“What is this?” Eugene asked.
“As you can see, it’s just an envelope.”
“Can I examine its contents?”
“Feel free.”
Eugene immediately broke the seal on the envelope as soon as he was handed it. However, there was nothing inside.
“The contents aren’t really necessary, Sir Eugene. What’s important is that you will be holding onto a letter that I wrote myself,” Balzac said as he waved his fingers with a grin. The broken seal fixed itself and reattached as he continued speaking, “I might not be able to handle the sort of threats that might show themselves in Ruhr, but I can deal with Amelia Merwin’s grudge against you. So if you intend to go to Nahama, please take this with you.”
“...What is it that you want from me?” Eugene asked. He couldn’t help but be wary of Balzac.
After having come looking for Eugene to give him a warning about going to Ruhr, Balzac had now even handed him a personal letter to help deal with a potential threat. Since Balzac was showing Eugene such consideration, it was clear that he wanted something in return.
Instead of answering, Balzac asked, “Do you hate black wizards?”
Eugene naturally replied, “Of course I hate them.”
“That hate is unavoidable,” Balzac nodded in understanding. “However, I would like it if you could at least hold a little affection towards me.”
“By any chance, are you gay?” Eugene asked bluntly.
Even the perpetually calm Balzac didn’t seem to have expected him to say such a thing. Balzac couldn’t respond immediately as he stared at Eugene with his jaw half dropped.
“...Huh?” Balzac eventually managed to grunt in question.
“It’s just a bit suspicious that you’re treating me so well,” Eugene explained. “Although I don’t really have any inclinations to that side of things, since the Black Tower Master has been so kind to me, I can’t help but feel a little distressed and worried.”
“...Worried?” Balzac gave a strangled yelp.
“For my chastity, or even…. Although I’ve said this already, I have no interest in that side of things,” Eugene repeated.
“...Hold on. I’m a little flustered right now,” with a confused expression, Balzac adjusted his glasses. “...Please don’t have that sort of misunderstanding. It’s just… I only want to build a friendly relationship with you, Sir Eugene. Merely… as one human to another. Yes. So please don’t get the wrong idea. Isn’t that the case with everyone here, not just myself? You might still be young, but we all know that you have a lot of potential, Sir Eugene….”
“For now, I will receive what you’ve given me with gratitude,” Eugene hastily stowed the personal letter into the Cloak of Darkness. “However, it feels like I won’t be able to repay this favor any time soon. So I guess I’ll just be going then.”
“...Ah, yes,” Balzac seemed relieved.
“If I could, I would have liked to invite you to my farewell party tomorrow. Ah, but having said that, please don’t actually show up,” Eugene requested. “Although I do truly feel that way, the human mind really is an ambiguous and strange thing. At the moment, I’d like to invite you, but… if I did see the Black Tower Master show up to my farewell party tomorrow, I feel like I’d be more upset than pleased by it.”
“...I won’t be going, so please don’t worry about it,” now, Balzac just seemed exhausted.
“I am amazed at the magnanimity of the Black Tower Master at having said so. Well then, I will see you later,” with a quick bob of his head, Eugene turned around.
After gazing at Eugene’s receding back, Balzac let out a snort and shook his head.
* * *
Even though he spent the last two years living in the Red Tower of Magic, the only ones that Eugene had really gotten to know were Lovellian and Hera. Thanks to this, while it might be called a farewell party, it wasn’t all that grandiose.
However, the location and the identity of attendees were still quite impressive. The party was being held on the top floor of the Red Tower of Magic. It wasn’t just Lovellian and Hera there, but the White Tower Master, Melkith, the Crown Prince of Aroth, Honein, and the Blue Tower Master, Hiridus, were all here as well.
Including Eugene, that was six people. Although they could have invited more, Eugene didn’t want that. He was reluctant to invite that overeager Commander of the Court Wizards or the Green Tower Master, and the Black Tower Master out of the question from the very start.
“Why did you invite me?” the Blue Tower Master asked Eugene.
Honein and Melkith had developed good relationships with Eugene. However, Hiridus and Eugene had barely said anything to each other. Occasionally, when they came across each other within Akron, they would exchange casual greetings, and that was it.
“It’s not like we’re completely unfamiliar with each other,” Eugene noted.
“But aren’t you even more familiar with the Tower Masters who aren’t here?”
“Why ask when you already know the answer?”
Hiridus couldn’t help but smirk at these words.
“Don’t take your avoidance of the Green Tower Master and the Commander of the Court Wizards too far because that will just make them even more interested in you,” Hiridus advised Eugene.
“It looks like the Blue Tower Master isn’t all that interested in me,” observed Eugene.
“Although I am a bit interested, I’m not the type who would disregard his own face to try and steal away the Red Tower Master’s disciple,” Hiridus admitted.
“But that’s just what the Green Tower Master keeps trying to do,” Eugene smirked.
“Jeneric has always been extremely greedy. His self-esteem and stubbornness have always been stronger than his regard for saving face. But try not to hate him too much,” as he said this, Hiridus took a sip of wine.
Then he let out a sigh from deep within his chest as he stared at Lovellian talking to Honein.
‘I am a little envious,’ Hiridus admitted to himself.
Hiridus also had a disciple. As it had been three years since they had last met face-to-face, his disciple’s skills should have improved compared to when he had last seen them. Although he had once felt that his disciple wouldn’t fall short of anyone no matter where they went… if he compared his disciple to Eugene, he couldn’t help but feel that they were a bit lacking.
“....Although I was sure that it would be the case, it looks like you haven’t invited Balzac,” Hiridus said eventually.
Eugene couldn’t deny it, “Yes, well. My master would also be displeased by it, so….”
Eugene felt pleased by the direction this conversation had taken. He turned to look at Hiridus with bright eyes.
“Could I ask what type of person the Black Tower Master is?” Eugene asked him.
“What kind of answer do you want to hear?” Hiridus didn’t seem flustered by the sudden question.
Eugene admitted, “I’ve heard that the Black Tower Master used to be part of the Blue Tower of Magic in the past.”
“So you want to hear about Balzac’s past? Or do you want something more recent?” Hiridus continued to ask.
“Is there a big difference between the two?” Eugene questioned.
“They’re not that different. Even in the past, Balzac was mysterious, and it was hard to tell what he was thinking. Though that’s still the case today…,” Hiridus chuckled as he shook his wine glass.
Hiridus seemed to be looking dozens of years into the past within his swirling wine.
Haltingly, he began to speak, “...What I still can’t understand is… why Balzac left the Blue Tower of Magic. At the time, I was… inferior to Balzac. Though I’m afraid that might still be the case.”
“There’s no way,” Eugene encouraged him.
“No, I’m speaking seriously. I can say this since I’m from the same generation as Balzac. He could have become the most outstanding Tower Master in the history of the Blue Tower of Magic. However… I guess that wasn’t enough for him. It’s not like I can’t understand why that might be. No matter how amazing a human’s magic is, in the end, it’s still just a human’s magic. It’s impossible to surpass the magic of a Demon King,” though after having said this, Hiridus burst into laughter. “Of course, that’s not an absolute. Because there’s the Wise Sienna as the exception to this. That’s why I have to ask, Eugene, just how much have you been able to understand about Lady Sienna’s magic?”
“You’re really asking me if I truly understood it? I just made sure to observe it diligently,” Eugene said humbly.
“However, you must have gotten something. But don’t worry about telling me since I have no intention of spying on your research,” Hiridus assured him before falling silent for a moment, lost in thought.
When he came out of it, he said, “...So I’ve heard that you’re going to Nahama.”
“Yes,” Eugene confirmed.
“The desert is a harsh place,” Hiridus warned him. “It’s hot, and there are a lot of sandstorms. This is important advice, so make sure not to forget it. If you insist on going to Nahama, make sure to hide the fact that you’re a Lionheart once you’ve entered.”
“My master also told me to do that,” Eugene reported.
Hiridus provided some more information, “Currently, things there are unsettled. Lately, the Assassins of Nahama have been seen wandering around during the day rather than solely at night. Hopefully, they won’t try to persecute you just because the Lionheart clan is part of the Kiehl empire, but… there’s nothing wrong with keeping your guard up regardless, right?”
“I’ll be sure to keep your words in mind.”
Eugene had no intention of ignoring the old wizard’s advice. It’s not like his words were meant to insult Eugene. Hiridus had said this because he was worried about Eugene. In the same vein, Eugene also had no intention of ignoring Balzac’s advice.
Eugene judged, ‘If there is a scheme going on, rather than Molon, Anise should be the one behind it.’[1]
Most recently, one hundred years ago, Molon had been sighted attending the ceremony to commemorate the founding of Ruhr.
But Eugene couldn’t even imagine how Molon, that fool, might have had anything to do with his reincarnation.
1. Just a small reminder from a that Anise was last seen in the desert of Nahama. That’s why Eugene feels like it’s more important to go to Nahama than to Ruhr, since he is inclined to believe that she knows more about his reincarnation than Molon. ☜
