Ch.57Decision (2)

Shortly after returning to Etna City, Karisia was having a private meeting with Ortes.

Unusually, it was Ortes who had sought out Karisia first. He was there to report on the three-way division of power between the Divine Order, Blasphemia, and Arguilion.

“I’ve established channels to both gather and spread information within the Divine Order and Blasphemia. Hydra Company has secured a position where we can somewhat guide the movements of all three powers.”

Even for Karisia, this exceeded expectations. It was essentially the same as having planted spies in both Blasphemia and the Divine Order.

The most brilliant part was that these spies provided information without even realizing they were acting as spies.

From their perspective, Ortes was an ally to each of them.

Karisia had known from the rough report in Elysion that Ortes had been up to something, but this…

“You’re saying you did this while taking Kine with you?”

“I brought her along as insurance, since I didn’t think words alone would convince the priest. When they saw her actually using holy power, it became quite easy to deceive them.”

‘I’m not sure if “easy deception” is the right way to describe what happened.’

Karisia considered her subordinate’s mindset and chose not to voice this thought aloud. It wasn’t the first time Ortes had devised and executed an outlandish operation.

“So, Boss. Have you figured out a strategy for dealing with the Ten Towers?”

The Ten Towers. While Karisia was specifically targeting only the White Light Magic Tower, if they were to wage full-scale war, reinforcements from the other towers would certainly arrive.

“If we challenge them under the pretext of a succession battle, the other towers won’t interfere. However…”

“Once we destroy the Tenth Circle, the concept of succession becomes meaningless. If White Light’s Tenth Circle disappears, the other towers will fight against Hydra Company, either for revenge or to protect their own Circles.”

Karisia twirled a strand of her long hair around her right index finger. After wrapping it around three or four times, she suddenly spoke.

“You’re aware of the problem with this three-way division, right?”

“Yes. Arguilion, Blasphemia, and the Divine Order. I’ve created a three-way conflict, but there are those who could overturn the entire situation.”

It all came down to the Ten Towers. Weren’t they constantly worrying about their overwhelming asymmetric power—the Tenth Circles?

“At this point, accelerating the divine investigation seems to be our most rational main strategy.”

If the artificial Tenth Circle were completed, Etna City would become an impregnable battlefield even against expeditionary forces from the Ten Towers.

“The city’s outer walls will serve as our first line of defense. Geryon’s and Kaicle’s magic towers, along with Hydra Company, will form the second line. The final defensive line will be established at Mount Etna. Even if they attempt an aerial assault using airships, breaking through will be difficult.”

Ortes’s assessment wasn’t exaggerated. With daily destruction and redevelopment, Etna City was transforming from a disorderly underworld with dilapidated outer walls into something closer to a planned fortress city.

Of course, having an advantage against the Ten Towers was limited to defensive warfare.

“We can’t be too complacent about our defensive advantages, considering there have been cases where even Tower Masters were replaced after losing succession battles. And ultimately, we’re in a position where we need to take the offensive.”

A means to conquer White Light. They would need to devise a separate plan to make the magical fields of White Light and their artificial Tenth Circle collide. Karisia felt several new tasks being added to her list.

One solution flashed through Karisia’s mind.

‘What if I just close my eyes and leave everything to Ortes?’

No. No way. Karisia shook her head. While Ortes might seem omnipotent, and had indeed succeeded in most tasks he’d been assigned so far, that didn’t mean he was truly capable of everything.

‘Specifically, the cases where he failed were…’

Ah. Friends.

“By the way, have you been in frequent contact with your friend?”

“No. We hadn’t contacted each other for several years. Fortunately, he remembered me well.”

Ortes, seemingly pleased about reuniting with an old friend, went on to share various stories.

“Remember when I told you I once heard someone say, ‘I’ll betray you before you betray me’? Lampades was the only one who took my side then.”

“He has quite an eye for character.”

Karisia responded dryly. Was it really true that he didn’t betray Ortes? Or was he simply too afraid to do so?

“My friend is quite capable.”

This unexpected praise of his friend troubled Karisia. It was clear that Ortes wasn’t omnipotent after all. Social skills might be his weakness.

‘It seemed like he viewed you more as some kind of monster than a friend.’

“Is that person your only friend, Ortes?”

“Haha, Boss. I may not be the most sociable, but I’m not completely lacking. I worked so hard at the extra-dimensional frontline.”

Karisia held back from saying, ‘And how many times were you betrayed at that place where you worked so hard?’

“Speaking of Lampades Tower, have you talked to Kine about it?”

Before her self-control reached its limit, Karisia decided to change the subject.

“Kine? Aren’t you personally handling the details of the corporate scholarship and the employment contract after her graduation from Mouseion?”

Ortes questioned. It seemed Kine hadn’t told him anything.

“A child named Astrape from Lampades Tower says she’s seen you before. Or more precisely, heard you.”

***

‘Heard me?’ What does that mean?

“Did my friend Lampades tell her about me?”

“She says you saved her when she was about to be sold as a slave. Does that ring any bells?”

Hmm?

There’s only one slave trading operation I’ve crushed recently with gritted teeth. If it’s connected to Astrape, that makes it even more certain.

The faction of Torres Tower that dealt with Kriton. Was the person in charge named Tachnia?

But when I directly asked Tachnia, didn’t she insist she didn’t know such a child?

The Astrape I just saw wasn’t mechanically modified. If Torres School had gotten their hands on her, her entire body except for her brain would have been converted to enchantware.

‘…Was Astrape among those who had just been captured and were waiting in the warehouse that day?’

It was an incredible coincidence. To think that Astrape was hiding somewhere in the crowd I was inciting while distributing magic engraving drives.

It wasn’t a bad thing that Astrape remembered me. For one, it meant one less ally for the Magic King.

While our goal is to destroy White Light without conflicting with the Magic King, things don’t always go according to plan.

In a worst-case scenario, having one less potential enemy is a positive outcome.

‘But simply leaving a good impression might not be enough. I’ll need a more definitive way to bring both Lampades and Astrape to our side.’

I decided on a means to make Lampades and Astrape actively cooperate with Hydra Company.

I’ll offer them too much to refuse.

***

Karisia recalled what Kine had told her when relaying this news.

‘She said it was scary not knowing how much of this was part of Ortes’s plan.’

“This is fortunate. Astrape is a talented magician like Miss Kine. It would be nice if they became friends at Mouseion.”

Ortes himself, who had supposedly saved Astrape, seemed indifferent. Just as Karisia thought that…

“Seeing how Lampades personally came to rescue Astrape, he must value her highly as his disciple. Since Astrape has a good impression of me, let’s use this to establish contact.”

Ortes had saved Astrape several months ago. Afterward, Astrape had entered Lampades Tower, and Lampades’s technology was necessary for Hydra Company’s purposes.

For some reason, Lampades hadn’t given a definitive answer about the partnership, and now, incredibly fortunately, Astrape remembered the debt she owed to Ortes…

“Is this a coincidence?”

“Pardon? Ah. Yes, it’s a coincidence.”

After briefly stroking his chin in thought, Ortes spoke.

“Lampades probably believes that Astrape’s talent for lightning magic—manipulation of electromagnetic waves—is essential for the final completion of extra-dimensional detection magic.”

Karisia nodded. While it was certain that Lampades was relatively conscientious for a Tower Master, the probability that he would rush into a terrorist-infested city solely out of conscience was low.

“Lampades himself is an exceptional magician, and given that Astrape’s admission to Mouseion is a foregone conclusion, he won’t be swayed simply by offers to support her education.”

“That’s right. As a Tower Master qualified for the board, he’s quite financially well-off.”

“But I happen to know a place that might have an artifact suitable for her.”

Karisia massaged her temple. It was a habit she had picked up from Ortes.