The Drinking Sage 33

And as time passed.

I finally went to the Pitch-Black Tower with Adela.

It was somewhat awkward that accompanying the Sage to see the Pitch-Black Tower Master seemed like introducing someone who would become a spouse, but.

Since it wouldn’t be right to ignore the feelings of a woman who had even confessed, I silently suppressed those thoughts.

‘It’s still difficult.’

Women who direct their hearts toward me.

Myself, who doesn’t feel emotions well.

And the last words the Saint had said.

-This kind of thing will happen all the time in the future. Are you going to behave like this every time?

Indeed, what attitude should Lorang von Welert take?

Should he coldly cut off the women’s feelings?

Should he make up his mind and choose one woman?

Or should he shamelessly embrace all women?

‘I don’t know.’

It was truly a difficult problem. It felt much harder than learning imperial studies at the palace.

“You have a worried face.”

I suddenly came to my senses at the voice from beside me.

Right at a close distance. With a gap where I could smell the sweet scent of a woman, Adela was looking at me.

On her head was a conical hat that mages often use. And her clothing was a pitch-black robe embroidered with scattered stars.

It was the distinctive attire of mages from the Pitch-Black Tower.

She pouted her lips.

“A man who thinks of other things with a woman beside him is a bad man.”

“I apologize.”

Even without necessarily dividing it into men and women, thinking of other things while having someone beside you is not good behavior.

It seemed I had made this mistake because I had been prone to being lost in thoughts lately due to my many concerns. I quickly bowed my head.

-Look at that. Isn’t that the Sage?

-Yeah. Why has she returned to the Pitch-Black Tower?

Murmuring noise from around. The gazes of passersby were fixed on us—more precisely, on Adela.

Currently, Adela and I were walking through the streets of the city where the Pitch-Black Tower was located.

Most of the people passing by were mages, many around Adela’s age.

The murmuring noise, which they thought wouldn’t be heard, actually stuck in my ears quite well. Perhaps they intended for it to be heard.

The content of the noise wasn’t very pleasant.

-Sigh… she shouldn’t have come back at all.

-Seriously. After acting like she wouldn’t associate with us at the Academy, she shows her face again?

-The thought of seeing that person again is horrible. Just horrible.

And the look in their eyes toward Adela. Well, how should I put it?

“Not good.”

It wasn’t a very kind gaze.

At my quietly uttered words, one corner of Adela’s mouth rose. It was a smile close to a sneer.

“So that’s how it appears to you?”

“Yes. As you know, the Dragon Eyes can read emotions from mana.”

“It wasn’t a sight I wanted to show. I’m so accustomed to those gazes that I didn’t consider your feelings, Your Highness.”

Certainly. I could roughly guess the intention behind Adela’s words that she “didn’t want to show.”

The gazes looking at Adela from around weren’t very moderate.

Basically, there was admiration and awe for the Sage, who was both a superior and a person of skill, but.

Looking deeper, there was envy, jealousy, and inferiority.

“It’s because they’re my age.”

Adela’s lips opened.

As if not particularly showing it. Without much change in her expression, she answered my question.

“Being of similar age but with an overwhelming gap, they can’t handle it. It’s the ugly side of the mage kind.”

“You’re quite composed.”

“Of course.”

Adela’s lips once again twisted up on one side.

For someone who agreed about being composed, her attitude was quite cynical.

“How many times have I seen it? People praising me as amazing to my face whenever I use magic, but behind my back, how much they gossip.”

“…”

“Ah, I’m sorry? I didn’t particularly want to talk about this. The atmosphere has turned bad.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

Since looking into the inner workings of someone like Adela would ultimately help with my Academy graduation, I answered plainly.

As we talked while walking. Before we knew it, we had arrived at the Pitch-Black Tower.

The tower that stood tall was painted black. The monochrome exterior might seem unimpressive at first glance.

But knowing that the pitch-black color shines with a dark light when it catches the sunlight, and that numerous magic spells protect it, you absolutely cannot think that.

However, there was something a bit curious.

“There’s no door.”

That was what came out of my mouth.

As the words suggested, no matter where I looked, I couldn’t see a proper entrance.

If there’s no door to enter the tower, does everyone enter through warps? Then what about those who cannot use magic?

Adela smiled brightly and answered.

“That’s right. The Pitch-Black Tower has no entrance.”

“Then, how can one enter inside?”

“Like this.”

Adela gathered mana in her finger, and with a snap!

The wall of the Pitch-Black Tower twisted with a creaking sound.

As the bricks quickly reassembled to create an empty space, a rectangular structure descended from within.

Swoosh- The structure descending without a sound was clearly an object made with magitech.

I felt slightly surprised at this strange object that I hadn’t seen even in the imperial palace.

Judging by its movement, it seems this can be used for entry. What could it be?

“Here. Your Highness, please take my hand.”

Adela hopped onto the object.

And then she extended her hand to me, somehow in a pose like a knight offering a hand to a lady.

Just in case, I checked her expression, and I could see her smiling mischievously. She seemed to know that this reversed the gender roles.

“What’s wrong? I know the Pitch-Black Tower better. You should accept my escort.”

“That may be true, but I can climb up without you necessarily extending your hand.”

“No. Refusal is not an option.”

It seems I’ll have to grab this hand and climb on.

The gazes of people far behind us who were glancing this way. Perhaps her intention was to deliberately show the hand-holding.

In the end, I decided to indulge Adela’s wishes.

I take the white hand extended. The cool fingers quickly wrapped around my hand and pulled me up.

-Who’s that guy…? Why is the Sage extending her hand?

-Are they lovers or something?

-Looks like she lured a man from the Academy?

There was noisy chatter from behind, but neither I nor Adela paid any mind.

We weren’t small-minded enough to care about each and every one of those things.

“It’s called an ‘elevator.'”

Adela said while waving her hand. As her hand waved, the object called an elevator began to float.

This structure, flying toward the Pitch-Black Tower without a sound, was an object that could move without any human labor, using only “mana.”

“Impressive. Who on earth in the Pitch-Black Tower created such a magitech object?”

“Hehe. Indeed. Who could have made it?”

“…”

“Want to guess?”

Adela grinned and brought her face close to mine.

In her obsidian eyes, there was affection and trust. As if I would know who it was.

To respond to that faith and make her happy, I closed my eyes and fell into deep thought.

The number of people who can create such an impressive object is limited. It must be someone renowned even within the Pitch-Black Tower.

But. An even more certain basis is that it’s someone Adela is proud of, and at the same time, someone she wants me to guess.

There was only one answer.

“It must be the Pitch-Black Tower Master.”

“Hehe. As I believed, you would guess it right.”

Adela smiled brightly. Her joy was evident.

Thankfully, it seems I didn’t disappoint her, so I inwardly sighed in relief. I didn’t want to see her dejected.

Naturally, I asked the next question.

“Why did they create such an object?”

“Mother…, no. The Tower Master’s pursuit in magic is just one thing.”

Adela raised her index finger. The slender finger reflected the sunlight and shone white.

“‘Happiness.'”

“Hmm.”

Happiness, eh.

It’s so broad that it might seem abrupt at first, and yet it’s a desirable value.

How does one claim to pursue it?

Adela’s mouth followed with an elaboration.

“The Tower Master is interested in how people can live happier lives.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes. For example, the elevator is a result of pursuing the happiness of ‘moving without exerting effort.'”

“That’s amazing.”

“Of course. If it can be commercialized, it will spread throughout the world.”

As she said that, Adela’s black eyes were sparkling.

Of course, one might say what’s so great about just creating something that moves without effort, despite claiming to pursue happiness.

But considering that at the foundation of that invention lies a heart for others, and that she has the skills to actually realize such an invention.

The Tower Master must undoubtedly be a great person.

It was inevitable that my mouth would utter one appropriate statement.

“I’m looking forward to it. I wish to meet the Tower Master soon.”

“Oh, really? It’s surprising that Your Highness feels that way.”

Adela responded as if it was unexpected, but.

To anyone’s eyes, she clearly had an expression of satisfaction welling up. She seemed so happy that I praised her mother.

Yes. I was, in all honesty, really looking forward to it.

‘Magic for the happiness of others.’

Though magic has many uses, most are used in combat in the current state of affairs. No one used magic for the public good.

Yet, someone who handles it with altruism.

Naturally, I couldn’t help but look forward to it.

Ding- A signal sounds from the elevator. In the midst of our conversation, we had already arrived at the previously empty wall.

“Come, let’s go in.”

Adela said that while pulling my arm.

“…”

It might look like she’s trying to guide me to the Tower Master, but to anyone’s eyes, her intention was to subtly link arms.

‘Should I point it out or not?’

After a moment of consideration, I decided to just keep my mouth shut. I wanted to let Adela be happy.

There was also the fact that I hadn’t taken good care of her lately. And with Rinet’s words still lingering in my head, how should I put it? I felt increasingly shameless.

‘Thick-skinned. Let’s become thick-skinned.’

If one takes the initiative confidently, who can say anything?

With that mindset, I proceeded to meet the Tower Master.

Yes. That’s why I couldn’t stop it.

The bomb statement that would come from Adela’s mouth.

 

The moment I first met the Tower Master.

Adela, with her arm linked with mine beside me.

While leaning her head on me, declared.

“Tower Master. Let me introduce him. He’s my boyfriend.”

“…”

Looking at the face of the Tower Master with wide-open eyes in front of me.

I inwardly heaved a deep sigh.

‘To think Adela would be more shameless than me.’

They say there’s always someone who flies higher than the one who jumps, and that saying was true.