Declaration of Defeat
Screeech...
"Ma-Magic Tower Lord! I'm sorry!"
As the ancient, weathered door of the Magic Tower creaked open and the Magic Tower Lord emerged, the mage who'd been firing off spells in a frenzy bowed her head desperately.
"Cease fire, all of you."
The Magic Tower Lord glanced pityingly at the mage and issued a stern command in a grave voice. The line of mages who'd been chanting in unison halted abruptly and turned to stare at her.
"Tch..."
But the Magic Tower Lord didn't spare them a glance, clicking her tongue as she gazed straight ahead.
"The wench who swore she'd never show her face to me again—why the hell are you here?"
Finally, the Tower Lord spoke with a complicated expression, and the figure in the robe slowly approached the tower as she replied.
"I came to talk with you."
"You rotten brat, calling your master 'you.' Still as insolent as ever."
"You're not my master anymore, so isn't 'you' appropriate?"
As harsh words flew between the robed figure and the Magic Tower Lord, the mages behind them all drew in sharp breaths and froze solid. From their perspective, it was unthinkable for anyone to speak so rudely to the Tower Lord, a being as lofty as the heavens.
"I was going to talk things out for old times' sake... but if you're going to act so shamelessly, I won't hold back either."
Meanwhile, the Magic Tower Lord snapped angrily at the woman before her and raised her long staff.
"If you keep causing a scene, you'll have to deal with me..."
"I've finally completed that magic you've always wanted."
"...What!?"
But when the mysterious woman calmly pulled out a paper inscribed with a magic circle and waved it, the Tower Lord's eyes widened in shock as she lowered her staff.
"What... what do you mean by that?"
"The magic you've always wanted... wherever could it be?"
The Magic Tower Lord hurled another question at the robed figure, then tried to snatch the notebook with a surprise spell. But as if anticipating it, the mysterious woman easily blocked the magic, leaving the Tower Lord looking increasingly anxious.
"Er... shall we talk?"
"Didn't you say you had no intention of doing so?"
"Brat, that was before you said that. If you've really completed that magic, things change."
The enigmatic woman silently regarded the Magic Tower Lord, then quietly approached her and said,
"I want to talk with you alone. Send everyone else away."
"I was planning to anyway."
With a wave of her hand, the Tower Lord sent the dazed mages scattering aside.
"Follow me."
Maintaining as calm an expression as possible, the Magic Tower Lord entered the tower's door, and the mysterious woman quietly followed.
"...What the hell is all this?"
After climbing the stairs for a while, the enigmatic woman spotted the piles of items in the tower's lobby and asked. The Magic Tower Lord replied in a disinterested tone.
"Things for my new disciple."
"...A new disciple!?"
The woman halted in shock at those words, prompting an incredulous look from the Tower Lord.
"Why? Can't I take on a new disciple?"
"Of course you can... but surely in the previous timeline, you..."
"Cut the nonsense and follow me. Time's short."
As the mysterious woman blurted out in a daze, the exasperated Tower Lord grabbed her arm and hurried her along.
"So, what are all those for?"
"Breaking."
"What?"
Dragged along by the Tower Lord, the woman tossed out another question, only to be stunned once more by the answer.
"Those are all mithril, orichalcum, adamantium, diamond—materials so tough you can't even scratch them, let alone break them."
"My disciple shatters them with a finger snap."
"...You're joking, right?"
The Tower Lord let out a hearty laugh at that.
"A few months ago, I would've thought it was a joke too. But that child hasn't failed to destroy a single item yet."
"Is she here now?"
When the mysterious woman asked, the Tower Lord snapped irritably.
"She's at the orphanage playing—mind your own business! What, got your eye on her?"
With that, the Tower Lord flung open an ornate door and stepped inside.
"Now, take off that stuffy robe... and show me that magic already."
"...Fine."
Irina tossed aside the robe she'd been wearing until then and slowly pulled a notebook filled with magic formulas from her bosom, handing it over.
"Ho... this... you've created an entirely new magic system?"
"...Yeah."
"And it even includes unproven or nonexistent formulas? From the looks of it, it's almost like..."
Gazing rapturously at the formulas, the Magic Tower Lord murmured in a dazed voice.
"...magic that leaped out from the future."
Irina flinched at those words but quickly schooled her expression and played dumb.
"So, why did you—a girl who hates my guts—bring this magic circle to me?"
"I want your advice on whether it can actually work."
"From me?"
Irina scowled deeply at the Tower Lord's question before replying.
"Hate to admit it, but right now, you're the only one who can understand this magic formula."
"Pfft! You mocked me as a senile old coot... but deep down, you always knew I was something special, huh?"
"Shut up."
"Well, I am pretty amazing. One of the greatest mages to emerge in centuries from the Empire, you know?"
Ignoring Irina's reaction, the Tower Lord continued boasting excitedly.
"And I'm the only one the Empire begged—going so far as to send an envoy—to handle the Demon King subjugation. Tsk tsk, you were the fool who threw away apprenticeship under someone this great..."
"...Stop."
"Huh?"
Irina cut her off coldly the moment "Demon King subjugation" left the Tower Lord's lips, just as the woman shrugged.
"You'll die."
"Ha! You've gotten even more insolent since we last met? How dare you say that to me..."
"You can't beat the Demon King, let alone the second-in-command..."
Knowing the Tower Lord would die fighting Drimirkan, the Demon King's second-in-command, while investigating the Demon King, Irina sighed and said,
"...Just don't do it."
It had been a razor-close battle where the second-in-command fled with fatal wounds, but Irina's sincere advice stemmed from lingering fondness.
"You know something, don't you?"
"...Forget it. Just tell me the magic circle's success rate. I've checked it a hundred times, but I need another perspective."
Sensing the sincerity in Irina's words, the Tower Lord asked gravely, but Irina ignored her and pressed for the analysis.
".......Hmm?"
Grumbling at Irina's attitude but examining the circle anyway, the Tower Lord soon frowned.
"Tch, it's flawed. Can't use it."
"Why?"
"Brat, the operational element is black magic."
"Since when do you care about ethics?"
"That's ancient history. I care now. And even ignoring ethics, it's impossible."
With a sigh, the Tower Lord set the circle on the desk and continued quietly.
"Black mana can't be gathered or stored like other mana. That means one person has to power it alone... and no black mage in this world has this much black mana... ngh!"
"Enough like this?"
Irina had unleashed all the black mana within her into the room. The Tower Lord replied in a trembling voice.
"...That much could barely activate the spell and hold it for a few dozen seconds."
"Good. Matches my calculations. Thanks for the input."
As Irina rose to leave, the Tower Lord grabbed her desperately.
"Wait. Where did you get that black mana? Why go through all this just to confirm with me..."
"I owe you no explanation. Later, then."
"For old times' sake, just answer this one."
At "old times' sake," Irina turned silently. The Tower Lord asked with serious eyes.
"That much black mana will wreck your body once it's gone... why use a pointless spell like that?"
"Pointless?"
When Irina asked, the Tower Lord raised her voice.
"Even if you pull it off as designed, it only swaps souls for a few dozen seconds! Not hours or years—what can you possibly do in that time...?"
"It's enough."
"What?"
Looking at the stunned Tower Lord, Irina replied with resolute eyes.
"If that situation arises again... swapping bodies for a few dozen seconds will be plenty."
"That's what I'm saying! What the hell...!"
As the Tower Lord's pent-up frustration boiled over into a shout, Irina added softly,
"To screw over the system."
Leaving the Tower Lord dumbfounded, Irina donned her robe again and slipped quietly from the room.
"Haa..."
Left alone, the Magic Tower Lord stared blankly for a long while before pouring herself wine from the desk and muttering,
"...Those two bitches are both insane."
"Tell me, what was the last part of the prophecy book you know?"
"Hmm..."
I gazed at Serena, her eyes sparkling with curiosity, and replied softly.
"Once all is over, the hero shall perish vainly alongside the Demon King."
"Yes, my prophecy book has that too."
Serena nodded with a slightly darkened expression, then brightened and continued.
"But... mine has one more line below it."
"Really?"
My eyes widened at her words, and Serena smiled as she answered.
"Yes, but it's sealed with unknown magic, so I couldn't read it."
"...I see."
A touch of disappointment cooled my excitement as I murmured, and Serena pulled something from her bosom.
"So I cut that part out and brought it."
"...Impressive initiative."
Chuckling dryly at her boldness, I took the paper she offered and frowned as I peered at it.
"Hm... weird. It's readable, but only parts of it."
"That's because the restoration isn't complete yet. I'm prioritizing it, so you'll see the full text soon."
I nodded and softly read the visible words.
"Hm... 'One Coincidence,' 'Five Realizations,' and 'Boomerang Passing Between the Half-Moon and New Moon.' What does it mean?"
"...Whatever it is, it doesn't sound negative."
Serena beamed and took the fragment back.
"Restoration won't take long. I'll contact you once it's done."
"Thanks, Serena. Always."
As I smiled, Serena blushed and said,
"So, when will you catch the Secret Party Leader for me?"
"Ah, that..."
"I want it soon. With you."
I seriously pondered skipping the birthday party to hunt the Secret Party Leader, when Serena smiled coyly.
"Of course, we can kiss now."
"Oh."
Blushing, I approached her open arms, sat on her lap, and pressed my lips to hers.
"...Mmm."
Serena's tongue licked my lips before slowly delving inside.
"Pha..."
After a long tangle of tongues, I pulled back and muttered in disbelief.
"Didn't you say you hadn't drunk?"
"...Just one glass. For realistic acting."
Her face was flushed—whether from the alcohol or something else, I couldn't tell.
"Hey, where are you touching?"
"Sorry. I'm drunk and don't know."
"One glass?"
As her hand slipped inside my clothes with momentum, Serena giggled and added,
"You know I can't hold my liquor."
"..........."
Listening quietly, I asked softly,
"...Serena, is touching within limits?"
"You've already been touching before asking."
Smiling, I pushed her down.
"Haaah..."
She'd been through so much lately—a massage seemed in order.
"Lord Frey! How is Lady Serena!?"
As I exited the room with a slight flush, an imperial maid rushed up with a question.
"She's come to her senses. She'll be out after some rest."
"Phew..."
The maid sighed in relief. Serena's acting must have been very convincing.
"Lord Frey, I have a message for you..."
"Hm?"
I'd finally get some shut-eye before the birthday party truly began when the maid urgently stopped me.
"Lady Clana seems to be looking for you."
"Clana?"
I blinked in confusion at the maid's words.
"Why would she...?"
"Not sure. Earlier, she was murmuring your name on the balcony over there..."
"Hmm..."
I nodded to the maid and headed to the entrance, frowning.
"............."
"...Clana?"
And there she was, slumped on the balcony with her head bowed.
"What are you doing there?"
"Frey...?"
I stared at her in bewilderment, but when she lifted her head, I flinched.
Her face was streaked with tears.
"Clana? What happened...?"
"I lost..."
I tried to help her up in panic, but Clana began speaking slowly.
"I admit defeat to your schemes..."
"Wait, what are you—"
"I'll submit to you. So please..."
With a desperate gaze, Clana trembled as she held out her battered hands and finished.
"...hold my hand."
"Haa..."
I didn't want to admit it, but... the memories from the Trial were slowly resurfacing for her.
"...This is driving me mad."
I could already envision her coughing up blood.