episode_0065

Kingdom’s North.

A tall tower standing straight in the forest of a rugged mountainous area.

Upper floor, the Tower Master’s room.

“Right, there…”

“Hmph- Ugh-”

“A little stronger…”

A middle-aged man with profuse white hair was receiving a massage from a rookie mage.

Cluck- Cluck-

“Is… this much alright…?”

“Yes, good… Aaaah…”

In the tower, the Tower Master’s word is law and justice. Even someone exceptionally talented, who mastered fire magic and reached the realm of a Grand Mage at a young age, a rookie is still a rookie. They couldn’t escape chores like sweeping floors, fetching tea, or giving massages.

“But, your hands are a bit small, kid?”

“Don’t call me that… I’m thirty-one this year…”

“Aw- What’s the number matter, you’re so cute and tiny. You’re like my daughter~”

Clack.

Lulu gritted her teeth.

When she escaped from the academy and came to the tower, she thought a whole new world would open up.

The pinnacle of magic, a holy land of sages walking the path of sorcery.

Growing a fine beard, practicing to make the flow of mana even more flexible.

A dream place where they endlessly continued profound discussions to invent new magic circles and operation methods!

…So she thought.

In reality, it was no different from a dilapidated research lab.

Weak and limp.

Most mages repeat the task of producing cost-effective mid-grade magic stones to gather funds every day. As a result, they suffer from chronic illnesses such as dark circles, stiff necks, and chronic fatigue.

In this factory where human rights are nowhere to be found, Lulu might be receiving relatively better treatment.

The Tower Master, who stays locked up on the top floor all night and nobody knows what he does, returns to his room during the day to relieve his fatigue. For now, just keeping him in a good mood is her job. To gain even a little recognition, Lulu used all her strength to massage the Tower Master’s stiff shoulders.

“Yes, yes. And, could you come a little closer?”

“…Like this?”

“Yes, a little closer like that…”

She didn’t know why she had to get closer while giving a massage, but she moved her body closer as instructed.

Thump-

“Hike—”

As her chest touched the Tower Master’s back, she made the most disgusting face in the world and quickly stepped back.

“Hmm… A? AA? Too brief to measure—”

“W-What are you doing, you old geezer?!”

Crash.

With a lecherous expression, he slowly caught all of Lulu’s flying fists.

Whoosh- Whoosh-

“Ha-ha—! I feel like I’ve gotten 10 years younger with this.”

He laughed heartily, looking at the furious red-haired girl, thinking she was cute.

And at that moment.

Ping—!

A communication magic reached the Tower Master’s ear.

-It’s, it’s a big deal…!!

An urgent voice from one of his underlings stationed at a contact point near the capital pierced his ears.

He put his finger on his temple and silently concentrated.

-Why the commotion? -Th, that’s… the request we put in with the Karis Adventurer’s Guild…

The Karis Adventurer’s Guild… It was definitely in the capital. If it was a request placed there—

-It seems there’s an adventurer who has reached the Sanctuary of Spirits…!!

—So it was.

‘It’s come.’

The Tower Master immediately got up.

“W-Where are you going…?”

“I have somewhere to go.”

“Why are you going yourself…? No- wouldn’t it be better to send the staff…”

He leaned in close to Lulu, who tilted her head.

“What, are you going to be sad if I leave?”

“Screw off.”

“…Sigh.”

He had briefly hoped that she had finally opened up her heart. The Tower Master was a little hurt.

Enough with the jokes.

“It’s important enough for me to go.”

“What, you just play around and don’t do your job properly…”

“Shut up. If things go well when I go today, I might show you the top floor.”

Lulu’s eyes widened.

“Th-The top floor…?!”

“That’s right. I didn’t keep you by my side instead of putting you in the factory—no, the workshop, for nothing, you know?”

“I don’t know…”

He put on a green robe imbued with wind magic spells, and held his outdoor staff.

Then, he showed his white teeth and laughed heartily.

“I don’t just take anyone as my successor. I only consider those with malice in their eyes as candidates.”

“Y-Yes… Yes—?!”

“Let’s talk properly when I come back. Then…”

Whoosh-

The Tower Master burst out of the door and went up the stairs leading not down, but up.

“I-I’ll come too…!!”

“Forget it. You won’t be of much help even if you come. Just dust the bookshelves.”

“Damn…”

Lulu didn’t particularly want to, nor could she stop him.

That wasn’t because the Tower Master Leonardo Priest was the law or justice of the tower.

Nor was it because he was one of the absolute strongest in the kingdom.

It was simply because the senior Grand Mage, who always looked bored and only looked at the old documents, showed a look of excitement she had never seen before.

That was all.

Leonardo thought.

If this goes well, he would see the end of the research he had so longed for. He was ready to pay any price for it.

And after seeing the end, he would put the guy in the Tower Master’s seat as payment for working him to the bone.

“His expression will be quite a sight.”

He chuckled, suppressing his laughter, and quickly flew through the wind.

Upon arriving at the VIP room of the Karis Adventurer’s Guild, the meeting place. He was surprised to see a younger, pretty girl sitting there.

He was doubly surprised to see the spirit she was with and the map of the Bewitching Forest, confirming the success of the request.

And he was triply surprised by the last words she uttered.

“I’m sorry, but I cannot provide the map.”

***

Honestly, no one would have surprised me.

Even if my father, His Majesty the King, appeared and danced a tap dance, I could have smiled and clapped; that’s the kind of woman I am.

So, even when the middle-aged man introduced himself as the Tower Master, there was no problem.

The problem was what came next.

“So… I understand that you, adventurer, have been to the Sanctuary of Spirits. I also understand that the person next to you is a spirit, and that this is a map of the Bewitching Forest.”

Leonardo was a big shot within my expectations, but he also possessed skills that slightly exceeded my expectations.

I thought he’d only be strong in terms of power and wealth, but I didn’t know he’d be this strong.

First, he came without escorts or bodyguards despite his high position.

Second, he possessed high-level magic skills and proficiency in handling magical tools.

Third, he almost recognized me.

He noticed the trace of attributeless mana within me, not as a princess.

Only Headmaster Natalya Fried, who possessed the Magic Eye, had seen through this. This man, Leonardo’s skill must be quite high.

“But, you cannot provide the map?”

That’s why.

The reason I said that I would decide how to handle the request after seeing the client was to prevent it from falling into the hands of someone who could harm the Sanctuary of Spirits.

And I judged that this man had that possibility.

I explained it simply.

“I did venture through the Bewitching Forest for this request, and as a result, I met the World Tree. However, at the same time, I realized that the Sanctuary of Spirits is not a place for humans to frequently visit.”

A perfectly preserved nature—It’s a small universe that transcends the world that cannot be explained with words.

I felt a little embarrassed to explain the sight of that place, which was too much to describe in my poor vocabulary.

Nevertheless, it was not a problem to convey the essential content.

Because Nix, the witness of that beautiful world, was beside me.

With her supplementing my insufficient explanation, Leonardo reluctantly nodded.

“Phew… Still, I cannot give up. If such a place exists, I have no choice but to go there on my own.”

Persuasion failed.

Why is this man so obsessed with that place?

“Excuse me, if I had provided this map, how would you have used it?”

Maybe I can help.

“…This is a secret research project. It’s something I can’t easily reveal.”

“Depending on your answer, I may be able to help. This map, a little advice, or any other way.”

Leonardo hesitated for a moment.

“…Why would you go so far?”

“If it seems like something deep and dangerous, it’s an adventurer’s habit to get involved.”

Then he chuckled.

“…Heh heh. Come to think of it, the person in front of me is an outstanding person who alone broke through that difficult forest. My apologies.”

“I’m still a rookie who hasn’t even properly registered as an adventurer yet.”

“Ha-ha—! You’re an interesting person.”

As if realizing something, Leonardo’s speech became shorter. Is this her true nature?

She was more friendly than expected, which wasn’t bad.

“The story might take a while, but is your schedule fine?”

“Yes. I have the day off, so you can explain it at your leisure.”

“Ha-ha, spending the day with such a pretty lady. I’ll get 10 years younger—”

Kwaang—!

Nix breathed out her breath with a frightening expression, glaring at him.

“You want to die 10 years earlier?”

“Ahem… Excuse me. I was kidding…”

I quickly grabbed her arm.

“Sit down…”

“Yes!”

Acting as if nothing happened, Nix quietly sipped her tea beside me.

In the subsided atmosphere, Leonardo cleared his throat.

“That… was more than a few decades ago.”

And then.

The only person in this world who bore the title of ‘Sorcerer’. An outstanding person of skill.

The story of Lea Flora, the black-haired Grand Sorcerer, began.