Chapter 98
“Did you say Lupes?!”
Elena asked with a look of disbelief.
Lupes – who has always been wary of her because of his inferiority complex, overturned her laboratory, and was kicked out of the Magic Tower – was currently in the dungeon.
It seemed the Archmage had personally captured him.
‘Why did the Archmage…?’
She couldn’t understand what was happening in front of her.
“I see you look surprised.”
“… Yes. Because from what I knew, Lupes was expelled from the tower last time.”
Karen nodded at Elena’s answer.
“Yes, he was. However…”
She spoke slowly.
“You know I’ve been out of the tower for the past few days…”
“Yes, Archmage.”
“I have been observing the dynamics of the Black Continent. I delved deeper than what I instructed to the Tower Lords.”
“……!”
“And I found it. A black tower that spews out an abundant amount of magic from the Black Continent.”
“A black tower…?”
“Yes. And I found this guy there.”
Lupes in the Black Tower?
Elena’s gaze returned to the bound Lupes.
‘When he was dismissed from the tower, he didn’t seem to have any regrets; it’s because he had decided where he was going.’
Elena’s eyebrows narrowed.
Karen did the same as Elena and stared at Lupes, then turned her gaze away.
“And not only Lupes but also Henus was in the Black Tower.”
“… Is it the former Spirit Master?”
“Yes. The Black Tower is a place built by a wizard. He resurrected the soul of Henus using black magic.”
Too much information rushed in at once that Elena found herself baffled.
She quickly organized the Archmage’s words in her mind.
“If it’s a wizard, who is it?”
“… A long time ago, he learned magic from the Magic Tower. Moreover, he detested me, or to be precise, he was jealous of me.”
Karen’s eyes lit up.
At her words, Elena momentarily glared at Lupes.
“From the appearance of the Black Tower, the resurrection of Henus through black magic, to Killian Halos – who cursed you – and now this guy; these are all under the control of that wizard.”
Karen said, biting her lips.
Elena could see the pain on her face.
It was understandable; after all, her most important person was used by black magic.
“Archmage…”
Karen smiled faintly at Elena’s call.
It was filled with sadness and bitterness.
After that, Karen’s expression turned stony.
“The purpose of the wizard is, perhaps, the Magic Tower.”
Elena swallowed.
Tension slowly rose.
“Then why brought Lupes…”
“He’ll be administered with truth potion, and we’ll see what happens.”
Karen beckoned into the air, and a vial of yellow liquid appeared.
As soon as Elena saw it, she knew it was the truth potion.
But she was surprised to find that the color was bright yellow.
‘This… It wasn’t made by the researchers.’
The level of effectivity of the truth agent would depend on the proximity to the color yellow; the more vivid, the more superior its effect.
And the medicine before her was of the darkest yellow from the many truth potions Elena had ever seen.
“Did the Archmage make it herself?”
At Elena’s question, Karen nodded.
At her answer, Elena was even more nervous.
It was only then that Elena realized that the matter was grave.
“… But why did you call me?”
Despite being a high-ranking member, Elena wasn’t one of the Tower Lords.
She found herself burdened with being disclosed with such confidential information and not the Tower Lords.
Understanding the dilemma on her face, Karen took a step closer to Elena.
“Yes, I….”
Karen’s lips curved slightly and she whispered to Elena, enough for her to hear.
“Because I see you as my successor.”
At that, Elena’s mouth gaped slightly.
Maybe she heard it wrong?
Karen added to the thunderstruck Elena.
“Elena. I’ve known since the first time I met you… The limitless potential you have.”
“But I’m only a chief researcher…”
“Who told you you will succeed me right away?”
Karen laughed a little.
“It will probably take a long time. Before you become an Archmage, you must prove your skills, and you will have to deal with the trials I give you.”
Elena remained stunned.
Although one could be a tower lord, it didn’t necessarily mean they could be the next Archmage.
What was needed to rise to the position of an Archmage was not their lengthy experience, but a solid proof of their skills.
And all of the magicians in the Magic Tower were aware of that fact.
So if Elena had the abilities and immediately ascended to the position of an Archmage, no one would object.
If and only if they could prove their skills.
That’s why Karen chose Elena as her successor.
If she could make good use of the spirits’ powers and her magic as a wizard, Elena could one day surpass her. Hence, she decided to cultivate Elena as her prospective heir.
Of course, after putting out the pressing fire first.
“For now, let’s continue this story later,”
Karen stated, patting Elena on the shoulder.
Finally coming to her senses, Elena nodded in agreement.
“Yes, Archmage.”
Karen immediately approached Lupes with a truth potion.
As she lightly eased the magic on him, the blindfold on Lupes’ eyes was removed.
He then glared at Elena and Karen.
Karen looked at him and smiled.
She immediately opened the lid of the truth potion and dropped a few into Lupes’ hand.
The impressive thing about the Archmage’s truth potion was it could still have an effect even if it was only through touch, so feeding it to the subject was unnecessary.
Therefore, Lupes was inclined to tell only the truth.
Karen’s magic flowed toward Lupes and the gag on his mouth was also taken out.
From the outside, Lupes appeared to be fine, but his eyes were only slightly opened.
Karen stood in front of him.
Elena decided to stand a little further away and watch the interrogation.
“Lupes. Do you know who I am?”
Karen started asking.
First of all, the question was to confirm the efficacy of the truth agent.
“… Archmage.”
Of course, even without checking, the performance was certain, but Karen was careful.
“Then where are you?”
“The tower.”
“Your name is?”
“Lupes.”
“Where are you currently living?”
“Black Tower.”
Lupes frowned at the responses that automatically spilled out of his mouth.
However, he could not avoid the Archmage’s questioning.
After confirming the potion’s effect, Karen started asking questions in earnest.
“Is the black mage the owner of the Black Tower?”
“Yes.”
“What is his name?”
“I don’t know.”
“What is their gender?”
“A man.”
Karen guessed as to who it was, so she expected that Lupes would not know his name.
‘He wouldn’t be an idiot to give his name to someone like him.’
Karen immediately asked another.
“What is the ultimate goal of the Black Tower?”
Lupes bit his lip as if trying to resist.
But then his mouth opened.
“The Fall of the Magic Tower.”
In response to his answer, Elena softly swore.
Meanwhile, Karen nodded as if she already knew.
“I see. Then why did you start a war recently?”
At that question, Lupes burst out laughing.
“Ha Ha Ha! Of course, it’s a stunt. We will tear down the tower and devour the White Continent.”
This time, he voluntarily answered.
At his abrupt willingness, both the Archmage and Elena found it strange.
Then Lupes added.
“And it was already your defeat when you kidnapped me.”
“… What?!”
Elena was startled.
Lupes rolled his eyes and gleefully smiled.
“All this time, the wizard of the Black Tower has been aware of what’s happening. So you…”
It’s over.
Elena felt goosebumps at those words.
She couldn’t help grabbing her arm.
At that moment, Karen released her power and wrapped it around Lupes, causing him to pass out in an instant.
“Archmage, does he know that Lupes is here?”
“Perhaps he does. But he can’t attack the tower.”
There were dozens of barriers placed directly by the Archmage in the Magic Tower.
It was several times more robust than the barriers the wizards had created in the recent war.
What’s more, if the Magic Tower was being attacked, the Archmage would immediately notice it.
In addition, in the desert where the Magic Tower was located, the eyes of the Archmage were everywhere.
And he must know that too.
One could not just recklessly step into the space of the Archmage.
‘Then…’
Impossible.
Karen’s eyes widened slightly.
Soon after, she took Elena’s hand and cast a teleport magic.
In an instant, the place changed to the Archmage’s office.
Elena grabbed her head at the jarring movement.
“Archmage, what is this…”
“I’m sorry for bringing you here all of a sudden, Elena.”
Elena felt dizzy and leaned against the wall.
Just then, Karen opened the door to the office.
Instantly, Jeremy jumped inside the room.
“Archmage! The Fortnen Kingdom is currently being attacked by demons!”
