Ch.106Esca…ping the Tower (1)

“As expected, the capital is truly the capital.”

I looked around and clicked my tongue in amazement.

While the Blood Magic Tower where I lived was quite developed since it was near a Magic Tower, the area around Aether Tower was beyond common sense.

I suppose the concept of “common sense” doesn’t really exist for me since I suddenly fell asleep for a thousand years, but I have been living in this world for a year now.

I had seen glimpses of Aether Tower when visiting before, but those were just passing glances. This was my first time actually walking around, so the impression was much stronger.

“The Blood Tower area doesn’t have any of these things…”

I could clearly see the incomparable level of technological advancement.

And I could also see just how backward our Blood Tower was…

Of course, objectively speaking, our Blood Tower was far more sophisticated than neighboring countries, but compared to the Aether Tower area, which looked like a city from the distant future, it was like a completely different world.

“What do you think? This is my country.”

“Didn’t you create it and then barely pay attention to it for a thousand years?”

“Well…”

She seemed at a loss for words and just poked my arm instead of continuing.

Her reaction was subtly cute, making me chuckle.

Who would think she was that machine-like Eterna?

As I wandered around with Eterna, I found something to eat.

Just like you’d expect from an advanced future city, there were no street vendors, so we had to go into a restaurant to buy snacks.

It was quite expensive, but the quality matched the price, so I was satisfied.

“You don’t seem to find sightseeing interesting?”

At Eterna’s question, I just shrugged.

It’s only surprising the first time you see it. After all, this is just the area around the capital.

Rather than just wandering around, finding food and entertainment like this is the best.

There seemed to be plenty of entertainment here too, but…

‘Neither of us has time for that kind of stuff.’

It didn’t seem like something she’d enjoy either.

It was more comfortable for both of us to just find food, fill our stomachs with snacks, and chat.

“By the way.”

“Yes?”

“Giving me authority over the Aether Tower forum… you actually had a different reason, right?”

At first, I was just suspicious.

Unless she had mind-reading abilities, I couldn’t be certain why she acted that way.

But now I was almost sure.

“Are you planning to retire?”

“Hmm.”

Eterna gave a faint smile.

“A thousand years is a long time to be around.”

“Elves would scoff at that.”

For elves who live well over a thousand years, saying you’ve been around too long after just a thousand years as the founder of the Magical Kingdom suggests that even after becoming a Transcendent, she still lives like a human.

“Retirement… there would be chaos if you retired now… Do you have a reason?”

“…Just.”

Eterna glanced around.

“I want to see more of this world. Being the Master of Aether Tower… isn’t very freeing.”

She turned back to me.

“I’d like to visit the demon realm where the Demon King you defeated was…”

“I wouldn’t really recommend that place…”

When I first went there, it was an inhuman hellscape.

Would you believe me if I said everything around me threatened my life?

In the demon realm, you could be found dead in an instant just by standing still.

Now that the Demon King, the source of that power, has been defeated, it might not be that bad, but it’s still dangerous…

‘Come to think of it, she wouldn’t have any problems going there…’

What am I worried about? She’s a Transcendent of magic.

I realized there was no need to worry about her.

“Are you worried about me?”

She asked with a mischievous smile, as if reading my mind.

…This girl.

Instead of answering, I tried to bonk her on the head, but couldn’t because of our height difference.

So I lightly hit her head with my blood hammer instead.

“Ouch.”

“That didn’t hurt.”

“Hehehe…”

Did fighting with me make her lose her mind?

It’s getting scary…

“Thank you.”

“Suddenly?”

“For reminding me of what I’d forgotten. So I just… wanted to say thanks.”

She spoke with a sincere smile, and I turned my head to look at her.

My first impression of her wasn’t easy, honestly.

She seemed bored with everything in the world, incredibly rude… and looked like an obsessed forum addict.

I don’t know what I did, but I guess I helped her escape from that addicted lifestyle.

I’m not sure if I deserve thanks for that.

“Find someone to manage the Magical Kingdom. Even if you say you’ll come back later, you’ll need someone to temporarily manage Aether Tower.”

“I’ve already found someone.”

“You have?”

“Yes.”

Eterna looked at me.

…

No way, right?

“I can’t do it. I won’t.”

“I know. I wasn’t thinking of making you do it.”

“Then… who?”

“…Seria?”

Look at this girl.

She hasn’t thought about it at all.

The Magical Kingdom is doomed…

.

.

.

In the end, Eterna admitted that immediate retirement was impossible.

It was only natural.

How could she just abandon the Magical Kingdom she had established with such irresponsibility?

Though she pouted in disappointment at my insistence that she absolutely not retire, she seemed to understand what would happen to the Magical Kingdom without her. She only said she would retire soon, but didn’t appear to be planning on doing it right away.

That’s a relief…

‘I really won’t do it.’

I’m already dying trying to improve the Blood Tower, and she wants me to become the Master of Aether Tower?

I’d rather retire as Blood Tower Master.

‘Though I am planning to retire soon…’

It’s just that Irina is still too young and hasn’t grown enough yet, so I’m holding the position of Tower Master for now.

At her current rate of growth, she’ll be the Blood Tower’s greatest mage in a few years, so it would be fine to make her the next Blood Tower Master.

After all, I’m not a Blood Mage.

‘I can’t really call what I do magic…’

I smiled bitterly.

What I use is Blood Claw Art, not Blood Magic, so I never intended to remain as Blood Tower Master for long.

I only accepted the position because I had nowhere else to go at the time.

Well, I’ve done more than enough to repay them for taking me in, so no one should complain when I retire.

They might even try to hold me back because they’ll miss me…

Of course, I have no intention of being held back even if they try.

I’m already working hard enough—what more do they want?

“Is everything going well?”

“Oh, Midir unni!”

The problem is that Irina is too young…

“Um… Irina.”

“Yes?”

“Have you ever thought about becoming a Tower Master?”

At my question, Irina blinked.

Perhaps it was a question she hadn’t expected at all.

“Me…?”

She pointed at herself, as if asking if I was really talking to her.

“I think you’re more than qualified to be Blood Tower Master.”

I’ve worked hard.

Although I did nothing but goof off for the first month after my appointment, I’ve been doing my best ever since to improve the Blood Tower’s image and attract new people.

In fact, incomparably more people have been coming than before.

All that’s left is to make the Magic Tower a bit more sophisticated.

Especially since we’ve earned so much money this time.

“Then for my final last dance…”

“Aren’t those the same thing?”

Ignoring Irina’s comment, I chuckled.

I had already accomplished everything I set out to do.

I raised the reputation of the Blood Tower from being buried deep below, and transformed it from a poor Magic Tower with no money into a wealthy one.

Honestly, considering I started with nothing, I think I’ve achieved remarkable results.

‘I want to just relax and enjoy life.’

I worked really hard.

When I first came to this world, I struggled to defeat a Demon King, and after finally doing so, I had no way to return home. I fell into a deep sleep and was buried and forgotten…

Oh, I wasn’t forgotten.

There were mages of later generations who remembered me.

They were inspired by my fighting style and created a new magic called Blood Magic, which I found endearing, so I became the Blood Tower Master to help them directly.

And I’ve been running non-stop for a year.

And they say there’s no such thing as vacation?

Does that make any sense?

‘I’m not even asking for retirement.’

If the world won’t allow me to retire, I’ll just have to do it by force.

At this point, I’ll completely transform the Blood Tower with money and then run away.

In a way that ensures public opinion of me can’t turn negative.

‘I need to escape.’

That’s right.

Escape is the answer.

If I can’t even take a vacation freely, running away is the only option.

I’ve already accomplished so much—anyone who criticizes me for this would be in the wrong.

With that thought, I giggled while planning my desertion—or rather, my tower-sertion.

“Unni has gone weird…”

I’m just excited about what’s to come.

Really.