Chapter 120: Half (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 120: Half (2)
Parkline Argulus, the Master of the Red Magic Tower, was generally indifferent to rumors.
He found far more joy in exploring the ancient past than in entertaining idle gossip. However, that didn't mean rumors didn't reach his ears.
Specifically, one particular rumor had been persistently buzzing around him: "Marquis Palatio and Penia Kraysinne are in a serious relationship, officially recognized even by the Blue Tower Master!"
Given Parkline’s personality, he wouldn't have cared even if the rumor was heard daily or proven to be true. But recently, he had found himself paying close attention to the talk surrounding the Marquis and Penia—rumors he would normally have ignored.
The reason was—
"Hmm-hmm~♪"
—none other than Selaim Mikardo.
"You seem to be in high spirits."
"Do I? Well, if you say so, I suppose I must be."
Selaim was practically radiating joy with his entire body. Parkline knew exactly when this upbeat mood had started.
It was right after the rumors about Marquis Palatio broke out.
Ever since then, whenever they crossed paths before a lecture, Selaim would have a wide grin on his face, humming to himself. Sometimes, he even wiggled his hips in excitement, seemingly having tossed his dignity as a Tower Master out the window.
Parkline didn't know the exact reason for this behavior, but he could make an educated guess.
Selaim Mikardo might seem like a difficult man at first glance, but he was actually quite easy to read. Only one thing determined his mood: magic.
He was happy when a magical problem was solved, and he was miserable when magic didn't go his way. Other events? Selaim rarely showed much emotion regarding anything outside of magic. Whether the Magic Tower was demolished overnight or the Vice Tower Master of the Blue Magic Tower came charging at him in a murderous rage, he remained largely unfazed—unless his magic was being insulted.
Knowing that Selaim had recently been searching for clues to ascend from the 8th Tier to the 9th Tier, it was easy for Parkline to deduce the cause of his excitement.
He must have found a clue to the 9th Tier.
And there was a high probability that the clue was Marquis Palatio. Parkline had three reasons for this assumption.
First, Selaim was a man obsessed with magic, devoid of political or personal ambition. He wouldn't be this giddy just because Penia was dating a Marquis.
Second was the attitude Selaim had recently shown toward Marquis Palatio.
He’s treating him like a high-ranking superior.
Finally, when he combined the contents of the letter he had translated for Selaim recently with the fact that Marquis Palatio used Primitive Magic, the conclusion was simple.
Marquis Palatio held the key for Selaim Mikardo to reach the 9th Tier.
Taking it a step further, Parkline even wondered if the Marquis was the very Magus mentioned in that parchment. Seeing how Selaim, who was usually incredibly possessive of his research, acted so gleeful yet tried so hard to hide the secret whenever the Marquis was mentioned, Parkline’s suspicion turned into a conviction.
There was definitely something about Marquis Palatio.
That was why Parkline was now paying attention to the rumors. Naturally, he was also interested in reaching the 9th Tier. No, "interested" was an understatement; he was profoundly invested.
Every Tower Master harbored a burning desire to reach the 9th Tier. After all, they had reached their current positions by combining their innate genius with that very curiosity and ambition.
And so.
"……Master of the Red Tower."
"It’s been a while."
Parkline had come to see Alon faster than anyone else to stake his claim. Whatever the Marquis was hiding, establishing a connection now would surely pay off later.
"That coat looks a bit warm for the weather."
"……This coat?"
"Yes."
"……Well, it is quite chilly lately."
"It means it’s hot when it’s hot and cold when it’s cold. Anyway—I’d like to give you a gift. Will you accept it?"
"……A gift?"
Parkline naturally pulled an ink-black coat from his robes. It was similar to the one Alon usually wore, but the edges were decorated with black fur.
"It’s an artifact coat I crafted myself. It’s enchanted with subspace magic, and the coat itself alters the surrounding mana arrays to match your magical properties, making it easier to cast spells."
"……It seems like a very fine coat."
"Indeed. It also has a built-in artifact that maintains a constant internal temperature, though its effect is modest. What do you think?"
"It is a wonderful coat, but…… why are you giving this to me so suddenly?"
Even in the face of such a gift, the Marquis remained expressionless. Parkline let out a boisterous laugh.
"Well, my daughter has received your help quite often. Consider it a token of my gratitude."
"……In that case, I shall accept it gratefully."
"Good. If you need anything else, just let me know."
"Thank you for your consideration."
"Of course. Rian asked me to send her regards as well."
The coat was expensive, but for a Tower Master, it wasn't something he couldn't make more of. It only cost him his own labor. In other words, it was a cost-effective way for Parkline to win Alon over.
At that moment.
"Wait, what do you think you're doing?"
"?"
"?"
Selaim Mikardo, who had vanished as soon as his lecture ended, suddenly appeared. He looked visibly anxious.
"Marquis, did this man say anything about introducing you to his daughter?"
"Huh?"
"If he did, don't even consider it. Penia is the right choice."
He blurted out the words in a rush, his mind clearly not keeping up with his desperation. Parkline let out a stunned, incredulous laugh.
As a bonus, he had just received even stronger confirmation.
……There really is something about the Marquis!
He knew Selaim wasn't saying that out of concern for Penia. While Parkline felt a strange sense of satisfaction from having his suspicions confirmed, he still issued a warning.
"Watch your tongue, Selaim. I might just snap your neck."
The clue to the 9th Tier was incredibly precious to him, but he had no intention of sending his precious daughter to this gloomy man, even if he were to be cast into the depths of a volcanic pit.
Regardless of his feelings, however...
"Marquis, I have something much better for you. This is a potion I obtained specifically for you—"
"Marquis, now that I think about it, there was something else I forgot to give you."
With Selaim leading the charge, a bizarre competition had begun.
* * *
For the past few days, Alon had been incredibly busy.
More specifically, his nights—the time he usually spent meeting Heinkel—were packed. The reason was a unique event near the Central Tower that allowed one to permanently increase their mana.
In the game, it was a simple event where you solved basic magical diagrams; as long as your intelligence stat was above a certain level, you could gain mana just by clicking. However, when Alon actually went to the Labyrinth of the Lake to perform it, he was taken aback by the difficulty.
To be more precise, the magic involved was basic, but the task was essentially solving complex puzzles within the labyrinth.
Because of this, Alon had spent over four days heading to the labyrinth every night to solve puzzles without even looking for Heinkel. During the day, he wandered the Magic Tower, sketching the puzzles in a notebook and pondering how to solve them.
……Of course, under normal circumstances, he would have wanted to deal with the rumors spread by Penia’s recent outburst first, but unfortunately, that was impossible.
The reason, ironically, was Penia herself.
She had been clinging to him as if she’d eaten something wrong, but lately, she was nowhere to be seen. In fact, the last time he’d spotted her from a distance, she had let out a bizarre scream—"Ugyaaaaah!"—and leaped out of a window on the 18th floor, shattering the glass.
So, Alon decided to focus on the puzzles until the Magic Society ended.
……At least, that was the plan until this happened.
"……"
Alon looked ahead.
Before him, two Tower Masters were stacking gifts on top of his books like they were performing a circus act. He couldn't even see what was in front of him anymore.
I don't mind the gifts, but……
He blankly looked up at the mountain of presents that had grown to be as tall as he was. Every single one of them was high-quality. The coat Parkline had given him first was actually a very attractive artifact.
That should have been a good thing, but...
"Marquis! Look at this! This is—"
"Marquis! This artifact is—!"
……For some reason, Alon suddenly felt a craving for a sweet potato.
* * *
A vast number of nobles had gathered for the ball hosted by the Comallon Ducal House.
They were huddled in a lavishly decorated drawing room, exchanging conversation. Among them was Duke Edgar, the leader of the Noble Faction and arguably the most powerful man in the current Ashtalon Kingdom.
"Duke Comallon, it has been a while."
"It has indeed, Duke Edgar."
He exchanged greetings with the host of the ball, Duke Comallon.
"I feel this every time I see you, but you truly never seem to age. You look exactly as you did years ago."
"That is a kind compliment."
"Compliment? I say it because I truly believe it."
As the leader of a faction, Edgar was a man whose words were often a blend of truth and lies, but at this moment, he was being entirely sincere. The Duke’s face was that of a young man, seemingly untouched by time.
To Duke Edgar’s eyes, Duke Comallon looked no different now than he did ten years ago. Unlike Edgar, whose wrinkles had multiplied, Duke Comallon still maintained the youth of a man in his mid-twenties.
What kind of trick is he using? Just as Duke Edgar was pondering this...
"Duke Edgar."
"Yes?"
"First of all, I would like to thank you for gathering here today."
Duke Comallon suddenly offered a formal bow.
"Hmm……? Well, is there a need for such thanks?"
"No, I am truly grateful."
"Why?"
Duke Edgar replied, sounding puzzled.
For nobles, the number of attendees at a ball was a measure of their authority, so expressing gratitude wasn't unusual. A polite formality was one thing.
However, repeating it like this was strange.
Just as a faint suspicion began to take root, Duke Edgar noticed something.
He saw the position of Duke Comallon’s hands.
The Duke had pressed his index and middle fingers together to form a seal. As Edgar tilted his head in confusion...
"Because—thanks to all of you gathering like this, you've saved me a great deal of trouble."
"……What?"
Edgar frowned instinctively at the following words.
In the next moment.
"Angst."
The moment the Duke’s voice rang out.
Splat!
Duke Edgar’s head—exploded.
And he wasn't the only one.
The head of a young lady who had been smiling just a moment ago.
The knights standing guard behind their lords.
The nobles enjoying tea in a corner of the ballroom.
……The heads of every living being in the ballroom exploded.
Then.
In the center of the ballroom, now decorated with crimson blood flowers.
Snap!
Duke Comallon flicked the blood from his hair with an indifferent expression and began walking toward the ballroom doors.
"Begin."
He signaled the Dark Elves waiting in the shadows.
"Yes."
The start of the Great Cause.
……The salvation they had awaited for hundreds of years.
* * *
Two days later.
The day after Alon had completely solved the puzzles in the labyrinth.
"……An Outer God has descended?"
Alon received the news from Deus.