Ch.60The Greatest Magic Tower Tournament (Intermission)

“What on earth are these?”

Honestly, even as I entered this place, I was thinking, “No way, that can’t be possible…”

Unlike the other Magic Towers that seemed to have lost their minds, I thought our Blood Mages would be normal kids, just intimidated because of the persecution they’d suffered for a thousand years.

But…

“Oh my goodness…”

In the dark room filled with flesh-colored images, it was too dark to see clearly without looking around, but with a vampire’s naturally good night vision, I could see everything perfectly well.

There were so many varieties.

Books were just the beginning—there were even figurines of me made from materials I couldn’t identify.

“Th-that…”

From figurines posed in specific positions to others I couldn’t even describe in words.

The variety was extensive.

It’s somewhat… well, I wouldn’t call it comforting, but at least I wasn’t the only one with figurines…

Is that really a comfort…?

“This isn’t easy…”

Perhaps the only silver lining was that there were almost no books depicting me being pounced on by unknown men.

Yes, no unknown men, but still…

“Ugh…”

I saw something I should never have seen.

The moment I saw an image of me with the red-haired man, I reflexively looked away.

The major confrontation between the Red Tower Master and me was famous enough that most Blood Mages and Red Mages knew about it, so I had thought there might be some materials pairing us together, but…

“Sigh…”

I let out a deep breath.

“Aah…”

Is this how parents feel when they discover their children’s hidden side?

I thought the “hidden side” of Blood Mages would just be their occasional aggressive comments toward other Magic Towers on forums. Even that seemed understandable considering how other Magic Towers had ignored us until now.

But this was different.

Very, very different.

“I think they called this ‘R-18 fan content’ back in reality…”

That’s what I remember it being called in the real world, but I wonder what they call it here.

Perhaps they don’t even understand the concept of creating fan content featuring real people.

No, that would make sense.

For modern people who enjoyed the cultural ocean of the internet, personal information like copyright and portrait rights was considered extremely important.

Creating fan content or writing fiction about real people could potentially distort public perception or social views of that person.

It was literally a dangerous act that could ruin someone’s life without warning, and because such incidents happened frequently, it was strictly prohibited.

But this world is different.

Since these things only circulate in the underground… it makes sense that Tower Masters who aren’t interested in this underground culture wouldn’t know about it.

Even when I first became a Tower Master, there were probably drawings featuring me.

I just didn’t know about them until now.

Yes, it’s fine.

I’m really fine with it.

I’m not narrow-minded enough to get angry over something like this.

“But still…”

I focused my gaze on one particular item.

A doujinshi cover featuring a cute blonde girl and my silver-haired self intertwined in a way that suggested… well, that kind of activity. I smacked my forehead.

Don’t pair me with Irina, you fools…

“There must be outsiders involved in this…”

It must be the Iron Tower.

Though I just met her for the first time, recalling the Iron Tower Master’s appearance from earlier, I couldn’t dismiss the possibility.

For doujinshi of this scale to be produced, the Iron Tower must be involved.

The reason was simple.

“This kind of culture only exists in the Iron Tower…!!”

The only people who create and draw this stuff are from the Iron Tower.

Blood Mages who had no interest in this culture—well, some might have been interested, but not many—must have fallen victim to the invasion of the Iron Tower’s magical engineers.

Or maybe…

“M-Midir, ma’am…”

As soon as we entered, Razak looked at me nervously, unsure what to do.

He seemed afraid, probably thinking that any other Tower Master would be furious upon discovering such materials being produced about them, and I would be no different.

“Hmm.”

Truthfully, I wasn’t as angry as one might expect.

How should I put it… I don’t really feel like my body is my own.

This body of Midir Tepes, a True Ancestor girl, is definitely mine, but it still doesn’t feel quite real to me.

That’s not to say this world is fake.

It’s just that after living as a vampire for so long—a being for whom having one’s own appearance isn’t particularly important—my common sense differs from that of ordinary humans.

My anger stems from a different reason.

“Irina has nothing to do with this…”

If they draw this kind of content featuring me, well… I might give the artist a light knock on the head if I ever meet them, but I’m not that angry.

It could even be seen as a sign of admiration from fans, so I don’t necessarily dislike it, though it is a bit uncomfortable.

But involving Irina changes things.

I could overlook the discomfort when it’s just about me, but Irina is an innocent child.

As Irina’s mother figure, I absolutely cannot forgive involving her in this.

“Can you tell me who’s in charge here?”

I asked Razak.

“Um… I’m sorry. I don’t know.”

However, Razak’s expression showed he genuinely didn’t know.

“…Is that so? You’re really telling the truth?”

When I looked at him suspiciously, Razak shook his head vigorously with an even more surprised expression.

“I-I really don’t know!”

Well, Razak wouldn’t lie to me anyway.

I’m not just anyone—I’m the Blood Tower Master.

If he were the type to lie to me, I would have dismissed him from his secretary position long ago.

Still, it was unexpected.

From how he seemed to know about this place, I thought he would know more, but it seems he only knew about the place itself, not the details.

“In that case…”

There’s only one answer.

Find the person who appears to be in charge here.

With so many items displayed, the person in charge must be somewhere nearby.

I immediately scattered blood around to check if anyone was present.

“M-Midir, ma’am?!”

Razak called out to me in shock when he saw me using Blood Claw Art, but I ignored him and concentrated on the technique.

This particular Blood Claw Art required some concentration.

“I’ve figured out the structure of this building.”

Now I just need to find the suspicious person… but…

“There are a lot of people here…”

More people than I expected inside.

But someone running an operation like this must be extraordinary.

Even though they’re from the Iron Tower studying magical engineering, they’re still mages with powerful magical energy compared to ordinary people.

Since they’re certainly magical engineers from the Iron Tower, if I target only those carrying magical tools…

If I check…

“Huh?”

This magical energy…

“No way…!!”

I hurriedly moved toward the direction where I sensed the magical energy.

Just as I started moving, I heard a clattering sound from far away, and then someone burst through a door.

I was surprised they were closer than I thought, but I welcomed the reduction in hassle.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

I deployed Blood Claw Art and caught the hooded figure trying to escape.

With their ankle caught in my Blood Claw Art, they tried desperately to escape, but I arrived in front of them even faster, placing my hands on my hips with a stern expression.

“Now, lift your hood and reveal yourself.”

I didn’t expect to find them this quickly.

They should blame their own good instincts.

“Aaaah, no!”

Without time to complain, the hood was revealed, and the face underneath was…

“…Iron Tower Master?”

A girl with pink twin-tails.

The Iron Tower Master I had just met earlier was waving at me with an awkward “hehe” smile.

“Ah, hello…?”

She greeted me with an awkward smile.

“Why is she here…?”

I didn’t think the culprit was operating this place, but…

I had my doubts, but was the Iron Tower Master really running this place herself?

“I-if I had known this would happen, I should have brought my tools properly…”

I stared blankly at her as she spoke with genuine regret, at a complete loss for words.

This really isn’t easy…