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Episode 72
The Tower and the Assistant (2)
“Okay, this way, wizard! Please follow me slowly!”
Thud, thud─.
Inside the Irantes Tower.
We walked down the straight corridor, following Tepi’s guidance.
The black passageway with its ceiling and walls made of obsidian created an extremely dark atmosphere. We walked silently toward the dim light at the end of the hall.
“Ah, we’ve arrived!”
How much did it cost to walk like that?
We were able to reach an open square.
“This is the indoor plaza on the first floor of the Irantes Tower!”
“… … .”
[… … .]
Indoor plaza.
As its name suggests, the first floor of the Irantes Tower was beautifully designed.
A place with a strong white beauty, in contrast to the black hallways we have passed through so far.
Colorful flowers and green bushes were placed throughout the marble-tiled square.
On the stone bench, what appeared to be magicians belonging to the Order of Irantes were conversing with each other.
“Oh, there you are!”
That was when.
A tepee pointing to one side of the square.
Riley and I quickly followed his fingers.
“… … .”
[… … .]
Swaaa …
The center of the square.
There was a splendid fountain installed there.
A woman was sitting at the edge of the fountain, watching us intently.
Gray hair that reaches down to his waist.
And that signature gentle smile that always hangs on his face.
“Elder Isabella!”
Tepi called her name in a bright voice.
“You’ve been waiting! I brought you Wizard Riley!”
“Yes, Tepi. Thank you for your hard work guiding me.”
A high-ranking ” Expert ” wizard, one of the seven elders of the Tower of Lantes .
Isabella Mage Triwizard welcomed us warmly.
* * *
“Well then, Wizard Riley, I’ll go in first. If you need anything later, please call me.”
After finishing giving directions, Tepi immediately parted ways with us.
It was because of Isabella’s request to speak alone with Riley.
“… … .”
[… … .]
The back of the tepee, moving further and further away across the square.
Isabella, who had been watching this with a faint smile, slowly opened her mouth when he disappeared completely from sight.
“Shall we take a walk?”
“Oh, yes.”
Isabella strolled leisurely through the square.
And Riley followed her slowly.
“As the general manager, I’m used to hearing you speak formally, so isn’t it a little awkward to speak like this?”
“I’m fine.”
“That’s good. Did you experience any inconveniences getting here?”
“yes.”
Isabella, after hearing Riley’s answer, smiled in an unknown way and asked the question again.
“What do you think of Tepee?”
“… … Tepee?”
“Yeah. Your assistant.”
Of course, I knew that Tepi was the assistant’s name.
But Riley asked Isabella’s question back for another reason.
“It’s still a bit ambiguous to say anything about Mr. Tepi because we only spent so little time together.”
“I’m just asking for a quick first impression.”
“Ah, first impressions… … .”
After thinking for a moment, Riley immediately gave an answer.
“He’s a bright friend. Maybe it’s because he’s my age, but it’s also easy to get along with him.”
“It’s not bad, is it?”
“yes.”
“That’s fortunate. We’re going to be together for the rest of our lives, so let’s stay close.”
“… … ?”
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Riley looked somewhat embarrassed when she heard that.
She paused for a moment and then asked me a question.
‘What did Elder Isabella just say?’
[Tepi said he will be with you for the rest of your life… … .]
The confusion on Riley’s face doubled.
Of course, I felt the same way as her.
[… … I’m a little confused.]
Usually, when an assistant reaches a certain level of ability, he or she becomes independent as a magician without exception.
Some people use the fact that they once served as an assistant to one of the five great magic towers as a qualification to join a school, an adventurer’s guild, etc.
In this way, the wizard who has gained various experiences gradually prepares for the selection test.
But we are meant to be together for the rest of our lives.
Does this mean that Tepi will never become independent again and will remain an assistant forever?
It was when Riley and I were confused and thinking like that.
“Oh, it looks like Tepi hasn’t explained it yet?”
Isabella read the question on Riley’s face and kindly answered the unasked question.
“Once a child takes on the role of assistant at the Lantes Tower, it is rare for them to quit.”
“… …Why is that?”
“The assistants are the first to refuse to become independent. Tepi is one of the children who refused to become independent.”
The assistants are the first to step forward and refuse to become independent.
That really didn’t make sense.
If you could become a wizard yourself, why would you throw away that possibility and spend your life supporting other wizards?
“Does the Irantes Tower really take good care of its assistants’ welfare?”
“Well, there is something like that.”
Isabella continued speaking in a quiet voice.
“But there is another, bigger reason.”
“… … .”
[… … .]
Towering─.
After saying that, Isabella stopped for a moment and continued talking while slowly looking around the square.
“Riley.”
“yes.”
“Look around. What do you see?”
Riley slowly looked around at Isabella’s words.
When I first looked around the indoor plaza, the scenery caught my eye first, but for some reason, now something else caught my eye first.
“… … .”
[… … .]
assistant.
I saw a lot of assistants running around the square.
Ta-da-da-dak─!
Children wearing clothes identical to Tepee’s were running around busily.
Even in the indoor plaza alone, it was like this, so it was impossible to guess how many assistants were working in other parts of the tower.
Riley, who confirmed the appearance, quietly gave an answer.
“… … The assistants are working really hard.”
“that’s right.”
Isabella nodded and said.
“But Riley, look at the faces of the assistants.”
“… … .”
“It seems like they work really hard, but doesn’t it seem like there’s not a single person who’s dissatisfied?”
It was just as Isabella said.
Although it was clear that the work was hard, not a single assistant showed any sign of dissatisfaction on their face.
At least that’s what all the assistants running around the indoor plaza did.
“Oh, I’ll pass! Just a moment! I’m in a hurry, I’m in a hurry!”
“Eww! Keep your eyes open! I almost bumped into something! I’m busy too!”
Rather, all the assistants were happy.
There was a proud smile on their lips.
It’s almost as if they feel like children who are so overwhelmed with excitement that they don’t know what to do with themselves when it comes to being assistants.
‘If you think about it… … Mr. Tepi was like that too.’
[huh.]
okay.
As Riley said, Tephy was just like them.
When we first met outside the tower, Tephy was also secretly excited about being given the role of Riley’s assistant.
“Well, I’ll tell you the reason slowly. For now, just follow me.”
“… … .”
[… … .]
Isabella ended the conversation with meaningful words and began to walk slowly again.
Thud, thud─.
Crunch, crunch─.
I walked for a long time.
The indoor plaza was larger than I expected.
After walking for about 10 minutes, we finally stopped in front of a hallway.
‘……mirror?’
mirror.
It was a hallway with all the walls made of mirrors.
Even the floor was made of mirrors.
A dark hallway made of obsidian is followed by a dazzling hallway made of mirrors.
For some reason, it seems like the hallways in the Irantes Tower are all uniquely unique.
“Riley.”
“yes.”
“In this mirrored hallway, you must not walk however you please and follow my path.”
“… … Elder’s route?”
“huh.”
Isabella continued speaking.
“I’ll give you a detailed explanation later, so just do this for now. Otherwise, we’ll be in big trouble.”
Nod.
Riley nodded with a wary expression.
After confirming the answer, Isabella walked leisurely down the mirrored hallway.
Crunch, crunch─.
“… … .”
[… … .]
Riley stood still and observed her movements.
After finishing all the analysis, she started to walk slowly.
channel.
stride.
speed.
And the order of the steps.
As expected from Riley, who had spent a long time in the Thieves’ Guild and had learned many walking techniques, she was able to quickly mimic Isabella’s gait.
Crunch, crunch─.
Thud, thud─.
“… … .”
[… … .]
The sound of two footsteps echoed through the hallway.
It was at that moment that Riley was walking down the mirrored hallway, following Isabella’s footsteps.
Hwaaaa …
At that very moment.
A view that suddenly flips over.
When we came to our senses, we found ourselves in an unfamiliar space in the blink of an eye.
“… … .”
[… … .]
There was no sense of floating or blackout that followed teleportation.
It was a moment when Riley was somewhat confused by the teleportation that occurred in the blink of an eye without any warning.
“I guess you’re a little surprised.”
Isabella glanced at Riley’s expression and spoke with a faint smile.
“Our tower uses the mirrored corridors placed throughout the first floor to move between floors like this. There are “warp gates” placed all over the tower that utilize walking.”
“… … .”
“Well, I’ll send you some notes later via tape, so make sure to memorize them.”
Riley nodded slowly after hearing Isabella’s words.
She carefully looked around and then cautiously opened her mouth.
“By the way, Elder. This place is… … .”
“This is my personal study.”
Personal study.
True to its name, the room boasted a cozy atmosphere.
A dark room, with only one candle on the table lighting up the surroundings.
The walls were lined with bookshelves, and Isabella took out a thick tome from them.
“What are you doing? Come to work. I have something to show you.”
Isabella gestures gently towards Riley while sitting on the sofa.
Riley took a seat across from her.
Swish─.
Isabella passed the book across the table in the middle.
She continued, poking her finger at one side of the page.
“Here, read this page slowly once.”
“… … .”
[… … .]
We read where she pointed.
【 Tepi Gronhild, 14 years old, male 】
-Tepi Gronhild was rescued from an illegal slave market near the Haslpart Mountains.
– He is an orphan. His parents are believed to have died from famine.
-Received the blessing of mana at the time of discovery. +As of July 2nd, 1302 of the Ritas Empire Calendar, possesses magical skills at the level of an apprentice .
-While being sold to Baroness Adamella von Grotes, who was rumored to secretly enjoy sodomy in the underworld… … .
-… .
-… .
“This is… … .”
“It’s a record book that contains all the assistants’ life stories.”
“… … .”
“Please keep reading. We will be together for the rest of our lives, so it would be good to know about Tepi’s past in advance.”
After hearing that, Riley continued reading Teffi’s story.
“… … .”
[… … .]
Swish, swish─.
Inside the book, Tepi’s story was written in handwriting.
What kind of life has he lived so far? What kind of values has he formed as a result? What kind of magician’s assistant will his personality have a positive effect on?
After reading all those stories, Riley just stared blankly at the book.
“how is it?”
“… … .”
“Don’t you feel a little sorry for Tepi?”
Riley said nothing in response.
It was a silent affirmation to Isabella’s question.
okay.
Tephy has lived a pitiful life.
His parents died during a famine, and he spent half his life wandering around the slave markets.
If the magician of the Irantes, who recognized Tephi’s talent, had not saved him, he would have probably lived his entire life worse than an animal and died.
“Our tower saved Tepi, who was struggling in the pit of despair.”
“… … Is it because of that sense of debt that Tephi devotes himself to the Tower of Irantes?”
“I think it’s more of a feeling of longing than a sense of indebtedness. You’re working with the wizard who saved you. From Tephi’s perspective, what could be happier than that?”
And the respect Tephi had for the benefactor who saved her grew over time into an admiration that encompassed the entire Irantes Tower.
In this way, a dedicated assistant was born at the Magic Tower.
No matter how hard the work is, Tepi can’t help but be happy because he’s helping the person who saved him.
After hearing that, Riley was silent for a moment, then asked Isabella the question again.
“Are all the other assistants like this?”
Did the Irantes Matap use the unfortunate pasts of children to create loyal assistants?
Isabella answered with a faint smile when she heard the question.
“Why don’t you just turn the next page of the book yourself instead of asking me?”
“… … .”
[… … .]
After hearing that, Riley carefully turned the page.
Ssuk─.
Swish, swish─.
Next page. And the next page after that.
As the chapter progressed, Riley’s expression grew darker and darker.
