episode_0090

The water was already spilled. Picking it up was impossible. From now on, all Asel could do was prepare an explanation that wouldn’t displease Ena as much as possible. He wondered if that was even possible, but there was no other way to survive.

Ena had been unusually interested in Asel’s love life ever since they were in Weiheim.

Mostly in a negative way. Not only did she explicitly tell him to go through her before dating anyone, but she also showed extreme behavior, completely blocking the approach of other women when they were together.

And to her, this absurd news of an engagement had flown. Asel felt like rushing to Ena immediately and shouting, ‘Don’t believe this kind of bullshit’. But reality was cruel, and all that was left was time.

Asel imagined the moment Ena would return and broke out in a cold sweat…

“Hmm. Well, let’s stop the small talk here. Shall we get down to business?”

Angelica said.

She looked at Celine, whose face was bright red and kept coughing repeatedly, and Asel, whose pupils were shaking, while rattling her teacup.

“Celine said you came to find a sparring partner. Is that true?”

“……”

“…Asel?”

“Yes, yes? Could you please say that again?”

Asel lifted his head sharply and replied. Angelica let out a little laugh and repeated what she had said. Only then did Asel seem to come to his senses, changing his expression to a serious one.

“Yes, that’s right. A joint sparring session is in a week, and I came here wanting to grow as much as possible before then.”

“Hmm.”

“I thought I would have a lot to learn from the Tower of Magic’s mages, as they are proven skilled individuals. That’s why I accepted when Celine suggested it.”

“I understand.”

Angelica smiled gently.

“First, thank you for thinking highly of our Tower of Magic mages. But there’s one thing I’m concerned about.”

“Please tell me.”

“If you grew up in the Witch’s Coven, you must have seen many different kinds of monsters. I wonder if you’ll be satisfied with our mages.”

Only a tiny fraction of mages can enter the Tower of Magic. Status and everything else are unnecessary. One could only join the Tower of Magic through skill verification via examination. There was a reason why the Tower of Magic mages commanded high value.

However, the Witch’s Coven had much stricter joining requirements than the Tower of Magic, and as many famous mages had nested there since ancient times, their status was never low, even if there were fewer people than in other organizations.

In fact, the damage when colliding would likely be higher for the Tower of Magic.

Even the giants quietly residing in the Witch’s Coven include various individuals like Ena, Irina, and Bell. They were figures so exceptional that it wouldn’t be strange if they rose to the position of Master of the Tower of Magic.

There was a sufficient possibility that Asel, who had lived and rubbed shoulders with them, might not be satisfied fighting against the Tower of Magic’s mages. This is what Angelica was concerned about.

“In my eyes, there’s no lack whatsoever.”

But Asel did not change his mind.

This is because even if the Tower of Magic’s mages were lacking, there was an endless amount to gain from sparring. It was clear that simply observing the unique flow of magic of a Saint-tier practitioner would greatly help his growth. If possible, he wanted to clash with all his might.

Angelica recognized Asel’s intent and held a gentle smile.

“Thank you for saying that. As expected of our prospective son-in-law.”

“……”

Asel did not reply. Everything else was fine, but he didn’t want to react to that phrase, “prospective son-in-law”…

“Hmm… Putting that aside. If we were to spar, who would be good? A mage skilled enough to face a 6th-tier Lightning practitioner… Hmm…”

“I’ll do it.”

The reply came from Ermina. Angelica’s eyes widened.

“Oh, you?”

“Yes. Personally, I wanted to check how strong our prospective son-in-law is. And while I’m at it, show the power of a Tower of Magic elder.”

“But still, a spar between an 8th-tier and a 6th-tier is a bit…”

“It’s fine.”

Asel cut into their conversation. He continued speaking, rubbing his fingertip against the corner of his mouth that had curled up unknowingly.

“Rather, if it’s not rude, I would like to ask you to.”

“See? That guy’s a monster.”

Ermina chuckled and tilted her upper body slightly towards Asel.

“Just now, I was assessing what it would be like to fight you. Ordinary guys can’t do that. They don’t even imagine it because they’d obviously lose if they fought. But that guy did. Even though losing is obvious, he estimated how far he could push you.”

“……..”

“Like master, like disciple. Anyway, that Ena bitch has created someone just like herself.”

She looked at Asel and twitched the corner of her mouth.

“Guys like him can’t be satisfied until their curiosity is resolved. Even if he fights and wins against someone else here instead of us, when he lies down in bed, he’ll be thinking of us. Thinking, what would the result have been if I had sparred with those people? Am I right?”

At Ermina’s question, Asel gave a wry smile.

“I can’t deny it.”

“See. It’s obvious. I was like that myself back then, so I know very well.”

“…Hmm.”

Seeing Ermina’s pleased expression, Angelica let out a thoughtful murmur and turned her head towards Asel.

“Are you really sure it’s okay? Ermina is quite strong even within our Tower of Magic.”

“It’s even better. I will go in with all my might.”

Asel replied with a wide grin.

All spars held up until now were done with power held back appropriately.

The same was true in the Witch’s Coven. Since they couldn’t inflict serious injuries on each other, spars were conducted by sealing dangerous magic or greatly reducing their power.

Only when sparring with a Great Mage did he use all his strength. Otherwise, he couldn’t even brush past their clothes.

Even this was a story from several years ago. Recently, a spar with all his might had not happened even once.

So, on this occasion. With his current state, having grown compared to the past, he wanted to fight a Great Mage with all his strength. By doing so, he wanted to gauge his own limits and establish a combat system.

“…If that is your wish.”

Soon, Angelica smiled widely.

At the same time, Ermina sprang up from her seat.

“Good, now that I have permission, let’s go right away, prospective son-in-law. Get up quickly!”

“I am not your son-in-law.”

“Don’t be shy!”

“This is driving me crazy.”

Even as he said that, Asel obediently followed Ermina and walked towards the sparring ground. And around the time their backs were out of sight. Celine, who had been burying her head downwards until then, sprang up and rushed towards Angelica. With a helpless expression.

“M-Master!”

“Yes.”

Conversely, Angelica’s face remained calm. She stroked Celine’s hair and met her eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

“W-What is this? What’s wrong with him! Why did he suddenly propose!”

“Hmm. I wonder? Maybe he liked our Celine so much he was waiting for a chance?”

“But I wasn’t! I-I just thought of him as a friend! There wasn’t even anything great that happened for us to like each other in the first place!”

“Celine.”

Looking down at the flustered Celine, Angelica said in a benevolent voice.

“You don’t need a big reason to start liking someone. One day, out of the blue. You might just start liking that person.”

“…Ugh.”

Celine didn’t reply and buried her face in Angelica’s chest.

Angelica whispered softly into her ear.

“So how is it, Celine? Did your heart flutter when you heard that just now? Deep down, do you see Asel as a man?”

“……”

“His face. He was handsome, wasn’t he. Even if his body wasn’t muscular, it looked like he took care of himself to some extent. His voice is good too. His smiling expression suits him quite wellㅡ”

“S-Stop it…”

Celine cut off Angelica’s words and mumbled. Angelica let out a little laugh and stroked the back of her head.

“Yes. So how is it? Are you starting to see Asel as a man?”

“……”

Celine did not reply.

That was enough. Because her heart, beating like a broken machine, told the answer instead.

***

The mediator for the spar was chosen by Ermina.

There was no need to choose strictly. She just grabbed a mage walking nearby and brought them over.

“Shit.”

She, who already had a tired look, cursed as soon as they arrived at the sparring ground, but Ermina did not send her back. Instead, she discussed the rules of the spar with Asel.

“How shall we do the rules?”

“How about we go until one calls for surrender or becomes unable to fight?”

“Hmm. Good. Any other rules?”

“None.”

“Straightforward. I like it.”

Ermina grinned and raised her magic power.

The bright and hot magic power unique to a Saint-tier practitioner was visualized and scattered in all directions. Her aura, which instantly occupied the space, pressed down heavily on Asel’s shoulders.

‘The pressure is considerable.’

But that was all. Compared to the Great Mages Asel had met so far, it was definitely lacking.

Nevertheless, he didn’t let his guard down. Regardless, a Great Mage is a Great Mage. Moving monsters that can turn a city to ash with a single gesture and are considered asymmetric power in war. If he were a mage lacking magic power control, he would have been unable to even breathe properly, suppressed by Ermina’s magic power.

Asel was not. He smiled faintly and forcibly erased the magic power pressing down on his body. Then, her magic power couldn’t even reach Asel’s body and merely drifted around.

“Hoho? You did something.”

Ermina, confirming that there was interference in the flow of her magic power, showed a sparkle in her eyes. Instead of explaining in detail what he had done, Asel slowly circulated his magic power while loosening his shoulders.

Crackle.

Simultaneously, dark blue current bloomed from Asel’s entire body. The current, which was not suppressed by Ermina’s immense magic power, encroached upon the space little by little, very little by little.

Magic power acting as if it had a will of its own. Asel closed his eyes slightly and let out a long breath. From the exhaled breath, a small sound of thunder spread.

“Are you ready?”

Ermina asked.

Asel opened his eyes and replied.

“Yes.”

SCREEEEECH!!

His eyes turned black-blue.