Chapter 16 (Part 2)

Before boarding the carriage, Leonardo cast various recovery spells on Grace. Once inside the carriage, they traveled in silence, heading straight for the Marquis’ residence.  

Upon arriving at the Marquis’ residence, Grace tried to carry her luggage out, but he stopped her.  

“Until next time.”  

His tone was formal, but his gaze was gentle. Grace nodded.  

Without hesitation, she turned and entered the Marquis’ residence. Leonardo stood watching her retreating figure for a long moment before stepping down from the coachman’s seat and snapping his fingers.  

The carriage and luggage disappeared all at once. Snapping his fingers again, he teleported.  

“Ah, you’ve returned, Commander.”  

As he appeared in the laboratory via spatial magic, Caleb, who seemed to have been waiting for him, greeted him.  

In Caleb’s hand was a document bearing someone’s signature, one that looked oddly familiar.  

“What is that?”  

“This was found in the hallway on the day those sorcerers came.”  

Handing over the document, Caleb explained.  

The signature on the document was Iris Sherman’s, recognizable by her distinctive rounded handwriting. The content of the document itself wasn’t significant, but—  

“Why was this dropped?”  

At Leonardo’s question, Caleb hesitated briefly before bowing his head and answering.  

“That day, I and the sorcerers were discussing matters in the hallway that could not be disclosed to outsiders, so I hurriedly ushered both of them inside.”  

“……”  

“Afterward, I checked the area thoroughly, but no one was there… or so I thought. It seems I was mistaken.”  

At Caleb’s words, Leonardo let out a long sigh.  

Should I be relieved that it was Iris who overheard, or should I be wary?  

As if reading his thoughts, Caleb cautiously asked,  

“Would it be alright if Lady Sherman is aware of this incident?”  

Caleb’s question carried an implication about their original relationship.  

The two had been friends for a long time, and Leonardo had already received her help regarding this matter. Additionally, though not at Caleb’s level, she was an outstanding mage.

After contemplating, Leonardo sighed and replied,  

“She’s jealous and possessive. Moreover, she’s even narrower-minded than I am.”

“…What do you mean by that?”

“Due to the long-standing ties between our families and our friendship, she firmly believes I am destined to be her partner.”  

Caleb’s face shifted through various expressions at this revelation.  

He couldn’t tell whether Leonardo was saying this was acceptable or reprimanding him for a mistake, so he swallowed hard.  

“On top of that, Lady Sherman will stop at nothing to achieve her goals. Do you think it’s a good thing for someone like that to know?”  

At Leonardo’s final words, Caleb bowed his head.  

“I apologize, Commander. I made a mistake.”  

Jealousy, possessiveness, and ruthlessness—Caleb could easily guess that all these traits would be directed solely at Leonardo.  

At Caleb’s apology, Leonardo cast a cold glance at him before activating a spell.  

Using magic to trace the faint mana signature left on the document, he replied,  

“It’s not your fault. Lady Sherman’s stealth and detection magic simply surpass yours.”  

After all, those were Iris’ specialties.  

If she had learned about his situation, she would undoubtedly have approached the few people close to her to discuss it and seek help.

‘Perhaps she ran to that sorcerer uncle of hers.’  

The people she knew were the same as the ones he knew.  

And since she wasn’t the type to trust others easily, she had few people around her.  

‘Not that I’m any different.’  

In any case, it was clear she would become a nuisance.  

Caleb, watching Leonardo lost in thought, cautiously asked,  

“…Did everything go well?”  

Leonardo, finding the question odd, turned his head and asked Caleb in return,  

“Is the work progressing well?”  

Though Caleb realized that his question and Leonardo’s response were different, he nodded and answered the latter.  

“Yes, Commander. Research on the spells cast on those Pla you sent has made significant progress. In fact, you and Sir Lowell has been requested that you visit the Sorcerer’s Tower soon.”  

Nodding at Caleb’s response, Leonardo watched as the luggage he had moved carefully floated into the laboratory. In a detached tone, he said,  

“I’m thinking of establishing an association.”  

“—What?”  

“A unified association. I’ve already submitted the required paperwork to the Ministry of Magic, the Ministry of Justice, and the Administrative Office.”  

Caleb stood dumbfounded, unable to comprehend what Leonardo was saying.  

But Leonardo didn’t stop there. Whether Caleb understood or not, he continued speaking as he organized the luggage.  

“Instead of building separate towers and rejecting other disciplines, I intend to create a place where everyone can come together.”

Hearing up to that point, Caleb furrowed his brow as if he had a headache and extended his hand. He seemed to struggle to process what he’d just heard, then stammered as he spoke.  

“So, are you saying you won’t succeed the position of Tower Master? Instead, you’re planning to establish some kind of association?”  

“Yes.”  

“Is it because of Sir Lowell?”  

Caleb’s eyes gleamed sharply as he mentioned Grace’s name.  

There was even a faint trace of hatred in those eyes, prompting Leonardo to answer in the coldest voice possible.  

“Does that matter?”  

“Yes, it matters. So please answer me—did that knight block your path?”  

Seeing the murderous intent flicker in Caleb’s eyes as he said “block your path,” Leonardo admitted calmly.  

“Perhaps.”  

“Commander! This is absurd—!”  

“I’m not done speaking.”  

Leonardo’s firm words silenced Caleb. However, he couldn’t hide his frustration as Leonardo gazed at him quietly and continued.  

“How much effort do you think I’ve put into resolving this matter?”  

“……”  

“I’ve spent countless days and nights poring over books and research materials. Even with my sister’s assistance, I ultimately needed the help of a sorcerer.”  

At his words, Caleb turned his head away.  

He, too, was well aware of how much Leonardo had struggled to resolve the situation.  

That was why he himself had also searched through materials and traveled to other countries to verify if there were relevant cases elsewhere.  

‘Though we didn’t gain much.’  

Leonardo, noticing Caleb deep in thought, added further.  

“But Sir Martin, how many people do you think willingly offered their help when I asked for it?”  

Caleb flinched at his words.  

In the end, they had received help from a sorcerer and a priest, so it seemed like everyone had helped. But for Leonardo to say it like this—  

“…Even though you, Commander, asked for assistance?”  

“To them, I wasn’t the ‘successor of the Mage Tower.’ I was merely a ‘lowly mage.’”  

Hearing the self-deprecating term, Caleb felt a surge of indignation and tried to say something, but upon meeting Leonardo’s gaze, he found himself unable to speak.  

It was as if he had confirmed that others had indeed treated Leonardo that way.  

“To their eyes, I was just a mage who could do nothing but stare at a door that wouldn’t open. And, to be fair, I once thought of them the same way.”  

“……”  

Only then did Caleb fully understand why Leonardo, despite his abilities, chose to work with eccentric individuals instead of skilled sorcerers.  

Those individuals only found Leonardo’s “problem” interesting and chose to collaborate out of their own curiosity.  

And even then, it was only possible because they were the so-called “eccentrics.”  

‘Lady Delia helped because she’s family, and Lady Sherman… had other motives.’  

Iris Sherman likely helped Leonardo to create a debt she could later leverage for her own benefit.  

Such help was ultimately useless.  

‘It would only become a burden.’  

For Caleb, who took great pride in serving Leonardo as his commander, hearing these words was nothing short of shocking.  

Leonardo was someone admired by all, a direct descendant of a Duke’s family, even if he wasn’t the Tower Master, a Grand Mage.  

“…There’s no reason for you, Commander, to be treated like that.”  

“There’s no reason for anyone to be treated like that.”  

Leonardo’s words silenced Caleb.  

A flurry of counterarguments swirled in his mind, only to fade away repeatedly.  

After a long moment of thought, Caleb responded with a sigh.  

“You’ll need me.”  

“Sir Martin, you’ve always been indispensable to me.”  

At his words, Leonardo replied in a gruff voice.  

With a half-twisted smile, Caleb bowed slightly and said,  

“Please take care of me.”  

In response to the polite gesture, Leonardo also bowed and replied,  

“The same to you.”  

After exchanging formalities, Caleb handed Leonardo a document he had set aside.  

“Let’s go review the research findings.”  

Leonardo nodded and watched Caleb’s back as he exited the laboratory.  

Caleb, who always lit up when the matter concerned Leonardo, was someone Leonardo had been certain would listen to him when spoken to in this manner.  

‘It’s a relief it worked.’  

Among the current mages, Caleb was perhaps the most promising after himself.  

His understanding and mana affinity were exceptional. But those weren’t his true strengths.  

‘Negotiating with people will become much easier now.’  

Caleb had a remarkable talent for dealing with people and negotiating.  

Leonardo smiled faintly as he left the laboratory. For some reason, everything felt promising from the start.