Chapter 109: Love is Blind (2)

“Tower Master…!”

The moment that name came out of Rona’s mouth, it hit me like a blow to the back of the head.

“What? Is it really that surprising?”

“No, it’s just… The more I think about it, the more ridiculous it is.”

“Ridiculous? What is?”

“That the concept of a Tower Master had completely vanished from my head.”

Just earlier, I’d been agonizing over, “Where can I see a 7th tier in person?”

In hindsight, that was such a dumb question.

Because think about it, I belong to the Mage Tower.

And who sits at the top of the Mage Tower?

The Tower Master.

For someone like me, affiliated with the Mage Tower, asking “Is there anyone inhumanly strong around here?” should automatically lead to “Oh right, the Tower Master.”

And yet I had been moping in silence without even thinking of them.

Where the hell is our Tower Master?

Once again, I was reminded of how far from normal our Mage Tower really was.

Well, maybe that’s why they took in a bastard like me and pampered me by naming me an honorary mage in the first place.

Rona seemed to read the storm of emotions in my head and burst into laughter.

It was the kind of refreshing smile that would make girls scream, “Kyaaa! Prince Charming!”

“I heard that girl’s got some kind of wanderlust curse or something and can’t sit still. So, you’ve never actually met her?”

“From what I hear, her visits to the Mage Tower are… yearly events.”

“…Then the Mage Tower functions without her?”

“No, there’s a Deputy Tower Master.”

“Wouldn’t a Deputy Tower Master be just as amazing?”

“There’s a puppet called Demia, crafted by the Tower Master herself to take over her duties, modeled after her own younger self. But unless someone told you, you’d think she was just a regular person.”

“…And you’re saying that like it’s no big deal, that she created something practically human.”

“That’s the kind of weight the title ‘Tower Master’ carries.”

They’re monsters who’ve reached the pinnacle of magic.

That title holds weight comparable to a Swordmaster, or sometimes even more.

In that sense, this was the perfect opportunity.

Someone like that should easily be able to demonstrate what the 7th tier is like.

To someone like me, starving for a taste of the 7th tier, this was a golden opportunity.

Grinning, I grabbed Rona’s hands.

“Rona, I swear, you’re the best. How did you know exactly what I needed? I can’t even remember how I lived before I met you.”

“Huh!? Uh…”

Maybe I overdid it a bit.

Rona flinched and stiffened.

But just for a moment.

“Unexpected. That’s the complete opposite of what I thought you’d say.”

She glanced down at our clasped hands and continued in a tone that was almost pleased.

Probably another part of her ‘prince mode’—that warm and charming vibe she could turn on like a switch.

“What did you expect me to say?”

“I thought you’d hate it. A party full of self-important people all screaming ‘I’m great—! no I’m greater!’”

“Ah.”

“I even prepared a whole pitch to persuade you. So what happened? Hanging out with city council members awaken a thirst for power or something?”

She laughed and gave my arm a playful slap.

“Huh?”

Then suddenly, Prince Charming’s expression turned serious.

And I instinctively tensed too.

“What? Is something wrong with my body?”

She’s a doctor, and I’m the patient.

If she makes a face like that after checking me, it’s only natural for me to panic.

“What? No—um…”

Rona seemed to recall something, brought a hand to her lips, and started massaging my arm with the other.

She was the very picture of a devoted physician.

So I, too, cooperated fully and waited for her diagnosis.

“How is it?”

“Hmm… Surprisingly… you seem to train pretty hard, huh?”

“I used to, before I got hurt at least. Why? Should I tone it down?”

“No, no. You’re doing great. It’s just right.”

Wait, can doctors in this world really figure out a patient’s condition by just touching their arm?

Modern medicine, you’ve been defeated.

Then again, she’s got divine power, so that makes sense.

A worthy loss.

Modern medicine couldn’t even cure baldness.

“That’s all you needed?”

“Huh?”

“You can tell everything just by touching my arm?”

“Uh… well…”

My doctor seemed to be conflicted.

Her eyes were sparkling, though.

Probably a sign of her sacred sense of duty as the Saint.

“Then just a moment—”

Rona proceeded to press against my chest, knead my thigh, and give me a thorough physical exam.

Eventually, she nodded in satisfaction.

“Excellent.”

“Excellent?”

“Huh? No, I mean—your condition, your physical state, it’s—”

“So basically, because I’ve been working out regularly, I’m recovering quickly?”

“E-Exactly! That’s what I meant.”

“Whew, hearing it from you really puts my mind at ease.”

With the check-up over, we returned to our conversation.

I explained why I’d shown interest in the banquet.

“You want to witness a 7th tier up close, since you’re almost there yourself?”

Rona spaced out for a second, then nodded as if she understood.

“Yeah, that makes sense. You’re approaching the 7th tier… Not surprising at all. So natural it’s not even worth reacting to.”

“That tone’s a little weird.”

“That’s probably your fault.”

“Maybe. Anyway, do you know anything more about this Tower Master? Anything that might help when I talk to them—oh wait, I didn’t ask yet. Which Tower are they from? I’m personally hoping it’s the Grey Tower Master.”

“Too bad. It’s the Blue Tower Master. Or rather, the former Blue Tower Master.”

“Oh, retired. Makes sense, then, that they’d attend a merchant’s banquet in another city. Bit of a shame.”

“Shame?”

“I mean, if other Tower Masters were as nomadic and absent as ours, I think I’d feel a bit more at ease.”

“You’re twisted…”

“Twisted environments produce twisted kids. Wait a minute—I’ve been abandoned by every superior I’ve had! The Lord of Bendel, my teacher, the Tower Master—”

“Okay, this is no longer a ‘haha, relatable!’ kind of topic. Let’s change subjects. About that Tower Master, they say he’s… infatuated right now.”

“Infatuated?”

Like, in love?

Did he resign from the Tower because of forbidden love?

As my imagination started running wild, Rona continued.

“He apparently picked up some girl recently—”

“Okay, that’s starting to sound a little sketchy—”

“—and she’s apparently got incredible magical talent.”

“Oh. That’s it?”

“They say it’s so incredible that he’s seriously considering returning to the Mage Tower just to take her as a disciple and personally teach her.”

“If someone like a Tower Master is that interested, she must be one hell of a monster.”

“?”

Rona gave me a strange look.

“…How do you know all this, anyway?”

“It was written in a letter to the guild master of the Golden Barley.”

“Huh?”

“Caria told me.”

“…Is that Caria girl… alright?”

I asked cautiously. Rona gave her signature prince smile.

“Of course she is. She’s very dear to me. I treat her well.”

How well are we talking here?

The words almost left my mouth, but I wasn’t ready to deal with the answer, so I swallowed them.

“Oh, right, one more thing.”

“One more?”

“A high noble. A young lord and lady from a noble family will also be attending. Ever heard of the Mastien family?”

A high noble.

Nobility among nobles.

The rulers of this world.

Even people who didn’t care about noble society knew all the high noble names.

I was no different.

And among them, the name Mastien was particularly familiar to me.

“You’re asking me that? You think I wouldn’t know the name of the Grey Tower’s pride and genius mage?”

“…The Grey Tower’s pride and genius mage?”

“Yeah. Our Tower’s shining star, someone we’re proud to show off anywhere.”

“…Just don’t say that in front of her, alright?”

“?”

“Anyway, you’re saying you know the Mastien lady? That’s great. Use this opportunity to get closer.”

“Get closer? I’m not like you.”

“?”

“You know, the way you—bam—just take over girls’ hearts? Wasn’t that the idea?”

I rubbed my hands together to mimic Rona’s natural charm.

She sighed in exhaustion.

“You think I’d ever trust you with something like that?”

“Yeah, fair. I’ve got zero game in that area.”

“…”

“?”

Prince Charming looked at me with a strange expression, then spoke again.

“Anyway, I just meant, use that connection. Build some ties with a high noble family.”

Lately, I’d been hanging out with city councilors and other nobles and that made me a bit more confident.

But a high noble…

It’s not easy to rule over a city as large as Bondalles.

But high nobles don’t just rule cities.

They rule entire continents.

The scale is entirely different.

“Someone like me, standing in front of people like that… hmm…”

“What’s the big deal? Just do what you did with the council members and bam! Win them over!”

Rona imitated my earlier hand gesture and teased me.

“Maybe… I’m just not used to these kinds of events.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that.”

She lightly tapped my arm and gave me another of her prince smiles.

“You’ve got me, don’t you?”

“…Damn. So this is how those girls fell for you, huh? I think I just did too.”

Then she explained the banquet schedule.

“Starting tomorrow morning, guests will begin arriving at the mansion. The actual banquet starts in the evening. So, what do you say? Wanna walk around with me from the morning and meet people, or just show up in the evening when it starts?”

“What about you?”

“Me? I’ll be mingling from the morning. Lots of new faces at this banquet, I plan on expanding my circle.”

“…Not to sound paranoid, but go easy on the ladies with boyfriends. You’re basically a natural disaster for those poor guys.”

“If you’re that worried, just stick to me like glue and keep watch.”

“Ha. Fine. Morning it is.”

Rona gently kneaded my arm again and gave a pleased smile.

“Smart choice. Honestly, someone like you could pull off a grand, dramatic entrance later in the evening, but this banquet is packed with big names.”

“Right. A former Tower Master and a high noble heir and lady attending.”

We kept talking for a while longer until—

“Ah, look at me. I’ve told you everything I came to say, so I should go.”

“What’s the rush?”

“Of course I’m in a rush, it’s late. I’ve already lingered too long for a late-night visit.”

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t mind. With us, it’s no big deal.”

“With us…?”

Like she did earlier, I smiled and tapped her arm.

“Stay as long as you like. All night, if you want.”

“…?”

Rona’s eyes lit up, just briefly.

“…Ah.”

Then as if something dawned on her, she sighed and her expression flipped.

“Tomorrow… Should I wear a dress…”

She muttered something under her breath.

“What was that?”

“I said I’m leaving.”

With oddly annoyed steps, Rona left the room.

“An earring?”

“Huh? You noticed?”

“You keep brushing your hair behind your ear.”

“Whatever. I tried it on, how is it?”

“…Isn’t it too pretty? What if people find out you’re a girl?”

“I mean, it’s not like I ever went around insisting I was a guy. Anyway, did you really think it was pretty?”

“Oh, sorry. Did that offend you?”

“…Duh? I’m not some chick, you know.”

The next day.

I followed Rona—who looked suspiciously cheerful—as we toured the mansion.

“This is Lord Koldor, eldest son of the Dvardeon family.”

“Oh, is that the Dvardeon wine—?”

“Indeed. The wine from our vineyard is our family’s pride.”

“Lord Koldor, this is Risir, have you heard the name?”

“Risir… Ah! Could it be the one who wiped out the back-alley crime syndicates…?!”

“Eh, I didn’t exactly wipe them out—“

“It’s an honor to meet you, Risir! Let’s see more of each other!”

Rona introduced me to various acquaintances to help me blend into the banquet’s crowd more naturally.

After meeting several people like that—

A weird feeling crept up on me.

“This is Lord Dobaph, second son of House Kallenon.”

“This is Lord Kezen, third son of House Dubuian.”

Was it just my imagination?

Why are they all guys?

As if on cue—

“Ah…!”

A young woman spotted Rona from afar, her face lighting up with joy.

“Alright, we’re done here, let’s head to the next spot.”

“Huh?”

Before the woman could get closer, Rona whisked me away to another location.

“You sure that’s okay? That girl looked like she recognized you and was about to greet you.”

“Probably just your imagination. Don’t worry about it.”

Even after that, I met more nobles and exchanged pleasantries.

All of them were men.

It was probably just as Rona said, me being overly sensitive.

I decided not to assign unnecessary meaning to it.

As we kept moving around, I could feel the mansion’s population density rising.

By afternoon, the real guests were beginning to gather for the banquet.

After a full round of mingling, Rona and I strolled through the garden, looking for new targets—ahem, opportunities.

“Let’s check that out.”

A subtle crowd had gathered.

The atmosphere was quietly buzzing.

The kind that forms when there’s someone people want to approach but can’t easily do so.

And sure enough…

I recognized a familiar face.

Bright blonde hair like someone had turned up the saturation, pale skin.

An appearance that screamed, “I am noble blood!”

Lady Henya Ye Mastien of the high noble Mastien family—my fellow peer from the Mage Tower—stood there.

Huh? Is that—?

Beside her was another blonde who looked just as nobly bred.

It was obvious at a glance.

That had to be her older brother.

The nobles scattered around them were practically forming an invisible line.

Order of approach determined by rank.

They cautiously took turns offering greetings to the high noble siblings.

“Huh?”

At that moment.

Lady Henya, standing beside her brother and entertaining noble guests, spotted me.

“You! What are you doing here?!”

Her tone was accusing, but her face was clearly delighted.

Ignoring the surrounding nobles, Henya made a beeline for me.

“Henya?”

Her older brother followed behind her, approaching me as well.

“What? You’re acquainted with Lady Henya?”

“Wait, isn’t that Lord Eron? Don’t tell me… he has ties to high nobility too?”

“And who’s the person beside him?”

All eyes in the area immediately turned to us.

“Risir! Perfect timing!”

Lady Henya beamed at me, completely unfazed by the attention.

“Come with me!”

“Uh? Where to?”

“Anywhere! Just come duel me, right now!”

“A duel?”

“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this moment. The chance to reclaim the humiliation of that day!”

A small whirlwind rose from her palm.

“See? I reached 5th tier, just like you! You’d better be ready!”

“…”

“…”

Rona and I both awkwardly looked away.

-: Gonna slice her in half and give them each one? What are you, Solomon?

-: Snap them out of it lol

[OP]: FFS it’s not working!

[OP]: This disciple chick has insane stats.