The Problematic Child of the Magic Tower

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 148: The Game of Kings (2)

The representatives or masters of each Magic Tower were watching the match from an entirely different space.

That exclusive VIP area exuded an air of luxury and authority.

The floor was covered with an opulent red carpet, and stylish, lavish sofas were strategically placed throughout the room.

“Hmm?”

Kudel Redmane, the Red Tower Master, sipped his champagne before suddenly smirking.

On the screen before him, a group of Red Tower and Black Tower mages had just crossed paths.

But no battle broke out.

The Black Tower mages, wary, immediately changed direction to avoid them.

“Heh, how cute. They’re scurrying away like frightened little rats.”

“…Are you calling our tower’s mages rats?”

A sixth-level mage representing the Black Tower bristled with anger, but his protest had no effect on Kudel.

Lowering his sunglasses just slightly, Kudel casually popped three grapes into his mouth and chewed.

“Well, I called them rats because they looked like rats. I merely stated a fact—how is that an insult?”

“One more word of—”

“Tsk.”

At the sound of Kudel clicking his tongue, a wave of heat momentarily rippled around him.

“You seem to be under some delusion just because I exchanged a few words with you. But let me be clear—I still believe the Black Tower should be erased from existence. Especially after the last war. Honestly, I should’ve burned you all to ashes back then.”

“……”

The Black Tower’s representative, unable to refute past mistakes, clenched his fists tightly in silent frustration.

Seeing his opponent incapable of a proper rebuttal, Kudel chuckled before turning his gaze elsewhere.

“In fact, the ones who suffered the most because of the Black Tower back then were the White Tower. Wouldn’t you agree, White Tower Master?”

Hearing herself being addressed, Sasha cast a brief glance at them and replied curtly.

“…That’s true. But I don’t want to be too harsh on those who are trying to change.”

“Tsk, how soft. Everyone’s too damn soft.”

Kudel clicked his tongue again, shaking his head with an unimpressed expression.

“If your mentor were here, at least he would’ve sided with me on this matter.”

“No, he wouldn’t have. My master loves peace more than anyone.”

“Ha! Now that’s the funniest joke I’ve heard today.”

Kudel let out a deep laugh, his shoulders shaking in amusement.

“That bastard? Loving peace? Now that’s something even a passing mutt would laugh at.”

As he finished speaking, Kudel took off his sunglasses completely.

Deep scars ran across both of his eyes, stretching horizontally across his face.

Though his vision seemed to have been restored, he had intentionally left the scars untreated.

“That man is a lunatic. He was just lucky enough to be born in chaotic times and got hailed as a hero. Had he been born in an era of peace, he would’ve been remembered as nothing more than a crazed murderer.”

“…That’s enough.”

Unable to tolerate any more insults, Sasha’s expression hardened with anger.

Kudel simply shrugged, putting his sunglasses back on.

“If nothing else, I know that man better than anyone.”

“I know my master well enough.”

“Heh, believe whatever you want.”

With a cryptic smirk, Kudel leaned back into his seat and took another sip of champagne.

Meanwhile, on the screen, the mages had all arrived at their designated locations.

* * *

“…Huh?”

“What the hell?”

“Is this an illusion?”

Unlike the White Tower’s fourth-level mages, who were reacting in shock, Oscar remained calm, observing his surroundings.

‘The starting point is near the central city.’

The seven other towers weren’t far off.

It seemed the starting locations were fixed around the central city.

‘No crazy idiots looking for a fight right off the bat… as expected.’

His gaze sharpened as he scanned the area, but no one seemed eager to engage in battle immediately.

Instead, everyone was quickly moving to secure key locations, following their respective strategies.

Only then did Oscar take a proper look at the scenery around him.

—Chirp, chirp.

Birdsong echoed through the city.

A place that once resembled a concrete jungle had now transformed—literally—into a jungle.

Vines, moss, flowers, and trees had overtaken the exterior walls of buildings.

Once symbols of prosperity, the towering skyscrapers had now become part of nature.

“This feels overwhelming.”

“Will our cities look like this in a few hundred years if civilization collapses?”

“An apocalypse… It really does feel like a ruined world.”

As the White Tower mages gathered, Killian’s steady voice called out to Oscar.

“Oscar.”

Oscar nodded.

“What about the other towers?”

“Just as we predicted. The Green Tower immediately headed south toward the forest. The other four major towers rushed toward the city’s prime spots. The Black Tower and the Blood Tower hesitated at first, then split east and west, respectively. The Violet Tower hesitated the longest and has just now started moving north.”

It was all playing out according to the scenarios they had discussed in the strategy room.

“Good. Let’s hope they tear each other apart in that tiny city. Time to move.”

The White Tower set its course north, toward the mountains.

Before long, they encountered the Violet Tower, which had moved ahead.

‘Just as I thought.’

The faces of the Violet Tower mages were tense.

No matter how much the White Tower had declined, it was still considered one of the four great towers.

On top of that, in the last tournament, they had dominated with overwhelming power, securing first place.

A woman, seemingly the Violet Tower’s representative, cautiously spoke.

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

“Why are you following us?”

“We’re not following you. We just plan to set up a base in the north as well.”

At those words, the woman hesitated, clearly conflicted.

Sharing a region with another tower was a major source of anxiety.

But abandoning the north for another location wasn’t an easy decision either.

‘The central city and the east-west regions, controlled by the Black and Blood Towers, are out of the question. The only relatively safe place would be the Green Tower’s forest… but that’s their stronghold.’

In short, no matter where they went, the Violet Tower would be at a disadvantage.

Noticing their unease, Oscar finally spoke.

“I’m Oscar Crucian. No need to mention levels—we’re all equal in that regard. And you?”

“…Iris Stella.”

“Nice name. Mind if I make a proposal?”

“…Let’s hear it first.”

As she swallowed nervously, countless thoughts raced through her mind.

‘A proposal? Is he going to demand we gather supplies in exchange for coexisting? Or maybe…’

A worst-case scenario flashed through their mind.

From the perspective of the White Tower, they could reduce the risks of coexistence while also earning points—by killing a few of them.

‘If that's the kind of proposal they're making, there's no way I can accept it.’

But it wasn’t as if there were any alternative options available.

Iris quickly scanned the faces of their opponents.

‘The Holy One of the White Tower... Just dealing with him alone would be tough, and on top of that…’

As if to prove that there was something brighter than the stars.

There was also Oscar Crucian, the rising noble of the White Tower, gaining fame at an alarming rate.

In short, if they waged an all-out war, they had to be prepared for complete annihilation.

‘In the end, do we have no choice but to accept whatever proposal they make?’

Iris bit her lip in frustration.

"At the very least, let's establish a cooperative relationship while we're in this mountain. How about that?"

"...A cooperative relationship?"

"You could say, something like the relationship between a crocodile and a plover bird."

Of course, no one needed an explanation about which side was the crocodile and which was the bird.

Narrowing her eyes, Iris asked,

"What exactly do you want from us? If I’m being clear, the Violet Moon may have created this space, but we don’t have the power to modify it significantly."

"Oh, I know that."

His tone made it seem like he hadn’t even expected them to.

Oscar looked up at the dense forested mountain and spoke.

"What we want is your labor."

"...Labor?"

"Yeah. And it’s not like we’re expecting it for free—we’ll compensate you to some extent."

"Don’t tell me... you want us to build your base?"

"Of course not."

Oscar shook his head and grinned.

"Herbs. What I want are the herbs growing in this mountain."

* * *

"What the hell are they doing?"

Kudel Redmane frowned as he stared at the screen.

He had naturally assumed that the White Tower and the Violet Tower would end up fighting.

"Two magic towers setting up base in the same area without even the usual tension?"

Was that even possible?

In fact, he had been looking forward to the fight.

Watching the weak ones struggle was always the most entertaining.

"The White Tower has always been a peace-loving group. Just like my master."

Sasha scoffed as she added a remark with a sharp edge to it.

And she didn’t stop there—she threw in another pointed observation.

"Actually, isn't the real anomaly the central city? The Yellow Tower, the Red Tower, the Blue Tower—three magic towers famous for their pride all gathered in one place, yet they naturally settled in different areas without acknowledging each other’s presence."

"What’s so strange about that? No one wants to waste their energy early on and let someone else reap the benefits."

"Oh, I see? For a moment, I thought the three towers had conspired together in advance."

When Kudel remained silent at that, Tony Havertz of the Yellow Tower shook his head.

"We would never do something so disgraceful. And even if our people formed an unspoken alliance inside, does that make it a crime?"

"I’m not here to judge anyone guilty or innocent. I just don’t think this is the kind of scenario the imperial family would want to see."

As Sasha said that, she glanced toward the very back of the VIP room.

There, sitting alone and quietly watching the screen, was the Ninth Prince, Berkan.

"Hmm?"

At that moment, the Violet Moon, who had been silent until now, suddenly voiced her curiosity.

The mages of the Violet Tower had handed something over to the White Tower’s mages.

"Is that… herbs?"

"There are also mushrooms and some fruit mixed in."

"I see. So they agreed to supply food and herbs in exchange for forming an alliance?"

"Heh, I knew it."

Kudel grinned, baring his teeth.

"There’s no way they’d keep the weak ones alive without getting something in return. That’s just the law of nature. Turn up the volume on that part."

At his command, the dialogue from that screen became clearer for everyone in the room.

-Is this enough?

-It’s sufficient.

-Then, as promised, the item…

-Five bottles of potion. We’ll deliver them by tomorrow morning.

At that, everyone in the VIP room except Sasha tilted their heads in confusion.

"Wait, potions?"

"Those guys... don’t tell me—"

When the White Tower first moved north, the VIPs assumed they were taking a passive approach to this match.

It made sense since the north was the farthest area from the central zone, where most of the action was expected to take place.

‘But now, suddenly they have potions?’

‘And in a survival match where resources are limited, a potion is basically an extra life…’

It was obvious that the value of such an item would skyrocket.

As everyone’s expressions hardened, only the Ninth Prince, Berkan, smiled and murmured to himself.

"Interesting. Are they planning to become war merchants in this little game?"

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]