The Drinking Sage 36

The Tower Master needed a bit of time to calm down.

After a brief commotion, she regained her composure and cleared her throat.

“Ahem.”

I could see her face with closed eyes was filled with embarrassment. She must be aware that she had behaved quite impulsively.

Opening her eyes again. The Tower Master spoke again in a calm voice.

“I apologize. I showed an embarrassing side of myself.”

“Not at all.”

It was indeed embarrassing, but.

How could I say such things in front of Adela? I maintained a composed expression suggesting I didn’t mind.

The Tower Master then explained the reason for her actions.

“Honestly, I was surprised. Both the Sage and I have the ability to interfere with others’ mana, but we couldn’t adjust it delicately.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes. So, seeing Your Highness interfere so effectively, I realized.”

Her eyes were looking straight at me.

Unwavering will. The fixation on a research topic that a mage should naturally possess.

“That Your Highness is an individual absolutely necessary for my research.”

“Hmm.”

“Therefore, I dare to make a request to the imperial royal family. This is not a personal favor, but more like a deal the Tower sends to the Empire.”

‘To that extent.’

Referring to the parties not as the Tower Master and royal, but as the Tower and Empire.

Ultimately, it’s to make it difficult for me to refuse.

Since the Empire has due reason to respond to the formal request of the Tower.

The Tower Master’s mouth opens. She then confessed her inner thoughts without reservation.

“To be honest, the purpose for which I held this party has virtually been achieved.”

“Isn’t that too hasty a judgment? I don’t consider myself to be that significant.”

“No.”

She strongly denied my words. She had unwavering confidence in her judgment.

“No one else could recreate the miracle Your Highness just performed. Because you dealt with emotions.”

“…”

“No magic dares to manipulate ’emotion’ itself. That’s the limit of humans. Your Highness has crossed that, so how could I overlook it?”

It’s a valid point.

Throughout history, no mage has ever created, erased, or changed human emotions.

Because God didn’t give humans that much authority.

Only one species was granted that right. Dragons.

At that moment, Adela cut in from the side.

“Wait. Mom…, no. Tower Master.”

Her voice is quite unfamiliar. It’s not the usual honey-dripping sweet tone. Nor is it filled with confident boldness.

Concern.

Words filled with worry for me are directed toward the Tower Master.

“You’re not planning to make the Prince use his power, are you? Not just theoretical help for research or something like that?”

“That’s right. What I need for my research now isn’t a few words of advice. I want more of the miracle that the Prince just performed.”

“No!”

A shrill voice strikes the audience chamber.

The Tower Master opens her eyes wide at the sudden outburst. However, Adela continued to fire words without minding.

“That’s not acceptable. The Prince absolutely cannot use his power.”

“What does that mean?”

“I wanted to stop it earlier too but held back considering the Tower Master, and now you want to make him do more? Even if you’re my mother…!”

A slightly bewildered look appears on the Tower Master’s face. As if she hadn’t expected Adela to speak to her like this.

However, a reason is missing.

If Adela herself doesn’t explain the reason, it would sound out of the blue from the Tower Master’s perspective.

“Sage. That’s enough.”

“…Your Highness.”

“I appreciate your stepping up for me. But there’s no need for you to raise your voice to your mother like that.”

Adela’s momentum calms down again. As if she’s calmed her excitement, a deep sigh comes out.

“…I’m sorry. Tower Master. Your Highness. I was rude.”

“No. It’s alright. There must be a reason. However….”

The Tower Master’s gaze turns to me.

-Can you explain?

To the gaze with a clear question, I shook my head.

‘Not good.’

There’s no reason to let others know that my body is greatly affected by dragon blood. Especially since it’s an issue that could lead to loss of life if mishandled.

I don’t want to cause a huge wave in the Empire and the world.

‘Adela alone is enough.’

This fact should remain a secret between the Sage and me.

“I apologize. I cannot explain the reason, but. As the Sage said, I am in a situation where I cannot easily use my power.”

“…I see.”

Of course, just like how I read the Tower Master’s emotions just now. And as I usually read other people’s emotions.

Since the Dragon Eyes are always activated, it’s not something I can suppress.

Fortunately, the Dragon Eyes themselves don’t greatly affect the body’s erosion by dragon blood.

However, actions like interfering with another’s mana, as I did earlier, were quite reluctant acts as they could accelerate the erosion.

“Haah-“

A sigh escapes from the Tower Master’s mouth.

She seemed unable to hide her regret. Perhaps I was beyond imagination, the perfect helper she had been hoping for.

However, as could be seen from Adela’s reaction. I was in a position where I couldn’t easily help the Tower Master.

The Tower Master nodded again.

“Alright. I can’t insist on making the impossible possible. For now, I’ll put the Prince’s matter on hold.”

“Thank you for your consideration. However, I can certainly assist your research with my knowledge, so please don’t worry too much.”

“Thank you. Then, let’s discuss this matter further over time.”

The Tower Master moves her footsteps. At the end was the chair she had been sitting on until a moment ago.

Sitting down with a plop, the Tower Master addressed us.

“Since the conversation has concluded for now. Please look around the tower for a while. As the party hasn’t started yet, I’d like you to spend time with the Sage in the meantime.”

‘Is it my imagination?’

The content of the words seemed to have a subtle intention.

Somehow, it seemed she was hoping for Adela and me to become closer.

It hasn’t even been a day since we met. Is her evaluation score of me quite high?

“…It’s been a long time.”

The Tower Master whispered softly.

Perhaps not as the Tower Master, but as an ordinary mother.

She quietly murmured.

“It’s been really a while since I felt ‘happiness.'”

“If you felt that way, it was worthwhile.”

“Yes. Well, it was a good time. Lorang von Welert, Third Prince of the Empire.”

Intending to end the meeting with those words just now.

The Tower Master waved her hand.

Simultaneously, the sound of the gate opening is heard.

“It was good to see you after a long time. Tower Master. See you next time.”

Adela politely bowed her head in greeting and. When she was about to step back.

“Tower Master.”

“?”

I addressed the Tower Master.

It’s too early to leave with Adela. Because I haven’t heard what I should hear.

“You know my name, yet how can I not know yours?”

“…Haven’t you heard the name Ciadellia in social circles?”

“I’m not talking about the family name.”

Name.

She must have realized that I was saying I wanted to know her name.

The corners of the Tower Master’s mouth curl up. Her expression with a soft smile showed a quite satisfied demeanor.

“…Proper introductions, huh. The Third Prince is quite old-fashioned. In the imperial social circles, knowing just the family name and position would be enough.”

“It’s just my nature. I hear that a lot.”

“Alright.”

The Tower Master smiles brightly.

That smile, exactly like her daughter’s. The white face amidst black hair was like a star in the night sky.

“Agria. It’s Agria Ciadellia.”

And then, she adds one more thing.

“My son-in-law.”

At those words, a bitter smile forms on my lips.

It seems that to the Ciadellia mother and daughter, I have already become a husband and son-in-law.

However.

‘It’s not an unpleasant feeling.’

Perhaps it’s because I’ve been influenced by the troublemaking classmates of the Academy’s special class.

Somehow, it wasn’t particularly displeasing.

So I casually returned the joke.

“Yes. Thank you. Mother-in-law.”

Seeing Agria laughing with a “pft” at my words, I thought.

‘My future self will handle it.’

Though I felt irresponsible lately.

Perhaps it’s progress for someone emotionless like me.

 

After leaving the audience chamber, I walk down the corridor with Adela.

The indoor brightness is still low. In the landscape of the Pitch-Black Tower that likes darkness.

Adela pressed her body against my waist. Already with our arms crossed and intertwined.

With her arm linked with mine, she smiled with her eyes. The coquettish expression was filled with affection.

“Thank you for doing as I said.”

“…”

There was no need to ask what she meant.

‘She must be talking about me revealing the secret.’

Directly revealing the imperial secret to her mother, the Tower Master.

It was an action taken in response to seeing her sincerity, enough to place a geas.

But to Adela, it seemed to be an unbearably lovely act.

“Don’t worry about it. I did it because I wanted to.”

“Yes. That’s why I like you.”

“…”

It’s heavy.

Like the confession she made once, Adela’s words were filled with love for me.

Unable to skillfully handle that emotion, I end up feeling like a sinner.

However, Adela continued speaking as if she didn’t mind my reaction.

“Right now, it’s just time for you and me. Please don’t think too deeply.”

“Then, what do you want to do?”

It will be some time before the famous figures from different worlds arrive at the Pitch-Black Tower.

What can Adela and I, who came early, do together?

To my question, Adela smiled with a “hehe” and.

“Have you ever been in a girl’s room?”

“Pardon?”

Suddenly, she threw such a question.

Adela closed her eyes and raised her voice as if singing. I can feel that she’s looking forward to the time ahead.

“There’s a room of the Sage Adela Ciadellia in this tower. I want to introduce Your Highness to that place.”

“…”

“Since I know too well that Your Highness isn’t one to carelessly enter other women’s rooms. I’ll be the first, right? Hehe.”

As her eyelids were still closed.

Adela didn’t see my expression till the end.

I was so relieved about that fact.

“…Yes, that’s right.”

Because I was able to hide the convulsion of my facial muscles, which was enough to shake the curse of emotionlessness.

-Hehe. You’re honored to enter a Saint’s room. Are you pleased? Are you excited? How is it?

The memory that flashed through my mind was of the gray-haired Saint.

Those were the words she said to me in front of her room.

Since I couldn’t tell the excited Adela in front of me that I had already been to another girl’s room.

“…”

I quietly closed my mouth.

‘Let’s protect Adela’s maiden heart.’

But honestly, I felt a bit of self-loathing as it seemed my playboy skills were improving.