Ch.55Chapter 55 – The Reunion with Her Was the Worst. (7)

“What the hell is this?”

I tried to break the vines with force.

But they were unusually tough.

As I kept moving, the vines actually increased in number.

“…The more you move, the more they grow.”

Beatrice said, still in the same stance she had when she was about to punch me earlier.

“Damn, it’ll be months before we can return.”

After saying that, she muttered something under her breath, and flames appeared.

Calmly burning away the vines that had bound her, Beatrice dusted off her clothes.

“So, when and how did you come back?”

Beatrice asked in a somewhat growling voice.

“Just now.”

And the answer came from behind me.

“I’ve been keeping a close eye on you, afraid you might destroy the tower.”

“Tch, you’re so full of concern, aren’t you?”

The vines suddenly began to disappear.

Quickly turning around, I saw two people.

One was a woman with lavender hair wearing a purple robe.

The other was a man in a green robe with a hood.

Beatrice clicked her tongue and said:

“Masters, is the expedition already over?”

“You’re one to talk.”

The man said, touching his forehead.

“Even the masters of other towers know what a troublemaker you are.”

“So when we received reports of you running wild, all the masters of the seven towers temporarily suspended their expedition and returned.”

“Well, sorry about that.”

Of course, Beatrice didn’t seem sorry at all.

But she immediately glared at the two and said:

“You both promised me when you took your seats. Not to interfere with what I do.”

“We did.”

“Then why are you interfering?”

I could sense from Beatrice that she was ready to attack them if they spoke nonsense.

“Stop it. You’re badly injured.”

“This much is nothing.”

“You may say that, but you’re quite injured from fighting that man.”

At the man’s words, Beatrice flinched slightly, as if caught off guard.

Looking closely, her arms and legs were trembling subtly.

“Even the mad dog of the Magic Tower who fears no master can’t handle me and Violet in your current state.”

“…Tch, always targeting me when I’m weakened.”

Beatrice began searching through her pockets.

Soon she put a cigarette in her mouth, lit it, and started smoking.

‘What’s going on?’

Perhaps the fight had made my nerves raw.

The smell of cigarettes gave me a slight sense of discomfort.

At the same time, I felt my nerves calming down.

“…So, what’s the real reason for your intervention?”

“Because you were about to break a taboo.”

Beatrice turned her head toward the man.

The cloudy, dazed look in her eyes and that strangely ecstatic expression had disappeared.

“What taboo?”

“The taboos left by the first Tower Master. I didn’t expect you to try breaking two of them.”

The man said firmly.

“They say he’s still alive, watching over the tower. He ordered us during our expedition to stop anyone trying to break the taboos.”

“Wow, amazing. You could have made up something more believable.”

Beatrice said with an incredulous expression.

“The first Tower Master is just a legend now. You should be more reasonable with your fabrications.”

The man and woman smiled slightly at her words.

“We too couldn’t imagine that he was the first Tower Master, or that he was still alive until we received the order.”

“He also said not to reveal his identity until he reveals himself.”

The man said.

“Therefore, I need to check what you’ve been up to.”

“Beatrice, you must come with us. Would you like to join us as well?”

The lavender-haired woman pointed at me.

“Me?”

“Yes, you.”

The woman said.

“I’d like you to accompany us briefly to testify about what Beatrice has done. Let’s talk in Asam’s laboratory.”

“Do I have the right to refuse?”

To Beatrice’s question, the woman shook her head.

“No, you don’t.”

Why act like there’s a choice when there isn’t?

“I refuse. Do you even know who I am?”

The lavender-haired woman standing next to me finally spoke, as if just remembering something.

“We haven’t introduced ourselves yet.”

“Right, I forgot because of that woman.”

“I am Violet, Master of the Purple Tower.”

“Lucian, Master of the Green Tower.”

The hooded man, Lucian, added after introducing himself:

“Let me make it clear: as long as I’m here, no one can harm you. Conversely, I hope you won’t harm others.”

“Why should I trust you?”

After all, I was kidnapped by Beatrice.

I don’t appreciate being told to just put up with it.

‘Should I just flip out?’

I felt that impulse.

Whether aware of my feelings or not, the man smiled slightly and said:

“I stake the honor of the Green Tower on it.”

While I was confused by his words, it was the woman beside me who reacted.

“You’re staking the tower’s honor?”

“Thanks to Beatrice’s reckless actions, this much is necessary to break even.”

Lucian said that and then looked at me.

“Well then, let’s discuss the details in Asam’s laboratory.”

That was the proposal from the two masters.

‘I guess I have no choice but to follow them.’

I would have preferred to just head for the exit if possible.

Unfortunately, that didn’t seem feasible.

+

It seemed that Asam’s laboratory was where I had been held captive.

When the two opened the door, Asam was in the middle of cleaning up the laboratory.

“…Master, why are you here?”

“I’m here because you two are shortening my lifespan.”

Lucian said as he passed by Asam.

He crossed the room and pulled back a curtain.

Behind the curtain was an experimental subject.

Lucian immediately looked at Asam.

“Have you lost your ethical sense already?”

“No. That person was already experimented on, and I was just investigating, so I’m innocent.”

“Wordplay… Fine, fine.”

Soon he covered his face with both hands and said:

“You two are shortening my life, damn it.”

He groaned to himself for about three minutes before finally calming down and looking up.

“Release him immediately.”

“I can’t. He’s been brainwashed and moves like some kind of golem. The moment I release him, he’ll attack.”

The man sighed heavily at Asam’s words.

“So you can’t even release him?”

“If I release him and accidentally let him go, rumors will spread that the Green Tower broke a taboo.”

“This is maddening. These women have brought back a bomb.”

Sighing once more, the man said:

“I’m definitely not going to live out my natural lifespan because of these two.”

The man started muttering to himself.

Then suddenly he extended his hand.

I saw him strike the back of Asam’s head in an instant.

“Ouch!”

“You fool. Your strange actions have forced me to stake the tower’s honor.”

“Honor is unnecessary for a great magician, as you yourself said, Master…”

The man’s hand moved quickly again.

Asam glared slightly at the man but apparently couldn’t resist.

He looked at Asam again and spoke:

“That person inside must never be released.”

“Yes.”

I can already sense that he doesn’t want to escalate this matter further.

“Now, I need to hear what happened.”

“If you don’t mind, please tell us briefly. Starting with you.”

At Violet’s mediation, I recounted what had happened.

Being kidnapped, having blood drawn, and finally hearing about their plan to brainwash me.

Following me, Asam also testified about this incident.

Beatrice was last.

‘She’s not making things up.’

I listened carefully, expecting her to say something strange, but her testimony was similar to mine.

After a while, Lucian said:

“There are no lies.”

“Why would I lie?”

Beatrice glared at the two.

“You’d catch any lies immediately anyway.”

“Then, stand over there with Asam. As for punishment…”

“Forget it.”

Beatrice immediately turned around.

“I’ll hear about it later through Asam.”

With those words, she left the laboratory.

“That bitch.”

“Let it go, Lucian.”

Lucian sighed and looked at Asam.

“You go out too. I’ll call you when the punishment is decided.”

“Yes.”

“Until then, access to this laboratory is forbidden.”

“Yes.”

Asam answered lightly to Lucian’s words.

Soon she turned to look at me.

“See you again.”

“Get lost.”

Hearing my words, Asam slightly raised the corner of her mouth.

Soon she too left the room.

“First, I apologize for this commotion.”

Lucian bowed his head.

“I will make adequate compensation, so please forgive us.”

“If someone nearly died mentally and all I get is ‘I’m sorry,’ that’s quite disappointing, isn’t it?”

“I will definitely compensate you, staking the tower’s honor on it. Violet is a witness, so this cannot be revoked.”

Lucian answered seriously.

“But that’s just a rule between you people.”

Honestly, what use is a rule only they understand to me?

Lucian sighed at my words.

“Staking the tower’s honor means that if I provide inadequate compensation, other towers will have leverage against us.”

He explained slowly.

“Given the current situation of the tower, it’s difficult to discuss compensation immediately, but I will set a date later.”

He bowed his head again.

‘What should I do?’

As I was thinking about what to do, the witch called Violet interjected:

“Staking the tower’s honor is no light promise, as it means the other six towers must find the compensation satisfactory, or there will be political consequences.”

“I see.”

“Yes.”

Then Violet reached into her pocket and handed me something like a golden ornament.

“What’s this?”

“A small consolation I can offer right now. This isn’t meant to settle the compensation, just a gesture of sincerity.”

She said with a smile.

I don’t know much about it, but she’s trying to gain my trust by giving me money.

‘I’ll keep it for now.’

I can see Lucian sighing as he watches me pocket the ornament.

“I apologize, but we will contact you later to visit the Magic Tower.”

“That’s not enough.”

Lucian nodded at my words.

“I’ll make sure Beatrice and Asam can never touch you again.”

“Lucian and I will give them a serious warning. Even Beatrice won’t act recklessly with that.”

I think she might just ignore it and do whatever she wants anyway.

Those women aren’t just ordinary crazy.

‘Should I back down for now?’

There’s nothing more to gain by staying here.

It was time to leave this cursed place.

“Alright.”

I felt I had to accept for now.

Getting out of here was the priority.

“Then, let me show you the way out.”

Lucian said as he stood up.

‘It’s surprising that a Magic Tower Master would be so courteous.’

A being that even kings wouldn’t dare to cross had bowed his head to me.

‘So those two caused trouble serious enough to make a Master cautious?’

Thinking about it, it was terrifying.

I just wanted to avoid getting further entangled in this mess.

+

As I was leaving the Magic Tower, I recovered my helmet and sword that Asam had hidden somewhere.

Following Lucian’s guidance, I came upon a shabby tavern.

“This is the contact point.”

“Contact point?”

“A place where you can go through the procedures to enter the tower.”

After that, he explained how to enter next time.

“Let me warn you in advance: don’t cause any disturbance against Magic Tower personnel around here. That would mean making an enemy of the Magic Tower.”

“As long as you don’t attack me.”

I said while wearing my helmet, and Lucian nodded in understanding.

If they attacked again, at least I had my weapon now and could put up a better fight.

“There’s one more thing I’d like to ask.”

“What is it?”

“What will happen to the remaining experimental subject?”

Lucian seemed to ponder for a moment.

“First, we need to examine the body to find a way to restore it to its original state.”

“And if there isn’t one?”

“We might at least be able to restore the mind. Are you concerned?”

I couldn’t say I wasn’t concerned.

If there was a way to restore the body to its original state, it could apply to me too.

Though we fought to kill each other with all our might, stripped down, he was a victim just like me.

“Well, let’s say I am.”

It’s not like I have a place to take that experimental subject anyway.

When the Magic Tower contacts me next time, I should ask what happened to him.

Lucian nodded.

After promising that Beatrice and Asam wouldn’t touch me, he left.

I headed outside the tavern.

Looking through a window on one wall, I could see the sky had already darkened.

‘Everyone must be worried.’

I could already picture the faces of Eve, Sera, Christina, and the others.

‘Should I buy something?’

I had recovered my wallet. I thought about buying something to bring back as I opened the door and went out.

As soon as I stepped outside, I drew my sword.

“Impressive reflexes.”

Beatrice was standing right next to the door outside, which is why I drew my sword.

I had a feeling she might be there as soon as I grabbed the doorknob, and I was right.

“What are you plotting?”

“Nothing. At least for today, I won’t do anything more.”

She spoke to me while smoking her cigarette.

“So, what did Lord Lucian say?”

“Do I need to tell you?”

“Well, he staked the tower’s honor. Asam’s research budget will be cut again.”

Beatrice muttered that she was sorry about it.

“Let’s end it here for today.”

Beatrice said while smoking, apparently no longer interested in fighting.

She wasn’t in that strange state I felt during our fight.

It bothered me somewhat.

“Let me ask you one thing.”

Beatrice looked at me.

“What?”

“Who modified my body?”

Beatrice and Asam had clearly analyzed the experimental subject’s body and identified someone as the culprit.

I needed to confirm this.

“Why do you ask?”

“What’s your relationship with that person?”

Even as I pointed my sword at her, Beatrice calmly smoked her cigarette.

No, not calmly. She hurriedly finished the cigarette she was smoking and took out a new one.

“Huff…”

Only after smoking almost an entire new cigarette did she finally speak.

“Somnus.”

Beatrice looked at me once.

“The madman Somnus.”

“Who?”

“One of my enemies.”

Putting the cigarette back in her mouth, Beatrice continued.

“He’s the only one who could have made your body with such precision.”

After saying that, Beatrice gently pushed away my sword with the end of her cigarette and disappeared into the tavern.

She vanished with what seemed like a lonely expression on her face.

“Ha. Damn it.”

I almost worried about her for a moment.

“I must be going crazy from exhaustion.”

To think I almost worried about that crazy woman of all people.

Forcibly shaking my head, I turned around.

It was time to return to the people who would have been worried about me.