Ch.20Tower War (5)

Looking at other mages from the outside, if they saw me speaking informally to Eterna, I’d likely face criticism.

No, the moment they see me speaking informally, they’d make a fuss about my manner of speech toward Lady Eterna.

I didn’t want such troublesome situations, which is why I had been addressing her as “Lady Eterna” and showing a certain level of respect.

Since my dream had become to settle comfortably in the Magical Kingdom, I didn’t want my plans derailed by such trivial reasons.

But now things were different.

There was no one watching us, and I wasn’t weaker than this Eterna person, so there was no need to be formal or respectful.

I could tell.

This person was an “Transcendent” like me.

The moment I faced the being before me, I could instinctively sense it.

Perhaps that’s why.

Slap, slap.

As if waking an old friend, I confidently used Blood Claw Art to create a hand and delivered a few slaps to her cheek.

“Mmm…?”

After slapping her cheek a couple of times with my Blood Claw Art hand, Eterna slightly opened her eyes.

Then, with a dazed expression, she turned her head toward me.

“What kind of manners is it to call someone over and then sprawl out sleeping, you rude person?”

“Ah.”

At my words, as if just remembering, she rubbed her eyes and sat up, then yawned openly right in front of me.

“…”

What should I do with this person?

The true identity of the great mage who founded the Magical Kingdom, established chaotic magic into new theories, and is respected by everyone in the Magical Kingdom as the mother of magic…

‘I can’t believe this…’

I thought that someone revered as the originator of magic would at least maintain some dignity while welcoming me.

Is this how she meets other Magic Tower Masters too?

“Ah, you’re here… mmm… sorry, I was just really sleepy…”

“Do Transcendents get sleepy too?”

“You’re not human… I’m still a human with biological functions… yaaawn…”

Even in this strange situation where we’d skipped introductions and gone straight to conclusions, Eterna calmly answered and continued yawning.

I let out a deep sigh.

“It seems you already knew I was a Transcendent.”

“Yeah… it’s already spread among all Transcendents~ You’re famous, really famous~”

“…What?”

There are other Transcendents?

“Are you saying there are other Transcendents?”

“Not here… it’s almost impossible to meet each other, but there’s a way to communicate. Judging by your reaction, you haven’t noticed yet?”

“No way…”

I broke into a cold sweat at the sudden possibility.

Come to think of it, it was strange.

No matter how advanced technology might be, how could a community I was familiar with exist so blatantly in this fantasy world?

A community with such an elaborate system that felt remarkably similar.

“You should be able to see it too… since you don’t know, you really are a newbie Transcendent. Puhahah!”

“…”

This person is unbelievable.

Watching Eterna mock me as a newbie, I felt my common sense crumbling.

Who would think this woman was the originator of magic, the great sage Eterna?

“So there were Transcendents before.”

“Yep~ I’ve got some seniority, you know? Actually, it doesn’t mean much, and Transcendents tend to be informal with each other.”

So I’m the youngest, newest Transcendent.

Come to think of it, the system congratulated me on becoming a Transcendent and said other Transcendents would talk about me and remember me for a long time.

“Hmm~? Did you think you were the first or only Transcendent? The one and only under heaven?”

Eterna asked with an interested expression as I was thinking about the system.

I shook my head.

“No, I didn’t have such arrogant thoughts. I was just… wondering if there were more Transcendents than I expected.”

“Since Transcendents appear from different dimensions… there still aren’t many. Becoming a Transcendent is miraculous—usually only one per dimension.”

So two Transcendents have appeared in this world?

“We can’t talk about this with ordinary people. The strongest are always lonely, right? I’m so happy to have a friend to talk openly with. Of course~? You didn’t reply for a month~? But that can’t stop this fated friendship, right?”

Is she being sarcastic?

“Are you… always like this?”

“Well… I thought I’d abandoned human emotions after becoming a magic Transcendent… I didn’t feel anything until just now… but being with you makes emotions gush out. It’s fascinating, like going back to the old days.”

Eterna said with a grin.

Seeing her unable to control her laughter made me feel strange.

However…

‘It’s a bit shocking, but I seem to have gained some good information.’

The talk about Transcendents was truly shocking.

If I hadn’t seen the system notification about Transcendents when I first woke up and opened my status window, I wouldn’t have been able to follow the conversation.

When I get back, I should look into this method of communication between Transcendents.

For now, let’s set this topic aside…

After clearing my throat, I carefully brought up the main point.

“So, why did you call me?”

“Huh?”

“The reason you called me. Wasn’t there some reason?”

“There isn’t one.”

“…?”

What’s this?

Is she picking a fight?

“Just… I was curious that two Transcendents appeared in the same dimension. Two Transcendents being able to meet each other—this is worthy of a featured post! Cheers~”

“…”

Is she serious?

I smacked my forehead.

‘Well… I guess this is better…’

Judging by how she treats me as a Transcendent and shows goodwill, she’ll probably grant me a favor or two.

Since I was planning to meet her anyway, it didn’t matter that she called me without a reason.

“Then may I bring up my topic?”

“Huh? Of course. I’ve been bored to death for a thousand years… I’d do anything for my junior who’s made me this happy.”

Eterna’s smiling lips contained genuine joy.

It’s fortunate that she’s being friendly.

“As the top administrator, you must know that relations between the Magic Towers haven’t been good lately.”

“Ah… was that the case?”

“What?”

What did I just hear?

“You… don’t know?”

“Hmm? Ah, no, no, I mean… the Red Tower and Blue Tower have been fighting, right? Don’t worry, they fight all the time.”

“What about the others?”

“Um… were the Green Tower and White Tower fighting? They’re always competing over whether the World Tree or the Celestial God is greater.”

“And beyond that?”

“Ah, um… hmm… that… maybe… it’s not common, but did the Iron Tower and Purple Tower fight? I might have missed it…”

“…Have you been checking the forum?”

“O-Of course I have. Despite appearances, I’m the head admin—I mean, the top administrator!”

Right, of course.

I can tell just from how she’s bringing things up one by one.

This woman doesn’t know anything about what’s happening on the forum.

“What kind of administrator doesn’t actually manage anything…”

I thought it was strange that she didn’t do anything even as the Aether Tower fell into such a state—turns out she wasn’t managing the forum at all.

It was essentially an admission that she’d abandoned forum management, so I sighed deeply, causing Eterna to puff her cheeks.

“What! You don’t know anything! Do you have any idea how much work the Aether Tower Master has?”

“What could possibly keep you so busy?”

“I manage the entire Magical Kingdom!”

“Huh?”

Did I hear that wrong?

She manages the entire Magical Kingdom?

“My magical formulas are in every single Magic Tower, and I manage them all! Asking me to manage the forum on top of that is just cruel!”

“But you’re the one who created—”

“I created it, but!!”

“…”

Why is she getting angry about something she created herself…?

It seemed like she had a lot built up inside, as she suddenly combusted.

And naturally, fire tends to spread.

Eterna’s venomous gaze turned toward me.

“Hey, you!”

“W-What?”

“From the way you talk, it seems like you don’t have much to do… This won’t do.”

As Eterna spoke with an extremely angry expression, a screen appeared in midair.

A very familiar screen…

No, this is…?!

“A M-MagicPad?!”

“You, become the head admin!”

Eterna shouted and pressed a button.

At that moment,

[The Aether Tower forum’s top administrator has been changed from “Eterna” to “SuperGeniusTruePrettyBloodMage”.]

“Oh shit.”

I sensed it.

I was truly screwed.

Completely screwed.

“Huh? Your username is… SuperGeniusTruePrettyBloodMage?”

The humiliation of having my username exposed was just the cherry on top.