Winter Castle was a place adjacent to ‘The place where the snow blows.’ The snowy area was where the largest number of monsters lived on the entire continent, and the people of Winter Castle constantly fought against these monsters. In the process, many by-products were obtained. These by-products included not only the monster’s corpse and fur but also a special stone embedded near the monster’s heart. People referred to it as a ‘magic stone,’ and magic stones were an essential material for modern magical engineering.
“It was easy because I gave them a Snow Tree’s magic stone.”
The Snow Tree was a tree-shaped monster that only lived in places where it snowed. It was a monster that had the shape of a snow-covered tree and would eat people when they came close. Because of its hard shell, it was a monster that could not be hunted except by skilled warriors. However, since they form colonies, once discovered, a large amount of magic stones can be obtained. In other words, a Snow Tree’s magic stone is not a very rare magic stone.
“Are you talking about the white stone I know?”
“Yes, one is worth approximately 5 million dahlias at market value.”
For a magic stone, the price was not very expensive. Elsina’s expression distorted.
“The managers received a Snow Tree magic stone and approved the forms?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a bribe.”
“Please call it a gift.”
Elsina couldn’t believe it. The managers accepted a bribe and gave approval.
“Elsina, it’s good to have beautiful dreams, but sometimes you have to face reality.”
Although Viola was only 13 years old, she had a soul born in capitalism. She had been painfully aware of the power of her capital since she was young.
“The managers of the Magic Tower can’t do that.”
“Do you want to believe that it can’t be like that?”
“Still, they are people who know honor.”
Rather than a Snow Tree’s magic stone, if it was a Brakkio magic stone or a Cerberus magic stone, that would be understandable. Those were top-grade magic gemstones that everyone could recognize. However, she couldn’t believe that they could process the documents so easily for a Snow Tree magic stone whose market value was only 5 million dahlias.
‘What have I been doing so far?’
Before sealing her mana, she was able to hunt Snow Trees very easily. When she thought about how if she had swept through a Snow Tree colony and acquired the Snow Trees’ magic stones, she would have been able to send the beggars out of the Magic Tower long ago. However, her past efforts were nothing but futile. She had never even thought about something like this.
“There are too many beggars to be ruled by people who know honor.”
The Magic Tower was a place to study magic and magical engineering, which were the foundation of this world. Of course, there was a lot of money so there was no reason for beggars to exist. Wizards could play the role of beggars or they could hire people from outside for a lot of money. However, the Magic Tower created beggars, just because they had no talent for magic.
“In the end, wizards are people too. I touched on that because greed exists even in an equal world.”
“Even so…”
“Are you curious as to why I was able to move them with a Snow Tree magic stone that only cost 5 million dahlias?”
“…”
For some reason, Elsina didn’t want to hear the answer. It felt like she was opening a Pandora’s box that she didn’t want to open.
“Because it was pretty.”
“…I beg your pardon?”
“Snow Tree magic stones are also used as gemstones. When mana is injected into them, they glow brightly with a mysterious white color. You didn’t know about this, right?”
Because Elsina only studied magic, and specifically only studied magical engineering, magic stones were simply materials for magical engineering. She was a person who studied only how she could help people live a more prosperous life. To put it in a nice way, she dreamed of ideals, but to put it in a rude way, she didn’t know reality.
“These are people who will sign a document if you give them a pretty thing, but they haven’t done so before now.”
Viola was able to read Elsina’s inner thoughts. It was clear that the affection for the Magic Tower and the wizards, which were barely a handful, had cooled off. The young idealist who only dreamed now began to face reality.
“But there is a problem. The Magic Tower Lord won’t let me go. Never ever.”
Elsina was Sirson’s ‘flaw.’ Although she had outstanding qualities, she was a low-ranking scoundrel who gave up her own power and rights, half-betraying the Magic Tower. Thus, Sirson wouldn’t want to allow her out of the Magic Tower.
Viola grinned.
“Never?”
“Yes, absolutely.”
“I said I would accompany Elsina. There is no such thing as absolutely.”
Elsie was struck speechless by her again. Was this 13-year-old girl really 13 years old?
“I’ll show you.”
Elsina almost said to Viola, who was much younger than her, ‘Yes, big sister.’ She barely managed to control her inner thoughts before asking back.
“The report about me and Princess Viola has probably already been posted. It is clear that Sirson will not meet Princess Viola.”
“If it were in general, that would be the case.”
Wasn’t persuasion something that could only be achieved through first meeting? At this point, Viola could never meet Sirson. Elsina thought so.
Viola took out a wooden plaque from her pocket and asked, “But what if there was this?”
It was a wooden plaque with Sirson’s name engraved upon it. Elsina’s mouth dropped open without her realizing it.
* * *
A tall spire in the center of the city. That spire was a real magic tower built in a huge city called the ‘Magic Tower’. Viola stood in front of it.
‘Wow, that’s really high.’
It was a state-of-the-art building, a product of cutting-edge magical engineering, engraved with various magic circles. There were a total of four entrances to the building and Viola headed to the south gate, where only VIPs entered. At the south gate were two gatekeepers wearing robes.
“Please go back.”
“This door can only be entered by invitation of the Magic Tower Lord.”
Viola walked towards the two with long strides.
“If you don’t go back, you won’t see anything good.”
“This is my final warning.”
Viola again took out the wooden plaque from her pocket.
“Before giving a warning, shouldn’t you check to see if something like this exists?”
Both of their eyes widened. A wooden plaque with Sirson’s name engraved on it. It had been over 5 years since they began working here, but this was something they’d both seen only a few times. Who was this girl to have that wooden plaque?
“Excuse me. I sincerely apologize for not being able to recognize you.”
“I’m sorry. From now on, I will try not to make mistakes like this. Please forgive me with great generosity.”
The power of the wooden plaque was powerful. Viola received excellent treatment and was allowed into the central magic tower. A body search, which was an essential procedure for all outsiders, was also excluded.
“This is an elevator that goes straight to the top floor.”
Standing in front of the elevator, Viola felt a little nostalgic.
‘Hey, it’s an elevator!’
The elevator here looked almost identical to a modern elevator but was powered by a spell. In fact, in this place where warp gates were used, an elevator seemed like a product of the past. Nevertheless, the main magic tower used an elevator. It was a tradition of the Magic Tower where you could feel an antique atmosphere or something.
The elevator moved and Zenon smiled while gently covering Viola’s ears.
“The elevator at the Magic Tower is a product of the old times. It can cause nausea and vomiting by draining mana. They say that if you block your ears like this, those symptoms won’t be so bad.”
Zenon’s hands were warm. Viola was grateful for Zenon’s consideration, but she did not bother to show it. It seemed like she was being attended to very naturally. She also knew how this would appear to the elevator manager.
‘Hey. Don’t gulp just because you’re nervous.’
Viola swallowed those words.
“W-we have arrived at the top floor.”
It was interesting that they said ‘top floor’ rather than ‘how many floors.’ In fact, the exact number of floors of the Magic Tower was unknown. Some said there were 30 floors, others said it was 50 floors. This tower itself had so much space made up of magic that the number of physical floors didn’t really matter. When the elevator door opened, a very spacious room came into view.
‘Various experimental apparatus.’
Unidentifiable potions were bubbling and it smelled like all kinds of medicine. Papers filled with strange characters were rolling around on the floor. There were several cages on the wall and strange-looking birds were dozing inside them. Some had the bodies of snakes with wings while others had the bodies of human babies but the faces of birds.
‘This is not a pleasant space.’
Viola took out the birch tree plaque.
“I came to see the Lord of the Magic Tower.”
Unexpectedly, the door of a birdcage where a snake-like bird with wings was trapped, opened of its own accord. It spread its wings and flew in her direction.
‘Let’s not be surprised.’
She already knew. That bird would soon turn into a human. It was Sirson, the Lord of the Magic Tower. His torso got bigger and his wings seemed to get bigger, and before he knew it, he turned into an old man. The scene was quite grotesque, so she was honestly a little scared.
“Is that so? What is Princess Viola wanting?”
She felt an evil gaze. She could not find any favor in the Magic Tower Lord. That was natural. Viola, who had shaken up the Magic Tower’s tradition that had been going on for hundreds of thousands of years, could not have looked pretty to him.
“If you weren’t the princess of Bellato, you wouldn’t have survived the first invasion attempt.”
The Magic Tower Lord smiled regretfully.
Viola then heard him muttering to himself, “Maybe I should have just killed her then, it’s annoying.” He did not hide his discomfort and openly provoked Viola.
She smiled leisurely and also muttered to herself, “If I were my father, I would have destroyed the Magic Tower.”
This was said with the conflict of interests surrounding the Golden Road in mind. Sirson’s eyebrows twitched. She guessed he didn’t expect his threat to be received like this. But Viola’s response did not end there.
“Dad is so gentle.”
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Translator Note:
Hello there! This is RJR. I hope you liked it <3
If you like my work please support me with Ko-fi or Patreon. Next post will be released on May, 23.
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