Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Five Pillars (2)
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Even so, Kadim and Duncan were led inside the Magic Tower. They had to hand over the corpse to the person in charge, after all.
The interior was far plainer than he'd vaguely imagined. The passageway, tightly constructed from white bricks, looked clean enough, but it offered none of the grandeur or mystique he'd expected from the imposing exterior.
Kadim scanned the surroundings dryly. It was unexpected. He'd thought Melissa would have decked the place out in something more flashy. He asked the sky-blue-robed mage leading the way.
"It's pretty ordinary compared to the outside. No other mages in sight either. Is the whole inside of the Magic Tower like this?"
"...I'm sorry, but I can't explain the Magic Tower's structure to outsiders. And there's nothing else I'm authorized to tell you anyway."
The mage replied with clear discomfort at having to show respect to a barbarian. Kadim snorted dismissively as he readjusted the corpse on his shoulder.
It wasn't long before they reached a dead-end white wall.
A complete dead end with no stairs or doors. Duncan looked flustered, but Kadim remained unfazed. Of course they'd pull some mystical trick.
True to expectations, the mage tapped various spots on the wall. Concentric circles glowing blue and mysterious runes appeared.
"Ascend, Al, Marquine, Remun, Phon. To the reception room on the 42nd floor."
Rumble rumble rumble...
The dead-end wall receded into the distance, and the preceding passageway twisted like a corkscrew, revealing a new path. The mage gestured ahead with a face that feigned nonchalance but carried a hint of pride.
"This way. Follow me."
"Ooh..."
Duncan whispered in childlike admiration.
"Milord, do they travel all spaces like that here? Or do other places have even more special ways in?"
"...That curious, are you?"
"Y-Yes! Terribly curious! A place like this is one you couldn't even glimpse once in a lifetime without being a mage..."
"Then I'll give you a chance to see more soon enough. Memorize the structure and entry methods well."
"...Pardon?"
A profoundly meaningful statement. An inexplicable unease washed over him. He wanted to ask what it meant, but Kadim was already striding ahead.
They passed through a door in the middle of the passageway and entered the reception room. It wasn't particularly mystical either—just a simple, cramped corner bathed in white light.
"Please sit comfortably and wait here. I'll fetch someone with the authority to take responsibility for this incident..."
The mage left those words behind and departed.
Kadim immediately set down the corpse and pulled weapons from his inventory to arm himself.
Duncan panicked at the sight.
"Wh-What are you doing, milord? W-We came to negotiate with the mages under the condition of delivering the body, didn't we?"
"That's right. And I'm preparing for the negotiation."
"..."
Violence and fear were always useful bargaining tools. Especially against these irritating spell-slingers. No amount of preparation would be too much for this negotiation.
But he didn't need Duncan's muscle for it. Time for division of labor—there was something else suited to a merchant.
"Perfect, no eyes on us. Duncan, go scout the surroundings outside right now."
"Y-Yes?!"
To keep his promise to Hendark, he needed to spy on the Magic Tower's secrets beyond just viewing records. A merchant skilled at masking his presence was perfect for the job. But since it wasn't an ordinary place, he'd have him do a light recon first.
Duncan, of course, had no idea of the circumstances. He mistook it for fallout from that earlier comment.
"M-Milord, th-that was a joke! I-I'm not interested in touring the Magic Tower at all! Just seeing this much is enough, so please..."
"Was it? I'm not joking. It's essential, so head out before it's too late. If you're caught, I'll step in and help."
"...B-But milord, this is the Magic Tower! You can overpower other foes with strength, but if the mages pull some weird trick..."
"Don't worry. I'll sense it if a mage tries anything fishy, and I have a sure way to neutralize them."
"...?"
Modern mana was laced with "mage energy," which Kadim couldn't miss. If they chanted a spell, he'd rip their mouths open. And for other methods, he had a "reliable counter" from the Arch Paladin.
Kadim grabbed Duncan's shoulder and ordered firmly once more.
"No need to go far. Just check the corridors on this floor for now. Confirm the layout and any special devices, then return."
"..."
"Mediocre guides tremble at the slightest detour from the map, but the best ones fear not exploring unknown paths. Which are you, Duncan?"
The words stung the merchant's pride. He bit his lip, then replied in a subdued voice.
"...The best guide, Duncan Wheeled. I'll live up to the name, milord."
"..."
In the end, Duncan stepped out with a resolute expression. Kadim chuckled wryly and returned to his seat. He stroked the faintly humming axe handle, waiting for the negotiator.
Moments later, a mage entered the reception room.
An ordinary-looking man in a red robe. He seemed around the same rank as the dead mage. He grimaced once at Kadim, once at the corpse, then sighed deeply.
"Phew, damn it... Bragging he'd join the Elder Council after bagging a bunch of high demons, and this is how he ends up? Man, it's embarrassing..."
"..."
"Ah, you're the barbarian who brought the vice-captain's body? Not a pleasant meeting, but nice to meet you. Thanks to you, we finally recovered our missing vice-captain, even if late. I'm Asillus Conjuror, vice-vice-captain of the Battle Mage Unit, Conjuror-rank mage. And you are?"
"...Kadim. You don't suspect me of killing that mage?"
"Hm? No idea what you're on about. How could a criminal kill a Conjuror-rank mage? Obviously some upper demon did it."
"..."
For Kadim, who'd already killed several similar mages, it was a welcome misunderstanding. After fabricating the discovery circumstances, he posed one question.
"How high is Conjuror? I vaguely heard it's above Invoker."
At that, Asillus's brow twitched. Irritation marred his ordinary face.
"...Magic Tower mages are divided into six ranks: Apprentice, Seeker, Invoker, Conjuror, Sage, Master."
"..."
"Most mages never pass Invoker, so Conjuror and above are high mages. But Master and Sage are reserved for the Tower Lord and Elders, so criminals never encounter them. Meaning, a Conjuror like me is effectively the highest mage you'd meet."
He could have stopped there, but the mage added sternly.
"So watch your mouth and use proper respect, barbarian. I'm not kicking you out and showing you respect, aren't I? A few spells from me and you'd be minced meat... Trying to act equal when I'm gracing you with my presence is problematic."
"..."
"Tch, if not for the vice-captain, I'd have left a barbarian like you to the Apprentices..."
His tone dripped with the mages' signature arrogance.
If Duncan were here, he'd have gauged what was coming next and rushed to calm Kadim and mediate.
But the merchant wasn't present.
Boom—crash!!
A massive axe blade slammed down like black lightning.
Debris scattered, leaving a vast scar.
Faster and more destructive than any ordinary spell. The mage's eyes bulged at the sudden strike. No, that stone floor had protective magic—normal impacts wouldn't even scratch it...
Kadim, meanwhile, was calm, as if he'd merely done his duty.
"I'm showing you respect too."
"Wh-What the—? Wh-What is this...?"
"After hauling a rotten corpse here, I let your nonsense slide and kept you alive. Quite the beautiful mutual respect, no? Anything else to say?"
"Y-You bastard, th-think you'll get away with...?"
"Chant a spell and I'll rip your mouth off. Call for backup and I'll rip it off. Hell, breathe through it and I'll shred it to rags. Wanna test if your tongue's faster than my palm? Be my guest, mage."
"..."
Another mage might have chanted anyway in panic.
But Asillus wasn't some bookish researcher. As vice-vice-captain of the Battle Mages, he was a seasoned combat mage. With arrogance cleared, his instincts screamed. The chilling killing intent made his eyes tremble and legs go numb.
This barbarian was overwhelmingly more dangerous than any demon or monster he'd faced.
Asillus clamped his mouth and eyes shut, bowing deeply. Rough breaths echoed from under the table.
"...You can look up. Breathe normally through your mouth."
Seeing the pitiful sight, Kadim decided to pull back for now.
"Sorry for swinging the axe suddenly, mage sir. You can tell others you raged at my rudeness and swung magic first, and I backed down. That way, your face stays intact, right?"
The mage nodded, face flushed with humiliation.
"Now, onto rewards. The delivery was hellish, so it can't be paltry. Something the Tower cherishes, like knowledge, seems fitting."
"..."
"Say, records left by the first Tower Lord, Melissa."
"...What?"
Doubt flooded Asillus's face at those words.
An unsettling reaction for Kadim. Didn't she found this tower? No records after coming this far?
Not quite. But the response was riddled with riddles.
"How do you know about the first Tower Lord's records? Are you... with Elder Oklamud? Even with the Tower Lord away, how dare you threaten us openly inside the Magic Tower..."
"...?"
"...No, wait, that can't be. Elder Oklamud despises barbarians. He'd know we have no 'pillars' on our side... Then where are you from...?"
Thud!
"Explain from the start, step by step. I don't understand a word."
Asillus's confusion vanished, replaced by deep dismay as Kadim slammed the axe handle down.
"...What? You don't understand?"
"..."
"D-Damn it, pretend you didn't hear that? It's not for outsiders... I-I'll give any other reward..."
"..."
No chance. Kadim stared sternly, conveying it was nonsense.
Words spilled couldn't be unsaid. Asillus gnawed his nails, rubbed his dry face, sighed heavily. After long torment, he seemed to reach a decision, eyes resigned.
"Phew, damn... Fine, here's the deal. Tell me your affiliation and why you want those records—honestly. Then I can decide whether to help..."
"..."
Kadim answered truthfully: no affiliation, personal curiosity about Melissa's life.
Asillus looked dumbfounded.
"...For real? Not ancient archmagic, destructive secrets, or pinnacle research... Just curious about her daily life records?"
"Yes."
"..."
"That spell stuff is gibberish to me anyway."
Asillus shook his head, chuckling.
"Heh, heh heh... I've met countless eccentrics in this tower, but none like you... Finding a treasure vault of gold and jewels, just to pick up pebbles inside..."
"..."
"Well, your eyes don't lie... Under those terms, I can cooperate. For delivering Vice-Captain Ramakren's body, we'll accept you as 'one of us.' Cooperate fully for now, and we'll access those records first."
The conversation felt off. Kadim crossed his arms, displeased.
"...Can't a high mage just view those records?"
"No. As I said, the first Tower Lord's records aren't ordinary. Opinions vary on her life, but her knowledge and records are treated as the Tower's ultimate holy relics."
"..."
"Previous Tower Lords sealed them as too dangerous and ripe for abuse. Officially, only the Tower Lord can access them."
Disappointment crossed Kadim's face. Negotiating with that Tower Lord would be far trickier.
But it was too early for despair. Mages' desire for powerful knowledge outstripped ordinary lusts.
They'd found a way.
The records were in the Magic Tower's deepest basement—a place off-limits without the Tower Lord's permission. But one Elder, scouring the designs, found a secret passage.
Two conditions to use it.
"The Tower Lord watches everything when here, so she must be away. And the 'Five Pillars'—powerful magic artifacts called 'pillars'—are needed as keys."
"..."
"She rarely leaves. No one dared until she went on external inspection days ago. A chance to the basement, the 'First Tower Lord's Tomb' holding those great records..."
Kadim cut him off there.
"...Hold on. What did you just say?"
"Hm? The First Tower Lord's Tomb."
A chilling silence descended.
Kadim gritted his teeth, suppressing a thick surge of something, and asked in a voice like plummeting into abyss.
"Meaning the first Tower Lord... is definitely dead?"
"Huh, think she'd still be alive? Listen, she lived over 200 years ago. Even a world-shaking archmage can't defy life's natural order."
"..."
A heavy, hollow gaze fell.
Faint cracks spread across the face of the warrior who had abandoned his comrades and left.