Chapter 112: The Central Magic Tower

“……!!!”

Sillin flinched at Gaon’s question.

She quickly glanced around before continuing.

“Please come inside first.”

At Sillin’s words, Gaon smiled.

From her reaction, it didn’t seem like the talk would end badly.

And Gaon’s prediction was accurate.

“You’re guaranteeing autonomy…?”

Once they reached her office, Sillin asked cautiously, gauging Gaon’s expression.

Gaon grinned widely.

The fact that she brought up autonomy meant she hadn’t fully decided yet, but she was clearly leaning toward accepting the proposal.

“Of course that’s guaranteed. You didn’t think I was planning to rule the Tower of Fire myself, did you?”

“That’s not it, but…”

Sillin trailed off.

She had heard Gaon’s proposal from Hedow and Rian.

He hadn’t explicitly said he would dominate the Tower of Fire.

But from Sillin’s perspective, it looked like the Tower of Fire would end up subordinate to Gardion Tower.

“Let me say it clearly. I have no intention of ruling the Tower of Fire. What I want are two things: don’t touch Varta or Gardion. And you can fight for power with other forces if you want, but only after we’ve driven out the demon world—not before.”

“…If another force attacks us first, can we counterattack?”

“Of course. I’m not saying you should just take the hits. I mean don’t start it yourselves.”

“Hmm…”

Sillin nodded as if she understood.

Then she stopped nodding and answered with a resolute expression.

“I’ll accept your proposal.”

Originally, Sillin had planned to talk at length.

This wasn’t an ordinary matter.

But facing Gaon directly changed her mind.

Prolonging the discussion wouldn’t change anything.

In fact, dragging it out would only put her at a disadvantage.

“Good choice.”

“But there’s one thing I’m curious about—may I ask?”

“What is it?”

“How exactly do you plan to… entrust the tower to me?”

Gaon had said he would leave the Tower of Fire to Sillin.

But unlike Gardion Tower, Gaon had zero influence here.

She was curious about how he intended to do it.

‘Is he really planning to kill everyone?’

There was one method she could guess.

Gaon had killed Vice Tower Master Max.

If he eliminated all the other real power holders like Max?

In the end, Sillin would lead the tower.

But doing so would cause enormous backlash.

“Starting with the Tower Master, I’m going to kill everyone who deserves to die. Among those left, you’ll be the only one capable of leading the tower.”

Sillin realized from Gaon’s response that her guess was correct.

“But besides Sinabro and Elgein, there seem to be two more Archmages—do you know who they are?”

Tower Master Sinabro.

Vice Tower Master Elgein.

There were two more Archmages beyond those two.

Gaon was curious who they were.

“……!”

Sillin’s face showed shock.

“How did you know that…?”

The two Archmages Gaon mentioned were clearly Vice Tower Master Hailey from the Tower of Wind and Vice Tower Master Pianus from the Alter Tower.

That’s why she was even more surprised.

Not many knew about their visits.

It could be counted on one hand.

“You know them, I see.”

Gaon smiled at Sillin’s reaction.

He had wondered what he’d do if she didn’t know, but fortunately, she did.

“Yes, it’s Vice Tower Master Hailey from the Tower of Wind and Vice Tower Master Pianus from the Alter Tower.”

“Hmm, as expected…”

Gaon nodded as if he’d anticipated it.

There weren’t many 7th-Circle Archmages.

He had guessed they might be high-ranking officials from other towers or court mage leaders from powerful nations—and he was right.

“Why are they here?”

He had guessed their identities, but not their purpose.

Why had vice tower masters from those two towers visited the Tower of Fire?

“First, Vice Tower Master Hailey is requesting cooperation.”

“Cooperation?”

“Yes. A lava giant has appeared in Coexistence Zone 12, which the Tower of Wind is holding back, and it’s said to have very strong resistance to wind magic.”

“Then why the Tower of Fire? Isn’t the Tower of Water closer and better suited?”

Gaon tilted his head in question.

The Tower of Water was near the Tower of Wind.

And against a lava giant, the Tower of Water would be more effective.

So why request help from the Tower of Fire specifically?

“There was a conflict with the Tower of Water. It seems relations have deteriorated to the point where cooperation isn’t possible.”

“Hmm.”

Gaon let out a groan.

‘If it was that serious, I should have heard about it…’

Gaon was currently receiving reports from various sources.

But there was no information about the Tower of Wind and Tower of Water.

“What about the Alter Tower’s vice tower master?”

“It’s for a deal. They’re planning to install a large-scale defensive array and requested participation.”

“Then there’s no need to deal with them.”

If they might interfere with his future plans, he had considered eliminating them.

But hearing their purposes, it seemed they wouldn’t be a hindrance.

Sillin had nothing to say to Gaon’s words.

She was shocked that he casually mentioned “dealing with” them.

‘Well, of course…’

She understood.

She knew what kind of existence Gaon was.

The first Tower Master of Gardion Tower, called the strongest mage in history.

7th-Circle Archmages were revered by many, but not by Gaon.

“I’m starting now.”

Gaon stood up and said to Sillin.

“Is there anything I can help with…?”

Sillin asked as she stood as well.

She had accepted the proposal, but it wasn’t after deep consideration.

Instinct had played a bigger role than reason.

So the current situation felt extremely chaotic, and she couldn’t think of what to do.

“There’s nothing in particular to help with. Think about how you’ll best lead the remaining mages. There will definitely be some who rage about revenge or betrayal. Whether you suppress them with force or persuade them with words—that’s up to you.”

“……!”

Sillin’s eyes flashed at Gaon’s words.

Up until now, she had thought Gaon would kill every mage who could be a problem.

But listening to him, it seemed that wasn’t the case.

‘He said he’d only kill those who deserve to die.’

Come to think of it, Gaon hadn’t said he’d kill everyone from the start.

“…Understood.”

Sillin nodded.

And at that moment, Gaon exclaimed as if remembering something.

“Ah, there’s one thing I need to ask.”

“Tell me.”

“Could you call the butler who came out to greet me earlier?”

“…?”

Sillin couldn’t help but be puzzled.

Why the butler all of a sudden?

For now, Sillin used message magic to summon him.

Soon after, the butler arrived.

He looked confused.

Gaon asked the butler.

“How long have you served Sillin?”

“It’s been twenty years this year.”

“I see.”

Gaon nodded as if he understood.

And in that instant.

Crack!

The butler froze solid.

“…G-Gaon-nim! What is this!”

Shocked by the sudden situation, Sillin cried out.

Gaon turned his head to look at Sillin.

And silently gazed at her.

Sillin calmed her emotions in response.

Soon, having fully composed herself, she asked Gaon.

“Why did you kill him…?”

There must be a reason.

He wouldn’t have killed the butler for no cause.

Sillin hoped it was a reason she could accept.

After all, she had spent twenty years with that butler.

Twenty years was by no means a short time.

Breaking the silence, Gaon answered her question.

“Because he’s a traitor.”

The reason Gaon killed the butler was very simple.

There were restrictions in his head and heart.

In other words, he belonged to Abyss.

“…?”

Sillin looked puzzled at Gaon’s answer.

But that lasted only a moment before she cried out in shock again.

“A t-traitor? You mean a betrayer of humanity?”

“Yes.”

“Is… is there proof?”

Sillin asked with an incredulous face.

Gaon turned to look at the butler.

“Check his head and heart. You’ll see what wasn’t visible before.”

At Gaon’s words, Sillin approached the butler and placed her hand on the ice.

And soon after.

Twitch.

Sillin flinched and pulled her hand away.

She stared blankly at the butler.

Then Gaon said to her.

“People close like that butler will die.”

The butler wouldn’t be the end.

Considering the Tower of Fire’s scale, Abyss could be among the high ranks too.

And Gaon intended to kill every single one without exception.

Brush.

Snapping out of it at Gaon’s words, Sillin turned her head.

And answered with a resolute face.

“It’s fine. If they’re traitors.”

Hearing Sillin’s response, Gaon looked satisfied.

It was a very pleasing answer.

“Then I’ll see you later.”

Gaon bid farewell to Sillin and left the mansion.

He strode forward without hesitation.

His destination was set.

The ‘central magic tower.’

The reason Gaon headed there was, of course, to cause a scene.

Making trouble in the central tower would be extremely noisy.

But that was exactly what Gaon wanted.

He had no intention of handling this quietly.

He planned to make it as loud as possible, so many would know.

To widely proclaim to the world the fate of the Tower of Fire that had declared war on Gardion Tower.

‘But who could it be?’

Currently, two Archmage presences were detected in the central tower.

He didn’t know who.

It might not be Tower Master Sinabro or Vice Tower Master Elgein, but the guests Hailey or Pianus.

Of course, it didn’t matter if it was Hailey or Pianus.

If the central tower got noisy, Sinabro or Elgein would have no choice but to appear.

Step!

Soon arriving at the central magic tower, Gaon looked up at it.

Numerous defensive arrays were engraved on the central tower.

And that wasn’t all.

Countless defensive artifacts were installed.

Ordinary magic wouldn’t scratch it.

Literally, for ‘ordinary magic.’

Gaon’s magic was not ‘ordinary.’

Honestly, Gaon could blow away the central tower itself along with the arrays and artifacts.

Of course, he could—but he had no intention of actually destroying the central tower.

There were countless people inside.

If they all deserved death, that would be one thing, but they didn’t.

Still, he wasn’t planning to leave the central tower untouched.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Soon, numerous magic circles appeared around Gaon.

Ice spears poured out from the circles and began flying toward the tower.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ice spears exploded against the outer walls, resounding with blasts.

Every single defensive array and artifact on the walls was destroyed without exception.

Having neutralized the arrays and artifacts with one attack, Gaon waited briefly.

“You crazy—”

“S-Someone used magic? On the central tower?”

“W-What? All the arrays are destroyed?”

“Wasn’t that Ice Spike?”

Many people were in the central tower.

Everyone was shocked by Gaon’s attack.

But that was all.

No one tried to stop him.

They only observed and gauged the situation.

Soon, mages began pouring out of the tower.

Naturally, they weren’t ordinary mages.

They were from the ‘Security Force’ responsible for the Tower of Fire’s public order.

Gaon, who had been waiting silently, released Pacheonki the moment the Security Force mages appeared, dominating the surrounding space.

And suppressed them.

Naturally, no one could withstand Gaon’s pressure, and every Security Force mage collapsed face-down on the ground without exception.

Having subdued them, Gaon did nothing more.

He waited quietly again, as before.

But the atmosphere around was no longer the same.

No one opened their mouth.

The Security Force wasn’t something anyone could join.

One needed at least the 4th Circle.

In other words, those sprawled on the ground were all mages of the 4th Circle or higher.

Yet they couldn’t get up.

Who could speak in such a situation?

Silence fell, and soon after.

“Who dares!”

One of the 7th-Circle Archmages inside the tower appeared.

Gaon smiled broadly at the Archmage.