“……I think there’s a misunderstanding.”

“What about…?”

At Milan’s puzzled question, Alon’s head began to spin. To be honest, he had no clue where to start addressing the ridiculous rumor.

That Penia admires Marquis Palatio?

Or that the Tower Lord Celaime Mikardo has allowed his subordinate Penia to date him?

‘No, isn’t it strange in the first place that the Tower Lord is even granting permission for dating?’

Suddenly he thought this but soon convinced himself alone. Celaime Mikardo wasn’t related by blood but was no different from a parent to Penia and her sibling, Filin.

After all, it was Celaime Mikardo who taught them magic as orphans.

That is, Celaime has a reason to interfere in Penia’s dating… No, that’s not important right now.

Alon opened his mouth to set the record straight.

“First of all, everything is a misunderstanding.”

“A misunderstanding?”

“Yes, Penia Crysinne does not like me, and I have never received permission to date from the Blue Tower Lord.”

“Oh… really?”

“Yes.”

Milan expressed doubt at Alon’s firm nod.

“But I heard that the Blue Tower Lord definitely said so…?”

Wasn’t it none other than the Blue Tower Lord who had given permission?

“Must be some misunderstanding that made such a rumor spread.”

“Is that so…?”

“Yes. I’ve seen the Blue Tower Lord recently, but we didn’t discuss anything like that.”

There was definitely a misunderstanding.

“Um, okay, I understand.”

With repeated denials, Milan stepped back,

“Well then, I have to get going. I have things to do.”

“Ah, yes. I’ll see you next time.”

“Sure.”

They parted after a light farewell,

“…What? I clearly heard such rumors.”

The words floated in the breeze, but Alon let them pass.

“It seems the magic industry still spreads that rumor.”

Evan also asked, surprised,

“Does it seem so? Baseless rumors usually fade quickly, don’t they?”

“Usually, yes.”

“……I wonder why this rumor is strangely resurfacing.”

“But the Marquis has clarified it as a misunderstanding, so it should slowly subside, right?”

“Despite that, I already clarified it as a misunderstanding among the nobles quite some time ago.”

‘Didn’t Penia clarify it?’

Alon was puzzled. Given Penia Crysinne’s nature, she would have immediately attacked the source of the rumor upon hearing it.

After a moment’s thought, Alon shook his head inwardly. It’s slightly uncomfortable, but after all, a rumor is just a rumor. It won’t be long before Penia is freed from the gossip.

…It’s just annoying to go around clearing up misunderstandings.

‘It’s not like I can gather magicians to clarify such a trivial rumor.’

While Alon was thinking this,

“…Then, did the Blue Tower Lord really do something?”

“The Blue Tower Lord?”

“Yes. Actually, that rumor is quite old, but it’s strange that it’s flaring up again now.”

Evan proposed a hypothesis.

Alon recalled the time he met Celaime Mikardo.

‘I don’t think we discussed anything related to that… but I did feel as if he was up to something.’

He definitely had an unusually bright smile.

‘…I’ll have to ask him the next time we meet.’

As Alon reflected on their conversation, he shrugged lightly.

Honestly, meeting Heinkel was much more important to Alon right now. Therefore,

“Let’s figure this out later, for now, let’s head up.”

He quickly moved towards the room he had been assigned.

***

The library on the 38th floor of the Central Tower was originally a place with few people. Or to put it more precisely, it was a place that magicians hardly visited.

Despite being a ‘library’—a place that magicians, who enjoy researching and studying, would love—the reason they did not come was simple: because of the alternative space. All the books here could be viewed as clean copies in the reading room on the 20th floor, instead of as old tomes.

Thus, the existence of the Central Tower Library was really about its historical symbolism, being the original library built when this place was first established. And in such a place, a woman who had been there for an unimaginably long time. Heinkel, called the Chalice of the Beginning by magicians and also regarded as their idol, quite liked this situation. Whether before or after becoming a spirit, she didn’t particularly like noisy environments.

Of course, that didn’t mean she shied away from people altogether. Being a sentient being with a perfectly intact mind, there were days she wanted to see others. On such days, she would roam around the tower, watching magicians and having fun. If she found a magician she liked, she would subtly lure them to the library to engage in various conversations and offer help.

In fact, more than feeling satisfied with helping, she enjoyed the sense of superiority when magicians looked at her with admiring eyes after she imparted knowledge.

Anyway.

Nevertheless, she quite enjoyed living alone in the empty library, leisurely reading books.

“I am here to see Heinkel, the Chalice of the Beginning.”

[…Yes.]

…Clearly, just moments ago.

[Why has this guy come again?!]

Heinkel almost screamed involuntarily at the sight of the man with his head bowed low, but she swallowed it back.

Because the man in front of her was someone she really did not want to meet.

[What brings you to me?]

Heinkel smiled awkwardly. If those who knew her temperamental nature saw this scene, they would all either be shocked or burst into laughter.

But the reason Heinkel had to be nice to the man in front of her was because of ‘that’ behind Duke Palatio.

Something tremendously sinister, absolutely not to be acknowledged, yet also not to be ignored.

It was only now, during their second meeting and after having calmly assessed the situation, that Heinkel realized that the entity behind him was not attached to the man by his own volition. Nevertheless, the fact that Heinkel had to be nice to Alon remained unchanged. The entity behind could erase Heinkel’s existence at any moment, even now.

And she was aware that the entity had some kind of interest in the man in front of her.

“Regrettably, I have a favor to ask and have come for that.”

[A favor to ask?]

“Yes. Actually, I’m having trouble using an item you gave me.”

It was more like he had snatched it, not that he had received it willingly, but she still responded kindly with a smile.

[Shall we take a look at it?]

“Understood.”

[Anything else you’d like to ask for?]

“Well, if possible, I would like to receive some teachings on magic, if that’s feasible? Of course, I will pay.”

Even though Heinkel was inclined to be kind, she could not agree to his request. For Heinkel, who prioritizes her life above all else, it was very uncomfortable to continue staying in the same place with an entity that could take her life.

Therefore,

[That might be a bit difficult.]

“May I ask why?”

[That’s because]

Heinkel, who was about to explain without hesitation, suddenly stopped speaking. Only someone like Heinkel, who had been staring at Alon, could properly perceive the eyes hidden within the hidden space behind him, suddenly bulging!

Heinkel turned her gaze towards Alon as if to confirm the answer that was about to come.

“?”

With Heinkel’s mouth agape and frozen, Alon tilted his head slightly in confusion. However, Heinkel, from within the hidden space, noticed the eyes staring intently at her and began to sweat coldly.

“….No, maybe I can help.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, I can do it. Yes, of course.”

“Thank you.”

“Ah, no, come to think of it, it’s not that difficult~”

She hurriedly changed her statement. Only then did she feel the eyes in the hidden space withdrawing their presence.

[‘Aaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!! Why! Why!! Why is this happening to meeeee-!’]

She felt like crying.

Meanwhile, although inwardly she was screaming, outwardly she wore an awkward smile. Alon, unaware of Heinkel’s inner turmoil, thought,

‘No, she seems much nicer than what I’ve seen in the games… What’s going on?’

He was puzzled by how easily she had accepted his request.

‘Maybe she had a different character originally, and something in the game made her change?’

Indeed, if one only looked at her appearance, she could pass for a girl if not for the giant wizard’s hat she wore.

‘Yes. She looks too young and fragile to be that cruel.’

Unaware of Heinkel’s inner feelings, he concluded that her personality must have changed after some incident that was not explained in the game.

[‘I really want to run awayyyyy, for real…’]

Heinkel, struggling to hide her desire to cry, quietly whined.

***

Meanwhile, at the top floor of the Central Tower.

“So, you want me to translate this?”

“That’s right.”

There were two men present. Parkline Agrulus, a magician of the 8th rank with red hair and red eyes, and Celaime Mikardo, both of whom held the position of Tower Lords.

“Why should I?”

Parkline, grinning lazily, frowned upon seeing Celaime smiling leisurely.

“Because you’re the only one who can translate these ancient languages.”

“And why should I help you?”

“Because we’re friends?”

Parkline scowled.

“Friends my foot! I don’t remember that!”

“But we’re here together now, aren’t we?”

“You only came because you said you’d pay for the artifact you borrowed last time!”

“Did I?”

“I want to strangle you.”

Parkline clenched his fist as if itching to do just that. Regardless, Celaime remained calm.

“Anyway, please do me this favor. It’s not that difficult for you, especially since you have the related artifact.”

“……”

“And this time, I’ll definitely give you what I promised.”

Parkline, not particularly pleased, eyed him.

“Make sure you keep that promise.”

He then turned his gaze to the parchment.

Woom~!

As Parkline was surrounded by a scattering of magical essence, a round artifact, resembling an eyeball, rose from his pocket. He began reading the characters on the parchment as if scanning them. After a period of silence, Parkline spoke.

“…The translation is done.”

“What does it say?”

Celaime asked urgently, and Parkline responded,

“‘I leave my inheritance to the half-mage who never compromised, who never forgot the phrases…?’ It doesn’t seem to contain any grand secrets of magic like you might have hoped.”

Knowing that Celaime had been rummaging through ruins looking for clues to advance to the 9th rank, Parkline turned to him with a slight smirk, only to halt abruptly.

Until just now, Celaime had been smiling, but he seemed deep in thought.

“…?”

“?”

Parkline was puzzled. All the while, events from their last venture flashed through Celaime’s mind:

Marquis Palatio casually opening the entrance to the hermit’s hideaway, the eyes behind him stirring fear and curiosity, and the duke quickly gathering items as soon as they entered the hideaway and then staring at a letter underneath for about a minute.

And then.

‘I leave my inheritance to the half-mage who never compromised, who never forgot the phrases…?’

Upon recalling Parkline’s translation of the parchment, Celaime concluded in his mind:

‘…Is Marquis Palatio that mage?’