21st Century Archmage-Chapter 179: A Dangerous Invitation

“Why does he want to see me so suddenly?” muttered Tower Master Avaion of Ildorian, the most influential of the Continent’s Seven Great Magic Towers.

Upon receiving a sudden summons under the name of the Emperor of the Laviter Empire, Avaion fell into deep thought. Even an emperor could not order the Tower Master of a magic tower to come at his beck and call. It was a long-standing taboo for kingdoms to have formal friendly relations with the magic towers. Invisible, tacit contracts or aid were fine, but open contact between the magic towers, empires, and kingdoms that could significantly influence the state of the continent were forbidden.

But today, the summons from Emperor Hadveria of Laviter to the Ildorian Magic Tower broke that invisible taboo, not asking for the dispatch of mages but asking precisely for him, the Tower Master.

“It must be because of the Nerman Lord…”

Avaion was also stunned by the tremendous reversal that occurred in Bajran. Someone who wasn’t even a tower mage reached the level of 7th Circle magic. When Avaion had his subordinates find out the exact details, he found out that 7th Circle spells that didn’t yet exist had even appeared.

“It might be better to just meet face to face like this.”

The Laviter Empire was an important employer of mages that the Ildorian Tower could not do without. The fact that over half of the mages working in the Imperial Magic Tower were mages of Ildorian said enough. And Avaion, the leader of such an organization, wanted to capture the Lord of Nerman without fail. He wanted to find out where Kyre’s astonishing magic knowledge was coming from.

“Kyre… I will definitely expose your true identity.”

As a fellow mage, Avaion, who was blinded by his intense envy towards the Lord of Nerman, had no idea. He didn’t know that Emperor Hadveria’s summons was an invitation letter of death…

* * *

‘Incredible!’

You could tell why skilled construction personnel were highly valued from the sight before me. The dwarves and elves invested in various construction projects, including Nerman Castle, had created yet another marvelous achievement. The huge and sturdy Nerman border fort was over 20 meters tall and 10 meters wide. The wall fortified with gravel concrete boasted such imposing durability that most magic spells wouldn’t even leave a mark on it.

‘For a fort, practicality trumps appearance.’

The border fort, made according to my request to have it constructed as sturdily as possible, loomed over the land. It was half the size of my castle in Denfors.

‘We’ll install at least 200 ballistas. And we’ll also make a shelter for the soldiers that won’t break under a Blessed Spear attack.’

Unless the enemy had several dozen times our number, they wouldn’t be able to do a thing to the Nerman border fort. I just had to connect the circuits of the main defensive array and it would begin its role as Nerman’s gatekeeper in earnest.

“Saluuuute!”

The knights and soldiers who had already been dispatched to the new fort raised a vigorous military salute towards me as I flew to the hangar. The sharp, neat look of the soldiers standing guard, armed with dwarven-made weapons, was a satisfying sight to behold. I could just imagine all the praises the merchants who went through the fort would sing about Nerman’s development as well as its lord, me.

“Salute!”

When I landed at the hangar, the Skyknights and Sir Shailt, who was transferred from Orakk Castle to take charge of the border fort, barked another salute.

“Haha, it’s fantastic weather for flying.”

That was a phrase spoken amongst Skyknights. Skyknights, including me, loved days like this, when white fluffy clouds floated here and there and the wind was gentle and didn’t influence the flight. From atop one’s wyvern, the landscapes of the ground below stretched out in pristine view. Only someone who had experienced it would know. Today was one such day.

“Greetings to my liege.”

I saw him just a few days ago, but Sir Shailt greeted me enthusiastically. His knightly attitude of serving one’s liege like his life itself always satisfied me to see.

“Any problems?”

Recently, there was a dramatic increase in merchant traffic. On my way here, I was able to see hundreds of carriages coming and going on Kyre Road. From small-time merchants in groups of twos and threes to merchants fairly large in scale, everyone was scrambling to move Nerman’s salt, provisions, and other goods.

Praises for Nerman salt were probably spreading far and wide in the Continent by now. Nerman’s salt was cheap, delicious, and clean. The rushing of the merchants to buy this salt that would unconditionally net a profit was like a colony of ants swarming a block of sugar.

“We are taking special care to keep up constant patrols for the protection and monitoring of the merchants.”

My lovely knights figured out my intent to a T and went with it. I read the reports every day in my office, but it was a different feeling on-site.

“I have faith in you all.”

“Yes, sir!”

What more was necessary between a lord and his knights? Trust and loyalty. Those two words were sufficient.

‘This place is constantly manned by 5,000 soldiers, has 2,000 cavalry on standby, as well as one flight of 100 wyverns. Kyaaa! The old Nerman can’t even compare!’

Back then, there were quite a lot of soldiers around, but morale was scraping and limping along the ground, the weapons were awful, and the future was uncertain. Such a territory had the luck to meet the right owner and became a haven no inferior to any kingdom. Just thinking about it made me deeply emotional.

“Tower Master!”

I walked through the fort with Sir Shailt and several other knights, heading towards the ancillary room where the defensive magic array was installed. The small room was attached to the middle of the castle wall. When I showed up, the mages who were first captured as prisoners but were now naturalized Nerman residents rejoiced.

‘It’s crazy how their faces can change that much from a magic formula.’

Though they were mages, as combat mages assigned to the army, the Laviter Empire-affiliated mages had received the most contempt from others. Most of them were kicked out of magic towers and forced to make a living off the army. I took those mages and carried out an intense mental re-education(?), then followed that up with an appeasement operation. When they were brainwashed to the point where they would jump awake from a dead sleep to repair spears at my command, I dangled the tantalizing carrot of magic tomes and magic knowledge they would never even be able to touch in their lifetimes in front of them.

Most mages were smart people. Knowing they would be otherwise doomed to live and die strapped to the army, they leapt to accept my exceptional offer. Now, they called me ‘Tower Master’ and were Nerman-faction mages.

“Hassias, did anything happen?” I asked the mage in his late 30s. His talent was the most distinguished among the turncoat mages, and he gave me his ungrudging loyalty.

“Nothing, sir. We were just happy to see you, Tower Master.”

Didn’t someone say that for the money-hungry, money was Buddha, for the love-thirsty, a woman was Jesus, and for the affection-starved, a mom’s embrace was heaven? The mages who did a full 180 on their personalities at my unstinting magic support approached me with friendly faces.

“Is everything I instructed complete?”

“That is… Our magic circuitry knowledge is still insufficient, so we were unable to do the finishing strokes. Tower Master, please exhibit your godly craftsmanship.”

“That so? If that’s what you want, then alright.”

“Thank you!”

Mages were said to be seriously prickly people. They just cooped up in their dens, most of the poor fucks not having much of a chance to have intimate relationships or friends because they were so busy loving magic knowledge and mana. I heard they usually vented their pent-up anger and complaints on the juniors or disciples receiving magic tutelage from them. Instead of teaching them the easy way, they made their pupils walk winding, difficult paths, and they also assigned ridiculous tasks to eliminate people possessing outstanding potential.

Among those eliminated talents was the Hassias standing in front of me. He was originally a 4th Circle mage, but with a few words of advice and some magic practice, he jumped right to the 5th Circle. Now, he was the second most proficient in magic arrays in our territory, next to me.

‘It’s a shame, but I have no choice but to make up for the inadequate mana with three Grade 2 magic crystals and a handful of Grade 3s.’

I would have gladly stolen a Grade 1 magic crystal, the same kind used in Nerman Castle, just to have it for the fort, but a Grade 1 magic crystal couldn’t be so easily procured. I barely managed to get one from the Haildrian Empire by selling my body and heart.

‘Sometimes, you just gotta make do with what you’ve got. Unless it gets attacked by 8th Circle magic, the fort won’t fall.’

I fitted the fort with the strongest defensive array I knew. It had enough mana resistance to be able to tank several 7th Circle spells simultaneously.

‘It’s at times like this that I wish Master were here. He would definitely know where one could find a Grade 1 magic crystal…’

Master Aidal was the Emperor when it came to magic and a national-level gangster. There was very little about magic crystals or treasures in the knowledge he gave me. Considering his character that tended to instinctively hoard things, it seemed he erased all the parts that could yield moolah when he did the mana knowledge transfer.

“Sir Shailt, the fort will go into full operation from today onwards, so treat the knights and soldiers who have worked hard up until now to a tasty meal and some alcohol.”

“By your order!”

People were creatures that lived on mood and died on mood. On a day like this, as their lord, it didn’t feel all that bad to treat my men to a meal.

* * *

“Meh, even this has become boring.”

Dozens of huge TV screens were filling the inside of a large underground room. On the cutting-edge screens of the most renowned Korean brand worldwide, broadcasts from nations all over the world were being shown all at once. Watching those TVs with a bored face was a certain elderly man. Like Gandalf from Lord of the Rings, he had a white beard that ran handsomely down to his belly, and his expression was also just as amiable. But a fit of crankiness seemed to have come over him, because he was winding his fingers in his beard with irritation while sitting on a top-of-the-line alligator leather sofa.

“I’ve earned all the money I could ever want, tried everything I wanted to eat, did everything I wanted to do, other than women… There’s nothing I wanna do anymore.”

He came to this world by opening the door of a dimension far, far away. By combining magic with science to create countless inventions, he earned enough money to make a mountain with more to spare and even gained something called internal chi meditation, something that would allow one to reach the 9th Circle, which allowed him to create a new mana breathing technique. After spending 100 years in this world, there was nothing left for him to do.

“I wonder if that kid Hyuk is doing alright. I should have taught him a bit more before sending him, so I hope he hasn’t been skewered by an orc’s wayward spear and turned into bbq.”

It was already going on two years since his new disciple Kang Hyuk departed for the other world, but it was only now that the pain-in-the-ass of the Kallian Continent, the Golden-Eyed Reaper Aidal, began to worry about his disciple. On Earth, his existence was very nearly a secret, but these days, he was sneezing a lot. There was no doubt that someone was talking about him. While thinking about who it could be, he remembered Kang Hyuk, who he had dimensionally teleported to the Kallian Continent.

“The food on Earth is all polluted and doesn’t taste good… Wild honey freshly harvested from the cliffside slathered on bread would be ah-mazing at a time like this…”

There was no food he hadn’t tried on Earth. However, environmental pollution had worsened, causing the entirety of the planet to ache, so he knew that the vitality in the food had also changed. He had the fastidious senses of an archmage sensitive to mana.

“The new magic crystal I got is nearly full of mana, so shall we try going over?”

Originally, he hadn’t intended on sending Kang Hyuk the way he did. He might have taught the kid a new mana breathing technique, but his disciple was only at the 4th Circle, so weak he could be crushed in one unlucky turn of events. He wanted to teach Hyuk a little more before sending him out, but because the Made-in-China magic crystal was about to explode, he was unfortunately forced to send Hyuk prematurely.

“In all actuality, I’m a pretty gentle man. How come people don’t see that? Tsk tsk.”

Aidal had lived such a long, long life that he lost track of his age. He clicked his tongue while thinking of the people who couldn’t appreciate his tender heart.

“Alright then, I’m bored, so going over once and coming back isn’t a bad idea.”

Aidal had no intent to permanently hole up on the Kallian Continent. He simply decided to use dimensional teleportation because he was bored as all hell. His decision to go was made not out of concern for his completely unprepared disciple, but out of sheer boredom—they were truly shameless thoughts.

“Oh! Come to think of it, it’s about time for that, isn’t it.”

Recently, the bored Aidal discovered a new Korean TV program. He’d been greatly enjoying watching the cast that was as shameless as him.

“High Kick Through the Roof… Kuku. Mr. Soon-Jae, do your best today as well.”

Out of the countless remote controllers, Aidal accurately fished out the one for the TV broadcasting the Korean programs. Stretched out on the sofa, he fixed a blank gaze at the Korean sitcom on the screen. Then, a set of words familiar to all Koreans popped out from the TV.

“Hey! You farty butthole!”

“Welcome, Tower Master Avaion.”

The Emperor personally poured top-class wine into a glass for him.

“It is a great honor, Your Majesty.”

When he was in the Ildorian Magic Tower, Avaion enjoyed authority and wealth on par with the Emperor, but under the legendary aura of the Laviter Empire’s Hadveria, he found himself automatically bowing and raising his glass with a humble expression.

‘He’s a truly terrifying person.’

Neither the words “tyrant” nor “wise king” could not be used to describe the cold-hearted Emperor Hadveria. The various things he heard about Hadveria’s personality from the mages dispatched to the Empire could be summed up in one sentence:

A truly terrifying person.

Avaion was smiling, but sipped the golden cup of red wine to dodge the Emperor’s sharp, cutting gaze.

“Haah…”

Avaion had tasted very good wines before, but the Emperor’s wine was beyond comparison. It broke noble conduct, but he let out a sigh of admiration.

“How is the taste?”

“I-I apologize, Your Majesty. It was such a phenomenal taste that I committed an offense.”

“Haha, think nothing of it. If the Tower Master finds it delicious, then that brings great happiness to Us.”

The Emperor spoke to Tower Master Avaion with a benevolent look, which pleased Avaion. He might be bowing his head to the Emperor, but he had discerned the Emperor’s deference towards him.

“It is an honor, Your Majesty.”

‘Huhu. The other Tower Masters wouldn’t know how this feels.’

The Emperor’s deference made Avaion smirk. Its pride was wounded because of Nerman, but the ruler of the Kallian Continent was still the Laviter Empire. If the Empire were to back Ildorian, the magic tower would grow even more. Also, his visit to the palace was being done in secret. Because the Emperor’s invitation letter told him to come in secret without anyone knowing, Avaion hadn’t even told the Vice-masters.

“Tower Master Avaion, what are your thoughts on the political landscape of the continent right now?”

“Pardon?”

At the Emperor’s sudden and unexpected question, Avaion was flustered for a moment.

“We can no longer permit the disorderly proceedings in this continent to continue.”

‘What! J-Just what is he saying?!’

It took a lot to ruffle Tower Master Avaion, but he found himself reeling at the Emperor’s explosive statement.

“And so, Tower Master Avaion’s assistance is keenly needed.”

“W-What kind of assistance does Your Majesty mean…”

Gulp.

Avaion gulped audibly even as he responded. If the Emperor who had nothing to fear was asking for help, that meant he was not saying this lightly. Worst case scenario, the Emperor might even ask for the entirety of the magic tower.

“Don’t be so tense. If you agree to my proposal, there is something good in it for the Tower Master as well.”

The Emperor smiled, a strange smile that was neither a sneer nor a smile of happiness.

Tower Master Avaion was confused. 60 years had passed since he began walking the path of mana, and he had lived for over 70 years. Throughout those years, he overcame many hardships and trials to become the Tower Master of the continent’s top magic tower.

But right now, he was experiencing a greater sense of tension than any other time in his life. Actually, since the Emperor had called him in secret, he had an inkling of what was to come. But there was something that bothered him more than the Emperor’s words. He was feeling a foreign kind of stinging pain, like his skin was being pricked by needles. It almost felt as if a black mage was putting a curse on him.

“If Your Majesty would tell me in concrete terms, I will do my utmost to follow Your Majesty’s command.”

Calming himself, Avaion probed the Emperor’s inner thoughts.

‘Huh? T-This is…’

Just then, Avaion saw red blood flowing from his own nose and dripping to the ground. He was old, but after becoming a 7th Circle archmage, Avaion possessed vitality no inferior to that of a young person thanks to the powerful mana in his body. When he saw his blood, he was seized by a terrible foreboding.

“Oh dear, it seems the drug is already kicking in.”

“…..!!” Avaion’s head whipped up in alarm at the Emperor’s words. “W-What do you mean by that?”

The still clueless Avaion was astonished to see that the Emperor was facing him with an expression full of ridicule.

“Kuku. You idiotic mage. The wine you’re drinking is mixed with the soul-restraining drug that only grows in the Demon Realm, Luvitar’s Tears.”

“What! L-Luvitar!”

Only after becoming an archmage like Avaion, could one read an illustrated book on the Demon Realm’s flora. Knowledge about Luvitar’s Tears was also included in that book. It was a drug used in black mage curses where drinking just one drop would restrain the victim’s soul and cause them to lose control over their bodies. Hearing of the cursed drug that was said to no longer exist scared Avaion out of his wits.

“Guh!”

Finally realizing something, Avaion hastily activated his mana core. He had the Warp spell memorized at all times in preparation for danger. But despite his attempts to gather his mana, there was no response. He felt none of the powerful mana in a 7th Circle mage’s arsenal, only growing agony.

“Ah! I mixed in one other poison in that wine. I’m sure you know about cherpo petals.”

“Cherpo petals…”

That was the name of a plant all mages feared. Even though it wasn’t a toxic plant, drinking the powder of the dried petals had the effect of causing all of one’s mana to disappear for a set time. Because of that, whenever mages stumbled upon cherpo flowers, they burned them all to oblivion.

While Avaion was mumbling in shock, an immense amount of blood flowed from his nose.

“Haha. It looks like the drug has fully spread throughout your body now.”

Seeing Avaion wobbling while clutching his head, Emperor Hadveria burst out in a delighted guffaw.

“Why… would you… the Emperor… to me…”

Clutching his dizzy head, Avaion used the last of his consciousness to squeeze out a question.

His ears picked up on a chilling voice.

“Huhuhu. Do you still see me as the Emperor?”

Sizzzzzzzle.

With those words, a deluge of darkness mana filled the room.

“…..”

And that was the last thing he saw. Before Avaion’s eyes, was an evil devil. That was the last thing Avaion saw as a human.