If a School accepts outlaws as their followers, the moment this fact becomes known, they face significant trouble.
However, the Haeju School was an exception.
Agnes and Rupert didn’t discriminate against anyone and were even likely to appreciate the Silver Wing Knights joining.
Why? Because their only fault was entering the Magic Tower without permission, unlike common outlaws or those intending harm within the tower.
Conversely, senior members who entered as aspiring Curse Magicians had already transformed into notorious fugitives across the continent.
The escalating decibels of the receptionist’s warnings confirmed this.
“It’s about time.”
“Time for what?”
“The new recruits.”
“Why would new recruits come to a place like this? Was that why there are so many membership applications?”
Numerous footsteps could be heard from beyond the wall.
After sending a displeased look at Toby.
I opened the entrance to the secret passage leading to the stairs. It was the same place where the former Prina had captured me.
As expected, the Silver Wing Knights were being chased away by the security forces as they fled in droves.
The ranks of mages chasing them, robes billowing, had pushed the knights into a corner.
They seemed eager to draw their swords and fight back, but hesitated, perhaps fearing greater losses.
What they wanted was to take Mariel away, not to start a war.
“Come on, everyone, this way.”
“…!!”
The members in the middle of the ranks were surprised by the sudden appearance of a door between the stairs.
However, those quick to notice immediately halted their advance and leaped into the corridor.
Simultaneously, smoke bombs went off behind them. Having lived as adventurers, they certainly had some basic skills.
“Damn it, what are these mage b*stards doing, attacking us in droves…!”
“Pip’s been caught. Should we go rescue him now?”
“No need to worry. They’ve just entered the Magic Tower without permission; they’ll receive exit orders after a ban on entry.”
“And you…?”
“Lower your voices and come this way. It wouldn’t be good if you get in our way.”
Before being caught by the security forces, I guided them to the Haeju School’s counter.
The knights looked disheartened, either because combat wasn’t their specialty or because of the weakened prestige of the Silver Wings Knights.
In a small room with a fireplace secured, Douglas, the only one in the group holding a Witch Note, introduced himself once safety was assured.
With a face that would be considered a model for knights if adorned in armor, he confidently hung a golden plate around his neck among the members.
“I am Douglas Fisher. These are Owen and Irene.”
“Understood.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Clark of the Haeju School. Is it true that you mentioned wanting to join our school at the counter?”
After experiencing firsthand how the Magic Tower faction was treated within the tower, I could understand their apprehension.
Seeing me casually toss firewood into the fireplace in front of dozens of armed knights made them tense. Perhaps it was because I was wearing a plain robe.
Despite the unfamiliarity with the term “Haeju”, some muttered the word “curse”.
“Is that so?”
However unsettling it may be, they knew this was the place their master spoke of to help ascend the tower.
After a brief discussion among themselves, they nodded slightly as they stepped forward.
“That’s right. We are members of the former Holcroft Knights, under the faction of the Magic Tower, here to find Lady Mariel Levancia.”
“Oh, knights? It’s an honor.”
“I heard that the factions in the tower cooperate with adventurer associations. They hire adventurers for assistance and pay them accordingly.”
“That happens, yes.”
“If you help us get to where Lady Mariel is, we will rebuild Holcroft later and reward you fittingly. I stake my honor on it, so it won’t be a begrudging reward.”
I wasn’t interested in the reward.
The reason I called them here was to understand why they wanted to take Mariel away.
Having no School in the Tower was overwhelmingly disadvantageous.
They couldn’t utilize the resources and facilities established by their predecessors, and they couldn’t learn magic either.
Though I’m currently juggling various responsibilities, I can’t sustain this forever.
If they were willing to help their master ascend, there was no reason for me to drive them away.
“May I ask for the reason?”
“It’s to rebuild the family. Holcroft’s direct line has a deep-seated magical power that has been passed down through the generations. If the Lady were to die in the Tower, we would have no future.”
“She might actually be safer inside the Tower. Or there’s a possibility she may not want to go…”
“Don’t speak out of turn, outsider!”
“Enough, Owen. This matter has already been decided in the family council. We apologize, but giving up on impossible revenge is also part of looking at reality for the sake of the future.”
Ultimately, it meant that no matter what happened, they had to take Mariel away.
If that’s the case, I couldn’t just send them away politely.
“In fact, I personally know Lady Mariel.”
“Really? Is she safe?”
“Well, the situation isn’t that great. Evil magicians have half-jailed Lady Mariel at the top of the training floors.”
“What…!?”
My words caused a stir among the knights gathered in the small room.
Some of them were so eager that they even drew their swords from their waists.
In fact, Mariel hasn’t been doing well and has been lying in bed all day unless pushed.
She recently gained weight and complained about feeling suffocated in her chest, so I threw her into the magic power elevator to practice magic.
She was on the 19th floor. Now, thanks to Sera and Arthur, who wanted to show off, she was using the facilities of the Mittier and Glesia Schools.
Although suffering has increased significantly, they didn’t seem to know that.
They said they had to save her immediately and persuaded knights who were on a collision course with public safety.
“I’ll help the knights get up safely.”
“I want to express our gratitude. The price must be…”
“Oh, what a price! There is absolutely no need for that. But…”
In the face of destruction due to charges of rebellion, scattered knights awaited the future with anticipation.
Despite the condemnation that they had abandoned their armor, horses, and empire, they held onto pride solely for the honor of their lord beneath torn flags.
“If you could just grant me a small favor.”
– The thought of thwarting the plan sent a slight thrill through my chest.
And one more thing.
Mariel’s presence at the Magic Tower would indeed ensure greater safety.
*
====
— Marine141: Miss! Why didn’t you inform us that you were going through hardships!
— SuperconductorSilverHairedGirl: Monitoring them… It’s just…
— Marine141: I will go to rescue you right away! Besides, I’ve made contact with the magician from the Haeju School who can help us climb the Tower.
— Marine141: By the way, there’s a user on the forum using the ID ‘SuperGeniusBlondeGirl’ who resembles you.
— Marine141: Apparently, they hold quite a high position in the forum…
— SuperconductorSilverHairedGirl: That’s an impersonator.
====
“Damn it…!”
“Calm down, vice-captain.”
“It’ll be troublesome if there’s a commotion!”
Irene and Owen raised their hands on both shoulders of Douglas, who was trembling while holding the Witch Note.
Although the first floor of the Magic Tower is an area frequented by adventurers and merchants, only mages attending classes from the Epsilon Hall were present.
They had joined the Haeju School and received the Curse Name, yet their attire and behavior were unmistakably those of knights.
To challenge the Great Labyrinth on the 10th floor, they moved towards a classroom, stifling their steps as much as possible.
During their walk, Irene spoke up.
“It seems that this magician named Clark is suspicious in some way.”
“Do you mean that he knew about the Lady?”
“Not only that, it seems he anticipated our arrival from the beginning.”
“Since he’s a curse mage, that makes sense. An opportunist like a parasite.”
“Owen, have you seen his face directly?”
“Yeah? I had nowhere to sit, so I was squatting on the floor… Why?”
Among the members in the room, there was no one who didn’t find Clark suspicious.
However, unlike Douglas, who showed caution, and Owen, who showed disdain, Irene massaged her temples, trying to recall something.
Curse mage?
Although not wrong, his skeleton and posture under the robe were different from the frail magicians she had seen so far.
His hands were also covered with calluses.
Above all, just seeing his face made her strangely familiar.
Memories from her time as a receptionist at the Adventurer’s Guild kept popping up.
After a brief hesitation, she cleared her mind and decided to focus on the mission first.
Fortunately, she spotted the classroom they were aiming for.
“I’ll investigate later. If I contact a friend from the guild, I should be able to find out.”
“Got it. Leave that to you. Let’s handle this task first.”
“You don’t need to be so tense, lieutenant. I’ll take care of it.”
Among the knights, Owen, the most spirited, checked Clark’s note.
It instructed them to empty the contents of the square box that looked like a large chest onto the floor.
The items inside resembled poorly drawn pictures.
They stood in the hallway where classes were in full swing, staring at the product of magical engineering they encountered for the first time.
“Pure ice water from Trafalgar Lake, right?”
“It looks like it. Looks like the rest has already been sold.”
“We just need to put coins in here.”
“Oh, I just happen to have some spare change…”
Clang, clang…
Thunk, thunk.
Crack! Crack!
They emptied all the bottles inside the vending machine and stared at the transformed floor that had become a sea of water.
There were no hidden targets or particular dangers.
The contents of the transparent bottles were just ordinary ice water.
It was so simple that it was almost exhausting.
“Is this the end, vice-captain?”
“Seems like it. This seems to be all that’s written.”
“Hey, this guy… there’s really nothing special about him…”
“What are you doing right now?”
Their tension eased as they realized they could reach Mariel’s location faster than expected. Just then, a woman with blue hair emerged from the open classroom door.
Emotions hung like a statue on her stunningly beautiful face were void of anything.
However, the magic power, which can be said to the foundation of magic that could be considered a magician’s essence, there was an indescribable anger.
As their eyes, which had been focused on the ground, rolled up toward her, the three of them started running simultaneously.
Shortly thereafter, an immense chill poured toward them.
