Chapter 61
A vast amount of mana escaped from Karen’s hand.
Her magic power soared toward Elena’s laboratory.
From Karen’s knowledge, Elena Respell was a child who rarely got emotionally agitated, unlike right now.
Such a child has been shaken twice in just a year.
From the first one until now, the perpetrator was Lupes.
Elena didn’t tell the Archmage, but Karen was aware of what had happened.
It was the same when Lupes first planned to steal Elena’s research data.
But she pretended not to know since Elena chose not to tell her.
But it was different this time.
Karen had to intervene.
To save the wizards.
So Karen immediately released her magic to alleviate Elena’s anger.
Through the magic that flew to Elena’s laboratory, it was easy to understand why she was furious again.
So Karen used one particular magic from her vast artillery of magic.
Restoration magic.
This magic could only be solely utilized by her, the Archmage. It could restore anything damaged to its previous state.
“Elena.”
“… Yes, Archmage.”
“Your lab has now been restored to its pre-damaged state.”
Elena’s eyes widened.
Having an idea of what occurred, Elena was aware of how powerful the restoration magic was and how much magic power was consumed.
So she immediately bowed her head to the Archmage.
“Thank you, Archmage.”
“Say your thanks later.”
The Archmage coldly glanced at Lupes.
“Come to the office, both of you.”
****
There was silence in the Archmage’s office.
Elena and Lupes.
The two stood at a distance before the Archmage.
Karen observed the two and then beckoned to Elena.
Elena quickly approached her.
“Show me.”
Although it wasn’t mentioned, Elena easily recognized what she was pertaining about.
Elena immediately brought the video ball out of her arms and handed it to Karen.
Injecting light magic into it, Karen checked the recorded video.
As expected, the video displayed was exactly what she knew.
“Lupes. You are a ripple.”
Karen firmly declared.
To some extent, Lupes was expecting such words to come out of her mouth.
He was prepared from the moment he decided to commit harm.
But no matter how prepared he was, he couldn’t help but feel terrible.
Lupes responded with a smirk.
“You will regret this decision one day.”
After speaking with contempt, he quickly left the office.
*****
Lupes escaped from the tower without stopping by his dormitory.
The moment he disregarded everything else, he knew the consequences it would bring, so he had packed in advance.
Elena Respell thought he had nowhere else to go, but she thought wrong.
When he learned that someone was commanding the demons in the Black Continent.
Lupes changed his goals.
And opted to go there.
****
Elena blinked and stared at the Archmage.
Shortly after Lupes left, Karen disciplined his close friend, the Barrier Wizard.
Despite being forced to participate, he still didn’t resist the temptation and took part in Lupes’ scheme, so it was an appropriate punishment.
Watching it happen, Elena was a little nervous about Karen’s steadfast determination.
Although she was happy that Lupes was kicked out of the tower, she couldn’t shake the feeling of uneasiness.
Elena, who was quietly looking at the Archmage, carefully opened her mouth.
“Archmage. Sorry for the fuss.”
Karen, who was looking down at the documents, only glanced at her.
“It is not you who should apologize. Wasn’t it Lupes’ fault?”
“Yes, but…”
“That’s alright.”
Even so, Elena’s expression still looked apologetic.
Karen looked away from her paperwork and lifted her head.
“Wizards are humans, to begin with. So you can acknowledge those feelings of yours too. Just like Lupes. So it’s all right.”
The Archmage’s lips rose slightly.
At that moment, Elena’s expression brightened.
“Yes, Archmage!”
Elena enthusiastically nodded at Karen.
“Also, thank you for restoring my lab.”
“Yes. You should go now.”
Elena saluted Karen and left the office.
At once, silence fell in the room.
Karen turned her gaze back to the documents, focusing on her work.
But the next moment, Lupes’ face came to her mind.
Those eyes of his just before he left the office were something she had seen before.
‘Just like him.’
It was a long time ago.
Back when Karen was the same age as Elena.
‘A weakling who was envious and jealous of me.’
He didn’t do open confrontations like Lupes, instead, he stealthily tormented her.
But every time Karen noticed it, it didn’t hurt much.
The eyes of that guy and Lupes were similar.
‘Come to think of it, he was kicked out of the tower after he was caught possessing a book on black magic.’
Black magic was taboo in the magic world.
Because it was a type of magic that pervertedly used every living form.
In an instant, Karen’s eyes lit up.
‘Maybe that guy…’
Suddenly, a terrible foreboding came to her mind.
*****
When Jacob and the Chief Researcher returned, it had been a week since Lupes was kicked out of the tower.
As soon as they returned to the Magic Tower, they immediately looked for the Archmage.
“The assembled demons have started to move. Their number is well over hundreds of thousands.”
Jacob spoke in a firm voice.
“As expected.”
Karen nodded as if she knew all along.
“Currently, the demons are moving at a rapid pace towards the White Continent. I think they will reach the border in about a month or so.”
Crossing continents was not an easy task for demons.
That was why only formidable demons appeared on the White Continent.
But now, things were different.
If there was a person who could control those demons, and if they possessed the same magical power as the Archmage.
It was possible to move all the monsters to the White Continent.
“Summon all the Tower Owners.”
Now was the time to prepare.
****
After the Solace Empire received the Magic Tower’s message, they also began preparing for war.
Not only the soldiers of the Imperial family but also the aristocrats were given orders to convene.
Naturally, the war hero – Lexion Halos – was also included.
“How long has it been since your return from war again?”
Kerr grumbled as he organized the paperwork.
All in all, the Dukedom of Halos’ workload was nothing short of a mountain. Also, even two abled bodies were not enough to handle war-related work.
Moreover, this war would be a grueling battle against monsters.
Since they had crossed the border with their lord for 7 years, it was clear what kind of war it would be.
This war would not be long.
No, it shouldn’t be too long.
Unlike humans, monsters did not get tired easily, and there were a lot of them.
If the defensive line has even a small crack, it was like opening the gates of Hell.
So it was best to kill them all at once.
While Karen was constantly grumbling about it.
Lexion was also insanely busy.
“Hah…”
He ruffled his hair wildly, sorting through various documents.
One document contained a list of soldiers who had served on the battlefield with him for 7 years.
After he finished organizing them, Lexion exhaled heavily.
Upon returning to the Empire, the soldiers were given a break.
However, due to the approaching war, they had to be summoned immediately.
Because of the long expedition period, their exhaustion must not have been completely relieved.
But they had to do it.
Because the life and death of the White Continent were at stake.
Lexion immersed himself in his work again.
He began to devise a strategy to minimize casualties in this war.
****
After Jacob’s return, the meeting with the Tower Owners was held in the Central Tower.
It was a meeting that only the Archmage and the Lords of each tower could attend; a place where confidential pieces of information were exchanged.
And when the meeting was over, news spread that the war would start in about a month.
Elena practiced more intensely during the remaining time given.
Near dawn.
All of the wizards who had been incessantly training in their respective training grounds returned to their dorms, all except for Elena.
“Hah, hah, hah.”
Her breathing was labored.
Because Meteor had been used before, it consumed a lot of magic power.
Nevertheless, there was also satisfaction.
Although the improvement was minuscule, the size of the stones was growing, and the number had also slightly increased.
‘After a month, it might become quite plausible.’
Elena wiped the sweat from her forehead and grinned.
[Master.]
A familiar voice was heard in the quiet space.
A baby turtle appeared at her feet.
“Toto!”
Elena’s face brightened.
She didn’t expect Toto to come and see her without the other spirit friends!
“How have you been doing?”
[Good, Master.]
The baby turtle answered his Master’s query slowly but steadily.
Elena reached out and picked up the turtle.
When she gently patted his head, Toto smiled beautifully.
“Anything troubling you?”
[… I heard that Master is busy with her magic training these days.]
“Yes. Because there is going to be a war with monsters soon….”
[I see.]
Toto was silent for a long time as if contemplating something.
“Toto?”
As Elena tilted her head, Toto opened his mouth.
[Master is stronger than anyone else. But you can become stronger than you are now.]
“… Yes?”
[Use us.]
