Chapter 554 – The Violet Enchantment Tower (2)

Elastica of the Scarlet Enchantment Tower.
Shin Ji-hoon from the Azure Enchantment Tower.

Information concerning the two individuals targeting the Violet Enchantment Tower was effortlessly acquired.

“Brother, I have gathered all the information.”

Tae-yang reviews the two pieces of parchment he extends.

[Shin Ji-hoon, Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul…]
[Elastica, 9 Anvenue…]

From the meticulous home address to phone numbers, rudimentary personal data, and the location of the Enchantment Towers where they are positioned. If it had been only me, collecting such information wouldn’t have been nearly as effortless.

Offering a fist to a smirking Tae-yang, he reciprocates with a chuckle and punches back.

“Is this sufficient?”
“Yes.”

I summoned my astute subordinates, Tae-yang and Aori, to compile the data.

As expected of the masters of information warfare, within a few hours, the two had obliged my request. Regardless of their withdrawal from the frontlines, the networks and contacts that they had built proved to be invaluable.

“How did you manage this?”
“There were several women connected to the past. By engaging in secret trysts, occasionally one catches a big fish… You know, brother, you’ve had your share of experiences.”
“Are you referring to those times?”
“Hehehe, indeed.”

During the period when I frequented the brothels. As I adapted to the emotionless intimacy, I began to notice the surrounding circumstances gradually.

The lobby was filled with wealthy patrons who came to indulge in the pleasures of the flesh. From what I heard, there were instances where relationships formed there led to life-altering marriages, reminiscent of the tales told about Japanese Geishas, unfolding numerous times before my eyes.

“In other words, you gained recognition from other women to the extent that you were able to see the underside of the world. Having triumphed over the finest of gigolos… Ha!”

“Alright, I understand.”

No matter what is said about my body, it no longer stirs any excitement within me.

As I watch Tae-yang chew on a snack, looking pitiful, the chuckling Tae-yang becomes conscious of my gaze and awkwardly places an apple in his mouth.

“By the way, brother.”
“Yes.”
“What are you planning to do with these two?”

I plan to eliminate them. Upon revealing my true intentions, Tae-yang jumps up in surprise.

“No, brother! They are the Enchantment Tower masters. If these two meet their end, the aftermath will be challenging to handle.”
“When have we ever concerned ourselves with that?”
“I mean, wouldn’t it be better to use a bit of force to pacify them? I don’t know about the man, but Elastica… She even appears in French fashion magazines. Have a look at this! My goodness, it’s breathtaking.”

Tae-yang, eyes alight, searches something on his phone and abruptly thrusts it forward. Displayed on his phone screen is a photo of Elastica, poised in a black swimsuit.

Demoness of the Shoreline.
At a glance, it is a sight to behold.

“She is beautiful.”
“Right? It would be such a waste.”

Tae-yang grins brightly at my innocent response.

Observing Tae-yang extol the virtues of another woman, even as the wife of the arm-crossed man stood second to none, I was nonplussed. Her appearance was of no particular concern to me.

“But it seems to me that our Aori is more beautiful.”

I draped an arm around Aori, who was seated next to me, and rested my head on her shoulder. Aori, who had been chewing an apple and listening to our banter, glanced up at me, her eyes shimmering with intrigue.

“Hehe, my Lord. Do you find Aori attractive?”
“Yes, indeed. You are truly beautiful.”

She had dedicated her heart to me. What couldn’t she do for my sake? In my life, Aori was as dear to me as a younger sister.

Upon hearing this, Tae-yang made a face, sticking out his tongue in a mimic of gagging.

“Brother, no matter how you look at it, saying she’s more beautiful is a bit… She’s undergone plastic surgery a number of times.”
“What? Aori, did you have cosmetic surgery?”

Aori shook her head dismissively, her hands cupping and agitating her sizable breasts with an air of confidence.

“Aori is all natural.”
“Ah~ except for the cybernetic arms and legs.”

Apparently, they had taken my query about what sort of surgery she had undergone and misconstrued it, seeing her mechanical limb transplants. These two never ceased their squabbles.

“Enough. I’ll handle things my way.”

I rose from my seat, shaking my head. As I prepared to leave, Tae-yang seized my arm, leaving me with one final piece of advice.

“If it’s too challenging for you, why not entrust it to the child this time?”
“What, who? Surely not Aori?”

I glanced at Aori. She snorted, her nostrils flaring. It was a non-starter.

“My Lord, I’m confident I can do it well.”
“You stay put.”

I couldn’t possibly use a surrogate sister as an assistant. And one of them was a man.

“Wouldn’t it be better if Aori handled them?”
“Is that really a good idea, brother? You should know well that being controlled by carnal desires isn’t exactly a pleasurable sensation.”
“… I know that, but can Aori really handle it?”

I scrutinized Aori with suspicion.

Could she…?

-Snickering.

Her innocent face paired with a lewd gesture. Aori thrust her finger into the robot’s, laughing sinisterly.

“Of course.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

“Are you out of your mind? Where on earth did you get this research?”
[How would I know?]

The aggrieved voice of Shin Ji-hoon carried all the way to my ears.

A useless man.

Elastica, who had harshly closed her cell phone, furrowed her brows lightly.

“Tsk!”

Elastica, after rudely clicking her tongue, peered out through the window. She was one of the magnates vying to take over the Purple Magic Tower.

‘I thought they had finally introduced some worthwhile magic.’

The esteemed violet Mage Tower, considering the wisdom it had garnered over time and the inherent worth of the artifact it held, was undoubtedly deserving of a substantial investment of time.

France, a nation globally renowned for having a significantly high population of magicians. The stature of the Mage Tower is a direct reflection of the country’s own prestige. Elastica, regardless of the national stake, had an obligation to nurture the growth of the Crimson Mage Tower.

‘I managed to push the issue back with a vote, but… the aftermath of proven allegations is unpredictable.’

She had hoped to smoothen things out by demoting Lee Ji-ah. However, the initial steps had already taken a wrong turn.

“Given the circumstances, do I have any other choice?”

She was left with no choice but to resort to methods that might lead to the demise of the Tower Master. Lee Ji-ah, lacking in spiritual energy, was no different from a commoner.

An ordinary citizen with some intellect. Without the resources to hire a bodyguard of S-class or higher, ending her life would be relatively easy.

Responsibility? Once the deed is done, the blame could be deflected elsewhere. Nowadays, the trend was to attribute almost all issues to either King Mokryeong or the Flower. Even if her wrinkles of worry were visible, the press would eagerly spin tales in other directions.

“Sigh…”

Elastica let out a sigh, murmuring to herself as she gazed out the window.

“I wish I could go home soon.”

Model, magician, Tower Master. All the roles that defined her. As much as she enjoyed donning all three hats, there were times when they weighed heavily upon her.

At such times, she would gaze at a picture of the charming national tree goddess of France.

Within the gallery of her phone was a picture of Marronnier, with cat ears superimposed. The sage, arms wide open, welcoming children.

The petite sage. Blanche’s adorable presence was loved by everyone, transcending the boundaries of good and evil.

“Hoo…”

Elastica ran her finger over Blanche’s cheek in the picture. Wishing for the softness to transmit through, all she could feel was the rigid screen of her device.

In truth, her aspiration to model was driven by her desire to don Marronnier’s clothes.

To be more precise, the outfits worn by Marronnier were sold at a premium as exquisite luxury goods. The company, using the bait of the world’s few remaining pieces, had convinced Elastica, and she had taken the bait without a second thought.

Having set her course regarding the Violet Mage Tower, all that remained was to wait.

‘If all else fails, I can always summon the Flower.’

Elastica, with her legs crossed, spent time with Marronnier in her hand, a smile playing at the corners of her eyes. Just then, she felt it.

-Thump.

A faint resonance of magical energy, picked up by her heightened senses. To her, the Mage Tower owner, it came across as a blatant provocation.

“What?”

Elastica immediately yelled at her knight.

“Halt. Something is approaching.”
“Sir? My Lady. But….”
“If you value your life, it would be wise to stop at once and let me handle this.”

Not overwhelmingly powerful, but a force that undeniably posed a danger.

-Screech!

As the car screeched to a stop, Elastica, cloaked in her magic, sprang onto the highway.

– Taang!

The echo of a gunshot filled the air as she materialized on the road. Swiftly detecting the threat, she manifested a shield to deflect the bullet.

“What lunatic dares to challenge me…”

Unveiling the emblem on her chest, the Hunter’s insignia came into view. The glistening gold of her Class S Hunter’s badge was a testament to her standing as one of the world’s leading sorceresses.

By rank alone, she was on equal footing with the Federation Chair, Abi. Yet the public opinion held that her relatively recent promotion left her somewhat lacking in demonstrating her prowess.

– Fury!

Still.

That did not detract from her being an exceptional sorceress. The iconic fire spell of the Red Mage Tower swept across the entire expanse of the road.

She had released it after ensuring no humans were present, and as a result, her spell successfully soared towards the distant origin of the magical power.

Using magic on a public road contravened the law, but self-defense was permissible when one’s life was at stake.

“Did that woman accept the contract? She must have had the same idea.”

The flames surged forward. The heat began to melt sections of the road and guardrails.

At the edge of the advancing firelight, a young girl stared down at Elastica.

‘A woman?’

Her arms and legs brimmed with magical power.

However, oddly enough, no such energy was detected in her torso. The girl loaded her gun, cast a glance at Elastica, and vanished from the spot.

– Huung!

The girl had disappeared.

“What!”

An unbelievably swift departure. Was she a martial artist?

The girl’s silhouette flickered into view then faded away, heading towards Elastica who had promptly erected a shield.

– Clang.

A strange mechanical sound resonated from the girl’s arm. Steam hissed as the mana crystal embedded in her mechanical arm began melting. This was Aori’s combat style, devoid of any magic, utilizing firearms and machinery instead.

It took a full three years of grueling rehabilitation for Aori, formerly wheel-chair bound, to be able to fight again.

Despite the burden of her sobriquet, ‘Samjae’, she was able to adhere to a new style of combat due to her compatibility with various artifacts.

“Aori…! Sandevistan…!”

As Aori recited the name of a technique that could have been ripped from a video game, she pressed a button affixed next to her wrist. Boosters activated on Aori’s ankles and shoulders.

Flash!

Aori vanished once more, only to reappear behind Elastica. Her movements were so swift they seemed to freeze time itself.

It was probably due to her rapid movement, but from Elastica’s perspective, Aori was overwhelming her with an impossible speed.

“What?!”

Elastica found herself being pushed back. Aori, one step ahead, placed her palm on Elastica’s abdomen and unleashed a shockwave.

– Kwajik!

As the ion shockwave detonated, Elastica’s consciousness slipped away. Above her slackened eyes, Aori’s face, wearing a sinister grin, flashed past.

* * * * * * * * * * *

The French, they all adore Marronnier.

Elastica’s residence was a veritable shrine to the Marronnier, with merchandise related to the phenomenon stacked in her room to an almost horrifying degree.

“Exquisite.”

One could hardly expect to find such treasures in a place like this.

As if I were a relative visiting on a holiday, I very gingerly snatched a Marronnier bromide, treating it with such caution as if fearing to mar it.

“Ah.”

Each photograph was a testament to an awe-inspiring quality.

[Marronnier Bread Moon.jpg]
[Navel bared]

“Our Bam, working in a place such as this?”

While it’s likely these were all fan-made, the sheer volume suggested a legion of devotees. Even I, intimately acquainted with nearly everything Marronnier, was taken aback.

“It’s… slightly unsettling.”

I acknowledge Blanche’s cuteness, but the extent of the merchandise collected here begs the question of the underlying motivation.

“Perhaps it’s time we returned.”

Somehow, I found myself leisurely sifting through the items, but my indolence was justified since there wasn’t anything pressing to be done. I tuned into the sounds emanating from the basement.

-Ah! My breasts… they’re… falling…! Ahhhhh…!
-Wow~ The rubber tree is stretching so much~!

The voice of Aori, brimming with excitement.
In stark contrast, Elastica seemed to be in a world of pain.

‘Let’s give them a moment.’

I decided to let them enjoy the situation a bit longer.