Catastrophe at the Banquet

The music stopped. It was doomsday. The chill in the air spread through the banquet hall like a plague. It started with the change in my expression and tone, but the bigger cause was the magic spell I'd unconsciously deployed up to the 3rd Circle while thinking of what to hurl at the emperor.

Three lightning orbs swirled above my head.

"Ah, Lord Aldebaran. What in the world is...?"

The emperor couldn't hide his panic. The surrounding nobles, even the party's star, the third princess—all of them. From now on, I'd speak casually to all of you. Starting with what I wanted to say most.

"Emperor. Who am I?"

The nobles started rolling their eyes, their faces blank with confusion at this sudden turn.

The emperor responded, sweating bullets.

"Y-you're Lord Aldebaran, Magic Tower Master of Baek-eun."

"Right. So what do you think of this situation?"

His handsome face, which had felled the empire's ladies, was withering in real time. But thanks to his experience handling imperial affairs, he seemed to vaguely sense my utter fury.

"I-I see. Guards! Right now—"

"I'm wondering if it's really right for a great 9th Circle mage to be playing fireworks vendor here."

I cut off the emperor's attempt to regain control. Just as I was about to continue, a tiny voice like an ant's whisper slipped into my ear. Someone's mutter, but my magic-heightened senses caught it crystal clear.

Are they insane?

"The one who just said 'He was so obedient before, why's he flipping out now'—step forward."

"Eek!"

A pig-mustached noble without a visible neck stumbled back. Despair and terror filled his face. I approached slowly.

"You?"

"S-s-sorry! Magic Tower Master! I misspoke!"

"Come here."

"Sorry! Spare me!!"

Crackle!

The 3rd Circle spell Lightning struck. In the blink of an eye, the bolt hit the noble, and he collapsed without even a scream.

Thud.

"Kyaaah!"

"Gasp!"

Steam rose from his massive, charred body. Of course, he wouldn't die from this. Amid the nobles' screams and sighs, I felt truly alive for the first time in ages. The thrilling rush of mana flowing through my veins. It was like... that. The rush of blood when a blood pressure cuff releases your arm.

Should I sweep them all away while I'm at it? I could unleash a slaughter spell to shut them up for good. But I didn't want the imperial palace turned into a bloodbath or the empire's lifeline severed. There was the Mage's Oath too. Maybe I should just give them a moderate lesson.

As I pondered in front of the blackened noble, it wasn't the emperor who stopped me—it was a girl's voice.

"Magic Tower Master! I'm truly sorry. I-it's my fault. I told His Majesty I wanted to see fireworks!"

The third princess. The birthday girl whose party I'd utterly ruined, the one who should be the most upset. The girl, just turned fourteen, stepped forward in place of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the adults, tears streaming down her face. Her face, dolled up by servants since dawn, was a mess as she bowed to me. She looked like a dejected kitten.

Hah, now I look like the bad guy.

"Princess. Sorry for ruining the banquet, but I didn't want to do this either."

"No! It's my fault for getting too excited and throwing a tantrum at His Majesty!"

You're better than these other adults, kid.

I swept my gaze over the nobles in the hall, conveying with my eyes: The princess just saved your asses.

"...Don't call me for useless crap anymore."

"Lord Aldebaran! We're truly sorry. We've taken the Magic Tower Master's generosity for granted."

"......"

"This won't happen again. I'll command the ministers..."

The emperor followed me out of the banquet hall, begging forgiveness nonstop. I ignored what he said. I'd already gotten a sincere apology from the princess.

"Won't you head to the Magic Tower?"

"I just feel like walking. Quit following me, it's annoying."

Leaving the fidgety emperor behind, I headed out of the imperial palace.

The Solaris Empire, where the sun never set, gripped its hegemony stronger than ever. Northern monsters and the kingdoms under it all knelt before the imperial family's overwhelming might. At the center of that might was Baek-eun's Magic Tower Master, Aldebaran.

The emperor and central nobles trusted his magic—relied on it utterly. He was like a golden goose, granting any request involving magic.

"What in the world happened?"

"Such a horrific act in front of everyone. No manners!"

"That young punk's only got looks going for him. His speech was weird too."

Once they confirmed the Magic Tower Master had left, the nobles in the banquet hall started chiming in.

"Wasn't Count Cedric right? He's always granted our requests so far."

"That's what I'm saying. Why's he changed now?"

"He mentioned some oath—does that justify it?"

"Our magic tools won't be affected, right?"

The banquet hall filled with complaints about the Magic Tower Master in an instant. The emperor squeezed his eyes shut and shouted.

"Enough!"

The hall fell silent as the dead again.

"Could you say those same words to Lord Aldebaran's face?"

"......"

The nobles rolled their eyes, gauging the mood once more. The emperor sighed and continued.

"He's angry because we've been wasting his time on trivial magic. I'll speak to him later."

"But..."

"No more words. Take Count Cedric to the temple. He'll live with treatment."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"And Elisicia. Your rare birthday party got ruined. Give me a chance to make it up."

The emperor's large hand gently brushed the third princess Elisicia's golden locks. The nobles held their breath, watching the precarious end of the banquet.

I mulled over the Mage's Oath. The vague clause about not ignoring the empire's crises. Roasting one noble hadn't affected my heart at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all. As long as it was for the empire, anything went?

"Hoo... Fucking pissed."

Since transmigrating into this romance fantasy world, my life had been holed up in the Magic Tower, heading to battlefields when needed. Researching and creating magic had been joy enough.

So this was my first time in the commercial district.

"What's this?"

The central plaza's massive clock tower and emperor statue greeted me. Streets radiated out with themes: luxury boutiques, jewelers, cafes, magic tool shops.

I stomped along roughly.

"That one! Can you buy me that dress?"

"Hm, shall we check it out?"

"Yay!"

Passersby looked relaxed and happy. No one recognized me, hood pulled ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠low over my robe.

My insides boiled. The peaceful street scene felt repulsive. At a flashy jeweler's sign, an eye-catching phrase stood out.

"What the hell."

Reservations? I'd just periodically enchanted diamonds the emperor handed me. Why were they here?

My head burned. I stormed into the jeweler.

Tinkle.

The bell shattered the quiet. I'd gripped the handle so hard, it left a handprint.

I pulled off my hood.

"A-A-Lord Aldebaran?!"

The owner rushed over.

"What brings you here? To such a humble shop..."

"How are you selling gems infused with my magic power?"

"We get them from the Ademar Duke's household. Qualified jewelers pay a fee to the palace. Surely the Magic Tower Master knows this?"

The owner's baffled look showed no lie.

That fucking emperor. Even if I'm a magic nerd oblivious to outside affairs, this? Colluding with the duke's family.

I laughed instead. This is interesting. Let's dig more.

"I'll be back."

"Always grateful, Lord Aldebaran!"

Tinkle.

I wandered the streets, seeking proof to turn suspicion to certainty. But spotting my traces in unfamiliar places wasn't easy. Before I knew it, I'd reached the city gate.

The emperor had requested a defensive barrier to protect citizens. My masterpiece after three days and nights of research, complete with an on-off switch.

Yet ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the barrier that should be guarding the gate was nowhere.

The guards saluted upon spotting me.

"We see the great Magic Tower Master!"

"Uh, yeah. Who's managing the defensive barrier I made?"

"I'll fetch the captain!"

The panting captain arrived breathless.

"Huff, huff... Magic Tower Master! What brings you here?"

"The barrier. Why's it gone?"

"It's deactivated due to high maintenance costs. No war now."

"Maintenance costs?"

"You didn't know? To keep it active, pay 100 gold monthly to the palace. It's top-notch but pricey. Heh."

What the fuck.

I nearly exploded the spot I stood on. My fist trembled. Calm down. They're innocent.

"Just checking. Carry on."

"Thank you! Take care!"

I'd held back at the banquet for the princess's sake. But emperor, I didn't peg you for treating me like a tax cannon instead of Magic Tower Master. How else could you charge fees without a word?

Was holing up in the tower and ignoring money my mistake? This was an insult to my magic.

Suddenly, a black Status Window appeared before my eyes. The genre trope that should've shown up on transmigration.

"What, showing up now? Was causing chaos the unlock condition?"

The familiar transmigrator Status Window. But not what I expected—no skills or stats. And the content was pretty radical.

Overthrowing this stale romance fantasy? Hell yeah. But...

"Justification is key..."

Guess I need to check how deep the rot goes. For that justification.

I turned back toward the imperial palace. My destination: the Ministry of Finance building.