Chapter 94: Surrender

༺ Surrender ༻

– Creak...

“To-Tower master, my sincerest apologies!”

As soon as the antiquated door of the Magic Tower opened and the Tower Master stepped in, a mage who was diligently firing magic, frantically bowed their head.

“All of you, hold.”

The Tower Master glanced at the mage pitifully before commanding the rest of the mages to cease firing. At her command, the rest of the mages defending the tower stopped altogether and directed their gaze to her.

“Tsk...”

However, the Tower Master didn’t so much as spare them a glance and simply clicked her tongue while redirecting her gaze towards the intruder.

“For what reason did you return after claiming you never wanted to see me again?”

When the Tower Master inquired with a conflicted expression, the robed person spoke out as she slowly approached the Tower Master.

“I have something to discuss with ya.”

“You rotten girl, addressing your teacher so rudely1 The visitor uses ‘당신’ to address her former teacher, the Tower Master. ‘당신’ is one of the direct way of saying ‘you.’ Korean has formal/casual styles and directly referring to someone as ‘you’ is often considered rude unless close.. It seems you’re still as impertinent as ever.”

“Considering I’m no longer your disciple, I don’t believe there’s an issue with how I address you.”

The rest of the mages held their breaths and froze on the spot as they listened to the heated conversation between the two.

To them, being rude to the Tower Master, who was as exalted as the heavens, was something they couldn’t even imagine doing.

“I was willing to sit down and chat with you... but if you’re going to be this impolite, I don’t think I will.”

The Tower Master raised her lengthy cane and spoke out angrily at the girl in front of her.

“And if you’re going to continue acting up, you’ll have to face m...”

“I completed the magic you so fervently desired.”

“...What did you say!?”

But as the unidentified woman took out and shook the sheet of paper inscribed with a magic circle, the Tower Master lowered her cane with wide eyes.

“A-Are you saying?”

“It’s what you’ve wanted for so long... nice try.”

The Tower Master discretely tried to use magic on the sheet of paper, but the unidentified woman blocked the magic as if she predicted her actions. Then, the Tower Master began to stammer nervously.

“W-...Why don’t we sit down and have a chat?”

“I thought you didn’t want to?”

“You punk! That was before you mentioned anything about that magic. It’s a different story if you really did manage to finish it.”

The woman silently stared at the Tower Master before approaching her and uttered softly.

“I want to speak with you in private. Tell the others to leave.”

“Don’t worry, I was thinking the same thing.”

With a wave of her hand, the mages who stood there blankly quickly parted.

“Follow me.”Diiscover new stories at novelhall.com

The Tower Master spoke out and entered the tower with as much composure as she could muster. The unidentified woman quietly accompanied her inside.

“...What is all this?”

The two finally arrived at the tower’s lobby after ascending the stairs for a long while. After scanning the room, the nameless woman questioned the Tower Master regarding various items laying around in piles.

“They’re items prepared for my new disciple.”

The Tower Master simply answered in an indifferent voice.

“...New disciple!?”

The unidentified woman, shocked, stopped in her tracks and the Tower Master replied incredulously.

“What? I can’t accept a new disciple?”

“That shouldn’t be... In the previous timeline, you definitely...”

“Stop speaking nonsense and follow me. We don’t have time to waste.”

When the unidentified woman murmured in a daze, the Tower Master interjected and pulled the woman’s arm with a frustrated expression.

“So, what are they going to be used for?”

“They’re items to be destroyed.”

“What?”

The unidentified woman, who was being dragged along, was taken-aback again after hearing the Tower Master’s response.

“Those are all... minerals like mithril, orichalcum, adamantium, and diamonds...it should be difficult to even leave a scratch, much less break them.”

“My disciple can shatter those with a flick of her fingers.”

“...You’re joking, right?”

The Tower Master broke out in laughter as she replied.

“I would have thought the same several months ago, but there hasn’t been a single thing that child wasn’t able to break.”

“Are they here right now?”

When the woman asked about the disciple’s whereabouts, the Tower Master replied in rage.

“She went to the orphanage to play, so enough about her! Stop trying to change the topic.”

The Tower Master opened the antiquated door and entered.

“Now, why don’t you take off that stuffy robe... and show me that magic?”

“...Fine.”

Irina flung off her robe and slowly took out the paper inscribed with the magic before handing it over.

“Hoh... this... did you just create a new magic system?”

“...Yeah.”

“Not only that, it seems like there’s also magic that hasn’t been proven or confirmed to exist integrated within. Looking at this...”

The Tower Master voiced her thoughts in a daze as she scanned the document ecstatically.

“...It’s as if this magic came from the future.”

Irina looked as if her conscience had been pricked when she heard the Tower Master nearly guess the truth, but she swiftly restored her original expression.

“So, why did you bring me this when you despise me so much?”

“I wanted to consult with you on the probability of the magic activating properly.”

“You want my opinion?”

Hearing the Tower Master’s question, Irina scowled before speaking.

“I don’t want to admit it... but you’re the only one who can understand this magic right now.”

“Puha! Even though you’ve always called me senile, in the end, I guess you do acknowledge me a bit?”

“...Not sure what it is, but it doesn’t seem negative.”

Serena spoke with a bright smile as I returned the part of the Prophecy back to her.

“It’ll be restored shortly, so I’ll contact you again when it’s completed.”

“Alright, thanks for everything, Serena.”

Serena began blushing when I thanked her with a smile.

“So, when are you going to catch the Secret Head?”

“Ah, about that...”

“I really want to do ‘that’ with you.”

I began seriously considering just abandoning the birthday party to go search for the Secret Head. Serena curved her eyes and whispered when she saw the state I was in.

“We can still kiss.”

“Oh.”

Seeing her extend her arms, I began approaching her with a beet-red face. Finally, I sat on her lap and met her lips.

“...Chu.”

Serena began licking my lips before slowly penetrating my lips with her tongue.

“Puah...”

After entwining our tongues for a long time, I briefly pulled back and stared at her in disbelief.

“Didn’t you say you didn’t drink?”

“...I only had a glass to make my acting seem more realistic.”

I wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or some other reason, but Serena’s face was beet red.

“Where are you touching?”

“Sorry. I’m feeling drunk, so I’m not quite sure.”

“You said you only had a single glass, though?”

Serena smiled as she slid her hands underneath my clothes.

“You know I don’t have much alcohol tolerance.”

“.............”

“...Serena, does your curse allow bodily contact?”

“You were already touching me before you even asked.”

I smiled and pushed her down.

“Hahng...”

I should give her a thorough massage for all her struggles.

.

.

.

.

.

“Lord Frey! How is Lady Serena!?”

The imperial maid inquired regarding Serena’s condition as I left the room with a slight blush.

“She’s conscious again, she said she’ll be out after a brief rest.”

“Phew...”

Seems like Serena’s act was quite realistic seeing how the imperial maid heaved a sigh of relief.

“Lord Frey, I have something to tell you...”

“Hm?”

I began heading off to catch some rest before the birthday party began, but the imperial maid quickly called out to me.

“I think Her Highness Clana is searching for you.”

“Clana is?”

I questioned her, confused.

“Why?”

“I’m not sure. She was muttering your name on the veranda a while back...”

“Hm...”

I nodded to the maid and headed towards the door.

“...........”

“...Clana?”

She really was there.

“What are you doing over there?”

She was seated on the veranda with her head down.

“Frey...?”

I was staring at her perplexed but flinched when she lifted her head.

Her eyes were overflowing and her face was stained with tears.

“Clana? What happened...”

“It’s my loss...”

When I began to raise her up with a disconcerted expression, she slowly began speaking.

“I’m saying I lost to your dirty trick...”

“No, wait. Just what...”

“I surrender. I’ll surrender so...”

Clana spoke with a quivering hand covered with injuries as she stared at me with sorrow in her eyes.

“...Please just hold my hand.”

“Ha...”

I didn’t want to admit it... but it seemed like Clana was slowly remembering the events from the Ordeal.

“...This is driving me insane.”

I could already see myself throwing up blood.

Footnotes:

1 The visitor uses ‘당신’ to address her former teacher, the Tower Master. ‘당신’ is one of the direct way of saying ‘you.’ Korean has formal/casual styles and directly referring to someone as ‘you’ is often considered rude unless close.