* * *
The mages were dazed. And understandably so, since the trio who had been bullying them under the protection of Count Melandorf and stealing the fruits of their research had disappeared. Moreover, in their place, archmage Giselle had appeared. But there was something strange about it.
“Alright, move. Begin.”
“Y-Yes?”
“You don’t have enough stamina to conduct research for long, so let’s start with a morning walk.”
…W-What?
Yet within just three days, the effects of exercise began to show. The stamina of the mages, who had previously collapsed left and right from exhaustion, had increased considerably, dramatically extending the amount of time they could spend researching.
“Still, it’s fortunate that I am kind.”
What… is kind about it?
“I even make all of you exercise like this.”
At Giselle’s words, the mages were somewhat confused. I-Is that so?
Certainly, all the thugs who had resorted to physical violence within the magic tower had disappeared. It had also become an environment where they could concentrate solely on their research. On top of that, their physical stamina was improving. The mages who had been slacking off gradually began devoting themselves to their research.
This… might actually be okay.
With the exception of a few, they gradually began to find that, somehow, they liked all this Spartan training.
“If you do your research properly, I’ll give you performance bonuses to match, so work hard.”
And she was even going to give them money!
Thanks to the splendid combination of carrots and sticks, everyone began working hard… Of course, excluding the few lazy mages who couldn’t be motivated even with carrots and sticks. So Giselle personally went to the dormitories of those mages, with a smile like that of a demon.
* * *
And so, Giselle began meeting the mages who were slacking off, one by one. In the lounge of the central lobby, the most open space in the magic tower.
“Why isn’t Alice working?”
“Well…”
Alice was a 2nd-circle mage with disheveled hair. Until now, her only accomplishments within the magic tower had been playing around, eating, and sleeping. The reason she had come to the magic tower was because room and board were provided. It was a truly simple reason. But the thing was, Giselle saw right through everything about her.
“Looking at your academy grades, you’re quite intelligent. And you use magic potions properly, too.”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
Her excuse that she hadn’t worked properly because, no matter what she did, she was limited by being a 2nd-circle mage probably wouldn’t get her anywhere.
Alice lightly shrugged her shoulders. “It’s just that, I…”
At that moment, Giselle slammed her fist into the wall, as if refusing to entertain any further excuses. And they saw it. The wall shattered into pieces from a single punch by Giselle…
“Oh, this newly developed physical enhancement potion is quite nice.”
What kind of wall punch was powerful enough to destroy the walls of a magic tower built in ancient times? The mages passing by gaped at the sight.
Giselle tilted her chin toward them and said, “What are you looking at? Aren’t you working?”
Without a doubt, it was the true from an evil employer. And so, without even realizing it, they were gradually becoming slaves.
Alice’s eyes sparkled.
“If Alice isn’t going to work from now on, I suppose it can’t be helped.”
“No.”
“Hmm?”
“I-I’ll work too! I want to make physical modification potions!”
“Not modification. Enhancement.”
“Regardless!”
…I knew it. Giselle gave a meaningful smile. No matter how unmotivated someone is, it’s not like their motivation was completely zero from the beginning. They had simply run into the wall of reality, and their motivation had gradually been crushed.
And so, in a short amount of time, Giselle had slowly reformed the minds of the magic tower’s slaves- no, mages.
“And if you do well, I’m thinking of giving you a bonus, too.”
“Re-Really?”
Of course, it wasn’t Giselle’s money. It was the money of Count Melandorf, who had contributed to the magic tower’s downfall. But he was certain to be pleased.
“You know the Medici family, right? That family is famous for sponsoring artists! I made a huge amount of money because I wanted to become a family that sponsored magic research, just like them!”
…Ugh. Just thinking about that count makes my ears feel like they’re bleeding. I shouldn’t think about him.
As Giselle shook her head internally, the mage cautiously asked, “Then, what direction should I take the potion research in?”
“Just do whatever you want.”
“…C-Can I really research physical-enhancement potions?”
“Of course. But once you’ve chosen a topic, I’ll be looking at how thoroughly you actually researched it.”
The most important thing was still the research that Sera was in charge of, though.
* * *
A week passed just like that. After I decided to stay for exactly one week, the magic tower had undergone a complete transformation.
Of course, my husband did complain, asking if he was really losing me to the magic tower for an entire week…. Then at some point, he suddenly vanished. Well, I’ll just see him in a week. Thinking nothing of it, I received something called the [This Week’s Research Performance Report] from the tower master. I opened the report with the most serious expression in the world.
The time-travel research I had been looking forward to most was progressing steadily, thanks to the information and supplies Count Melandorf provided. After that, most of the research consisted of things that seemed useless but were surprisingly interesting.
The tower master clapped enthusiastically, his face filled with excitement. “It’s progressing much faster than before!”
“Of course. Since there’s no trash getting in the way anymore.”
Compared to the previous week, research performance had increased by a whopping 5,000%. It was an enormous figure.
“It was already at rock bottom, of course, but even so, to achieve a 5,000% increase in performance! We’re truly grateful to you, Archmage!”
“Hmm, yes.”
“It’s all thanks to the mages of this magic tower finding their motivation. I don’t know how I could ever repay this kindness.”
“Right. You should repay the kindness properly.” I stroked my chin and grinned. “After all, the entire upper management has been swept away. Everyone is working hard because they want to get promoted.”
And then there were those three mages who had gotten on my bad side. It was obvious that they wouldn’t be able to find employment anywhere.
As I nodded in satisfaction, the tower master cautiously spoke to me. “Ah, but will you be staying at the ma-magic tower for the time being?”
What’s with that terrified expression?
“I don’t know.”
I did have to go home eventually. Because my husband is waiting for me.
At that moment, the tower master cautiously said, “Ah, I see. I was wondering if perhaps you might need a secretary.”
“Hmm, a secretary?”
Come to think of it, when I was working, I vaguely remembered a secretary standing beside me and helping organize documents. Though I didn’t remember his face.
“Yes. O-Of course our magic tower used to have an esteemed secretary who helped here and there, but…”
“Esteemed secretary?”
“Goodness, what am I saying! I said secretary.”
“Why are you adding an honorific to the secretary…? And why are you stammering so much like someone with something to hide?”
“I-I-It’s not true. If it’s alright with you, I’ll have Secretary Kal accompany you immediately.”
“Do as you wish.”
I looked at the tower master suspiciously before shrugging. Anyway, I was planning to stay here for about three more days.
“Good job. Let’s have a company dinner tonight.”
* * *
Now that I’ve had a drink, I miss my husband even more. The simple company dinner was over. Since it was proper for those in higher positions to leave quickly, I only had a few drinks before leaving.
I had come out alone. For some reason, I felt a little empty. As expected… maybe it’s about time I went back home. Of course, by home I mean Kalinos Mansion. Thinking of it, I wondered if perhaps life needed romance as well as dopamine.
“Ah, I really miss him…”
It was precisely then. Kal, the new secretary the tower master had assigned to me, spoke to me. “You’ve had too much to drink.”
“…?”
“Your face is red and flushed.”
This guy sounded like he was speaking informally to me.
As I raised an eyebrow at this blatant insolence, Kal quickly corrected himself. “I meant to say, ‘It seems you have had too much to drink, Your Excellency.’”
…What a shameless guy, I thought, before suddenly stopping my tracks. Hooh. And I slowly examined the secretary’s face. I had thought it was one of those faces that didn’t leave much of an impression if you merely passed by him. But somehow… “You look like someone I know.”
At my words, the atmosphere turned cold.
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