Chapter 32
“…My name is Viola,” the mage replied, her tone and demeanor shifting in an instant as she gazed at me.
“It’s a name not many remember these days. I’ve never used an alias.”
“Then, what about your appearance? They say the Tower Master is an old man.”
The Tower Master, according to rumors, was said to be a typical mage with white hair and a long beard.
But the person standing before me looked like a young girl who had just reached adulthood.
At my question, she gave a small nod before replying.
“People tend to imagine the Tower Master with such an appearance. So, I let them see what they expect.”
So this is her true form.
“Hah. You’ve been deceiving the world.”
If the Tower Master wants to deceive someone, it’s unlikely anyone would see through it.
Even I, and Kraol, who was more experienced than me at the time, had no idea.
“Still, I’m the one who’s surprised. Emperor, when we last met, you were nothing more than a greenhorn.”
“I was already a mage back then.”
“Exactly.”
It’s true—I’ve grown immensely powerful in a short time.
The decision to become a mage instead of pursuing the sword or another path was because of this rapid growth.
Mana can be bolstered with elixirs and wealth, and as long as you gain enlightenment, you don’t need decades to grow stronger.
What? You’re asking if there’s a limit to how much mana you can gain with elixirs?
Of course, there’s a limit.
But when you consume things like a dragon’s heart or the Giant King’s eye, that limit becomes absurdly high—and once you reach it, you don’t need to worry about your mana reserves anymore.
Who got me the dragon’s heart and the Giant King’s eye, you ask?
Who else? The proud guardian dragon of the Empire, of course.
Anyway, that’s not the important part.
“So, what were you thinking when you joined that party?”
“What was I thinking?”
“Now, I can understand. But back when the hero Xian was recruiting companions, he wasn’t exactly someone worthy of your attention.”
“Well, that’s true. Back then, he was just an insignificant boy. But if the Emperor of Arhan placed his trust in that boy, wouldn’t that naturally pique one’s interest?”
“Was that all? If you were merely interested, there were plenty of ways to observe without joining.”
The Tower Master shook her head at my question.
“I honestly thought Xian would Fael.”
“Everyone thought that, except for me.”
Few placed much hope in the hero Xian.
While many wished he’d slay the Demon King, most would have been satisfied if he simply weakened the Demon King’s army before an all-out war broke out.
In fact, there were those who thought I was investing far too much in the hero.
“But after watching him for a while, I realized Xian was growing stronger at an unprecedented pace. I saw potential in him.”
“So you decided to join.”
At my words, the Tower Master nodded.
Still, the idea of a leader of an entire faction disguising herself to join the hero’s party seemed absurd. But on second thought, it wasn’t entirely unreasonable.
If my suspicions were correct, then to the Tower Master, satisfying her curiosity was far more important than the Tower itself.
“What a strange era we’re living in,” Viola remarked with a wry smile.
“What do you find so strange?” I asked.
“For quite a long time, I was the only Grand Mage. While there were often those who mastered the sword, I stood alone in my domain.”
“Is that so?”
“But within the span of a century, two more Grand Mages have appeared, and even the Demon King has shown himself. How could I not call this a strange time?”
Two Grand Mages?
“You’re referring to Roderon, I presume.”
“Of course. He once came to visit me.”
“He visited you?”
If Roderon and the Tower Master had formed an alliance back then, I’d be in an extremely precarious position right now.
She nodded again and continued.
“As soon as he reached the pinnacle, he came to find me.”
“What did you talk about?”
“Well, we didn’t talk much. He tried to kill me, after all.”
What?
“Why would he want to kill you?”
“When your ancestors destroyed Edelvine, Edelvine sought aid from me. I ignored their plea.”
“Edelvine turned to the Tower? The Tower doesn’t usually interfere in conflicts between nations.”
“At the time, the Tower and Edelvine were quite close. Their gemstone magic was fascinating, after all.”
So, it was just another case of the Tower Master’s curiosity. She had drawn closer to Edelvine because of her interest in their magic.
“Then why did you ignore their request? While fortunate for the Empire, it’s an odd choice.”
“I lost interest in gemstone magic around that time. I considered it a form of magic with clear limitations—innovative, yes, but not worth pursuing if it meant opposing the Empire.”
So, in essence, she used Edelvine and discarded them when they were no longer useful.
“Roderon had every reason to want to kill you. So, what happened?”
“It was astounding.”
For the first time, her previously indifferent tone quickened with excitement.
“He shattered the limitations I thought gemstone magic had. Good heavens, the things he showed me far surpassed my expectations.
He didn’t just reach the pinnacle—I’d go as far as to say he transcended it.
Roderon didn’t merely overcome gemstone magic’s weaknesses; he resolved its fundamental flaws through sheer mastery. Even if I were to attempt it now, I couldn’t replicate what he did.
It wasn’t simply about reaching the peak; his techniques were only possible because he dedicated himself entirely to gemstone magic.
Did you know? Inside a barrier he created, he was able to fight me as an equal for a brief moment. Not with a sword, but with magic. He even broke through my shield.”
She was fully animated now, clearly enthralled by the memory.
But amidst her excitement, she had let slip some critical information.
“A barrier?”
“Yes. Using gemstones as a medium, he successfully created a unique barrier. No, calling it a barrier doesn’t do it justice. It was crude, but it was more akin to another world—a world that existed solely for his magic.”
“I can’t quite imagine it.”
“In that world, he was immortal.”
“Immortal?”
He can’t die?
If what I know is correct, there is no such thing as immortality in this world.
Even gods perished in their wars, and dragons met similar fates.
And yet, that man is immortal?
“Are you certain about this?”
“Of course. I tried all sorts of methods—burning, drowning, decapitating, even grinding him into dust. I attempted everything imaginable.”
...Surely, there were more things she could’ve tried.
“And yet, he didn’t die. To be precise, he didn’t even take any damage. No matter how much harm I inflicted, he would instantly recover.”
“How did you defeat him, then?”
Her words weren’t spoken with the intent to boast about overcoming a worthy opponent. They were more a reflection of her astonishment at seeing something so unexpected.
Toying with an immortal Grand Mage? This person clearly isn’t normal, I thought, as I waited for her answer.
“Once I realized that he was truly immortal within the barrier, I destroyed the barrier. Breaking the barrier wasn’t particularly difficult—that’s why I called it crude.”
“And after breaking the barrier?”
“I let him go.”
“You let go of someone who tried to kill you?”
“Why would I kill someone who’s already proven capable of defying my expectations? If he didn’t show progress the next time we met, I figured I could kill him then.”
“That’s unfortunate, but there won’t be a next time.”
“Hmm?”
“As soon as I return to the Empire, I’ll assemble a pursuit team to track him down. And when they find him, I’ll personally kill him.”
I had considered sending Xian initially, but if that man brought up the past in front of Xian, it could complicate things emotionally.
Since the Duke of Fael is in no condition to handle it, I’ll have to take care of it myself.
“Interesting. I thought you’d simply order your subordinates to kill him.”
“Do you think that’s possible?”
“The emperors I’ve known tend to issue orders first, only to evaluate feasibility after a failed attempt.”
“Then let’s say I’m a bit special.”
Even a Grand Mage isn’t invincible.
If I gathered the remaining masters of the Empire around the restored Duke Fael and sent them after him, they could likely kill him—but at the cost of many masters’ lives.
Besides, there’s a personal satisfaction in dealing with the man who turned the Duke Fael into that state with my own hands.
“Because of that arrogant bastard, my plans have been completely derailed. His insolence has shaken the Empire both inside and out. I’ve even had to personally visit the elves, who I once intended to subjugate under my rule, to negotiate.”
“Still, Tower Master, regardless of your motives, it’s a fact that you aided Xian. I won’t hold it against you. It’s been a pleasure meeting one of the two remaining Grand Mages on this continent. I’ll be on my way now.”
“Take care. Oh, and sometime soon, I’d like to have a long discussion with you about magic. May I visit?”
“Once I’ve dealt with Roderon, you’ll have my invitation.”
With that, I exchanged a brief farewell with the Tower Master and returned to the Empire.
Now, it’s time to deal with Roderon.