EP.234 The Uninvited Guest (2)
There is a being known as the Mage of Ancient Dragons.
No one knows when or in which era this mage existed. Before the age referred to as ancient, long before the founding of Arcadia… since the distant past, this mage has been part of the world.
Some call the Mage of Ancient Dragons…
The Primordial Mage.
The first human to contract with a star.
He reached immortality in human form, was a friend of dragons, and became a transcendental being equal to stars. The three hundred circuits he wove are the foundation of all circuits that exist today.
Thus,
To those who explore magic, the Mage of Ancient Dragons is akin to a living divine being.
“What’s a senile lizard spawn doing here?”
And now, someone is standing here blaspheming the gods.
“Why? Did I say something wrong?”
The eyes of the Master of the Black Tower and the (former) Master of the Ashen Tower widened as Cardi shrugged and continued.
“Even if an incident occurs, you do nothing. Your devotion remains unchanged. For one who has lived for thousands of years and still chases after women… No, not even a human. Half of that blood is dragon blood.”
Cardi twisted the corner of his mouth.
“Is that what you call a senile lizard spawn? What else should I call it? I don’t know.”
“…That’s harsh.”
Unable to hold back, the Master of the Black Tower frowned.
“I acknowledge your magical knowledge and your proficiency in alchemy highly…”
“Not you, but you. How dare a brat at least one thousand three hundred years younger than me speak so arrogantly…”
Tsk, Cardi clicked his tongue.
Yetual pressed his fingers to his temples and sighed.
‘What a stereotypical elf.’
Mulling over the word ‘stereotypical’ in his mind, Yetual continued in a voice mixed with frustration.
“…I acknowledge your magical achievements. But it cannot be overlooked that you are insulting the Mage of Ancient Dragons.”
This is the Mage of Ancient Dragons.
Insulting such a legendary figure in front of other mages could only be interpreted as wanting to die.
“It’s fortunate there’s no one listening…”
Yetual shook his head.
“Right, Cardi. You did say something harsh.”
Standing next to Yetual, Raniel nodded vigorously. She shared similar thoughts with Yetual.
“I actually met him once, and he wasn’t someone to be insulted like that. He’s a unique person, though…”
“Isn’t that a story from when you were a man?”
“…Well, it is? But why?”
Raniel tilted her head.
She had only encountered the Mage of Ancient Dragons a couple of times: once during her time as a future Master of the Tower… and the second right after the subjugation of the black dragon.
“So you’re saying you never met him in his current form?”
“I didn’t.”
“Then take this chance to meet him. That’s it.”
Cardi shot Raniel an annoyed glance, as if recalling old memories.
“I wonder if the eye I took will still be there.”
“What?”
“Didn’t that lizard have a scar near its eye? It should be around here. Probably like it was scorched…”
Cardi tapped his left eye lightly.
Raniel squinted and tried to recall. While searching her memory, she suddenly gasped.
“…Huh?”
“From your reaction, it seems it’s still there.”
“Wait a second…”
In the midst of Raniel’s panic, Cardi turned his gaze to Yetual. Yetual blinked, unable to keep up with the conversation.
“Master of the Black Tower.”
“What, what?”
“Since you owe me one, let me give you a piece of advice: it’s better to keep Chloe’s identity hidden when the lizard visits.”
“…Why?”
Cardi clicked his tongue.
“The lizard said she resembles his first love. If his first love hasn’t changed for hundreds of years, he’ll likely try to court her.”
“What, what?”
That esteemed fellow is going to try courting? And that too, a girl who is thousands of years younger than him?
“No way, that doesn’t make any sense…”
Such a bizarre situation was too much for Yetual to even imagine. Just thinking about it felt sacrilegious.
“Right? Sounds nonsensical, doesn’t it?”
Yet somehow,
“I thought the same ‘initially’ too.”
The expression of the elf before him looking intently at him was far too realistic.
“Just be careful. That lizard is not as noble as you imagine.”
“Moreover.”
Cardi turned away and let out a short sigh.
“The one to send devotion is even less so. A god who turns a blind eye to the hell unfolding on Earth and merely observes is worthless. Do not devote faith to something without value.”
Seemingly done talking, Cardi reached out toward the potion. It was a sign he intended to continue his alchemy.
“…I’ll take your advice into account.”
Realizing that further talk would be pointless, Yetual exited the laboratory. Remaining behind, Raniel approached Cardi before leaving and asked.
“What would happen if I met him?”
“Experience it for yourself. It’s a kind of madness hard to explain in words.”
“Wait, what on earth…?”
What kind of sight must she have seen to elicit such a reaction? Unable to comprehend Cardi’s response, Raniel simply tilted her head.
2.
A night of mages is about to be held.
In alignment with the visit of the Mage of Ancient Dragons.
It’s been three days since I first heard that news. Sitting in the living room of my mansion, engaged in some idle pastime, my Master spoke to me.
“Raniel. Do you remember the Master of the Blue Tower?”
“Hmm, um…”
The Blue Tower is infuriating.
That phrase immediately popped into my mind, followed closely by the face of the Master of the Blue Tower. I clapped my hands and answered my Master.
“The hunched old man?”
“…He is hunched. Anyway, it seems you remember the appearance of the Master of the Blue Tower.”
“He keeps bothering me at every tower meeting, so I do remember.”
The Master of the Blue Tower.
He’s the one who always nagged me, saying I was young and didn’t know humility… spewing all manner of nonsense.
‘He was quite bothersome until I folded him in a meeting… after that, he didn’t nag as much…’
A thoroughly annoying old man.
“So, why do you ask about the Master of the Blue Tower?”
“He sent a letter.”
My Master handed me a letter, which I unfolded. It contained immaculate handwriting along with content that was anything but.
“The Ashen Mage Raniel van Trias is to respond to the postponed duel. If you are a mage, I am confident you will not flee from this place. It’s a rematch. Ashen.”
…Rematch?
I blinked and looked at my Master.
My Master gestured lightly, as if to indicate I should read until the end.
“I clearly remember how you used ‘cowardly’ and ‘petty’ tactics to sabotage the Blue Tower’s magical tool business. And on that day when I came to confront you, you said this.”
“Ah.”
Right.
“If you have a problem, prove it with your skills. What can I do if I’m better than you?”
I didn’t think it was particularly cowardly or petty, but I did remember saying something along those lines.
‘It must have been when I ruined the Blue Tower’s magical tools business.’
Each tower has its own main research area.
Moreover, generally, they did not interfere with each other’s fields of study. I heard it was considered etiquette among towers to avoid encroaching on each other’s territory.
However, frankly, that wasn’t my concern.
Since the Ashen Tower was constructed to restore the techniques of the Ancient Kingdom, it didn’t have a main area of focus. In other words, we did a bit of everything—magic tool crafting, alchemy, engraving spells… all sorts of things.
So, I had dabbled in crafting magical tools.
“I just jumped in because it was a blue ocean.”
It really wasn’t a big deal.
The magical tools market was practically monopolized by the Blue Tower, but I thought I could do better than them…
‘I researched, succeeded, and mass-produced.’
‘And then spread it across the market?’
At a lower price than the Blue Tower.
As a result, the Blue Tower, which had been comfortably sucking up gold with its monopoly, took a major hit, but to be frank, wasn’t that their own fault?
“If you’re upset, make a better product.”
The lazy Blue Tower was to blame.
Didn’t those fools think of the magical tools market as their golden goose?
‘What did I say back then?’
The answer was in the letter.
“If you’re so mad, prove it at the Magic Academy Conference. The mage society is a competitive society, right? If you’re upset and it bothers you that the Ashen Tower is doing well, then prove it in front of everyone.”
That was written in a very pressed handwriting.
“The magical tools of the Blue Tower are far superior to those of the Ashen Tower. It shouldn’t be difficult to resolve this matter, right? Are you perhaps feeling inadequate?”
…Was I that rude back then?
“Did I really say that?”
“It was more rude than you remember.”
“Oh….”
But I felt like it was okay to treat the Blue Tower that way.
Marveling at my past personality, I continued reading the letter.
“You said to prove it at the Magic Academy Conference. Any time is fine, so if you place a bet, I’ll gladly accept it.”
I did indeed say that.
It feels like it was more than six years ago.
“You spoke. Though you must have been on the battlefield during those years, now it’s different. You have retired. Therefore, respond to my rematch.”
The letter continued for a few more lines, but the content wasn’t particularly meaningful.
‘To summarize, it’s about how not responding would tarnish the honor of a mage…’
Honestly, there was no valid reason for me to accept this duel. Setting the letter down, I looked at my Master.
“This feels really out of the blue.”
“It seems there’s some other motive behind this.”
My Master sighed.
“Calling you out like this, he’s probably sure you won’t show up. He might be planning to target you at the Magic Academy Conference.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Isn’t the honor of the Trias family mentioned in the letter? If Raniel doesn’t show, he’ll probably suggest you take her place. In reality, it’s a duel that has no consequences for you.”
I agreed.
I had already retired from the Ashen Tower, and refusing the duel would hardly tarnish my reputation.
“This duel is nothing but a farce.”
“True.”
“So, what do you intend to do?”
“Hmm.”
Clack. Clank.
“Master.”
I handed over something I had been assembling earlier to my Master. He accepted the item with a puzzled look and then widened his eyes in surprise.
“…What is this?”
It emitted a bluish light from my Master’s hand.
These were magical tools I had collected with the permission of the owner in Arcadia not long ago. More precisely, they were items I had referenced to improve in a modern way.
“Where did you get such things, Raniel?”
“A friend gave them to me?”
“…A friend?”
“Yes. They are a bit odd in personality but a good friend.”
The Ancient Kingdom of Arcadia.
Those magical tools retain the ancient magical engineering techniques that cannot be replicated with current technology.
Clank.
I looked at my Master with a bright smile, gathering the magical tools scattered around.
“What shall we do?”
