Raising Villains the Right Way

A day had passed since Serdea and Irenne had swept through like a storm and left.

In ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍the end, why had they come all the way to such a distant place?

Unable ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍to resolve that question, Alon was in the middle of a conversation with Kylrus.

”...You’ve ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍become quite usable now.”

“Is ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that so?”

“Yes. ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍There’s nothing more I can teach you. More precisely, this is sufficient. You don’t mainly handle spirit dragons anyway.”

“Hmm~”

Alon turned his gaze.

What he saw was still a ruined world.

“Why?”

“No, my eyes just drifted there for a moment.”

“......Your eyes?”

Alon nodded.

“Didn’t you say this place is my mental world?”

“Well, yes.”

“Honestly, I still don’t quite understand it.”

After looking around the empty world, Alon soon withdrew his gaze.

He was curious why his mental world had taken such a form, but unfortunately, there was no way to find out the reason.

Alon pushed the topic aside without lingering on it.

After exchanging a few more words with Kylrus, he said his farewell.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

At that, Kylrus, who had been about to nod as usual—

“...Wait.”

—stopped Alon.

“Why? Do you have something to say?”

At that, Kylrus silently looked at Alon before slowly opening his mouth.

“About something you said.”

“Hmm?”

“Certainly—”

“.....?”

Kylrus moved his lips as if choosing his words.

But after a while—

“......Never mind.”

“?”

“Go.”

“No, didn’t you call me as if you had something to say?”

Kylrus waved his hand as if to dismiss it.

Though puzzled, Alon soon shrugged and escaped from the Foot that Runs Through the Past.

And then—

“You’re awake.”

The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Lainisius.

As if he had been waiting, he stood right in front of Alon.

With his face so close it felt burdensome.

“What are you doing?”

“I came because I had something to tell you, but something interesting seemed to be happening, so I was observing.”

“What?”

“Your mana was moving strangely. Unlike usual.”

Lainisius pulled his face away and cast his gaze at the Foot that Runs Through the Past.

Alon let out a low exclamation belatedly.

Until now he hadn’t thought about it, but he had just recalled that Kylrus and Lainisius knew each other. Even quite closely.

“Why?”

Lainisius tilted his head at Alon’s reaction.

After a brief hesitation, Alon answered.

“I’m a bit late in saying this, but I just came from meeting Kylrus.”

“Kylrus?”

“Yes.”

“....?”

For a moment, Lainisius looked bewildered.

Alon calmly explained about the Foot that Runs Through the Past.

Then, while staring at the foot, he asked—

“......You meet Kylrus with this artifact?”

“Yes.”

“How?”

“According to Kylrus, it’s like summoning the soul through a medium.”

However, Lainisius’s brows furrowed slightly, as if something felt off.

“Alon. There are a few things I want to ask. Is that alright?”

“Of course.”

“When you say you summon Kylrus, what do you mean?”

“Exactly what it sounds like.”

“...Are you summoning a dead soul?”

“A soul?”

“Yes.”

“......Ah.”

The conversation seemed to run strangely parallel, and Alon felt puzzled for a moment, but soon recalled that Lainisius had been exiled alone in the void for hundreds of years.

‘He said the only person he met during that time was Duke Komalon.’

Recalling his background anew, Alon spoke.

“Didn’t you hear about it from Duke Komalon?”

“I heard nothing from that brat. Even though he told me many stories.”

Only then did Alon realize it.

That aside from the Five Great Sins, Lainisius knew far less about this world than he had thought—

More precisely, he realized that he didn’t know about the existence of the ‘Outer Gods,’ and began to explain.

As time passed—

“...Don’t you think something is strange?”

“What part?”

“The Outer Gods.”

“...The Outer Gods?”

At Alon’s question, Lainisius nodded.

“Yes. According to what you said, the Outer Gods seem to be the gods of the forgotten era—the gods from the time I lived.”

“That’s right.”

“But those who were clearly killed by the Sins—how could they come back to life?”

“Well—”

Alon was about to answer naturally but stopped.

He had never questioned it until now.

Because to Alon, that fact had been obvious.

He had perceived it that way through the game Psychedelia.

Only then did Alon break free from his misconception.

Like solving a math problem while only knowing the method but not the principle, yet believing he fully understood it—

He stepped out of that mindset.

“......”

“In my view, this ecosystem is strange.”

Perhaps realizing that Alon had recognized the issue, Lainisius added—

“As you know, gods survive through faith. The reason they attained immortality was also faith. But gods who lost that faith perishing, only to reappear as Outer Gods—such a thing is impossible.”

“......Could it be the power of the Five Great Sins?”

At Alon’s question, Lainisius shook his head firmly.

“Unfortunately, that’s not possible at all. Considering what you told me later, it’s even more impossible.”

After saying that, Lainisius quietly looked at the Foot that Runs Through the Past.

“But regardless, this situation isn’t entirely bad for us.”

“What do you mean?”

“Of course, it’s only a hypothesis—”

Lainisius began speaking and conveyed one possibility to Alon.

Alon’s eyes widened.

“That’s possible?”

“It’s not certain yet. If we can grasp the principle, it might be possible. But for that, research is needed. Could you lend me this foot for a while?”

At Lainisius’s request, Alon hesitated briefly.

“Alright.”

But soon accepted it.

Because he thought it was necessary.

“Come to think of it, didn’t you say you had something to tell me?”

At last, Lainisius brought up what he had postponed.

“Ah, it’s about the magic circle and Blackie.”

After that, the conversation between Alon and Lainisius continued for quite some time.

The next day.

Alon left Palantio.

He wanted to rest a bit longer, but he had heard that because of the fragment that fell into the Colony, the divine-blood could arrive at any time.

‘And I also need to stop by the central Mage Tower...............?’

As Alon organized his schedule, watching Blackie and Basiliora sleeping leisurely in the sunlight, Evan—who had been quiet until just now—spoke.

“Lord Alon. Did yesterday’s conversation end well?”

“Hmm?”

“I mean the talk with that unpleasant guy.”

Alon easily realized that ‘that unpleasant guy’ referred to Lainisius and replied—

“......Well, rather than ending well, it was more like a report.”

“I see.”

Nodding, Alon recalled yesterday’s conversation with Lainisius.

There had been roughly three main topics.

One was about Blackie,

Another was about the automation of divine power Alon had been thinking of.

And the last was about the castle.

As for Blackie and divine power automation, he had heard they were already being researched.

But what bothered Alon was the last one.

‘Adding minor functions to the castle?’

‘Yes. The tower masters had some interesting ideas.’

...

‘Is that really okay?’

‘No problem. Mana issues will never arise.’

‘Oh...’

‘No... I mean the appearance of the castle.’

‘Appearance? It might change a bit, but it won’t be much different from now.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘......Probably?’

Recalling how Lainisius had hesitated at that last answer, Alon shook off the thought and asked Evan—

“So, did you contact Penia?”

Evan nodded.

“Yes, I did.”

“But what are you planning?”

“Well— it seems like she’s preparing something?”

“Preparing...?”

“Yes. She said the timing is perfect.”

Hearing the additional news from Evan, Alon grew puzzled once again.

***

The central Mage Tower was usually quiet unless a magic conference was being held.

Yes, normally.

But ever since the mages began researching Alon’s ‘magic,’ it had become extremely noisy, and now, a few weeks before the grand conference, there were far more people staying in the tower than usual.

So normally, the central Mage Tower should have been very noisy.

Yes, normally.

But now, the central Mage Tower was eerily silent.

It wasn’t that there were no mages.

There were many.

Not just many—

An enormous number.

So many that it felt like the first-floor laboratory might burst.

Yet despite that, the mages remained silent, all directing their gaze toward the center of the lab.

More precisely—

“Diffraction.”

—at the vice tower master of the Blue Mage Tower, who was using Alon’s magic.

And then—

Whoosh—!

From her hand, lightning crackled as it shot up into the sky.

Soon after—

“Lord Alon, who will soon visit the Mage Tower, will personally select mages to accompany Palantio.”

A confident voice rang out—

“Along with the ‘blessing’ of being able to use Lord Alon’s magic.”

Penia smiled brightly.

Right after Penia publicly hinted at Alon’s magic, she instantly became a superstar of the Mage Tower.

It was only natural.

At this point, merely showing that someone other than Alon could use his magic was enough to make her a cosmic-level star of the tower.

Alon’s achievements so far were more than enough for all mages to admire.

So—

“Hm hm, Vice Tower Master, do you know this? This is that famous abducted wine—”

“Vice Tower Master! It’s been a while! You haven’t forgotten me, have you?”

“Vice Tower Master, hello? I believe I greeted you before—”

Penia was currently enjoying the praise of the mages in real time.

In truth, Penia had always held this level of authority.

After all, she was the vice tower master of the Blue Mage Tower.

However, the reason she felt even happier now was because of the change in the mages’ attitudes.

Even before, they had been obedient.

But that was only in front of her—behind her back, they constantly mocked her as rude and arrogant.

But now?

Everyone was sincerely bowing their heads to her, making her tower life more enjoyable than ever.

Then—

“Vice Tower Master, may I ask you something?”

“You may ask.”

“What kind of relationship do you have with Lord Alon...?”

A newcomer who had just joined the Blue Mage Tower asked that question.

Penia glanced down at the newcomer, who seemed to be expecting something, then shifted her gaze and read the room.

Looking around slightly, she saw the other mages who had been flattering her moments ago.

Now they had stopped and were focusing their attention on her.

Of course, Penia knew the ideal answer she should give here.

A cooperative relationship—or at most, a subordinate relationship.

Even if she gave such a formal answer, the mages’ outward attitude wouldn’t change.

Only the current excitement would fade.

After all, they still needed to curry favor with her regardless.

But despite knowing that, Penia’s reason was fiercely wavering.

She had always been the type to secretly enjoy being admired.

And she also had one hidden desire.

Thus, in that brief moment, under the gaze of countless mages—

“Hm hm, my relationship with Lord Alon is...”

In the end—

“Well, it’s a bit of a special relationship, you could say?”

“Gasp—”

She blurted it out.

Thinking to herself, ‘What could possibly happen from saying this much?’

Without knowing what that single sentence would set into motion.