The Magic King

Not so long ago, there was a country whose only boast was its clear sky.

That land, which had nothing to show but its clear sky, became a destination for those who sought the stars twinkling in the dark night sky. Those who longed for the transparent sky built towers on the cold, empty land and inscribed the beauty and movements of the stars.

They built telescopes, drew sky maps, wrote books, and gradually filled the empty land with knowledge.

The cold, dry, and barren land became a nation of sages, sparkling with knowledge.

Brilliant knowledge is the city’s pride and the symbol of civilization. And barbarians invariably crave the fruits of civilization cultivated by others. They invaded to steal the knowledge accumulated by the wise and the inscriptions written on the towers.

The sages, sometimes yielding and sometimes compromising, soon realized that dialogue was not always the best solution. Eventually, the sages resolved to transform their knowledge into power, and put their heads together.

That was magic.

A ritual to convert knowledge into power.

And, standing against a mighty and savage empire. There was one who protected this land with the power of magic.

The Tower Keeper.

The Omnipotent Sage.

The Raven on his shoulder.

He held all sorts of titles, but even that wasn’t enough, and the magicians likened him to the king of beasts, calling him.

The Magic King. The Demon King.

His hair was swept back in a cool manner, revealing thick eyebrows and striking features. A glimpse of firm muscles could be seen in the slightly open front of his shirt. His attire consisted of a light shirt and leather pants. And his trained bare hands.

Not a mage, but more like a handsome sailor from a vast lake he seemed.

This…is the Demon Lord? He doesn’t appear as fearsome or powerful as his name suggests. Rather, he seems almost familiar. This man is the strongest being propping up this era?

A good opportunity. Even a supreme being is still human. Carefully, I attempted to read his mind…

Huh?

Distant?

“Alas, this world is far too fragile to bear the weight of your dreams! What could be sadder, emptier than suppressing oneself and abandoning one’s dreams when one possesses the power to achieve them? It is the task of the old to pave the way for the young. So I shall. I shall create a space for you all!”

The Demon Lord declared with vigor, twisting his hand into a fist.

Bubbles, bubbling. Bubbles arose everywhere.

At the heart of the floating city was a blindingly bright artificial sun. It brightened in the morning and dimmed in the evening, governing the days and nights of this floating city-world. Now, it was daytime. The artificial sun’s light poured down, dazzling.

Bubbles erupted within the space surrounding the battlefield, distorting the light and scattering it as the space swelled.

The Black Tower Lord, the Green Tower Lord. And standing between them, the Azure Tower Lord and Shay. Even Lancart and I, who were nearby, were caught in the space bubbles. We hadn’t moved a single step, yet the distance between us had increased nearly tenfold.

Unique magic that governs space? While there were those with the ability to interfere with space depending on their theories or unique magic, to actually control space itself?

“Now! This is space within my pocket. Crush it, burn it, tear it, freeze it, destroy it, anything goes within my pocket! Unleash your full strength without worry!”

The Demon Lord seemed elated, spreading his arms wide and urging us to fight…but in truth, his appearance had brought the battle to a standstill.

“I have shown my master such an unsightly spectacle. My apologies.”

“Eep! M, Master…! I was merely caught up in this!”

The Green Tower Lord folded his umbrella, abandoning his one-way passage. The Black Tower Lord’s vanishing points crumbled in the air.

It’s hard to fight when someone is staring intently. All the more so when that person is far stronger, more mature, and is watching the fight with a close interest and gentle smile.

Vanishing points, one-way passages… compared to the power wielded by the Demon Lord, they were insignificant and pathetic.

The two Tower Lords ceased being pathetic and gathered their strength. And so did the Azure Tower Lord, who had intervened to stop them.

“Haaa…”

The Azure Tower Lord cautiously withdrew her power. Air Crystals were her unique magic – suppressed storms. Too powerful, they risked destroying even herself. If she didn’t carefully release her power, the Air Crystals would break free, devastating everything around them.

It was just as the Azure Tower Lord took a deep breath and slowly released her unique magic when…

“Trying to withdraw your power? Allow me to assist.”

Countless spatial distortions appeared around her. The Demon Lord’s ‘pocket’ enveloped the Air Crystals, and the Air Crystals, freed from the Azure Tower Lord’s control, were released.

The Air Crystals returned to their original form, unleashing a tremendous storm. A power too dangerous to use easily, yet…

Even this was nothing compared to the Demon Lord’s power.

The storm that had churned the space for a moment ceased. Inside the Demon Lord’s pocket.

Even the Azure Tower Lord’s power, which threatened the floating city, was nothing more than a tempest in a teacup to the Demon Lord.

The fight ended with unsettling ease. The Azure Tower Lord offered a gentle smile and bowed to the Demon Lord.

“Thank you for intervening, Master. You helped calm the excited children, thanks to you.”

The Green Tower Lord and Black Tower Lord were impossible to stop. A mage finds it difficult to interfere with another’s magic, you see. So, the Azure Tower Lord deliberately unleashed his unique mana, drawing the Demon King’s attention. *He*, after all, could end this situation without issue.

Realizing this, the Demon King struck his forehead and laughed heartily.

“Ah, drat! Was I manipulated, then!”

“The Green and Black Tower Lords will not withdraw their power unless it is you, Master.”

“Indeed. My two beloved disciples, they engrave my teachings in their hearts and follow them faithfully!”

The Demon King gazed proudly at the Green and Black Tower Lords, radiating an affection and trust as steadfast as his words. Though my mind-reading wouldn’t reach him, I couldn’t know what he truly felt.

“Love, you say. Such embarrassing words.”

“Hoiiee…”

Judging by the Green and Black Tower Lords’ reactions, it wasn’t entirely one-sided. Disciples, he said? It seemed their relationship had progressed beyond that, somewhat.

The Demon King, having offered a trustworthy smile to his brilliant disciples, turned his gaze away. Then, with a cold question etched on his face, he asked the Azure Tower Lord:

“However. Azure Tower Lord. I have a query. Why must they withdraw their power?”

A cold, rational inquiry flowed, so different from the soft, warm smile he gave his disciples.

“My castle is a paradise, a utopia for the Chosen. Naturally, they should be omnipotent and free within its walls. They should not be restricted by the common sense of the Unenlightened.”

Such virulent elitism, befitting the King of Magic, the King of Mages. I wondered where the elitism rampant in the floating castle came from, but I didn’t need to search further.

“Was it necessary to summon me to save the Unenlightened? Azure Tower Lord, my interest and affection flow towards *you*, not for the sake of the Unenlightened beneath your shadow.”

“…It was a necessary, deed.”

“You disagree. Can you persuade me otherwise?”

The ‘persuasion’ the Demon King spoke of meant clashing with his own knowledge and opinions. The Azure Tower Lord considered.

‘There’s no way that could work… Master.’

The Azure Tower Lord, once so confident and arrogant, was insignificant as an insect compared to the Demon King. Even the unique mana he couldn’t fully unleash for fear of endangering himself, was no more than an awl in the Demon King’s pocket, a tempest in a teacup.

‘If I know, I cannot pretend not to. The difference between Master and me is even greater than the difference between me and the Unenlightened… And Master’s gaze upon me is the same as my gaze upon the Unenlightened…’

Rebuttal, debate—all meaningless. Under the silent pressure, the Azure Tower Lord gripped his arms and bowed his head.

He looked so forlorn that I subtly approached and draped my coat over his still-frozen shoulders.

‘Warmth…?’

The Azure Tower Lord, unaware I’d even drawn near, lifted his head at the sensation on his shoulders.

“Unenlightened? Why are you here.”

“Hm? Ah, you looked cold.”

He *did* look cold. Ice crystals clung to him like scales, after all. The Azure Tower Lord, seeing my awkward posture, chuckled softly.

“Thank you, Unenlightened. It was indeed cold.”

“I knew it. Even wizards feel the chill, it seems.”

I answered lightly, now subtly assessing the situation.

Did I come over because he looked cold? That’s part of it, certainly. But not the whole story. A change of pace, too.

I couldn’t stand by while someone who’d taken my side was getting lynched.

“Hold on. It’s those two tower masters who didn’t do things right. The Right-Handed King.”

Lankart was the same. Though less calculating the atmosphere like me, but more because he just didn’t like the situation itself.

“The process of bringing Huey was legitimate. It was the Green Tower Master who went rogue and ordered everyone locked up. If you’re going to criticize someone for acting out, you should have taken care of your own disciple first.”

His tone, somewhere between polite and informal. The Green Tower Master’s eyes flashed with fury at his still insolent attitude, even before the Demon King, but the Demon King paid it no mind.

“Lankart. A dragon who ascended the Gate of Ascension. Is this commoner you brought the one?”

“Commoner? Huey is different. It’s like Right-Handed people looking at Left-Handed people and saying they’re uneducated, stupid. He’s just Left-Handed, I tell you.”

“Hmm. This Left-Handed, Right-Handed thing you speak of… surely it relates to your unique magicka, the world of the Right-Handed.”

Unexpected. The Demon King seemed to hold Lankart in considerable respect. Was it because Lankart wasn’t his disciple? Because he was a dragon who ascended the Gate of Ascension?

If I could read his thoughts, I’d know for sure… Still so far. Even my mind-reading, with focus, reaches a considerable distance. But this is further?

The Demon King, whose thoughts remained a mystery, soon softened his stance.

“One who builds a tower alone and reaches the floating fortress without inheriting the wisdom of the ancients deserves such treatment. Very well. I won’t press the matter.”

“Master! Lankart brought in a dark mage!”

The Green Tower Master cried out, but the Demon King shook his head.

“I will not press the matter, Eliot Pascal. Let it pass this time, for the sake of this master’s face.”

“…Ugh!”

It was the word of his revered master. The Green Tower Master couldn’t argue further and swallowed his words.

‘It’s not an exaggeration. Master is lenient towards Lankart, but Lankart is a madman who reveres that unknown commoner more than his master!’

Perhaps if given the chance to speak with the Demon King alone, he’d plead even more passionately. Though, perhaps it wouldn’t make a difference.

Thanks to him, the situation had settled down, barely managing to steady himself, Shea approached and spoke.

“Hold on. Demon King!”

The Demon King, as if he couldn’t even hear Shea’s voice, ignored her and addressed the Green Tower Master and the Black Tower Master.

“Eliot Pascal. Lune Francesca. If you wish to refute the Blue Tower Master and Lankart, clash with all your might in the space I create! If you retract your strength with half-hearted resolve, I, too, can only see you as such.”

“Demon King. I have something to say! About the crisis of this floating fortress! The King of Sin might be resurrected. If that happens, that ‘thing’ above this floating fortress… will no longer be yours!”

Shea, having nothing left to lose, shouted out the most shocking piece of knowledge from before her regression. But the Demon King gave Shea no reaction.

Whether he heard her voice but ignored it, or whether he couldn’t hear it at all, I couldn’t tell. Since I can’t read his thoughts.

And the space receded.

The space that had swelled like a bubble returned to its original form. The only difference from before was that the two Tower Lords and the Demon King had vanished without a trace.

It seemed the Demon King had sided with our victory. Or, more precisely, with the Blue Tower Lord and Rankart, but still.

“Whew. A breath of relief.”

“Thanks to you. You have a certain… flair.”

“Even a pet dog knows how to tell friend from foe. This is basic training, you know.”

“That coat, though. It was surprisingly warm for something just casually draped on. Magic?”

Ah, did she notice? My small act of consideration.

“Even formal magic can warm clothes, can’t it? Black magic can be used for anything, depending on how you use it, right?”

“I can’t entirely agree with that, but I think it would’ve been better if you had learned White Magic. Or, I could teach you?”

“Thinking about it, the reason I haven’t learned White Magic might be because I didn’t have a handsome teacher to teach it to me.”

“Heh. Perhaps it would be rewarding.”

Thanks to the Blue Tower Lord’s help, I had achieved the goal of rejoining Shay. And the Demon King has decided to keep an eye on us, so we should be safe for the time being. Now, I need to go to Shay and find out what those words from earlier meant.

When I turned to look at Shay, she was staring at me and the Blue Tower Lord with a distinctly unpleasant expression.

“…Since when did you two become so close?”

Strange. Was it because I took off my coat? It’s suddenly cold.