Chapter 1 Part 24: People Are The Enemy

“Then shouldn’t this place just be called the ‘Magic Tower Nation’?”

“Well, I don’t know.

It’s too small a piece of land to call it that.

You can just think of it as the Archmage’s personal territory.

That’ll make it easier.”

Only then did Asher nod as if he finally understood completely.

Asher grabbed the map with both hands and spread it open.

The map was a bit big for his short limbs, but Asher succeeded in spreading it by stretching his arms out wide.

On either side of the area colored white, the words [Neonde] and [Polkain] were written.

Asher’s eyes lit up.

“Neonde Empire, I know this country!

It’s where Uncle Hiis lives!”

Uncle?

Before Alice could ask for details, Asher asked.

“Hey.

Where is your house, Alice?”

“My house is over here.”

Alice pointed to the word [Polkain].

If you walk just a little way from the Magic Tower, another country appears right before your eyes.

It was amusing, feeling like a traveler for no reason.

“So Polkain is your hometown, Alice?”

“No.

Originally, I’m from the Neonde Empire.”

Ah, so you lived in the same place as Uncle.

Asher grew curious.

“Don’t people usually live in their hometown?”

“I moved because of some circumstances.”

Asher swung his feet.

What kind of place was Alice’s house?

It probably wasn’t as big as here, but it must be just as nice.

Someday, I’d like to visit it sometime.

Matching his feet, his tail also wagged in the air.

Just as Asher was moving his tail and feet, a strange sound came from his stomach.

Asher immediately hugged his stomach and made a pained face.

“Alice, I’m hungry.”

“Ah, sorry.

I didn’t realize time was passing while reading to you.”

Alice immediately draped the robe he had taken off.

“I’ll go get food.”

“Hurry back~.”

Waved off by Asher, Alice boarded the elevator.

Today again, the elevator was swarming with physically weak mages.

Only a very few, like Aslan, used the stairs.

“Ah.

They said to stop using the elevator from the infirmary.”

“Then just shut down the infirmary.”

“You’re a genius, really.”

They say with their mouths, “I should exercise, I should exercise,” while their bodies faithfully board the elevator.

As expected, people are all the same.

Feeling a sense of camaraderie rising in his chest, Alice painfully squeezed his way inside.

I hope no one else gets on from other floors, wishing a wish that would never come true.

“Oh, Alice.”

Alice turned his eyes.

His seniors were standing side by side.

The seniors waved at Alice.

“Hi.”

“Hello.”

The moment Alice also bowed his head, two small boys peeked out from behind the seniors.

One child had light purple hair grown down to his waist, and the other had it grown down to his chest.

The position of the brooches fastening their robes was also different.

One had it on the right, the other on the left.

“Who are these mages?”

The seniors readily answered.

“You’re probably seeing them for the first time.

They’re new recruits who joined while you were gone.”

“They look young, though?”

“Yeah.

The youngest.

I think they’re fifteen this year.”

“Did they get permission from their parents?”

“They said they wanted to join on their own.

Hey, greet your senior.

Even though he left midway and came back, a senior is still a senior.”

Holding each other’s hands, the two boys bowed simultaneously.

It was perfectly synchronized.

Two pairs of eyes, calm as a lake, looked at Alice at the same time.

They were light purple eyes, the same color as their hair.

“Are they twins?”

“Yeah.

That’s why we were amazed too.”

To be born with talent in their mouths side by side, their luck was extraordinary.

Alice asked.

“What’s your birthstone?”

“Topaz.”

“Topaz.”

Their two mouths moved at the same time.

Not knowing about other things, but he never expected them to speak simultaneously too.

Not all twins would be this perfectly in sync, probably.

Alice laughed awkwardly.

“That’s the same birthstone as the current Archmage.”

“We consider it an honor to be born with the same birthstone as the Archmage.”

“We consider it an honor to be born with the same birthstone as the Archmage.”

How could they be so perfectly synchronized from start to finish?

Just as Alice was thinking that.

“Because we are one.”

“Because we are one.”

“…What?”

The two looked at each other.

“Right, Zeria?”

“Yeah.

Cheria.”

With that, Zeria and Cheria hid behind the seniors again.

As expected, these kids also had their own quirks.

Still, they seemed polite.

“Seems like Clam was the last ill-mannered junior.

Besides these kids, the other new recruits are very well-behaved.”

“…”

What was this?

This feeling of somehow being at a loss.

As Alice was just fidgeting with his robe hem, the seniors snapped their fingers.

“Right.

Speaking of the Archmage reminds me, did you hear the news?”

“What news?”

“They say the Archmage killed King Casanta.”

“Ah.

For a moment there, I thought…

The Archmage killed King Casanta…”

He almost bit his tongue.

Alice quietly looked the seniors up and down.

Despairingly, he couldn’t sense any hint of lying.

They never lie only at times like this.

Clinging to the wall, Alice took deep breaths.

Zeria and Cheria peeked their heads out again simultaneously.

“He’s weak-hearted.”

“He’s weak-hearted.”

“Is there such a word besides strong-hearted?”

“If not, then never mind.”

“If not, then never mind.”

With that, they disappeared again.

Alice, already sweating coldly, barely managed to speak.

“That’s a big problem.”

The seniors let out deep sighs.

“Right?

It’s a big problem, isn’t it?”

“Ah.

We’re worried they might cancel our long-term mission.

To be away right now of all times.

Who knows when Casanta might attack.”

To kill a king, of all people, with a clear head without batting an eye.

Alice asked cautiously.

“Why did she kill him?”

“We don’t know the details either.

But one thing is for sure.”

“That king was relentlessly bothering the Archmage.

Piling up money like a mountain for her.”

The seniors even looked at each other as they spoke.

“This Archmage is particularly sinful, isn’t she?

In some cities, they even worship her as a goddess, I hear?”

“When I first saw her, I was completely captivated.

I’ve never seen anyone more beautiful than our boss.”

“Our boss?”

“My wife.

Well, still, in my eyes, the boss is the prettiest.

Anyway, killing a king.

That’s not right, is it?”

“Not ‘not right.’

It’s very wrong.”

The seniors looked at each other and sighed simultaneously.

“Ah, what do we do?

The more I think about it, the more anxious I get.

We might really have to cancel our long-term mission.”

“Right.

Is this the time to be away?”

So I wasn’t the only one surprised.

Yeah, even mages would be surprised in a situation like this.

Just as Alice was inwardly relieved, the seniors’ breathing grew slightly ragged.

“If Casanta sends an army, the Archmage will use proper magic too, right?”

A flicker of madness appeared in the seniors’ eyes.

Clenching their fists, they grew excited.

“I want to see it.

I’ve never seen it before…!”

“Maybe she’ll even destroy Casanta instead!

Why miss out on such a good spectacle?!”

“No matter how obsessed we are with stones, this time is an exception!

I want to see it with my own eyes!

That magical power said to be mightier than a dragon’s!”

“The Archmage could probably even create mana stones artificially!”

…Right.

Of course they wouldn’t be surprised for the same reason as me.

I had underestimated these folks again.

Alice pressed his forehead as he got off the elevator.

“This Archmage definitely won’t be forgotten by people either.”

Rather, her name would be inscribed in history books in huge letters.

With events that would go down in history happening every day, could he endure it?

Slumping to the floor, Alice muttered.

“This place is really crazy.”

I’ll definitely save up a fortune and get out of here.

But what if unexpected things happen while studying and I run out of money again?

Just thinking about that nauseating situation made Alice shudder.

A second re-employment is absolutely out of the question.

Just thinking about it made his mind feel impoverished.

The other mages definitely wouldn’t tolerate it that time.

They’d definitely look at him with eyes that said, ‘What’s wrong with this idiot?’

“But I can’t give up studying.”

For the first time in his life, this was studying he started for himself, not because of others’ coercion or for the future.

He absolutely couldn’t give this up.

Re-employment twice, three times, I’ll do it—no, getting re-employed here again is impossible.

I’ll just work at Metwick Academy for a low salary…

No, that doesn’t seem right either.

His stomach hurt again.

Alice was half-crying.

“An educational institution that should set an example, cutting salaries.

My goodness.”

The continent had no future.

It was true what they said: those who have, do worse.

The saying that institutions that develop rapidly do so by grinding people down for cheap was true.

Just as Alice was hitting the innocent floor,

“…You’re in the way.”

Alice’s body was lifted up.

In the Magic Tower, there was only one person who could lift people like this with one hand.

A mane-like head of hair came into view.

“Hi, Aslan.”

Alice waved his hand for no reason.

Instead of answering, Aslan lifted Alice higher.

Alice’s blue eyes and Aslan’s red eyes met.

Alice carefully requested.

“Can you put me down?”

I’m getting used to this, and I’m afraid it might even start becoming amusing.

Alice dangled his floating feet and laughed awkwardly.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

“I need to take food to Asher…”

“Will he die if he eats a little late?”

Alice searched his memory.

The seniors definitely said.

“He won’t die, but he gets a bit violent.”

Aslan clicked his tongue, tch.

“Anyway, that kid sure has his ways.”

“I didn’t know since I just got here, but didn’t you know either?”

“Uh.

I’ve never been late feeding him.”

“You’re still diligent as ever.”

Aslan frowned as if wondering why he was being praised for everything.