Chapter 46: The Tower Master’s Fall

Levan, upon arriving in Paesna, did not head straight to the royal palace.

The first place Levan went upon entering Paesna was none other than the Security Patrol's station set up in the plaza.

The reason was simple.

He had found some unexpectedly interesting items among the summoned beasts used by those scoundrels.

When Levan arrived at the patrol station and knocked, poking his head in, the only patrol member, Cham, greeted him with a pleased expression.

"Oh, what brings you here?"

"How have you been? I came because there's something I wanted to check."

"Something to check?"

"Yes."

With his answer, Levan dumped the pile of jewelry onto the table.

The true identity of the jewelry was none other than the ornaments obtained by capturing those fake raccoon thieves.

Like 'Mei’s Wedding Ring' or 'Harlan’s Necklace.'

After pouring out the jewelry, Levan spoke.

"These are items confiscated from the raccoon thieves causing trouble on the forest trail. Are there any people who reported thefts with the names Mei or Harlan?"

"If it’s Mei and Harlan, they reported thefts recently, didn’t they? Don’t tell me some of these are theirs?"

"Yes, there are. Ten kinds, in fact."

"T-ten of them, you say?"

"Yes. That’s why, I was wondering if I could get a copy of the theft reports."

"I could give you that, but why do you need the list?"

"This isn’t just any theft case. It’s related to the royal family, so I’d like your cooperation."

"The royal family…! Understood. I’ll get it for you right away."

With this, he had secured additional evidence.

Having obtained the list of theft reports, Levan promised to return the stolen items once everything was settled, and only then did he head to the royal palace.

Levan’s steps toward the palace were light as air.

In contrast, the three he was dragging along begged and pleaded to at least let them wear hoods. But Levan simply said,

"Nope, not happening. Move along."

He flatly refused their request.

After all, these guys were precious kindling to ignite a massive political battle.

Levan soon passed the saluting soldiers, who stared at him in surprise, and entered the royal palace of Paesna.

Once inside, the murmuring of the people was much more intense than outside.

That was because, unlike users who cared little about others, most of the NPCs inside the palace recognized the trio of magicians.

Levan enjoyed their gazes just enough and headed straight to the headquarters of the Red Lion Knights.

"Who goes there?"

"I’m here to see Captain Leon."

"Captain Leon?"

"Yes. If you say Levan is here, he’ll know. I’ve brought a present."

He arrived at the Red Lion headquarters.

The building’s walls were low, so the training grounds were visible from outside, and the Red Lion emblem drawn in various places was quite striking.

With mention of the "present," Levan dragged the three magicians, their heads bowed in shame, by the ropes to show them to a regular knight.

Recognizing the magicians, the knight was startled and quickly ushered Levan into the headquarters.

At the captain’s office, the knight knocked on the door and announced,

Knock, knock—

"Captain, Sir Levan has come with a present."

"Levan?"

At the mention of Levan, the door burst open from inside.

Leon, who had been working on paperwork, looked just as surprised as the regular knight when he saw Levan and the trio standing at the door.

Levan smiled brightly and greeted him.

"Would you care for some tea, Sir Leon?"

"Tea, splendid! Absolutely! Come in at once!"

"Thank you. But before that, could you take care of these fellows…"

"Ah, these guys?"

At Levan’s gesture, Leon suddenly clenched his fists, and then—

Smack! Bam! Whack!

He delivered three punches in quick succession, knocking out the trio in a single blow.

After felling the three with a single strike, Leon dusted off his fists and spoke.

"Just lock them away somewhere until I need them again."

"Yes, sir!"

The regular knight answered with a cheerful face at Leon’s order.

He then slung the three over his shoulders and disappeared with a lively step.

Levan watched this spectacle with his mouth half-open, and Leon raised a corner of his mouth as he spoke.

"Why the look?"

"Ah… it’s nothing."

"Good, then. Come in."

Truly a legendary knight.

So refreshingly bold.

The captain’s office was more modest than expected.

As Levan sat, Leon offered him a glass of cold water and said,

"I only drink cold water, so all I have is this."

"That’s fine. I’m not really much of a tea person myself."

"Didn’t know we had that in common. Well then, tell me—what in the world happened?"

At Leon’s question, Levan began to share the story he’d already prepared in his mind.

It was a story based on what he’d experienced, lightly edited to fit the facts.

Because Leon was an NPC, and NPCs didn’t know what a quest was.

That’s why users sometimes needed to tell a convincing lie.

Levan spoke.

"It all began while I was hunting raccoon thieves on the forest trail out of boredom, waiting for Ratel, who could appear at any moment…"

Levan’s explanation was simple.

He happened to find stolen property belonging to a citizen among the raccoon thieves he hunted, but it turned out the thief wasn’t a real raccoon but a summoned beast from the Mage Tower.

Then, just as he finished off the summoned beast, three magicians came to assassinate him, but he caught them instead and brought them here.

Of course, Levan didn’t forget to show the list of theft reporters and the stolen items he’d received from the Security Patrol.

The explanation ended soon.

But as Levan finished, Leon’s expression grew strangely heavy.

Why was that?

After a moment’s silence, Leon finally spoke in a grave tone.

"You."

"Yes?"

"Why do you think the Mage Tower released summoned beasts on the forest trail?"

"I’m not sure. I haven’t thought that far, so I don’t really know."

"I see. In that case, let me show you the answer myself."

With that, Leon stood from his seat.

He then donned all his armor laid out in the office and fastened his treasured sword to his waist.

"We’ll go to the Mage Tower right now."

The leader of the Red Lions was on the move.

---

"What did you say?"

"Um, that is… Kangte, Hooli, and Wilson are…"

At the very top of Paesna Mage Tower.

That place served as both office and personal research room for the Tower Masters.

So the top floor of Paesna Mage Tower was currently used by the present Tower Master, Ratel.

Upon hearing Deputy Tower Master Pim’s report, Ratel’s face twisted into a grimace.

It felt as if the whole room would freeze over.

Having finished his report, Pim kept silent out of fear.

"Get out."

"Excuse me?"

"I said, get out."

"Y-yes, sir!"

At Ratel’s roar, Pim hurriedly scurried from the office.

Left alone after Pim’s departure, Ratel leaned back in his chair, running his hand over his face.

‘What on earth is happening here?’

When Ratel learned that a Warmage had attacked the summoned beast, he thought the Warmage was simply throwing down a challenge to them.

After all, the Warmage and the Central Mage Tower Association were destined rivals.

So he sent subordinates of similar ability, according to the rules set by the Association, to face the Warmage.

Granted, sending three instead of one was far from a fair duel, but if they could just catch the Warmage, a bit of trickery could be quietly overlooked.

Yet, ironically, the ones who lost weren’t the Warmage, but his own side.

‘Fine. That much I can accept. But what I can’t for the life of me understand is…’

The fact that the Warmage had brought his defeated subordinates straight to the Red Lion Knights.

That was what Pim’s report had just relayed.

‘What is going on? Why did he bring my subordinates there?’

No matter how hard he racked his brain, he couldn’t find the answer.

He had never even imagined there could be any contact point between the Warmage and the Red Lion Knights.

But, as the saying goes, the thief’s foot hurts most—the tangled keywords were far from favorable for his situation.

After all, it was Ratel himself who’d ordered the release of summoned beasts onto the forest trail.

‘I took out some insurance just in case, but I’m still anxious… Even so, I have no grounds to act first in this situation.’

Ratel felt as if his head would burst.

And just then—

"T-Tower Master!"

Bursting noisily through the door was none other than Pim.

Ratel replied irritably,

"What are you making such a fuss about?"

"I-I'm sorry, but Sir Leon and the entire Red Lion Knights are here in the lobby right now!"

"What?!"

An unexpected visit from the Red Lions.

He couldn’t help but be shocked.

Ratel immediately rushed to the lobby with Pim.

Sure enough, just as Pim had said, Leon and the full Red Lion Knights, all heavily armed, had taken over the lobby.

Arriving on the first floor, Ratel shouted in anger,

"Sir Leon! What is the meaning of this? Bringing swords into the Mage Tower!"

The Mage Tower was the one and only repository of knowledge in the Kingdom of Paesna.

For that reason, no one was ever allowed to enter the tower while armed.

But Leon’s expression showed utter disregard for such unwritten rules; he looked down at Ratel without a hint of change.

Then—

Levan, hiding behind Leon, poked out his head.

"Hello?"

"Y-you!"

"I knew you’d recognize me. You know who I am, right?"

"Sir Leon! What is the meaning of this!!"

Boom!

Ratel’s enraged shout echoed throughout the first-floor lobby.

He was truly furious.

After all, not only had his arch-nemesis, the Warmage, set foot in his tower, he was now smirking from behind his political enemy, Leon—how could he not be enraged?

Only then did Leon speak up.

"I’ve already heard the story. That you, Tower Master, ordered your subordinates to kill Sir Levan here."

"And what of it? Our Central Mage Tower Association has been mortal enemies with the Warmage since ancient times."

"I know that. But I was told that those grudges are to be resolved through fair duels, not intrigue. Yet you sent three magicians and ordered assassination, not a duel. Do you admit this?"

"So what? What are you trying to say, Sir Leon? Surely you don’t mean to meddle in our affairs when you’re not even a magician?"

"I’ll take your words as an admission."

"Yes! Understand it however you like! But as I said, this is a matter for us magicians—there’s no need for you to interfere, Sir Leon!"

"I’m aware. I only brought this up because I wanted confirmation that you did indeed attempt to murder Sir Levan."

"What? What are you talking about…"

"Vice-captain."

"Yes, Captain."

Leon cut off Ratel’s protest and issued a cold order.

"As of this moment, Tower Master Ratel is to be considered a criminal until His Majesty gives judgment. Detain him at once."

"Yes, sir!"

"What? What nonsense is this! Sir Leon! You’d better explain what is going on right now!"

As the vice-captain approached Ratel with ropes, Ratel resisted furiously.

Leon shot back coldly,

"I’m not trying to meddle in the affairs of magicians. I’m here to punish you for trying to murder Sir Levan, the savior of His Majesty."

"What? What kind of nonsense is that!!"

Ratel fought back.

But in the end, he was subdued.

No matter how powerful he was among the elite in the Kingdom of Paesna, he was still lower than the king.

And so began Ratel’s downfall.