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Chapter 43.1: Akron (3)
This was the first floor of Akron. The entire history of Aroth and Akron covered one wall of this wide-open hall, and quite a few stories related to Sienna were recorded among the rest of the history.
This Royal Library not only stored several grimoires of immense value, but on the upper floors, it also kept the various vestiges left by those legendary Archwizards who had left their names in the history of magic.
‘For being a library, this place also really resembles a museum,’ Eugene thought.
Eugene stood and read what was written on the wall with his hands behind his back. Just as expected, what Eugene found the most interesting were the contents about Sienna. Sienna’s vestiges were stored on floors twelve to fourteen. Among all the Archwizards whose names were recorded in Akron’s list of prominent figures, Sienna was the only one with three floors dedicated all to herself.
That was just how much of a role the name ‘Sienna Merdein’ had played in the history of Aroth—no, in the history of magic. She was the Archwizard who had faced off against the Demon Kings together with the Great Vermouth.
Vermouth hadn’t really contributed much to the further development of magic, but Sienna had settled in Aroth and spent a long time as the Green Tower Master. She had established the Circles magic formula[1] and allowed it to spread so that countless wizards could learn from it.
‘She really was working hard all her life,’ Eugene thought with a wry smile as he read the list of Sienna’s accomplishments. ‘But it really doesn’t suit her.’
Live an ordinary life, get married like everyone else, have a child, live peacefully, and become a grandmother; that was what Sienna had told Hamel she wanted to do when she retired.
Despite having said that, Sienna had spent her entire life alone. While he was at the Red Tower of Magic, Eugene had found various books written about Sienna, but even though she had lived in Aroth for nearly a hundred years, she didn’t seem to have had even the slightest scandal in all that time.
Although she was known as the Wise Sienna, several of Aroth’s history books had given Sienna a different title: the Seeker of Truth[2].
Sienna had lived alone her whole life, without consuming any alcohol or living a life of luxury, and she had spent most of her time in either the Green Tower of Magic or her mansion. She never met with any of her three disciples privately outside of the Tower of Magic, and she had never made any appearances at events like parties either.
But these anecdotes about Sienna bore no resemblance to the Sienna that Eugene remembered.
According to Hamel’s memories, Sienna had enjoyed drinking. Although it wasn’t to the same extent as Anise, throughout their trip, Sienna would constantly steal Anise’s holy water and drink some as she listened to the latest gossip.
Sienna had also loved playing around. She loved drinking and chatting with the mercenaries staying in cheap taverns, and she also enjoyed talking to strangers.
How could Sienna, with her lively personality, have lived such an ascetic life for this long period of nearly a hundred years, to the extent where she came to be called a Seeker of Truth? Eugene absolutely couldn’t believe such a fact.
“Hey, kid,” a voice called out.
Caught in the midst of reading Sienna’s records over and over again with a frown on his face, Eugene turned to see the White Tower Master, who was smiling as she twisted strands of her curly hair between her fingers.
“What are you reading so intently?” she asked. “Is there a wizard that you’re interested in?”
Instead of answering the question, Eugene asked about something else, “Is the discussion over?”
Behind the White Tower Master, the other wizards were walking out of the room.
The White Tower Master nodded, “Mhm, it’s over. We didn’t keep you waiting for too long, did we?”
“It was actually far quicker than I expected it to be,” Eugene replied.
“If we were forced to come to a unanimous opinion, even the whole day wouldn’t have been enough.”
“If that’s the case, how did you reach a conclusion?”
“We held a majority vote, of course.”
With a grin, the White Tower Master turned and looked backward.
“Five people approved your entry, two people opposed it, and one abstained,” she revealed.
Eugene responded, “That was more support than I had expected.”
“Aren’t you curious about who approved, who opposed, and who abstained?”
“As long as I know that more people approved than opposed, I’m fine with that. If that’s the case, then am I allowed to go to the upper floors now?”
“Mhm, you’re allowed. After all, that is what the majority vote decided. Hah, since it looks like you aren’t all that curious, allow me to just tell you. I’m the one who abstained.”
Eugene’s eyes widened at these words. From the way she had walked over and started speaking to him in a friendly tone, he had been sure that she was one of those who had approved his entry. While Eugene tilted his head in confusion, the White Tower Master giggled as she looked at him.
“From the atmosphere in the room, it felt like there would be a lot of people voting for you in any case, so I didn’t feel like the outcome would change just because I abstained,” she explained. “Oh, but there’s no need to worry. Although I may have abstained, I’m not opposed to you entering Akron.”
“But no matter your reasoning, you didn’t approve my entry either,” Eugene refuted.
“That may be the case. The truth is, I felt a bit ambivalent about it. You might be overflowing with talent and full of potential. However, isn’t it just a fact that you’re still a bit too young?” as she said this, the White Tower Master lowered her voice. Then, leaning over slightly towards Eugene, she whispered quietly, “And besides. The crucial point is that if I showed my support to either side through my vote, I would just get caught up in an annoying argument. You can see it in their faces, right? They all still look upset
. Even though the majority vote has already been cast, and a conclusion has been reached, they’ll just change the location and start arguing once more.”
“And what about you, White Tower Master?” Eugene asked.
“Since I abstained, I don’t need to care about it. I can just tell them honestly that I won’t change my neutral position no matter what they want me to hear.”
After straightening up once more, the White Tower Master waved her hand toward the other wizards. The only person who showed any reaction was the Blue Tower Master, who still had the uptight look on his face. After shooting a disgusted expression at the White Tower Master, he sighed deeply and made his way out of Akron.
The White Tower Master suddenly said, “The Blue Tower Master approved.”
Eugene was slow to respond, “...Huh?”
“I’m talking about your permission to enter Akron. At first, he was opposed to it, but he seemed to have changed his mind along the way.”
Eugene felt surprised at these words. From the moment he had entered the room, the Blue Tower Master seemed the most blatantly dissatisfied with his presence, but it seemed that the Tower Master had ultimately changed his opinion.
“Now then, dum-dum-dum. Who do you think the two opposing parties were?” the White Tower Master asked.
“I said that I wasn’t curious,” Eugene grumbled.
“It was the Green Tower Master and the Head of the Wizard’s Guild.”
“Why are you still telling me this when I’ve said that I’m not curious about it?”
“Are you really seventeen years old? What’s with that cold reaction? Shouldn’t you be more upset and frustrated?”
“What is there to be upset and frustrated about?”
“‘How dare they ignore the prestige of the Lionheart’s direct line?’ Don’t you have any feelings of offended elitism?”
“I don’t.”
“Is it because you feel like you’re just from a collateral branch, after all?”
“Hah, it’s not like that,” Eugene sighed. “It’s just, why should I show any elitism? How disgusting would it be for me to come all this way to a foreign country, only to get drunk on such nonsense.”
“You’re talking about your older brother, right?” the White Tower Master asked with a mischievous smile.
Eugene looked confused for a moment, and then glared at the White Tower Master.
The White Tower Master’s name was Melkith El-Hayah.
Even Eugene had heard about her. She was known as the best Spirit Summoner of their time. She was the first person in history to have signed a contract with two Spirit Kings at the same time. Not only was she skilled in Spirit magic, but she was also a great wizard who had reached the level of being called an Archwizard in general magic as well.
“You really do keep saying things that I don’t want to listen to. Do you have some kind of grudge against me?” Eugene probed.
“Nope,” Melkith denied it.
“Then, do you have any ill feelings for the other wizards?”
“No way. Do you really think that the words I said just now were an attempt to stoke bad blood between you and the others? Yeesh, it’s nothing like that. What would I get from poisoning your impressions of them?”
“If that’s the case, why are you telling me all this?”
“Because I’m interested.” With a grin, Melkith pointed at the Storm Sword Wynnyd, which was hanging at Eugene’s waist, “I know what that sword is. It’s a treasure of the Lionheart clan, the Storm Sword Wynnyd. I’ve heard that that sword has even been blessed with the protection of the Wind Spirit King?”
Eugene confirmed it, “Yep, so what about it?”
“Although I’m interested in you as well, I’m even more interested in that sword of yours. For a long time now, I’ve always wanted to sign a contract with the Spirit King of the Wind, but
. he seems to be such a proud person that, no matter how many times I try to summon him, he just won’t appear.”
“From what I’m aware of, Head Wizard, haven’t you already signed a contract with two Spirit Kings? Aren’t those two enough to satisfy you?”
“Of course, it’s not enough.”
1. Circles magic formula was previously translated as Circles magic system. We changed this to formula when OBW realized that “formula” was a better translation than “system.” ☜
2. A term usually used to describe someone who seeks the Buddhist path to enlightenment through ascetic training. A Western equivalent may be the hermits who live in poverty. ☜