“Is that why you contacted me? Don’t worry, after the explosion, the Magic Tower’s mages worked through the night to strengthen the barriers around the area.”

<So you did go there. Did you discover anything unusual?>

“Unusual?”

Viole tilted her head at my question.

“Well, not really anything unusual. If I had to mention something, we did find a few objects, but as you know, most items discovered in Death Gorge are remnants left by demon folk and are severely contaminated, requiring several purification processes.”

<Send those to me after they’re fully purified.>

Viole’s eyes widened at my words. A flicker of question crossed her face.

“Why this sudden interest in Death Gorge? You haven’t developed an interest in black magic, have you? Even I couldn’t cover that up.”

<…Are you in league with Rigan? Why does everyone… Why would I dabble in black magic?>

Her reaction made my head throb, and I pressed my forehead. Despite my denial, Viole continued with undisguised suspicion.

“If not that, then why this sudden interest?”

I slightly tightened my lips at her question. Though Viole generally followed my orders, she wasn’t the type to comply without question. After all, she had her pride as a mage, and black magic was serious enough that she would demand explanations even from me, the Emperor.

‘I expected this level of questioning.’

“I” inwardly mused, resting my chin slightly. Then I spoke.

<I hear magic beasts have been discovered near the Arsis Empire?>

“…!”

<That’s why you’re so busy now.>

“How did you…!”

<I am the Emperor of Arsis. Do you think there’s information I wouldn’t know?>

Viole clutched her head at my response. Her face showed clear annoyance. As the Tower Master from the Arsis Empire, she had an unofficial obligation to report to me whenever such major incidents occurred near the empire. That was why I had sent her to the Magic Tower, and also why I tolerated her occasional impertinence.

Viole, who looked ready to tear out all her hair in despair, suddenly lifted her head. “I” gazed at her with indifferent eyes. Soon, Viole spoke.

“I wasn’t deliberately hiding it, just wasn’t certain…”

<First Death Gorge explodes, and now magic beasts are discovered in areas where humans are active. What do you think this means?>

“That doesn’t necessarily suggest the reemergence of black magic.”

<I never said black magic had reemerged.>

“No. No… No…”

Finally realizing she couldn’t win against me, Viole frantically disheveled her hair. As a result, her light brown hair fell in disarray onto her robe. Hair wouldn’t normally fall out that much just from pulling at it. She must have really been struggling these past few days, I thought to myself, when Viole spoke in a voice filled with resignation.

“Actually, reports of magic beast sightings have been coming to the Magic Tower occasionally lately.”

<What?>

At that moment, “I” frowned deeply. This was news to me. So this wasn’t the first occurrence?

<Then why weren’t the kingdoms notified? About such an important matter?>

“We couldn’t determine if it was the work of black mages, someone else, or if the magic beasts had simply emerged on their own.”

<You should have reported it anyway. That’s how kingdoms prepare their defenses.>

But Viole sighed deeply at my words. She looked at me with a somewhat resentful expression, clearly thinking I didn’t understand.

“Do you know how the royal courts would react to such reports? Arsis may be a powerful empire, and Your Majesty may be reasonable and a mage yourself, but other countries are practically trying to devour mages alive.”

<Oh dear.>

“Even Beloem, where magic beasts were recently discovered, is making absurd demands to mobilize all mages to protect the forest… Mages are humans too. We can’t just make magic beasts vanish with a wave. Do you know how many casualties we’ve had recently fighting these creatures? Five mages have already died in the line of duty.”

I finally fell silent at Viole’s words. She had a point. Though the Magic Tower occasionally dispatched mages to various countries, their numbers were necessarily limited, and royal courts were never satisfied with this.

“And if the dispatched mages were used to help commoners, I wouldn’t mind, but they keep them close like they’re afraid they’ll die… They use them like servants, which is so irritating that I’ve forcibly sent some directly to where magic beasts appear, bypassing royal courts. Then they complain about unauthorized border crossings.”

<…>

“Are mages expendable? Our purpose is to train and manage mages, not to dispatch them. We’re fortunate that the temples are sending clerics to cooperate.”

<So, what’s the current situation?>

“So far, reports have come from four locations, including this latest one. We found no magic beasts at the second location, the plains of the Alph Kingdom, despite our search. Of the remaining three, we’ve completely eliminated them from two locations, and in Beloem, we’ve dealt with the visible threats and are continuing to search just in case.”

<Where were these locations?>

“The Andern Mountains, the Faisten Plains, and now Cartrier Forest.”

“I” took a deep breath at Viole’s words. Then I slowly spoke.

<So they’re moving from north to south. Is Arsis next?>

“Ah, we were suspicious too, but surely magic beasts with brains wouldn’t dare invade Arsis?”

<What makes you so confident?>

“Arsis currently has Your Majesty, Duke Kelliard has returned to the capital, and above all, Lord Lerrhagen is there. Would magic beasts be crazy enough to enter that territory?”

This was certainly a reasonable thought from Viole’s perspective. However, I couldn’t think so simply.

‘They’ve already turned me into a child, sent Ilian to me through the explosion at Death Gorge, and now magic beasts are gradually approaching the Arsis Empire—and we’re supposed to believe nothing will happen?’

If even I agreed with Viole’s thinking, it would truly show a lack of foresight. However, I didn’t bother to contradict her words. Instead, “I” leaned back leisurely in the chair.

<Well, there’s no harm in being prepared.>

“So, I hope Your Majesty isn’t going to ask to borrow mages too?”

<No. The empire already has plenty of mages. Though I’d like to summon you as well, if I had my way.>

“Please don’t.”

<I still have enough conscience left not to do that. The Magic Tower should focus on the safety of areas lacking mages. However, even if not publicly to the royal courts, you need to inform them about the appearance of magic beasts and the possibility of black mages.>

“But—”

<If we fail to be vigilant and something truly serious happens, it won’t end with just a few mage casualties.>

Perhaps “my” stern face and coldly settled voice had some effect. Viole sighed deeply and nodded.

<And bring those items you found in Death Gorge too. If the Magic Tower is too busy to examine one item, I should help.>

“Understood.”

<And just in case, report to me immediately if you have any other information related to black magic. This is no longer just the Magic Tower’s problem. I absolutely will not tolerate such things entangling my empire.>

In truth, I seemed more entangled than anyone, but Viole naturally didn’t know the circumstances, so it didn’t matter. Finally, Viole, perhaps fearing more threats from me, made up a ridiculous excuse about magical wave instability, created some static noise, and cut off the communication spell.

It was obviously nonsense to anyone, but since I had already obtained all the information I needed, I didn’t bother her further.

‘The situation is more serious than I thought.’

It would be better if all this was targeting only me, but looking at the current situation, that didn’t seem to be the case.

‘How dare they target not just the empire but the entire continent.’

At this rate, it was becoming exactly the situation I had initially wanted to tell Sever about.

‘Come to think of it, has Sever heard this news?’

With his information network, he likely had. I wondered how he was interpreting the situation. After pondering for a while, I urgently summoned Rigan.

Suddenly called to my presence, he hesitated when he saw the doll beside me and was about to say something, but I cut him off.

“According to Viole, this isn’t the first time magic beasts have appeared.”

“What?”

“And the locations where they’re appearing are getting closer to Arsis.”

Rigan finally seemed to grasp the gravity of my words.