The Mad Archmage Repis
The person connected to Sylvia, and a Magic Tower affiliate at that—there was only one who fit the bill.
Repis Vartion.
She had entered the academy early at age 14, graduated from the Imperial Academy at 16, and by 18 was publishing magic theses at countless conferences hosted by the Magic Tower—a peerless magical genius. At 20, she became one of the Tower's mere three 7th Rank mages, and at 21, she was appointed professor in the Imperial Academy's school of magical research.
A genius mage said to appear only once every millennium. And the very mage who had caused Sylvia's expulsion from the academy.
She had been Sylvia's supervising professor at the time, even volunteering as her personal tutor to nurture the girl's promising future.
'If not for that incident, she wouldn't have been expelled.'
An unfortunate accident. But one that wouldn't have happened if Repis had been just a bit more cautious, if she'd invested more care in her own disciple.
"The mage tied to the Scorpions... is it Repis?"
Robinson nodded instead of answering. He couldn't bring himself to say her name aloud.
"The Scorpions aren't just your average back-alley thugs, then? How the hell are they connected to Repis?"
"I don't know the reason. But it's certain they're linked to her."
"Figured out what's in it for Repis, cozying up to a street gang like that?"
"Well..." Robinson lowered his voice. "Seems like they're smuggling illegal materials to the Magic Tower. You know those kids?"
Kids?
"The ones who used to come to the convenience store for booze and smokes?"
"Yeah. Looks like they pick out the ones with potential and send 'em over."
"For real?"
"As far as I know. They trick 'em into going as 'the mage's disciples,' use 'em as test subjects, then file missing persons reports. We've caught signs of it multiple times."
Repis had finally lost it. Human trafficking in the capital, of all things? With the Crown Prince watching?
No—precisely because it was her, she could pull it off in the capital. She probably figured even if caught, she could talk her way out with the Crown Prince.
'The Crown Prince might even know about it.' Maybe turning a blind eye.
"No reports of that have reached the guards or palace knights yet. Just reports of a few Magic Tower disciples going missing, or servants dying in experiments."
"The guards just glossed over it, huh."
Because it's the Magic Tower.
"Small scale, probably seen as a few individuals going rogue. And it's the Tower—crazy shit happens there all the time."
The Magic Tower was a place where, under the guise of magic and research, they flouted imperial law. Those mad researchers staked their lives on insane experiments. Unless it was outright treason, even the imperial family left them alone.
As long as it didn't threaten the capital's safety, like that black magic circle.
"Figured out what kind of magic it is?"
"No clue. That's all they know over there too. They just deliver goods to Rep—er, her, and get paid."
"Hm. Got it. Bigger deal than I thought. Good work."
"Nah, boss. If you tell me to do it, I enjoy every bit."
Robinson straightened up proudly.
"How'd you handle the Scorpions?"
"Couldn't touch her myself, so I roughed up a few mid-level guys as a warning. They won't come near the store again."
"Got it."
"Boss, you aren't heading there yourself, are you?"
"Gotta talk to her."
Need to find out why she's doing this crap.
"Dmitri."
"Yes, Store Manager!"
"Keep an eye on the store."
"Understood! I'll make sure no filthy humans dare sully this place!"
"Robinson."
"Yeah."
"You head back to the lake. Don't even think about tagging along."
"Boss, let me go. You don't know the way. I'll guide you."
Spirit's fine, but this wasn't Robinson's place. She'd spot him tailing her for sure.
She hadn't even bothered hiding in the first place. If she really wanted to stay under the radar, Robinson wouldn't have cut it.
"Repis is coming."
"Ahem! Oh yeah, suddenly remembered I've got a ton of backlog. Madam's calling me, right?"
Who you talking to? Robinson, who clearly wanted nothing to do with Repis, scrambled to grab his stuff and bolted.
"Boss, I'll be back soon!"
Dmitri watched him flee like a scared rabbit and asked,
"What kinda person makes that guy run off pale as a ghost?"
"She's got this nickname."
Dmitri tilted his head questioningly.
"The Magic Tower's mad bitch."
Not just any mad—
"The real deal mad bitch."
I headed to the Scorpions' HQ, based on what Robinson told me.
He'd already paid them a visit once; the place was a wreck.
The guards at the entrance were covered in bruises. They glared... until their eyes met mine.
"Guh!"
They sucked in a breath and squeezed their eyes shut.
"W-We were waiting for you."
They bowed their heads low.
Robinson had trained 'em good. Guy's a pro at this stuff.
"Got a guest?"
"Y-Yes... She's waiting for you, Store Manager."
"Got it."
The bruisers politely escorted me inside.
Inside was trashed. No chairs or desks left intact. The thugs were all battered and twisted up, while the young boys huddled trembling in a corner.
Those were the punks. The ones who'd come to our store for smokes.
"You ended up recruiting these kids after all?"
"Yes. Client seemed pleased with 'em."
"...Got it."
I brushed past them and went deeper in.
Opening the door—
"You're earlier than I expected."
A purple-haired mage lounged in the head seat, feet propped on the table, a yakuza boss standing by like her secretary.
Despite her beauty, her presence sent chills down my spine—a ferocious aura that prickled the skin.
Purple hair, matching purple eyes. She wore a hooded robe, but it couldn't hide her curves.
This was Repis Vartion.
The once-in-a-millennium genius. And the Magic Tower's mad bitch.
Her leg on the desk oozed legline perfection. She wiggled the black high heel at the end of her smooth calf.
Beautiful as she was, I couldn't feel anything good toward her.
She was infamous for ruthlessly discarding people for her goals. And because of her, Sylvia got kicked out of the academy.
"Knew you'd come around this time anyway."
"Thought it'd take longer. You hardly ever leave that convenience store of yours."
"Special circumstances."
"What kind?"
"The human trafficking—is it true?"
"Figured that's why you're here."
"It's against the law."
"Not a crime if you don't get caught, right?"
"Crown Prince would blow a fuse if he heard."
"Don't worry. No informants around here. No chance of getting caught."
Repis giggled.
"And it's not human trafficking. Just inviting kids with decent talent to the Tower. Discipleship there—servants, commoners, anyone would kill for it."
"They get sold to the Tower, and they all die inside. I know that much."
"Accidents."
She beamed, her voice light as a balloon.
"Can't ignore it now that I know."
"Nitpicker. You the knight captain or something? Why bother with this?"
Repis narrowed her eyes at me.
"To stop you making more victims. If the Crown Prince won't, I will."
"Like Sylvia?"
She grinned. "Still think I got her expelled?"
"You caused it. Dragged her into an untested experiment..."
"Store Manager, you don't get it. Great progress in magic demands sacrifice."
"That's exactly why I'm here. No more victims. If you wanna experiment, keep it within bounds."
That mindset—sacrifice anything for magical advancement.
"Such a stickler. Still."
"Stop it. Don't know what you're doing to those kids, but cross the line again, and I won't sit idle."
"Think you can beat me outside your store?"
Her voice turned icy. The air in the building turned frigid, like a storm raging.
Repis unleashed killing intent at me.
Her glare clashed with mine. The yakuza boss beside her had rolled back his eyes and passed out long ago.
No talking sense into her now.
Whatever experiment she's running, dipping into the underworld and trafficking crosses the line.
"If you think sacrificing anything for magic is fine, how's that different from the Sylax school that warned about black magic at the Tower?"
"Comparing me to black magic users? Store Manager, I spoiled you a bit, and now you overstep."
My hairs stood on end from her mana. Overwhelming power gap.
I've gotten stronger since coming here, but a 7th Rank mage is too much. Inside the store, maybe a draw. My invincible state—she couldn't kill me, nor I her.
But outside? No dice. Store invincibility only works indoors.
Realistically, I can handle up to 6th Rank mages. Beyond that's a wall I haven't climbed.
A towering, massive wall.
If Dmitri had been at full strength, I wouldn't have won so easily last time. I'd have taken heavy wounds against a 6th Rank.
Beating weakened Dmitri—no blood to drink—was pure luck, like snapping up easy prey.
But Repis now? Full power. Part of me wants to kneel and beg forgiveness.
But.
'Not like there's zero way to win.'
Didn't think I'd use this right away.
"By the way, that store stuff you're so proud of? Magic won't work on it. Analyzed the principles completely."
Repis smirked, reading my mind.
Her robe billowed. Massive mana swirled around her.
Starting with 7th Rank magic.
No openings in the massive formula flowing through the mana.
'Flawless.'
Defensive spells filled the area, blocking any approach.
"Don't worry. Won't kill you here. You're rare material. I'll bind your body and keep you safe in the Tower basement. Exciting, huh? Wonder what dissecting you bit by bit will yield? Haah, just thinking about it gets me hot..."
Chills.
Repis trembled, eyes glazed with perverse lust fixed on me.
"Mad bitch."
"Haah, Store Manager—you shouldn't have said that. You know how much I hate it."
Repis extended a hand, voice sticky and viscous.
"Eh, I'll let it slide this once. But add 100 experiments. Maybe one on your immortality too."
Mana gathered in her palm.
Eternal Binding
7th Rank Magic
⟨ Absolute Restraint Spell ⟩
A 7th Rank spell no one but another 7th Rank could break. Absolute binding.
She had no intention of killing me. Her overconfidence—knowing she'd win outside the store.
I was grateful for that arrogance.
I thrust my hand toward the mana bonds rushing at impossible speed.
"Gonna tie yourself up? Bolder than I thought, Store Manager."
She didn't see it.
What I gripped in the hand reaching for the mana.
A flesh-colored onahole.