Chapter 138
Chapter 138
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 138
Chapter Title: Escalating Tensions
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—The Rohan Duchy and the Magic Tower have begun a power struggle.
It was only natural that this rumor became the talk of the entire continent.
Wizards over nobles.
In an atmosphere where this saying was taken for granted, a clash had finally occurred.
The Magic Tower had been able to grow unimpeded until now thanks to its great contributions during the Imperial Unification War.
At the time, wizards had actively participated in the war on the Emperor's side, and in recognition of their service, they were granted special privileges after the unified empire was established.
But now, they had grown so powerful that they had become a burden even to the nobility, which was causing problems.
Even most counts, and even marquises, had to tread carefully when dealing with the Magic Tower, so it was naturally a headache for the Emperor as well.
Yet, he couldn't simply suppress the war's greatest contributors, creating an ambiguous situation.
Ultimately, what the Emperor wanted was a reasonable check on their power, but so far, no one had succeeded.
“Greetings.”
“Please, have a seat.”
Romez, a 7th-floor wizard of the Magic Tower, was in a foul mood.
He had come here for a discussion with the Rohan Duchy, but an unexpected person was waiting for him.
Lennox Vega.
He gestured to a chair with an arrogant expression.
“I’ve wanted to meet you someday. This is perfect.”
Romez was no pushover, either.
As a 7th-floor wizard of the Magic Tower, he could easily handle someone of a count's rank.
Besides, the Lennox family had connections with them as well.
“It would have been better if the head of the Mirje Trading Company were here with us.”
The cooperation between the Lennox family and the Mirje Trading Company was already a well-known story on the continent. Especially after the Lennox family became the top family in the east through the War of Honor, there was hardly anyone who didn't know.
“The Magic Tower also has a close relationship with the Mirje Trading Company.”
“I am aware.”
Wang-sik replied with a smile. However, Romez's expression stiffened at what followed.
“That’s why I didn’t want to be here either. If only Lord Rohan Leit hadn’t been angry.”
“What? Angry?”
Wang-sik spoke with a look of regret.
“This monster subjugation is an official project undertaken by the Rohan Duchy. Elite knights are personally involved, and we are currently forming a separate subjugation force to increase our numbers.”
“I am aware of that.”
It was because the Rohan Duchy was making such preparations that the Magic Tower was taking this situation seriously and had sent Romez.
“The commander of this subjugation force is Lord Rohan Leit. The next head of the family has taken responsibility for a major project initiated by the duchy.”
Romez fell silent, lost in thought.
As the silence stretched on, Wang-sik had no choice but to ask.
“Does the Magic Tower wish to stop the subjugation?”
“That is correct.”
“Then you must have come with the authority to make a decision, regardless of what proposals are exchanged here.”
“What? That is…”
Only then did Romez understand Wang-sik's words.
“You’re saying I’m not qualified to have this conversation.”
“That’s not my opinion. I am merely here on behalf of Lord Leit.”
Wang-sik again wore a regretful expression.
It was so contrary to his initial arrogant demeanor that it almost felt sincere.
“Then today’s conversation is meaningless.”
“If it weren't for such a serious matter, we could have spoken with smiles. I regret this as well. I will arrange a meeting with the head of the Mirje Trading Company next time.”
Wang-sik maintained his courtesy to the end, but Romez's expression did not soften.
‘To think he would ignore me…’
This was the first time he had been treated this way since becoming a 7th-floor wizard.
‘Arrogant knights.’
In truth, the reason this situation was awkward for the Magic Tower wasn't simply because their opponent was a duke.
The empire's greatest family of knights.
They had almost no connection to the Magic Tower.
Due to their pride as knights, they had no interest in magic. Moreover, they disregarded business profits, so unlike other duchies, they had never invested.
Thus, a direct confrontation was inevitable.
“Then I shall take my leave.”
In the end, Romez left without gaining anything.
After he left, Wang-sik drank the still-warm tea.
“Lilia will have to step forward herself.”
Before that, the Magic Tower and the Rohan Duchy would not meet face-to-face.
“Shall we blow things up a bit, then?”
Wang-sik left the half-finished tea and moved on.
* * *
Late at night.
As the shops of Allat extinguished their lights one by one, closing for the day, the back alleys of the city stretched and began their own day.
Merchants hiding their guilt in the darkness emerged, and customers seeking pleasure and secrets began to haggle.
Though illegal, it was still a business, so the person in charge was bound to have a busy day.
—Do not do anything foolish.
Here in Allat, one had to be careful about everything.
This was because Dusk, which was rapidly transforming from a southern power into a nationwide organization, had issued special orders.
—If there’s something you want to do, go to another city, or do it quietly at home by yourself.
Whatever it was, the message was to be discreet externally.
And today.
As he was checking the ledgers, something appeared above his head.
A figure that passed freely through the building.
It was Lennox's ghost butler.
—I will relay the order.
The man in charge of Allat's back alleys bowed his head and listened intently to the ghost's words.
* * *
The war of nerves between the Rohan Duchy and the Magic Tower drew more and more attention. Contrary to expectations, a meeting between the two groups did not take place.
In the midst of this, the Rohan Duchy officially launched a three-hundred-member monster subjugation force in cooperation with the Lennox family.
This included fifty private soldiers from the Lennox family, including Mold, and Rohan Leit was named its commander.
Wang-sik was the vice-commander, which was something everyone had expected.
However, the three names listed as advisors were unexpected.
Three priests from the Hemian Temple.
The significance of their names, personally recruited by Wang-sik, was immense.
With priests participating instead of wizards, the subjugation force gained more weight.
The relationship between wizards and priests was even more awkward than that between wizards and knights.
Wizards had always considered themselves superior, and the resentment that had built up over time was slowly coming to the surface.
Now that it was no longer just a fight between wizards and knights, but a power struggle involving priests, the Magic Tower grew anxious.
‘It might not end with them.’
The Alchemist and Hunter Guilds were already showing signs of movement. At this rate, it felt like it would become a fight between wizards and all other factions combined.
And this sentiment spread rapidly.
‘They’ve had it good for too long.’
Having maintained an arrogant attitude rather than fostering relations while being the top group, this was, in a way, a natural consequence.
—The wizards were arrogant. They expected to be treated like His Majesty the Emperor.
Public opinion among the citizens was also unfavorable.
—Does it make sense to clear the way just because those bastards are passing by?
Even things that were commonplace in Magit were now erupting as complaints.
This was something the Magic Tower had not anticipated.
The Magic Tower, which usually ignored the opinions of ordinary citizens, couldn't help but be concerned in the current situation. Above all, it was because the citizens kept pointing out their weakness.
—They aren't actually nobles, are they?
This was the core of the issue.
Wizards hold no titles established by imperial law.
Legally, this meant they were commoners.
Priests had an officially recognized status in the empire, but wizards lacked even that.
The only one with a title was the grand magus of the 10th floor of the Magic Tower, whose current status—dead or alive—was unknown.
The Magic Tower was inevitably being cornered.
“Lilia is scheduled to come to the Rohan Duchy tomorrow.”
Wang-sik was discussing the current situation with Oh Min-jae over tea.
“You finally succeeded.”
“Dusk did a good job. They’ve certainly become useful.”
“Considering how much money we’ve invested in them, they’d better be.”
The rapid spread of negative public opinion was according to Wang-sik's instructions.
“Is it Seon-gi’s turn now? It’ll go well, right?”
“We have to trust him.”
This was as far as they could go.
From now on, it was the time of the shadow.
* * *
*Whoosh.*
The night wind swept through the silence of Magit.
The streets were empty.
Sa Seon-gi hid on the roof of an inn, observing Magit's central park.
The park, called the Sky Door, was the only way up to the Magic Tower.
It was highly probable that not a single person would pass by before sunrise, but Sa Seon-gi remained motionless, holding his position.
After spending enough time there, Sa Seon-gi moved to a new location.
From the Sky Door to the Gate Building, where the teleportation circle was located.
Sa Seon-gi checked the expected route several times.
He had already checked it hundreds of times, to the point where he memorized even the smallest cracks in every building, but he meticulously checked for any changes each day.
‘Just one chance.’
There are no second chances.
Assassination is decided in a fleeting moment.
‘This place should be good.’
The spot Sa Seon-gi had decided on after countless checks was a second-floor restaurant located where the road narrowed.
The protruding terrace was perfect for hiding, and he was confident he could take them out before they could react if he leaped down at an angle.
He ran through dozens of possibilities in his mind, and in every scenario, the assassination was a success.
‘I can take up to three.’
He pictured the situation in his mind and set his targets.
Lilia was a given, and if the 8th-floor wizard Falcon happened to be there, he planned to take him out as well.
This was a decision he had made from the moment he started planning the assassination, but now his resolve was wavering.
—Your safe escape is the priority.
It was because of what Wang-sik had said a little while ago when he came to inform him of Lilia's schedule.
—The target is Lilia. Don't overdo it.
The advice was as if he had read his mind.
‘Safely, eliminate only Lilia.’
There is no such thing as a safe assassination.
Sa Seon-gi didn't say that out loud. But the words that followed shook his resolve.
—There will be more work to do in the future.
This was different from when a failed mission meant death.
Those words made Sa Seon-gi think.
‘This place is definitely dangerous.’
The location he had chosen now had a high chance of success, but also a high risk of being exposed to many people.
Moreover, since the assassination would take place within Magit, escaping could be difficult.
‘If I only eliminate Lilia…’
Another place came to Sa Seon-gi's mind.
A place with a high success rate, where he could buy enough time to escape.
‘The most fatal place for a wizard.’
The target wouldn't even be aware of the assassin's presence.
His deliberation did not last long.
‘I’ll do as Wang-sik said.’
As he changed his plan, he realized.
‘I am no longer a Shadow of the Dark Moon.’
He formulated a plan befitting his new status.
* * *
Lilia found the current situation unpleasant.
It wasn't that she was reluctant to make public appearances. She enjoyed looking down on others.
‘Stupid fools.’
She would often think this to herself while watching those who applauded her.
She considered it the privilege of a genius.
‘I have to go to a place like this?’
But this time was different.
A meeting she was being dragged to against her will.
There, far from holding her head high, it was highly likely she would have to make concessions.
‘I can’t let that happen.’
Of course, she had no intention of taking a weaker position, whether her opponent was Duke Rohan or anyone else.
—We must protect the Dark Spirit Mountains.
All the wizards of the Magic Tower said this, but her pride was more important than practical benefits.
‘If they want a war, I’ll give them one.’
If she put her mind to it, she had the power to turn the Rohan Duchy into ruins in an instant. To her, those so-called knights were nothing more than foolish shields.
“I will escort you.”
“Remember this well. If you ever make me step forward for something like this again, I will use you as a test subject for my most gruesome experiment.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
After threatening her only disciple, Falcon, she led a party of four down from Sky City.