The Drinking Sage 52

“It was good to see you after a long time. Sisters.”

“It was a pleasant time.”

Two figures rose to their feet. The man disappeared after politely bowing his head, and the woman left the place with a light wave of her hand.

There were various high-ranking individuals at the Tower where the party was being held, but these people were even more special.

The man was the Pope, the highest-ranking person in the Sun God Order. The woman was the Sword Empress, the leader of the Sword Angle.

“Yes. May you all be well.”

And the person seeing them off was also the ruler of the Pitch-Black Tower, the Tower Master.

The highest floor of the Tower. Agria recalled the conversation she had just had with the Pope and the Sword Empress.

‘To think we’d discuss our successors.’

She never expected to share such an awkward topic with those people.

It had been quite some time since she had her daughter, Adela. And now, to share feelings as guardians.

Sip- Drinking the coffee remaining in the teacup, Agria thought deeply.

‘Come to think of it, the Sword Empress was quite sincere.’

The Pope, being someone who valued appearance, didn’t talk much about the Saint.

Rather, the one who led the topic was the Sword Empress.

She spoke at length about how much she cared for the Sword Star who would succeed her, to the point of causing discomfort. Perhaps she was that happy to have found a successor.

However, it didn’t seem to be just about boasting of her successor.

-She needs a bit of refinement.

The Sword Empress said there was a need for “correction” in the Sword Star. She had said she was not yet appropriate to be called human, was it?

As an outsider, Agria didn’t quite understand what she meant, but the Sword Empress didn’t seem willing to explain further.

Other than that.

“Hmm.”

Tap, Agria tapped the table with her finger.

The words the Pope had casually dropped lingered in her ear.

-The Second Prince’s movements are not favorable.

The Second Prince, Gaius von Welert, who had been invited to this party.

She had just briefly heard news that he had caused trouble downstairs.

‘It wasn’t a good impression.’

He was a person whom anyone would find more disgusting than likable.

But even so, she couldn’t not invite a member of the Imperial family.

-There are rumors of suspicious behavior being reported from the Order’s branches, but we’re still determining the exact circumstances.

It was the kind of information the Pope, who had temples all over the world, would be able to obtain.

“I might need to look into it…”

Agria finished her thoughts and rose from her seat. She was thinking of leaving the room to meet the Second Prince.

She would meet him directly to understand what kind of person he was in more detail. If there was potential for problems, she could contact the Empire for countermeasures.

Click-clack- Agria’s heeled steps descended the stairs. The magitech stones illuminated the dark interior of the Tower.

‘Still an unpleasant scenery.’

The Pitch-Black Tower had maintained dark-themed colors for generations, which Agria didn’t particularly like.

Brighter. More vivid. Warmer. That kind of atmosphere. No, that kind of world was what she wanted.

‘To achieve that, I must somehow complete the Reignition magic.’

The figure that came to mind was the blonde-haired prince.

She had jokingly called him her future son-in-law, but she at least knew that he was someone her daughter cherished.

And that was the problem.

‘It’s difficult to handle him.’

Considering he was royalty, even a Tower Master couldn’t easily deal with such a person. If she thought of him as Adela’s potential husband, she certainly couldn’t touch him.

But that’s why the Tower Master’s heart was troubled.

‘Then, who will fulfill my wish?’

The desire for people to be happy. The dream of overturning the magic world that only pursued combat, to create a rounded world.

And.

“…”

The sticky emotions she had harbored towards her daughter from some point, and the last resort to resolve them and revert their relationship.

The moment she recognized this, Agria’s eyes darkened.

She knew it wasn’t a good feeling. However, it was a desperate longing for the Tower Master as well.

“Still, I must somehow persuade the Third Prince…”

As Agria was quietly muttering, a noisy sound entered her ears. It seemed she had come close to the party hall without realizing.

She stepped from the stairs into the corridor. As she was about to turn her body towards the distant door where several magicians were standing guard-

“Excuse me, Tower Master.”

In the corridor that connected the party hall and the stairs. From the dimly lit darkness of the side, an ominous voice flowed out.

“…?”

Slightly startled, Agria glanced to the side.

Somehow, even the light from the magitech stones that illuminated the space didn’t reach well into the darkness. There stood a man with a large build.

It was the Second Prince, Gaius.

“What is it?”

After a brief moment of surprise, Agria quickly regained her composure and asked.

She couldn’t understand why he was addressing her in such a gloomy manner, but since she had business with the Second Prince anyway, she thought it was a good chance.

Gaius smiled upon hearing Agria’s voice. However, that smile was not one that made people feel good, but rather gave a bad premonition.

“You see, despite my appearance, I have good ears. I heard some information from somewhere.”

“…You’re speaking in riddles. What’s your intention?”

“You don’t need to know that. What’s important is that having heard it, I can offer you help.”

Suspicious.

Suddenly appearing and addressing her. The statement about hearing information.

All of this context was suspicious.

Agria’s eyes narrowed. She was ready to blast him with magic if he made even the slightest wrong move.

Seeing Agria on guard, Gaius once again smiled on his pig-like face and said:

“You’re developing a magic, aren’t you? A magic that evokes happiness.”

“…”

“And for the last puzzle, you lack a means to control human emotions.”

“You, how did you know that?”

Tak, and Agria took a step back.

‘Reignition’ was a magic she was developing in secret. Even if some of her close associates might know the general content, no one could know the one thing she lacked the most.

Mana swirled in Agria’s hand. It was a higher-level magic than the ‘Lightning Arrows’ that Adela often used. It was ‘Thunder Orb’.

If she just threw the circular current wrapped around her palm, that would be the end. Gaius would be charcoal-grilled alive.

“Speak. Where did you get this information? If you don’t tell me right now-“

As coldness set into Agria’s voice.

Gaius put his hand into his pocket and said:

“Didn’t I tell you? That I can help you.”

And what he pulled out was a dark stone.

At a glance, it looked just like an ordinary stone you could find anywhere.

But the moment Agria saw it, she could sense it.

“It’s a stone that can manipulate human hearts. I call it the Black Magic Stone.”

With that, Gaius subtly extended his hand. As if saying, take it if you want.

On the pig-like palm lay a single ominous stone. True to its name as a Black Magic Stone, malevolent magic power was dripping from it.

Nevertheless.

‘What he just said is true.’

Why did she have this intuition that it would fill the last puzzle she had been longing for?

She couldn’t tell the reason. There was no basis whatsoever, but Agria was certain.

If only she had that Black Magic Stone. Completing the ‘Reignition’ magic wouldn’t just be a dream.

However, viewing the situation coldly, it was a time to be cautious.

A suspicious figure who suddenly appeared saying he had heard information. The unknown intention behind suddenly offering assistance.

Being distracted by this stone of unknown origin was definitely not good, but.

-Take it.

Agria, as if enchanted, picked up the stone.

It felt like she could hear a chilling voice in her ear.

-Use it to fulfill your wish.

Like a snake licking its tongue.

A spine-chilling voice shook the Tower Master’s mind.

-But, you will pay the price.

Agria’s memory cut off there.

 

“Hmm~.”

The nasal sound of a not-yet-adult girl reverberated.

It was Lorela’s reaction after listening to Rinet, Adela, and Silvia introduce themselves.

As if she were a judge. No, as if she were a sister-in-law being introduced to potential brides.

Lorela hummed a tune with her eyes closed. She was even seen crossing her arms, which caused her perky breasts to settle down.

Opposite to where Lorela and I sat, not a sound was heard. There was no need to ask why.

They were worried. About what kind of evaluation Lorela would give.

Gulp-

The movement of their Adam’s apples was visible, all three women.

Although they tried to act nonchalant, anxiety could be glimpsed on the faces of Rinet and Adela.

They tried to maintain expressionless faces, but I could clearly see them occasionally glancing towards Lorela.

‘In the case of those two, it was quite predictable.’

What was unexpected was, indeed, Silvia.

Since she seemed to know nothing about romantic relationships, I thought she wouldn’t understand why introducing herself to Lorela would be nerve-wracking.

Surprisingly, Silvia too was fidgeting with her fingers.

However, her expression held a puzzlement as if she didn’t understand herself.

‘She knows it instinctively.’

Not through theory, but through sensation. That how a sister-in-law views her is a very important matter.

After thinking that far, I secretly sighed.

‘What a spectacle.’

I was a bit worried about how I had become so brazen as to think of terms like sister-in-law or potential bride.

‘Originally, I wasn’t this kind of person.’

How did I end up like this?

While I was secretly sighing again, Lorela clapped her hands with a snap.

“Well. I understand. I’ve pretty much figured out what kind of people you sisters are.”

“…!”

The three women jolted at Lorela’s words.

As their seniors, they wouldn’t want to show a shaken appearance. But did their resolve crumble so much because they wanted to look good in front of Lorela?

‘Or perhaps Lorela is that skilled at shaking them.’

If so, it’s truly frightening. She’s my younger sister, but is she already dominating the political intrigues of the Imperial Palace in my absence?

Anyway, what remains is Lorela’s judgment. It’s time for Lorela to declare who she likes the most.

If my sister and I favor different individuals, that would be a problem in itself.

‘Come to think of it, who do I favor the most?’

I quickly erased the thought that had emerged. It wasn’t a topic I wanted to ponder. If possible, I wanted to postpone it.

As I was briefly lost in various thoughts, Lorela tapped my body with her finger.

“Brother.”

“Hmm.”

I stopped my reverie and turned to Lorela.

Blue pupils like mine. With golden hair flowing past her cheeks, Lorela chatted with red lips.

“I, Lorela, like all three sisters.”

“I see.”

It was awkward to say anything, so I just nodded. It would be silly for me to add any words here.

But as if Lorela had easily anticipated my reaction, she brought her face close to mine and whispered:

“But ultimately, how the younger sister judges is a secondary issue. Isn’t it?”

“That’s true.”

“Yes. So, I’m curious about what you think, brother.”

“…”

To think she would twist the topic this way.

My sister’s red tongue pierces sharply into a sensitive subject.

Lorela had fully sensed my intention not to reveal this in this place, yet.

Therefore, as a sister, as if she wouldn’t let it slide.

In front of the three women listening, she whispered softly to me.

“Please tell me. At this point, who do you like the most?”

“…Lorela. Isn’t this too sudden?”

“I know. But if I don’t do this, you’ll continue to not speak, right?”

A sigh escaped from my mouth. This time, it was deliberately loud for them to hear.

At this table right now. With Rinet, Adela, and Silvia all listening. The moment my sister, Lorela, expressed her wish to hear from me, the protagonist, ‘who I like the most’,

I had no way to back down now.

As I thought, a fire lit in the eyes of the three women. It was with the determination not to miss a single letter of what I would say.

Confirming this, I looked at Lorela with a somewhat resentful feeling.

Once again, my sister smiled broadly, as if she had known I would react this way.

Then, with a swing, she extended both arms.

Wrapping around my neck. As if clinging, she hugged me.

Looking at the three women one by one, she made an unexpected statement.

“But, only to me.”

“…???”

Suddenly, the eyes of the “sisters-in-law” became round.

They were taken aback by the statement that only she, the younger sister, would know, and she wouldn’t tell the sisters-in-law.

Looking at their faces, Lorela stuck out her tongue with a “beh-” and.

“I’m sorry, but I have not the slightest intention of readily giving up my place beside my brother.”

-If I just know who it is, I’ll start checking that person first.