Chapter 276
Chapter 276
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 276
>Chapter Title: For a New Spring
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A few days after Evelin officially entered the tower, a representative arrived from the Kalia Mercenary Corps.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Contrata, the vice-captain of the Kalia Mercenary Corps.”
“Vice-captain?”
“Yes, I’ve heard the story. You saved our captain, right? As vice-captain of the mercenaries, and personally, I’m truly grateful.”
I met Contrata in Svetlana’s office. Apparently, he’d been the leader of the rescue team.
He’d received word on the way to the battlefield and rushed back.
That explained why Contrata’s face still bore the weariness of travel. Before we could exchange more pleasantries, he got straight to the point.
“Here’s the land deed as promised. Please take a look.”
I stared blankly at the documents he offered, then glanced to my left.
“I’ll handle it.”
Good.
I nodded approvingly at Evelin, faithfully fulfilling her role as chief financial officer.
After that, there wasn’t much for me to do.
Evelin verified the deed’s authenticity, the legitimacy of the transfer, and all the other details.
Once the main discussion wrapped up:
“Let’s call it a day for now. It’ll take a few more days—does that work with your schedule?”
“Yes, Duke. I’ve cleared it.”
“Alright, then. We’ll meet again after breakfast tomorrow.”
Contrata bowed politely and withdrew.
“Tower Lord, thank you once again.”
His impeccable manners were a model for all tower members.
I watched him go for a moment, then turned to Evelin.
“A lot to check?”
“Yes, understandably. It’s not a simple cash transaction, so there’s plenty to consider, and we can’t inspect the land in person right away, so the paperwork needs extra scrutiny. Still, the location looks decent on the map.”
“Decent?”
“Yes. It’s a reasonable distance from the Arafurgin Mountains—not too far. And if you look here on the map…”
She launched into a detailed explanation, but honestly, I only followed about half of it.
Who knew verifying a single plot of land involved so many factors?
But one thing I did catch:
“To sum it up, it’s comparable to Green Town in the Hamern Great Forest. Not as expansive, but you know Green Town? The city on the outskirts of the Hamern…”
Evelin knew it well from her trading caravan days.
Anyway, comparable to Green Town meant it was pretty good.
After explaining at length, she took a sip of tea, then spoke as if something had just occurred to her.
“Oh, right—about the ownership.”
“Ah, ownership.”
“What’ll it be? In your name, Aster? Or the tower’s?”
“Is there a difference?”
She nodded at my question.
“A big one. If it’s personal ownership, using it as tower grounds later could mean tougher paperwork approvals. If it’s under the organization…”
More complex explanations followed.
I listened quietly, and the gist was this:
‘For selling or leasing, personal ownership is better?’
For an organization to sell or lease land, the procedures were several times more stringent. Something about it being a symbol of the nobility who built their power on land grants.
Personally or organizationally, it seemed the same to me, but legally, personal ownership made sales and leases far simpler.
Organizational ownership, on the other hand…
“Groups usually register land under organizational names for special purposes. It’s much easier to get permits that way.”
So, wasn’t the answer obvious from the start?
“Then obviously, register it under the tower.”
We’d acquired the land to build a magic tower in the first place.
As legally as possible—no way I wanted even a speck of dust if someone shook us down later—but I wanted to stay within legal bounds.
As I thought that far, Evelin spoke up, looking troubled.
“But do you know what that means? You can’t build a village.”
“Hm?”
“Villages need people—shops, amenities, all that. So you’d have to lease land or buildings, which classifies it as rental property.”
“Meaning…”
“It’s awkward either way—personal or organizational.”
Building a village would stray from the original purpose, but sticking to the purpose made the land’s location a waste.
Still, something struck me as odd.
“How do merchant guilds handle it? I know some do rentals…”
“What kind of question is that? This.”
“Hm.”
I nodded as she rubbed her thumb and forefinger together.
Bribery, in other words.
“Enough money skips a ton of steps. But we don’t have that kind of cash right now. And we can’t exactly save up separately for grease money…”
I admired how casually she mentioned the shady dealings, but I had to ask.
“So, what’s your point?”
Evelin, more sensitive to money than anyone, was far too relaxed about a village venture falling through. That didn’t add up.
She must have found a way.
Was my guess right?
A smile played on her lips as she spoke.
“Isn’t there something for times like this?”
“...?”
Something for times like this?
As I tilted my head, her lips moved.
Plat-in-um. Badge.
“Hand it over. With that, we can skip as many steps as a fortune in bribes.”
“...”
Right.
Evelin’s goal had been the platinum badge from the start.
“Not giving it?”
“...I will. I am…”
Would I ever get it back?
* * *
After handing the platinum badge to Evelin, I headed to my quarters.
She’d wrap up the paperwork using it appropriately.
‘...What’s she planning to use it for?’
She’d report once it was done, but asking now might just give me a headache, so I put it off.
Anyway.
‘It’s about time to head back to the academy.’
Midterms were already over.
Evelin was staying in the Second Black-White Slums for makeup classes during break, but I was cutting it close.
Two weeks absent already.
In a way, I was on the verge of ‘self-imposed vacation’ ending and school starting.
Before returning, I sorted out what needed doing.
First priority:
‘Register the magic tower with the association.’
Even with the badge, real progress would come after registration, Evelin said.
‘Talk it over with Parun first.’
Registration required a thesis, after all.
He’d know more than me.
Then…
‘Check progress on the artifact research I left with Professor Pelina, and chat with the headmaster senior.’
No need to spill everything about the tower to him, but basic courtesy.
Heard Senior Riheim called a meeting of the Bear-Eaten Moon. That indirectly tied the headmaster to this.
‘And time to bring Rayleigh along.’
No way my right-hand man wasn’t coming to the tower.
Various minor tasks too, but as I mulled them over, I arrived at my quarters.
[Evening, moonlight stones.]
“Got it.”
I handed three moonlight stones to the wyvern greeting me happily, then leaned back in my chair.
Truth be told, none of it was a big deal.
Like always, things sorted themselves out once tackled.
So, what was the problem?
‘Damian, Chenbi.’
How to explain to those two.
Of course, no intention of revealing everything. Unlike with Evelin, no reason to.
But.
‘...It’s tricky.’
Why tricky?
I couldn’t say.
Hiding the tower details wasn’t deceiving them, and even if it was, it wasn’t malicious.
If anything, keeping them out was better for them.
Yet it nagged at me…
Aster drummed his fingers on the table, pondering.
Crunch, crunch.
The wyvern’s munching on the moonlight stones filled the air, punctuated by steady taps.
Maybe it was…
‘The end.’
Not just about telling them—or not—about the tower, but because an end was inevitable either way.
Damian, rightful heir to Blandoga.
And me, the magic tower lord at odds with Decullan.
Blandoga weren’t Decullan allies, but friendly ties wouldn’t outweigh Blandoga’s tangled interests to antagonize Decullan.
Chenbi had no upside tying to Decullan either.
That far along in his thoughts.
Aster snapped out of it and eyed the wyvern.
“...Tasty?”
[Not sharing.]
The wyvern turned its back, gnawing away. Aster twitched an eyelid.
Couldn’t even smack it.
‘...Tch.’
Smacking his lips, Aster resumed thinking.
Frankly, I didn’t know how the academy would end.
But one thing was certain.
‘A year and a half.’
The time until graduation wouldn’t come again.
So, maybe set worries aside for now.
Too short a time to fret over the future.
Spring, summer, fall, winter, and spring.
Aster’s second spring was just beginning. The dazzling start of a season where flowers blanketed the fields.
...And at that moment, in the imperial palace of the Adrian Empire.
“Halt. State your identity and affiliation.”
The guard blocked an elder entering the palace. Behind him stood a line of over a dozen mages, all hooded in robes.
Tension flashed across the guard’s face at the eerie sight. The elder shed his robe, which a mage behind caught.
The guard’s face paled in shock after peering into that mage’s hood.
“...!”
No face.
Just a mask.
‘No way…’
As suspicion dawned, the elder’s voice rang in his ear.
“Inform His Majesty.”
“What…”
“Muspellun de Giggas Adrian. Your foolish uncle has come.”
Hearing that, the guard went white as a sheet.
The Mage of Conclusion.
Uncle to the current emperor, the empire’s legendary war hero who ended the old wars.
The man said to be dead had returned.
And…
“...”
“...”
With the Moonless Mages who vanished alongside him.
“What are you waiting for? Send word!”
The guard’s lips quivered as if to question further, but he buckled under the Moonless Mages’ aura and hurried inside.
Muspellun watched him go, then glanced skyward.
...Someone’s winter, thought ended, was only just beginning.
For a new spring.