Ch.22Tower War (Interlude)

“Haah…”

I must have gone insane.

They say the more money the better, but I can’t believe I fell for all that money and clung to that crazy woman calling her “unni.” It’s unbelievable.

‘She was that kind of person? That can’t be right…’

No.

I can definitely say that’s not right.

After all, Eterna wasn’t such a mysterious figure.

While Magic Tower Masters don’t meet often, it’s not like they only see each other once or twice. Eterna was someone you had to meet for important matters whether you wanted to or not.

Everyone who had met her said the same thing—that she possessed charisma and gravitas befitting her title as the Master of Magic.

But the Eterna I met showed the complete opposite of what I’d heard.

‘I thought I’d abandoned human emotions…’

Thinking about those words, maybe her emotions welled up uncontrollably the moment she met me.

Perhaps it’s because we’re both Transcendents.

‘That’s not what’s important right now…’

I shook my head.

That’s not what matters now.

Despite all the hardships during my travels, despite the despair of not being able to return after receiving so much money from the Emperor, despite being buried alive in a coffin for a thousand years without spending a penny…

I looked at my MagicPad with tears welling up.

An enormous sum was displayed on the damn pad.

Worried I wouldn’t believe her, she transferred the money directly to my pad, saying it was like this month’s salary even though I hadn’t even started working yet.

It was enough to restore the Blood Magic Tower to normal, feed all the mages high-quality food, repair damaged areas, and still have plenty left over.

Though I don’t know the exact market rates, and this included support funds, it was easily more than the entire Empire’s annual budget from the old days.

As I mentioned earlier, this included support funds for the Blood Magic Tower, so it was an absurdly large amount, but even so, this much money was truly ridiculous.

‘Insane…’

Just how much money does the Aether Tower have?

It seemed unbelievable, but considering the roads throughout the country, surveillance systems, numerous airships, and the systems to monitor and manage their routes…

Not to mention creating all sorts of things and exporting them to other countries.

‘Of course.’

The Aether Tower couldn’t possibly be short on money…

In the magical world, the Aether Tower was essentially equivalent to the Empire’s royal palace, and Eterna was equivalent to the Emperor…

But still!

‘To do such a thing for mere money…’

I sighed heavily, slapping my forehead.

Sure, I received more than what I got for defeating the Demon King back then, but I still sold my dignity for mere money.

I couldn’t believe I had called that woman “unni” and hugged her.

I must have gone temporarily insane at that moment.

But…

“It’s already in the past… Think positive thoughts…”

Positive thoughts.

What benefits did I gain from this incident?

The best thing was definitely getting the Teleport Station repaired for free.

When Eterna asked why the air defense system had activated, I told her I had flown here because the Teleport Station was broken, and she was startled.

‘The Teleport Station is broken? Don’t worry~ I’ll fix it for you~’

No sooner had I heard those words than I received news that the Teleport Station had been repaired.

From that moment, I realized just how extraordinary the woman before me truly was.

The Great Sage Eterna, positioned higher than anyone else in the Magical Kingdom, respected by all, the Master of Magic and the greatest magician.

I never expected to experience her status in such a way.

At this point, shouldn’t her nickname be changed?

Not the Transcendent who reached the highest realm of magic in the world, but the Transcendent of Money who possesses the most wealth.

Does being good at magic mean money follows?

“Think positive… thoughts…”

Sigh…

Well, anyway.

The funds for operating the Magic Tower are more than sufficient—enough to indulge in luxury and still have plenty left.

Not only that, but she also accepted my proposal to raise the Magic Tower’s reputation.

‘Now I just need to prepare for that time.’

I grinned, revealing my fangs.

Although I suffered the humiliation of calling a woman I just met “unni,” I gained much more in return.

I’ll milk her for all she’s worth and live comfortably for the rest of my life.

Prepare yourself, Eterna…!

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.

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“Unni~!”

As soon as I returned, Irina ran to me and hugged me.

Though she called me “unni” and hugged me, the height difference between us wasn’t that great, so it looked like two girls of similar age embracing each other.

“Have you finished your business?”

The Aether Tower mage who was watching us with a warm smile asked.

Well, I’ve completed everything I needed to do at the Aether Tower.

“Yes, it’s time for us to head back.”

“…I must remind you again… please refrain from entering our airspace without permission in the future… it’s difficult for our Heroes.”

“…Heroes?”

“Hmm? Is there a problem?”

“You said ‘Heroes’… as if there are multiple Heroes. I just found it curious.”

“‘Hero’ is what we call the soldiers who protect the Magical Kingdom. They’re not much different from what people commonly refer to as heroes. Well… the White Tower opposes this, saying that Heroes are chosen by God.”

Those who believe in the Celestial God but don’t merely rely on faith and try to understand—they’re called White Mages.

Naturally, they oppose using the title “Hero”—a name for God’s apostle chosen directly by the Celestial God—for mere soldiers protecting a single country.

It’s not my place to get involved, though.

But this seems familiar somehow.

Must be my imagination.

“Would you like to stay a bit longer?”

“No, we’ll head back now. I have things to do when I return.”

“If it’s about—”

“It’s Blood Tower business. Don’t interfere.”

The mage nodded at my boundary-setting words.

“Understood. Then I’ll activate the station right away.”

“Thank you.”

While flying back would be nice, it would surely trigger the city’s air defense system again, so I decided to return via teleport.

“Heeeng… that’s too bad…”

Irina seemed disappointed that she couldn’t fly with me.

“Ah! Unni, unni!”

“Hmm?”

After a moment, Irina grabbed my sleeve and shook it, calling me as if she had something to show me.

When I asked what was wrong, Irina raised her finger to show me.

There was a puncture wound on her finger.

“Are you hurt?”

“No! I have something to show you!”

Something to show me?

While I tilted my head in confusion, Irina concentrated magical power on her finger and used Blood Magic to draw out blood.

Sometimes this amazes me.

As a True Ancestor and vampire, I’m accustomed to extracting and utilizing blood, and it doesn’t kill me.

I am blood, and blood is me.

But humans can’t maintain their vital functions if they lose blood.

They’re essentially using their life force, so whenever I see this, I worry if they’ll be alright.

Regardless, Irina concentrated completely as she extracted blood and began shaping it.

And that shape was…

“…Wings?”

The wings I had just created earlier.

Though the quality couldn’t compare to what I had made, compared to other Blood Mages who couldn’t even create proper forms, this was…

This was…!!

“I-Irina…!”

Could it be that she had been practicing after seeing the magic I showed earlier, during the time I went to see Eterna?

“I’ve been practicing all this time! Did I do well?”

Sure enough, Irina said this with a bright smile.

This girl…

I silently embraced Irina.

“U-Unni?!”

The time spent practicing didn’t matter.

Whether she was overflowing with talent or not, that wasn’t important.

What mattered was that she had tried to replicate the Blood Claw Art I showed her.

Isn’t that just too adorable!

“This unni… will never lose…”

“??”

I won’t lose to Eterna.

Although I’ve already lost to capital and ended up calling Eterna “unni”…

Even though I acted cute!

I declare here that my heart has not surrendered to Eterna.

I am Irina’s unni, not Eterna’s little sister.

I will never yield.

“So did I make it well?!”

“It’s the best Blood Magic I’ve ever seen.”

“Huh? Isn’t your magic the best Blood Magic?”

“Oh, you adorable thing!”

“Kyahaha, that tickles~!”

How can every word she says be so cute?

She’s the Blood Tower’s treasure, a true treasure.