CH 55

“The Magic Tower is here, a little far from Ronen Village.”

Kade’s finger pointed to a part of the map. The map marked the Magic Tower, Ronen Village, and their location.

The present, when the carriage has been running without stopping.

They had arrived at the entrance of Ronen Village, where it could be said that they were finally close to the Magic Tower.

Ivan counted how long it took them to get here, thinking that it would have been nice if they had used teleportation magic, then he finally remembered Lily’s words that high-ranking magic shouldn’t be used around the Magic Tower. She said that monsters were raging around the Magic Tower, and it could be dangerous if anyone recklessly used high-level magic.

More than anything…

If they had really used teleportation to reach the Magic Tower, they would never have encountered Ei.

That can’t be. Ivan thought, feeling proud of his past self who had attracted Ei. We can’t be here without Sister Ei.

From the point of view of the contingent, Ei was the key to the most important negotiation and the only person who could solve the situation. Of course, just entering the Magic Tower with her wouldn’t end all of the work, but the fact that the Master of the Magic Tower might change his mind was a pretty good chance.

Of course, Ei is looking at the map without realizing how important she is.

“I heard that the Magic Tower and Ronen Village are right next to each other, yet that’s not the case either.”

“The village is closer to the Magic Tower than others do. Well, it’s certainly an ignorant distance to walk.”

With Kade’s usual expression—the expression Ei used to say was unlucky with—he adjusted his monocle, and the straps of the gold glasses shimmered, swaying for a moment.

If it had been someone else, Kade’s cold expression would have made them feel intimidated quickly, but well. Ivan was sure that figure wouldn’t go awry with the person sitting on the other side of Kade.

First of all, her eyes didn’t belong to someone who listened to the other person properly.

“Then I can’t even think of running all the way there.”

“Isn’t that what I mean!”

Kade’s voice rose a little, as if he had been heated by the calm answer. However, the person who made him angry just shrugged her shoulders.

“It’s my fault for saying that I originally intended to walk from Ronen Village to the Magic Tower. Thanks to you, I think I should save my words.”

“Now… Are you done talking?”

“No. But since I just promised myself to keep quiet, I won’t talk.”

Wow, Sister shuts up first. Just as Ivan was admiring it, Ei drank some water and said,

“So, how long do you think it will take?”

Kade put on a look of exasperation again, with formidable audacity, and before he could vent his anger, Ivan hurriedly opened his mouth.

“It won’t be long before we reach the Magic Tower itself, Sister.”

“Reaching the Magic Tower ‘itself’ means?”

Ivan turned his eyes for a moment at the subtly raised voice, as if she was wondering what it meant. He heard that this is a confidential matter. Can he say that?

However, when the fact that the person in front of him was married to the Master of the Magic Tower came to his mind again, his mouth opened automatically.

“Did I mention that the door to the Magic Tower is wide open right now?”

“Yeah. That’s why anyone can enter.”

He told the story and explained the simple structure of the Magic Tower. Contrary to the old-looking exterior, there is also a story that the inside will be as gorgeous as a luxurious mansion.

All rooms and spaces in the Magic Tower are intertwined with magic, so he told her to be careful, yet he didn’t know if Ei remembered it. Once Ivan decided to finish saying what he was about to say.

“But just because it’s wide open doesn’t mean you can go inside.”

Wow, look at the expression on her face, asking what nonsense that is.

“It’s true, though!”

“That sounds similar to Sir Kade’s, ‘what kind of nonsense is that?ㅡbut be quiet’.“

“Wait, what did you just say?”

“I didn’t say anything. So, what does that mean?”

Although Kade’s bewildered expression caught his eye for a moment, Ivan naturally looked away.

“After entering the Magic Tower and going through the hallway, you will come to a hall, and attack magic will come flying from there. So it’s safe to assume that you can’t go any further than that.”

“Are you saying magic is coming?”

“Yes.”

“Dante, who is said to be hiding, isn’t attacking directly. Um, did he draw something like a crime prevention magic circle?”

Rather than wondering if such magic existed, she was presuming that such a thing might exist.

Ei tilted her head, and Ivan tilted his as well.

“According to the story of the delegation that went to the Mage Tower before… It didn’t seem like there was a magic circle again. They say it was mostly ice magic.”

“Hmm.”

“And then… No matter how they went into the tower, they couldn’t find the Master of the Magic Tower. There were traces of him being there, yet they couldn’t find the person concerned.”

He didn’t bother to say that many people were injured because the momentum of the ice magic was unusual.

And the fact that the source of the ice magic is what needs to be resolved before the whereabouts of the Master of the Magic Tower

It seemed that there would be nothing good in telling Ei now that the Master of the Magic Tower had hurt people even after the war, and it would be difficult to meet him as soon as they entered.

So Ivan added another word instead.

“I think we’ll have to see it with our own eyes to see if it’s true.”

Looking carefully, Ei had a dissatisfied expression.

She seemed to feel frustrated at the situation where nothing was certain. Rather than being frustrated with Ivan for telling her the information, she seemed irritated by the situation itself.

But it was really short-lived, and in an instant, Ei was back to her usual, slightly tired expression.

“Well, no matter what kind of magic comes, I’ll die.”

“…”

That’s right, I’ll die. Ivan wanted to add something, as if agreeing, yet he couldn’t, as he realized that unlike his own meaning of ‘I won’t go to such an extreme situation’, Ei meant ‘it doesn’t matter even if an extreme situation comes’.

She talked about death very easily, as many people do. Every time Ei did that, Ivan wanted to ask her. Why do you often say that you’ll die when you’re not?

However, he couldn’t even dare to ask the question since he confirmed that Ei’s expression showed obvious disillusionment as she talked about her death.

Even now, look at that sad expression. Does Sister Ei know that she makes such a face like that?

Of course she doesn’t. And she won’t know until she dies. As Ivan thought to himself, someone knocked on the carriage door.

“Are you here, Lily?”

“Everyone is up.”

Seeing Ei’s expression brighten slightly as soon as she saw Lily, Ivan shoved his thoughts into a corner of his head and smiled broadly.

“Sister Lily, did you take a good look at poisonous plants?”

“Yes. Strangely, many of them were gone. I guess we won’t have to be much more careful than I thought.”

Lily’s expression was darker than usual when she said that.

He questioned that face and tilted his head for a moment, then Ei opened her mouth as if she had the same question.

“Is it bad that the poisonous plants are gone?”

“Well… I don’t know yet. Sir Kade, would you mind looking over the road with a spirit on the way?”

“Yes, Miss Lily.”

What’s going on? Ivan put on a puzzled expression, yet Lily didn’t give a definite answer.

It was only after Lily showed an expression on her face that she would tell everything when it was clear that Ivan couldn’t be bothered and eventually closed his mouth.

In the meantime, he thought that Ei’s expression as she looked at Lily had become ambiguous.

***

L4.

When Liliana walked a little in the direction of the Magic Tower, she checked to see if there were any plants she needed to be aware of.

Not to mention the poisonous ones she was looking for, she found that almost all plants were dead.