“Tower Master. I have a request to make.”
There are few who can have a private audience with the Emperor, both in the past and now. But who would dare say that the Oldman Tower Master of the Magic Tower lacks such qualifications?
This person, no, the Magic Tower, has always remained neutral in the continent’s conflicts. Absolute neutrality, and if there’s any side they lean toward, it’s the side of money. When two nations are at war, the Magic Tower sells magical items to both, reaping a tidy profit.
“Give your command, Your Majesty.”
Though the words say “give your command,” it’s a fact known to the Tower Master, the Emperor, and indeed the entire world that the Oldman Tower Master is not subordinate to the Emperor. The Tower Master is someone who can speak on equal terms with the Emperor, and even the Emperor’s commands hold little meaning to him.
In this setting, even if he says he understands, once outside, he can act as if he heard nothing at all. The Magic Tower is that powerful a force, and as long as it’s not provoked, it maintains its neutrality. The Emperor had no intention of provoking such a force without preparation.
“Tower Master. Some time ago, during our discussions, we agreed to establish a city under the Magic Tower in the southeastern part of the Empire. The magical city thus created, Orphiel, is still administratively part of the Empire. Therefore, I wish to entrust you with the position of Orphiel’s mayor. What do you think, Tower Master?”
The Oldman Tower Master twitched his eyebrows slightly. He pondered for a moment what the Emperor’s intentions might be.
Orphiel is already effectively a city owned by the Magic Tower, paying only taxes to the Empire. While there is a mayor appointed by the central government, they hold no real power, merely acting as a puppet to the Magic Tower’s will.
Offering the mayoral position to him isn’t a huge gain, but it’s certainly no loss. In any case, accepting it wasn’t a bad deal. The Tower Master quickly understood why the Emperor made such an offer and nodded.
“I gratefully accept Your Majesty’s favor. I plan to go down to Orphiel and focus on nurturing magical talent. Would Your Majesty grant me permission?”
“Very well.”
“I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty’s grace.”
So, the situation was clear. Even if the Citadel Republic’s volcano were about to erupt, it seemed these people were determined to clash at least once.
The Tower Master, who has many friends in both the Empire and the Church Country, quickly grasped the situation. Though the capital appears peaceful now, it’s merely the eye of the storm.
The meeting between the Emperor and the three Archbishops didn’t go well. The movements from the Temple side were unusual, and while the Emperor seemed calm, preparations were being made beneath the surface.
The Tower Master genuinely didn’t want to get involved in such turmoil. He wasn’t on the Empire’s side nor the Temple’s; if anything, he’d side with the winning faction.
“Brother. How did the audience go?”
“Priest. The Emperor wishes for us to stay out of the Empire’s disturbances.”
The Magic Tower’s non-magician, Gerard, asked his senior brother. Having the same master, their conversation was free of formalities.
Outside the Imperial Palace, the Oldman Tower Master didn’t bother to address the Emperor as “Your Majesty,” and no one found it strange.
“Is a struggle inevitable?”
“Most likely. The Emperor’s intent was simple. If we don’t intend to side with him, we should stay out of the capital.”
Those eager for advancement might see this as an opportunity to align with either the Emperor or the Temple. But the Magic Tower is one of the continent’s top powers with nowhere higher to climb.
They genuinely didn’t want to take sides in such conflicts, making enemies of the other. They preferred to watch from the sidelines and make money.
“The Calderan volcano is about to erupt, and yet they’re at it. Brother, do we have any plans? The Citadel Republic is a major client. Its collapse would be a disaster.”
“It’s already too late. What plans? The Church Country isn’t interested, and the Emperor is powerless. There’s no need for our Magic Tower to shoulder the burden of solving the Citadel Republic’s problems, and even if we did, it wouldn’t make a difference.”
The Tower Master calmly acknowledged the facts. Though his magical prowess is formidable, the opponent is the Undead Creature that incinerated three Masters.
Even if the Magic Tower poured all its resources into defeating it, the victory would be pyrrhic, and the damage catastrophic. It wasn’t worth it. Moreover, it was highly uncertain if they could even win.
The Church Country seems to have already given up on the Citadel Republic, aiming instead to take advantage of the chaos to target the Empire. The Emperor, aware of their intentions, naturally prioritizes thwarting them.
Just as one can’t save another’s house while their own is under threat, the Emperor quietly prepared for the Temple’s attack. While the chess players might not see it, the Tower Master, as an observer, clearly saw the current political situation.
Of course, he had no intention of tipping off the Temple. The Tower Master felt more at ease with the Empire winning over the Temple.
The Empire is a human force. While not without irrational aspects, it’s generally reasonable. The Emperor’s inability to wield absolute power also means there’s no autocracy.
Thus, the Empire’s people share a common goal of pursuing profit. The Magic Tower can easily understand their desires and work hand in hand for greater gains.
On the other hand, the Temple? They’re a divine force. Their stance can shift like leaves in the wind, depending on the whims of the goddesses.
As partners, they’re the worst, and the Tower Master didn’t wish for the Temple to grow strong enough to dominate the entire continent.
“Whether it’s the Empire or the Temple, they must have hidden trump cards they’re reluctant to use. We can’t step in and let them conserve their strength. The Republic is finished. There’s no saving it.”
The current situation, where no single force can dominate the continent and various powers are in flux, is exactly what the Magic Tower desires. They don’t need to cause division themselves; the factions are already preparing to clash, making it all the more convenient.
That day, the Oldman Tower Master withdrew from the capital with the Magic Tower’s key mages. The pretext was focusing on Orphiel, but the real reason was to avoid getting entangled in the upcoming conflict.
An unusual wind blew through the capital, though few felt it yet.
“By the way, that disciple of mine is still as prickly as ever. Not a word from him about what he’s up to… Then again, when has he ever properly contacted me? I guess I shouldn’t worry.”
And the First Tier is someone who can laugh even while sensing such winds. The Tower Master was already a step removed from the chaos, content to watch from the sidelines. No burdens, no worries, just doing his own thing.
*
“Why…?”
And why?
The moment their swords clashed, Ardein felt an inexplicable emotion and was bewildered. The magical power flowing through the Dragon Vein continued to pour into her, and her improved magical circuits, enhanced by the Firefly Meringue, absorbed it almost perfectly.
In terms of power, she was overwhelming her opponent. Yet, the actual situation was the opposite.
Ardein pushed Leyman with all her Dragon Form Technique, but the two kept circling each other. Despite her straight-line force, the direction of movement was completely different.
As the saying goes, the bear performs while the clown earns the money. No matter how much strength she exerted like an ox, Leyman controlled the direction.
Her opponent’s sword didn’t even have a Power Technique formed, yet Leyman perfectly parried her strikes. It was bizarre. What else could counter a Power Technique besides another Power Technique? Is this even possible?
“Your Highness. Sometimes, you must empty yourself to gain something.”
Leyman raised his empty hand and placed it against the blazing Dragon’s Sword, glowing with golden Dragon Form Technique. He didn’t touch the blade but the flat of the sword.
The Princess’s eyes widened. The Dragon Form Technique is one of the most explosive and domineering techniques.
Even she would be cautious about touching her own sword with such power without intense concentration. The Dragon Form Technique could easily slice through her palm or even explode it.
But the technique-filled sword neither exploded nor cut Leyman’s hand, instead dissipating weakly. The sword made from dragon bone couldn’t even cut human flesh.
Leyman chuckled dryly. He wasn’t lying. Only after being restricted by Grimudo did he realize something. Of course, if he hadn’t held that sword, he still wouldn’t know.
“Your Highness’s power is immense, but charging forward like a rhino will only leave you at the mercy of others.”
“Madlen… Sir.”
The Princess relaxed her stance and changed her tone.
She immediately understood why her father trusted this man to be by his side. She asked respectfully.
“Have you come to enlighten me?”
“His Majesty said Your Highness is troubled by the departure of someone dear to you. So I told him, if you try to hold onto everything, you might end up with nothing.”
He sighed and replied.
“Your Highness achieving Master rank at a young age is remarkable, but you’re still lacking. A lot. With such immense power, you’re being tossed around, and all you can do is charge forward, not even that properly.”
Of course, this assessment is solely about Ardein’s swordsmanship and combat skills. It’s a comprehensive critique of her fighting style, nothing more.
But is that really all? The Princess suddenly felt ashamed.
His words seemed to encapsulate her entire life.
“I seek your guidance, Master.”
But now, unlike when she was the former Finance Minister, she couldn’t hold her head high while knowing nothing. Ardein bowed her head and made a respectful request.
“Well, Your Highness’s level is already quite high, so I’m not sure what advice this old man can offer. Even if I do, take it with a grain of salt. Everyone has their own path, and ultimately, Your Highness must choose your own.”
“But if I may share my thoughts, Your Highness is too greedy. Trying to grasp everything leaves you indecisive. Of course, the Dragon Form Technique is versatile, and the sword is nearly omnipotent. But can a person be omnipotent? You must let go of some things and specialize. One can never have everything they desire.”
“And Your Highness’s combat style, from my perspective, is merely overpowering opponents with sheer magical strength. If you face someone stronger, you’ll be easily subdued. Whether through actual combat or study, you need to develop your own unique style.”
Leyman left those words and departed silently. Left alone, Ardein pondered his advice for a long time. She must let go of what needs to be let go. One can never have everything they want…
Looking back, she desired so much. She needed political power to surpass Edmund, wanted Kyle by her side, and wished to use his strength to bolster the imperial authority. But she didn’t want to earn his hatred.
There’s no way to achieve all this simultaneously. Trying to do so, she ended up doing nothing. She couldn’t stop Kyle from leaving, nor could she follow him. She hesitated, reaching out only to withdraw pitifully.
‘But I don’t know.’
Though her mind understood the need to let go, she couldn’t release anything. A few words of advice wouldn’t change a person; otherwise, the world would be full of saints.
Only the complexity in her heart deepened. The Princess let out a deep sigh.
