In the middle of a vast land, stands a strangely tall building surrounded by a high wall and shrouded in mist – an isolated tower that emphasizes separation from the outside world.
Since early dawn, an old man moved through the fog to the magic tower.
“Master of the Magic Tower!”
When the old man entered the tower carrying a large stick, his assistant jumped to his feet.
"I'm back!
It's been a long time!"
Although he was wearing a black robe, his tall stature was unmistakable.
His hair was long and white and styled, and his beard was also long and white.
His eyes were large, prominent, and sparkling intensely.
The Magic Tower Master looked like a Soul Reaper.
“Yes, that's me.”
The Magic Tower Master confidently walked to his desk and sat down.
“By 'it's been a long time', you mean I've neglected the tower, right?”
The office was full of documents and correspondence.
Among them were items bearing the imperial seal.
"Well, yeah.
Anyway, was your trip fun?"
The assistant quickly took his wand and continued the conversation.
“Have you had any success?”
"damn it."
The Magic Tower Master cursed first.
Their relationship was so strong that the assistant could immediately tell there was no success.
The Magic Tower Master glanced at his assistant and expressed his annoyance.
“You shouldn't ever have children.”
"What?"
“Raising them is difficult, and cleaning up what they leave behind is even more difficult.”
The Magic Tower Master rubbed his forehead, confused.
“It's my child who made this mess, so I have to take responsibility… but it's very difficult, eh.
So, it's better not to have children.”
Well, that's just because you failed to raise your children, which is separate from raising my potential children, right?
The assistant answered as he reorganized the scattered documents while his boss answered him.
“Actually, Aran seems to have become like this because of your strange teaching methods.”
"Weird?
I've only told her objective facts since she was very young!"
The Magic Tower Master jumped and exploded in anger at the assistant's words.
“How could this lead to such chaos!”
“It's like that when I look at Aran.
I've learned a lot from that.”
“Hmph, Aran will probably only realize this when she has a corrupt daughter like her.”
Well, your daughter is at an age where it wouldn't be strange to have a daughter too.
The Magic Tower Master groaned and rubbed his forehead some more.
It has been nearly 25 years since his daughter disappeared after causing a major accident, and he still wants to solve the mess she caused, but that too is proving difficult.
The assistant said with a practical expression:
“Since you are back, please take a look at these documents.
They have accumulated this much.”
The Magic Tower Master looked at the documents with an exhausted face and sighed.
Then he said, feigning attention:
“Just choose the five most important documents, and then I will take a break.”
“Um... it's hard for me to judge their importance...”
“Do your best, I will raise your salary.”
“I will do what I can.”
The assistant nodded, then selected five documents.
The Magic Tower Master glanced at her and became annoyed.
“What is this?
Why are there two documents with the imperial seal among these five?
Do I need to know everything that happens outside the tower as well?”
“The first is from the Crown Prince’s Office, and the second is from the Ministry of Manuscript Management.”
The Magic Tower Master took the one who came from the Crown Prince's office first and grumbled in annoyance,
“What now, ‘review and feedback’?
This foolish, reckless prince, maybe it’s nothing serious.”
“Oh, uh…”
After the assistant sensed the Magic Tower Master's mood, he intervened cautiously.
"Perhaps you should read the document the Minister sent first?
It's a petition.
It seems that something happened at the Ministry of Manuscript Administration…"
“Hmph, what should I do with those who can’t even enter the tower but live and use magic weakly?”
“…So should we remove the Ministry of Manuscript Management from the jurisdiction of the Magic Tower this time?
Let the Imperial Family handle the whole matter...”
Hope was evident in the assistant's voice, who hoped this would ease their workload.
However, the Magic Tower Master responded angrily.
“That's impossible!
It's still a department related to magic, why should the imperial family take over completely?
It's impossible!”
“But you said you don't have enough time to manage that...”
"Once Aran's problem is solved, I'll have time!
Once this is over!"
The Magic Tower Master slammed his desk hard.
"Solving the Aran Chaos is more important than managing just one department!
It's for the sake of the entire continent!"
“But at this rate, power may be taken away from us by force.”
The assistant answered without losing hope of solving the scroll management department.
“The scrolls are the manuscripts.
They are all one, okay, everyone?”
“His Highness the Crown Prince has seized access to the documents.
It is a petition demanding that this be prevented.
It appears they have done no good.”
The Magic Tower Master sighed disdainfully, his dissatisfaction evident.
He had an intense hatred for the Minister of Manuscript Administration, but he hated the Crown Prince who dared to interfere in the Tower even more.
“Arrogant… The Crown Prince, that yellow youth in his twenties, dare to interfere in the tower?”
His eyes filled with anger scanned the message sent by the Crown Prince.
“Does he dare ask for a review and opinion about an incident where he almost died?
Does he think that the Tower has a lot of free time, this impudent child...”
His expression turned aggressive as he read the documents, and his eyes narrowed.
“Advocating an opinion without even properly understanding the situation.”
He smiled sarcastically, his annoyance evident.
“A low-ranking member suddenly activated 172 defensive passes on her own?
Is this a joke?”
“Ah, I found that strange too and asked again.”
The assistant added, tilting his head to express his curiosity.
“Namiya Rawabi, she is that low-ranking member.
It is true that she activated 172 scrolls, and created 166 scrolls herself the night before.”
“…hmm?”
The Magic Tower Master frowned.
The assistant noticed the eccentric old man's mood change and added confidently, feeling a little proud.
“This should be considered an important document, right?
Please consider raising my salary.”
“….”
After a long silence, while looking intently at the report, the Magic Tower Master stood up.
Then he picked up his wand again, his eyes shining.
“Don't make me laugh.”
"Excuse me?"
“If you wanted to prove your worth, you should have shoved this document in my face as soon as I arrived, whether you were angry or not!”
The assistant did not have a chance to voice his grievances.
The Magic Tower Master laughed like a madman and said:
“This little girl, I will see it for myself.”
"What?"
Without answering his assistant further, the Magic Tower Master rushed out of the tower, his robes fluttering.
✧✧✧✧✧✧
“I will definitely fulfill your wish…”
This was definitely the sentence I was hoping for.
That was also why she helped the Empress, targeting this moment.
But even though the result was the same, it was different from what I expected.
[Thank you for saving my life.
Tell me anything you want.
I would give anything because you saved my life!]
I was expecting her to say something like this...
However, the Empress said that thanks to me, the imperial family was out of danger and she wanted to repay it.
Something warmed in my heart, and my love for her increased.
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
I replied, somewhat impressed.
“Thank you.
I will not refuse.”
I felt a mix of emotions.
It was as if she not only viewed me as a personal savior, but recognized me for my professional abilities...
“You have suspected your superior and thus discovered an enemy hidden within the imperial family.”
“Ah…”
“Of course, you can ask for anything.”
I took a deep breath.
Then I said slowly:
“Your Majesty, could you listen to my story?
It’s a bit long...”
“Of course!
I have nothing else to do now.”
The Empress laughed heartily.
“The Emperor and the Crown Prince must be busy taking care of the consequences!
Hahahaha!”
She motioned for me to sit before sitting down, crossing her legs.
Then she pulled the bell rope and shouted to the maid:
"Let's start with some meat!
I didn't eat properly yesterday so I may have lost some muscle!"
The Empress looked at me intently and sighed:
“And it looks like our kids need to eat more.”
She smiled awkwardly.
Soon, I began telling old stories as I ate at a table laden with various kinds of meat: my birth accompanied by my family's debts, the circumstances that led to my adoption, and my father's disappearance.
As I continued my story, the Empress's expression became more serious.
“…So…if you ever find my father, even if he is involved in a criminal organization, if you can save his life...”
“Damn, do you really need to say those words, Namiye?”
shouted the Empress.
“That's obvious, but first, we need to deal with that bastard Baron Rawabi!”
Her eyes shone with anger.
“And that goes for your mother too!
What kind of wretches would put their children in such debt?
Tell me everything you know about your mother now!”
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