Chapter 278 - The Magic Towers
Once, the territory of the Midros Autonomous Territory had been a matter of great interest to the surrounding nations.
With forests nearby inhabited by various demi-humans, it was a suitable place for adventurers to operate, and since it was close to several countries, it was convenient both for trade and invasion.
And just a few mountains over, there was the "Wells Town", which had traditionally managed vast wheat fields, making it possible to be self-sufficient in basic food supplies.
Conflicts to seize the only city at the heart of the territory repeated again and again.
At that time, before the Principality of Riviant existed, local wars sparked by intelligence battles between kingdoms, republics, and city alliances stained the land with blood.
Uncollected corpses became food for beasts, magical beasts, and demi-humans.
Weapons of iron that were not recovered were looted and used by goblins, orcs, and kobolds.
The territorial dispute was not something confined merely to humans.
The war showed no signs of ending.
In that situation, one nobleman, driven to despair, brought in an external power, "the Magic Towers of the Eastern Continent."
───I will give you whatever you ask, just make this damned territory independent! Please!
The Magic Towers, upon receiving this proposal, accepted it with satisfaction.
As a result, mages and magi of the 5th tier and above were dispatched, and soon, the conflict was ended.
The land, surrounded by piles of corpses, was named the Midros Autonomous Territory, separated from other countries, and the noble who made the deal with the Magic Towers became its Lord.
That was the origin of this city and land.
In time, the first Lord of the Autonomous Territory died, and his descendants inherited his position.
Thus, decades passed over several generations, yet the relationship and agreements made with the Magic Towers at that time remained,
Even to this day.
"Phew..."
The Lord of the Autonomous Territory let out an excited breath.
The fragrance of fine wine, staining the air, pleasantly stimulated his sense of smell. Then, reaching toward a dish that had been slow-cooked for a long time, he extended his knife.
The blade slid in smoothly, without resistance.
When he bit into the cut meat, the juices burst forth like an explosion, blending perfectly with the sweet sauce.
Truly, a delicacy.
"As expected, with such quality meat, the difference is distinct. And how do the two of you find it?"
"Excellent. My tongue is satisfied."
"The taste is splendid. The ingredients, yes, but especially the chef's skill stands out."
A middle-aged man, Ezra, and a woman with wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, Molly, nodded in approval.
Both were mages who had surpassed the wall of the 4th tier, and stood at the 5th tier.
They belonged respectively to the "Magic Tower of the Volcanic Island" and the "Larrian Magic Tower", organizations that had formed long-standing ties with successive Lords of the Autonomous Territory.
In the comprehensive ranking of Magic Towers, they stood 6th and 8th respectively, considered relatively low in order, yet even if they were the lowest, a Magic Tower was still a Magic Tower.
Their influence upon the Midros Autonomous Territory could never be ignored.
The Lord laughed broadly.
"Haha, I am so glad it pleases you. All of this is thanks to the grace of the Volcanic Island's Magic Tower and the Larrian Magic Tower. If there is anything you wish to eat, please say the word, and I shall do my utmost to prepare it."
"Since Lord of the Autonomous Territory says so, it would be rude to refuse."
"Mmm."
The mages of the Magic Towers grinned.
A noble's flattery never grew tiresome.
Ezra spoke.
"By the way, what of the Mamentus Merchant Guild? Upon investigation, it seems they still hold ownership of some lands and buildings within the Autonomous Territory. The Rainbow-hued Inn as well."
"It is currently being dealt with. The thing is, both are heavily tied to the Bohemirn Magic Tower, so… there is some hesitation..."
"Sigh, I have said this more than once already, but do not concern yourself with the Bohemirn Magic Tower. They are busy waging all-out war with the Black Hour in the Western Continent. Do you really think they have the time to haggle over every little guild share? Tsk."
The Bohemirn Magic Tower aimed to take effective control of the Autonomous Territory. Their ambition was to extend influence not only over the Western and Central Continents, but even into the East.
Naturally, the Volcanic Island's Magic Tower and the Larrian Magic Tower, who sought vested interests in the Midros Autonomous Territory, opposed them.
'Now, while the Bohemirn Magic Tower is absorbed in the Black Hour, is the chance.'
They had to uproot the foundations Bohemirn had sunk into the territory, eradicate them completely, and quickly occupy the vacancy. Only then could they secure their rights to the Autonomous Territory.
Indeed, Ezra and Molly had been dispatched for that very purpose.
A competition spanning across continents, between Magic Towers.
On the surface, things looked peaceful, but beneath, a fierce war of nerves raged. It was not something that could be stopped by mediation.
"I understand. I will do my best to hasten matters, I trust in the both of you."
The Lord of the Autonomous Territory agreed at once.
As a mere regional Lord, he had no choice but to set aside the Bohemirn Magic Tower and side with the two Towers.
That was the wisest, most profitable course.
The young man, who had become Lord of the Autonomous Territory at a tender age, desired only the safety of his own person.
***
The streets of the Autonomous Territory were clearly behind compared to those of kingdoms and principalities.
There were only a few tall buildings, and not a small number of structures were aged. A closer look revealed moldy walls in sight.
It felt, somehow, as if a village of town scale had been picked up as-is, then simply spread out to the size of a city.
'A city that does not develop…'
The faces of the citizens passing by were dark.
And yet, they kept to the narrow alleys, or walked as far apart from one another as possible.
The city where Perne lived, Asern, which was considered to have poor security, seemed safer by far compared to this place.
Step, step.
As Verden walked the streets, one building entered his sight.
The Mamentus Merchant Guild.
Perhaps because the sudden death of its guild master had inflicted such great damage, the inside of the building was utterly silent.
As he passed by and glanced, there were at most one or two people going in and out of the entrance.
It was a scene in harmony with the gloomy atmosphere of the Autonomous Territory.
It seemed that the place would completely shut down before long.
Then, by chance, he also came across the Rainbow-hued Inn.
A burnt-down structure, with barely half its frame remaining. The blackened debris gave off a faint smell of smoke, casting the streets in an even darker shade.
'To think they only blocked entry with a makeshift fence, that's all.'
Though some time had passed since the fire, there was no sign of any cleanup.
Were they deliberately leaving it neglected?
Whatever the reason, looking over the city as a whole, it seemed clear that the Lord of Midros Autonomous Territory and the nobles had little interest in its management.
What would the Marquisate of Esperanza say if they saw this?
With such thoughts lingering pointlessly, Verden halted his steps.
"..."
The branch of the Bohemirn Magic Tower stood right before him.
Perhaps because all had returned to the Western Continent due to the war with the Black Hour, no sign of life could be felt.
Cobwebs piled in the corners spoke of long neglect.
Verden approached the entrance and grabbed the handle.
It was locked with a metal clasp and a protective magic circle, but they might as well have been nonexistent.
Crack! The magic circle shattered in an instant as its nodes broke apart, and the lock was torn away, unable to withstand
Upon entering, the air was heavy with the smell of old dust.
He stirred up a breeze to purify the air lightly, then stood in the center of the first floor.
Looking around, it seemed the branch had been abandoned in haste, for books, writing tools, and magical items using mana stones were scattered across the floor.
Then, Verden lifted his head.
"...It's been a while since I've seen this."
A long drapery adorned the wall of the branch.
On a dark crimson background, golden curves stretched out from the four directions, converging at the center to form an oval.
A unique emblem of the Bohemirn Magic Tower, signifying the embrace of all elements.
Emotions naturally surged within him.
He closed his eyes quietly, suppressing them, and shifted his thoughts.
The Mamentus Merchant Guild, the Rainbow-hued Inn—these were closely tied to the Bohemirn Magic Tower.
Yet now, at this very time, they had suffered great accidents, irreparable losses. It was surely no coincidence.
The Bohemirn Tower Master, Balrog, would think the same.
'The Tower Master has three possible responses.'
Dispatch personnel to restore influence, ignore the matter entirely, or track down the culprit and erase them without a trace.
The first could be disregarded.
With their foundation in the Territory damaged, they had no reason to move leisurely.
The Bohemirn Magic Tower was not a gentle organization.
The second was the most realistic among the three.
They had lost their power source, and even with the aid of other Towers, their magical war with the Black Hour would continue relentlessly.
If they lacked the capacity, they would have no choice but to ignore the incidents in the Autonomous Territory for now.
'And the third response…'
In his judgment, it was the most likely.
Because of the Tower Master's nature.
Balrog's peculiar pride would never allow him to forgive or overlook those who dared bare their fangs at him.
Even if he had to hire forces outside the Tower's own.
Perhaps, before long, a storm would descend upon the Territory.
"...All the better, if that happens."
Verden opened his eyes.
At the same moment, his Mystic Eye, engraved with the magic circle of Defying the Heavens, gleamed.
The drapery engulfed in flames, and the emblem of the Bohemirn Magic Tower upon it, blazed fiercely, then vanished into ash.
It was nothing but a venting of anger.
That was his only purpose in coming to this empty branch.
'Whatever the Tower Master schemes, it matters not.'
If they blocked his path, he would simply destroy them in turn.
Of course, without revealing his identity, with utmost secrecy and precision. Verden was a being beyond even Balrog's imagination.
Turning his back, Verden left the branch.
Through the closing crack of the door, cold ashes scattered into the air.
***
Somewhere on the northern frontier of the Eastern Continent.
In a desolate land where no one lived, vast mana surged outward, violet waves rippling. At once, a magic circle rose from the ground, and space opened.
From within, two figures appeared.
The second disciple of Balrog, Rayshen.
With a face full of mischief, he turned his head.
Before his eyes stood a man with long hair tied atop his head, his body covered by a metal mask and iron armor, a rusted sword at his side.
"This is the Eastern Continent. You remember exactly what Master ordered, right?"
"The clowns of Aldamia. The Lord of the Autonomous Territory. Hostile forces. Witnesses. Extermination. Self-destruction."
His voice was cold.
There was no trace of emotion within it.
"Right, just meet those clowns, then follow the orders. Ah, and if anyone comes at you, kill them without fail, erase all witnesses. Got it?"
"Yes."
"Really? Even if it's a woman or a child, you'll kill them?"
"Yes."
The man gave the same answer again.
From the holes above his mask, only a pair of sky-blue eyes shone, stripped of all will of their own.
Seeing this, Rayshen nodded in admiration.
"Wow, even after breaking his mind and weaving a magic circle over it… To think Master actually succeeded in brainwashing him despite that Heavenly Sword backlash. He really does commit crimes against dignity, doesn't he?"
It only deepened his respect for his master.
Casting aside morals and ethics that hindered advancement, pursuing only himself and magic, that was the true drive.
It was exactly the mindset Rayshen sought.
"...I must follow his example even more."
Resolving firmly, Rayshen stepped onto the spatial magic circle. With a flare of light, both he and the circle vanished.
Left alone in the forest, the man walked forward.
One of the former Four Strongest of the Central Continent.
The Heavenly Sword, Adrian Chambers.
A swordsman who had once approached the realm of Transcendence was now headed toward the Midros Autonomous Territory.
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