Chapter 62 - The Return of Beatrice
The Blue Magic Tower.
With its Master gone, the place was in utter chaos.
"Does it even make sense for the Tower Master to abandon her post and attack the Holy Kingdom Alliance?!"
"Whatever the reason, it's unacceptable!"
"We must do something before we become complete enemies with the Holy Kingdom Alliance!"
The Council of Elders.
Even though it was composed of people who had long been in the magical world, neither composure nor experience could be seen in them.
"Vice Tower Master!"
The elders' gazes turned toward an elderly man with a head of white hair.
"Please, say something!"
The Vice Tower Master, Emdwal.
He was Tower Master Yuru's chief of staff, whose role was to assist her and guide her on the right path.
As Yuru became the Tower Master at a young age, Emdwal had practically been in charge of the internal affairs of the Blue Magic Tower.
"Everyone, calm down."
Seeing Emdwal respond calmly despite the urgent situation, the other mages shouted.
"How can we be calm right now?"
"The head of the Blue Magic Tower has attacked the largest alliance on the continent!"
"Other magic towers might try to attack us first to prevent a greater conflict!"
Mages, as a rule, cooperated with the nations that provided them with their bases and only acted for the greater good, not for personal feelings.
While not an official rule, it was an unwritten law that all magic towers followed. If someone broke it, it was customary for all mages to come together and impose sanctions, regardless of their affiliation.
So, if the Blue Magic Tower were misunderstood as an enemy of humanity, there was a possibility that the other magic towers would step in and eliminate them for the greater good.
"No one would be so foolish as to make that judgment."
However, that was only a possibility. The chances of the other magic towers concluding that Yuru's individual actions represented the will of the entire Blue Magic Tower were not high.
"I have already sent envoys to each of the magic towers. They will understand the situation and won't take extreme action."
Emdwal explained calmly, but the mages still couldn't hide their anxiety.
"Even if we assume the other magic towers will be understanding…"
"The Holy Krata won't stand by and watch this happen."
Holy Krata.
That country, which held hegemonic power on the continent, had the strength to even lead the hero's trial and execution.
In other words, Krata's judgment could move the entire continent.
"...I will be honest."
Even Emdwal didn't deny that fact.
"Just as you think, Krata will not let this go. In my estimation, they might seize this opportunity to realize their desire to dominate the magic towers."
"V-Vice Tower Master!"
"We might become an example."
Everyone looked bewildered at the sudden bombshell.
"An ex-example?"
"Are you saying Krata will try to get rid of us?"
Emdwal did not answer immediately. But the reason Yuru ended up in this situation was ultimately because Krata had almost single-handedly pushed for the hero's trial.
Krata was a monstrous country that tried to absorb all power whenever it had an opportunity. It wouldn't be strange if the Blue Magic Tower was the next target Krata would grab.
"We must make a decision now."
With that, Emdwal placed a letter on the table. Those who saw it raised question marks above their heads.
"What is that?"
"A request for an alliance from the Emperor of Iser."
A request for an alliance.
The Emperor of Iser, wasn't that Tia de Mazelia?
"No way…!"
Seeing those who exclaimed in a sigh of a premonition, Emdwal finally got to the point.
"Iser has informed us that they will attack Yafenon."
It was an act of rebellion against the Holy Kingdom Alliance.
"Yafenon has already attacked Iser. Using the name of the alliance to tie their hands and then drawing the sword first to swallow this land."
"W-what kind of…"
"That's absurd!"
"Absurd or not, I have personally confirmed that it happened. I met with the commander of the Knights, Lexston."
Emdwal looked calmly at the other mages.
"If Iser is unjustly invaded, we have a duty to cooperate to some extent. No, we must cooperate. To survive together."
The magic towers professed to be neutral, but no one actually believed that.
The fact that there was no precedent of a country with a magic tower being attacked was the proof.
"We have already been attacked."
Emdwal was aware that a storm of blood was approaching.
"Now that even the Tower Master is in that state, if Iser attacks Yafenon, we will easily be branded as allies."
"T-then, should we leave Iser first…"
"I have no intention of ending up like the hero."
Looking at the mage who expressed concern, Emdwal said firmly.
"Do you intend to docilely meet your end like the hero?"
The hero, Clay.
There was no need for much explanation there.
A hero who tried to help humanity, yet was executed under the accusation of being a minion of the Demon King.
No one in the room could be sure of what the truth was.
However,
"D-damn it!"
"Who would want to end up like that!"
"If those sons of bitches try to exterminate us too, I won't stand for it!"
His end was a terrible one that no one wanted to follow.
"Then, the conclusion is clear."
Emdwal rose from his seat.
"We will side with Iser."
Seeing those who could no longer object, Emdwal declared,
"For the survival of our Blue Magic Tower!"
Everyone swallowed dryly, watching Emdwal clench his fists as if he would crush them.
But they did not know.
That the shadow of Emdwal, which trembled with the flickering candlelight, was not that of a frail old man but of a young woman.
That Emdwal was moving according to the shadow's movements.
Flash.
As if drawing the afterimage of someone who wasn't there, a pair of blue eyes briefly appeared and vanished on the shadow's face.
"Beatrice has returned!"
With the cry of the gargoyle leader, Goe, Beatrice, in the form of a red dragon, descended from the sky.
"That is…"
The gargoyles' gazes turned to Beatrice's back.
A corpse was tied there.
Thump!
Beatrice turned her head, used her teeth to untie the rope, and placed the corpse on the ground. The gargoyles gathered and looked down at the corpse.
"This, this can't be!"
"Damon?!"
Damon.
Seeing the young man with green-tinged hair, the startled gargoyles all turned their heads to Beatrice.
In response to their questioning looks, Beatrice returned to her human form and sighed.
"I found him buried alive in a tomb. He was sleeping as if in hibernation due to a major injury, but he's still alive. He's not someone who would die easily, anyway."
His emaciated body was filled with stabs. Although it was hard to believe he was alive despite the dozens of stab wounds, as she said, he was not someone who would die easily.
King of the Dead.
He had that title because he was so close to death, and because of that, he could easily cross the boundary of death himself.
It was his habit to turn into a skeleton-like undead to exert more power and then add flesh to become human again.
"It's really him…"
"He seems to be breathing."
"So, there are two of the old Four Heavenly Kings left."
At that, Beatrice snorted.
"Are you already treating me as outdated?"
"N-no, that's not what I meant…"
"Beatrice."
It was then.
Everyone turned their heads again at the sudden voice.
Clay, the master of Barungania, was standing there.
"Clay."
Beatrice looked delighted and approached him.
"It's nice to see you after so long."
"You could have given me some notice that you were coming."
Clay also greeted her with a faint smile.
Watching the friendly scene, the gargoyles muttered among themselves.
"The Demon King definitely treats Beatrice differently."
"Because she is superior to us."
"But there's also something more than that…"
"Beatrice?"
Whoosh.
At another voice that suddenly spoke up, Beatrice turned her head sharply.
"Huh?"
Beatrice raised an eyebrow, looking at the woman who had appeared behind Clay.
"What is that?"
The ancient god, Athanasia.
Beatrice revealed her draconic eyes, feeling the musty divinity she had built over countless ages.
"Why is the remnant left by Elheim here?"
At the dragon tongue that crushed the air, the gargoyles gritted their teeth, but Athanasia seemed to feel no pressure and shrugged.
"Calling me a remnant of Elheim is too insulting, isn't it? I am a god who existed even before Elheim appeared."
"Will you answer what I asked?"
"What an arrogant woman. Well, I suppose my partner's familiar should be like that."
"What?"
Beatrice stared, and Clay replied in a low voice.
"It's a misunderstanding."
"She says it's a misunderstanding?"
"Hmm, I don't know what the misunderstanding is."
Athanasia tilted her head and stood next to Clay.
"We share power, so aren't we partners?"
"Athanasia."
Clay turned to her.
"It's true that we share followers, but choose your words carefully."
"Oh, don't be a killjoy."
She immediately explained to Beatrice.
"That's right. We're partners in faith."
"What on earth…"
Beatrice, who had withdrawn the power from her draconic eyes, couldn't hide her confusion as she asked,
"What happened?"
But the matter of Athanasia wasn't the only thing Beatrice didn't know about. Ice flowers bloomed in an instant, and yet another being appeared.
"Oh, my."
With her white hair fluttering, Selimiah exuded a fierce cold aura.
"How our Demon King is so blessed. He's already gathered all the necessary consorts."
Selimiah continued speaking, not caring that Beatrice was staring at her in disbelief.
"Actually, just having me would be enough, but I have no choice but to respect the Demon King's thoughts. I suppose that's the consideration a companion gives."
"The Northern Witch?"
Beatrice let out a sigh.
"When did you get free and come here?"
"To be precise, the Demon King came to get me."
She linked her arm with Clay's and smiled.
"It's what you might call a迎え (Mukae), a迎え (Mukae) welcome."
"Clay."
Beatrice ignored her words and turned her gaze to him.
"It seems there were many who wanted to share the marshmallows I gave you, hmm?"
"…"
He had a troubled expression.
The gargoyles just looked at each other, seeing the Demon King's reaction for the first time.
But in this awkward situation, the true victim was someone else entirely.
'Send me back to the tomb…'
Damon, the old Four Heavenly King who had just regained consciousness, was only hugging himself as if he had lost his blanket in the deadly atmosphere.