IQBSA 13

Chapter 13

Even before he finished speaking, brilliant lines of light were already rising from beneath his feet, intricately drawing a pattern.

The lines, which had been gradually converging from the outside inward, met at a single point in the center, and the seemingly chaotic shapes instantly formed a complete, orderly design.

Around it, a light that subtly blended blue and violet hovered faintly, as if awaiting its master’s next command.

‘So this is what they call being blessed by magic.’

I was staring blankly at the sight at my feet when I heard a low, whispering voice.

“Serpine.”

I looked up to see Roachin extending his hand toward me.

His straight, outstretched fingers were so elegant. For some reason, I felt like I shouldn’t just grab them carelessly.

When I hesitated, Roachin wiggled his fingers as if urging me to take them quickly.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and take it.”

I awkwardly grasped Roachin’s fingertips and carefully stepped into the magic circle.

Roachin let out a soft sigh, as if his patience had run out, then wrapped his hand around mine and pulled me closer. He curled the corners of his mouth into a pretty smile and said,

“You asked me to take you there with your own lips.”

Surely that smile looked chilling to me just because of my mood.

Suddenly, I felt the air currents around us shift dramatically. Sensing danger instinctively, I tightly gripped Roachin’s hand.

“Roachin, wait a moment.”

As the magic circle activated and shot light into the sky, I remembered something I had to say but had forgotten.

“This is my first time!”

But my cry was miserably drowned out. I felt a strong pressure constrict my body, a floating sensation as if being sucked into a vortex, and my ears went numb.

‘I said it’s my first time teleporting…’

With that unheard cry as my last, my surroundings went dark, and I lost consciousness.

*Meow—*

I heard a cat’s cry, sounding rather fierce and angry.

Something soft and long kept tapping my face.

Unable to bear the ticklish feeling on my cheeks, I opened my eyes.

A high ceiling with celestial carvings in relief and a densely drawn Milky Way painting stretched out above me.

It felt as if the universe was pouring into my eyes.

It was beautiful and fantastical, yet somehow familiar, which sent a chill through me.

‘Hmm, where have I seen this before?’

Then, a fluffy mass of fur *thumped* against my face again.

‘Ouch.’

That one hurt quite a bit.

What kind of mutt keeps hitting someone in the face?

I turned my head to the side and saw a black cat curled up on the pillow, staring at me intently. Its tail swung from side to side like a pendulum, *thump*, *thump*, swinging with dissatisfaction.

‘Lucifer?’

Apparently, the mysterious object that had been hitting my face was Lucifer’s tail.

And the moment I realized that, I roughly figured out where I was.

…I’d hoped I was wrong.

The pleasant, refreshing scent wafting from the bedding confirmed that I was lying in the Magic Tower Master’s bed.

‘What in the world happened…?’

I remembered losing consciousness during the teleport, but everything after that was a blank, like it had been cut out with scissors.

‘Did I really faint?’

Fainting is a common side effect during a first teleport. I just never thought it would happen to me.

The dark gray canopy draped around all four sides of the bed made the surroundings dim, so I couldn’t even guess how much time had passed.

As I blinked in confusion, I heard voices from beyond the canopy.

“This morning, a summons order arrived in the name of His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Was it sent by the Knight Commander?”

“Yes. Since His Highness has been unconscious, it seems Caris Lil sent it as acting authority.”

One voice was obviously Roachin’s, and the other was Commander Derek’s.

Since the two seemed to be talking about the Crown Prince, hoping to overhear something, I pressed my ear close to the canopy.

“Due to the accident that befell His Highness, there are issues with the subjugation squad’s schedule, so they’re calling an emergency meeting. They’ve insisted that the Tower Master must personally attend.”

“When is the emergency meeting?”

“Tomorrow.”

“They’re so bothersome, always summoning me here and there. I understand, so leave now.”

“Yes.”

When the sound of Derek’s footsteps faded and disappeared entirely, Roachin’s voice suddenly cut through the canopy.

“Since you’re awake, get up and come out.”

‘Gasp.’

He was unnervingly perceptive. He must have known I was awake.

I crawled to the edge of the bed and cautiously parted the canopy.

There was Roachin, buried under a towering pile of documents as if he was working, deeply absorbed in them.

“How long was I out?”

“About half a day.”

‘This weak body…’

I’d had a bad feeling when Derek mentioned ‘this morning,’ and it turned out it was already the next day.

How much was he going to mock me for fainting for half a day just from a teleport?

I braced myself, but contrary to my expectations, Roachin’s demeanor was rather subdued.

“Was that your first teleport?”

“Yes.”

Roachin asked with a stiffly set mouth.

“Why? You must have done it at the Academy, right?”

“Since I have absolutely no magical power, my professor told me to be especially careful, so I just never did it.”

“Then what made you ask me to take you? Without a shred of fear?”

“Surely the Tower Master wouldn’t fail to transport just one person.”

Was that too blind a faith? But I was certain that the Tower Master, the strongest in this world, wouldn’t fail at a simple teleport.

Still, since it was my first time, I might have needed a bit of mental preparation.

“Anyway, for someone so fragile, you’re recklessly brave.”

Though he grumbled like that, Roachin’s expression softened a little. Unable to deny his cutting words, I could only glare at him timidly.

Anyway, half a day meant quite some time had passed.

‘…The Empress’s request letter.’

My mind was filled with the thought that I needed to check immediately whether it had arrived or not. I got up and stepped out of the bed.

“Tower Master.”

“……”

I called out to tell him I was leaving, but Roachin didn’t even glance at me and completely ignored me.

Did he think he could just say what he wanted and that was the end of it? It was truly absurd.

Whatever he was writing so diligently, Roachin was biting his lower lip, intensely focused.

“……”

Every time he moved his hand, the sound of the fountain pen’s nib scratching across the paper could be heard.

Contrary to his handsome appearance, Roachin was naturally cursed with terrible handwriting. He always looked like this when he had to write something by hand.

‘What on earth is he writing?’

His desk was cluttered with crumpled papers, evidence of his failed attempts. Upon closer look, it didn’t seem like he was doing official work.

I approached Roachin and peeked at the contents, only to gape in shock.

[Notice: From today onwards, anyone who allows Serpine Mirabel to leave the Magic Tower without the Tower Master’s permission will be subject to immediate dismissal.]

He’d been working so hard writing this nonsense?

Seeing the letters, which he’d pressed down hard to hide their crookedness, was almost pitiful. Unable to hide my dismay, I asked.

“Are you serious?”

“Of course I’m serious. Entering is free, but leaving is not.”

Roachin put down his pen, held up the ridiculous notice, and smiled in satisfaction.

“By the way, I can’t fire that gatekeeper woman. What should I do?”

Suddenly, Roachin put down the notice and stroked his lips thoughtfully.

He already seemed to know that I had conspired with Yona.

The reason Roachin couldn’t fire Yona was that she wasn’t a Magic Tower employee. Yona was just guarding the gate because she wanted to.

It might sound absurd, but this place was a haven for people with a screw loose.

“Should I just shut down the gate entirely?”

“With how many people are moving around because of the Founding Festival, does it make sense to shut down the gate? Roachin, I’m not going to run away anymore. So please don’t make things inconvenient for others for no reason. Get rid of that ridiculous notice too.”

“Well, I’ll trust you then.”

Roachin said nonchalantly, propping his chin on his hand.

Is that really the attitude of someone who trusts me? It didn’t seem like it at all.

I was dumbfounded and had lost the will to argue when, just then, the communication crystal lit up.

“What?”

When Roachin answered curtly, Eliser’s voice flowed from the crystal.

[The Council of Elders has come. They say they wish to see the Tower Master now.]

“Tell them I’m sleeping.”

[Yes. Understood.]

‘Crazy bastard…’

I guessed the elders had rushed over urgently upon hearing the news about the Crown Prince.

But to send them away just because he was supposedly sleeping—I clicked my tongue in disbelief.

Just as Roachin was about to cut the connection without hesitation, Eliser called out urgently.

[Wait a moment! Tower Master, just a moment!]

“What now?”

[They asked me to inquire how much longer you intend to sleep?]

“……”

“……”

I couldn’t help but be impressed by Eliser’s spine-chillingly transparent way of handling things.

‘If you ask that bluntly, it’s obvious he’s not sleeping…’

Though it seemed the elders already knew Roachin wasn’t asleep and had told her to ask anyway.

Eliser wasn’t a bad person, but her lack of tact was a problem. As expected, Roachin’s face lost its composure and turned cold, so I stepped in.

“Eliser. Can you hear me?”

[Huh? Miss Serpine?]

“Yeah, it’s me.”

[You’re awake? Thank goodness!]

Her clear, ringing voice seemed like it would burst through the communication crystal. I vaguely responded to Eliser’s chatty inquiries about my well-being and then got to the point.

“Eliser, tell the elders downstairs to come up.”

[Yes! Understood!]

“Why are you making decisions on your own…”

I ignored Roachin’s protest and turned off the communication crystal.

“You have to do your work. What if you get fired for slacking off?”

The mountain of documents piled on Roachin’s desk was staggering. I couldn’t believe he’d put off work to that extent.

“Who would dare fire me?”

Roachin just let out a scoff as if the idea was laughable.

‘Where does that confidence come from?’

But it was a confidence born of merit, so I couldn’t say anything.

The Magic Tower Master was a symbol of the mage clan’s power, and it was true that there was currently no one to replace him.

“Still, you never know. I’ll be going now, so meet with the elders and do your work.”

“Where are you going?”

“To my room, of course.”

Roachin stared at me with suspicious eyes before speaking.