Chapter 556 – The Violet Sorcery Tower (Complete)

-Trilililik, tick!

[Red Sorcery Tower, Elastica +33…….]

This was already the fourth call. Lee Ji-ah, trembling, answered the phone.

“Hello? Is this Lady Elastica…?”
[Ah. Ms. Lee Ji-ah.]

The respectful tone coming from the usually insolent woman sent chills down her spine.

“Why this sudden change in….”
[I’ve called to… apologize for my past rudeness.]

Elastica apologizing? That was laughable. Suppressing the urge to immediately hang up, Lee Ji-ah spoke.

“……Who are you really.”
[If you need a favor, please ask. We, from the Red Sorcery Tower, will continue to support Ms. Lee Ji-ah…]

A chill ran down her spine-

“Kyaaaaaa!!”

Unable to contain herself, Ji-ah screamed and threw her phone.

-Thud, roll.

The phone skidded into a corner. Her pale, shocked expression reflected her inner turmoil.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!”

Like an adventurer who had glimpsed the monstrous Cthulhu firsthand, Ji-ah collapsed to the floor, her knees drawn up. She clutched her head, trembling.

“What, what has happened…?”

Gripping her racing heart, she recalled Elastica’s manner of speech from their past encounters.

-What? What are you looking at?
-I exist in a place you’ll never reach in your lifetime. In magic power and beauty.

The woman had been arrogant, but her words were always true. Ji-ah constantly found herself in her shadow, sucking her thumb.

Elastica, who would refuse to share even a single artifact if the two Sorcery Towers formed an alliance to clear a dungeon, always aimed to cut our shares.

-Why? Are you coming?

Elastica, who held a higher social status due to the Red Sorcery Tower, always chose her words carefully to avoid any widespread rumors.

‘That, that woman… what? Ms. Lee Ji-ah? Apologizing for being rude?’

It felt like witnessing something that wouldn’t happen even if the world turned upside down. It would be easier to believe that King Mokryeong is a good person.

-Uwo! Uwo!

Lee Ji-ah carefully picked up her ringing phone again. She tightened her eyes shut, her body shivering like a baby fox in the cold.

“Ho, ho… Ohh….”

She was so startled that strange words slipped out. Lee Ji-ah glanced at her phone screen, her heart nearly stopping.

“… Mr. Ji-hoon?”

The head of the Blue Sorcery Tower. Shin Ji-hoon. Even that man, who turned as stingy as a ghost whenever she met him, had he also fallen victim to the king?

-Keke. Ms. Ji-ah. I really want this staff.

Recalling his previous demeanor, Lee Ji-ah cautiously answered the phone.

“Phew. H-hello?”
[Ji-ah…]

His voice from the other side of the phone was strained, as if he had been tortured.

“Jihoon, where are you now? What are you enduring?”
[…I, I’m sorry.]

The apology is expelled in a tone drained of vigor.

[I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. Sob, sniff.]

The man, always so certain of his own worth, who would lie so as not to waste a single cup of coffee he offered me, now pleads while sobbing pitifully.

“Why, why are you apologizing?”
[I won’t touch you anymore… That’s enough, isn’t it?]
“What do you mean ‘enough’…?”
[Alright, I’ll confess.]
“What?! No, Jihoon!! Eek!”

Incomprehensible sentences cascade one after another, until finally, Lee Ji-Ah has no choice but to press the end call button.

-Click.
“……”

Something is happening, something dire.
Is the world coming to an end?

Ji-Ah, who had been staring at her switched-off phone for what seemed like an eternity, finally starts to deny the reality.

‘This is a dream.’

-Snap!

Ji-Ah throws her phone back. She immediately sprawls out on the bed, burying her face in the pillow.
Even King Mokryeong wouldn’t resort to such actions. How could he contemplate reforming those two incorrigible individuals?
Fear causes her to tremble, and tears are hastily wiped away.

Lee Ji-Ah huddles beneath the blanket, her breath held in check. She keeps glancing at her phone, which continues to ring incessantly.
Despite lunchtime having long passed, the ringing shows no sign of stopping.

* * * * * * * * * *

“What are you doing there?”

A little past 4 in the afternoon.
Upon my return to the purple magic tower, Lee Ji-Ah is found huddled, shivering in her blanket.
It’s like seeing a seal curled up within an igloo.

“Wha, wha, what on earth have you done?!”

As soon as the seal spots me entering the room, it flips over its bulky frame and yells out in surprise.

“What have you done?”
“Do you know how many calls I’ve received…?”
“Weren’t you prepared for this?”
“I was prepared for the two of them to die! Even though I tried to mix some words… it’s discomforting, but unavoidable. But, it wasn’t at that level.”

She has long surpassed normalcy. It is a reaction shared by the general public.
While it might not resonate greatly with Aori’s senses, I find myself agreeing with Lee Ji-Ah’s words this time.

As I silently nod, Lee Ji-Ah inquires in a tense voice.

“Did you…have your way with them?”
“….”
“And Shin Jihoon too!?”
“Be quiet.”
“…Uh.”

No matter how power-crazed I am, I do not commit sodomy.
I lightly cover Lee Ji-Ah’s mouth, who manages to say everything she needs to, even without a clear mind.
Struggling, Ji-Ah pulls her mouth away from my hand and exhales sharply.

“But what did you really do? Do you know how terrifying it was?”
“I entrusted it to someone I know. They probably won’t obstruct your path again. In fact, they might even attempt to assist.”
“I’m scared.”

“Enough of that, as per our previous agreement, receive the information. The beginning is now. Should you access too much data at once, suspicion might arise, so tread carefully.”

Lee Ji-ah is an individual with the prudence necessary to fulfill my requirements.
In today’s world, for the Mage Tower to join forces with the second and third powers is hardly a noteworthy event.
If ever faced with the threat of conquest, the solution is simply to merge the entire Mage Tower.

“Yes. However, as I’m working alone, there could be some delays.”
“Prioritize the dungeon matter we discussed last time.”

The corruption of the Violet Mage Tower will require a considerable span of time.
The end goal is to bring every wizard within the Mage Tower to our side.
More accurately, it would be right to say we’re filling our ranks with them.

“Send over a few of the promising ones. Can they be raised to become wizards of the Mage Tower?”
“…Pardon? You never mentioned this before.”
“It’s a plan for the future.”

In the place I currently reside, not even the most basic educational institutions exist.
Regardless of primary or secondary education, the extent of it all is merely instilling little-by-little ethics through the teachings of nuns or the moral guidance of the World Tree of Growth.

‘To nurture engineers, wizards, scholars. It’s more fitting to seek the collaboration of the Mage Tower in this manner.’

The current circumstances are opportune.

“The Violet Mage Tower has a very limited number of executives and employees, as you already know.”
“Ah, yes… However, having preserved the name of the Three-Star Mage Tower this time, they will all soon return.”
“Are you prepared to be betrayed again?”
“Ugh… It’s not betrayal.”
“Then what is it?”

It’s a fact that they were blinded by money, handed over the research materials of the Violet Mage Tower, and fled.
If this isn’t betrayal, then what is it?

Lee Ji-ah began to twiddle her fingers, defending those who had betrayed her.

“That’s because… well. I’m incapable of affording their salaries. If it’s natural for them to turn their backs, then it’s natural.”
“Then they should have taken the money and left. Not sold the research.”
“…Everyone is just trying to make a living.”
“You have a weak heart.”

Ugh.
Lee Ji-ah, moaning, bowed her head. She seemed aware that her words were shameful.

“I don’t quite favor your overly sensitive nature.”
“…I’ll work diligently.”
“It might be best not to invite a traitor back. You never know what they might do.”
“…Ugh, yes.”

In the King’s land, there are those naturally gifted with the aptitude of a wizard, so if they are nurtured, they could be immediately put to use.

In a certain sense, it was far more advantageous to use my own people.
Upon saying this, Lee Ji-ah perked up her ears and inquired.

“Why?”
“China is a land of opportunity.”

No matter how you look at it, the scale of human resources is unparalleled.

The country has long since collapsed, and the feeble and ignorant have perished.

Those who remain are the naturally chosen survivors from a population of 1.3 billion, having endured numerous trials.

The ones I’d empowered, those I’d made my allies, were all far more vital than any villains. It’s not like you could call the civilians who’d survived by evading monstrosities, constantly uprooting themselves from one place to another, ordinary.

“There won’t be any issues.”

“If you assure us as much… do we have to arrange our own identities?”

“If you don’t even do that, you’ll be eaten alive.”

“Ugh… We’ll do as you’ve said. But from what you’re implying, it seems like we’ll have to let all of my subordinates go as time passes…”

“Is that a problem?”

“Well, no, but they’re like family to me. King Mokryeong.”

“Then you’ll have to persuade them yourself.”

Lee Ji-ah seemed utterly deflated. She hung her head low and groaned.

Still, as long as they abided by this, the Purple Mage Tower could reap far greater honor.

I’m rather fond of the current Mage Tower system in our society, despite its few shortcomings. Even after the upheaval of the World Tree and the Flower, the system will be maintained. The Purple Mage Tower, I hope, will be its mainstay.

“So, you’re saying… I can’t escape your clutches, King Mokryeong.”

“You knew this was coming, didn’t you?”

“I had a vague idea.”

There’s no helping it. Lee Ji-ah laughed it off, but there was a clear shadow of torment on her face.

“Contact me immediately when you find any information.”

As I was about to leave after exchanging pleasantries, Lee Ji-ah, a bit late to react, reached out and caught the hem of my robe.

“Oh, and… there was someone who showed interest in you, King Mokryeong.”

“Who?”

“The Chairman of the Mage Tower Union… No, it’s better to say, the Archmage.”

“The Archmage?”

“Father. Excluding those rotting away in dungeons, he’s probably the oldest existing wizard among those currently active on Earth.”

The oldest existing wizard. I have no idea why he’d be interested in me.

As I stroked my chin in thought, Lee Ji-ah seemed to read my mind and corrected herself.

“No, I misphrased that. More accurately, he noticed your presence behind me, King Mokryeong. He was on guard.”

“So, that’s what you meant.”

“Yes.”

There are certainly a couple of people who are wary of me. But as for the Archmage, I’ve heard that name before. He stepped back from the frontline before Mugung, so I didn’t hear of him during my active years. In terms of reputation, he’s similar to Mugung. While Mugung was a staunch nationalist, I was told the Archmage contributed a bit more towards peace.

Should he now be placed on the same level as the toothless Mugung? He’s on his guard, so I’ll handle him if things go sideways.

‘… It’s the same name as the Spirit Mage I was looking for.’

It could be a coincidence of names. For now, I decided to tuck that name away in a corner of my mind.