episode_0086

Countless citizens flock to the path the Saintess is heading towards.

Perhaps because of her dazzling appearance and astonishing actions, or perhaps simply because they want to see the Saintess of the current era once, I don’t know.

Unless it’s District 1 where the Arielian Church is located, seeing the face of the Saintess even once in one’s lifetime is considered difficult.

But since that Saintess has visited the same place no less than twice, it’s natural for everyone’s attention to be drawn.

In the first place, with those Holy Knights wearing sacred attire heading somewhere in a line, there’s no way people wouldn’t flock there.

And there’s no reason for the Saintess not to use the people who have gathered like that.

“Wouldn’t joining the subjugation force be better?”

“If there’s no problem with oneself, just go!!”

“As expected, the Saintess is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside!!”

The reactions of many citizens watching this were also smiling towards the Saintess.

It’s natural.

Because it’s only natural for faith to go towards the Saintess of the era certified by the church, rather than a mere explorer who has made a slight name for themselves.

In other words, I have to overturn this unfavorable public opinion.

“You know that the subjugation force doesn’t accept just anyone, right? This is an opportunity. Compensation for our reckless suspicion.”

The Saintess, Aria, smiling kindly to the extent her eyes were hidden. But that smile was a little frightening.

“She is merciful!!!”

“Please let our clan participate!!!”

Various voices came from the surroundings, but the Saintess smiled gently and waved her hand, telling them to calm down. Soon, the noisy surroundings became surprisingly quiet.

“So, what do you think?”

“……”

A situation I hadn’t anticipated at all.

For now, I thought of moves as much as possible.

“Unfortunately, apart from one party, our clan is composed only of low-level explorers who find it difficult to even go to the 4th floor. I feel it would be too much of a nuisance.”

An explanation that the party’s ability was insufficient to be suitable for the subjugation force.

But the Saintess replied quickly, as if she had expected it.

“Then, only the first party that can go to the middle floors needs to join. That way, our side’s burden will also decrease. Furthermore, we won’t expect much from a middle-floor explorer anyway. Couldn’t you just come and receive the rewards?”

“……”

I have nothing to say.

To be honest, the citizens around also had puzzled expressions.

The feeling was like, why refuse when they’re openly offering help to essentially suck the benefits?

It’s a natural thing to say. They wouldn’t be thinking at all that the subjugation force would fail. Moreover, since the labyrinth is originally a place where one enters risking their life, saying they are afraid of death wouldn’t easily work.

If we were explorers who were satisfied with the 3rd floor and just grinded there, it might have worked, but given the situation where my party’s tendency to constantly ascend is somewhat revealed through my fame.

If I didn’t know about the relationship between Noah and me behind this, and the connection between the Arielian Church and the black mage. I probably would have thought I hit the jackpot and happily joined.

Because the reactions of the people around me are giving off a ‘Why is he acting like that?’ vibe.

It felt like the church had also put quite a bit of thought into it and made a move.

Just as I was thinking about how to turn public opinion around to break through this.

Suddenly, something slowly descended in front of me.

“Oh, Saintess. What brings you here?”

The Tower Master appeared out of nowhere.

The Tower Master, equipped with a robe so flashy it was on a different dimension from when I saw him a few times in the magic tower, and all sorts of magic tools.

“Tower Master?!!”

Perhaps someone among the many citizens recognized the Tower Master, and they shouted upon seeing him. Then, the reactions of the surrounding citizens began to change drastically.

This is District 11. It’s the district where the influence of the magic tower is practically the strongest.

Whether they liked it or not, they would have at least a little more inner familiarity with the Tower Master than the Saintess.

Furthermore, since the Tower Master is known for rarely going outside the magic tower, the citizens’ atmosphere heated up even more.

“Is it really the Tower Master?”

“Seems like it? Isn’t that clearly an expensive-looking magic tool?”

“Right? I’ve lived in District 11 for 40 years and have never seen him outside even once.”

“Hey! They say the Tower Master has appeared here!!!”

The surroundings became noisy to an incomparable extent compared to when the Saintess appeared, and the proposal made by the Saintess also naturally flowed into an atmosphere of being buried.

Perhaps because she felt that. The Saintess seemed a little flustered, looking around.

It seems this is a situation she hadn’t anticipated.

“To- Tower Master… why have you come here?”

“Hahaha! It seems the news is late, Saintess. Of course, is there a reason needed for a master to come see his disciple?”

“Master?! Who on earth……”

Instantly, everyone’s gaze was focused on me, who was behind the Tower Master.

Perhaps conscious of that gaze. The Tower Master walked carefully, then subtly showed the emblem of the magic tower inside my robe and said.

“It hasn’t been officially announced yet, so no one in the magic tower knows, but it’s true. Or perhaps you think I would lie?”

“…No.”

Through the Saintess’s narrowed eyes, her pupils were momentarily revealed.

Her pupils disappeared quickly, but the momentary feeling of annoyance couldn’t have been a mistake.

“How dare he steal a march…”

“Did you say something?”

“No.”

“But what is the matter?”

“Ah, unfortunately, I cannot participate in this subjugation force as I am researching magic with my disciple.”

The Tower Master naturally lied.

I wasn’t so lacking in wit as to not notice that, so I immediately nodded my head.

“Why would the Tower Master, who hasn’t taken a disciple for about 100 years, why…”

“It’s because there wasn’t anyone I liked until now!!!”

The Tower Master laughing heartily.

Furthermore, his build was so large it couldn’t be underestimated, so the Saintess and the Holy Knights next to her began to be pushed back from the sheer momentum.

“Anyway, let’s finish the talk about the subjugation force.”

“That is……”

“I heard that many Arielian Church buildings have moved into District 11 this time.”

“Yes. Last time, a group committing illegal acts against children was discovered in the outer area…”

“Well done. Now leave it to our magic tower.”

“Yes?”

“I was thinking we needed to completely clear that place out anyway. We were promoting a new city plan.”

“Are you telling the church to leave?”

“No, aren’t there enough places elsewhere originally? Is there a reason to specifically build influence there?”

“No, aren’t there enough places elsewhere originally? Is there a reason to specifically build influence there?”

The Tower Master kept pushing the Saintess. Moreover, using mana to amplify his voice made it majestic, so the Saintess also couldn’t help but be pushed back gradually.

“Wasn’t it the Arielian Church that decided to entrust the autonomy of each district to the special facilities located there? Thanks to that, you obtained District 1 in the early stages of the Labyrinth City.”

“…That’s correct.”

“To commend the efforts you’ve made so far, I will send a small compensation to the church.”

“……Understood. However, there is a bit of a schedule due to the subjugation force work, so please give us some time.”

“I hope you can finish it within a month.”

Immediately, as if he was done dealing with the Saintess, the Tower Master suddenly turned around and began walking towards one place.

“Ivan! Follow me!”

“…Yes!”

I immediately followed the Tower Master.

The path he took was immediately opened up by the citizens, who made way for him.

“It’s good to breathe the air outside the magic tower after a long time. I should go for a walk sometimes.”

The Tower Master acting arbitrarily, brazenly.

However, I couldn’t help but be grateful today.

“…Thank you.”

“For what. Who knows what might happen if you enter the subjugation force. There’s nothing as dangerous as a cornered rat.”

*

District 11 had been neglected for a long time.

The slums in the outer area could only exist because the magic tower simply neglected them.

He could have taken action earlier, but unfortunately, the power structure of the magic tower was quite concentrated on the Tower Master, so he couldn’t act recklessly.

But now the owner of District 11 has returned.

And with a new disciple at that.

What this signifies is simple.

Change.

That was what was happening in District 11.

The magic tools around are changing to slightly better ones, and most of District 11 is gradually changing to be refined like the area around the magic tower.

The slums on the outskirts of the district where I once risked my life to fight were also being normalized.

I don’t know where those who were here will go, but it’s not my concern.

“Your power is more enormous than I thought.”

“It’s all possible because I stayed quiet all this time.”

I didn’t understand the Tower Master’s words exactly, but I understood it roughly to mean he had been accumulating power.

“They say the subjugation force departs tomorrow, right?”

“Yes. The magic tower also sent quite a few personnel. I hope they return safely.”

“They will return safely.”

“However, it feels ominous.”

“What do you mean?”

“The church withdrew too easily. It feels like they’re hiding something.”

After the Saintess and the Tower Master met, the Saintess returned quietly to District 1 without saying anything. And the church buildings that had filled the slums also began to slowly withdraw. All the empty buildings were being filled with the magic tower’s buildings.

“What reason would they have to specifically come into District 11…”

“It was certainly strange that they came in as soon as the slums were empty.”

At that time, I had hoped that it might be because I was the Apostle of the Main God and they were doing it to help me. But in reality, that wasn’t the case.

Just enough to improve the surrounding security? Of course, even just that much is good.

“Let’s go back to the magic tower.”

“Yes.”

After officially becoming the Tower Master’s disciple, a new schedule was created.

The way to visit the magic tower about 3 times a week to receive education from the Tower Master or from each school.

Furthermore, after officially becoming a disciple, the treatment inside also changed.

“Ivan! You came again today!!”

While there were people who were trying to be nice to me to a surprising degree.

“……Tch.”

There was also an atmosphere that I was still not recognized.

Of course, since it’s ultimately my part to resolve, I decided not to pay attention to it for now.

But this is good.

“I- Sir Ivan?!!”

This changed reaction from Laila and Hoban, who had ignored me on the 2nd floor, is still a delicacy.

Rather, seeing me being friendly and nice made them even more nervous.

They are probably having all sorts of thoughts in their heads.

Why didn’t you treat me better back then?

After finishing teasing Laila and Hoban, which was one of the daily routines, and receiving the education.

“Could you pass on a message to Karman?”

“…Yes.”

To fulfill the Tower Master’s request, I opened the status window and moved to the shop floor.

Karman, waiting for me as always.

Considering the information the Tower Master roughly told me and various suspicions. It’s highly likely that Karman, Saville, and the Tower Master were close.

However……

“I don’t remember.”

Karman said he didn’t remember Saville, let alone the Tower Master.

“Then you mean Karman’s memory isn’t returning based on my memories?”

“No, that’s correct. However, I think that’s not the whole story.”

It seems whatever sealed Karman’s memory isn’t that simple.

“I’ll head back.”

Since I had only stayed in the Labyrinth City recently and had no money to buy anything at the shop anyway, I left immediately.

The Tower Master was disappointed, asking if Karman’s memory still hadn’t returned.

“There will be a time.”

“I think so too.”

And so, another day in the city passes.

And finally, the day the subjugation force departs.

As the Tower Master’s disciple, I came to participate in the departure ceremony.

The subjugation force marching through District 0, receiving cheers and support from countless people.

All sorts of esteemed individuals also gathered to send tributes, and citizens contributed strength with cheers.

The subjugation forces entering the portal to defeat the black mages who occupied the labyrinth.

After the last person entered the portal, the grand departure ceremony also concluded.

However, the subjugation, which seemed like it would be easily resolved, was more protracted than expected.

Public sentiment exploded at the prolonged stalemate.

Ultimately, a large number of more capable explorers and knights were deployed.

It was something obvious to anyone.

I also thought so complacently.

But that decision was the worst decision.

At least for me.