Chapter 56: Imperial Magic Tower (4)

Chapter 56: Imperial Magic Tower (4)

TL/Editor: Rungir

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The room was filled with a heavy silence.

Finally, Zion broke it, his sleepy yet calm gaze meeting Ahmad's. "What matters isn't who I am," he began, his eyes lighting up with determination, "but that I am Zion Agnes in front of you and that I've survived in the Imperial Palace until now."

Ahmad could sense a strong resilience in Zion's eyes, a strength so powerful that it reminded him of Emperor Urdios in his prime. It was an intensity that made him question, 'Did Zion really change?'

Ahmad knew what Zion had been through in the Imperial Palace. Discarded by his own family before he turned ten, exiled to the Palace of Chimseong, treated as an embarrassment, and surviving countless murder attempts and contempt.

'Has he survived in the Imperial Palace?' Ahmad thought. Such changes are rare but do happen. Either when someone's life hangs by a thread or when destiny takes a twist. Perhaps, in Zion's case, it was the former.

'Did the Agnes bloodline awaken late in him?' Ahmad pondered, a shadow of sadness briefly crossing his eyes. The Imperial Palace must have been a cruel place for Zion to endure to the point of changing his nature just to survive.

"I was wrong to ask who you are, Your Highness. I apologize. Now, could you tell me why you are here?" Ahmad asked again, bowing in apology.

"There are three things," Zion responded, holding up three fingers. "I need information on the Strange Doctor, a magic circle that needs improvement, and I need your help once."

The Strange Doctor was a famed medic in Frosimar, considered one of the top three in the land. His unorthodox methods earned him his nickname. In terms of enhancing the human body, he was unrivaled, the best in the empire without question.

The Strange Doctor was elusive, always moving and impossible to find unless you knew someone who knew him. Ahmad, who was standing in front of Zion, was one of the few who did.

Zion planned to boost his weak health with the Strange Doctor's help.

"I could help you get in touch with the Strange Doctor and improve the magic circle if you give me a reason... but I can't assist you directly," Ahmad responded, shaking his head slightly. "I'm retired and devoted to this University Magic Tower. I don't answer to my family or the Imperial Palace anymore. If I were to help you, I'd break my promise."

This was a statement only those at the top could make. The power to choose their own path, not bound by family or palace, was a privilege held only by those at the pinnacle of power.

Zion's calm gaze didn't waver at Ahmad's words. He had expected this response and was ready for it.

"What if the task I need help with isn't related to the Imperial Palace but to this University Magic Tower?"

Ahmad's eyes grew darker at Zion's words. "What do you mean?"

Zion handed Ahmad a piece of paper. On it was the magic circle for a spell he'd used to control the monsters of the old Chimseong Palace. "This is the magic that needs improving."

Ahmad was silent, studying the unfamiliar magic circle in front of him. His eyes started to shift.

Finally, he asked, "What is this magic used for?"

Zion answered with a small smile. "To find an enemy."

---

Raei Translations

---

"Darn it, darn it!!!"

After all the classes had ended, Essian walked down the empty hallway of the university tower, lit only by a dim magic light. He was cursing under his breath, his eyes filled with embarrassment and anger.

He kept replaying the moment when he'd shrunk under Zion's gaze during the lecture.

"I won't forget this, Zion Agnes."

He muttered this promise under his breath, his eyes darting around the empty lecture rooms as he walked down the corridor.

'What's happening?'

Essian was puzzled. He was in the tower because he had received a summons. As the eldest son of a prominent family, he didn't typically respond to every call. But this was different.

It concerned his grades.

Unlike his peers, Essian had a particular reason to maintain top grades at the Empire's University Tower. He had made arrangements with some professors to ensure his success.

Despite being the esteemed Agnes University Tower, not all the professors were incorruptible. Some were willing to bend the rules to advance their own careers or gain some advantage. Essian was one of the students who exploited this opportunity.

'Isn't he aware that contacting me at school like this increases our risk of being caught?'

The person who had summoned him was one of the professors he had an agreement with. He mentioned an urgent matter, which is why Essian returned to the tower. He kept this a secret, of course, as it would be disastrous if it were discovered.

Thump!

Upon reaching the designated lecture room, Essian pushed the door open and entered.

"Essian? Why are you here......"

"What's this, Essian, you too......?"

Inside the dimly lit room, about six students were already present. They were all heirs of notable families, of similar or slightly lesser status than Essian.

Realization dawned upon him. These were students who, like him, had grade deals.

The magical energy emanating from the bodies' wounds was of such intensity that even a layman could sense it. It was as if there had been no intention to conceal it in the first place.

'Dark magic? Or...'

Tirian's eyes flickered with a blue light as he reached out to touch the magical energy, tracing the vestiges of magic left behind with his fingers.

A unique tracking magic exclusive to him.

He was fully aware of the severity of the situation: a magical murder had occurred within the Imperial University Magic Tower, located in the capital's heart. Consequently, despite his inherent apathy, Tirian couldn't dismiss the situation.

His mind churned with thoughts as he rapidly pieced together the puzzle.

'Surely, it was Professor Proud who summoned me here. But he's nowhere to be seen. Then this implies...!'

Just as Tirian, who had quickly arrived at a conclusion, steeled himself to leave the classroom,

"Ti, Tirian! What on earth are you...!"

A shocked cry emanated from the direction of the classroom door. It was Professor Proud, looking at him with horror-filled eyes.

Before Tirian could respond,

"What's happening?"

About half a dozen professors, apparently alerted by Professor Proud's cry, approached the room.

"W, what is this!"

Their faces mirrored their horror upon witnessing the classroom's crime scene.

At that moment,

Whoosh!

The magical energy emanating from the corpses converged on Tirian, flaring up dramatically and wrapping around his right hand.

"That's... magic!! Could it be that you, Tirian!"

One of the professors, immediately recognizing the magic energy, darted his gaze between the bodies and Tirian's encased hand, voicing his disbelief.

Tirian stood amid the strewn corpses, emanating magical energy. The scene painted him undeniably as the prime suspect. Handling such magic energy, after all, was a grave offense that could warrant execution.

'I'm well and truly caught.'

The thought flickered across his mind as he glanced at the stubborn magic energy clinging to his right hand. This was a trap, a deliberate snare laid just for him.

In this life, he was merely a student of the university's magic tower, without any notable influence or connections. His complacency had led him to fall into this trap; he had never expected anyone to go to such lengths against him.

'This is becoming quite the nuisance.'

Turning his gaze towards Professor Proud, Tirian followed the traces of magic visible solely to him, leading straight to the professor.

'If this continues, I'll undoubtedly be framed.'

While certain that Proud was the mastermind, there was no way to prove it presently. If arrested under these circumstances, he would likely be sentenced to death before he could properly clear his name. Those who could ruthlessly sacrifice noble children for a trap wouldn't hesitate to corner him with falsified evidence.

'Therefore, I have no choice but to escape.'

His university status would be revoked, and he would become a fugitive of the Empire, but that seemed a better fate than capture.

"Tirian, surrender peacefully, and we won't resort to violence."

The professors' words contradicted their actions as they readied their magic and gradually closed in on Tirian. Their eyes had already cast him as the criminal.

As Tirian covertly prepared his magic and moved toward the window, a solitary voice resonated in the room.

"Interesting developments, it seems."

The voice, though faint, was clear, as if whispering in their ears. Perhaps it was the veiled threat within the voice that compelled everyone to turn toward its source, seemingly in unison.

Soon, under their collective gaze,

Thud, thud.

The figure of Zion, shrouded in darkness and sauntering toward them with half-closed, sleepy eyes, began to materialize.

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