Seongguk – Counterattack

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“So the Holy Kingdom has already started a propaganda war. Those Goddesses’ Hounds are driving me crazy.”

The red-haired youth, Ian, slammed his head on the table, nervously tearing at his hair.

Where did things go so wrong?

Thanks to his blessed talent, his life had been smooth sailing until now. This was the first time his plans had gone so awry that they were beyond repair.

“Acting surprised. As if the Holy Kingdom would just sit still. Anyway, every country is demanding an explanation from the Magic Tower, so our communication network is completely paralyzed.”

The young woman sitting across from Ian sighed deeply and pushed up her glasses.

With disheveled auburn hair and hollow eyes, the fatigue etched on her face was no less than Ian’s.

“Honestly, even with the Magic Tower Lord stepping in, it’s hard enough to resolve the internal chaos within the Magic Tower. She must be suffering right now.”

“We don’t have time, so stop complaining there. I’ve grasped the situation well enough. So, what did you bring?”

“…Fine. You know it’s impossible to deploy manpower directly, right? All I can support you with right now are tools like Scrolls. I’ll show you what I brought.”

The woman opened the bundle on the table and began to lay out the items.

“This is a Magic Scroll, and this was a defensive Artifact? And also…”

The bundle seemed to contain more than ordinary items, as the woman had to pull out a considerable amount of tools for quite a while.

“Hoo… I think I finally got everything out. Check it out.”

The woman pushed dozens of scrolls and various shaped objects towards Ian.

“You brought a lot, considering you came in such a hurry.”

Ian quickly scanned the Scrolls and began to sort them by type.

Elemental magic. Teleportation magic. Defensive magic. Even trivial everyday magic.

As expected of Scrolls prepared by the Magic Tower, the variety was diverse, but among them, the Scroll that Ian had set aside was emitting a subtle light.

“The precious Divinity Scroll. You’re not completely clueless.”

“It’s essential when dealing with the Holy Kingdom. Of course, I had to bring it.”

Under the influence of the Holy Kingdom Barrier, mana usage is not free. Therefore, these Scrolls were enough of a card to deliver an unexpected blow to the Holy Kingdom.

“The other useful ones are a few 5-Star and 6-Star Scrolls. It’s just decent.”

“Ugh. You’re so demanding. Given the situation, that’s all I could prepare right now. You know how valuable even this is, right?”

The woman shook her head at Ian’s seemingly ungrateful attitude.

Scrolls that allow powerful magic to be used with only a small amount of mana. Their value was higher than most gems or luxury goods.

The amount the woman had prepared was a considerable loss even for the Magic Tower, which produces Scrolls.

“I abandoned my thesis, which was about to be published, and rushed to the Holy Kingdom because of you. So, please finish this well. The Magic Tower Lord is even praying that it will be resolved within your capabilities.”

The woman rested her chin on her hand and suddenly stared intently at Ian. Her expression was quite meaningful.

“Of course, that’s if the information that ‘the Pope is brainwashing The Saintess and trying to get the Hero, and even plans to use it to start a war between countries’ is true.”

“Ha. I even used a contract to confirm the information, just in case. And is there any more perfect evidence than the fact that the Holy Kingdom attacked me, the next Magic Tower Lord?”

Ian frowned, seemingly feeling unpleasant at the suggestion that the information might not be reliable.

“Yeah, yeah. How could I doubt your words? It’s not like you would have broken out a Sinner and started a major incident by fighting a Cardinal without even checking, right?”

Although she was being sarcastic, the woman didn’t think Ian was lying either.

The Magic Tower had been watching the Holy Kingdom’s movements recently and had determined that they were hiding some impure intentions. Ian’s information turned that suspicion into certainty.

“But… it seems like things have gone beyond what you can handle alone, don’t you think?”

The woman pointed to Ian’s head with her index finger.

“You must have some amazing plan in that smart head of yours.”

“I’ve thought of a framework to some extent. I’m still thinking about the detailed plan, so wait.”

“Hehe, you were so arrogant, and now you’ve finally been caught.”

“…Roana. Enough.”

“Pfft… cough. Ah, sorry. I can’t stand it anymore when I see your face.”

The woman, Roana, who had been enjoying Ian’s uncomfortable expression, began to giggle.

Within the Magic Tower, Ian’s reputation, or rather, his infamy, was well-known.

The current chief Water-attribute Wizard, Roana. Even she, with her high position, was one of the many victims.

The cause of the incident she experienced was a trivial matter.

-Ian, do you happen to know about the rules of the fluctuations in the mana flow of Water-attribute magic?

-Fluctuations…? Are you thinking of using mana superposition?

-As expected, you understand right away. Since fluidity is the key to Water-attribute magic, it’s difficult to grasp the flow.

-I wasn’t very interested in Water-attribute originally, but that’s not a bad direction to explore. It would be useful if I researched it. Thanks for telling me about a good topic. I’m sorry, but I recommend you research another topic now. Unless you want to compete with me.

-Uh… uh? No, are you kidding? Wait!

Roana trembled with fear and researched all night, but she couldn’t stop Ian, who was even more of a genius than her, from presenting.

With just one question, Roana ended up having the thesis topic she had been researching for months stolen.

Since then, Roana had been grinding her teeth at Ian.

“Haa… To think that the great next Magic Tower Lord would be in such a state. It’s worth coming all the way here.”

Finally, fate had not sided with Ian. For those who resented him like Roana, there was nothing more satisfying.

“Well, it’s not entirely your fault, so the Magic Tower won’t hold you responsible right away. But you better resolve it quickly, okay?”

Roana spun her finger in a circle, and numerous water droplets appeared in the air, quickly merging into the shape of a person.

“The most important thing in the current situation is the Hero’s choice. If you can’t turn the situation around and the Hero ends up supporting the Pope, the Magic Tower will face a crisis. In that case, we’ll have no choice but to abandon you. …Like this.”

And as she clenched her fist, the shape of the person burst.

“Whatever the truth, it can’t change you and the entire Magic Tower.”

“…Did you come to help or to irritate me?”

“Hehe, I already said it’s both. I’m saying what many people in the Magic Tower want to say to you. Be grateful that I didn’t beat you up as soon as I saw you.”

“Roana, you’re starting to cross the line. Remember that I am clearly your superior. Once this is over—”

-Bang!

The sudden loud noise caused both of them to turn their attention to the source of the sound.

“I… Ian…”

There, Lena, wrapped in bandages all over her body, was staring at Ian with blazing eyes.

“…You’re finally awake.”

“You… you bastard!”

Lena rushed at Ian with angry curses.

“Kugh?!”

In an instant, Lena and Ian became entangled, and a chair fell backward with a crash.

“What is going on here?”

“Ian, you ruined everything!”

“What… what’s going on?”

Roana, taken aback by the unexpected fierce atmosphere, stood up from her seat and slowly began to back away.

It wasn’t a good choice for her, who didn’t know the details, to intervene.

“…I have a rough idea. You must have had a conflict with a Hero party member because of your personality. I’ll report to the Magic Tower Lord for now, so please resolve it by then.”

Roana waved her hand slightly towards Ian, who was pinned down by Lena, and disappeared outside with light steps.

-Thud.

The door closed, and Lena and Ian stared at each other in silence for a moment.

“…How long are you going to keep doing this?”

“Ian, tell me what you’re going to do from now on.”

“It would be good to calm down first and let go of this hand.”

“Calm down? How can I calm down right now? I hate you, but at least I trusted your skills. You’re a piece of trash who even did terrible things by taking advantage of the situation, but I at least believed you would keep your promises.”

“… .”

“But this is the result? Jade is still being deceived by the Pope, and we haven’t even obtained the Artifact, let alone save The Saintess. And now, we’re even accused of escaping. It’s literally… the worst situation.”

Lena’s voice, blaming Ian, was mixed with sobs.

“Please tell me honestly. Your mistake is what exposed the plan, right? Otherwise, how would the Holy Kingdom have noticed!”

“Yes. It was my mistake. The reason is that I failed to notice the Holy Kingdom’s surveillance. I guess that Cardinal took the initiative to monitor me. I can’t undo what’s already happened, but I sincerely apologize to you for my mistake this time.”

The arrogant man readily admits his mistake.

Lena was rather taken aback by Ian’s unexpected attitude.

“…You’re admitting your mistake?”

“I owe you my life at the last moment. I’m not so heartless that I don’t know that much.”

Ian still vividly remembered the moment of the escape.

In a situation where it was difficult to deal with the Cardinal under the influence of the Barrier, Jade’s surprise attack, which penetrated the magic, was truly threatening.

“If you hadn’t stopped it then, we would have been captured and suffered severely.”

But this was something Ian couldn’t understand. There was no reason for Lena to save him, even at the risk of her own life. Even someone close to an enemy.

“I wanted to ask you as soon as you woke up. Why did you save me? You could have died. No, I should say the probability of dying was very high.”

“Because I thought it was the way for everyone. If Jade kills you, everything will end with the Pope’s victory. If one of us has to die… I thought I should sacrifice myself instead.”

“…I see. To throw away your life for a foolish Hero. It’s beyond foolish, it’s stupid.”

“I don’t think someone who was saved by that foolishness should be saying that.”

Lena, who had thrown a sarcastic remark, seemed to have calmed down to some extent, released Ian, and slowly stood up.

Ian, who had struggled to get up following Lena, dusted off his clothes.

“Hoo…. Do you feel like starting a productive conversation now?”

“Let’s talk about what to do from now on later, and release the contract you put on me first.”

“That’s not possible.”

Lena couldn’t help but feel absurd at the firm refusal.

“Ha…. You were just saying I was your savior, and now you’re changing your attitude?”

“I’m sorry, but just as you saved me, I saved you too. I hope you appreciate that I worked hard to save you when you were fatally injured.”

The Holy Kingdom. A place with more Priests than anywhere else in the world. But paradoxically, it was a situation where Divine Power could not be used.

In the end, Ian had to use all the Potions he had to save Lena.

“Considering the value of the Potions, it was quite a big expense for me, so I should say I’ve paid enough for your life. And… I can’t let you tell everything.”

A mistake made impulsively, swayed by lust. It was quite embarrassing for Ian.

But unexpectedly, the pleasure he felt while exploring Lena was very satisfying. Also, he didn’t feel guilty because he thought it was the price of the deal.

However, he couldn’t let this fact get into Annie’s ears. His sister would never tolerate such a thing.

“Think of it as a sure-fire precaution. If Annie and that Hero know about this, they’re bound to be a nuisance. They don’t know the grace of helping—”

-Slap!

A loud sound echoed for a moment, and Ian’s left cheek began to turn red.

“Ian, you’re just saying that you’re no different from the Pope, a piece of trash.”

“What… what…”

“Listen carefully. Do whatever you want. There’s no way for me to resist, whether you rape me countless times or play with me like a toy. But.”

Lena stopped speaking and leaned forward, and Ian, who was about to get angry, was pushed back by her momentum and took a step back.

“Keep your promise to save Jade and Annie no matter what. If you just fulfill that, I can sacrifice my body any number of times. Remember that this is the only reason I’m not having a life-or-death struggle with you right now.”

“Ha.”

Ian let go of the mana he had gathered in his hand, laughing in vain at the eyes filled with the pure will to save someone.

Torture, rape, brainwashing. Lena had experienced so many things so far. Yet her heart had not been broken.

Even Ian, who had always ignored Lena, had to admit her mental strength.

“…Okay. Fine.”

The guilt that had begun to stir inside Ian eventually led him to choose ‘concession’.

“I will do my best to fulfill my promise to save my comrades. If you want, I’ll write up a Mana Contract with clearly agreed upon contents.”

“You’re finally giving a normal answer.”

But Ian’s next words made Lena’s expression, which had brightened a little, harden again.

“However, there’s one problem. We don’t have much time. No, we don’t have enough.”

“…Wait a minute. How long have I been unconscious?”

“Unfortunately, it’s been quite a long time. Our last chance, the Hero Inauguration Ceremony, is in just three days.”