Chapter 49: The Magic Society (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 49: The Magic Society (2)
Penia, the Vice Tower Master of the Blue Magic Tower, was a genius, but few mages actually liked her.
There were three reasons for this.
The first was that she was incredibly rude.
The second was that she was incredibly rude.
And the third was that she was, well, incredibly rude.
Generally, mages will flock to anyone with a high Tier, regardless of their personality. To a mage, the pursuit of knowledge is far more important than a person’s character. In other words, no matter how much of a bastard someone might be, a typical mage will try to stick by their side to glean even a scrap of knowledge.
But even those mages couldn't stand to be around Penia.
She was a genius, yes, but she was also so arrogant that she was utterly unbearable.
Because of this, Penia’s presence always stirred up trouble at the Magic Society. No matter which mage she encountered, she would openly snub them unless they were at the level of a Tower Master, making conflict inevitable.
Consequently, every mage labeled her a hellion and kept their distance. Milan, a mage from the Green Magic Tower who had just been arguing with her, felt the same way.
He harbored a deep grudge against Penia.
To give an idea of the scale, his greatest ambition for the past seven years had been to suppress her with magic and force an apology out of the woman who spat insults every time they met. He had been tormented by her ever since he became a formal mage and a proper member of his tower, capable of presenting theories at the society.
That was why Milan couldn't comprehend the scene unfolding before his eyes.
"How long has it been? ...Hm, it feels like it's been over half a year."
"Y-yes, that is correct!"
"There's no need to be so stiff. I believe I told you last time that you could speak casually."
"C-casually... should I?"
"Ah, now that I think about it, I believe I told you to just do whatever makes you comfortable. Do as you wish."
"Yes, sir...!"
Milan blinked involuntarily as he watched Penia let out a sigh of relief, looking genuinely delighted that she could continue using formal speech.
‘I-is this illusion magic?’
Wondering if he had fallen under one of Penia’s vicious illusions, he even cast a Dispel spell, but the reality before him remained unchanged.
"Anyway, it’s good to see you here."
"I-I am glad to see you as well!"
The sight of the hellion Penia—who wouldn't even use formal language with anyone below a Tower Master—acting like a neighborhood puppy showing its belly was a shock to everyone.
...In fact, the shock was so great that Milan’s master, who was standing nearby, had already cast Dispel more than five times.
However, their shock didn't end there.
"...Come to think of it, did something happen?"
"Ah, that—"
"I don't mean to pry, but shouldn't mages try to get along?"
It wasn't even a stern lecture. It was just a casual remark.
Yet, upon hearing those words, Penia immediately turned around to face Milan.
"I apologize!"
She bowed.
““???””
At that moment, every mage present wore a look of utter bewilderment. The sight of that hellion—the one they thought would never utter the word 'sorry' in her life—bowing and apologizing in formal speech was far too surreal.
Even Milan, who had achieved his seven-year ambition in such a hollow fashion, couldn't react, despite receiving the apology he had dreamed of for so long.
"No... how?"
Rian, who was with Alon, was also looking back and forth between Penia and him with an expression of pure disbelief.
A short while later.
"Then, I'll see you again tomorrow."
"Y-yes...!"
As Penia nodded vigorously at the man's words before scurrying away as if fleeing, everyone’s gaze shifted toward the man.
Toward Count Palatio, the man who had not only tamed that hellion into a gentle lamb but seemed to handle her with ease.
‘...She seemed even stiffer than last time.’
As Alon watched Penia run off into the distance, he noticed something.
"?"
Realizing that Rian and the nearby mages were staring at him with their mouths agape, Alon felt a bit awkward.
‘...Did I do something wrong?’
He shifted his eyes uncomfortably, trying to read the room.
* * *
After Penia had vanished in a flash.
The mages who had been staring at Alon finally realized his identity was Count Palatio. They uttered strange exclamations of awe(?) before departing.
"...Penia is called a hellion?"
"Yes."
"That’s surprising."
Alon tilted his head as he listened to Rian’s explanation of Penia’s reputation.
‘...I knew Penia was incredibly arrogant in the game, too... but I didn't know she was called a hellion among mages. Well, it wasn't a major plot point, so I guess it makes sense it never came up.’
Considering that the protagonist wouldn't recruit Penia as an ally for several more years—and usually only after the kingdom was half-destroyed—Alon simply shrugged.
"...Actually, I’d like to ask you the same thing. How is that hellion so quiet in front of you, Count?"
Alon remained silent at Rian’s follow-up question.
Ironically, Alon himself didn't quite understand what kind of misunderstanding Penia was under to make her act that way. However, it felt awkward to simply say he didn't know. Just as he was debating how to answer—
"We're here."
He turned his gaze at the sound of Rian’s voice.
"This is..."
"It's a Layer Transfer Device."
Standing there was a structure that felt similar to the elevators he had seen in his previous world.
"So, you said you were going to the library on the 38th floor, right?"
Alon nodded as Rian recalled the request he had made before arriving at the Magic Tower.
"That's right. Can I go in now?"
"Yes, but I have some things to prepare in advance, so I don't think I can stay with you."
"You don't have to. I'm just curious about the library."
In truth, considering what he had to do in the library, it was better for Alon if Rian wasn't there. When he nodded, Rian pressed a button on the right side of the structure.
"So, Count, how exactly do you manage Penia like that?"
Just as Rian asked the question again—
Vroom—!
With a loud resonance, the doors of the Layer Transfer Device, which had been tightly shut, slid open.
"..."
The light smile that had been on Rian’s face just a moment ago vanished, replaced by a look of pure disgust.
It was a sudden shift in emotion. Alon naturally turned his head toward where she was looking, and his eyes landed on a man walking out who looked like he had a grievance with the entire world.
And then.
"Oh, look who it is. Isn't it our cute little Rian?"
"...Baruc."
Rian spoke with blatant distaste at the words of the man, who wore a smile that didn't look particularly friendly.
"Did you come to see me?"
"Not a chance."
"Really? I wanted to see you. That’s a shame."
The man called Baruc chuckled and looked away from the glaring Rian, fixing his gaze intently on Alon.
"Who’s this? A face I haven't seen before."
"This is Count Palatio."
At Rian’s words, Baruc paused for a moment, scanning Alon from head to toe. He gave Alon a look that wasn't particularly pleasant—the kind a superior gives an inferior—before letting out a low exclamation as if he had just remembered.
"Ah, you're that guy, aren't you? The one who supposedly helped deal with the Outer God that appeared for the first time in centuries?"
Baruc nodded to himself with a greasy smile.
"Nice to meet you, Count Palatio. I am Baruc, a mage of the Purple Magic Tower. Well then, I'll see you around."
He gave Alon a slight nod and brushed past him.
* * *
A short while later.
‘...The son of the Purple Tower Master...’
Riding the Layer Transfer Device, Alon felt the sensation of his entire body floating as he recalled what Rian had told him.
‘...I don't think he ever appeared in the game.’
Alon didn't believe in physiognomy, but considering the man had acted exactly as his unpleasant face suggested, Alon decided to put him out of his mind. According to Rian, the man did underhanded things like stealing research results or subtly putting others down behind their backs, but he wasn't someone important to Alon.
After some time had passed.
Wooooong—!
"Oh."
The closed doors opened with a massive resonance, and Alon involuntarily let out an exclamation at the sight before him.
The space was filled with an endless sea of books. Befitting the name of a Magic Tower, the surreal space—covered in bookshelves and books from the floor to the ceiling—forced a gasp of admiration from him.
‘I need to find two things here.’
But that was only for a moment. Alon immediately began walking through the countless books.
Though he was surprised, he had been here dozens of times in the game, so he moved with confidence as if the place were familiar. However, since reality differed slightly from the game, it took a bit longer than expected.
Before long, he found a specific book.
A book with a cover that was exceptionally black compared to the others.
‘This is it.’
Feeling a sense of satisfaction behind his expressionless face, he pulled the book out and checked it. Nothing was written on the cover. It was a book of unknown origin, with neither a title nor an author, but he opened it without hesitation and confirmed that the pages were as blank as the black cover.
He began turning the blank pages one by one as if it were nothing.
When he was about a third of the way through, Alon finally found the secret compartment hidden within the book.
‘Found it.’
Inside, he found a piece of jewelry that could be worn on the fingers: a set of gauntlets.
They were ink-black fingerless gauntlets that seemed to swallow the light, much like the clothes he was wearing. Alon naturally slipped them into his pocket and returned the book to its original place.
‘That’s the first one. The second one will take more time, so I’ll just set things up before I leave.’
Feeling the texture of the gauntlets in his pocket, Alon immediately moved to prepare for the second item.
‘That’s done. As for the rest... I can come back in two days.’
He set the second hand of a massive, broken clock on the left side of the library—one that looked like it was no longer in use—to 12, regardless of the actual time. Then, he toyed with the gauntlets again.
‘I want to try them out right away.’
If his predictions were correct, these gauntlets would be a huge help in his current use of magic, and he wanted to test them immediately.
‘...Well, it’s not like today is my only chance.’
Realizing it was already late evening, he shrugged and left the library.
The next day, after he had obtained what he wanted.
The Magic Society began.
And right after the Green Mage’s presentation, during a friendly match attended by most of the mages at the society—
"I’d like to test my skills against Count Palatio, who dealt with the Outer God in the North. What do you say?"
Alon received a challenge.
It came from Baruc, the son of the Purple Tower Master, who wore a sly smile that made it obvious he was up to something.