The Sage Who Drinks 44

I emerge from a dim back alley.

The sun that had illuminated the world before I entered had disappeared.

Now the streets were also covered by the curtain of night, creating a quiet atmosphere.

I walk those streets together with Adela.

“…”

Silence.

I continued walking toward the Tower without opening my mouth.

It was because I was lost in thought, collating the various pieces of information I had seen in the dream earlier.

‘Nostalgic Dream, huh.’

Certainly, there couldn’t be a more appropriate name.

Recalling happy times that will never return was a fresh experience for me as well.

The magic that Adela had intentionally cast after bringing me there, Nostalgic Dream.

What she wanted to show through it was clearly the occasion when her relationship with her mother became awkward.

‘Help with research, she said.’

The Adela in the dream had said that.

Recalling that, I softly asked her.

“Lady Sage.”

“Yes.”

Adela’s gaze was forward. We continue walking without looking at each other.

“That magic you just cast. I heard it was developed by the Tower Master.”

“That’s right.”

“Why is it that you can use it too?”

At those words, Adela closed her mouth.

The intention behind my words was clearly ‘Didn’t you participate in its development too?’

Since Adela, being the Sage, couldn’t possibly not understand that.

She opened her closed lips and replied.

“That’s right. I also participated in developing that magic. That’s why I could use it too.”

As I thought.

As I expected, that scene from the dream must be the point where the relationship between this mother and daughter changed.

“Lady Sage.”

“Yes.”

“Then, can I understand that the beginning of your uncomfortable relationship with the Tower Master was helping with her research?”

Naturally, my tongue poked at a sensitive area. It was an awkward issue to bring up directly in front of her.

‘If I avoid this, I cannot fulfill the Imperial Command.’

As if understanding my determination, Adela smiled. However, that smile was so sorrowful it broke the heart of anyone who saw it.

“Yes. If what Your Highness saw in the dream is what I think it is, that was truly the ‘time that will never return’.”

“…”

I frowned at those words.

The Tower Master’s goal was people’s happiness, she had said.

What problem could have occurred in the process of helping with that noble ideal to cause such a situation?

After pondering for a moment, I soon sighed.

‘Let’s not go too deep.’

The information obtained so far was sufficient. It would be better not to be greedy and wait for the next opportunity.

With that thought, I closed my mouth again and was heading back to the Tower.

Just as the elevator was starting to come into view in the distance, Adela spoke to me.

“Oh right, Your Highness.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s see each other next at the party.”

“…?”

My head tilted at those words.

It was a somewhat difficult statement to understand. Despite wanting to be with me enough to come to the Tower in advance.

‘What wind has blown?’

With such doubt, I looked at Adela, and she smiled broadly as if it was nothing.

“I am the rightful successor of the Tower Master. I have a big responsibility in this party too.”

“That’s right.”

“Yes. So I need to devote some time to selecting and managing the distinguished guests coming to the party, so unfortunately, I don’t think we can meet anymore.”

If that’s the case, it can’t be helped.

I nodded calmly. It meant I sympathized with her words.

But perhaps she didn’t like that bland reaction. Adela puffed her cheeks and poked my side with her elbow.

“What’s with that reaction? Don’t you feel any regret or something?”

“Hmm.”

While contemplating how to respond to Adela’s words that showed some disappointment,

In the end, I decided to counterattack with a shrug of my shoulders.

“Didn’t the Sage say she would confess to me?”

“…Oh, did I?”

“That fills my head completely, making it hard to focus on other actions. It’s an embarrassing fact, but I am also somewhat relieved to not see the Lady Sage’s face for a while.”

“H-Hmm. Is that so?”

Adela lets out a nasal sound, seemingly quite pleased with my words.

Then she cools her slightly flushed cheeks with a hand fan and speaks in a haughty voice.

“Well, if Your Highness is that conscious of my confession. I guess it can’t be helped. I should understand.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“Hmph. Anyway, I didn’t say it as a joke.”

Adela points her index finger at me.

Chuk, her white finger lightly touched my cheek.

“On the last day of the party, I’ll confess. For real.”

“Yes. I know.”

“Hmm, somehow I’m not quite satisfied with such a clean answer. I wonder how I could elicit more reaction…”

“…”

‘Are you saying that in front of the person himself?’

I shook my head from side to side. I was weak against people who were so brazen.

Perhaps finding my reaction uninteresting, Adela retreated her body. Then, as if realizing something, she touched her nose.

And her grimace suggested there was some problem.

“…I think we stayed there too long. A bad smell has permeated.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I hate to say this about that person, but it’s not a place that would smell good, is it? And we were lying down for a long time too.”

“That’s true.”

If that’s the case, I might have body odor as well.

Adela lowered her hand and snorted slightly as if somewhat displeased, muttering.

“I need to wash as soon as I get back. I don’t like this.”

I silently nodded my head in response.

“…”

Afterwards, we returned to the Tower in silence, but.

Either way, I had brought up the topic of confession as a counterattack, but it was a subject that affected me too.

‘I don’t really know either.’

If Adela were to convey sincere feelings to me.

How would Loran von Welert react?

I couldn’t tell whether it was fortunate or unfortunate that even I didn’t know the answer to that.

 

Several days passed after that.

As she had said, Adela reduced the time she spent with me and was focused on her responsibilities.

Unlike at the Academy, she showed a mature side, proving that the name “Sage” was not just an empty title.

In contrast, as a visitor to the Tower, I had nothing particular to do.

No, that’s what I thought.

“What do you think?”

The mature female voice striking my ear was mature.

A timbre appropriate to her age, yet a beautiful voice that defied time.

The top floor of the Pitch-Black Tower. A private research laboratory existing in one corner of the floor where the Tower Master resided.

There, I was facing the Tower Master alone.

Her hair was tightly tied at the back. Tying hair that might get in the way meant she was focusing on research.

The issue was, why did she call me during such a time?

My pupils turn toward her. With feelings that were both displeased and suspicious, one question.

“…Tower Master.”

“Yes.”

“I heard you called for me… but I don’t quite understand, so let me ask.”

Then my gaze briefly shifts to one side.

There was a cubic crystal box there. And inside it existed a swirling, violent flow of mana.

‘A phenomenon that occurs when developing magic.’

It was like a fierce stream of mana that appears before it has clearly ‘transformed’ into ‘magic’.

In other words, she had been immersed in development until now.

Therefore, what I had to ask was only one thing.

“Why did you call me here? It seems like you’re developing magic in the research lab.”

“Ah.”

Agria brings her finger to her mouth at my words. She looked quite taken aback.

Then, with an embarrassed smile, she uttered one statement.

“I’m sorry. I forgot to explain that.”

“…”

Noticing the incredulity in my gaze, she hurriedly elaborated.

“Ah, please don’t be too displeased. It’s not for me to say, but magicians actually tend to become a bit eccentric when they’re in the middle of research.”

“…I see.”

“By the way, Adela is also similarly like a magician in this aspect. So it’s good to be prepared if you’re going to live with her.”

What an uncomfortable piece of information that I really didn’t want to know.

A long sigh escaped from my mouth. Then I asked her again.

“So, what was the reason you called me?”

“Yes, let me tell you again.”

As the Tower Master finished speaking, she extended her finger.

The same action as her daughter. Except for the slight passage of time reflected in her skin, there was no difference between daughter and mother.

What her finger pointed to was the swirling mana inside the crystal box. Pointing at that place, the Tower Master said.

“What do you think, can you see it?”

“See what?”

“The flow of this mana. Not just what’s visibly apparent, but I mean can you predict the results from that mana flow?”

“Hmm.”

At those words, strength is applied to my eyes.

There was some concern about stimulating the dragon blood, but this level of use should still be fine.

As the dragon eyes activated more strongly, high-density information entered my visual nerves. I diagrammed the mana vortex and inferred its usage.

My mouth slightly opens after interpreting the information. This magic, not yet created, was extraordinary.

“…It’s impressive.”

“Isn’t it?”

The Tower Master’s lips curl upward. It was an attitude that suggested it was obviously so.

I also nodded my head, agreeing that her smile was justified.

“Beyond the form of dreams, it directly evokes memories in reality… thereby amplifying ‘feelings of happiness’ – that’s how it appears.”

“Exactly. Then, where do you think it will be mainly used?”

“Let me see. Based on my current speculation, perhaps those going through life’s hardships, such as the sick?”

The Tower Master nodded again with satisfaction. It meant my prediction had no margin of error.

She neatly withdrew her hand and continued speaking in an excited tone.

“Yes. I’m embarrassed to say it myself, but this magic will mark a milestone in history. It will certainly be of great help to many people.”

“I’m sure it will. …But, why show this to me?”

To my question of why she called me,

Agria stopped there and looked at me intently.

“…?”

Her gaze was so piercing that I stiffened for a moment.

Wondering what she meant, I quietly returned her gaze, and the words that came from the Tower Master were.

“I originally called you because I had a favor to ask… but before that, there’s something I need to confirm.”

“Yes.”

“From your mention of ‘the form of dreams,’ I assume you necessarily went to the ‘back alley.’ Is that correct?”

“…Yes. How did you know that?”

“I’m acquainted with the owner of that place. She told me.”

That woman, could she have possibly shared such personal matters with the Tower Master? She did seem like an acquaintance, though.

It was an unexpected aspect so I was taken aback, but soon calmed down and opened my mouth again.

“Then, is there any problem with that?”

It’s an extremely natural question.

After all, it was Adela who took me there, and it was Adela who showed me the magic.

It’s a bit awkward to say it myself, but since there was no will or responsibility on my part, there was also no fault.

But.

At my words, Agria narrowed her eyes and.

Immediately brought her face close to mine, and the black pupils visible at such close range were burdensome.

Her red lips opened and produced words.

“I heard that you went to a bedroom with Adela.”

“…”

“…Surely you didn’t already consummate matters there?”

“That’s a misunderstanding.”

The answer shot out immediately.

I spoke with unparalleled sincerity. The serious expression on my face would add credibility to my statement.

“There was no physical contact whatsoever between the Sage and myself. In the first place, we had to go there because she said it was necessary to use the magic…”

“Adela came back and immediately washed herself, I heard.”

“…”

Silence.

My mouth closed instantly.

However, Agria’s eyes were still intently watching me.

“I hear the Prince did the same… is it really a misunderstanding?”

“…”

Of course, it’s true that I washed. Facts are facts.

However, on the other hand, it was Adela herself who mentioned cleanliness, so this is also not my responsibility.

Therefore.

I answered with some indignation and a bit of irritation.

“Please ask Miss Adela.”

What must always be remembered is.

“Isn’t this something you should ask your daughter, not an unrelated man?”

The fact that the more brazen a person is, the more they benefit.