Chapter 131
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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Chapter 131
"Normally, experimental subjects die easily. But from what I've investigated, there's an adult male subject who survived for 15 years. I don't know the details, but I heard he has silver hair and blue eyes."
Silver hair and blue eyes—that was unmistakably my father, and 15 years matched the timeline perfectly.
"So I've been thinking that experimental subject must be Cedric Loapi. Usually, if someone survives the experiment, they rise to become a Gaejo Faction executive, but he's still being called a subject."
"Inflexible, and once he decides something is wrong, it stays wrong forever... That's definitely my father."
I was certain immediately.
Father's only exception had always been me.
Because of me, he could join the Gaejo Faction, but he would never become an executive or anything like that.
"Where could he be?"
"Probably in the Western Underground Prison."
The Tower Master pointed at the map as he spoke.
"Of course, it's quite deep underground. That was originally where I planned to infiltrate secretly... "
I gazed quietly at the map. It was quite detailed, probably from extensive investigation.
"My dear child, why do you act as though you have no tomorrow..."
The Tower Master squeezed my hand and spoke once more.
"Are you worried that the Imperial Servants might kill you if they discover your father was an experimental subject? I'll hide you deep within the Magic Tower so they can never find you. Alright?"
The Tower Master's eyes were filled with concern.
"But if the Imperial Servants come and destroy this place, Father will die too."
"I'll save him before that happens."
"But I'm stronger than you are, Grandfather. And..."
I bit my lower lip as I continued.
"If Mother escapes and joins forces with the remaining Gaejo Faction members to undergo the experiment again, I'll be helpless against it."
The Gaejo Faction wasn't only in the Grand Temple.
Once the Imperial Servants destroyed the Grand Temple, the Gaejo Faction members scattered throughout would simply go into hiding again.
If Mother survived, it was obvious she would join hands with those remnants.
But I couldn't say I wished Mother were dead. I simply couldn't bring myself to say that.
"What meaning is there in living like this?"
Throughout my growth, I'd thought my life lacked agency, but I'd never felt as powerless as I did now.
"Yes, yes. Our dear child is upset. Then let's do this."
The Tower Master, hearing my words, squeezed my hand even tighter.
"I'll change the plan and absolutely capture Aran. I'll seize her by any means necessary, imprison her in the Magic Tower, and ensure she never meets with the Gaejo Faction again. Then you won't have to worry, will you?"
I shook my head firmly in objection.
"But according to Royal Family Special Law Article 11, Section 20, the Magic Tower must absolutely obey the Royal Family. They cannot refuse the Royal Family's demands. They'll probably order us all three to be executed."
"Then you hide in the Magic Tower too. I'll tell the Imperial Servants that all three of you are dead. Well, I'll take in your father as well. He's an experimental subject anyway."
In the end, it was an ending where three families would be imprisoned in the Magic Tower.
"How's that? Isn't it brilliant? You can live like a princess in a corner room, cut off from the world inside. That's all you need to do."
The Tower Master grinned widely, his eyes gleaming. Somehow, it didn't feel like a happy ending at all.
"You'll be truly happy, won't you? Hmm? What do you think, my dear?"
"Well, yes..."
"Why does your expression look like that? Hmm?"
"Staying at the Magic Tower makes me worry about the Scroll Department... Honestly, without me, that department is in real danger..."
Even now, I was grateful that I was on medical leave.
'It's not unauthorized absence. There's no work gap.'
Anastasia was also on medical leave, but she had never been particularly competent at her duties anyway.
In any case, Victor was attending work normally while under surveillance by The Ravens.
If we only handled tasks at the level of the old Scroll Management Department, Victor alone was more than capable of maintaining the status quo.
Knowing this fact, the Tower Master spoke cynically.
"Heh, that's only because you keep trying to do something about it. What grand accomplishments did the old Scroll Management Department achieve anyway? The Imperial Palace never really needed that department in the first place. I'm just running it at this scale out of sheer stubbornness."
As a former junior member of the Scroll Management Department, I couldn't deny it—and that was painful.
"...It was the Scroll Management Department, not the Scroll Magic Department..."
"I see. Well, in any case, let's do this then."
The Tower Master clapped his hands once and pointed at the map.
"You go rescue your father. I'll head this way..."
The Tower Master was pointing to an eastern annex.
"I'll strike here. According to my investigation, this is where the executive meetings are held. While I'm not quite at your level, I'm still capable of destroying something. They'll probably send most of their forces here."
In other words, he was going to make it look like he was the one who had infiltrated.
At the same time, it meant we would now act separately from each other.
"While I draw their attention, you break through the western side gate and head underground. If you ride this dog, you'll move quickly."
"Woof, woof, woof!"
Kibon, who had been lying obediently while the Tower Master and I argued, barked as if to say he understood.
"Let's not think about worst-case scenarios."
I nodded.
Honestly, whether it was the Tower Master or me, we were both relying solely on individual ability and charging in alone.
"The cleanup will be handled by the Imperial Servants anyway. Isn't that the weight of a ruler? Let's just try to save two people."
Still, since our goal wasn't too grand, it actually seemed quite doable.
"And you—don't spend your whole life trapped in the Magic Tower, unable to move, forced to think only of a happiness imposed upon you. Understood?"
"...Yes."
My eyes met the Tower Master's.
The Tower Master lifted me up once and placed me directly onto Kibon's back.
"You need to be careful. Did you pack all the scrolls?"
"Yes."
I nodded.
I had carefully brought along the scroll the Tower Master had given me before, the one he said to use if there was a man to confess to.
Not that I'd ever have a chance to use it, since I wouldn't be seeing Kibon again...
Still, having received nothing from my family during my teenage years, each of these gifts was precious to me.
"My dear, the cutest little one in our world—take this too. I don't think I'll need it anymore. There are only two left, but..."
The Tower Master rummaged through something else and pressed it into my hand.
"It's a concealment scroll. With your magical power, you should be able to sustain it for quite a while. The Underground Prison is supposedly very deep, so use it wisely."
"What? A concealment scroll?"
It was a scroll I'd never seen before. Startled, I stared at it as the Tower Master stepped back.
"Well then, I'll be on my way. Let's scatter before the Gaejo Faction arrives."
The Tower Master gazed up at me astride Kibon, as if committing my image to memory.
"I wish you fortune, child. If anything goes wrong—family, honor, all of it—abandon it and flee at once with a teleportation scroll. Do you understand?"
"...Yes."
My throat suddenly tightened.
"Grandfather, please... take care of yourself."
The Tower Master nodded. Then he grasped the staff that lay at his feet and began to sprint eastward like the wind itself.
His retreating figure was acutely aware of being watched—deliberately striking a heroic pose.
'I see now...'
Watching him disappear, I clutched the concealment scroll tightly.
The mystery of why the Tower Master had suddenly appeared prostrate before us finally seemed to unravel.
'He was frightened of us, so he used this scroll and hid himself away in a crouch...'
I nodded once and stroked the nape of Kibon's neck.
"Come on."
I had already committed the map I'd seen earlier to memory.
"Shall we go, Kibon?"
At that, Kibon barked cheerfully and began to gallop with vigor.
* * *
"Huff, huff, huff..."
The Emperor truly thought he might die like this.
Even flying at considerable speed, it took three days to reach the Southern Region.
Yet he had flown without a single rest, as if in an all-out sprint...
"Huff, huff, huff..."
Including the brief stop at a small safe house early this morning to wash and sleep for three hours, he had descended to the Southern Region in less than two full days.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. You have labored greatly. But please proceed further toward Parens."
"Krrrgh? (What now?)"
Parens was practically within sight, so it was hardly an unreasonable request.
Crown Prince Kiaros spoke in a low voice.
"And please drop me above the Grand Temple."
It seemed he intended to enter directly.
Soon the silhouette of the Grand Temple began to appear in view.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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