Chapter 115: What’s Wrong with You…? (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 115: What’s Wrong with You…? (2)
“...It seems you’re under some sort of misunderstanding.”
“Huh? About what...?”
At Milan’s bewildered question, Alon felt a headache coming on.
To be honest, he had no idea where to even begin addressing such preposterous rumors.
That Penia was in love with the Marquis of Palatio?
Or that Tower Master Selaim Mikardo had given his blessing for Penia, the Vice Tower Master, to date him?
Wait, isn't it weird for a Tower Master to be ‘giving permission’ for dating in the first place?
The thought crossed his mind, but he quickly found himself understanding the logic behind it.
Though not related by blood, Selaim Mikardo was essentially a parent to the two siblings, Penia and Pellin. It was Selaim who had taught the two orphans magic.
In other words, Selaim was in a position to interfere in Penia’s dating life... No, that wasn't the point right now.
Alon spoke up to set the record straight.
“First of all... it’s all a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?”
“Yes. Penia Kraysinne does not like me, and I have never received permission from the Blue Tower Master to date her.”
“Oh... Is that so?”
“Yes.”
Milan looked doubtful despite Alon’s firm nod.
“But I heard that the Blue Tower Master himself said so...?”
If the Blue Tower Master, of all people, said he’d given his blessing, then surely...
“There must have been some mistake that caused such a rumor to spread.”
“Is... that right?”
“Yes. I did see the Blue Tower Master recently, but we didn't discuss anything of the sort.”
There was definitely a misunderstanding somewhere.
“Hmm—well, I understand for now.”
With Milan backing down after Alon’s repeated denials, the conversation came to an end.
“Then, I’ll be going now. I have business to attend to.”
“Ah, yes. I’ll see you next time, then.”
“Right.”
They parted ways after a brief exchange of pleasantries.
“...That’s strange. I definitely heard the rumor was true—”
Alon caught the faint murmur drifting on the wind but ignored it.
“It seems that rumor is still circulating within the magic community,” Evan remarked, looking intrigued.
“So it seems... Don't groundless rumors usually die out after a while?”
“Usually, yes.”
“...I don't know why this rumor is resurfacing so strangely.”
“Well, since you’ve clarified it’s a misunderstanding, won't it start to fade away soon?”
“You’d think so, but I already explained to the nobles a long time ago that it was a mistake.”
Did Penia not bother to clarify things?
Alon found it puzzling. Given Penia Kraysinne’s personality, she should have been throwing a fit and trying to hunt down the source of the rumor the moment it started.
After a moment of thought, Alon shook his head.
It was slightly annoying, but a rumor was just a rumor. There was no way Penia wouldn't clarify it, so he would eventually be free from the gossip.
...It was just a hassle to have to go around clearing up misunderstandings.
It’s not like I can gather all the mages and make an official announcement just to debunk a silly rumor.
Just as Alon was thinking that...
“...Then, could it be that the Blue Tower Master really did something?”
“The Blue Tower Master?”
“Yes. That rumor started quite a while ago, so it’s strange that it’s flaring up again now.”
Evan proposed a hypothesis.
Alon recalled his meeting with Selaim Mikardo.
I don't think we talked about anything related to that... though I did get the feeling he was vaguely up to something.
He certainly had been wearing a suspiciously bright smile.
...I’ll have to ask him about it the next time we meet.
After mentally reviewing their conversation, Alon gave a light shrug. Honestly, meeting Heinkel was far more important to him right now.
And so.
“We’ll look into that later. For now, let’s head up.”
He quickly made his way toward his assigned room.
* * *
The library on the 38th floor of the Central Tower was usually deserted.
Or, to be more precise, it was a place mages rarely visited.
Despite being a ‘library’—a place mages who love inquiry and research should adore—there was only one reason they stayed away.
There was an alternative.
Every book here could be found in the reading room on the 20th floor, not as fragile ancient texts, but as clean copies.
In other words, the Central Tower’s library existed primarily for its historical significance as the very first library built when the tower was established.
And in this place, a woman had remained for so long that she could no longer remember the passing years.
Heinkel, known to mages as the Primordial Cup and considered their idol, quite liked this situation. Whether before or after becoming a spirit body, she had never been fond of noise.
Of course, that didn't mean she disliked people entirely.
As a sentient being with a distinct personality, there were days when she longed for company. On those days, she would wander the Magic Tower, amusing herself by watching the mages.
If she found a mage she liked, she would subtly lure them to the library to help them through direct conversation.
...In truth, it wasn't so much that she felt satisfied by helping them, but rather that she enjoyed the sense of superiority she felt when mages looked at her with worshipful eyes after she imparted her knowledge.
Anyway.
All things considered, living a leisurely life alone in an empty library, reading books, wasn't too bad.
“I greet the Primordial Cup, Heinkel.”
[...Right.]
...At least, it wasn't until a moment ago.
[‘Why on earth is this guy back again?!’]
Looking at the man bowing his head, Heinkel barely managed to swallow a scream.
The man before her was the last person she ever wanted to meet.
[...What brings you to see me?]
Heinkel forced an awkward smile.
If anyone who knew her eccentric personality saw this, they would either fall over in shock or burst into fits of laughter.
But the reason Heinkel had no choice but to be polite to the man before her was...
[‘What the hell is he that he has something like that...!’]
It was because ‘that thing’ was behind the Marquis of Palatio.
Something that must never be perceived.
Yet, at the same time, something terrifying that could never be ignored.
Of course, now that it was their second meeting—or rather, now that she could calmly assess the situation—Heinkel realized that the thing looming behind him wasn't there by the man’s own will.
Nevertheless, the fact that Heinkel had to be kind to Alon remained unchanged.
The entity behind him could erase Heinkel’s very existence at any moment without a second thought.
And she was acutely aware that the entity was interested in the man before her in some way.
“...I humbly apologize, but I have come to ask a favor.”
[...A favor?]
“Yes. To be honest, I’m having some difficulty using the item you gave me.”
You didn't ‘receive’ it, you snatched it! She wanted to snap back, but she remained smiling and replied kindly.
[Shall I take a look?]
“Thank you.”
[Is there anything else?]
“Well, if it’s possible, I would like to receive some instruction in magic. Would that be possible? I will, of course, pay the price.”
Even though Heinkel intended to be as kind as possible, she couldn't grant that request.
For Heinkel, who prioritized her own life above all else, staying in the same place as an entity that could take her life was incredibly uncomfortable.
Therefore.
[I think that might be a bit difficult.]
“...May I ask why?”
[That’s because—]
Heinkel, about to state her reason without hesitation, suddenly froze.
The eye hidden within the subspace—which only someone of Heinkel’s level could properly perceive—had been staring intently at Alon until just a moment ago.
Whirl!
It shifted its gaze and looked directly at Heinkel.
As if it were waiting to hear her next words.
[...]
“?”
Alon tilted his head slightly, looking at Heinkel, who had stopped mid-sentence with her mouth open.
However, Heinkel, perceiving the eye staring at her from within the other world without moving a muscle, broke into a cold sweat.
[...Actually, I might be able to.]
“Is that so?”
[Yes, I can do it. Yes, of course.]
“Thank you.”
[N-no—now that I think about it, it’s not that much trouble at all—]
She hurriedly changed her words.
Only then did she feel the eye within the subspace withdraw its overwhelming presence.
[‘Aaaaaaaah!!!! Why—! Why—!! Why is this happening to meeee—!’]
She felt like crying.
Meanwhile, Alon, watching her wear an awkward smile despite her internal screaming, thought to himself:
Wait, she’s a lot nicer than she was in the game...? What’s going on?
He was puzzled by how easily she had accepted his request.
Maybe something happened to her in the game to make her like that, but her original setting was ‘kind’?
After all, looking at her appearance, she could practically pass for a young girl, aside from the massive mage’s hat on her head.
Right. Someone who looks this young and delicate shouldn't be that ferocious.
Little did he know Heinkel’s true feelings. By the time he concluded that something must happen later in the timeline to change her personality, Heinkel was mentally whimpering.
[‘I want to run away, seriously...’]
Heinkel desperately hid her urge to cry and whimpered silently.
* * *
Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Central Tower.
“So, you want me to translate this?”
“That’s right.”
Two men were there.
One was Parkline Argulus, the Master of the Red Magic Tower, an 8th Tier mage with red hair and red eyes.
The other was Selaim Mikardo, who held the same rank as a Tower Master.
“Why should I?”
Parkline frowned at Selaim, who was grinning lazily.
“Because you’re the only one who can translate this kind of Ancient Language.”
“And why does that mean I have to do you a favor?”
“Because we’re friends?”
Parkline’s expression soured.
“Friends, my foot! I have no such memory!”
“But you’re here with me right now.”
“I only came because you said you’d pay for the artifact you borrowed last time!!!”
“Did I?”
“I really want to strangle you.”
Parkline clenched his fists as if his hands were itching to do just that.
Regardless, Selaim remained relaxed.
“Anyway—don't be like that, just do me this favor. It’s not even that hard for you. You even have the related artifact.”
“Tsk.”
“And this time, I’ll definitely give you the payment as promised.”
Parkline eyed him skeptically, clearly displeased.
“You’d better keep that promise.”
He turned his gaze to the parchment.
Wrooom!
A lingering scent of mana began to scatter around Parkline, and a round, eye-like artifact floated up from his pocket into the air.
It began to scan the characters on the parchment. After a long silence, Parkline finally spoke.
“...The translation is finished.”
“What does it say?” Selaim asked, his tone slightly urgent.
Parkline replied.
“‘To the half-baked Magus who did not compromise and did not forget the Phrases, I leave my remains...?’ That’s what it says. It doesn't look like it contains any great magical secrets like you were hoping for.”
Knowing that Selaim had been poking around ruins lately to find clues for reaching the 9th Tier, Parkline turned back to him with a slight smirk.
But he couldn't help but pause.
Selaim, who had been grinning until a moment ago, was now deep in thought.
“...?”
Parkline was bewildered.
In Selaim’s mind, the events that had occurred in the hollow were flashing by.
The way the Marquis of Palatio had opened the Hermit’s Hideout as if it were nothing.
The eye that had been attached to his back, evoking both fear and a thirst for knowledge.
The way the Marquis had immediately grabbed the items upon entering the hideout and then stared at the letter beneath them for about a minute.
And then.
‘To the half-baked Magus who did not compromise and did not forget the Phrases, I leave my remains...?’
Recalling Parkline’s translation of the parchment, Selaim reached a conclusion.
...The Marquis of Palatio—is a Magus?