The Tower Master searched thoroughly through his memories, but unfortunately couldn’t recall the face of that nobleman.
‘He had a high rank. Was he a Grand Duke?’
He was the only nobleman that the Tower Master, who was indifferent to the power structure within Neweiton, had found interesting.
Even so, he had merely been introduced to him as an uncommon Sword Master, which was why he had caught his eye a bit more than other nobles.
Unfortunately, due to the backlighting at the venue causing shadows on his face, he could only vaguely recall a bear-like build and an intense presence.
‘That man isn’t a Sword Master though.’
There was no special energy felt from the large figure that had disappeared from his view.
Apart from having an unusual constitution, he seemed ordinary.
The Tower Master, who had little interest in others, quickly lost interest and turned his head away.
“These are the villagers who collapsed from mana poisoning.”
The Tower Master followed the village chief’s guidance into the hut.
The mages of the Krofl Mercenary Group were startled by the Tower Master’s sudden visit and quickly scattered.
“It’s remarkable they’re still hanging on.”
Generally, when accumulated mana in the body fails to circulate as magic power, it eventually burdens the heart and leads to death.
Hmm. After briefly checking the patients’ conditions, the Tower Master’s gaze moved to the medicine bottles placed on the floor.
They contained herbal medicines, not potions used by mages.
“Seems like there’s a skilled doctor around, yet the situation has deteriorated to this point?”
When the Tower Master asked while shaking a medicine bottle, the village chief shook his head.
“These are prescriptions from a doctor who came from outside to provide treatment.”
“Medical house calls to a hidden village?”
The Tower Master expressed brief admiration. It must be a brilliant doctor with either good business sense or an exceptional spirit of service.
Just looking at the herbal combinations used for the patients showed evidence of deep consideration for mana poisoning. The appropriate prescriptions had somehow enabled the patients to hold on.
‘…Ah, could it be that the meddlesome outsider the village chief mentioned is this doctor who made these?’
The Tower Master revised his assessment of the outside doctor. Not meddlesome, but a doctor combining skill with inclusivity.
But that was all; the Tower Master had no further curiosity.
There wasn’t much reason for a mage to become friendly with a doctor.
“After treating the mana poisoning, rehabilitation won’t be a concern.”
The Tower Master immediately snapped his fingers.
A magic circle spread beneath his feet, and the magic stones that the Tower Master had been wearing as accessories all floated up at once.
A dazzling light, incomparable to that of mercenary mages, flickered across their vision.
“Ahh… I can’t remember the last time I felt this exhilarating.”
The Tower Master couldn’t control his rising smile as he spread his arms wide.
Whoosh! The magic circle expanded around the patients and the surrounding huts.
“Look, look!”
“The spots…!!”
Exclamations erupted from the huts within the magic circle’s range. The fluorescent spots spreading through the patients’ bodies began resonating with the Tower Master’s magic power. The large amounts of mana that had accumulated in the patients’ bodies began to seep out through the spots, as if melting.
“Step back!”
“Don’t touch it!”
The mercenary mages hurriedly led people out of the huts.
Regardless, the Tower Master flicked his fingertips to gather the mass of mana in one place.
“It would be too much to consume all of this at once.”
The Tower Master, who licked his lips in regret, stretched his hand toward the ceiling.
Crash! The hut’s ceiling was cleanly pierced. The evening sky suddenly spread above them. The Tower Master’s long hair fluttered in both the cool evening breeze and the magical energy.
“Since this village will soon become well-known, let’s decorate it in advance.”
With sparkling eyes, the Tower Master sent the massive mana mass high into the sky. The entire village watched as the huge mana mass soared toward the heavens.
Moving his finger joints in various ways to control the magical power, the Tower Master clapped his hands together.
Crrrraaack…!
A huge sound like shattering stone reverberated through the sky.
“It, it broke…!”
The mercenary members, whose legs had given out due to the Tower Master’s power, opened their eyes wide.
As the massive mana shattered, it created a spectacular scene like a meteor shower. While people were overwhelmed by the beautiful sight, the shattered mana stars began falling from the sky toward the village.
The mercenary mages hurriedly raised their staffs to create protective barriers.
“What…!”
However, the falling mana fragments all exploded in mid-air before reaching the barriers.
Before the surprised people could even find shelter, the entire village was engulfed in a flash of light. People reflexively shut their eyes tight in fear.
“…….”
As the heavy, tense silence continued for quite some time.
“Wow, this is insane…….”
“……My goodness.”
The mercenary mages’ murmurs broke the silence.
One by one, the villagers cautiously opened their eyes. And everyone’s mouths fell wide open.
Especially the village chief next to the Tower Master, whose eyes looked as if they might pop out.
The log walls surrounding the village had transformed into solid fortress walls, and the residents’ homes had changed to clean and sturdy structures. The village paths, once full of dirt and grass, were now all paved and neat.
It was as if it had been modeled after the imperial capital.
“Hmph~ As a village under the protection of the Tower Master, shouldn’t it at least look like this?”
Despite having released all the magical power in his body to control the mana, the Tower Master smirked without a single drop of sweat on his face.
The massive transformation magic was possible thanks to using not only the mana accumulated in the patients’ bodies but also the mana accumulated throughout the village.
Although the Tower Master’s taste, quite disconnected from the modest villagers’ preferences, was reflected, the village’s defenses had become more robust as a result.
“Tower Master, what is all this…….”
“This completes the down payment. Other matters will be postponed until after dealing with the land ownership.”
Leaving behind the village chief who had only now regained his senses, the Tower Master moved along with a light step.
His body actually felt lighter after using up all the hanging magic stones.
The Tower Master hummed.
“If I go now, the timing will be perfect.”
Though the sun had set, it was still too early for the Emperor to retire to bed.
In fact, the later the better. Summoning Marquis Darhan Bridend to the imperial palace at a late hour would be one of the enjoyable sights.
The Tower Master covered his mouth and laughed wickedly.
‘I’ll make your sleep uneasy tonight.’
He was really looking forward to seeing what expression Darhan Bridend would make at the ceremony of receiving the land from the Emperor.
He was excited at the thought of witnessing the high-nosed leader of the nobility faction fail to maintain his composure, mentally recording it to recall whenever he had the chance.
The Tower Master immediately cast a spatial movement spell. After setting the coordinates to the imperial palace, the Tower Master snapped his fingers. The Tower Master then disappeared from the village.
As soon as the Tower Master’s presence vanished, the Krofl Mercenary Group revealed themselves.
The mercenary members who had been watching the Tower Master from all directions gathered at the village gate.
“-Finally, he’s gone.”
Karun shook his head with a drained expression.
Despite not even exchanging many words, somehow it felt like all his energy had been drained. The members standing behind him expressed similar sentiments.
“He really did it so extravagantly. As expected of the Tower Master.”
“Acting first without thinking about the consequences, truly like the Tower Master.”
“And our sister who predicted such a Tower Master is indeed amazing.”
“Ah, agreed.”
“Quiet-.”
As Karun drew the greatsword strapped to his back, the mercenary group fell silent at once.
Behind him, Vireta walked heavily with her back curved and hands clasped behind her.
Vireta naturally stood beside Karun, facing the mercenary group.
“Thanks to the Tower Master’s flashy display, I think you’ve all finished your reconnaissance.”
The unruly atmosphere of the mercenary group instantly changed.
In an atmosphere that became tense with sharp anticipation, like before departing for a hunt, Vireta slowly straightened her back.
Creeeeak-. The village gate opened behind her.
“Catch all the rats that entered your sight.”
Led by Karun, the Krofl Mercenary Group rushed out of the village at lightning speed. Dozens of mercenaries scattered into the darkness. Each pursued the scent of the prey they had spotted.
The spies who had been circling around Ashu’s village, waiting for the residents to die, were now likely fleeing for their lives from the mercenary group’s pursuit.
All thanks to the Tower Master’s unnecessarily flashy and eye-catching grand magic.
“How arrogant.”
Vireta touched the scabbard at her waist with a cold sneer bordering on contempt.
If Darhan Bridend had planted mages around the village in preparation for any contingency, the spies wouldn’t have been hunted like prey as they were now.
However, Darhan Bridend, who had considered possible betrayal, didn’t reveal the “resources of rebellion” to anyone. He especially distrusted mages, who are sensitive to the flow of mana. He was a cunning man, greedy and selfish.
‘Well. Without Sha, there wouldn’t have been such a variable.’
The existence of a doctor who made house calls to the hidden village was naturally kept secret by the villagers who feared incurring the wrath of Marquis Bridend. The closed-off, hidden village that had until now complied with orders out of fear for their lives would not have sought outside help—this was what Darhan Bridend was most certain of.
‘It’s the natural order of things.’
Vireta recalled the gold medallion with the scorpion emblem that she had demanded as payment for the request.
A gold medallion engraved with a noble family’s emblem had many useful purposes. Especially in the hands of someone who harbored resentment against that noble family, its utility took on an entirely different dimension.
‘This too is the natural order of things.’
The murderous intent that Vireta had sworn upon remembering the young granddaughter who had to visit her grandmother alone began to stir. From the moment she first saw the tiny grandson, embers were beginning to spread again from the ashes piled in one corner of her heart.
“But of all things…….”
The only concern weighing on her mind was Sharti’s existence. The fate that had once been consumed by the fire of the Empire seemed to be showing signs of directing its flames toward Sharti once more.
Vireta heaved a deep sigh.
Perhaps it was also the natural order of things for Sharti to become entangled with the nobility of Neweiton.
“Only now it’s brilliantly shining.”
Suddenly, she thought of the black mutt that stood guard beside Sharti.
Vireta clicked her tongue.
“What shall I do.”
It was a connection that Sharti had formed. That’s why she had only been watching, despite being able to remove it.
But the connections and fate increasingly weaving around Sharti were now extremely worrying.
Vireta raised her head to look at the night sky.
As a large cloud gradually covered the moon, the village was consumed by darkness.
“Yet the darkness is only momentary…….”
Vireta shook off her thoughts with a quiet recitation.
Soon, she quietly concealed herself in the darkness. The night was long, and the request had only just begun.
****
At a time when all lights had been extinguished and only faint lamps illuminated the night at the imperial palace, a carriage bearing the scorpion emblem of the Bridend family passed through the palace gates in the late night.
As the carriage that had arrived at the front of the imperial palace came to a stop, Marquis Darhan Bridend, with his hair neatly combed back, stepped out.
“Welcome, Marquis.”
The Emperor’s chamberlain bowed respectfully. Standing before him, Darhan, clutching a walking stick, looked up at the dark imperial palace with a subtle expression.
The chamberlain followed as Darhan began to walk.
The moment he crossed the threshold of the imperial palace, Darhan gritted his teeth.
“…Is the Tower Master here?”
The interior of the imperial palace, which had appeared completely dark from the outside, was as bright as day.
Only the Tower Master could create such an elaborately deceptive scene that made one doubt reality the moment they crossed the threshold.
“Yes, he is.”
At the chamberlain’s calm response, Darhan forcefully pulled down his trembling lips.
“Ah, you’ve arrived.”
As soon as Darhan entered the reception room, the Tower Master, with his long hair tied up high, greeted him with a bright smile and a wave. What was unusual was the Tower Master’s simple attire. Unlike usual, he wasn’t adorned with jewel-like crafted magic stones.
“Welcome, Marquis.”
The Emperor, sitting in a single sofa next to the Tower Master, was already having a light drink with him, holding a wine glass in his hand.
Being invited to a drinking session, something the Emperor never shared with the nobility faction, was not a particularly pleasant situation.
However, Darhan Bridend was someone who knew how to skillfully hide his emotions.
“I behold Your Majesty, the master of unblemished glory.”
“Sit down first.”
Without even offering a courtesy drink, the Emperor turned his gaze to the Tower Master as soon as Darhan sat across from him.
“Well, now that I’ve called the Marquis here as the Tower Master wished, please speak.”
“…….”
Hearing that it was the Tower Master’s summons, not the Emperor’s, Darhan also looked at the Tower Master.
The Tower Master pushed his bangs behind his ear with a leisurely gesture and looked at Darhan.
“Ah, I’ve found a piece of land I want.”
It was an abrupt beginning, but Darhan had an idea of what it might be about.
[If you form an alliance with our Neweiton Empire and support us in the war, I will, by my authority, grant the Tower Master the land of his choice, regardless of imperial law. However, if it’s a nobleman’s territory or the land exceeds a certain size, the procedures become complicated.]
“So, where is it? I’m curious about the land the Tower Master has chosen, so much so that I’ve been waiting here drinking.”
“…….”
At that moment, when Darhan’s eyes met the Tower Master’s, he raised an eyebrow with an ominous feeling.
Before Darhan could deduce his answer, the Tower Master turned to the Emperor with a smiling face.
“Please grant me a mountain bordering the northeastern frontier, Your Majesty.”
“……!”
Veins stood out on Darhan’s hand resting on the handle of his walking stick.
