Episode 28
“Since you’re here at the Magic Tower, it’s a good opportunity. How are things in the Empire?”
His master nonchalantly asked about the Empire’s situation. Cesar hid his impatience and replied,
“…The political climate is turbulent due to the struggle for the throne. Even at the festival, His Highness the Crown Prince seemed to be observing the Second Prince’s movements.”
“Indeed, it’s complicated both inside and out.”
The Magic Tower always maintained neutrality. He didn’t understand why his master was asking him about something he wasn’t particularly interested in.
Cesar was about to directly question his master’s evasive attitude. But before he could, the Tower Master spoke first.
“My disciple. The refined flow is moving in a different way than before.”
“Has a problem arisen?”
“A problem… We’ll have to wait and see, but it’s quite intriguing how far it will go.”
“…Master, you speak in riddles sometimes.”
“It’s natural for me, who is older than you, to speak in complex terms. Hmm, so are you leaving now?”
Cesar felt a surge of irritation at his words. He was half out of his mind, searching for his missing bird, and the one who hid it was nonchalantly asking why he wasn’t leaving.
“I have pressing matters. I’m only spending my time on this because you’re hiding it from me, Master.”
“Well, then there’s nothing I can do.”
“…Are you really not going to tell me?”
Despite the warning laced with a threat to reveal whatever he was hiding, the Tower Master just smiled and smoothly changed the subject.
Cesar clenched his fists anxiously. There was no way to defeat the Tower Master, who had lived for centuries. If his master was intentionally hiding Lily, he might never find her.
She was just a bird. He didn’t know when she had become someone whose disappearance made him so anxious and uneasy.
He felt like he would see the small bird looking up at him if he lowered his head. Chirping with its jet-black eyes blinking and soft pink feathers fluttering in the wind, its adorable face…
‘…Beep.’
Asking him if he was looking for her. Saying she was just playing hide-and-seek. He felt like she would greet him with a smile, as always.
Lowering his head with that thought, Cesar noticed a strand of unfamiliar light brown hair on the floor. A strange impulse made him pick it up, and he looked at the Tower Master. His usually relaxed expression seemed to have stiffened.
Sensing something amiss, Cesar infused the hair with mana, and its color changed. Mostly a soft pink, but the tips had a white glow. Just like Lily’s feathers.
He suddenly recalled the gentle whisper he had heard in his dream.
‘…I’m not going anywhere.’
Someone had definitely whispered that to him.
A hypothesis flashed through his mind. He wanted to dismiss it as absurd, but he remembered the divine energy that had filled the air when Lily defeated the monster.
‘I thought it was just a monster. It seems I was mistaken.’
He clenched his hand holding the hair and spoke,
“At first, she was just something entrusted to me by the woman I love. I intended to get rid of her if she became a nuisance.”
“…My disciple, that’s animal abuse.”
“Hear me out. But her actions were so peculiar that they piqued my interest. And like you said, Master, she comforted me as if she knew my feelings, and at some point, that small bird became precious to me.”
“You’ve grown attached to it.”
At that question, Cesar chuckled.
He had grown attached to a speechless animal. He wanted her to stay by his side, and he hoped she wouldn’t get hurt.
But his bird had taken all the jewels he gave her and disappeared without a trace.
“Yes. I’ve grown attached to her. So I intend to find her. It seems she’s forgotten her owner and run away.”
Cesar spoke to his master,
“I’ll believe your lies this time. But…”
A cold voice echoed in the room.
“Next time, I won’t even spare you, Master.”
With those words, Cesar disappeared. Watching his disciple vanish, the Tower Master clicked his tongue.
“He wasn’t cute as a child, but… to grow into such a ferocious man. He might actually try to kill his master.”
The Tower Master absentmindedly touched his neck and then stood in front of the circle with the expansive flow of energy.
The mystical bird, with a different soul, was changing the flow of fate. But he didn’t feel the need to intervene. He was intrigued.
Whether it led to a new ending or another path to ruin, observing it was also his role.
“By the way, it was a half-intentional mistake, but it’s scary how quickly he noticed… I wonder if that small bird can handle such a fearsome man.”
Clicking his tongue, the Tower Master offered a silent prayer for the little bird. That small bird had gotten involved with a very dangerous man.
Cesar teleported from the Magic Tower to another location. Arriving at his original destination, he burst through the door. Wilhelm, who had been organizing documents, exclaimed in surprise as if he had seen a ghost.
“…Y-you startled me! But why are you here so urgently? It’s not time yet.”
Cesar glanced at Wilhelm and said,
“I have a task for you.”
“A task, you say…?”
“I need you to confirm if this hair and these feathers match. Find a magical tool related to this at an auction, by any means necessary.”
“Oh, what a time-consuming and inefficient task…”
“That’s why I’m asking you to do it.”
At the cold reply, Wilhelm closed his mouth. He felt the resignation letter in his pocket resonate.
“But… I still have a lot of pending requests.”
“I believe I assigned additional staff under you. Are they just for decoration?”
Wilhelm flinched at the harsh words, lowered his head, and replied,
“…N-no, sir.”
“And let me know as soon as you confirm the match. I’ll issue a search warrant or something.”
Wilhelm clutched the resignation letter in his pocket and nodded without saying a word.
Then, another person came to Cesar’s mind, and he added,
“And plant someone around that Spirit Summoner, Heron.”
“Yes, understood.”
Wilhelm bowed his head and left the room.
Left alone in the empty room, Cesar fell into thought. If the hair and feathers really matched, it meant his bird had become human and left his side.
“If it were before, I would have just killed it.”
Since it dared to leave his side, he would have ended its life with his own hands, making sure it never even thought of leaving again. But he couldn’t do that now. That bird had become too precious to him.
So he intended to play a long game of hide-and-seek with his bird. A game of hide-and-seek where she would have to obediently return to his arms once caught.
“Lily, I told you, didn’t I? I’ll keep you by my side, no matter your form.”
‘Whether you’re a bird, a monster, or a human. I need you.’
He slowly reached out. A pink petal, carried by the breeze, landed on the back of his hand. It was the same color as that brazen, insignificant little bird that had opened the cage in his heart and entered without permission.
Looking at the pink hair in his hand, Cesar spoke to his bird, who might now be human, wherever she was,
“…Let me catch you, Lily.”
Because he didn’t even want to imagine the lonely nights before she came.
“Can you stand up, Lady?”
A gentle voice reached my ears. I had to stand up, but… I looked back and forth between the offered hand and Arenz’s face.
‘Is it just my imagination that his fiery red hair looks like flames about to engulf my future?’
“Lady?”
He moved closer as if to help me up. I desperately wanted to avoid getting involved with anyone in the Imperial Palace. I shook my head and made an X with my hands, indicating I didn’t want his help.
Arenz tilted his head, a puzzled expression on his face.
“I can stand up on my own.”
“…As you wish.”
As he withdrew his hand, a pang of guilt hit me. I had rejected the kindness of a good person.
But I couldn’t help it. In the Imperial Palace, where the power struggle was brewing beneath the surface, getting involved with anyone would surely lead me into trouble.
I slowly put strength into my legs, trying to stand up. And I collapsed.
“Ouch.”
‘…I’m doomed. My legs still don’t have any strength!’
A cold sweat ran down my back. The Crown Prince, seeing me sitting blankly on the grass, spoke impatiently,
“What are you doing?”
“W-well.”
I stammered a few times and then confessed in a small voice,
“My legs don’t have any strength…”
A heavy silence fell over us.
“Are you alright?”
I heard a voice. An incredibly gentle and kind voice. But it only made me want to despair. I wanted to ignore the reality I was facing.
I covered my burning face with my hands and replied softly,
“…Yes.”
“If there’s anything that makes you uncomfortable…”
“N-no! I’m fine!”
I hurriedly cut off Arenz and saw my feet dangling in the air.
That’s right. Like a child who couldn’t even walk properly, I was being carried by Arenz through the Imperial Garden.
‘This is so embarrassing. Being carried by someone at my age.’
I covered my face again, worried someone might see me. And I gnashed my teeth, thinking of the culprit behind all of this.
‘Tower Master, why did you send me here? You said I would be fine because you supplied me with mana. But why don’t my legs work?’
The Crown Prince, seeing me like this, spoke curtly,
“The Tower Master cherishes troublesome things.”
That “troublesome thing” definitely referred to me.
‘Of course, I can’t walk and have to be carried by someone! I’d rather be a bird…!’
I gave up thinking.