If the Royal Magic Academy is a training ground for young mages, the Mage Tower is the final destination for those who graduate from the Academy.
In other words, their workplace.
However, to become an official member of the Mage Tower, one must endure over five years as a student and earn the approval of the Mage Tower Master and the elders.
Thus, young mages, clad in brown cloaks, must prove themselves in various fields to gain favor from their superiors.
In the current crisis, all mages wear white cloaks, but originally, only officially recognized mages could don such attire.
The reason mages aim for the Mage Tower as their ultimate goal is simple: stable income, pride, and prestige.
Of course, not everyone’s path is smooth.
Some, consumed by a thirst for knowledge, leave the Mage Tower to become underground mages, while others depart due to differences in beliefs or ideals.
Free Mages refer to all mages unaffiliated with the Mage Tower.
Most Free Mages are those who, fed up with the Mage Tower’s corrupt structure, deserted it.
A minority are wanderers who never joined the Mage Tower to begin with.
The majority hail from the era of Talos’ youth, a time rife with corruption, so most Free Mages alive today are quite old.
Naturally, their relationship with the Mage Tower’s leadership is poor—so much so that they clash even during a national crisis like this.
“Negotiations? More like one side’s stubbornly refusing to budge,” Rita scoffed.
The Mage Tower’s leadership prides itself on being noble, official mages, while they belittle Free Mages as prideless losers or trash.
It’s a perspective akin to how knights view mercenaries.
“Even someone as refined as Karina has her reasons for not showing her face in a situation like this,” Rita thought.
In her previous life, Rita had followed Talos like a fanatic, so she wasn’t entirely ignorant of the situation.
The elders constantly brought up Free Mages, treating them as inferiors.
Talos, though more eloquent, shared the same intent.
Back then, Rita, blinded and deaf to the truth, recalled those memories with self-mockery.
“I knew it wasn’t right even then, but I foolishly closed my eyes and ears even tighter.”
In a way, this was an opportunity to set things right.
“What’s up? What’re you thinking about?”
While Rita was lost in thought, Blena and Seth exchanged glances and whispered to each other.
Rita turned to them and asked, “I believe it was said there’d be no scouting missions for a while. Is that correct?”
“Yeah. With the main camp in this state and the number of critically injured not decreasing, the Saint will be busy too. Plus, Marquis Grendel, who was acting as commander in Princess Sercia’s place, suddenly died. Count Loia is set to take over, so… didn’t the Princess suggest staying at the main camp for now?”
Confirming the schedule, Rita nodded.
“Then starting tomorrow, the Princess will be visiting the central headquarters’ tents.”
“Probably? She’ll need to brief Count Loia on various matters.”
“Then I’ll accompany the Princess tomorrow.”
“What?”
Despite Blena’s puzzled reaction, Rita gave a cold smile with sunken eyes.
***
At the center of the beast-slaying expedition’s main camp stood a cluster of tents for key figures.
These were well-equipped with essential facilities, and among them, a large tent adorned with the royal crest served as the meeting place for high-ranking officials.
Naturally, it was filled with supplies needed for record-keeping and strategy meetings, including messenger birds and communication orbs.
Talos, as the de facto master of the communication orb, was a frequent visitor.
As the representative of the Mage Tower, his duties included receiving daily reports from the elders leading the mages, offering minor advice, and requesting support from various regions via the communication orb—seemingly important tasks.
Of course, staying inside ensured his safety.
Unless an emergency like yesterday’s arose.
Talos owed his safe days here to Marquis Grendel, the former acting commander.
The Marquis had taken an interest in Talos’ extensive network, which included mages from other continents and those scattered across the kingdom, befitting his title as Mage Tower Master.
Thus, Marquis Grendel had asked Talos to secure as much support as possible.
For Talos, who’d been losing sleep over Rita’s fierce demeanor, it was a golden opportunity.
When Rita later heard of this and tried to intervene, Marquis Grendel’s presence ensured the matter was quietly dropped.
But…
‘It’s about time to step up,’ Rita thought, letting out a small scoff.
As Valery lifted the tent’s flap, the officials inside hurriedly bowed at the sight of Princess Sercia, Valery, and Rita.
“R-Rita?”
Only Talos, flustered, stood upright, mouth agape.
In his panic, he forgot to bow to the Princess.
Valery shot him a disapproving look, clearing his throat.
Startled, Talos hastily bowed, stealing glances at Rita.
Meanwhile, Rita, following the Princess into the tent, chuckled at the sight of Talos’ seat.
A wide desk with a luxurious purple cushion, a large communication orb carefully placed atop it, and an inexplicably fancy chair.
To an outsider, it might look like a lounge.
“Sitting here, sipping cool water, and tinkering with the communication orb?”
If the environment had been harsher, she might’ve let it slide.
But the unexpectedly lavish setup made Rita’s lips twitch.
“Well then, get to work. I have much to discuss with Count Loia,” Sercia said with a glance, heading to an inner area with the Count.
Only three record-keepers remained nearby.
Rita strode toward the flustered Talos and placed her hand on the blue communication orb atop the desk.
***
Using a communication orb is simple.
It contains several mana stones, and by channeling mana into the stone inscribed with the desired location, it connects to the corresponding orb.
It’s a method that utilizes special natural stones.
Due to their limited supply, they’re typically owned by organizations rather than individuals.
Rita selected Zarka, a small coastal city in the southeast of the central continent, specifically its mercenary guild.
“Rita? What are you doing?”
“It seems negotiations aren’t progressing, so I came to check. I’d like to speak with Karina myself.”
Mindful of the soldiers’ gazes, Rita replied nonchalantly.
Talos, equally conscious of onlookers, forced a smile.
“You’re busy enough; there’s no need for that. I’ll handle it.”
“I’ll be staying here for a while anyway, so it’s fine. Tell me the situation.”
Talos was momentarily speechless but regained his composure.
“It’s nothing major. They’re just making unreasonable demands.”
“Demands?”
“Mages should follow the Mage Tower’s orders, but they want to operate independently. That would disrupt our command structure. Isn’t it only right for them to join the Mage Tower? After all, the Mage Tower represents Lagos Kingdom’s mages, so we should unite as one.”
Talos clicked his tongue, lamenting the issue.
To an uninformed listener, it might sound reasonable, but to Rita, it was utter nonsense.
The Mage Tower simply wanted to keep the Free Mages under their thumb.
‘They don’t want the Free Mages’ organization to gain power,’ Rita thought.
The Free Mages, led by Karina as their representative, have formed an organization.
However, with members scattered across regions, unity and communication are challenging, making it a rather loose group.
But their individual prowess means that, when united, they wield significant power.
Thus, the elders smeared the Free Mages with all sorts of stigma to brainwash young mages, ensuring their group wouldn’t surpass the Mage Tower.
‘If the Free Mages participating in the beast-slaying expedition gain authority, they’ll form a stronger organization, one completely opposite to the rigid Mage Tower. Young mages would be drawn to it.’
If newly graduated Academy mages started choosing the Free Mages, it would be a nightmare for the Mage Tower’s leadership, who siphon off national funds meant for mage training.
Fewer mages in the Mage Tower would mean reduced support from the kingdom.
In her past life, Rita had unintentionally overheard the elders’ secretive talks and sighed.
At that moment, the communication orb, glowing golden, began to react.
“…huh? Again… where…”
A choppy voice came through clearly.
As the orb vibrated, Rita focused.
“What, the Mage Tower again?”
The grumbling voice grew clearer, followed by a refined tone.
“Yes, yes. This is the Sea Mercenary Guild.”
With the communication fully established, Rita spoke toward the golden-glowing orb.
“Greetings. This is Rita from the Mage Tower. I’m contacting you regarding the beast-slaying operation. I’d like to speak with Karina.”
Perhaps because it wasn’t the usual elderly voice, the other side stammered,
“Uh… um… Karina isn’t here right now. She left last night with our mercenary group for a job…”
“When will she return?”
“Probably this evening?”
“I see.”
“Uh… wait a second.”
The man’s hesitant voice quickened.
As Rita tilted her head, about to end the call, he continued,
“Why do you keep contacting us? We’re not here to be harassed.”
Caught off guard by his sudden outburst, Rita countered, “What?”
Realizing it wasn’t Talos but another mage, the man seized the chance to vent.
“Look, Karina isn’t your subordinate. Why do you keep ordering her around? Even if she was briefly with the Mage Tower, she left formally, didn’t she? That was ages ago, and you’re still…”
Talos, listening anxiously nearby, frowned but held back due to onlookers, quietly gauging Rita’s reaction.
“I see,” Rita said calmly.
The man, having unloaded his frustrations, concluded, “Anyway, stop calling so much. Karina aside, we’re the ones stuck running back and forth. What did we do to deserve this?”
The communication orb’s connection cut off.
Rita naturally turned to Talos, who forced a smile and shook his head.
“Rita, try to understand. That mercenary doesn’t know much about mages. Karina will come around with a bit more persuasion.”
“It didn’t sound like persuasion to me. It sounded like orders.”
As Rita corrected him, Talos gave a strained smile.
“Hm. Well, it could sound that way. But, Rita, the Mage Tower is the symbol of mages, isn’t it? All mages have a duty to follow it.”
His smile seemed patronizing to Rita, who sighed louder and corrected him again.
“Master, they’ve already left the Mage Tower.”
“Yes, they left, but…”
“They’re no longer part of the Mage Tower. Since they’re not part of it, they have no obligation to follow it. By your logic, they’re still under the Mage Tower—but has the Mage Tower continued to support them?”
“Well…”
“Are their names etched on the Mage Tower’s monument?”
“Of course not…”
“Then they’re not part of the Mage Tower. So, it’s not about giving them ‘orders’ but making ‘requests’.”
“But I was making requests…”
“That’s not how requests are made.”
“What?”
“You were giving them orders, Master.”
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