Dark Fantasy Normalized

57 – The Talk of the Town

In the immediate aftermath of the Gerhen incident.

The Grey Tower was consumed by unprecedented uproar.

Considering the actions of a supposed master of the tower in front of students, it was utterly predictable.

“Wise and insightful students, I firmly believe you will act wisely regarding what has happened here today. Please.”

The masters who were present strongly urged (begged) the students, though even they knew, deep down,

that there was near-zero chance of students who had witnessed this debacle firsthand suddenly embracing the virtue of silence.

At the peak of their youthful vigor. Students, holed up in the tower, subjected to grueling academic pressures.

“Did you hear? Our tower’s master, the one who—” a topic of conversation that would set off a cascade?

Even students immersed in their studies in the opposite building would come running on all fours to get a piece.

The students, who left the scene with faces saying, ‘Of course, Master. Trust us!’ immediately scattered across the tower, beginning to share their joy.

“Guys! Guys! You’ll never guess what I just saw! You won’t believe it!”

Thus, over the course of several days, the students’ joyful sharing continued.

The tower’s students achieved a miraculous ‘100% information dissemination rate,’ a feat more magical than any spell.

“Did you hear about it?”

“The Gerhen incident, right?”

It was the topic of conversation whenever students’ eyes met.

“What are you all talking about?”

“Ah! Master Radros, Master Mortier…!”

“It’s nothing! We just had some business to take care of.”

“Well, now.”

“How did our brilliant scholars end up like gossiping market women?”

The Masters couldn’t help but sigh at the sight of the scholars, but took no disciplinary action or reprimand.

“Anyway, Master Ladros. Did you hear about it?”

“If you’re referring to the Gerhen incident, yes, I have.”

“It’s been revealed through further investigation that he’s been caught stealing the achievements of several scholars, right?”

Because Masters weren’t really that different, either.

The downfall of Gerhen, head of the noble faction who held immense influence in the Tower.

And a black magician was involved too?

If one could tolerate this, they’d have become a monk and achieved a historical place, not a magician.

Of course.

If it were simply Gerhen’s personal story, the heat that had been warming the Tower wouldn’t have lasted this long.

A Master representing the Tower had committed an act that was shameful no matter where you looked.

It wasn’t just a fun story for the Tower’s scholars, who had absolute pride in their affiliation.

Normally, the scholars would have quickly burned out their interest in it and moved on.

Even for the sake of their own pride.

Yet, the reason Gerhen’s story has lingered this long…

“…Anyway, Master Ladros, is it true? That you witnessed his duel before the Gerhen incident?”

“Ahem. I happened to get the opportunity.”

“There are rumors that his opponent was Miss Heynia, is that true?”

“I can’t comment on that. However, I’ll just say it was a tremendous duel in many ways.”

“Goodness. Please tell us more. How exactly was it so tremendous?”

“…I suppose I have no choice. You might not believe me, but when I saw him at the time, he was still at the 4th Circle. But… ha. At the 4th Circle, he was wielding nature magic?”

“Could you perhaps have been mistaken? Maybe he was already at the 5th Circle then?”

“Hoo. Let’s just leave it at that. Let’s end the conversation here, Master Mortier.”

“Ah, no! Master Ladros!”

It was because of the other protagonist of the story.

Lisir.

Even before the Gerhen incident, stories about him were already spreading through the Tower in whispers.

A tale of an outsider mage who’d deciphered black magic even the masters hadn’t detected.

And, back then, the tower’s view of Risier was…complex.

-Master Mortier. What do you think of him?

-Absurd.

-Pardon?

-I hear he couldn’t even name a school or a family. That such a one could solve our tower’s problems… tch. It’s an embarrassment to our tower’s reputation-

They didn’t express outright hostility like Gerhen, but there were quite a few who harbored prejudice due to his origins.

However.

After the Gerhen incident, their numbers rapidly dwindled and vanished completely.

-Master Mortier. What do you think of him?

-Are you asking me now what I think of this Risier? This young man who, as an outsider, walks through our tower like it’s his own home?

-Ah. Sorry-

-The one so skilled in great black magic, who achieved the 5th tier at such a young age, and who manipulates mana so well that he freely uses techniques of warriors, you mean?

-Yes?

-If I had to say, he’ll become a member of our tower. Otherwise, why would he come and go as if this were his own place? I hear he reveres Master Meltas as a mentor and is close enough to Master Didoa to entrust her with spirits, right?

There was too much he’d shown to be dismissed simply because of his background.

And adding to that, Gerhen’s disgraceful behavior, who was at the forefront of discriminating against him, a very unusual trend settled in the Gray Tower.

Every tower is an extremely closed-off and conservative group.

Discrimination based on origins is a given amongst them.

The Gray Tower was showing signs of moving away from that normalcy.

-If you think about it coldly, what does someone’s background matter when they’re such an outstanding mage?

It was the moment a mutant tower was born, where those who discriminated were the ones being discriminated against.

***

If a formal request was made to attend a Master’s Council, Didoa would refuse.

It was a formal and combative play that was usually conducted amongst them.

Now, Didoa was feeling bewildered by the fact that the implicit agreement was extinguished.

It wasn’t just Didoa.

Numerous Masters, whose attendance was previously restricted due to the strict class divisions of the noble faction, were filling the seats in the conference room where the meeting was taking place.

And so, with the noble faction’s empty seats completely replaced-

The Master’s Council, facing a new phase, began.

“Lisir.”

Master Ladros, presiding over this meeting, opened it with that name as if it were the most natural thing.

“As you all know, the Order is showing a great deal of interest in him because of this incident. You’ll all remember Gojein Barodros.”

Ladros’s words caused a stir among the attendees.

Then, Master Mortier, sitting to Didoh’s left, spoke with an air of pride.

“It’s only natural.”

“…Master Mortier. Why are you so proud?”

Didoh, unable to hold back, questioned his expression.

“?”

Mortier, as if surprised, turned his gaze to Didoh.

“Of course I’m proud. After all, Lisir, that one, is from our mage tower—”

Just then, Mortier’s eyes widened.

Ah!

Come to think of it, Lisir, that one, wasn’t affiliated with our mage tower!

“Good heavens. I’ve been hearing his name everywhere in the mage tower lately, I was momentarily mistaken.”

“Pull yourself together, Mortier. It could be disrespectful to Lisir.”

Then, Meltas, sitting to Didoh’s right, spoke.

“What are you talking about, Master Meltas?”

Another Master, sitting next to Meltas, spoke up.

“Isn’t he already a member of our mage tower?”

“What kind of crazy talk is that?”

“It’s you, Master Meltas? You were the one who recommended him as a supporter of our mage tower. If that proposal passes, he’s practically a member of our mage tower, isn’t he?”

“…Strictly speaking, isn’t a supporter closer to an outsider? That contract can be terminated at any time based on mutual will.”

“!”

Then she made the same face as Mortier.

“Come to think of it, the supporter could terminate the contract first. I completely forgot because it’s practically unheard of. Unlike other supporters, Lisir, that one, has every reason to end it. He’s not desperate like the others.”

Meltas lamented.

Ah! Is that how I looked in Lisir’s eyes!

He’s making fools out of all the masters in our mage tower!

At the same time, similar conversations were breaking out in other parts of the meeting room.

This meeting itself was arranged to discuss the future treatment of Rishir.

After listening to the Masters’ conversation, Radros tapped the table.

All the Masters abruptly stopped talking and listened to him.

“Having gathered your opinions, I propose one thing. Rishir, how about we appoint him as an official mage of our magic tower?”

“That’s a good idea!”

Meltas and Didoa flinched.

Master Mortier, sitting next to them, clapped loudly and shouted.

As if responding to that, exclamations burst out from all around.

“An official mage. That’s a groundbreaking treatment.”

“That’s why, it’s a fitting treatment for him.”

“That’s exactly what I was about to say.”

“I agree! Let’s proceed right away!”

“When should we set the appointment ceremony?”

“The sooner the better! Before other places reach for Rishir with their filthy hands!”

“Then, let’s proceed with the appointment ceremony as soon as Rishir regains consciousness!”

“I agree!”

Didoa watched their antics with her characteristic emotionless eyes.

“Master Meltas. Do you see that?”

“Yes. I can’t believe it either. Those lunatics are supposed to be the clear-headed Masters I know.”

“That’s not it, everyone likes Rishir. If I tell Rishir this fact, he’ll be happy, right? I hope he regains consciousness soon. Ah. Speaking of which, I visited Rishir’s quarters this time and cooked a pot full of porridge. Senior Goje said that Rishir will regain consciousness soon, so I thought he might be hungry when he wakes up–“

“I understand, so calm down, Didoa. If even you start acting like that, this magic tower will become irredeemable.”

Tap tap.

Meltas tapped the desk, drawing the attention of everyone present.

“I can’t help but say one thing. You all. You’re talking as if Rishir is already an official mage.”

“What do you mean, Master Meltas! Surely, you don’t object to appointing him as an official mage!?”

Starting with Master Mortier, the Masters began to pour out their complaints at Meltas.

“Master Meltas! Weren’t you close with Rishir!?”

“Master Meltas! I misjudged you!”

Meltas sighed once more at the sight of his colleagues and spoke.

“You all. You aren’t considering Rishir’s wishes even a little bit.”

“What in the world are you talking about?”

“As we’ve discussed before, Rischier didn’t seem to want to become a mage of the Tower. More precisely, he expressed a strong aversion to the duties and responsibilities that a Tower mage must bear.”

“…!”

Ah!

Come to think of it, Master Meltas *did* know Rischier!

Look! Rischier-nim’s acquaintance is speaking!

The Masters, as if they’d never even voiced complaints about Meltas, listened to him with a gentleness they’d never shown before.

Seeing this, Meltas sighed once more and continued.

“Therefore, my proposal is this. To offer him the position of honorary mage, rather than a full-fledged one.”

“He will refuse a full mage appointment, but he would accept an honorary mage appointment! Is that it!”

“Then let’s do it that way!”

“The date of the appointment ceremony is-”

“…”

No.

Don’t just decide haphazardly. You have to consider Rischier’s opinion first, you know?

Meltas, looking weary, rubbed his temples and spoke to Didoa, the only one seemingly sane in this room.

“Didoa. What do you think?”

“I’m excited to be able to be a part of this meaningful position for Rischier.”

“Ah… I see…”

Meltas looked up at the ceiling.

Rischier. He wasn’t sure if the future of the Tower had become brighter or darker because of him.

***

“And so, I ended up disturbing your rest. The Masters were just so insistent… It’s quite shameful.”

Rischier gave a bitter smile at Meltas, whose explanation or perhaps excuse, ended in a sigh of lament.

“It’s alright, Master Meltas. Thank you for your concern. By the way, who were those people just now?”

Rischier looked towards the closed door.

A woman in a blue robe, and an elf in a green robe.

They had entered the room with Meltas, but had stepped out momentarily at Meltas’s request, “I have some private matters to discuss with this person, so could you please excuse us for a while?”

“They are investigators from another Tower.”

“Investigators?”

“The Mage Towers, when incidents involving black magic occur, require reports to at least two towers for verification of the investigation. Those men have requested a meeting with you regarding that matter. Once their verification is complete, the black magician case will finally be closed.”

“I understand why people freak out over black magicians. Is it always this much of a hassle?”

“It’s a regulation that came about after a necromancer was born due to negligence from one of the towers in the past. Even if it seems excessive, it’s necessary.”

“A necromancer… You’re talking about *that* time?”

“…You’re probably the only person in this world who can recall facing a necromancer like that.”

Meltas chuckled dryly, glancing out the door once.

“Anyway, if you’re alright with it–”

“Now? Are you serious?”

Pien glared at Meltas.

Meltas, interpreting it as ‘a wife’s scolding look concerned for her husband,’ fidgeted nervously.

“It seems Rishir’s condition is alright… and besides, those men are just delaying, with only the final step left…”

“And that final step is talking to me?”

“It’s a purely formal procedure. You’ll just say, ‘I’m the person from the report,’ and they’ll say, ‘So you’re the person from the report.'”

“Then let’s get it over with quickly.”

*Crack.*

*Crack.*

Rishir rose from the bed and stretched.

“I was actually feeling like a walk. Would it be alright to talk while walking outside?”

“Of course.”

“Then, I guess I’ll get going. If my condition worsens when I see you again later, you’d better watch out.”

Just as Rishir was about to walk out the door with Pien,

“Oh, right, Rishir. I almost forgot to say this.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t go seducing those two.”

“?”

“Ah, that sounds a bit weird. What I mean is, be kind to those Grey Mage Tower Masters. Well, you’ll understand what I mean once we talk about it.”

As they stepped out the door, the two investigators’ gazes locked onto Rishir.

He pointed towards the campus outside the dormitory and said,

“Let’s talk while we walk.”

***

Walked with the investigators for about ten minutes.

Lysir felt the full weight of Meltas’s words, that this was purely a formality.

A woman in a blue robe, Master Enna of the Blue Tower, spoke to Lysir with an utterly businesslike tone, exchanged formal questions and answers, and scribbled notes in her book – then closed it.

“Is that it?”

“Yes.”

“What are the results of the investigation?”

Meltas, who had been following at a distance, approached and asked.

“There are a few things that raise questions.”

“Speak your mind.”

“According to the report, his level was Fourth Circle. But his magical power is severely damaged now, making it impossible to verify.”

“That’s-“

“We will make the judgments.”

“…I see.”

Enna looked at Lysir with cold eyes.

Her gaze, inherently frosty, now held a different kind of chill after realizing Lysir’s humble background.

Someone without a family or school to boast of, reaching the Fourth Circle at this age?

Moreover, possessing such enormous dark magic abilities?

Enna was displeased – but she didn’t pursue any other questions.

After all, the High Elder of the Order had guaranteed the Grey Tower’s innocence.

With the Order involved, the investigators’ role was reduced to a mere formality.

“We conclude the investigation. Any objections, Raxiel?”

“None.”

Raxiel, the elf Master of the Green Tower, who had separated from the group for different reasons than Meltas, replied firmly.

Lysir, observing them, thought.

*If people like them had investigated me properly, I’d have choked to death.*

“You two have worked hard. You will be returning right away, I presume? I will arrange an escort.”

“No. I have remaining business.”

“Consider me the same.”

“Hmm?”

Meltas, as if waiting for the cue, started talking, then was taken aback by their reactions.

He’d been ready to send them off right away, they’d practically been radiating “get out of here” vibes, but what was this?

“What is this ‘business’ of yours?”

Was it just his imagination?

Enna’s demeanor, which had been as cold as ice, seemed to have thawed a little.

“I’ve overheard a story while here. They say there’s a genius mage, not even twenty yet, already at the 5th Circle, residing in the Gray Tower.”

“…!”

“I’d like to see who this is. Share some insight.”

As soon as Enna finished, Ratziel immediately stated his purpose.

“I found a mystical spirit inside the tower. I want to commune with it, but it keeps refusing. I hear there’s a human the spirit acknowledges as its master – I’d like to speak with them.”

“…”

Any other Masters would’ve gone berserk, throwing stones like agitated monkeys at these words.

Meltas tried his best not to meet Rishir’s gaze.