Please, Just Read It

Please, I beg you to read this

Chapter 60

Last Move (3)

“As this is a meeting to discuss the qualifications of the Grand Magician in name, there will also be evaluations of Jan Irantes’ major achievements during this session.”

“…….”

“Naturally, a judgment regarding the Immortal Spell will be made that day as well.”

The morality of the Immortal Spell was still ambiguous.

Should we allow it since no magic was felt from the magicians belonging to Irantes?

Or should we punish them since it did contradict the flow of life and death?

Questions related to this matter have been incessantly discussed in the Inquisition Trials for the past few decades.

– Isn’t it an incantation that violates the cycle of life and death?! This must be defined as evil!

– Excuse me, do you feel any magic from the magicians of the Irantes Magic Tower? No, right?!

– Exactly! If the Immortal Spell had indeed violated the divine laws, the gods would have stepped in to stamp their mark on it first!

To prevent the imperial court from using this trial to eliminate political rivals, historically, it has been the principle that high nobles participate in the Inquisition Trials.

However, each time this noble faction gathered, they defended the Irantes Magic Tower.

The reason was simple.

Their goal was to receive the Immortal Spell from the Irantes Magic Tower.

Despite being one of the three major powers, one couldn’t simply dismiss the strong claims of these nobles and label the Irantes Magic Tower as a force of evil.

This was also the reason why there had been little progress in the Inquisition Trials over the past few decades.

“So, we plan to take advantage of this round table meeting.”

“…….”

“We intend to formally define the Irantes Magic Tower as a force of evil through a round table meeting comprised solely of the three major powers, without any opposing factions.”

As the pushback from the nobles was fierce, it implied they would lead the Irantes Magic Tower to a place where their voices held no power.

Only the round table meeting, where only the three major powers could exert influence.

“……Wait a minute.”

Hearing Garon Theobalt’s words, Riley raised a questioning eyebrow, evidently confused.

“Are you saying you are going to openly suppress the Irantes Magic Tower in the round table meeting, and yet the nobles will just sit back and do nothing?”

“Riley, there’s something you’re missing right now.”

With a slight chuckle, Garon Theobalt continued speaking.

“When did we say we would suppress the Irantes Magic Tower?”

“……Huh?”

“Think again about what the agenda for this round table meeting is.”

“Ah….”

Upon hearing that, Riley sighed as if she suddenly understood.

Right.

The agenda for this round table meeting was to discuss the promotion of Jan Irantes to Grand Magician.

In terms of formality, this was not a place to oppress or judge the Irantes Magic Tower.

Therefore, those supporting the Irantes Magic Tower had no reason to oppose this round table meeting.

“For the past few years, the imperial court has deliberately taken a humble stance. Every time something related to the Irantes Magic Tower came up, they always displayed a passive attitude.”

“…….”

“The imperial court has not only eased some of the regulations against the Irantes Magic Tower but has also continuously extended a gesture of reconciliation in public.”

Of course, that was merely a ruse.

Pretending to back down while secretly looking to ensnare the Irantes Magic Tower.

But wouldn’t nobles realize this fact?

Even nobles would not suspect that the imperial court had been plotting for years, sharpening its knives.

As time passed, people naturally accepted whatever was in front of them.

Ah, so the imperial court is finally taking a step back.

They are really going to acknowledge the Immortal Spell created by the Irantes Magic Tower.

Naturally, thoughts like these would spread among the nobles.

And in such a situation, if the imperial court declared it would hold a round table meeting to discuss Jan Irantes’ promotion to Grand Magician?

It was evident what would happen, right?

The voices of the noblefolk could already be faintly heard from here.

– Hoho, it seems the imperial court is finally looking to acknowledge the Irantes Magic Tower.

– They may have put on a facade of opposition, but it seems they too wish to attain the Immortal Spell.

– How disgraceful. Trying to be friendly now after all this time. Does the imperial court have no pride?

“Understand?”

“…….”

“None of the nobles opposed this round table meeting’s convening. Rather, they eagerly welcomed it.”

To become a Grand Magician, one truly had to undergo a treacherous journey.

And the round table meeting was practically the final hurdle of that journey.

Ian Shishikin, Cherdian Sokolov, Chrome Bell Stingwood, Dmitri Kisin, Marta Parherich.

Not a single one of those five Grand Magicians bypassed the round table meeting.

Thus, it was only natural for the nobles to welcome this round table meeting.

Just as history has shown, they expected Jan Irantes would emerge as a Grand Magician through this meeting.

But who would have guessed?

In reality, this round table meeting would turn out to be a trap to hunt down the Irantes Magic Tower.

“The three major powers are going to use the round table meeting to expose all the misdeeds of the Irantes Magic Tower.”

“…….”

“Using those misdeeds as justification, we will classify the Irantes Magic Tower as a force of evil.”

The Yukria Tower would have coordinated this plan with the other three major powers in advance.

It was evident from Garon Theobalt’s confident tone.

The three major powers had no reason to reject such an offer from the Yukria Tower.

As they had routinely kept the Irantes Magic Tower in check, they couldn’t miss out on an opportunity that provided a legitimate justification for a hunt like this.

‘What a thoroughly meticulous plan.’

[Indeed.]

As Riley expressed, it truly was a thoroughly meticulous plan.

You could roughly imagine how long Yukria had been waiting to sharpen their knives.

Yes.

This was the powerful strike that Yukria Tower had been preparing for years.

“Riley, you understand, don’t you? What kind of end the forces of evil meet.”

Once classified as a force of evil, the Irantes Magic Tower would never be able to escape decline.

All records about them would be burned, and their existence would be erased from the history of the empire forever.

That was how all evil forces had met their miserable fate until now.

“Of course, the Irantes Magic Tower wouldn’t simply stay idle.”

That went without saying.

Who would willingly surrender when they were on the brink of death?

The Irantes would certainly fight back until their last breath.

That’s why it’s war.

It can be said that not only numerous casualties would occur, but it would not be an exaggeration to say that Wilhelm City would be half-destroyed during this great battle.

No matter how powerful the three major factions were, they had to take risks of at least that magnitude to topple the Irantes Magic Tower.

“I hoped you wouldn’t get caught up in that war. That’s why I was trying hard to eliminate you both in the second exam.”

“…….”

“It would be better for you to choose a tower once the war is over, and the situation in the magic community has stabilized.”

The war with the Irantes Magic Tower would surely have great repercussions not only on the three major powers but on the entire empire.

And this great wave would sweep even the newly graduated magicians from the five great towers.

As Garon Theobalt said, it seemed far more stable to enter the five great towers after all the wars had finished than being in the midst of such tumult.

[So that was it.]

Now I finally understood Garon Theobalt’s actions during the second exam.

– So I will warn you one last time. Just give up. And aim for the next exam.

– Under these circumstances, I can’t guarantee your safety either.

Why did he keep encouraging Riley to surrender?

Why did he protect us during the explosion of ancient magic with a defense spell?

From the moment Garon Theobalt heard the plan from Becky, he had thought about protecting us from the war.

He just couldn’t explain everything during the selection exam, which was supervised by the Irantes Magic Tower, so he had to resort to somewhat drastic measures.

“So, I must ask you.”

“…….”

“Don’t enter the Irantes Magic Tower, at least.”

Garon Theobalt continued speaking.

“Just ignore the nomination they gave you. If you go there, you won’t be able to enjoy anything and will meet your end.”

“…….”

[…….]

Riley and I looked at Garon Theobalt across from us.

His eyes looked more earnest than ever, his sincere feelings almost tangible to us.

But.

We had no choice but to refuse Garon Theobalt’s request.

[Riley.]

‘Yes?’

[Convey what I say precisely. A very good plan has come up.]

We had a reason we had to do so.

“Miss Becky. And Lord Theobalt.”

“…….”

“Would you care to hear my plan?”

That would be the final move that would reinforce the powerful strike prepared by the three major powers.

*

“Child.”

“…….”

“Do you know about the round table meeting that will be held in three months?”

Hearing Jan Irantes’ voice, I looked straight ahead again.

Having completed his setup, he had now shifted his gaze from the chessboard to Riley.

[Hah……. Finally made the next move.]

Having stared at the chessboard for over 30 minutes without saying a word, I briefly let my thoughts wander.

[By the way, Riley.]

‘Yes?’

[What did he just ask?]

I had lost track of his words while recalling our conversation from last night.

‘He asked if I knew about the round table meeting happening in three months.’

[Ah.]

The round table meeting happening in three months?

How could I not know that?

We had just talked to the point of exhaustion about it yesterday.

[Well, you can answer that much, right?]

‘Yes.’

Riley looked away from the chessboard and replied, focusing on Jan Irantes.

“This round table meeting is understood to be regarding the promotion of the Lord of the Tower to Grand Magician.”

“Hmm.”

Hearing that answer, Jan Irantes nodded with a satisfied expression.

“Good. I’m glad I don’t have to explain everything.”

“…….”

“Now, child, I’ll only tell you the essentials, so pay close attention to what I say.”

In truth, it was painfully obvious what Jan Irantes was about to say.

Through this round table meeting, he would become a Grand Magician.

This would elevate the status of the main tower even further.

Well, he would probably say something like that to entice Riley to the Irantes Tower.

Hearing such predictable talk seemed less appealing than focusing back on the chess game.

“I’m going to eliminate all the other three major powers before the round table meeting takes place.”

[……?]

However, contrary to my expectations, Jan Irantes’ words were rather shocking.

Riley looked up at Jan Irantes with wide eyes, clearly startled.

Of course, it wasn’t just Riley who was shocked.

[Wait, what…….]

What did I just hear?

[……He’s saying he’ll eliminate the three major powers before the round table meeting?]

I couldn’t hide my disbelief at Jan Irantes’ outlandish statement.

Could he be making a bad joke? I looked up at him, but I quickly had to dismiss that thought.

“…….”

[…….]

The unwavering conviction in his eyes.

That was not the face of someone joking.

Jan Irantes was not one to spout nonsense. He was dead serious at this moment.

[……Is he really out of his mind?]

Of course, I had already known that Jan Irantes wasn’t entirely sane.

But still, this was crossing a line.

Saying he would eliminate the three major powers was not merely a declaration of war.

The imperial court, the Prime Minister’s office, and the five great towers.

Just by listening to those names, it was obvious that the three major powers were the cornerstone that formed the very foundation of the empire.

To say he would eliminate them implied he would bring the empire to ruin.

In other words.

Jan Irantes’ statement just now connoted a clear act of treason.