355

Episode 355: Finally here. (1)

Matap Exchange Meeting.

It was a big event that had been going on for a very long time between the rooftops.

It is a 'very dignified and classy' event, in their words, where magicians from the Magic Tower gather to share knowledge, discuss, and demonstrate their skills.

As magicians from various schools gathered, there was a lot to be gained from each other.

Insular wizards rarely had the opportunity to gain knowledge of other fields, due to their inherent stubbornness.

Wizards are very reluctant to share their knowledge with others and only want to gain knowledge from others.

As a result, although the ancestors started the exchange meeting with deep meaning, due to their stubbornness, the exchange meeting gradually became less frequent.

This is especially true when it comes to students from the same school. You never know when someone will attack you.

Even though we are from the same school, we are on bad terms? Then I will never see them again in my life.

The Red Flame Tower and the Crimson Tower were exactly like that. But now Delmude had called the schools that were on bad terms and suggested that they hold a meeting.

Elder Glenn answered with a troubled expression.

"Would they… … accept something like that?"

"We have to make them accept it. If they refuse, we have to keep interfering with their work."

There is one reason why Delmud is pushing for the exchange meeting. During the exchange meeting, the disciples of the Magic Tower inevitably come into conflict.

Of course, the tower owners and elders do not participate in the competition. If they lose, it is customary for them to leave because it would greatly damage the status and reputation of the tower.

But conventions are conventions, not rules. Delmud took advantage of that and planned to get involved in the fight himself, then kill them all when he had the chance.

"We must hold an exchange meeting by any means necessary. If we continue like this, we will be pushed back before the civil war even starts."

The status of the tower is determined by the tower owner's circle. However, the criteria for measuring business capacity and power range are slightly different.

As expected from a traditional powerhouse, the Red Flame Tower had excellent artifact and potion making skills and many disciples.

Among the elders who have reached the 5th circle, there are more red magic towers than crimson magic towers.

"Now we can't say that we have the financial advantage."

It wasn't enough for Delmude to reach the 7th circle. It was because he had control over the distribution of the Northern Runestones through Count Desmond's financial power that he was able to push forward the Red Flame Tower up until now.

However, the Earl of Fenris, the greatest tycoon in the North, is pushing for the Red Flame Tower. This side also has the support of the Duke's family, but the distance difference is too great.

At that thought, Delmude ground his teeth in disgust at the other.

"What on earth is Count Leipold doing?"

With Earl Desmond ruined, Amelia, who took his place as Lord of Leipold, must support them.

Although it is a barren northern territory, Leipold is a large territory. It has enough capacity to support itself.

But for some reason, Leipold didn't even send a single gold coin. Instead, he made excuses, saying that he needed support from the dukedom.

Glendo frowned and clicked his tongue.

"That stupid woman got lucky and became a lord, so she's busy trying to take care of the territory. She doesn't know how to read the big picture, that's why she's like that. She doesn't even know what's important… … . Tsk tsk tsk."

"Are there any other contacts?"

"No. I've met him a few times, but he just keeps telling me to wait a little longer because things are not going well due to the rebellion."

Glenn had already met with Amelia several times to ask her to support the Crimson Tower on behalf of Count Desmond.

But Amelia kept delaying support, which was making me furious.

Delmud also looked unhappy as his anger boiled inside him. The situation was completely messed up and the mission they had been assigned was not going smoothly.

However, Raoul of the Duke's house only urged them to quickly clear the Red Flame Tower.

"Nothing is going well because of the Earl of Fenris."

Amelia was also annoying, but the most annoying one was the Earl of Fenris. After Earl Desmond was defeated by him, everything that was going smoothly fell apart.

He couldn't refuse the Duke's orders just because the support had decreased. He had received too much in the meantime, and it was thanks to the Duke that he had risen to the 7th Circle.

Delmude finally sighed and chose the method he most wanted to avoid.

"If you refuse the exchange, I will trouble all the trading partners and vendors that the Red Flame Tower deals with. I don't care if a few magicians die. Just make them accept it unconditionally."

At those words, the elders all nodded with dark expressions.

It would not be difficult to take down the Red Flame Tower by force. However, doing so would make not only the Earl of Fenris, but also the royalist faction connected to him look upon them with suspicion.

But now there was no other way. The Red Flame Tower had to be taken down before a civil war broke out.

Since the situation continued to get complicated, we decided to solve it by force, so we had to think about what to do after we got rid of the Red Flame Tower.

"If you destroy the Red Flame Tower by force, the Prince's faction will definitely pressure you. Meet Amelia again and somehow get her support so that you can hold out until the civil war."

Glenn, who was in charge of diplomacy at the Tower, nodded. Whether the royalist faction makes a fuss or not, we just have to hold out until the civil war.

After that, we can just sweep them all away with force together with the nobles of the Duke faction.

So they began preparing to fight the Red Flame Tower.

* * *

When Jiselle returned to the territory, everyone greeted her indifferently. It seemed like they didn't have to worry about her going out anymore.

Only the people of Yeongji were excited that their lord had returned.

Still, Claude was a little different from the other vassals. He said with a twinkle in his eye.

"please."

"what?"

"Since you went out and came back, there must have been someone who took something from you."

"… … ."

Now, he's completely treating people like robbers. It may seem like robbery, but it's unfair. Jiselle has never just taken anything away.

Jiselle licked her lips a few times and then blurted out.

"doesn't exist."

"You said there weren't any?"

"uh."

"You really didn't bring anything? You didn't even take any money?"

"That's right. Oh, you gave me the money?"

The territory has grown so large that it is impossible to know where and how the spies are. So, I have not been able to reveal the Dark I have obtained yet.

Even if I reveal it later, I plan to only show a little bit of my abilities.

In particular, abilities related to the mind should be hidden as much as possible. That way, when Ilois uses magic, she can counterattack him.

The same was true of the military operations that would be used later. When the civil war began, he planned to secretly inform only his close associates.

Arel was also given strict instructions to keep his mouth shut.

However, Claude, who did not know the deeper meaning of Giselle, looked very disappointed.

"What… … Then why did you go out… … ."

If Jiselle leaves, you have to get something no matter what. That was the truth. But if you don't get it? Then you have failed.

Claude turned his head and muttered.

"There are times when the lord goes out and just comes back. It's the first time I've seen him fail, and I bet on that. Hey, the lord has had his day. It's over, it's over. What good is he if he can't even commit robbery? He's not a good person either."

'This kid?'

He was mumbling, but it sounded strangely audible. As Claude kept irritating her, Giselle slowly rolled up her sleeves.

I thought it was time to re-educate Arel since I had already written the introduction for him. Now is the time.

"I did gain something."

"Oh? Really? What is it? Show me quickly."

"I have come to the realization that for some people, violence can be the truth."

"… … ?"

Phew!

"Gyaaaaaaah!"

As Giselle threw her punch, Claude ran away screaming as if he was going to die. Wendy dodged right to the side.

Of course, Claude can't run away from Giselle. Claude was immediately grabbed by the back of the neck and started getting beaten so hard that the rainy day made dust fly.

"Hey, why are you teaching that to a kid! What's that introductory text! What? Madness?"

"Oh, come on! Did I say something wrong! You're the notorious crazy guy in this town… … . Oh! Stop! I was wrong!"

Even though the force was stronger than before, the snout was still alive. Jiselle thought as she struck.

'This kid... ... is strangely becoming more and more attractive?'

The more I got to know him, the more curious he became. Along with Alpoy, he was considered the weakest in the territory, but he was holding up better and better with his 'education'.

'Is this the level of intensity they use when training journalists these days?'

I had no choice but to hit him a little harder, and only then did Claude surrender.

"Stop it! Stop hitting me! I won't do it again!"

"Whew… … I feel a little better now."

Giselle exhaled in satisfaction as she watched Claude sobbing and rubbing his eyes.

If you compare the taste, the other ones are better, but this one is the best for getting rid of anger. Claude also got the most angry.

Jiselle, who had decided to end this mental education here, said with a calm expression.

"Call everyone. Let's find out the situation in the territory."

"Okay, let's do that."

At Giselle's command, the attendants were quickly called together. However, several seats were left empty.

"Huh? Where did Alfoy go? I don't see any others either."

Everyone just laughed awkwardly as if they were embarrassed by Giselle's question. Claude answered while scratching his head.

"He's a bit busy these days. I'll see him a little later."

"Really? He's working hard?"

Then everyone nodded with a trembling expression. This was because Alpoy was actually working hard on something.

Jiselle tilted her head at the people's strange reactions and began to receive reports on the situation in the territory.

Everything was going well as before. But the most noticeable thing was the potions piling up at an incredible rate.

"Oh… … It's faster than I thought?"

There were already countless potion manufacturing facilities around the magic laboratory.

The Fenris Estate was now a land of such outstanding skill that it was second only to them in terms of construction.

With the combined efforts of wizards, dwarves, and skilled laborers, dozens of potion factories were built in an instant.

"Hey, there are more wizards?"

The number of wizards working at the Magical Research Institute was now close to 70. This was because Claude constantly promoted and snatched away wizards as soon as they arrived in Fenris.

Wizards are basically selfish. That's why they pretended not to know and didn't stop new wizards when they came.

Honestly, there's so much work to do that the more people the better.

As a result, there were so many magicians that it could be called a small magic tower. Since there were also abundant resources, potion production was progressing very quickly.

"We'll be able to give each soldier one soon. We'll also be able to reach our goal of giving them two each."

It was good that the progress was fast, but it was much faster than I had expected. Jiselle, who was curious about what method was being used, went out to inspect it.

"Is Alfoy really working hard? He makes so many potions and can't even attend meetings."

"Well… … Yeah, I guess so. I do try hard."

"Hey, what's going on with him? He's grown up now. He wasn't like that."

At Giselle's words, Claude gave an awkward laugh again.

When we visited the magic research lab and potion factory, we saw that the magicians were working hard and looking like they were going to die.

"Ugh… … I think I'm going to die."

"This crazy estate… … How dare they treat a wizard like this… … ."

"I want to run away… … . I want to run away… … ."

Everyone was grinding their teeth, exhausted. Seeing this, Giselle made an expression of admiration.

"How on earth do you manage to work so hard with wizards?"

These wizards are already very individualistic. No matter how much compensation you give them, they are not the type of people who would work that hard.

You can tell just by looking at their faces. They can't be efficient with such a disgruntled expression on their faces. That's why they beat up wizards from the beginning and turned them into slaves.

But how could these guys, with their faces filled with complaints, still be working hard while I was away? There had to be some other way.

'Did Vanessa make it like that?'

Giselle quickly discarded the hypothesis that had briefly occurred to her. Vanessa was a great scholar, but not a great administrator.

The atmosphere wasn't very good for her to be working in exchange for teaching magic.

As Giselle was wondering what on earth was going on, there was a noise at the door and a group of people came in.

"Hey, kid! Who told you to run away! Huh? Are you really dying? If you don't finish all of them today, I'll tell the lab director and punish you with mana absorption right away. Got it? Quickly get the rest of them done! I'll work in two shifts today! If you don't finish all of them, you'll all die! Got it?"

The one who appeared with a loud shout was none other than Alfoy. A wizard was dangling from his hand.

And he was wearing an armband on his left arm.

It was an armband with a scary picture of a rope tied to a slave's brand.

Jiselle blinked at the armband she was seeing for the first time and then opened her mouth.

"Alpoy… …?"

"Huh? Is the lord here?"

Alfoy answered, his mood changing dramatically since I last saw him.

His expression became strangely fierce, and a fierce aura emanated from his whole body without stopping.

That wasn't all. He had five wizards behind him, all wearing the same armband.

They were the wizards that Jiselle first brought from the Tower of Red Flame and made into slaves.

Alfoy's armband color was orange, while the other wizards' armbands were blue.

These guys… … . In the meantime, while I wasn't seeing them, they were wearing armbands and wielding unofficial power among themselves.