Chapter 57

The disconnect between what is visible in reality and what arises in the mind as reason.

Looking at the Archmage, Rostia de Medici, before my eyes, I began to doubt not only my vision but also my reason.

“How on earth…”

“How were you able to sense my mana?”

“How did we sense your mana…?”

“Actually, we wanted to ask you that.”

Even with a somewhat timid voice, Abelin asked clearly.

“The atmosphere of the entire space changed so much, both in quality and quantity, the mana was overwhelming. How could anyone not feel such an immense amount of mana?”

“Normally, that would be the case, normally.”

At the question of how one could not feel such mana, Rostia shook her head.

“I’m currently storing my mana. You never know, right? Among those who live in my tower, there are none who hold goodwill towards our Riana. I did that because I thought you might be here to harm Riana. But the fact that you sensed my stored mana entirely…”

Rostia’s gaze sharpened in an instant.

“Means you’re not ‘normal.'”

“You flatter us.”

“At first, that was the intention, but fortunately, I felt relieved as soon as I saw you.”

“Relieved…?”

“Yes.”

Rostia naturally and comfortably leaned into Riana’s embrace and murmured.

“Just looking at your faces, it’s obvious you’re too kind-hearted. I can tell at a glance.”

“What are you talking about…”

“Hehehe.”

While we were flustered, Rostia buried her head deep into Riana’s chest and nuzzled around.

The immense amount of mana from Archmage Rostia was enough to make us break out in cold sweat, but at least in her actions of nuzzling into Riana’s embrace, there was no hostility like other mages held towards Riana.

Rather…

“Rostia, do you like hugging me that much?”

“Hehehe. I do, I really do! So soft, very soft!”

Instead of hostility, there was a hint of slyness in her actions of burying her face deep into Riana’s ample chest.

Of course, Riana herself seemed fine with it, even hugging Rostia tightly and stroking her head, so there was no problem.

“What’s going on? I didn’t know you were this close with the Archmage.”

“Moreover, Lady Riana is speaking to the Archmage so casually, without any formalities.”

At our questions, Riana answered with a slightly awkward smile.

“Hehe… There’s a special circumstance. It’s related to the direction our Rostia Magic Tower pursues practical magic. But is it okay to talk about it, Rostia?”

“Yes. It was originally a secret, but since these two already know my identity, it should be fine. Go ahead.”

Having fully enjoyed Riana’s embrace, Rostia lifted her head with a very satisfied expression.

Then, she lightly stomped her foot, floated in the air, and sat down on a nearby chair.

“K-Kairon. Did you see that just now?”

“Yeah. Flight magic. Among the tricky magics, flight magic without any incantation…!”

“Rostia is an Archmage. Why are you so surprised?”

The term ‘Archmage’ explained everything, but still, every moment was a shock and horror to us.

But to Riana, it seemed very familiar.

“Kairon oppa. What do you think is stopping practical progress?”

“Something boring and old-fashioned?”

“For example?”

“Hmm… Conservative culture, rigid hierarchies.”

“I agree.”

Abelin chimed in with a strangely heavy voice.

“Nobles who have been stuck in the same place for a very long time, not moving an inch.”

“…? Abelin, have you ever been harmed by something like that?”

“No. It just seems like it. It’s just a feeling.”

“Just a feeling, right?”

“Just a feeling.”

But it felt like there was deep resentment and anger behind that ‘feeling.’

In reality, our Vanguard was suffering because of those nobles and kings.

The demons coming through the dimensional rifts were getting stronger with each wave, but the nobles and kings who had faced demons long ago still thought of them as simple and weak, so they didn’t provide enough support to the Vanguard.

“That’s it. Rostia hates that. Rigid hierarchies.”

“So that’s why she talks so casually with you? But even so, she’s an Archmage. Even if she’s storing her mana, no one who has ever properly felt Lady Rostia’s mana would be able to talk so casually.”

“Let me make one thing clear.”

Rostia casually picked up a snack and threw out a remark.

“You are special. Think about it. My mana isn’t small, but it’s still stored by me, an Archmage. You pierced through an Archmage’s storage.”

“Listening to you, it sounds like we’re incredibly amazing.”

“You actually are. You can be proud.”

Rostia kept praising us, but her casual remarks made it hard to tell if she was testing us or genuinely holding us in high regard.

Originally, most Archmages’ identities and backgrounds were shrouded in mystery.

Although the Rostia Magic Tower was a relatively new tower, separate from that, there was no information about where or how the tower’s owner, Rostia de Medici, appeared.

I had only met Ronos in my previous life and had never met Rostia, the tower’s owner, in person.

But I never dreamed she would have such a youthful appearance.

Perhaps this was also an advanced illusion magic that distorted the viewer’s sight and thoughts.

“Rostia deliberately pretends to be a young apprentice and mingles with people around the tower. Using her young and cute body, she approaches people warmly. While doing so, she directly accesses fresh thoughts and attempts that might otherwise be blocked and buried.”

“Oh…?”

Listening to it, Rostia’s approach was quite innovative.

It was similar to how kings or nobles sometimes hid their status and traveled around to understand the actual situation of the places they ruled.

But still, there was a lingering doubt.

“Lady Rostia.”

“I’m listening.”

“Is that youthful appearance also magic?”

“Huh. Huhu…!”

At the mention of her appearance, Rostia suddenly shrugged her shoulders and snorted loudly.

Then, she stood up abruptly and proudly declared.

“If you’re asking if this appearance is magic, it’s half right and half wrong! Among practical magics, the most practical magic is, without a doubt, the magic that prevents aging and extends lifespan. In that sense, this body is the epitome of practical magic, that’s what it is!”

“That’s amazing. But no matter how I look at it…”

Rostia’s body seemed more like it hadn’t fully grown rather than maintaining a grown state.

“Rather than maintaining a grown state, it seems more like it hasn’t fully grown…”

Thud-

Riana hurriedly covered my mouth and whispered urgently.

“Oppa, be quiet! That’s Rostia’s only complex!”

“Co-complex…”

“Eek…!”

But it was already too late, as Rostia’s face turned red, and she snorted even louder.

“No, you bad guy! I thought you were kind and good, but you’re just an evil person!”

“Sorry…?”

“Whether a mage or a scholar, those who seek knowledge must always maintain a childlike heart. I’m not underdeveloped; I’m maintaining this body to prevent further growth! If I grow, if I grow well…”

Rostia’s voice trembled as she trailed off, looking wistfully at Riana’s ample chest.

“I could have something like that too…”

So that’s why she was nuzzling into Riana’s chest and giggling.

“If I touched on a sensitive topic, I apologize. But I think Lady Rostia’s magic is truly marvelous and outstanding. That’s an undeniable fact.”

“Hmph, do you think I became an Archmage for nothing? By the way, what were you talking about with Riana?”

“Um, well…”

Abelin and I hesitated.

Even though Rostia and Riana interacted casually, the topic we were discussing was very sensitive and painful for Riana.

But Riana smiled bitterly and spoke up.

“I was talking about how others treat me. It’s rare to have two people who don’t think badly of me. And…”

“Hmm?”

But there was one more topic that even Riana had to be cautious about.

The story about demons.

“It’s the first time you’re hiding something from me, Riana.”

“But, it’s… sorry.”

“Then you two answer.”

Rostia turned the arrow towards us.

“Us?”

“I’m an Archmage and the owner of this tower. I know everything that happens in my tower. I can roughly guess what it’s about.”

“We’re willing to tell you. But could you first tell us what your guess is? If it’s not too much to ask.”

“Not too much at all.”

Rostia shrugged and casually threw out.

“It’s about the demon in my tower, right?”

“…!”

“Am I wrong? Huhu.”

Rostia smiled meaningfully.

A being said to have transcended humanity, an Archmage.