Chapter 150. The Flash Was Dazzling
It had been a few days since we started living in Lorutel.
We were enjoying a life more luxurious than we could have ever imagined.
“Master of the Tower, it’s time for your meal.”
“Mm… let’s go.”
“Today’s menu is steak blended with Puriring leaves, which are good for internal injuries, and a salad served with Kakarlak fruits imported from the Great Hamern Forest. I hope it suits your palate.”
“Mm.”
Every meal was a spread of all kinds of delicacies from both land and sea.
The luxury I’d once enjoyed in the House of Brando couldn’t even begin to compare. Perhaps considering my physical condition, every meal was tailored toward foods that aided recovery from internal injuries, and the pinnacle of it all came after the meal.
“Your post-meal potion, sir.”
“Mm!”
This too was said to be good for healing internal injuries. The price was… well.
‘Must be expensive.’
I deliberately didn’t ask. Even the last few drops left in the bottle felt too precious to waste, if I knew the price, I might have ended up sticking my tongue into the bottle.
“I’ll take away the empty bottle, sir.”
“Mm.”
I smacked my lips as I watched the servant carry away the potion bottle.
‘Tsk, I bet there were still two drops left in there.’
Ah, for reference, in Lorutel, my standard response had been unified into one word: ‘Mm.’
On the night we arrived in Lorutel, Parun had told me so. Even if this was an organization of ghosts, since I had been introduced as the master of the Tower, shouldn’t I at least maintain the proper dignity befitting that title?
‘…Though I’m pretty sure that dignity was already shattered when I told them to “cut open my stomach.”’
Still, I agreed there was a need for dignity after seeing the house master, Muhard.
But why did I settle on ‘Mm’?
Because no matter how many times I tried to sound dignified, adjusting my tone and manner of speech, I always ended up feeling like I was going to develop gastritis instead of gravitas. That was when Shine’s advice proved effective.
— “Just shut your mouth.”
— “……”
— “Forget tone and manner of speech; the moment you open your mouth, you sound cheap. How is it that even when you try to sound refined, it somehow becomes vulgar…”
Well, what can I say. When a natural-born aristocrat says so, who am I to argue?
Honestly, Shine’s way of speaking was just as vulgar, so I tried arguing back, but it was an unwinnable fight.
— “Me? With you? Ha! Look here, Professor Parun, you be the judge.”
Ahem, Shine cleared her throat and spoke.
— “You vile bastard, stop that (beep-) nonsense, and from now on, just answer with ‘Mm.’ A (beep-) like you saying (beep-) will only make things (beep-) worse. (Beep-), (beep-), (beeeeeeeeeep-)”
For the record, all the (beep-)s are my own memory’s self-censorship.
I still can’t believe a “natural-born aristocrat” knew filthier words than a back-alley thug like me. It’s honestly too shameful to even recall. But what’s even more shocking was… yes.
— “What do you say, Professor Parun?”
— “Astonishing. I never knew vulgar words could possess such elegance.”
— “You see now? That is true class.”
Just as Parun said, Shine’s curses somehow carried a strange sense of class.
‘…What a filthy world.’
Some people speak refinedly and still sound crude, while others can spit filth and sound noble.
Still, what could I do?
As the master of the Tower, I had no choice but to keep my mouth shut.
But perhaps my silence had been misunderstood?
“…Shall I bring you another bottle, sir?”
The servant paused at the door, asking cautiously.
I replied, “Mm.”
“Yes, I’ll bring it right away then.”
“Mm.”
That was supposed to be a refusal.
Well, whatever, since he’s bringing it, might as well enjoy it.
Anyway, after finishing the second potion the servant brought, down to the very last drop, I left the dining hall.
Though I was living a life of luxury anyone would envy, I actually had a few concerns.
First of all…
“…That man is the master of the Tower?”
“So they say.”
“Indeed, so they say.”
The inexplicable hostility of the Lorutel knights.
At first, I thought it might be because of the commotion I caused on the first day, but for that, their attitude seemed strangely ambiguous.
Above all, look there.
In the distance, Commander Ekst spotted me and began walking over.
If it were truly about that intrusion on the first day, the one who should resent me most would be Commander Ekst himself…
“Master of the Tower, have you eaten? I’m currently working on a new anti-magic battle tactic, if you have a moment, could I get your advice?”
His voice dripped with inexplicable goodwill.
‘…Why?’
Even if the knights held some grudge, why was he so overly friendly?
Setting aside the commander’s odd behavior, I had noticed a few things about the situation.
‘First off… the ones glaring daggers at me are all the lower-ranked knights.’
I didn’t often see the commander or vice-commander, but when I did, they didn’t show any hostility.
And another thing…Among those common knights, the word “training journal” kept coming up in their conversations about me.
‘…Training journal? What’s that supposed to mean?’
At first, I thought it was coincidence, but hearing it repeatedly made it clear. There was some kind of connection between their subtle hostility toward me and this “training journal.” But asking directly felt awkward…
“Ah, are you busy? I won’t take much of your time. Hm, if not, could I at least ask a few brief questions?”
I brushed off my thoughts at Commander Ekst’s question.
‘Tsk, whatever.’
What’s the worst that could happen? Even if those knights glare at me, at most I’d get stabbed in my sleep, and I’ve long since gotten used to the taste of Lorutel’s knives.
Of course, the familiar pain is the most frightening of all, but still.
“Mm.”
I tried to decline Commander Ekst’s invitation and keep walking. Or rather, I tried to. That’s when a rough hand gripped my shoulder tightly!
“Truly, thank you! I was in dire need of a capable mage’s counsel! Now, let us move to another place, I’ve been thinking of a few things…”
Hey, this old man.
I said no, didn’t I?
“Mm, mm.”
I shook my head repeatedly in refusal, but Commander Ekst was relentless.
“Ah! You mean I shouldn’t thank you so much? Such humility!”
He laughed heartily and suddenly pulled me into a crushing embrace!
As my bones felt like they were being ground to dust, I bit my lip hard.
‘This bastard… is he doing this on purpose?’
* * *
I, who had been seized in the morning, was only released by Commander Ekst near lunchtime.
“Master of the Tower! I can’t thank you enough! You’ve been such a great help! I’ve never met anyone with such deep insight into anti-magic tactics and defensive strategy! Perhaps we could have lunch togeth—”
“I’m busy.”
I’d decided never to use ‘Mm’ with this man again. Refusing his lunch invitation, I stepped outside.
For the record, my conversation with Commander Ekst had been meaningful in its own way.
‘Anti-magic tactics? Well, what’s so special about that?’
You just charge in. Simple. It’s just that doing it is the hard part. But how could I ignore the pleading eyes of that fierce, aged lamb seeking enlightenment?
So I taught him.
Taught him what?
‘Dekulan’s tactics.’
Of course, I wasn’t from the Mage Corps, so I wasn’t exactly an expert on Dekulan’s formations and strategies.
Still, I had studied a few formation-breaking methods while preparing for retirement, just in case.
‘It’s only partial knowledge, but… not bad.’
When I shared that, Commander Ekst was absolutely ecstatic.
Of course, I didn’t say it was Dekulan’s strategy, I merely described a few generic countermeasures that just happened to be Dekulan’s.
Anyway, why was it “meaningful”?
Because I’d caught two birds with one stone.
‘By enlightening a fierce old lamb, I both saved a soul and spread the name of Dekulan.’
Two good deeds at once!
‘Maybe I’m actually the true apostle of Dekulan?’
I think of Dekulan day and night, mention Dekulan every time I open my mouth, and keep Dekulan always in my heart.
At this rate, Dekulan himself should be giving me an award…
‘Ah, actually, that’s three birds.’
By revealing the method and route I’d used to infiltrate Lorutel, I probably also doomed any potential co-conspirators, truly a threefold blessing!
Anyway, that’s why it had been a meaningful time.
‘…But still, something feels off.’
Why on earth was that fierce old lamb so friendly?
During our talk, he had muttered something about “thanks to you, the knights can now cultivate their discipline…” or something like that, but I still didn’t get it. That uneasy, creeping feeling was growing stronger.
But then again…
‘Who cares.’
I shook off the discomfort and kept walking. Honestly, I felt like grabbing a passing knight and beating the truth out of him, but there was something more urgent right now.
After walking for a while…
“Hm, here it is.”
I arrived at a certain building in Lorutel.
Its name…The Institute of Magical Studies.
A magical research facility.
People often find it surprising when they hear that a swordsmanship household runs a magic institute.
After all, such institutes aren’t places to practice magic, but to research its theories.
Maintaining one isn’t necessary, and even if it were, only a true mage family could afford it.
Yet, ironically, swordsmanship houses often put their heart and soul into maintaining one.
‘Even the finest swordsmanship families still need mages… Know your enemy to win a hundred battles, right?’
Of course, there were several key differences from the mage families’ institutions, the biggest one being in personnel. Unlike mage houses, which filled their institutes with in-house mages, swordsmanship houses staffed theirs with 100% outsiders.
‘Well, there are apparently a few who swear lifelong service, but they’re rare.’
And needless to say, there was a stark difference in the quality of research as well.
‘But then why did that old lamb come to me instead of the Institute of Magic here in Lorutel?’
I decided to stop thinking about him, the more I did, the guiltier I felt, as if I’d committed some unseen crime.
Anyway, why had I come here?
‘Our dear Professor Parun.’
Exactly. Because Parun was here.
Ah, he hadn’t transferred, he was just here to learn how to handle the Infinite Chain from the Institute that managed it.
With that in mind, I made my way to find him. There were guards at the entrance, but when I showed my temporary platinum badge, they let me through without question.
And as I stepped inside the Institute…I froze in the first-floor lobby, staring blankly at the scene before me.
“Excuse me, may I ask what brings you here? Ah, could it be… Master of the Tower?”
One of the Institute’s pen-holders recognized me, but I didn’t respond. No, I couldn’t.
“How could… this be…”
“Master of the Tower? If you’re looking for an associate, I can show you the way…”
I flinched back as the pen-holder approached me. Perhaps startled by my reaction, he too froze awkwardly.
As he stood there confused, I cast him a brief glance, then turned my gaze back to the scene before me.
“W-why are you acting this way…?”
Why, he asks?
“…Do you really not know?”
“Y-yes… I don’t understand.”
Rage welled up within me.
You really, truly don’t know the reason?
“…You are unworthy to call yourselves pen-holders.”
“Master of the Tower? What do you…?”
Perhaps my voice had been too loud, every pen-holder, no, every mage in the lobby turned their gaze toward me. Normally, even this should have been answered with an ‘Mm.’ But right now, I couldn’t control my tongue.
“Why… do all of you still have such lush hair?”
A needle-sharp question pierced the silence.
“…!”
Some gasped.
“…”
Others trembled around the eyes.
A chill wind blew through the Institute of Magic.
And then… was it fate’s cruel joke?
Tap!
A clump of hair fell to the floor in the wind.
No, not a clump of hair.
“That is…”
At my question, the mage who dropped it gave a bitter smile. As he bent down to pick it up…I saw it.
A vast, barren plain, his wide, gleaming scalp.
The mage before me added softly,
“It’s a wig, Master of the Tower.”
He opened his lid, no, his wig, to prove himself.
One by one, the others followed, each lifting their nests, no, their wigs, to show their sincerity.
I could only bow my head.
“…I was short-sighted.”
“It’s all right, Master of the Tower,” said Pen-holder #1 with a faint smile.
“It’s fine,” said Pen-holder #2, smiling the same way.
And as every pen-holder in the room gave me that same bitter smile…
“Master of the Tower, I’ve heard you’re a remarkable mage.”
Pen-holder #1 looked at my head with expectant eyes. All the others’ gazes followed, fixing upon my hair.
Under their countless stares, I smiled calmly.
“Thank you.”
“Yes, then…”
“Now, please take me to my associate.”
“…Master of the Tower?”
I turned my eyes toward the window.
“The weather is truly fine today, isn’t it?”
The sunlight was so bright.
Flash!
It was dazzling.
