Chapter 553 – The Violet Arcanum (1)

In this world, there exists a proverb: “The watchful eye of the mage spans a decade.” This suggests that due to the mage’s inherent craftiness and malevolence, one must not lower their guard.

This principle held true even when several mages faced each other.

Shin Ji-hoon, a fellow Korean like Lee Ji-ah of the Azure Arcanum, was the first to respond to her words.

“Discussing this now? I had understood that tale to have concluded long ago.”

When the intellectually gifted gather, an endless cerebral duel inevitably ensues, regardless of the context. This was also the case in organizations established for the common good, where one sought to elevate their standing by undermining their counterparts.

In these times, when there is plenty to exploit, unseen battles become increasingly prevalent. The Arcanum, besides being a research institute enriching the world, also functioned as a private military corporation (PMC) during wartime, and engaged in petty dungeon raids, thus extending its sphere of influence considerably.

“Now? I did come at your summons, but… For such a trivial reason?”
“The Violet Arcanum lacks significant progress in research, and many, including executives, have left, haven’t they?”

Once again, the hounds eager to tear her apart began to flare their eyes. This was due to the opportunity other Arcana would get to ascend if the Violet Arcanum was demoted.

“I am aware.”

Ignoring the hostile gazes directed at her, Lee Ji-ah continued her conversation calmly. Her visible audacity, despite the surrounding pressure, was a testament to how she had ascended to the position of the Arcanum’s leader at such a young age, being relatively new to society.

“Compared to last year, the number of executives has decreased by around 45%, and the research outcomes are quite dismal. However, the decline in executive numbers is not a problem unique to our Arcanum.”

In times of war, the death or disability of an Arcanum leader and staff shortage are common occurrences.

“The decline in research outcomes was inevitable, as the war necessitated us to deploy numerous combatants.”
“Why state the obvious? It’s the same for the other Arcana.”

At Shin Ji-hoon’s grating voice, Lee Ji-ah’s brows furrowed.

“… Ji-hoon.”
“No, did I say something incorrect?”

Shin Ji-hoon was akin to Ji-ah in his trajectory, having ascended to the leadership position through the Korean traits of perseverance, tenacity, and rote learning.

Being from the same country and having entered into a research agreement, they could have developed a favorable relationship. However, after Ji-ah lost her energy center, their relationship deteriorated to its worst, with him constantly finding faults in her propositions.

‘Indeed. I… I misjudged him.’

Hearing the truth via a planted spy, was this an opportunity to merge with the Violet Arcanum? Ji-ah, who had harbored feelings for him, decided to close her heart to the man.

‘I loved you, you fucking bastard.’

The problem with love at first sight. Ji-ah, thinking so, bowed her head inwardly.

-Tap, tap.

Then. The red-haired woman seated at the front of the room rapped on the table and raised her hand.

“Pardon me.”

Elastica, the French-born Matop master, the owner of the Red Tower, regarded Lee Ji-ah with a serene countenance.

The French rubber tree, Ficus Elastica.

Adorned in attire that accentuated the curves of her body, she shook her braided crimson hair as her gaze traversed Ji-ah from head to toe.

“Hmm…”

A smirk played at the corners of Elastica’s mouth.

“I’ve been hearing it since our last meeting. Is it not all too, pitiful?”

Her words cast an immediate chill throughout the council chamber. Despite being an unpublicized gathering, it was still a formal assembly of Matop masters. Any deviation from decorum could prejudice future interactions. Given their professional obligation to share research findings, maintaining a certain level of civility was requisite, even amidst adversarial relations.

“Pathetic… Surely, I did not mishear?”

At Lee Ji-ah’s sharp response, the other Matop masters fell silent. Elastica’s eyes narrowed, echoing the curve of a crescent moon.

“Yes. If you’re a 3-star Matop, you ought to have the appropriate achievements. What of the tower that has been demoted thus far?”
“…Is that not why I invited you here to discuss?”
“Only a few days before the demotion announcement? The Purple Tower has long been in decline. The researchers are nothing more than inconsequential youths. The executives are either dead, or have departed elsewhere.”

Indeed, not too long ago, many executives were enticed by substantially higher salaries and switched allegiances to the Red Tower.

Elastica’s restraint had proven effective.

“What more could you possibly achieve there?”
“Thanks to you, I’ve had a bitter draught to swallow. Madam Elastica.”

Elastica nonchalantly adjusted a stray strand of hair in response to Lee Ji-ah’s fiery rebuke. Shin Ji-hoon, watching her, emitted a derisive chuckle.

It was over. The atmosphere had tilted before any real action could be taken.

Just as the Matop masters were about to dismiss the matter, an elderly figure interjected.

“Quiet down, let’s hear her out.”

The grand sorceress, Ivy.

She, appearing as a young maiden, was seated at the highest place, propping up her chin. Although unaffiliated with any tower, she was once hailed as the greatest among them.

Having recently returned to her position, she was renowned as a generous benefactor who had donated substantial sums to the academy.

Though her skills and knowledge lagged a step behind the ancient sages, her character and benevolence commanded an authority that no one could disregard. Even with the sage of this era being relatively unseasoned, many lauded Ivy as the premier magician, separate from her own perceptions.

“The demotion of the Tower was not a decision to be taken lightly. The previous push was perhaps too forceful.”

At Ivy’s words, even the fiery Elastica fell silent, closing her mouth. Only when Ivy gestured did Lee Ji-ah suppress her sigh, finally able to broach the main issue.

“The reason for your demotion, poor performance and… a small workforce, you claimed. The workforce can be supplemented later.”
“How about the performance?”

In response to Elastica’s mocking question, Lee Ji-ah immediately produced the documents she had concealed.

“This is it.”

-Thud.

A weighty dissertation, voluminous as an encyclopedia.

“We’ve reinterpreted the space magic left by the ancient philosophers in our own way, and adjusted it for practical use.”
“…What?”

At Lee Ji-ah’s icy words, Elastica’s eyes widened in shock, and the Magic Tower owners seated in the room cried out in surprise.

“That’s impossible.”
“…Space magic?”
“Did we hear that wrong?”

Seeing Shin Ji-hoon’s heated expression stiffen was satisfying. Lee Ji-ah, smirking at Ji-hoon, boldly declared to her father, the Chairman of the Magic Tower Union,

“Our researchers are few, but they are immensely valuable.”
“That cannot be.”
“Why not?”

Shin Ji-hoon voiced his doubts to Lee Ji-ah.

“Shouldn’t we verify it first? We can’t tell if it was casually tossed out or if it’s a false report. It hasn’t been proven yet.”

A wizard’s thesis is meticulously examined through four rigorous stages.

Hence, Lee Ji-ah’s thesis could not be acknowledged as a performance achievement.

If it were a new possibility for space magic, something that presented a hypothesis by intricately weaving connections between microscopic magic power, perhaps it might be conceivable.
A theory capable of practical application?
That would be akin to advancing the era of that technology by several centuries within the magical world.

“Absurd.”

There were other reasons.

That reason being, Elastica, Shin Ji-hoon, and several Magic Tower owners had been putting the Purple Magic Tower in check.
Many executives had betrayed the Purple Magic Tower, successfully pilfering their research as well.

‘Among all that research, none of it pertained to space magic.’

Not a single executive or researcher ever broached the subject of space magic.
Would such a groundbreaking research simply fall from the sky like an apple?

When Elastica and Shin Ji-hoon stumbled in their argument, Lee Ji-ah, invigorated, retorted,

“Shouldn’t you see for yourself?”
“…”
“Chairman Abi?”

At Lee Ji-ah’s request, Abi reached out his hand.
Onto his slender, pristine arm that traced a long curve, the documents proffered by Ji-ah were transferred.

“Well, let’s see… Space magic is the first theory introduced since the philosopher.”

The space magic put forth by the philosopher had been impractical.
It might be feasible to engrave it onto artifacts, but the individual use by wizards still required complex calculations. It was beyond what a human mind could handle.
The Zodiac, renowned as the philosopher’s disciple.
She too was branded a heretic and murdered.
Aside from those two, only a few wizards who suffered from Servant Syndrome, or had an unusually rapid cognitive process, could barely control teleportation…

“Hmm?”

King Mokryeong, engrossed in perusing the document, knitted his brows. He eventually paused, lifting his gaze from the parchment, a crease of consternation marking his features.

“Could this be deemed satisfactory?” He queried, his tone touched with a hint of discontent.
“Chairman! You haven’t even completed reading everything.”
“Indeed, but it presents an intriguing perspective. A commendable endeavor indeed, and a study of this caliber justifies patronage. On a personal note, I’m curious about the source of this knowledge…”

In his scrutinizing gaze, a fleeting hardness took hold of Lee Ji-ah’s countenance. The Grand Mage’s gaze misses naught; Mokryeong had undoubtedly identified the figure lurking behind Lee Ji-ah.

“Regardless of their identity, they are an exceptional researcher. We should discuss this further in time.”
“…Thank you.”
“It seems the scholars of the Purple Magic Tower are yet to meet their end. What are your thoughts?”

At Mokryeong’s query, the surrounding owners of the magic towers began voicing their opinions, one after the other.

“…If it’s the Chairman’s assertion, it must hold some merit.”
“Even so, acknowledging it as proof without verification seems…”
“Indeed, but still…”

Hence, wouldn’t the issue simply be one of verification?

“You all should take a look, in time.”

Mokryeong suggested, raising a finger. Her dress was slightly disarrayed, but none dared advise Mokryeong on matters of attire.

“……Indeed.”
“Yes, I should examine it.”

One by one, the magic tower owners stepped forward, each claiming a portion of the organized documents.

Soon after, exclamations of awe filled the room. The theories, originally formulated by the sage and later revised by the disciple, were laid out in a manner so mesmerizing and aesthetically pleasing that any magician would be captivated.

Though there was a hint of roughness visible in the methodology… it was something they could overlook. Even if the novice mistakes were obvious, a slight tweaking would suffice…

“Hold on. Why does it abruptly end in the middle?”

A magic tower owner raised the issue. Lee Ji-ah responded as if it were an expected inquiry.

“You understand that we cannot simply give away the knowledge that could save our magic tower, correct?”
“…Are you suggesting we should preserve it as the vision of the Magic Tower? That contradicts the words of the prior sage.”
“What? The previous sage did say that. He requested his theories to be transparently disclosed, but this paper contains many personal opinions. The equations are also organized differently, and the perspectives diverge. It has the potential to change a lot.”

This could be traded with corporations for astronomical profits, or used to enlist researchers. It was tantamount to acquiring a strategy for pre-emptive action in the countless looming battles with other magic towers.

‘Even if I disclose this, there’s no harm. A bit of flourish is required.’

Among the plethora of theories handed down by King Mokryeong, Lee Ji-ah had brought a handful, separated from the rest. Naturally, even if this was disclosed, it would not inhibit their ability to dominate the artifact market related to spatial magic.

She had a clear vision for money and was accustomed to sensing the currents of the world.

“The vision of the Purple Mage Tower has long been sold. It is not unusual to foresee a new vision.”

“…It’s rhetoric. After all, isn’t it true that nothing has been substantiated?”

“Rhetoric or not, our Mage Tower now has no reason to be demoted. There have been instances where the unveiling of undisclosed vision magic was acknowledged as an achievement…”

“Very well. Test it here and now.”

“……”

Lee Ji-ah was unable to respond.

Her energy center had long been shattered.

“Do you speak, knowing my condition?”

“The precedent you mentioned was following the revelation of the vision magic phenomenon. Thus, it is only natural it is not recognized as an achievement.”

“…There’s no need to solely focus on results.”

Unable to bear the mud-slinging between a Mage Master and Lee Ji-ah, a fatherly figure clapped his hands.

-Clap.

“Then let’s proceed with voting. This time, provisionally, and after the proof, permanently. If the leak of the vision is a concern, I’ll prove it.”

“Chairman!”

“There should be no complaints. My eyes are dimming these days due to age.”

With a wry smile, the father collected one of Lee Ji-ah’s papers.

The subsequent vote results…

The fate of the Purple Mage Tower was decided.

* * * * * * * * * *

“…I’m sorry.”

After Lee Ji-ah narrated everything that had transpired, she bowed her head at a 90-degree angle, spewing out a genuine apology towards me.

“Do you need to apologize?”

“But…”

Just one vote.

It’s not an elementary school class representative election, yet the fate of the Mage Tower is determined by a single vote.

Lee Ji-ah shuddered her shoulders in what seemed like despair. I decided to convey the words I had been withholding.

“Elastica of the Red Mage Tower?”

“…Yes? Ah, yes.”

The advantage of being a complete adversary. Didn’t I mention it last time?

That you can commit any act.

I eased my wrists and declared to her,

“I’ll step out for a moment.”