Chapter 375
Chapter 375
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 375
>Chapter Title: You, a Follower?
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One week.
That was how long it took for the secret organization known as “Salvatium” to become the talk of every mage in Megarium.
“……Impressive.”
Professor Fellina let out a calm sigh of admiration at this utterly insane situation.
“I never imagined something like this would actually work.”
To be honest, at first…… she thought that man calling himself the Tower Master was completely mad.
- Behold my entrance.
- Cheers.
- And applause.
Standing amid a battlefield soaked in blood, demanding cheers and applause.
No sane person would ever put on such a display.
Naturally, Megarium’s mages and soldiers didn’t cheer or clap.
They simply stared in silence at the enigmatic mage.
But the truly deranged act came after that.
- Have you heard of Salvatium, by any chance?
……Mentioning Salvatium’s name in front of all these people?
It was madness.
Throughout imperial history, had there truly been no one who tried to reveal Salvatium’s existence to the world? No, there had been countless attempts.
But none of them ended well.
Some of the continent’s wealthiest tycoons were ruined overnight and reduced to beggars. Renowned great nobles succumbed to mysterious illnesses and wasted away.
And that wasn’t all.
A crown prince of some kingdom got caught in a sudden rebellion and was torn apart by the rebels’ spears and swords.
That was Salvatium’s power.
They could never emerge into the light, but in the shadows, they could do anything.
……Those with power and wealth feared losing it all and kept silent. Those without it lacked the strength to speak up.
Professor Fellina fell into the latter category.
Even with her prestige as a “Jenion Academy professor,” it paled before Salvatium. Spreading the word would only lead to a pointless death.
Think about it.
“A secret society of black mages who’ve lurked in the shadows for thousands of years.” Who would believe such a claim?
Convincing others would take endless persuasion—and Salvatium wasn’t the type to sit idly by.
……And yet.
- Looks like you haven’t. Allow me to explain. So, you see……
The mad mage calling himself the Tower Master laid bare Salvatium’s existence right there, in front of thousands of soldiers and hundreds of mages.
Pure insanity.
“No way they’ll believe……”
Of course, the mages and soldiers who witnessed the Tower Master’s prowess would believe him.
A mage who slaughtered thousands—no, perhaps tens of thousands—of monsters in an instant. Impossible without transcendence, and the mages knew it well.
And now, that archmage had saved their lives.
Even rational mages would pretend to believe if such a figure passionately proclaimed it.
But the Tower Master didn’t force belief on them.
He simply……
- I won’t tell you to believe me. Just go back to the city and tell exactly ten people. Exactly ten—no more, no less. Come on? If you think of it as payment for your lives, it’s not that hard, right?
He asked them. Belief wasn’t required; just spread the word far and wide.
That was it.
- Believe me or not, I’m off.
With that, the Tower Master departed.
He didn’t even reveal his identity. As if he’d done his part, and the rest was up to them.
That figure was…… somehow……
Sublime.
It wasn’t just Professor Fellina’s impression.
Imagine it.
A great mage appears in a moment of crisis, saves countless lives. The title “archmage” alone commands awe, yet he vanishes after the deed, having revealed only the evil secret society of black mages: Salvatium.
Who wouldn’t feel their heart race?
By this point, whether Salvatium was real or not didn’t matter.
Only the number he left behind—“ten”—did.
- A righteous hero……
- How could such a figure……
The mages deeply moved by the Tower Master fully believed in Salvatium’s existence.
- Ten people……
- I don’t buy it, but if it’s payment for our lives……
Even those who didn’t believe decided to repay the “debt” of their lives, regardless of the tale’s truth.
And the result?
“Have you heard of Salvatium……?”
“……I have.”
Everyone in the city was talking about Salvatium.
From lowly soldiers to renowned scholars of magic, even bakers and inn waitstaff.
In the end, even those who hadn’t fought were chattering about it, until no one in the city was unaware. Those who hadn’t reached their ten had to sit at Megarium’s gates, waiting for visitors.
And the funniest part……
“The culprit is Salvatium, Salvatium, lurking in the shadows for thousands of years, a secret society of black mages, Salvatium.”
Bards in Megarium were humming the ridiculous song the Tower Master had sung, apparently having heard it somewhere.
At this point, Professor Fellina had no choice but to admit it.
“……Tower Master.”
The mage yawning lazily on the sofa was no ordinary man.
That irritating glint in his eyes reminded her unpleasantly of someone, but unlike that “someone,” he possessed both profound wisdom and character.
However.
“……That doesn’t mean we can be optimistic.”
For now, every citizen of Megarium was buzzing about Salvatium, but few truly believed in its existence.
Most only acknowledged that black mages were behind the monster wave.
To target Salvatium, they needed a decisive blow to drive it home.
Otherwise……
“……It’ll fade into obscurity with time.”
Like weathered memories.
Even if remembered, it would become just another odd tale.
So, Professor Fellina resolved herself.
“I must step up.”
The Tower Master had clashed with Salvatium but lacked concrete proof of their existence.
She was different.
Since graduating from the academy, she’d tracked Salvatium’s traces for years, amassing considerable evidence.
She’d simply lacked the position and authority to reveal it.
But now, the opportunity had come.
“Tower Master.”
Having steeled her resolve, Professor Fellina called to him. Her tone carried utmost respect. No, more than respect.
It held her readiness to face any peril to drag Salvatium into the light.
Yet, for some reason.
The Tower Master flinched.
“W-Why……?”
“……? You don’t need to use honorifics. Parun told me. Babel Society’s true identity is the Mage Tower.”
“R-Really……? But I prefer honorifics…… Professor Fellina……? Wouldn’t it be easier if you…… spoke more casually……?”
“……?”
Professor Fellina tilted her head.
“Weak with personal interactions, is he?”
It happened sometimes.
Those of lofty realms, yet lacking in some crucial way due to their heights.
The principal, Shwarts, was a prime example.
“His was a lack of humanity.”
But most struggled with people, and Fellina pegged the Tower Master as one of them.
She’d seen him speak boldly before crowds, but interpreted it differently. Like her academy classmate who said, “Pretend you’re talking to a wall when facing a crowd.”
“Speak freely.”
Like with that old classmate, she took a step back for proper distance and spoke while averting her gaze.
And did it work?
“Then…… shall we drop the formalities……?”
The Tower Master approached first.
Professor Fellina nodded readily.
This was her own consideration.
“If that’s more comfortable, sure.”
“Great, then.”
……His quicker reply was surely her imagination.
Anyway, that wasn’t the point now.
“I have urgent business regarding the current situation.”
“Business?”
“……Yes, it’s heartening that Salvatium’s name has spread thanks to your performance, but to drag them into the open……”
“Ah, this isn’t enough?”
“You knew.”
The Tower Master nodded, eyes gleaming. Fellina thought he looked oddly excited, then met his shining gaze and spoke.
“We need decisive proof. Something even the skeptics can’t deny. And……”
“Someone with enough authority to announce it publicly.”
“Exactly. And above all……”
“We’ll have to account for interference from Salvatium’s followers.”
“…….”
Professor Fellina quietly took in the Tower Master seamlessly continuing her thoughts.
After a moment.
“……Do you have a plan?”
She asked with faint hope, laced with anticipation.
His bold act was beyond daring, backed by deep wisdom and overwhelming might.
It was everything she’d dreamed of for years—no wonder her expectations ran high.
And fortunately, the Tower Master didn’t disappoint.
“Of course I do. Let’s see…… A week should be enough. Time to move.”
“Move?”
“Yeah, wanna come?”
Professor Fellina nodded at his question.
“If I won’t be in the way.”
“In the way? Nah. Here, take this……”
“……?”
She tilted her head at the mask he offered.
“This is……”
A bizarre mask etched with “36” on the forehead. Some perception-blocking spell made its surface shimmer, yet the number remained clear. The Tower Master muttered “Oops” and pulled a new one from his subspace.
“Grabbed the wrong one. Here. Oh, want that one too?”
“……If you’re giving it, yes.”
She pocketed the “36” mask and took the new white one.
“But……”
“Put it on and follow me.”
“Where to?”
As he headed for the window, he paused at her question. Then replied in a voice full of mischief.
“To catch a follower.”
“……How?”
“You’ll see when we get there.”
With that, he leaped out the window. Fellina stared at the mask a moment, then followed.
A white mask covered her face as she exited. Soaring through the night sky, she couldn’t hide her excitement.
Salvatium’s followers didn’t even know what kind of group they served.
So, how exactly……
“Would he root them out?”
……About two hours later.
Professor Fellina learned the method.
What was it?
“W-Who……?”
“……Shh. Quiet.”
Having infiltrated a suspected follower’s bedroom, the Tower Master calmed the awakened mage and asked.
“You, a follower?”
“What……?”
“Tell the truth. I already know everything.”
“What are you……”
The mage panicked.
The Tower Master said.
“Fine, off to the room of truth with you.”
Clouds blanketed the sky.
No moon shone.
……But far from Megarium, in a distant plain.
A black wyvern soared through the night.
[Yongyong. Fly hard.]
The cost to borrow the wyvern for Yongyong: one moonstone.
That was all.