Chapter 20

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 20

Chapter Title: The Magic Tower Might Collapse

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“The Magic Tower might collapse,” he said.

That was the conclusion.

And I could tell without even hearing the details.

This was an event described in the original story [Forced Empress].

“We don't know the reason, but a crack has started forming in the mana core at the deepest part of the Magic Tower. If that breaks...”

“The Magic Tower will collapse.”

It was a grave situation.

The Magic Tower, whose origins were unknown even now, was a treasure trove of ancient magic knowledge that had yet to be fully uncovered.

As such, the mages affiliated with it had abandoned their livelihoods and gathered to replenish the mana steadily leaking from the cracked core.

But in the original story, the Magic Tower ultimately collapsed anyway.

'I should have reviewed it more carefully.'

In the original story, which focused mainly on Remeia, this plotline wasn't given much weight, so I'd overlooked it.

It was only vaguely described as, “Remeia offered advice, but the Magic Tower Lord rejected it, leading to the collapse.”

As complex emotions stirred within me, the Duke spoke again.

“Oh, I almost forgot to mention this earlier. This is still top secret for now. You absolutely cannot leak it to anyone outside.”

“R-Really? Then why tell me something classified...?”

“What do you think?”

“I-I have no idea?”

Was he planning to threaten me with the excuse that I'd learned something I shouldn't know?

I really didn't want to find out. Preferably never.

But he lifted the corner of his mouth, as if teasing me was amusing.

“You'll be heading to the Magic Tower soon enough anyway. Think it over until then, Princess.”

No way, he doesn't mean go together, right? He better not.

But he refused to explain until the end, leaving me feeling unsettled.

His handsome face was in inverse proportion to his personality—clear proof that the gods were fair.

“Is something bothering you?”

“Ah, sorry. My mind wandered off...”

At Ashley's question, I gave an awkward smile and apologized.

She'd been incredibly busy lately, and this tea time was at her request, yet here I was, unable to focus on her. I felt guilty.

To my hasty excuse, Ashley responded thoughtfully.

“It's fine. I'm just worried I dragged a busy person out here.”

“No, not at all. Haha, this cake is delicious, isn't it?”

I scooped up some soft whipped cream cake with my fork and shoved it into my mouth.

Thankfully, the sweet food settling in my stomach made my brain feel a bit more active.

I felt bad for Ashley, but I fell silent again, lost in thought.

Ever since that last meeting with the Duke, my mind had been filled with thoughts of the Magic Tower.

And whenever that happened, it was hard to focus on anything else.

'If the Magic Tower falls, things get complicated.'

It was a trait of those who handled mana, perhaps, but the Magic Tower was the vital link that bound together mages with their fickle and demanding temperaments.

Its collapse would halt mage activities temporarily, causing massive losses to related businesses and trade.

Salt Kingdom was no exception. Right around the time food shortages began, they were isolated without access to teleportation magic circles.

Moreover, it gave black mages hiding in the shadows the chance to emerge and become active, so the impact of the Magic Tower's fall was enormous.

Once again, a mere few lines from the book felt like a massive reality crashing down.

And the way to resolve it...

'Destroy the core.'

But it wouldn't be easy. After all, even Remeia, blessed with the protagonist buff in the original story, couldn't prevent the collapse.

'The original heroine advised in a letter that destroying the core was the way to save the Magic Tower.'

However, the Magic Tower's mages dismissed the letter as nonsense.

In truth, the core wasn't breaking—it was undergoing a kind of shedding process.

Records of it had been lost during past wars between mages and black mages, so modern mages were unaware.

In any case, telling them to destroy the Magic Tower's core must have sounded like, “Someone graffitied Gyeongbok Palace, so let's burn it down!”

Clink.

In the end, after barely touching my cake, I set down my fork and casually spoke up.

“Have you ever shattered a magic stone before?”

“...Pardon? A magic stone?”

“Um, more precisely, a stone containing far more mana than a regular one?”

I wasn't sure if this was the right way to describe the Magic Tower's core.

Ashley echoed back in surprise, her face clouding with confusion.

Only then did I look at her properly and realize my mistake.

“Ah, no, forget I said that.”

Shattering a magic stone—something ordinary people rarely even saw—sounded absurd, understandably so.

But Ashley pondered seriously for a moment before replying.

“Hmm... I don't know much, but don't they have lots of books with all sorts of knowledge in the Duke's family library?”

“Ah!”

'Right.'

Books were rare in this world. More precisely, access to refined knowledge wasn't open to everyone.

As a result, only prestigious noble houses, royal families, or imperial libraries held books with proper information.

In the original story, it was mentioned that Remeia—or rather, since the blockhead Remeia wouldn't have, it must have been April working tirelessly behind the scenes—had searched the Salt Kingdom palace library for info and resolved a national crisis.

“Thank you, Ashley. That's a great hint!”

Ashley smiled softly at my gratitude.

“I have another appointment soon anyway, so feel free to head out first.”

I glanced at Ashley's teacup, still more than half full, then nodded gratefully.

“See you later then. And as always, don't overdo it!”

“I'll say the same to you. You always seem so busy yourself, miss.”

Huh? Do I?

Only then did it hit me that I'd been spending less time holed up in my room lately.

'I need to stay vigilant.'

What if I lost my homebody identity like this?

I shook my head.

Once the Magic Tower issue was resolved, the comic business would proceed smoothly with the Duke's capital backing it, and I'd be rolling in money in no time.

That would naturally leave me with plenty of free time.

Yes, I resolved firmly.

After this is over!

I absolutely have to rest.

Absolutely.

The area near the Duke's study was deserted today, as if everyone had deliberately cleared out. An eerie silence had settled in.

Wary that Liam might pop out from somewhere watching, I cautiously knocked on the door.

“Come in.”

After a brief wait, a relaxed voice replied.

I opened the door and locked eyes with the Duke, who was seated at his desk.

But something seemed off about him.

'Did he sleep?'

He didn't hide his fatigue, rubbing his dry face.

Now that I thought about it, his voice sounded huskier and more languid than usual.

Was this his break time? If so, why not sleep comfortably in his room instead of the study...?

“What is it this time, Princess? If it's about business, can we do it later?”

“No, it's not that. I was wondering if I could get permission to access the Duke's family library.”

I quickly got to the point to avoid irking him.

“What, now you plan to wander my house like it's your own?”

“Of course not! Ah, if it's not possible, then no big deal...”

His question carried a teasing lilt, but I denied it promptly.

I knew better than to joke back with someone in power.

But the Duke seemed to have meant it as lighthearted banter and soon granted permission casually.

“Feel free to use the library as you wish.”

“Thank you!”

If only he'd say yes right away from the start.

But seeing his unusually weary face, even that complaint faded quickly. Considering he worked day and night without rest, it was odd he still had a sense of humor.

Come to think of it, this guy...

'When does he even sleep?'

It was a somewhat impulsive decision to speak up instead of leaving right away.

“Um, are you okay?”

The Duke's eyes turned to me.

For some reason, I shrank back and hurriedly added,

“You look tired.”

He stared at me silently for a while before slowly replying.

“...I'm fine.”

Fine, then nothing I can do.

I bowed my head and stepped out of the study. But I barely took a few steps before stopping again.

His fatigued appearance kept nagging at me... and I think I knew why.

'He looks like me.'

Not now, but like my overworked past self from what felt like a distant memory, the one who died from exhaustion.

'His dark circles are a bit more pronounced than before.'

Of course, the classic northern duke style added to that exhausted vibe...

I shook my head firmly.

'Don't worry about it.'

My own nose was barely above water—who was I to fret over him?

I hesitated.

But in the end, I turned back and reentered the study.

“What is it?”

The Duke, who had been about to lean back in his chair for a short rest, asked.

I strode right up to him and extended my hand toward him.

“If you're tired... I have a little trick up my sleeve.”

The Duke's gaze alternated between my palm and my face.

“Mind giving me your hand?”

“Which hand?”

Your hand. Your hand.

I stared piercingly at the Duke's hand as if to say exactly that.