33. The Abyss of Rowen in the Magic Tower
Yuria's special eyes allowed her to peer into the essence of her target and the deep abyss within. And so, for a brief moment in that imaginary space detached from reality, her gaze met that of Rowen's past life, Rian.
"You want to know where my master is, right? And the location of the Holy Sword as well."
"You read my mind?"
"Hehe, I won't apologize. You were going to ask me anyway."
"True enough."
In the void where nothing was visible, Yuria's bright, cheerful voice echoed within Rowen's inner world.
"Honestly, I'm worried."
"About what?"
"The way you are right now. Master Mio would be sad."
"I'm not going to look for her right this second. Once everything's over... I'll take my time. She won't stay frozen as a kid forever by then."
"I'm not talking about her appearance."
"Then what?"
"Your inner self. Your heart, scarred and wounded all over."
Yuria could feel it. Ever since entering this inner world, she'd sensed it clearly. The chains binding him were forged from his own wounds and guilt. They were meant to suppress, crush, and trample himself. It felt a little pitiful.
"Seeing you like this won't hurt Mio."
"How do you know?"
"...Above all, Mio—that girl was blinded by revenge too. That's why she traveled with me."
"I've heard that story from Master plenty of times. But I can't agree with the latter part."
"What?"
"She hates dullards~"
Yuria shook her head. Then she spoke.
"Whatever the case, you need to rest a bit. If you stay like this, I can't tell you where Master is."
"Sounds just like something Arahan would say."
"Hehe, like her, I'm worried about you too."
"...You don't have the right to worry about me yet."
"Think of it as me standing in for Master~"
"You're not Mio."
"If you think so rigidly, you won't move forward. Especially as someone who pursues magic!"
Rian shook his head. He had no intention of resting. Physical rest was one thing, but the wounds in his heart showed no sign of healing. It was precisely because of these wounds that he could keep going. He had to endure. Just to press on. To end it all with his own hands.
"You're so~ stubborn."
"I've heard that since the old days."
"Master told me the same."
Yuria gave up. She hadn't expected him to accept her persuasion easily. So she shifted her gaze, preparing to exit the inner realm.
"...Then that's all I have to say."
"...What?"
"The you outside seems almost done fighting. Besides, you refused my request—what reason do I have to stick around?"
"I..."
"Just don't forget this one thing. When it's painful and hard, you have to know how to take a break."
"...Got it."
"I'll tell you about the Holy Sword later. And about Master too... Of course, that depends on your mindset."
"...Yeah."
*
Boom!
With Rowen's strikes, the Arkanthia imperial soldiers fell one by one. The Magic Tower's mages used the magitech they'd learned from them, but Rowen's sword was faster.
"...Damn it."
Suddenly, memories flooded his mind. It was the conversation he'd had with Yuria in the inner world. It made fighting feel a bit uncomfortable.
"In the end, I got no info."
"That's what's wrong with trying to meet Master with that attitude~"
"Shut up."
"Oh my. Did you forget our inner chat already? You're totally different. Same words, but your actions... Well, your old self was better."
"...So did you get what you wanted?"
"Yes! That power—it's something I could never obtain!"
"You know it."
Rowen sheathed his Ice Blade. The transparent ice shattered into fragments, swirling around him.
"The bastards are cleaned up."
"Neat~"
"How many floors does this Magic Tower have?"
"Up to 300!"
"Fuck..."
Rowen trembled. It was only natural. To show off his power at Yuria's request—and to erase the Arkanthia scum and traces of magitech—he'd been fighting. But this was only the 10th floor. That meant he had to climb 289 more floors to reach the top at 300.
"Don't get so mad~ I didn't know it was stacked this high either!"
Her innocent laugh. Arahan's eyebrow twitched.
"Young master. This woman's clearly insane."
"Agreed. What kind of mind builds 300 floors?"
"I still don't like her."
"I don't like her either, but what can we do? She's Mio's disciple."
"I know you respect great mages, young master, but..."
"It's not respect."
Rowen quickly cut off Arahan. Respect for Mio? He didn't want to hear such a terrifying word. Her magic was worthy of respect, sure, but the person herself was an innocently infuriating girl he couldn't respect even if he tried.
"...Then what is it?"
How to explain? Companion? Moocher? As he pondered aloud...
A massive magical orb appeared before Rowen.
"Oh...?"
Yuria smiled with an amused expression. But Rowen wasn't amused at all.
"What now?"
"It feels twisted inside...!"
"Magitech?"
Then the massive orb shot toward them like an arrow. Rowen granted his Ice Shield with barrier magic. Double-layered. The enormous ice wall blocked the spell!
"Yuria Scarlet! Don't just watch—get rid of it!"
"Hehe, it's too fun to pass up..."
"I'm not having fun? Only you are!"
"No choice then~"
Yuria descended from the air, step by step. Click, clack. With each step, circular platforms formed to support her. Combined with her beautiful black dress, she looked like an enchanting queen.
...Personality aside.
Yuria gestured with her hand. A simple motion, like pulling a trigger. Invisible energy whistled past Rowen. In an instant, the massive energy ahead was sucked into a black hole and annihilated.
Even Arahan looked somewhat surprised.
"...To erase that—truly a Grand Master."
Someone stood in the direction the energy had come from. A black-haired mage. His swept-back bangs gave an intellectual air. Dressed in stiff, priest-like robes, his arm bore an artificial mana amplifier made with magitech. At the same time, the rune fragment embedded in his back flashed green.
"And who are you~?"
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Muron, Grand Mage of the Arkanthia Empire."
Rowen clicked his tongue. Grand Mage, my ass. With the real deal, Mio, still alive and kicking.
"Hmm? You? The one who taught my pretty disciples that disgusting magitech?"
"Hahaha! Don't say that. Magitech is a beautiful art! It lets even those lacking mana use magic freely."
"Because of that magitech, a thousand years ago in the so-called Forgotten Age, countless people died. You Arkanthians don't even know that basic fact?"
Muron, the Arkanthian mage who'd named himself, let out a mad cackle. He spread his arms wide and shouted.
"All talk from someone hiding in fear of his disciples' glares! Just hand over the tower and stay put."
"...What's your goal?"
Muron laughed. He pointed a finger at Rowen.
"Just hand over the Valenos bastard child, and we're good."
"And if I don't?"
"Come on, why make this hard between us?"
"What 'us' is there between you and me?"
"We're sharing the Magic Tower, aren't we?"
"I never shared it with you. You Arkanthians just barged into the North on your own."
"Haha! Such harsh words."
Yuria conjured countless stars, ready to pierce Muron's body.
"...Hah, enough chatter. Hand over the brat."
Muron charged. Yuria lightly descended, blocking Rowen's path.
"I'll handle it."
"Yuria Scarlet. Move."
She generated rune language. No need for the core against trash like this.
"Uprooting the Valenos line is my mission! When I heard the bastard son had come to this land—my limbs trembled with excitement!"
"Shut up."
"Do you know why?"
"I said shut up."
"Because I created the golem that laid Kadan low!"
"...You little shit just crossed the line."
Rowen dispelled his Ice Shield and conjured blue flames. Unquenchable cold fire. It swirled rapidly behind him, blooming like a mandala around his core. Temporary, but enough to halt Muron's charge.
"Oh? Is that the famed Valenos frost magic? Adapting opposing attributes—impressive indeed."
"Get ready to die."
"Hahaha! Such arrogance from a mere brat. 'Bastard or not, I'm Valenos'—is that it?"
"Die."
Rowen scowled at Muron's hysterics. It pissed him off. What right did he have to crow? The ones responsible for Kadan's death were laughing right in front of him.
"Rowen, hold back."
"Yuria. Don't you hold me back."
"What did I say? You need to learn restraint."
"This is exactly when you don't hold back. That bastard insulted my father. In the North, no less. If Dad were here, it'd be the death penalty."
"No need for you to step in. I'll kill him."
Yuria's icy words. But Rowen wasn't one to stop at that.
"Rest, rest, rest—you've been nagging nonstop."
"Hmm? Planning to get swallowed by rage again?"
"...I won't pull the same retarded shit as my past life."
At least.
"Not against the strong."
But this mage? Weaker than Rowen in mana quantity, quality—everything. Even soul purity. That's why he resorted to magitech...
Rage boiled in Rowen.
"Listen. Use the Forgotten Age's power, and you'll regret it."
"Forgotten Age? None of my business. We're just doing what's best for humanity! Imagine... a world free of mana discrimination for all. Paradise! Utopia! A beautiful gift from the gods!"
Rowen let the madman's ravings slide. Pointless drivel from a retard. Paradise? Utopia? God's gift?
"Bullshit."
Magitech might've started with good intentions, but to Rowen, it was an object of hatred. The trash that erased where Mio and Uba should be. The source of the golems that killed his father.
Rowen smiled at the embodiment of hate before him.
"Thanks."
"Pardon?"
"For coming out to die."
Blue flames erupted from Rowen's hands, forming a massive purgatory.
*
Rowen shoved Yuria aside and charged. At least in this moment, he didn't want to borrow her hand. The earlier energy blast had surprised him— no time to react. But now? He'd seen the attack. He could counter.
Arahan and Rowen advanced at steady speed. Rowen kicked for the head from the left; Arahan crushed the torso from the right.
Bam!
The heavy impact echoed like kicking air. Rowen and Arahan furrowed their brows.
"Where you looking? That was my afterimage."
"Petty tricks!"
But Arahan was already swinging Rosbriel. Muron activated his magitech device, erecting a powerful shield. The blade halted against the mana barrier.
Even then, Arahan smiled.
"Know what this sword is?"
"...A mysterious blade. No life force despite the mana!"
"Right? That's your future soon."
A husk drained of life, left with only mana. Arahan grinned. Rowen formed blue embers alongside, creating black-hole-like energy that began sucking in surrounding mana.
"I told you not to cross the line."
Arahan agreed. He'd overstepped. Rowen cherished family fiercely. Muron had touched that.
Before Arahan could fully stance, golden sword energy surged! Before Rowen's eyes, only dazzling golden light and creeping black spots remained. Arahan's back. There, Rowen's blue flame purgatory blazed fiercely.