Sky Tower's Official Notice
“Th-thank you…… Thank you so much for even reducing my nipples……”
“No problem at all.”
About three hours into the surgery, everything was finally wrapped up. I was receiving Maverick's profuse thanks as he woke from the anesthesia.
Patients coming in for gynecomastia surgery often opt for nipple reduction and reshaping through an incision at the same time. Especially since removing the glandular tissue at the root naturally shrinks the protruding nipples, giving results that satisfy guys like Maverick even more.
“Alright, let's just take some photos and videos to wrap things up. Stella, go ahead and shoot the patient's before-and-after pics and footage.”
“Yes, Director. Maverick, if you would come this way. It's for promo, so grab your sword too.”
“Hahaha, you got it.”
It was Saturday today. With no extra paid surgeries on the schedule beyond the free one, I headed straight for the staff lounge.
Weekend means time to chill. Early dinner, then catch up on my workouts……
I froze.
“Miner, it's been a while.”
“……?”
As I stepped into the lounge, a familiar face greeted me.
“Ah, I heard you became a baron. Guess I should watch my tongue now.”
“Kellogg? What the hell? How'd you get here?”
Stunned, I rushed over and shook his hand.
“And baron? That's awkward as hell—just talk like you always do. Baron this, baron that.”
“Sorry I couldn't give advance notice. I got back sooner than the schedule I sent by letter.”
At the end of last month, Kellogg had written saying he'd be staying longer than planned at Breath of Fire. I'd been quietly worried he might not come back at all, so seeing him arrive way ahead of time filled me with relief.
“Hahaha! I thought you'd ghosted us for good. How's the leg really? No issues? You mentioned something came up—what happened? All sorted?”
“The leg's solid as ever. Haven't skipped a single rehab session.”
……The leg's fine? Then why's he acting like that?
Something was off. His micro-expressions screamed more than just travel fatigue.
“About the contract terms…… Instead of a fixed period, how about I stay here forever?”
“Pardon?”
“As the Beauty Tower's exclusive blacksmith.”
I nearly lost control of my face. Suppressing a grin, I stepped closer to Kellogg.
“Let's throw you a welcome party first.”
* * *
Kellogg's visit was so sudden we pushed the full-staff welcome dinner back a day. For now, it was just Kellogg, Walter, and me, toasting his early return over an early dinner at the adventurer's guild.
“She turned me down.”
“……So, to recap, Kellogg confessed, but……”
“Aye, didn't go well.”
“…….”
Walter and I exchanged glances before sliding our mugs forward in unison. Kellogg drained his foaming ale in one go.
“Jenny…… She was love at first sight. You two saw her when you visited our forge.”
Kellogg had only planned a quick visit back to Lonely Hammer's smithy. But with his leg fully functional—no crutches—and towering over the average dwarf now, his confidence had surged.
“For the first time in my life, I mustered some courage. Never let on before, but I figured with this new look, maybe she'd see me differently. But Jenny said it was too late.”
“Too late how? Does that mean she actually had feelings for you back then?”
At Walter's question, Kellogg nodded while signaling the server for a refill.
“Caught me off guard, that. She had no idea I liked her. Makes sense, though—I was too busy shoving folks away with my inferiority complex.”
“…….”
“She told me straight: never minded my bum leg or short stature. Said I was just too damn quiet and passive. Guess the leg wasn't the issue.”
“Hmm…… Another round.”
Walter, perhaps flashing back to his own past, lifted his mug with a heavy look. Kellogg clashed his fresh one roughly against it.
Perfect…… True growth comes from pain.
Anyone in love slacks off work. Seeing Kellogg show up as prime blacksmith material? Couldn't be prettier.
“Hey, hey, world's half women, right? Drink up, Kellogg. It's on me.”
“Director, we got bottomless here?”
“Ahaha! Cheers!”
I was savoring the buzz, alcohol warming my veins nicely, when—
BAM!
“Gasp, huff! B-big trouble, huff…… Off-official notice…… came!”
“What's with that idiot?”
“Someone sober him up—can't understand a word.”
All eyes turned to the guy who'd burst through the guild doors. Sweat poured off him like rain, despite the freezing winter chill—he'd clearly sprinted here.
He chugged a proffered ale, wiped his mouth, and bellowed again.
“From the Sky Tower! Says anyone hurt in the dungeon gets dragged straight to a magic tower now!”
“Drunk this early? Go peddle your crap elsewhere—you're the one who needs saving, punk!”
“Pfft! Sky Tower's last edict was decades ago. Where'd you hear that nonsense? Tsk!”
“I-I'm serious! People are already getting hauled off! Don't believe me? Go see for yourself!”
His micro-expressions rang true—no lies. But I still didn't get it.
“Sky Tower? Official notice? You guys know what he's talking about?”
I scanned the murmuring crowd, turning to Walter and Kellogg.
“Walter? Kellogg?”
Their faces were grim.
“Hmm…… Miner, best see for yourself.”
“Agreed, Director. If it's a real edict, could be trouble. Let's go—I'll explain on the way.”
Neither was the joking type, so I followed them out silently.
“Every continent—West, North, East—has magic towers. Rare, but spots like our Frederik Dungeon Zone have multiples, including Beauty Tower.”
Walter started explaining as we hurried toward the dungeon.
“And ruling them all is one tower: the Sky Tower.”
“Sky Tower?”
“Magic tower of magic towers. On a floating island in the heavens. Even tower masters can't go without permission—total lockdown, from what I hear.”
A floating island in the sky? First thought wasn't awe or wonder—it was, patients there couldn't escape if they wanted. Closed ward nightmare.
“But what's the big deal with their notice? Magic tower over magic towers—still just a magic tower, right? Huh?”
I trailed off mid-sentence.
“Aaaah! No! Let go! I don't want surgery!”
“Let us go, you bastards? We're going to another tower for treatment!”
Far off, men struggled violently as they were dragged toward the magic tower. Faces I knew well.
“Jeff! Ollie!”
“B-bro!”
“Save us, bro!”
I bolted through the biting cold wind. Pus oozed from gashes on Jeff's neck and Ollie's scalp. No dressings, no first aid—just muscled mages hauling them off by force.
“What the hell are you doing to my boys?”
“Step aside. Sky Tower edict—we're following orders.”
The grim-faced mage gripping Ollie's arm spoke from under his fur-trimmed winter robe.
“What does that have to— ”
“Heh, who's this? Baron Miner Gold of mana-less Beauty Tower, no less?”
“Long time no see, Servius.”
I'd been fixated on Jeff and Ollie when I realized we were at the tower. Servius had appeared out of nowhere, doffing his hood with a benevolent smile.
“Haha, your tower must not have gotten the notice—unrecognized by Sky Tower and all. Here, see for yourself.”
Servius raised a finger, sketching lightly in the air. A rolled scroll floated from his robes, unfurling before me.
Never have so many delved deep into dungeons as of late since their emergence. Deeper levels breed unknown poisons and contagious diseases, spreading them to the surface.
Sky Tower hereby commands all ground-bound mages sworn to lifelong service to humanity.
To halt the spread of unidentified diseases, any emerging from dungeons with contagious wounds must be immediately transported to the nearest magic tower for treatment.
Those refusing…… shall be forcibly conveyed and treated.
……What the actual fuck?
My face soured as I read on. Refusal meant forced transport—and the kicker? A one-month grace period starting today, but only for nobles. Commoners? Straight to the chop.
“This make any sense? Grace period for nobles only? What gives Sky Tower the right?”
Servius just beamed warmly at my sharp retort. He flicked his finger again; the scroll rerolled and returned to his robes.
“Even a mana-less soul like you knows basic continental history, I assume?”
What the hell's this lunatic on about?
“Heh, ignorance isn't a sin—easy there. The Dungeon Zone Special Law instantly enforces Sky Tower edicts.”
“The Dungeon Zone Special Law…… is Sky Tower's doing?”
“Heh heh heh, of course! Even His Imperial Majesty can't touch Sky Tower edicts. Want to change it? Climb Sky Tower yourself. Not that a mana-less hack like you could.”
“…….”
Easy mode when I first arrived. Hard mode now. Had to strategize. Jeff and Ollie were my guarantors—lose them, and Rachel at the territory office could screw me over. Had to save them, no matter what.