episode_0126

Even though the Maze City is similar to a neutral country, it is effectively within the Empire’s grasp. The Crown Prince’s authority pierces the sky.

As if to prove this, the Crown Prince approaches me along the neatly opened path.

He winks at me.

And sends a signal.

“Forgive me, but I have business with Ivan, so I’ll be taking him.”

I don’t recall making a promise with the Crown Prince.

But I’m not that oblivious.

As I immediately act politely and stick close to the Crown Prince, I hear gasps from the people who were trying to approach me from behind.

Using the Crown Prince’s strong backing, I cut through the path and head towards the Magic Tower.

“You’ve returned after quite a while. What happened inside the maze?”

Now that I think about it, I can’t tell him about meeting Kane. Should I leave him out?

“Nothing special happened. I met someone I know in the middle and did a request together, so I happened to go to the 7th floor, but I came back down quickly.”

“…Then you were on the 6th floor for over a month. It must have been tough.”

“Yes. It wasn’t easy.”

Fortunately, the Crown Prince doesn’t ask further questions. I was worried about what I should do if he sensed something strange and questioned me.

“In the approximately month and a half you were in the maze, many things happened in District 11 as well.”

“In fact, I was also surprised.”

The appearance of District 11 had changed significantly from what we had seen before.

Buildings were being erected one by one in most of the ruined areas.

Of course, only the foundations are being built yet. But the sight of them being built at the same pace, like a planned city, was quite impressive.

Moreover, buildings were gradually being built around the Magic Tower.

Unlike the past where they were typical medieval buildings, now massive magic stones are embedded, and new buildings packed with magic tools are being constructed. I wondered if they could afford this.

“Thanks to a lot of support from the Guild and the Church.”

“The Church?”

“Yes. The Saintess and the Black Mage worked together to blow up District 11, so they’re taking responsibility.”

“So you’re saying they won’t give even the slightest opening for someone to find fault.”

“Well, to begin with, it’s hard to find evidence to link anyone other than the Saintess.”

As we talked about this and that, we arrived in front of the Magic Tower before I knew it.

The Magic Tower was bustling with people, but it didn’t matter since the Crown Prince was next to me.

Of course, I could have entered alone, but it was much better to just walk in comfortably like this.

“By the way, why are so many people gathered for some event?”

“…What?”

The Crown Prince looks at me with a dumbfounded expression.

“No, you didn’t know that? You, the Master of the Magic Tower’s disciple?”

“Well, I’m not involved in the Magic Tower’s affairs. I was in the maze when they were preparing and just came out.”

Actually, the original plan was to come out about 10 days ago and help my Master.

But the situation was unavoidable.

“…Hmm. I see.”

The Crown Prince touches his chin, contemplating what to say.

“Originally, in the magic world, there is a kind of festival held once a year where each person reveals their achievements. The name is the Magic Society Seminar.”

“That sounds like a name wizards would come up with.”

“Well, aren’t you a wizard too? Well, the name of the festival isn’t important to wizards anyway. Originally, whether they are wizards, black mages, or priests, only those with some degree of strangeness can do these jobs.”

“I somewhat agree.”

Just as I was about to go up the stairs to the upper floors.

“Wait, a magic tool has been invented that allows you to quickly go up the Magic Tower.”

“Yes?”

Following the Crown Prince, I saw something strange had appeared in the center of the Magic Tower.

A very familiar sight.

It was an elevator.

Of course, its appearance was slightly different from a modern one, but no matter how I thought about it, I could only call it an elevator.

There was an attendant in front of it.

The Crown Prince spoke skillfully.

“Oh, Crown Prince!!”

“Can I use it?”

“Yes! And Mr. Ivan is free!”

“You charged me last time.”

“That is a benefit only available to School Heads and above.”

“That’s a shame. Take me to the top floor.”

“Understood.”

As soon as we entered the prepared elevator.

The door closed and it slowly began to go up.

However, the speed wasn’t very fast.

“Walking seems faster.”

“But it’s more comfortable, isn’t it?”

“That’s true.”

In that short time, it felt like the world had changed a lot.

Could this all be the result of the Magic Tower Master, my Master, who had been inactive, starting to move?

“By the way, did you hear that story? No, you wouldn’t have. You wouldn’t have known this seminar was happening either.”

“What is it?”

“You’ll hear it directly. There’s a shocking announcement planned at this seminar.”

“……?”

I wished he would tell me what it was, but the Crown Prince didn’t reveal it until the end.

Before I knew it, we had arrived at the top of the Magic Tower, in front of the Magic Tower Master’s room.

As soon as we got off, the elevator began to go down again.

Could it be that it can only go up?

I walked a bit and arrived in front of my Master’s room.

However, here we exchanged glances, wondering if I should knock or if the Crown Prince should knock on the door.

In the end, I decided to do it.

Knock knock.

After knocking on the door and saying I had arrived, Noah’s voice was heard from inside.

“Ivan!! Just a moment!”

Noah immediately opened the door and came out.

Although she came out with a bright smile, her face quickly stiffened when she saw the Crown Prince next to me.

“The Magic Tower Master is currently out.”

“Is that so? Didn’t he tell you anything?”

“Unfortunately, that’s the case.”

“Then I understand. I will look around the Magic Tower. After all, many curious items have arrived.”

Saying that, the Crown Prince leaves with his escorts.

Naturally, only Noah and I remained.

“Nothing special happened, right?”

“In District 11, where is safer than here? But did you come alone?”

“Well, it’s a big event, so we might run into each other coincidentally.”

“Then…”

Noah immediately went inside and quickly changed her clothes. Then she came outside.

“I’m bored, let’s walk around together. Since you’re the Magic Tower Master’s disciple, you’ll get a free pass everywhere, right?”

“…Do you think people are amusement park free passes?”

“Aren’t they?”

Well, since the Master I came to meet isn’t here anyway.

If I just walk around, my Master will probably find me first and come looking for me.

“Still, let’s make sure that person can’t say anything.”

I left a mark in my Master’s room indicating that I had visited. Then I slowly began to go down the Magic Tower along the stairs.

*

To match the event, the appearance of the Magic Tower also changed slightly.

Generally, the Magic Tower has several floors governed by one School.

And each School was displaying specific magic tools or magic arrays, and so on.

Moreover, these inventions are usually related to the School.

For example, the Red School, which primarily uses fire magic, presented things like [Torches that Never Go Out] or [Heating Clothes Made of Flames That Don’t Cause Burns].

Of course, like the curious and ambitious wizards they are, there were also things that seemed completely useless.

And among them, I learned.

That the elevator that appeared in the Magic Tower was led by the White School.

“Wow, look at this. Isn’t this a fan?”

“Did the Green School make it? They embedded magic stones in it, but it’s not particularly cool.”

Noah and I were walking around looking at various inventions.

Occasionally, nobles and merchants who recognized me and spoke to me were there.

But no one was persistently sticking to me.

Apparently, it’s because it’s impossible for commoners to go up the Magic Tower except on event days like today, so they need to look around thoroughly on such occasions.

Well, thanks to that, while I was leisurely dating Noah and looking around.

I found my Master on the 20th floor of the Magic Tower.

Amidst everyone being busy, my Master was walking around with an air of leisure.

He was greeting important guests who had come from afar. And the Crown Prince was also next to him.

Besides them, all sorts of people who seemed to be of high status were gathered in abundance.

Seeing that scene, I instinctively felt, Ah. This is the main stage.

“…I’ll hide.”

Noah also felt that this was not an easy place and immediately hid in my shadow.

Fortunately, perhaps because there were many people, no one paid attention.

“Hoo…”

After taking a deep breath, I walked into the area where various high-ranking officials were gathered.

Then, everyone who spotted me immediately began to speak to me one by one.

As I responded appropriately and exchanged greetings, I came face to face with the Head of the Blue School.

“You’ve returned. How was the maze exploration?”

“Yes. Well, it was alright. But I heard there’s a big announcement this time? What is it?”

“I also heard something is happening, but I don’t know the details.”

“…Is that the extent of it?”

No, I thought the Head of the School would know since the Crown Prince knew.

Then maybe no one knows except my Master?

“Precisely, because the presenter is a famous person.”

“Who is it?”

“You’d know him too. The Guild Master.”

“…What? Why is the Guild Master coming to a place where wizards gather to discuss magic tool inventions?”

“Well, precisely, I don’t know either. Ask the Magic Tower Master once. Wouldn’t he tell you?”

Just then, someone interested in the Blue School’s invention came, and the School Head left.

[Something feels unusual.]

“I agree.”

What could the Guild Master possibly announce at the Magic Tower’s event? It’s not like he made an amazing discovery as a wizard.

I decided to think about it later and was about to go to my Master.

Unfortunately, perhaps because of his status as the Magic Tower Master, who is the center of the event, he seemed too busy.

So I decided to greet him later and was exiting towards the less crowded area outside.

Noah discovered something.

[Isn’t that person a deep-level explorer?]

“Who…”

Hearing that, I looked around and noticed an explorer in the corner.

Amidst everyone dressed formally, an explorer with a bare upper body.

Raze of Light Speed, a deep-level explorer and a member of the Divers, was here.

Just then, he looked my way and our eyes met.

It was a signal for me to come over, obvious to anyone.

I immediately walked towards him.

Raze looked at me and stroked his chin.

“Hmm, I heard you went to the 7th floor.”

“Who did you hear that from?”

“Erica, of course. She was also on the [Recruitment Target] list.”

“The condition was clearly reaching the 8th floor.”

“That’s a special case for you. Generally, you need to reach the deep-level entrance at least.”

“Are you saying Erica will reach the deep levels later?”

“Well, if she’s lucky. This floor is generally where people die easily anyway.”

Raze immediately chugged the prepared alcohol.

He was very wild, but no one said anything about him being rude.

Perhaps it was because of the deep-level explorer badge hanging around his neck.

“You heard the news about the Leviathan being caught, the black card appearing, and a new area opening up in the deep levels of the maze, right?”

“Yes.”

“This time, our Divers have brought amazing news again. You can look forward to it.”

Raze immediately gulped down the alcohol.

By the way, if what Raze said is true, the content the Guild Master is planning to announce this time is about something discovered by deep-level explorers.

“Why are they doing something like that at a Magic Tower seminar?”

“Because it’s very important information. Because it needs to spread quickly. It feels perfect to announce it at this time when all sorts of high-ranking people are gathered. Also, the Magic Tower Master and the Guild Master are close.”

That’s a fairly reasonable reason.

There’s no reason not to take advantage of a situation where a lot of people are guaranteed to gather.

[What on earth is it? Is the maze collapsing or something?]

‘……’

In fact, there was a part that I could guess.

…Should I listen to the announcement first?

“By the way, do you drink a little?”

“A little.”

“Well, then how about a drink? This is how explorers originally get information.”

Well, this isn’t a bar, but this is indeed how explorers usually exchange information.

Besides, what explorer would refuse to become close with Raze, a deep-level explorer?

They are explorers whose very lives depend on information.

I immediately sat next to Raze.

“Oh-ho, I was wondering if you had become a bookworm since entering the Magic Tower, but I can relax a little.”

Raze immediately threw a whole bottle of alcohol to me.

I received it and started drinking the whole bottle like him.

“Hahaha! How great would it be if our party’s mage was like you!”

“I also feel stuffy when I’m in the Magic Tower.”

“Your roots are that of an explorer, huh? If only it weren’t for this damn fate!”

As we drank alcohol just the two of us like that.

Time flowed by, and the time came.

More and more people who looked like higher-ranking officials began to appear.

Even nobles who usually have difficulty entering the Maze City began to arrive in abundance.

It felt like all the nobles on the continent had gathered.

With everyone’s gaze focused on the stage in front.

My Master went up to the stage.

“Ah, thank you to the distinguished guests who have participated in the Magic Society Seminar. This seminar has a long history…”

My Master’s, no, the Principal’s speech continued briefly (3 minutes).

Just as the main announcement of achievements was about to begin.

“The Guild Master, who helped host this event, has something to announce, so we shall start by conveying that.”

At that news, the hall buzzed.

It was very rare for someone other than a wizard to make an announcement at the annual Magic Society seminar.

My Master immediately stepped back, and the Guild Master slowly began to ascend.

After checking the magic tool that amplified his voice once.

He revealed news that would turn the continent upside down.

“The end of the maze has been discovered.”

With that one phrase, the world, quite literally, turned upside down.