* * *
The atmosphere in the magic tower heated up once again. The reason was simple. It was because Count Melandorf, the trio’s patron, had announced that he would be visiting.
No matter how strong Bella was, this was still an affair taking place within the magic tower. If she had laid hands on a mage sponsored by a great noble, there was a high chance she would have to pay the price. That was why the atmosphere in the Magic Tower of Desert had been rather grim lately. In particular, those who had received Bella’s help often knocked on the door of her dormitory, worried about her.
“Bella! I heard Count Melandorf is coming. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. For now, let’s just focus on doing our research projects.”
“I know you got our research projects back for us, but…”
Of course they would be worried. After all, the incident where I beat those guys up had been swept under the rug without a formal resolution. Well, who knows. I wasn’t really sure whether it was something worth worrying about that much.
“When Duke Kalinos and Count Melandorf arrive…” I looked straight at my roommate, who was researching time travel, and continued. “They’ll be very interested in time travel.”
“That can’t be.”
“No, they will. So research it more.”
Though still worried, my roommate smiled sheepishly and nodded.
That girl. She definitely had an unusual way of thinking, which made her time-travel research extraordinary. I listened to my roommate’s ideas regarding time travel, taking notes one by one.
Finally, the day came when Duke Kalinos and Count Melandorf visited the Magic Tower of the Desert together with the tower master. At the same time, Bella disappeared. As if she had never existed in the first place, she completely vanished.
* * *
“We heard that foolish Bella left the magic tower, so we came.”
It was inside the magic tower’s library. The trio spoke sarcastically to the mages preparing their research assignments.
“I may have declined for a while, but the glory of the past can shine again. It means we can grow again.”
“Besides, we have the count standing behind us.”
Gold, Silver, and Bronze began throwing their weight around in the magic tower once again. They were eagerly counting down the moments until the count arrived. And just like that, for one full day, the trio’s tyranny resumed.
While worrying about Bella, the other mages endured the trio’s bullying and continued their research. In particular, the mage who had worked hardest was Sera, Bella’s roommate. She held on to the words of the vanished Bella, who had once told her people would recognize her research achievements someday.
* * *
At the same time, a group of high-ranking nobles had gathered at a small restaurant outside the magic tower. There were four people in total: Count Melandorf, Duchess Giselle Kalinos, Duke Kalinos, and the tower master.
With a piping-hot meal laid before them, Duke Kalinos asked impatiently, “Giselle, have you been well?”
“Yes. Don’t I look like I’m doing well?”
“I see. You have that same refreshed expression you had right after beating up Marquis Berto.”
“…”
Wow, he was incredibly perceptive. But there were other people here too. But well, it’s not like we’re particularly refined people. I let it slide without much thought and nodded.
The tower master then cautiously asked. “What was the atmosphere in the magic tower like?”
Upon hearing that, I took a light sip of wine. Then I spoke firmly. “But before that.” My chilly gaze turned toward Count Melandorf. “Are you Count Melandorf?”
“Yes, yes! Goodness… I am indeed the investor and big spender of the Magic Tower of Desert! Melandorf! To think that I would have the honor of meeting the archmage like this, it is truly an honor for my family!”
I looked at him with a cold expression. The way he rubbed his hands together like a mosquito made him seem, no matter how I looked at it, like a second-generation version of the mosquito Reshaniel.
“Alright, then I have something to ask you. You developed a strange magical artifact, didn’t you?”
“…Yes, yes? I’ve developed so many strange things that I wouldn’t know which one you mean.” He stared blankly at me.
“The magical artifact that steals other people’s mana.”
“Ah! That one! Yes, that’s right. I gave it to some good mage friends. To steal the mana of bad guys!”
“…”
What the hell was wrong with this guy? …Is he an idiot? I stared at Melandorf after hearing those words that made me question his intelligence.
Melandorf gave a hearty laugh and spoke. “I was sure that Duchess would be able to fully appreciate the true value of that magical artifact! The bad guys in the magic tower would be cleaned out…”
“You gave that magical artifact to the bad guys, didn’t you?”
“Huh, yes?” He made a dumbfounded expression.
Wow, he’s really transparent. To think the magic tower had actually been controlled by an idiot like him. The tower master is a problem too. Of course, the fact that he had come looking for someone as capable as me meant he wasn’t completely disqualified.
I spoke quietly to Count Melandorf. “That magical artifact is wrong. Whatever you were trying to develop, you shouldn’t have made something like that.”
“Gasp…”
“Dispose of it.”
“Yes! Be-Besides that one, I have countless other developments. Would you like to see them? There’s also a time machine…”
I was about to ignore him, but stopped. “…A time machine?”
“Yes, yes!”
I stared ominously at him.
Count Melandorf became extremely excited and continued talking enthusiastically. “I’ve also done research on a time machine! Everyone told me to stop doing useless research, but I love all kinds of research! The more useless and unusual the research is, the more excited and happy I get. In fact, there’s this research called ‘growing armpit hair over one meter long’…”
“You’re ruining my appetite.” Duke Kalinos naturally cut in.
Count Melandorf couldn’t contain his excited, twitching mouth and said, “I-I’m sorry! But I don’t have any magical ability at all, so whenever I see amazing research, my heart starts pounding like crazy. Actually, people mistreat me, saying I’m a guy who lacks an eye for people and lacks an eye for research…”
I looked at him. He’s not lying… I had thought this guy was some insane mastermind pulling the strings from the shadows. Turns out he was just a research maniac… That made me let out a long sigh inwardly. “Then cooperate with me.”
“Huh? How?” Count Melandorf blinked.
I smiled kindly at him. “Give me all the research results you’ve produced so far. And invest your money.”
“Gasp! Really? I’m so happy! Really happy!”
Well, once he saw the contract I was about to thrust in front of him, his happiness might turn into despair.
“This is really the greatest day of my life. To be able to contribute to the archmage’s research… Even if I’m just the dirt under your toenails, I’d be happy!”
…Or maybe not for this guy.
“Get lost.” Fortunately, Duke Kalinos quickly put up an impenetrable wall.
I spoke to the count. “Focus especially on the time machine research. As for the armpit hair… forget about ridiculous stuff like that.”
“Y-Yes! Understood!”
The meal that day ended like that. Now that I had made a contract with Count Melandorf as well, I resolved to prepare for the final cleanup of the magic tower.
* * *
Everyone gathered in the magic tower’s central banquet hall. At last, Duke Kalinos and Count Melandorf had visited the magic tower. Word was that the two nobles had instructed the tower master to gather all mages in the magic tower.
Count Melandorf hadn’t contacted them separately since the previous night, but Gold, Silver, and Bronze were delighted. They were thrilled at the thought of finally presenting the research achievements they had stolen from others as if they were their own. Besides, hadn’t Count Melandorf said it himself?
“The magical artifact that steals mana is revolutionary.”
They waited with excited hearts.
Finally, the doors to the banquet hall opened. The trio wore nervous, eager expressions, thinking about presenting the research results they had stolen. The doors to the banquet hall opened, and the person who appeared was…
“Who’s that?”
“The one who vanished…”
“Isn’t that Bella?”
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