‘Why are they together?’
Pianus quickly turned the thought over in his mind.
Why was Hailey moving with the Tower of Fire’s high-ranking mages?
‘Are they planning to take down Gaon?’
The first thing that came to mind was ‘Gaon.’
Nothing else made sense.
Just then.
“Oh, Lord Pianus.”
Hailey spotted him and approached with a broad smile.
“I was just thinking of sending someone for you—what fate!”
“…?”
Lost in thought, Pianus looked puzzled.
Why would she send someone for him?
Seeing his expression, Hailey asked with a ‘could it be’ face.
“Perhaps you haven’t heard yet?”
“…You mean the situation at the central magic tower?”
“Oh, you have heard!”
“Yes, I have.”
“Then what do you plan to do?”
Hailey asked.
“For now, I intend to talk with him.”
“Talk with that man?”
Hailey retorted in a slightly flustered voice.
“Is there a problem?”
“Surely you heard that Lord Sinabro and Lord Elgein were overpowered?”
“No, I heard that too.”
“He’s a madman who showed up alone at the Tower of Fire. Wouldn’t talking to him be dangerous?”
“Hmm.”
Pianus let out a groan.
It wasn’t because he agreed it was dangerous.
He felt no danger at all.
Gardion Tower was at war with the Tower of Fire.
But the Alter Tower had no relation to Gardion.
Would Gaon really attack someone who came to talk?
The chances were very low.
‘This atmosphere…’
The reason Pianus groaned was the ominous vibe from Hailey and the Tower of Fire mages standing behind her.
“Why not come with us instead?”
Seeing Pianus silent, Hailey smiled brightly and asked.
And as if worried he might refuse, she added.
“Though Lord Sinabro and Lord Elgein were taken down, it was because they were isolated and picked off one by one. If the two of us join the Tower of Fire’s high-ranking mages, we can handle it without issue. And the Tower of Fire promised compensation as well.”
Finishing, Hailey stared intently at Pianus.
But he shook his head.
“No. I’ll go separately.”
Pianus was heading to the central tower to build ties and make a request.
Going with Hailey?
That would build enmity, not friendship, and the request would be off the table.
And even if Sinabro and Elgein were defeated, he doubted everyone here combined could stand against Gaon.
In other words, joining them was the worst choice.
“…”
Hailey groaned.
The atmosphere among the Tower of Fire high-ranking mages sank heavily.
An immense pressure formed.
For an ordinary mage, it would be suffocating.
But Pianus was no ordinary mage.
He was an Archmage who had crossed the wall.
And Vice Tower Master of the Alter Tower, one of the Ten Great Towers.
He had the experience and position to easily ignore the pressure from Hailey and the mages.
“Then.”
Pianus bowed his head slightly in greeting, unfazed.
Then walked past Hailey and the Tower of Fire mages.
Once they were a safe distance away, Bailey, who had been following, spoke.
“The atmosphere was ominous—will it be okay going like this?”
“Why? Think they’ll attack?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t worry. They’re in a situation where they need to conserve strength for us.”
Pianus was certain Hailey and the Tower of Fire mages wouldn’t attack.
The reason was Gaon.
They planned to attack Gaon.
Wasting strength elsewhere?
That made no sense.
“Still, if we’re together when they attack, we might get caught up—so stay alert.”
“Ah, yes. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Bailey exclaimed as if he understood.
Soon after, Pianus arrived at the central magic tower and paused briefly.
Unlike usual, the entrance was eerily quiet.
Like the sea before a storm.
Pianus resumed walking and entered the central magic tower.
He headed straight for the top floor.
The reason was simple.
[Come up.]
A voice had rung in his head the moment he entered.
Whoosh!
Gaon watched Elgein’s body burn fiercely and thought.
‘He knew less than I expected.’
He had thought Elgein would know a lot.
He did know quite a bit.
But most of it was things Gaon already knew.
And the things Gaon didn’t know were mostly useless information.
That didn’t mean the interrogation yielded nothing.
To be precise, Elgein gave little, but Sinabro provided much.
‘Latun, Blash…’
Latun and Blash—the second and third disciples of Reudi, who had betrayed him.
Surprisingly, Sinabro belonged to ‘Kurshum,’ an alliance of demon-world-aligned mages formed by Latun and Blash.
The reason Sinabro turned to the demon side was simple.
The 8th Circle.
To enter the 8th Circle.
Gaon understood.
He knew very well what the 8th Circle meant to a 7th-Circle mage.
It was a realm one would risk life for.
Being tempted by a promise of help to reach it was natural.
Of course, understanding didn’t mean he’d let it slide.
Brush.
Gaon looked at Sinabro.
‘He’s not the only one who turned.’
Was Sinabro the only defector?
Anyone reaching the 7th Circle eyed the 8th with 99.9% certainty.
There would be more than one or two besides Sinabro.
‘If only they’d used restrictions.’
Unlike Abyss, Kurshum didn’t impose restrictions.
That made them hard to find.
If the Tower of Fire hadn’t been at war with Gardion?
Gaon wouldn’t have come here and remained unaware of the defections.
‘…At least I know they exist now.’
Gaon set aside thoughts of Kurshum.
He focused his senses and thought.
‘What are they up to?’
Gaon was currently monitoring the entire Tower of Fire with his senses.
Those presumed to be high-ranking mages were moving busily.
‘Hailey? Or Pianus?’
The issue was that one of the remaining two Archmages was moving with them.
‘Well, I’ll know soon.’
The other Archmage was approaching the central magic tower.
With a single 5th-Circle mage in tow.
Soon, he’d know which one was leading the group.
‘But what’s the purpose?’
Gaon was curious.
Why the approaching Archmage was coming.
‘Not for a fight.’
If for battle, they’d join the group.
It was presumed for another reason.
Soon, the Archmage entered the central magic tower.
Gaon sent a message spell.
[Come up.]
The Archmage began ascending immediately.
And soon, Gaon faced him.
“I am Pianus, Vice Tower Master of the Alter Tower. It is an honor to meet you, Lord Gaon.”
“You know me?”
“This is my first time seeing you in person, but I’ve heard many stories from our Tower Master.”
“From Essiang?”
Gaon couldn’t help but question the unexpected answer.
He had no ties with Essiang, the Alter Tower Master.
He only knew of his existence.
Yet heard many stories from Essiang?
“Seventy-five years ago, when you gave lectures at Gardion Tower, he was there.”
“Ah.”
Gaon nodded in understanding.
In the past, Gaon had occasionally lectured large groups at Gardion Tower.
“But what brings you here?”
Gaon cut to the chase.
Pianus wasn’t here because of Essiang.
There was surely another reason.
“I have one piece of information to share and one request to make.”
“The request first.”
“Could you decipher an array installed in our tower?”
“Decipher? Not install?”
Gaon had to question it.
From what he’d heard from Sillin, Pianus came to the Tower of Fire for a large-scale defensive array installation.
Yet decipher?
“Yes. Is it perhaps impossible?”
“What kind of array?”
Gaon was curious.
The Alter Tower was the most proficient in arrays—magical or shamanic—among the Ten Great Towers.
Requesting deciphering from them meant it was no ordinary array.
“Well…”
Pianus trailed off, hesitating briefly.
Then began explaining.
After hearing it all, Gaon’s face showed surprise.
“Not right now, but I’ll visit soon.”
“Thank you.”
Pianus, worried Gaon might refuse, smiled broadly in gratitude.
Then Gaon asked.
“The information?”
“Vice Tower Master Hailey from the Tower of Wind is moving with the Tower of Fire’s high-ranking mages. Their target is you, Lord Gaon.”
“Ah, I already know that.”
“…Were you waiting for them?”
Pianus asked with a ‘could it be’ face.
“Yes. It’s easier to clean up all at once.”
“Ah…”
Pianus let out a low exclamation at the answer.
‘Clean up all at once…’
It was unimaginable to Pianus.
‘I did well coming here.’
If he’d accepted Hailey’s proposal?
He’d have met a bad end.
“Is there anything I can help with…?”
“No. This is something that only has meaning if I do it alone.”
Gaon answered with a bright smile.
“And I don’t particularly need help.”
“Understood. Then I’ll return to the tower and prepare.”
“Yes. See you later. I’ll come within a week at the latest.”
“Yes.”
Pianus bowed deeply and left.
Gaon fell into thought.
‘An array left by a dragon…’
Surprisingly, the array the Alter Tower requested deciphering was left by a ‘dragon.’
Which dragon was unknown.
Even the Alter Tower only knew of its existence, not its identity.
‘It can’t be my master, right?’
The first that came to mind was Ferbeng.
Most dragons lacked knowledge of arrays.
According to Ferbeng, only about 10% knew them well.
And dragons interacting with humans were less than 1%.
One proficient in arrays and interacting with humans?
Ferbeng coming to mind was perfectly natural.
‘Well, probably not.’
Of course, it crossed his mind, but Gaon thought it wasn’t Ferbeng.
Ferbeng had no connection to the Alter Tower.
Just then.
“……!”
Gaon’s eyes flashed.
Because of where Hailey and the Tower of Fire high-ranking mages were heading.
Sillin’s mansion.
Likely to propose joining forces.
‘Of course they’d go to Sillin.’
Gaon pondered.
‘Almost everyone’s gathered.’
Sillin wasn’t alone either.
She had summoned all the mages loyal to her.
In other words, soon most of the Tower of Fire’s high ranks would gather at Sillin’s mansion.
Then was there a reason to wait at the central tower?
‘Yes, no need to catch them here.’
Having decided, Gaon immediately left the central magic tower.
Heading to Sillin’s mansion, he thought.
‘How should I end this.’