Chapter 563
The second morning of the dispatch.
After finishing their meal, Simon and Merida began wandering the 60th floor, starting their “cleaning”.
Today’s schedule was packed from the morning. They had to clean at least five Cores before they were given any free time.
“Simon, over there!”
Grab!
Merida suddenly grabbed Simon’s wrist and pulled him along. Simon staggered, panting, as she dragged him.
“What’s the rush, Merida?”
She blinked at him, as if wondering why he would even ask such an obvious thing.
“I want to finish quickly and go sleep.”
“You already napped after breakfast!”
“I want to sleep more.”
‘What a real sleep addict.’
As they destroyed Cores near the 60th floor, Simon and Merida encountered all sorts of people.
This floor seemed to be quite the hotspot. Above the 70th floor, one couldn’t go further due to Girdon.
“I’m overwhelmed! To think I get to witness the very moment the Fonqure Theorem is completed!”
One man shed hot tears of emotion.
-Would you accompany me, sir?
“It would be an honor! I shall remain by your side until this very day ends.”
Another man roleplayed as if he were an actual historical figure.
“No! War must never happen! You’ll be struck down by your ally’s blade exactly two weeks from now!”
And there was one who was overly immersed, losing himself completely in the scene.
This was just a re-creation of a historical moment, a supernatural phenomenon. Changing it wouldn’t alter actual history.
But the man pointed a trembling finger, his face flushed red.
“Yes, you! You’re the one who killed the Count! Don’t think I don’t know you’re a spy sent from Carlos!”
And so, the man began spilling all the details of future historical events.
The eyes of the historical “actors” shifted suspiciously, and soon their faces twisted grotesquely like monsters.
-How… how… how… how…
-But I also know… but I also know… but I also know…
-Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
The man gasped in shock, staggering backward.
“Stay back!”
Ruuumble!
Simon hurled a Chaos Sphere, blocking their advance.
“Don’t you know the tower’s rules? Doing that just multiplies the monsters!”
“I-I just! It’s so frustrating, knowing yet being powerless to stop it…! That man was my ancestor!”
“Even so, nothing you do here will change the present.”
Simon replied coldly, pulling out a second Chaos Sphere.
“Merida! Help—huh?”
But—
Merida was slumped by a sunny window, in her usual “cat-bread loaf pose”, nodding off with a sleepy face.
“Wake up, Merida!”
This dispatch was turning out to be utter chaos.
* * *
Dawn arrived.
Darkness shrouded the tower once more, and as before, Simon went to meet the Ghost of Time.
[You’ve come.]
Just like yesterday, the Ghost of Time helped disable the security magic circle on the 63rd floor. Simon slipped inside and activated Neftis’ artifact.
“Phew.”
Once the recording finished, Simon tucked the briefcase into subspace and sat down with a troubled expression.
The Ghost of Time chuckled.
[Your face says you’re uneasy.]
“Of course I am.”
Simon propped his chin on his hand, watching him.
“More than that, the tower’s supposed to collapse in three days. Aren’t you a little too calm about it? If the tower falls, you’ll vanish too.”
[It’s not calmness—it’s acceptance. I know there’s nothing I can do.]
The ghost spoke.
[I can see time, yes, but I am still bound to the tower. No matter what I attempt, I cannot alter the blackened future of this place.]
He gestured at Simon.
[But you—you’re an outsider, with a special power. Only you carry hope. The only influence I have is over you.]
“Then instead of showing me Maelyn and Serne’s past, wouldn’t it be faster to just tell me what I should do?”
[No need to rush.]
The ghost replied.
[All events happen when their time comes. What matters most now is that you uncover the truth about the Ivory Tower.]
Though his words were a bit vague, Simon couldn’t deny that transcendent beings truly thought differently.
Simon rose to his feet.
“Then let’s begin.”
[Very well.]
The Ghost of Time waved his hand, and Simon’s surroundings blurred into gray, like a scene from history.
* * *
Kyaaah!
Ahahaha!
Time passed, and Maelyn and Serne had become inseparable friends.
Since the two grew close, even the children who once mocked Serne for being a beggar began to play with her naturally.
With Maelyn’s help, Serne quickly adjusted to life in the Ivory Tower.
“Ah, I’m exhausted!”
After running around all day, the two girls collapsed onto the grass.
Staring up at the white clouds, they turned their heads at the same moment, their eyes meeting—then both burst out laughing.
Just sharing a glance brought joy.
“Today’s class was fun, Seri.”
“Yeah. Imagining our future selves was fun. What about you, Maelyn? What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“Me?”
Maelyn grinned.
“When I grow up, I’ll be the greatest Ivory Tower Master ever!”
“Waaah!”
“And I’ll make the tower more prosperous than ever! People outside will look up to us again!”
“But isn’t this Keyzen’s era?”
“Then I’ll surpass Keyzen—greater, higher than them!”
Maelyn stretched her hand toward the clouds, as if grasping them.
“No matter the means, I’ll restore the Ivory Tower’s age of glory!”
The most emphasized subject for Ivory Tower children was “History”.
Two thousand years of glory. The tower’s greatness.
Every child here bore immense pride in the tower.
“Uh-huh. You’ll definitely become a great Tower Master, Maelyn.”
Serne smiled. Maelyn suddenly blushed and turned her head away.
Chuckling, Serne raised her pinky finger.
“Promise me, Maelyn.”
“What?”
She hooked her finger with Maelyn’s.
“I’ll make you the Tower Master.”
“…Mm, thanks, Seri.”
It was a heartwarming sight.
And—
Watching from afar, Simon scratched his head.
‘They used to be so close back then… how did they end up as mortal enemies now?’
Shhhhhh—
The world shifted gray again, transitioning to a new scene.
Time had passed. Both Maelyn and Serne had shed their childish looks and grown into refined young ladies.
“Haa… haa…”
Before them lay a white orb.
Panting, Maelyn stared at it. The orb was covered so thoroughly in ice that its surface was hardly visible.
‘I did it…!’
Wiping her sweat, she smiled.
The instructor teaching them magic also smiled warmly.
“Remarkable talent, Lady Maelyn. To cover the orb in ice at your age—truly impressive.”
Maelyn snapped her head up.
“See? It is amazing, right?!”
“Indeed. This orb is called the Orb of Ice Sovereignty. It cannot be frozen by mere mastery of ice magic. Only those chosen, blessed by the spirits, can encase it in ice.”
As a child, Maelyn proudly showed off her ability to freeze the orb, basking in the admiration of every adult in the tower. She loved this orb.
The instructor now turned to Serne.
“Lady Serne, would you like to try?”
“Yes.”
Calmly, she placed her hand on the orb.
Crackkk!
The instructor gasped, collapsing to the floor in shock. The other children were just as bewildered.
The Orb of Ice Sovereignty wasn’t merely frozen—jagged, glacier-like spires jutted upward from it.
‘I-it’s impossible! Even fully awakened necromancers who’ve opened their Core couldn’t achieve this…!’
Serne lifted her head.
“Was that enough?”
“…M-marvelous.”
Though Serne remained composed, Maelyn watched with wide, envious eyes.
After class, the two walked side by side.
“Seri, that was incredible.”
Maelyn muttered with a sullen look. Serne blinked, then smiled softly.
“It’s nothing. With a little more practice, you could do it too, Maelyn.”
In truth, Serne’s talent had been exploding ever since the moment she first began learning magic.
Although Maelyn, with her gifted education, was far ahead in her magic studies, Serne surpassed her in less than a year. Some adults even whispered that once Serne opened her Core and learned to imbue magic with Darkness, the gap would widen beyond comparison.
“Seri!”
Maelyn couldn’t afford to fall behind. Clenching her fists tightly, she raised her voice.
“That ice magic assignment you just got—could you teach me too? Right now!”
“Huh?”
Serne gave a troubled smile.
“You want to learn from me? But you’re the Ivory Tower’s heir.”
“Come on, that doesn’t matter! Teach me! I want to get better too!”
“Ah… Well, if you insist that much…”
“Thanks, Seri!”
Maelyn threw her arms around Serne. Serne also smiled warmly, stroking her hair.
“Then, where should we—”
“Lady Serne!”
The Ivory Tower magicians rushed up to the two of them in a fluster.
“The Elders are calling for you.”
“Ah, really?”
Serne turned back to Maelyn.
“Sorry about this.”
“...N-no, it’s fine!”
Maelyn forced a smile and waved her hands.
“Go quickly, Seri!”
“Mm. I’ll be back.”
Recently, Serne had monopolized the attention of all the adults.
It was only natural. She possessed an overwhelming talent that appeared perhaps once in a thousand years.
— Even the word ‘genius’ feels insufficient!
— This magic! Can you attempt this as well?
— By the heavens! She succeeded! Master, are you watching from beyond the grave?!
When taught one thing, she understood twenty.
Her talent soared to the heavens themselves.
And naturally, these whispers spread:
— Of course Lady Maelyn, the heir, is excellent, but…
— Her opponent is too extraordinary.
— It’s laughable to even compare the two.
The very elders who once clicked their tongues at Serne’s “beggar origins” were now completely captivated by her talent.
— Serne! Hi!
— How have you been? Want to eat lunch together?
The children who mocked Serne for being poor now followed her loyally. Boys secretly admired her, while girls envied her.
Ironically, the only one who stayed by Maelyn’s side—the first to open her heart to Serne—was Serne herself.
“The Elders wanted me again, but it was nothing special.”
Serne chuckled.
“Just another magic demonstration.”
“...I-I see.”
Maelyn smiled, pretending not to mind.
It was all simply because Serne’s skills were extraordinary. Serne had done nothing wrong.
But the more Maelyn thought that way…the more she felt herself growing smaller and more pitiful.
“H-hey, Seri.”
“Mm?”
“The Tower Master’s position…”
“Mm.”
“The adults…”
Her lips trembled violently.
“They say… that you suit it better than I do… Honestly, I think so too…”
Grab!
Serne suddenly gripped Maelyn’s shoulders. Startled, Maelyn lifted her head.
“I made you a promise, didn’t I?”
Serne looked into her eyes with unwavering seriousness.
“Do you remember what I said when we linked pinkies?”
“...Y-yeah.”
“What did I say?”
Blushing, Maelyn whispered in a tiny voice.
“…That you’d make me the Tower Master.”
“That’s right.”
Finally, Serne smiled.
“No matter what the adults say, the Tower Master will be you, Maelyn.”
Her eyes burned hot.
There was no need for jealousy, no reason for envy.
Serne was still her friend, the very friend who sincerely supported her dream of becoming the Tower Master more than anyone else.
“Thank you, Seri.”
Maelyn burst into tears and hugged Serne tightly.
* * *
The next morning.
Maelyn trotted along quickly.
She had been entrusted with an errand by the adults: to deliver a book to the Tower Master himself.
Secretly, she was glad. It was another chance to leave an impression on the ruler of the tower.
She knew his relationship with her father was strained, but nevertheless—he was the tower’s strongest power and the one who had designated her as heir.
But then, a thought crept in.
‘…Does the Tower Master regret making me his heir?’
After all, Serne, his own daughter, was hailed as the greatest genius in two thousand years of Ivory Tower history.
‘The truth is…’
Deep down, Maelyn admitted it.
Serne was more fitting to be Tower Master than herself.
The adults said it. She felt it too.
Although the heir’s seat, once decided, could not be changed, there were whispers of altering the Tower’s laws just to place Serne in that position.
— I promise. I’ll make you the Tower Master.
— No matter what the adults say, the Tower Master is you, Maelyn.
She could trust Serne.
If the laws changed and Serne became heir, Maelyn was prepared to accept it.
And she was prepared to persuade Serne to accept the position if Serne tried to refuse it. This time, Maelyn wanted to be the one to say it.
I’ll make you the Tower Master.
‘Sigh…’
Maelyn pushed away her swirling thoughts and walked with determined steps.
“@^$#&!!”
Suddenly, loud voices spilled from the Tower Master’s chambers.
Someone’s already inside?
Maelyn stilled her footsteps, creeping closer.
“Why, Father?!”
A voice rang sharp and furious. Maelyn froze in shock.
‘Seri?’
It was the first time she’d ever heard Serne, always composed and dignified, shouting in anger.
Curiosity made Maelyn step closer.
“Maelyn doesn’t have the skill for this!”
Thud!
Maelyn’s heart plummeted.
“Look! I froze the Orb of Ice Sovereignty this much! Maelyn can’t do that!”
The Tower Master’s low voice murmured something inaudible, but Serne cried out again, her tone fierce:
“I’ll tell you clearly! This, at least, I will not yield!”
That day, Maelyn felt it.
Her entire heart—everything she had believed in—was shattered into pieces.
“I will be the Tower Master!”
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters