Chapter 157
Chapter 157
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 157
Chapter Title: 14. Farther Than Love, Closer Than Friendship (5)
In the end, after some discussion, we decided to head to the Magic Tower with Leimi Sis. She wasn't sure if she'd be much help since it had been a while since she left the place, but I agreed with her point that it was still better than nothing when it came to watching out for any shady tricks.
Frankly speaking, if there were any magic traps set up, I had no way to detect them. I'd just have to rely on my body's natural resistance and toughness to bulldoze through while taking the hits.
Why else would I have gone through hell just because isolating Svetlana was my only option?
The Magic Tower was technically under the imperial family, so they probably wouldn't go completely off the rails, but that didn't rule out the possibility of them sneakily planting some kind of bomb... That was the reasoning.
You might think it was overly distrustful, but among wizards—especially those obsessed with their research—there was always at least one weirdo with some bizarre quirk.
Not that the whole organization was strange, but there were definitely a few bad apples.
"It's definitely a bit chilly."
"Well, it is the north. And winter's just around the corner."
In any case, after notifying them of our visit, I passed through the transfer gate and arrived at the Magic Tower. Last time, we'd used a carriage for various reasons, but true to its reputation as the center of magical technology, the transfer was smooth and nausea-free.
"Mina ended up giving up, huh."
"It took a while."
"It's not easy to just waltz into the Magic Tower without a good excuse."
Leimi Sis at least had the pretext of being a former member, but Mina Sis had no reason at all to go there.
In the end, after logical explanations, some coaxing and cajoling, and promising them some alone time later, I managed to shake her off.
"Sigh."
"Can't say I blame you for not liking it."
"Yeah. I have this prejudice that they're up to something suspicious."
"You're half right about that."
I let out a deep sigh, and a faint puff of steam escaped my mouth. So this was what northern autumn... no, early winter felt like. I hadn't come up here much, so it was a new experience for me.
We waited a bit for a guide to show up, and soon a familiar face appeared—one I hadn't seen in a while.
"Long time no see."
"Dalia..."
"Hey. You greet the help first instead of your friend?"
"Well, they did help me out."
Leimi Sis poked her in the side, and Dalia let out a very ladylike laugh.
I wasn't used to that kind of refined, elegant smile—Ermina was the only one around me who smiled like that.
"Ahem. Anyway, before we go in, there's something important I need to tell you. The Tower Master asked me to pass it on before you arrived."
"Okay."
"No one around besides the three of us, right? Check once more."
I expanded my senses to scan the area, and Leimi Sis cast a detection spell.
The only thing nearby was the Magic Tower building itself. Honestly, the tower's massive mana presence made it hard to see much else.
I shrugged, and Leimi Sis gave an OK sign with her hand. Dalia lowered her voice slightly and spoke.
"That artificial lifeform... the Jewel Dragon, right? Apparently, there's something important in part of the corpse we received. We've gotten intel that the creator is planning to raid us to steal it back."
"...The creator would be a demon, then."
"Exactly. It's a complicated issue, so it wasn't something we could discuss over comms. And here I was, not sure how to respond."
"Sorry. I got a bit heated there for a moment. If it's demon-related, I'm grateful for the heads-up."
I'd come fully armed in preparation for the Magic Tower, but it looked like I'd be dealing with demons instead.
If it wasn't a lie, that is.
Even if Dalia wasn't lying, the info she got could still be disinformation.
In any case.
For now, since Dalia was guiding us, I figured it would be fine and followed her in. We registered our biometrics to complete visitor authentication and headed inside.
The authentication procedures and security systems were incredibly complex and intricate, but following instructions kept things smooth.
The place we were shown to right away was our room. It was normally reserved for researchers or special VIPs, but they'd made an exception for young Duke Lebedev this time.
"Is this really okay?"
"The Tower Master is a Lebedev, after all, so he handed it over without hesitation."
"Haa..."
Then I'd have to act like a proper Lebedev here.
Not here to rest, but to work—that was the mindset.
I opened the door to find an inner room equipped to the level of a count's private chambers.
Honestly feeling fed up, I dropped off my luggage and headed back out. I locked eyes with Leimi Sis, who came out wearing the exact same expression, and we both burst out laughing.
"This is a bit much."
"Lebedevs don't hold back."
"That's the kind of family they are. It's just that I don't appreciate it."
"Yeah."
After unpacking, I headed down to the lobby. Dalia, who had been touching up her makeup in the mirror, came out with a startled look.
"You came out without resting?"
"No need to rest right away, and the room was a bit intimidating."
"Mm. The interior tends to overwhelm visitors."
"I can imagine. Um, those two people I know."
"About that. This area is a secret zone that doubles as high-security quarters. So Ermina the student is in the regular dorms, and Professor Selene is in researcher housing."
"Ah, got it."
Ermina was important, but not VIP-level by Magic Tower standards.
Light magic was rare but not nonexistent, and her social position and influence were limited.
"If there's no special schedule, I'd like to meet up with those two. Is that possible?"
"You do have a schedule right now. You need to meet Professor Elvin, whom you were specifically invited by, and the Tower Master wants to see you too."
"...Then push my request to tomorrow. Duty calls."
"Let's start with Professor Elvin, then."
She fiddled with some kind of terminal, confirmed the reply, and guided me. Leimi Sis, who hated academics with a passion, declined and headed back to the room.
How much had they drained her back in grad school?
With a wry smile, we exited the building, crossed a garden where distances deceived the eye, and arrived at the research wing.
I didn't figure it out myself—Dalia pointed out that it was just another identical-looking building, but specified as the research wing.
Sure enough, it took longer than it looked to reach. The alloy outer wall parted slightly, revealing a biometric scanner.
We both scanned, the door opened, and at the same time, we heard a clattering from the stairs.
"...Professor Elvin. Please come down slowly."
"Aigoo. How could I keep such an esteemed guest waiting?"
"Right now, treat him as Yulius the private contractor, not the commissioner."
"Of course, of course."
Professor Elvin was the same as ever. He tossed out words that could be taken as threats depending on how you heard them, then laughed it off heartily while eyeing us.
Not planning to talk standing up, we moved to his office.
The head seat was left empty as Yulius and Professor Elvin sat facing each other, with Dalia beside him. Then the real talk began.
"Lord Yulius."
"The 'lord' title makes me a bit uncomfortable."
"Understood. Yulius. The reason I went out of my way to invite you, when you were enjoying a peaceful time far away, is this."
"I heard some from Dalia."
"Yes. The empire is vast, and its people many. And regarding the demon threat, many are complacent. It's common knowledge that even among those working in the palace, some collude with demons."
"One was caught last time too."
"There are more. Anyway, a collaborator in the palace's mage corps tried to smuggle out some important materials, and it seems they got mixed into a shipment headed to the Tower."
"Can you tell me how you obtained this information?"
He fell silent at my question, then whispered quietly.
"I have many friends."
"You seem well-connected."
"Naturally, I have daily contact with people in the mage corps, and I already know about the member acting suspiciously."
"Why not expose them?"
"Because that suspicious member's recommender is also my friend."
Looking at Professor Elvin's beaming smile made me think of those infuriating high-society noble gatherings.
Sometimes, well-connected merchants were scarier than lofty nobles. Pondering how to handle this researcher-turned-politician, I decided to accept reality.
"Am I a friend too?"
"I consider you one, and I'd like us to become even better friends."
"Then it's simple. My recent interests are His Majesty's safety and demon movements."
"Sounds like we could have a very meaningful chat. Friends enjoy even trivial gossip, don't they?"
We locked eyes briefly as he grinned amiably again, and I let out a sigh through my nose. He broke into a wide smile.
I couldn't smile.