of the Ashen Tower."
"Resti boasted about the great mage named by that ancient dragon. I've heard plenty about you too."
The Elder nodded with a benevolent smile.
"Raniel raised you well. Even in retirement, he's the Ashen Tower's pride."
"Thank you."
"Taking your teacher's praise as your own? Such a polite young lady."
As the Elder chuckled heartily, Lania bowed again. When she lifted her head, she wasn't looking at him.
"......"
Her gaze fixed silently on Resti—complicated, conflicted. She leaned in, whispering to Resti,
"See it?"
"Pardon?"
Resti blinked.
Lania asked again.
"Do you see it?"
Her whisper differed from her usual soft tone or lecturing stiffness. It was chilling.
"See what..."
"...Never mind."
Lania trailed off.
Perplexed, Resti glanced at her—and noticed her bitten lip.
"Resti."
Lania called eventually.
Resti nodded slowly.
"Yes?"
"I need a private word with the Elder. Mind stepping out?"
"Ah, sure. Whatever suits you..."
Lania smiled her thanks.
Resti blinked, then hurried out. Just before closing the door, she glanced back at Lania.
...Gloves?
Her hands had been bare moments ago. Now gloved, Lania tugged them taut and approached the Elder. Resti felt an inexplicable unease.
Thud.
A heavy sound echoed.
The door stayed shut.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 3.
"Elder."
I opened my mouth.
My voice trembled faintly—no surprise. My heart pounded wildly.
"I have one request."
"Hm? Speak freely. As Resti's benefactor, I'd gladly oblige."
The Elder smiled warmly, genuinely.
He'd try to grant whatever I asked. Knowing that, I steadied my breathing slowly.
Squeeze.
I clenched my left hand—the one from our handshake—with my right. That unmistakable pulse I couldn't ignore. I raised my hand, pressing my chest.
Thump, thump.
My heart raced fiercely.
"It's not difficult."
I balled my fist tight.
"Turn around, close your eyes, and cover your ears."
"...Suddenly?"
"Yes."
"This much is fine..."
The Elder covered his ears and shut his eyes.
Confirming he'd fully turned, I undid my overcoat. The circuit etched on my chest whirred noisily. I placed my palm on it.
Hummm.
The circuit throbbed.
It heated my body. Cold sweat trickled down my spine as I closed then opened my eyes. Green irises mingled with gray.
Vision sharpened.
The unseen became visible.
Not Resti's acuity, nor uncovering all secrets... but my eyes saw this clearly.
Throb.
I saw the Elder's heart, his back turned.
Black sludge churned within. From heart to brain, roots extended. At that, I was certain.
The Elder was cursed.
Like me—perhaps worse.
"How..."
I muttered.
"...are you still alive?"
The Elder slowly lowered his arm from his ears.
"Who knows."
Eyes still closed, but ears open—he turned to face me.
"Can't die, so I live."
He opened his eyes.
One pupil was stained black.