Chapter 150
Chapter 150
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 150
>Chapter Title: Sparkle, My Eyes Were Dazzled
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A few days into living at Lortel.
We were enjoying a level of luxury beyond our wildest imaginations.
"Tower Lord, it's time for your meal."
"Mm... pass."
"Today's menu features steak infused with ground Puriring leaves, excellent for healing internal injuries, paired with a salad of Kakalak fruit airlifted from the Hamern Great Forest. I hope it suits your palate."
"Mm."
Every meal brought a parade of the finest delicacies from land and sea.
It was nothing like the extravagance we'd experienced at the Blandoga estate.
Considering my condition, each meal was tailored with foods good for internal injuries—and the pinnacle came after eating.
"Post-meal potion."
"Mm!"
This potion was said to be excellent for internal wounds too.
As for the price... well.
'Expensive, no doubt.'
I didn't even ask.
Just the one or two drops left in the bottle felt like such a waste already—if I knew the cost, I'd probably stick my tongue in to lick it clean.
"I'll take the empty bottle away."
"Mm."
I watched the servant carry off the potion vial, smacking my lips.
'Tch, there were still two drops left.'
Oh, and for the record, my responses in Lortel were all unified as "Mm."
On the night we arrived, Parun had told me as much.
Even if they were a ghost outfit, I'd been introduced as the tower's master, so I needed to carry myself with the appropriate dignity.
'...Though my dignity was already shattered beyond repair.'
Still, seeing Patriarch Mu-hard had convinced me of the need for it—no arguments there.
But why "Mm" specifically?
I'd tried mimicking dignified speech and tones over and over, but it just gave me indigestion instead.
Then Shine's advice hit home.
- Just shut your trap.
- ....
- Forget phrasing or tone— the second you open your mouth, you reek of cheapness. Somehow, even fancy words sound vulgar coming from you....
Yeah, what can you do when a natural-born noble house heir says that's just how it is.
I pointed out that Shine was just as vulgar when he spoke plainly, but it was a losing battle.
- Me? Compared to you? Ha! Look here, Professor Parun, you judge.
Ahem. Shine cleared his throat and opened his mouth.
- You despicable bastard, don't (bleep-) around—just stick to "Mm" from now on. A (bleep-) like you trying to (bleep-) is just gonna (bleep-) anyway. (Bleep-), (bleep-), (bleeeeeep-)
For the record, the (bleep-)s are my memory's self-censorship.
How does a natural-born noble house bloodline know even cruder words than me, who's rolled in the back alleys?
Too vulgar to even commit to memory.
But the real shocker was...
- So, what do you think? Professor Parun.
- Astonishing. I never knew even vulgar curses could have such class.
- See? That's class.
As Parun said, Shine's rough profanity carried a certain elegance.
'...Filthy world.'
Some sound vulgar no matter how refined their words, while others spew filth and somehow come off refined.
But what could I do?
To maintain the tower lord's dignity, I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut.
Did the servant misunderstand my gaze?
"...Shall I bring another bottle?"
He paused at the door, asking cautiously.
I replied with "Mm."
"Yes, I'll fetch one right away."
"Mm."
It was a refusal.
Oh well, if he's giving it, might as well enjoy.
Anyway, after draining the second potion the servant brought without leaving a drop, I left the dining hall.
So here I was, living a life of envy-inducing luxury—but truthfully, I had a few concerns.
First off.
"...That's the tower lord?"
"So they say."
"Yeah, that's him, huh."
The inexplicable hostility from Lortel's knights.
At first, I thought it was because of the commotion on day one, but the vibe felt too vague for that.
Look over there, for instance.
Captain Ekst, spotting me from afar and heading my way.
If it was about the intrusion, he'd be the one with the most grudge...
"Tower Lord, had your meal? I'm working on some anti-mage tactics—got time for a bit of advice?"
His voice dripped with an inexplicable friendliness.
'...Why?'
I could write off the knights' hostility, but why was this guy so chummy?
Anyway, setting aside Captain Ekst's baffling behavior, I'd realized a few things about the situation.
'For starters... most of the ones with crooked glares are regular knights.'
I rarely crossed paths with captains or vice-captains, and even when I did, they didn't show outright antagonism like that.
And another thing.
Among the regular knights staring at me, the term "Suyangrok" kept popping up.
'...Suyangrok? What's that?'
Seemed coincidental at first, but after hearing it repeatedly, it clicked.
There was some connection between the knights' subtle hostility toward me and this "Suyangrok."
Problem was, asking directly felt awkward...
"Ah, are you busy? Won't take much time. Hm, if not, just a few quick questions?"
I snapped out of my thoughts at Captain Ekst's question.
'Tch, whatever.'
Worst case, the regular knights glare all they want—I'll just get stabbed in my sleep. Lortel stabbings were familiar by now.
Sure, familiarity makes it scarier, but anyway.
"Mm."
I brushed off the clinging Captain Ekst with a refusal and kept walking. Or tried to.
Then a rough hand clamped down hard on my shoulder!
"Truly grateful! Was just needing advice from a skilled mage! Come on, let's move somewhere. I've got some ideas I want to run by you..."
No, this old man.
I said no.
"Mm, mm."
I shook my head repeatedly, but Captain Ekst was relentless.
"Ah! No need to be so modest!"
He beamed with joy and pulled me into a bear hug!
I bit my lip against the bone-crushing pain.
'Is this bastard... doing it on purpose?'
* * *
I finally escaped Captain Ekst around lunchtime.
"Tower Lord! Truly grateful! Huge help! Never met anyone as versed in grand mage tactics and defenses as you. Care to join for lunch...?"
"Busy."
I'd decided not to use "Mm" with Captain Ekst specifically as I turned down lunch and headed out.
For the record, my chat with him had been meaningful for me too.
'Grand mage tactics? Nothing special.'
Just smash 'em. Of course, that's the hard part.
But how could I ignore the pleading eyes of this vicious old sheep begging for help?
So I shared.
What?
'Decullan tactics.'
Of course, as no former mage corps member, I wasn't expert in Decullan's formations or tactics.
But I had formations, tactics, and counters I'd memorized pre-retirement for emergencies.
'Partial, but... not bad.'
He shared them and nearly fainted with joy.
Ah, of course I didn't say they were Decullan's—just "For this formation, this tactic, do it this way"—but anyway.
Why so meaningful?
Caught two rabbits at once.
'Enlightened the vicious old sheep while spreading Decullan's name far and wide.'
Two good deeds in one!
'Am I maybe Decullan's true apostle?'
Day and night thinking Decullan, mouth opens and Decullan comes out, heart forever holds Decullan.
At this rate, I deserve a medal from Decullan...
'Ah, not two rabbits—three.'
By spilling the exact method and route I'd used to infiltrate Lortel, I'd doomed any potential copycats too. One stone, three birds!
Anyway, that was why it was meaningful.
'...Still weird, though.'
Why was that vicious old sheep so friendly?
During the talk, he mentioned something like "Thanks to you, the knights can build discipline..." but it made no sense.
The unease grew.
But.
'Whatever.'
I shook off the nagging feeling and kept walking.
Part of me wanted to grab a passing regular knight and beat answers out of him, but something more urgent came first.
How long did I walk?
"Hmm, this the place?"
I'd arrived at one of Lortel's buildings.
Namely...
Magic Research Institute.
Even sword houses with one surprise people.
Why? Magic research institutes aren't for practical spell training—they're for delving into theory and research.
Unnecessary for non-mage houses, and even if wanted, too costly to maintain.
Yet sword houses pour resources into theirs.
'Even sword houses need mages... Know your enemy for a hundred victories.'
Of course, huge differences from mage houses—biggest being members.
Mage houses staff with family mages; sword houses use 100% outsiders.
'Sure, some lifelong loyalists generationally... but rare.'
Quality of research goes without saying.
'But why'd the old sheep send me to Lortel's attached institute?'
The question faded quick. Thinking about him just made me more uneasy—like I'd unknowingly committed some grave sin.
Why was I here?
'Our Professor Parun.'
Right—Parun was here.
Ah, not a job change.
Learning Infinite Chain management from the institute that maintained it.
With that, I headed to the institute to find Parun.
Guards at the door, but flashing my temporary platinum badge got me free entry.
Entering the institute, I stood in the first-floor lobby, blankly taking in the scene.
"Uh, how did you find your way here? Ah, are you... the Tower Lord?"
One of the institute's baldy mages recognized me, but I didn't answer. Couldn't.
"How... could this..."
"Tower Lord? If you're here for your companion, I can guide you..."
I flinched and backed away from the approaching baldy.
Startled by my reaction? The nameless baldy froze awkwardly too.
I glanced at the flustered baldy and resumed taking in the scenery.
"Wh-what's wrong...?"
What's wrong?
"...Are you asking because you don't know?"
"Y-yes... what's wrong?"
Rage boiled up.
You really don't know?
"...You lot lack the qualifications of mages."
"Tower Lord? What do you...?"
Was my voice too loud?
The lobby mages—no, baldies—turned their gazes to me.
Normally, even this would've been "Mm." But right now, I couldn't control my mouth.
"Why do you all have such lush hair?"
The needle-sharp question pierced the silence.
"...!"
Some gasped in shock.
"..."
Others' eyes twitched faintly.
A chill wind swept through the institute then.
Fate's prank, perhaps?
Plop.
A ball of fuzz drifting on the breeze.
No, not fuzz.
"That's..."
The mage who'd dropped it at my question gave a wry smile. As he bent to pick it up...
I saw it.
His scalp, vast as an open plain.
The front mage added right then.
"It's a wig, Tower Lord."
He removed his lid... no, wig, proving himself.
One by one, they followed—lifting their nests... no, wigs—to reveal the truth.
I had to bow my head.
"...My thinking was shortsighted."
"No, Tower Lord."
Baldy 1 smiled wryly.
"It's fine."
Baldy 2 smiled wryly too.
As every baldy in the room wryly smiled.
"Tower Lord, heard you're a great mage."
Baldy 1 eyed my head expectantly. All their gazes converged above me.
Amid countless stares, I smiled calmly.
"Appreciated."
"Yes, then..."
"Now guide me to my companion."
"...Tower Lord?"
I glanced out the window.
"Nice weather today, isn't it?"
The sunlight was blinding.
Sparkle, my eyes were dazzled.