Lost Near the Golden Light Magic Tower
Ow...
Something's off...
I was pretty sure I'd come the right way.
I tilted my head at the unfamiliar scenery stretching out before me.
I'd gone straight where it said straight, turned where it said turn... right?
Hmm...
Scratching the back of my head, I turned back the way I'd come.
Thud, thud.
This time, I wouldn't miss even the tiniest gap—I walked with the map practically glued to my face, ignoring the landscape entirely.
Straight, right turn, right turn, straight again.
I looked up.
The same fountain. The same tower.
Hmph.
Déjà vu hit me.
My first day at the Grand Duke's Castle. The day I'd wandered around trying to find the center to install heating magic throughout the whole place.
Even after spreading mana to map every path, I'd ended up needing Arwen's help to reach the inner courtyard. That memory surfaced.
Haa... damn...
Looked like I'd gotten lost.
I didn't bother denying the obvious. Plopping down on a bench by the fountain, I sat and sorted my thoughts.
How to find the right path. Let's think.
First option: Ask someone passing by.
"Rejected."
Way too hard.
This wasn't my turf like the Grand Duke's Castle, I wasn't in a position of power over whoever I asked, and obviously, we weren't acquainted.
How the hell would that even work...?
I shook my head, erasing the first idea, and brainstormed the next.
Second: Figure it out myself.
"Perfect."
Loved that one.
I hopped off the bench—my feet didn't quite reach the ground—and landed with a bounce.
"First things first, gotta figure out where I am."
If I memorized the name of every spot I passed and navigated around them one by one, I'd eventually hit my destination.
For that, I headed toward the most obvious landmark: the massive tower.
"No signs or plaques anywhere?"
I circled it, but nothing.
Just a giant golden tower.
Something about it tugged at my memory, familiar yet fuzzy...
As I glared at it, racking my brain, a shadow suddenly fell over my vision.
"Lost, are we?"
A human shadow.
A low voice came from behind me, laced with cigarette smoke.
"Cough, cough...!"
"Ah, sorry about that."
Hacking from the acrid smoke, I whipped around.
Indigo uniform.
Just like the guards at the city gates when we entered the capital.
The differences? Gold epaulets on the shoulders and a silver badge on the chest shaped like a shield and sword.
"If you're lost, I'll take you home."
The man bent down, offering me a hand.
Black leather gloves. The tips shiny from... burns, maybe?
"I'm not lost."
"Then what's a kid doing out here in this out-of-the-way spot?"
"......Tourism."
Not the full truth, but not a lie either.
I still had no clue what this place was for, but damn, it was huge.
Towers rivaling modern skyscrapers weren't exactly common. Totally worth sightseeing.
"Right, sure. Still, if you're gonna sightsee, do it from farther away. Wouldn't want you caught in some experiment around the Golden Light Magic Tower."
"Ah...! The Magic Tower!"
The golden Magic Tower. It clicked.
Why hadn't I recognized it sooner? The puzzle in my head snapped together.
I clapped, letting out a gasp—and the man snorted in disbelief.
"Didn't you say tourism?"
At the same time, he scooped me up by the waist with one arm, pulling me against his chest.
"Wha—hey...!"
"Just bear with it a sec. I'll drop you off by the fountain. Name's Alik."
He talked like I was some little kid. As if there was anyone else as mentally mature as me.
A surge of injustice hit me—maybe I should invent a height-growth spell? Nah, gave up quick.
No ideas. Biotech wasn't my field.
To develop magic, I needed to grasp the underlying physics or structure first.
Can't build a house without blueprints, right?
Of course, even that wasn't the standard method.
Haa...
Eh, height would sort itself out with time.
Alik set me down on the bench by the fountain, lips pursed in a pout.
The solid ground under my feet brought sweet relief—a sigh escaped me.
"That bad, huh? Sorry."
Glancing at me warily, Alik plopped down beside me.
Thinking I'd gotten mad, he tried to cheer me up.
"Here, I'll show you something fun."
He raised his right hand, a tiny flame flickering to life at his fingertip.
Magic.
My eyes locked on it instinctively.
Brain spinning to analyze: mana consumption as fuel, combustion point temp, how ambient oxygen bonds with mana...
Mistaking my gaze for innocent curiosity, Alik smiled warmly and grew the flame bigger.
"Be careful around the Magic Tower. Mages tend to be... unstable."
"...Not all of them."
Like me, for instance.
Alik paused at my words, staring blankly at his flame, lost in thought.
"True... you're right. I was too hasty. Still, caution's key."
A long silence, then those words, heavy with regret.
"Where are your parents?"
"Don't have any."
"......Sorry."
Ruen—me—was an orphan. Just stating facts.
Alik covered his face with a heavy sigh.
"That's why... you were playing alone?"
"Not playing. Touring."
"Right... touring..."
This guy was impossible to talk to. Definitely a mage.
Makes sense—I'm the only normal one in this business.
Ignoring my clarification, Alik kept eyeing me with pity dripping from his gaze.
No, seriously, it's not like that.
"What about you, mister? Why're you here?"
Changing the subject to lighten the mood.
"Had some business needing the Magic Tower's cooperation."
"Aha."
That explained why Arwen headed back to the tower at dawn.
"Something went down in the market district. Stay away from there for a bit."
"Aha..."
I had a pretty good idea what "incident" he meant.
I'd cleaned it up perfectly—how'd they find out...?
"Capital's getting rough lately. Market stuff aside, the Lupiento Count's mansion keeps getting robbed."
"Ah... ha......"
Felt like a dagger to the chest.
I knew exactly who was behind every incident he mentioned.
"...I've said too much useless crap. Where's home? I'll walk you."
"Uh, the 'Lapis Lazuli' inn that way."
"Fancy place."
Cold sweat poured down.
All for justice—or self-defense—but this investigator wouldn't see it that way.
"Survivor's pension, huh? Parents were military?"
Luckily, his random mutter meant no suspicion.
"I used to be in the army too."
"Y-yeah. Wow... impressive!"
I rolled my eyes, forcing out soulless agreement.
Couldn't face those sad, pitying eyes straight on.
Hmm hmm hum♪
Arwen softly hummed a tune from a musical she'd seen in the capital with her father long ago, shuffling through papers.
The scratch of the quill on paper blended pleasantly with her humming in the quiet office.
Arwen's father. The previous Grand Duke.
The era's rare swordmaster and the North's steadfast pillar—since his disappearance, the duchy hadn't seen a single sunny day.
Suddenly thrust into the role, Arwen had been crushed by grim duty, but lately, peace had finally returned to her heart.
"Supplies all sorted..."
Loans repaid smoothly, winter conquered, and best of all, the magic beast wave repelled without a single casualty.
Unprecedented.
Life's worth living...
A faint smile lit her face—
—Crash!
"Eek!!"
Something shattered the office window behind her and flew in.
"Your Grace, what happened?!"
Her scream brought the guard knights bursting through the door.
Once gaunt from the territory's hardships, their frames now bulged with returning muscle.
"N-nothing. Go check outside."
Despite her protests, they scoured the broken window and corners before withdrawing.
Really, nothing. Just a letter delivered.
Though the method was wildly flawed.
Arwen sighed softly, picking up the fallen letter.
She read it carefully.
Hello!
Saw something weird in the capital.
(A crudely scribbled magic beast drawing)
Magic beast!
Guys in black clothes tried attacking our carriage with a magic beast.
I stopped 'em, of course. Hehe.
Turns out they're connected to the count.
Look into it in the North too. Thanks!
P.S.: Yriel's rich, so everyone get along nice.
The childish tone and messy handwriting drew an unwitting smile, but the contents were anything but light.
A magic beast attack—in the capital.
Beasts that only surged from beyond the border were the North's eternal curse.
If one rampaged here, the blame would fly straight to them first.
Are they insane?
Rage boiled up, but Arwen steadied her shaking breath, reining it in.
Not yet. Analyze first.
Hoo... how the hell did they even get a magic beast?
Her gaze lingered on a document on the desk corner.
The loan agreement.
Preserved as a reminder of the humiliation she'd swallowed at the territory's nadir.
One heavy clause stabbed her vision:
[Command of the North's 3rd Legion shall be delegated to the individual recommended by the Count's family and appointed by the Imperial Family.]
Time for action.
Yriel's cold gaze turned to the window.
Precisely, the training grounds.
More precisely, the 3rd Legion commander in the center, yawning his jaw off.