Chapter 142:Magic Tower #3

The carriage rolled quietly down the road.

The curtains fluttered in time with the gentle swaying of the vehicle.

The scenery outside the window gradually changed. First to appear were pointed spires. And as the view widened, massive structures filling the gaps came into sight.

Kiririk.

The sound of wheels rolling over cobblestones echoed softly. Yohan, who had been gazing out the window, felt the flow of mana deepen as the distance to the Magic Tower lessened.

The air felt strangely heavy.

The aura surrounding the area was extraordinary.

‘This is the Magic Tower.’

The Magic Tower district.

At the center of the magical city that stretched along the cobblestone road, four towers of different colors soared as if piercing the sky.

Red, green, blue, and yellow—.

Towers representing the different branches of magic.

‘Fascinating.’

Yohan looked around at the Magic Towers with curious eyes.

‘The Magic Towers I saw in novels and comics weren’t all in one place.’

Strangely enough, the Magic Towers in this world were clustered in one area. Whether this was the intention of a celestial mage or whether they naturally gathered together, he didn’t know. He hadn’t looked into the history.

‘There are a lot of ordinary people too.’

The central road, known as the magic district, was as densely populated as the imperial capital. They were just ordinary people living their lives. At first glance, they looked like commoners from a territory.

This district could be considered a nation centered around the Magic Tower.

A nation where everything was made with magic, where mana was worshiped, and where people lived pursuing only rational and logical judgments.

…Enough sightseeing for now.’

Yohan, who had been looking out the window, narrowed his eyes and turned his gaze. Among the four Magic Towers forming a square, he looked at the small, rising spire.

The heart of the Magic Tower, and where the Tower Master lived. It was also the place Yohan would soon be visiting.

‘The answer is already decided.’

It was certain that the Tower Master harbored ill intentions. He had even attached familiars to his father-in-law, Duke Ferbache, to spy on him.

He still didn’t know what he wanted to do, but his purpose was clear.

‘Either he’s targeting me, or he’s targeting Francia.’

Strangely, he seemed interested in Francia while surveying the Ferbache imperial residence with familiars, but he also showed interest in him.

If that was the case, there was only one thing to do—

‘I’ve taken care of the safety measures, so I won’t hesitate to dig it all up.’

He would expose the Tower Master’s true colors.

Since he was visiting the Magic Tower with an official statement to the continent, his safety was guaranteed. He wouldn’t be easily touched. His lovers didn’t have to worry either.

He had installed a Magical Power barrier at the Rahardt mansion where Ludella was, allowing Yohan to reach it within five minutes, and Francia was with Duke Ferbache.

Kirik.

In the meantime, the moving wheels stopped. Yohan got out of the carriage. As expected of a city of mages. He could feel high-purity mana from the faintly blowing wind.

“Welcome, Duke Rahardt.”

Just as he was looking around,

Mages in Magic Tower uniforms approached.

“Greetings.”

Yohan exchanged simple greetings with the mages and immediately got to the point.

“Can I see the Tower Master right away?”

“Of course. He’s waiting for you now.”

“Please guide me immediately.”

“Yes.”

He followed them. As they went deeper into the area surrounded by the massive spires, the number of people decreased. This might have something to do with the fact that the mages of the Magic Tower were somewhat eccentric.

Eventually, they arrived at the central Magic Tower. The soldiers guarding the entrance opened the way as soon as they saw his face. 

“Welcome, Duke Rahardt.”

He entered the central Magic Tower and boarded the elevator. When he pressed the button for the desired floor, he felt gravity.

It was a structure that moved with Magical Power from a magic stone.

‘Their technology is certainly good.’

Of course, there were common mechanical devices that ran on magic stones, but they were subtly different from those of the Magic Tower. After a quick glance, the level of magical tools used here was much higher.

Even to an incomparable degree.

Their technology was decades ahead of the empire.

Yohan could see why the Magic Tower didn’t bow down. The magic technology here was on a different level.

The Magical Power-powered elevator vibrated lightly. The runic characters engraved on the wall faintly glowed.

And….the door opened.

“We have arrived.”

“…”

He could feel Magical Power that made his skin tingle with its sharp energy. Mana changed based on the person at its center. Had it inherited the Tower Master’s personality as it was?

Thud.

At that moment. The sharp Magical Power gathered in one place. A man with white hair and green eyes was approaching from the front with a relaxed smile.

The Tower Master, Rain Adriche.

“Welcome, Duke Rahardt.”

“…Greetings.”

“Please, come in.”

He followed the Tower Master inside. As he sat on the sofa he was guided to, a rift opened in the air and a tea table was set up in an instant.

‘To move space freely.’

These were some of the highest-ranking spells among transcendental magic.

“Shall we get straight to the point?”

“Yes, that’s why I came here in the first place.”

“Haha, I like that.”

Rain Adriche leaned forward and wore a subtle smile.

“You want to research the restoration of the rifts that have appeared in the Demon Nest.”

“That’s the public reason. I think the Tower Master knows better why I’m here.”

“Hmm, that wasn’t the point I was making.”

His eyes narrowed. He was smiling at the mouth, but Yohan wasn’t naive enough not to realize it was an artificial smile.

“Hahaha, did you come to see if I had some ulterior motive?”

“You know it well.”

Yohan picked up the teacup. He didn’t have to worry about poison. Trying to assassinate someone with poison in this place was something only amateurs would do.

“No matter how I look at it, it seems like the Tower Master has other intentions lately.”

“Specifically, what?”

“That you’re targeting someone.”

“Hmm.”

Rain nodded. It was interesting. He couldn’t even guess how he knew his purpose. He hadn’t been showing it that much.

At most, he had sent familiars to Duke Ferbache.

‘Was that too much?’

It seemed so.

Well, it didn’t matter anyway.

“Hmm.”

Rain Adriche chuckled.

“I won’t deny it.”

He lightly tapped the teacup with his fingertip.

“It is self-evident that I have a purpose.”

The teacup shook.

Yohan narrowed his eyes and felt the sharp energy hidden in that subtle tremor.

“However.”

Rain’s voice lowered.

“To achieve that purpose, I will not hesitate to use any means.”

A chilling smile.

He had revealed his true colors.

This was not something to be taken lightly.

The purpose he was talking about was Francia, or himself.

He said he wouldn’t hesitate to use any means, so it was a clear threat.

“Do you realize what you’re saying?”

“Of course. My intentions are clear.”

“…You’ll regret it.”

Yohan slowly raised his Magical Power. He wasn’t puffing himself up like a dog that only knew how to bark, telling him not to touch him. It

was a clear warning.

Of course, he didn’t know if he could beat the Tower Master.

To be honest, it was overwhelming. But did that mean he had to cower? No.

He had to do it to protect his lovers.

“You don’t seem happy about it. So, what are you going to do?”

Rain Adriche smiled leisurely.

“I am about to become the sky.”

“…”

It was an extremely arrogant statement, but it was true. He was called the strongest mage on the continent, and the person closest to the

realm of myth, the celestial sphere.

Yohan nodded.

“I see. I understand the Tower Master’s intentions.”

Pajijik-!

Magical Power waves rippled around Yohan. A fierce whirlwind swept through, scattering paper documents and magical tools.

“We’ll see who’s standing tall in the end, starting now.”

“Haha, you’re impatient.”

Rain Adriche also raised his Magical Power. His eyes flashed. Formidable Magical Power that made his skin crawl just by touching it spread

in all directions.

“Yohan Rahardt, I’ll ask you one last time. Have you ever had a nightmare like me, or received a revelation?”

Yohan frowned at his question.

“…A nightmare? A revelation? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Rain Adriche slowly nodded.

“I see. So it only came to me. That time that has now returned to nothingness.”

He knew.

How the future of another timeline had unfolded.

In that timeline, he had inflicted fatal wounds on the Yohan Rahardt before him, and in the end, he had met his death. He had humiliated

Rain Adriche, who had thought of himself as the sky.

What he felt was clear displeasure and anger.

“Then I’ll have to let you know.”

Click-.

Rain Adriche snapped his fingers.

“So that you too can know the emotions that were conveyed to me across time.”

Kuuuung.

The air tore apart.

A spatial rift formed before his eyes.

An familiar sight unfolded within.

There was Francia trying on a black dress, and Duke Ferbache looking at his daughter with a pleased expression.

Yohan’s heart pounded violently.

“Don’t tell me…”

He didn’t have to ask what he was trying to do. He had to stop him. Yohan immediately pointed his fingertips.

Kwaaaa-!

What was created at the end of the Magical Power of emission was a rupture point.

He had to kill him here.

But-

“I’ll listen to your screams.”

Before Yohan’s Magical Power could reach him, Rain Adriche instantly crossed the space.

*    *    *

Mary Jane’s Boutique.

The most prestigious clothing salon in the imperial capital.

It was safe to say that all the dresses and suits worn by the central nobles were commissioned from Mary Jane’s Boutique.

It was a clothing salon that was always crowded with nobles and never lacked customers, but today, only the madam and employees were present because a special guest was visiting.

“Haha, you look good in black dresses, just like Julia.”

The special guests were Duke Ferbache and Francia, who were enjoying a pleasant time together.

“Then should we go with a black and red combination?”

“That would be good. It also matches your hair color.”

“Hehe, Madam?”

Just as she was about to take a step to order the dress—

Kwaaaang-!

Suddenly, the ceiling of the salon shattered. Debris fell in a shower, and the entire building shook.

“Kyaaaa!”

“What!”

“What’s going on…!”

The salon was in a state of panic.

Duke Ferbache quickly picked up Francia and deployed a Magical Power barrier.

“W-What’s going on?”

Francia looked at the duke with a dazed expression.

The duke raised his Magical Power and narrowed his eyes.

“…A familiar Magical Power.”

Crack, crack…!

Frost crystals slowly began to spread beneath his feet.

The air froze, and snowflakes filled the air.

A man appeared through the chill.

“Greetings, Duke Ferbache.”

Snow-white silver hair and emerald eyes.

And, a chilling Magical Power that made his whole body tingle.

A sharply raised, extremely vicious murderous intent.

“…The Tower Master.”

It was Rain Adriche.