Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: The Five Pillars (5)
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In the resplendent Golden Spire of Mystery, the Magic Tower prized magical achievements above all else.
In that regard, this elder's position was utterly unassailable.
The creator of the 'Eldra' incantation, he had elevated ice magic—a mere branch of water magic—to the status of a major attribute. The godfather of all living ice mages. No one with even a passing interest in magic could be ignorant of his name.
Third seat of the Magic Tower's Elder Council, Sage-rank mage, Coltran Spellasion of the Frozen Heart.
The great mage was holding a private meeting with a subordinate in his laboratory. Stroking his sparse beard, he responded in a displeased tone.
"So... you're saying some barbarian showed up with the corpse of Ramakren's squad and the 'Pillar of Steel'?"
Conjurer-rank mage and acting deputy commander of the battle mages, Asillus Conchratore, affirmed vigorously.
"Yes, Elder! We've finally secured one of the 'pillars' on our side! And it's the 'Pillar of Steel,' which we thought would be the hardest to obtain..."
"...Aren't you getting a bit too excited, Asillus? 'Secured' is a word you use when it's actually in our hands. Why didn't you just kill that barbarian and recover the 'Pillar of Steel'?"
"......"
He was a battle mage, after all. He couldn't admit outright that he'd been too scared of the barbarian's axe. Asillus scraped together a lame excuse, claiming that cooperating with the barbarian would surely help secure the other 'pillars' as well.
Coltran slowly shook his head with a sigh of lament.
"Asillus... Magic isn't merely the manifestation of mystery. Its source transcends human understanding, but the one wielding it is human. You must never forget that. Judgment, reasoning, discernment, comprehension... The higher you ascend and the greater your knowledge, the more human qualities beyond mere magical prowess you'll need. Surely you know that."
"......"
"Then let me ask: Did you make a judgment befitting a high mage? Was cooperating with some suspicious barbarian who dragged in a squad leader's corpse truly the best choice?"
"......"
"In other words... do you truly believe you're qualified to be the first battle mage to ascend to Sage rank?"
The blood drained from Asillus's face.
That wasn't a question—it was a declaration. He was disappointed in your foolish judgment and would never grant you promotion.
His features twisted in agony. This cold elder never went back on a decision once made. Not unless a miracle occurred, like fire freezing or water igniting...
But he couldn't just submit like this. The efforts Asillus had poured into his promotion far surpassed those of other mages. Just as he was about to kneel and bash his head on the stone floor in desperation,
A telepathic message suddenly echoed into the laboratory.
[...I deeply apologize for interrupting your important discussion, Elder. It's an urgent matter, so I've taken the liberty of contacting you despite the impropriety.]
Coltran's brow twitched in irritation. He grudgingly permitted the report, only for something unimaginable to emerge.
[The barbarian from yesterday has returned to the Magic Tower entrance, requesting an audience with Asillus. And... he claims to have brought not only the 'Pillar of Steel' but also the 'Pillar of Earth.']
"......!!"
A massive wave of shock spread across the faces of the two mages in conference. Coltran stared piercingly at Asillus with uncharacteristically wide eyes.
Fire had frozen, and water had ignited.
*
Kadim blinked slowly.
What he saw was a plain white corridor. A single mage in a blue robe led the way ahead. His senses felt foggy, as if veiled in mist. In contrast, the fragments of the past that had just replayed were as vivid as events from moments ago.
This was another memory from his first playthrough.
Back when the other comrades hadn't yet joined, when Melissa had desperately tried to teach him magic.
No matter how hard he focused and tried, Kadim couldn't even succeed at the most basic spells. His mana sensitivity was utterly abysmal. In the end, after wasting days in futility, he lost his temper and smashed the magic target with his axe instead.
Witnessing that, Melissa had stomped around in frustration, practically foaming at the mouth.
'No! Why! Throw! The axe! To smash it! You muscle-headed idiot! I'm telling you to hit it like this—with magic! Like this, okay? Why can't you do something this simple!'
'...You can't throw an axe like me either.'
'Ah—yeah! Give me half a day of practice, and I could throw it just like you! Hand one over—let's see!'
That evening, Melissa had wailed like a child after the back of her thrown axe smashed into her instep.
Kadim nearly cracked a faint smile without thinking, only to abruptly wipe away his emotions upon belatedly recalling that she was dead.
"......"
Having endured this twice now, he was certain. This phenomenon of the past replaying like a film reel wasn't coincidence. Someone, or something, was scheming to convey a message...
"...Please enter through here. The one you'll be meeting treats with great respect even within the Magic Tower, so mind your words and actions carefully."
The guiding mage's warning snapped him back to reality. This was the Magic Tower, and right now... he was surely en route to meet the deputy commander's superior.
No time for stray thoughts. He'd dealt with mages' temperaments plenty before. Kadim cleared his mind, sharpened his focus, and heightened his senses as he entered the reception room.
"Welcome, barbar... Ah, no, our comrade! Haha, I hope your journey here wasn't too inconvenient?"
As soon as he entered, the deputy commander, Asillus, approached with overly familiar airs. Probably because he'd heard about the two pillars. Kadim brushed past him dismissively.
Before a floating desk sat an old man with a chilling demeanor that even his sparse beard couldn't mask. His black robe marked him as the deputy commander's superior—the godfather of ice magic, no doubt.
There was no invitation to sit, but Kadim took a seat without hesitation. The old man's white eyebrows slashed downward.
"You're... the barbarian who supposedly obtained two pillars?"
"That's right. And you're the elder who hasn't gotten a single one, I take it."
"...Let's skip the pleasantries and inspect the items first. Without that, this meeting can't proceed."
His rude speech put an edge in the old man's tone. Asillus swallowed dryly in tension. But Kadim calmly placed the steel staff and stone staff on the desk.
The two mages' pupils quivered faintly. The 'Pillar of Steel' and 'Pillar of Earth'—undeniably the keys to the secret passages.
At last, the old man glared at Kadim with piercing scorn.
"I heard you found the Pillar of Steel by chance in the ruins of Soltana, but how did you obtain the Pillar of Earth?"
"Happened to visit this demon den place, and there I chanced upon its location. Sliced up all the interlopers, dug it out, and took it."
"...Unbelievable. Do you even know what that place is to pull something like that? Do you know why we haven't rushed in despite our intelligence?"
"No clue. And even if I did, it wouldn't concern me."
The old man's face grew even icier. With a sneer, he growled in a grim, sunken voice.
"The demon den was created under the implicit approval of Vesta's council chairman and the Tower Lord herself. In this city, even the elders can't touch those two lightly."
Was he hoping for regret or trembling fear? The old man watched with malicious anticipation.
Yet Kadim replied flatly, without a hint of agitation.
"Is that so. But what does it matter? Didn't you say that Tower Lord is away right now?"
"......"
"And if you seize the records of the first Magic Tower Lord first and master the ancient archmagic, it wouldn't be impossible for you to become the true master of this tower."
"......!"
The two high mages' eyes bulged in shock.
There was already one elder who'd declared it openly, but this was no casual remark. It was tantamount to suggesting rebellion to claim the crown and become king. Asillus sweated bullets, fearing the fallout might reach him.
But the person in question reacted differently.
Composing his surprise, the old man now eyed Kadim with keen interest. When he spoke again, the chill in his voice had softened somewhat.
"Quite the intriguing fellow. I am Coltran Spellasion, elder holding the fourth seat in the council. And you—what's your name?"
"Kadim."
"Very well, Kadim. As you likely know, I hope what we discuss from here stays between us."
Kadim barely nodded, suppressing a shudder at the cloying address. Coltran interlaced his fingers and leaned forward slightly.
"Every mage in this tower yearns to see those records to attain ultimate mystery. Yet you... simply out of curiosity about her life?"
"Yes."
"Why? If you're curious about her life, why not read her biographies? Those records are written from her own perspective—surely less objective."
His tone felt off. Not a shred of respect for the founder—in fact, it sounded like he viewed her as untrustworthy...
"...Didn't the first Magic Tower Lord found this place, the Magic Tower? Why speak of her that way?"
"Hm... Just as giving birth doesn't make good parents, founding doesn't make a good leader. She was a tremendous archmage, but hardly a respectable head. She monopolized her achievements to wield power and, in her later years, wandered outside while neglecting this place."
"......"
"Well, some still revere her as founder... but not many. The Tower's growth is thanks to the previous lords. If you like, I can gather detailed documents for you to verify yourself, Kadim."
A dark shadow crept into Kadim's pupils.
Melissa was never the type for that. This assessment must be distorted by later generations.
"No, I find that hard to believe. I'll have to see the records with my own eyes."
Coltran shrugged nonchalantly, as if to say suit yourself.
"Well, if that's truly your reason, it's reason enough to collaborate. Thanks to your two pillars, we need just three more. Pillar of Light, Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Water... We're still tracking the Pillar of Water, so let's prioritize the first two."
"Didn't you say those two are in other elders' hands? How do you plan to get them?"
"By force, of course. With the Tower Lordship on the line, they won't hand them over willingly."
An brazenly blunt declaration. Asillus fidgeted as if to remonstrate the elder. But Coltran ignored him, staring intently only at the barbarian before him.
"What, nervous about facing mages?"
Kadim snorted dismissively, as if it'd heard every lame line before.
"No, I like the sound of that. I'll go fetch them now. Where are they?"
Puhahaha—the stern elder burst into roaring laughter. Asillus froze in shock, while Kadim scowled as if witnessing something unseemly.
Coltran waved his hand, shaking off the last chuckles.
"Pfuhuhu... Easy now, Kadim. Not to boast, but mages aren't pushovers. Even for a surprise attack, you can't just rush in—you need full preparation."
"We don't have much time. Won't we lose access to the first lord's records if that Tower Lord returns?"
"True, hm... Not wrong there, but rushing and failing would be disastrous..."
Tap, tap—the elder propped his chin on his hand, drumming the desk as he pondered. Kadim mulled silently too, then suddenly voiced a nagging intuition.
"Hold on. Didn't you say the Tower Lord went out on an inspection?"
"Yes, but...?"
"Where to? Must be important if she's gone this long."
"Soltana, epicenter of the Golden Highway rampage. Ah, you passed through there too? Many dispatched elders and battle mages vanished. Doubts whether Agon’s Furious Horn truly slew the central demon... The Tower Lord went personally to investigate."
"......"
Kadim imagined his facial muscles turning to stone and tensed his core.
To keep the tidal wave of agitation from showing, that was the only way.
*
The second meeting wrapped up with agreement to plan the seizure operation starting tomorrow.
Just before Kadim departed, Asillus—burning with greed—made the same offer as yesterday.
"Won't you entrust those pillars to me and the elder? Now the rivals will target them too..."
"Unless you're planning to store one in each of your asses, no thanks."
"......"
...Naturally, Kadim kept custody of the 'pillars' again.
He'd heard troubling things from the elder. But for now, he shelved those thoughts. Kadim exited the Magic Tower and walked for a long while, deliberately sticking to shadowed paths until reaching a deserted alley's end.
No presence detected. Yet he instinctively knew a companion had followed. Staring into empty space, he muttered as if to himself.
"Good work. You can come out now, Duncan."
A black mantle fluttered into view from thin air.
A familiar face emerged from the Shadow Mantle. With a heavy sigh, the merchant shed his cloak. So tense he'd been, his beard was soaked in cold sweat.
Kadim asked in a calm tone.
"Looks like the mages didn't spot you... Any gains from scouting the Magic Tower this time?"
"Whew... Yes, my lord. Figured out ways to other floors too, and gathered these for you."
Duncan set down his inventory. Piles of scrolls and thick books spilled out.
Kadim smirked faintly as he picked them up for inspection.