The Sage Who Drinks 45

“…You’re surprisingly brazen, son-in-law.”

The Tower Master’s expression was displeased.

She apparently hadn’t expected that I would tell her to ask Adela directly.

Yes, that’s understandable, but.

‘Yet she herself is calling me son-in-law.’

I’m not even dating Adela yet, isn’t it a bit early to use the title “son-in-law”?

While I was thinking that, the Tower Master shook her head and muttered.

“Well, never mind. It was half a joke. Whatever time you spend with my daughter is the privilege of youth.”

With that, she ended the joke-filled conversation. Her white finger pointed again at the previous object.

“Let’s return to the main point. I need Your Highness’s help.”

This was the request I had heard before in the Tower Master’s audience chamber.

Though it was a repetition of the same words, the statement uttered this time contained a weight that couldn’t be easily dismissed.

Like the eyes of a predator eyeing its prey. The meaning ‘I won’t let you escape’ was clearly evident in her pupils.

“I did manage to finally develop magic that amplifies ‘happy emotions’… But in the end, I couldn’t achieve one thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“The method to project this onto another person’s body.”

“Hmm.”

My head nodded at those words.

Seeing my agreement and seeming more confident, the Tower Master continued.

“I’ve succeeded in developing the magic itself. But without also devising the means, I can’t call it complete.”

“But, hasn’t the Tower Master already reached the pinnacle of magic?”

I voiced the doubt in her words. It was a natural question.

Adela had said that by reaching the end of the realm, she gained eyes that could see mana. She also said she could interfere with the mana of others and the atmosphere.

‘Is dragon blood so necessary?’

Therefore, even without my power, it shouldn’t be impossible for the Tower Master to directly project magic onto another person’s body.

To the question uttered with such intention.

“It’s not possible.”

The Tower Master shook her head again with a sad smile.

“Who do you think confirmed the imperfect aspect of this magic? It was myself.”

“…”

“I directly projected it onto myself. This magic allows for experimentation because it leaves the caster’s control the moment it’s cast.”

The Tower Master’s finger points to her chest.

The finger that poked her chest tissue, still maintaining its shape despite the years, goes in deeply. At its end would be her heart.

“It was impossible at my level. So I was feeling disappointed, wondering if this would be another failure.”

Her voice was sorrowful. Was it the aftermath of failing to develop magic over the years? Or did it originate from a wound engraved in the Tower Master’s heart?

Either way, I simply closed my eyes and quietly murmured.

“So that’s when I appeared.”

“Yes.”

The Tower Master’s finger left her elastic chest and pointed toward me.

The finger pointing between my head and chest was directly aimed at me. It meant she was designating none other than me.

“The one who can interfere with another’s body more certainly than I, who has reached the pinnacle of magic in this world. Loran, it’s you.”

“Hmm.”

I swallowed a groan.

The Tower Master’s eyes were shining brilliantly. It was the unique aura of someone who had the opportunity to fulfill a long-cherished wish right before them.

Due to the thick concentration of emotion, I couldn’t easily open my mouth.

Seeing me like that, the corners of the Tower Master’s mouth slowly uttered a plea.

“I beg you. Third Prince.”

At the same time, her waist bowed.

Her tightly bound hair flowed down her nape. The sovereign of the Pitch-Black Tower, a magician among the top three in the world.

She was bowing her head to me.

“Please, use your ability for me. I cannot know what factors are hindering you. Nevertheless, I dare to implore you.”

Someone of the Tower Master’s stature used the word “implore.” It must mean she was sincere.

Her firmly closed lips no longer uttered any words. The Tower Master didn’t raise her waist, still bowed to me.

“…”

Hoo- A deep sigh escaped from my mouth.

‘This is troublesome.’

How could I not know she was sincere?

Looking at what I’ve seen so far, I know. The Tower Master was sincere about her wish to make people happy.

That’s why she would lower herself to someone much younger like me.

But what floated in my mind was the desperate woman’s words.

-You can’t. Your Highness absolutely cannot use that power.

I remember what Adela said loudly.

She absolutely didn’t want me to use dragon blood.

Because death awaits at the end. She said not to use it because it was unavoidable.

Nevertheless.

“I understand.”

I must use it.

I take a step forward. Extending both hands to grasp the shoulders of this sincere woman.

“Just once, I will show you. I will fulfill your cherished wish.”

I declared that I would grant her request.

The Tower Master’s head rose. The corners of her white face lifted all the way up. She looked full of joy.

However, I didn’t forget to add one thing.

“As I said, just once. Beyond that is not possible.”

“…Why?”

The corners of the Tower Master’s mouth turn downward. Eyes like a puppy whose food was taken away right in front of it.

A bitter smile formed at the corners of my mouth, and I returned a plain statement.

“You’ll see.”

 

The Tower Master took out the vortex from inside the crystal box for me and.

Taught me how to cast the magic she had developed.

“It’s called ‘Reignition’.”

That was the name of this magic.

The Tower Master had the vortex spinning round and round in her hand. Despite the highly concentrated massive power, she didn’t even blink.

“It means to explode emotions that had been extinguished in the heart.”

“I see.”

“Can you do it?”

Swish, the vortex left the Tower Master’s hand.

The unstoppable torrent slowly settled into my hand.

“Hmm.”

The fierce momentum swirling violently over my palm was intense.

After taking a deep breath to calm my agitation, I cast the magic as she had instructed.

I grab the tail of the vortex. The sensation of grasping a rope with an invisible hand.

A grip made not of my hand but of mana grasped the rope tightly and began to manipulate it.

The rough power refused to be bound, but there was nothing that couldn’t be done with delicate handling.

Eventually, the power began to move according to my will, and.

-Project that onto my body.

Still holding the tail, I extended it.

“Ugh…!”

As the Tower Master had instructed, the vortex extended straight and struck her body directly.

She staggered momentarily from the violent force. Agria bit her lip and endured the torrent.

Then.

“Ah.”

A small exclamation bursting forth.

I could see a happy smile spreading across her face. The Tower Master was able to achieve “happiness,” which had been her life’s wish.

If I continued the projection like this, the magic demonstration would remain a splendid success. Then the possibility of commercialization would also sprout.

Yes.

If I continued, that is.

“Kuluk!”

My mouth forcibly opened and spat out a dark red liquid.

I somehow supported my collapsing body with my hand. Dark blood continuously poured onto the back of my hand that touched the ground.

“…Your Highness?!”

Of course, the magic casting had to be stopped as well.

By the time Agria noticed something was wrong and looked at me, I was already repeatedly coughing up blood.

“Wait, what’s happening…?! What’s going on!”

“Kuk, kuluk. It’s nothing.”

A hand is placed on my back, and I feel my body’s mana being reorganized. It wasn’t healing through sacred power, but it would be effective for internal injuries caused by mana.

Even if I tried to calmly state the facts within a range that wouldn’t surprise Agria, it wasn’t easy despite knowing this would happen, as the pain was not ordinary.

“Do you know the imperial secret?”

“…”

“The truth behind the rumor that the Third Prince lost all his power at some point.”

“What does that have to do with anything?! We need to treat you quickly or it’s dangerous!”

“It’s dragon blood.”

Silence.

The Tower Master’s mouth closed and.

“Didn’t you notice?”

This time I truly succeeded in stating just the facts plainly.

Though it wasn’t particularly pleasant.

“You’ve placed your hand on my back, so you should feel my physical condition.”

“This is….”

The Tower Master’s face distorts.

I didn’t know how much she understood about dragon blood. In fact, even Adela hadn’t uncovered everything.

But one thing for certain.

“I cannot use this power.”

I am currently terminal, and.

“If I use it, Miss Adela will become a widow.”

The point being that just by using dragon blood, I significantly hasten my death.