Isis was calmer than I expected.

Given his fiery temperament, I expected him to erupt in chaos upon hearing about the theft from another tower. It was quite surprising.

“Isis, are you okay?”

 “What?”

“You seem calm.”

“Is that so?”

Isis smiled faintly. At that moment, I realized.

‘When anger reaches its peak, it turns into calmness. So, that’s it.’

Isis was currently in a state of blue flames beyond the red flames. I carefully asked, not wanting to provoke his mood.(T/N: Not sure how to word that better but the blue of a flame is hotter than the yellow part, so basically he is angry.)

“What happened? Was the recipe for the magical device leaked?”

“Ultimately, yes, but the cause lies elsewhere.”

Snap! Isis flicked his finger, and a bundle of papers fell onto the table with a thud.

“Resignation letters?”

“Some time ago, many magicians from our tower fled, taking the recipes with them to the South tower.”

This time, the upcoming magical device was not solely Isis’s research; other mages from our tower had also worked on it. They took the recipe with them when they fled.

Greed, who had been listening to our conversation from within the sealing stone, spoke up.

 [Oh, popularity].

‘This isn’t popularity. It’s sheer foolishness.’

Isis responded as if it were merely an annoyance, but the situation was not so trivial.

While leaks of personnel between the towers were not uncommon, mass resignations like this were rare.

The towers of all four directions operated as independent institutions. It was an implicit agreement not to encroach on each other’s territories…

‘Does Gabe Jenade know that I am close to Isis?’

If he had conducted thorough research on me, it was a reasonable assumption that he would know I frequented the West Tower. If that were the case, Isis would have suffered collateral damage because of me.

After a brief moment of consideration, I made up my mind.

“Isis, do you know about this?”

“Know about what?”

“An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

“What?”

“Let’s also draw mages from the South tower!”

“Are you… out of your mind?”

Isis glared at me incredulously.

I shrugged nonchalantly with a brave face.

Isis, silently observing me, suddenly put on a serious expression.

“No, wait. Why not? We can draw them out too. Yes, that’s right.”

Muttering to himself, Isis grabbed my shoulders with a devious grin.

“You genius!”

It seemed my suggestion was quite appealing to him.

“Do you know what conditions the affiliated mages were offered to resign here?”

Was it money, as usual?

“I heard they were offered a lot of money.”

The speculation isn’t far off. I gladly suggested,

“Then let’s also draw them from the South tower with money. I’ll cover the expenses.”

Having invested in Isis’s magic and achieved success, the wealth accumulated under the name of Lily Arcel was enormous.

 It was enough to counteract Duke Angellus and Gabe Jenade. However, unlike my indifferent self, Isis looked shocked.

“What on earth are you talking about? You, you… You, you… are you only interested in money!”

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“What? How do you see me, Isis?”

“A money-obsessed fool!”

With that, Greed chimed in wholeheartedly.

[Agreed!]

’Hey, are you really going to join in too?’

Of course, money was great. After all, the more you have, the better, right? Money was fantastic! Very, very fantastic!

 [Kyehe].

Still, money was something to be used when needed.

 What’s the point of all that money if Gabe’s going to destroy the world for Irkala? 

 ’I’ve already bought a house, and money will keep coming in. It’s okay to spend it all now.’

After all my independence was already a lost cause. Despite my resolve, Isis waved his tiny hand dismissively.

“Alright, put it aside. I have no intention of using even a penny of your petty money. What do you even take me for?”

“But-“

“Oh, come on, use it to buy some snacks!”

In the end, my immense fortune was reduced to being petty change for snacks…

 “As you say, we’ll have to get a mage from the South Tower first, and then…….”

“And then what?”

“And then, we’ll see.”

Isis smirked sinisterly, lifting the corner of his mouth.

***

Columba was a lower-tier magician affiliated with the South Tower.

Well, he used to be.

As of today, he wasn’t anymore.

He was working on a formula when a mage from the West Tower approached him and offered him a transfer to the West Tower. 

The South Tower’s pay was not bad, so Columba’s eyes widened when he heard the West Tower’s offer. 

 ‘It was too much money to turn down…….’

He didn’t care if it was a betrayal.

 Besides, he didn’t want to be in the South Tower anymore. 

After obtaining his mage certification, he quickly realized many things he shouldn’t have known since joining the South Tower right after. Besides, these days, many mages who were formerly affiliated with the west tower were being recruited by the south tower. One missing mage wouldn’t raise any suspicions.

On his eagerly awaited first day at work, Columba greeted his senior magician with enthusiasm.

“From today onwards, I’m Columba, affiliated with the west tower! Please take care of me!”

“Alright. Follow me. You have someone to meet.”

“Pardon?”

He followed the senior without understanding a word. When they arrived, there was a cute and lovely boy sitting with a chubby face.

 ’The tower lord?!’

Even if he belonged to a different tower, Columba had heard bits and pieces about the lords of other towers.

It was Isis, the genius magician of the century who usually confined his immense magic power within the form of a young boy! That extraordinary figure was right in front of him.

Unaware that he would meet the tower lord on his first day, Columba froze stiff as he faced Isis.

“What are you doing? Sit down.”

“Yes!”

Columba, tense as ever, quickly sat opposite to Isis. As he did, he noticed another person seated beside Isis, wearing a robe.

 ’A trainee mage?’

Columba, feeling nonchalant, tried to smile brightly at Isis. His body trembled slightly.

“Don’t smile like that. It doesn’t sit well with me.”

“Oh, okay.”

Columba quickly wiped the smile off his face. It was the destiny of an affiliated magician to be scrutinized.

“But why did you summon me…?”

“I have some personal questions I’m curious about.”

“What would that be?”

“What did you do at the south tower?”

“I was responsible for tasks like calculations.”

“And?”

“I also handled errands for my seniors……?”

Columba’s face turned red as he mentioned his menial tasks.

‘I hope they don’t cancel my affiliation because of this?’

Just as those worries began to sneak in, Isis nonchalantly said.

 “Don’t worry, we’ll take good care of you financially.”

“Phew…”

Feeling relieved, Columba let out a sigh.

Despite his reaction, Isis remained unfazed, staring at Columba with a face devoid of a smile.

Even though it was a child’s body, an indescribable sense of pressure emanated from Isis.

 “Do you not know of the research of the south tower Master?”

“I, I as a low-ranking mage, am not privy to the research done by the tower lord…”

“Don’t you know anything at all?”

It wasn’t entirely true. Despite being low-ranking, he still heard about certain things while living and working at the tower. However, these were too sensitive to be leaked to the outside world.

“Columbus. You’re now affiliated with the West Tower. So, don’t dwell on unnecessary thoughts and just tell me.”

“It’s Columba.”

“Right. Columbus.”

 “…….”

Columba was troubled. 

The reason he had betrayed the South Tower and transferred to the West Tower was also due to the experiments conducted there.

Should he speak about this? After much deliberation, Columba finally parted his lips.

“I may not know the details as a low-ranking magician, but…”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“It seemed like they were conducting peculiar experiments. From what I know, it involved imbuing human bodies with traits of the magical beasts…”

Isis’s expression turned cold.

It was strictly taboo to conduct magical research on humans.

 And now they were doing it in the South Tower. 

 “There are other experiments, but they’re under security control by the high-ranking mages and senior staff of the Tower, so I don’t know about them.”

 “…….”

“Is there anything else you’d like to ask?”

“That’ll be all. You may leave.”

As Columba was about to leave the tower master’s research room, he glanced briefly at the person sitting beside Isis.

‘Who could that be?’

Ultimately, without knowing the person’s identity, he left. As the door closed behind him, Elodie removed her robe.

“It seems like they’re conducting experiments on humans.”

“Yeah. They’re really going off the rails.”

 “Could it have something to do with the Cult of Irkala?”

 “At this point, I’d be surprised if it wasn’t.”

If even a low-ranking magician knew this much, one could only imagine how terrifying and gruesome the actual experiments were. As someone who had experienced such research firsthand, Isis couldn’t just let it slide.

***

The following day was the scheduled demonstration of magical tools at the South Tower.

 Unlike the West Tower, which was located near Toinette Street, the South Tower was on the outskirts of the capital, so stopping by would mean being out past curfew.

I had no choice but to seek help from Gretel to obtain permission from Duke Perdia.

For some reason, in the study of Duke Perdia, Jansi, and Carlott were also present, I introduced my friends who would accompany me to the South Tower.

“Father, you know Urania, right? And this is Gretel Sangpan, a new friend I made recently.”

“Yes, that’s right! F-friend…”

Gretel’s cheeks flushed brightly as she clasped her hands around her cheeks and giggled.

Carlot glanced at Gretel and snorted. 

 ’What’s wrong with her?’

Not even close acquaintances, why was she so unabashedly enthusiastic? Nevertheless, my sole purpose was to obtain permission to go out.

 “I’d like to take the two of them to see the demonstration at the South Tower. Would that be okay, Father?”

“It’ll be late.”

“I’ll come back as soon as possible!”

With hopeful eyes sparkling, I looked at the Duke, and his response came promptly.

“You mustn’t stay out past midnight.”

“Of course!”

As Elodie left the office, Sylvester called his two sons.

“Jansi. Carlott.”

“Yes?”

“Yes, Father?”

Sylvester ordered his two sons.

“Follow Elodie secretly.”

Jansi responded with a wry smile.

“But if the mercenary Ian goes with her, he might realize we are trailing them.”

“Make sure to inform him separately.”

Ian could accompany Elodie because of Sylvester’s leniency. He knows it, so he won’t reveal to her that she’s been placed under surveillance. 

***

On the way to the South Tower.

It wasn’t my first time going there, but it felt like a new experience.

 ‘I was once attacked on my way to the South tower with Carlot…….’

I leaned my head against the wall of the carriage as I recalled the painful memories of my near-death experience. 

It was an odd combination. 

Gretel, Isis the master of the West Tower.

 Urania, a mercenary, and Raeyan, my escort. 

And lastly, Greed, in the form of a black fox.

 Only Raeyan was traveling on horseback, so everyone else was in the carriage.

 My worries about the awkwardness of the ride were useless. 

“Gretel, why are you so smart? You seem like a teacher!”

“Oh, it’s nothing special.”

In no time, Urania and Gretel were on a first-name basis as a result of their friendly natures.

 “Tower master. Would you like some of this?”

“Hmm. You’re quite skilled.”

Gretel won Isis’s favor with freshly baked cookies.

“Yum!”

“Oh, how adorable!”

Playing the part of a fox, Greed basked in the group’s cuteness.

About halfway there, while chatting away, Gretel suddenly glanced out the window. At the end of her gaze was Raeyan, who was traveling separately.

“Um, Miss Elodie. I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“Are Mercenary King Ian and Miss Elodie… in love with each other?”

Caught off guard by Gretel’s innocent gaze, I was momentarily speechless. Then, quickly regaining my composure, I denied it.

 “We’re just partners who get along well. It’s not the kind of relationship you’re thinking of!”

I wondered if she’d heard the rumor that Ian was my lover. 

“Ian and I are not in that kind of relationship at all, so please don’t misunderstand. You understand, Gretel?”

“Y-Yes.”

I tried hard to deny any implications to protect Raeyan, but Urania burst into laughter.

“Poor our leader. He got rejected by the lady?”

Rejected? What on earth was she talking about? Sighing, I turned my head away from the window, only to meet Raeyan’s gaze.

“…….”

Since when had he been staring at me?