Chapter 36
Trickle, trickle, trickle—.
A faint stream of water soaked the garden soil.
"Franz, as the Tower Master, what is your assessment? Regarding my daughter's magic, that is."
That's right. The watering of the garden unfolding before Franz's eyes was, in fact, the Princess's magic.
First, it was indeed magic in the sense that it used mana to defy the laws of the world and manifest a miracle.
And since it could water the garden, its practicality was also outstanding.
Finally, there was her kind heart in helping the servants.
Therefore, Franz's overall assessment was a whopping 13 out of 10 points.
Even excluding the 5 points for the imperial bonus, it was an 8-point magic.
"Your Majesty, Her Highness the Princess turned 10 this year..."
"She is 11."
Franz flinched at His Majesty's words but forced himself to continue speaking as if nothing happened.
"...For an 11-year-old, that is certainly outstanding talent."
It was exactly as he said.
If her mana stabilized at 10 and she began using magic in earnest from 11, she possessed sufficient aptitude to grow into a splendid Magician.
The average age for using one's first magic was around 13, after all.
However, whether that meant she could reach the ranks of an Archmage was a bit ambiguous...
As Franz pondered this, the Princess approached hesitantly.
"Tower Master, how was it...? Was my magic okay...?"
"Your Highness, it was excellent."
"Hehe—, I got praised—!"
Her Highness beamed brightly and ran around the garden.
He had thought she was mature and wise beyond her years, but seeing her like this, perhaps not entirely.
The excited Princess began watering various parts of the garden, and the Emperor watched her with a smile.
"Franz, when that child comes of age, I intend to send her to the Magic Tower."
"...Pardon?"
The immense statement was thrown out so casually that it took half a beat longer for the words to come out.
Why on earth would he say something like that with the same casualness as suggesting 'Let's grab a bite'?
Of course, from the Emperor's perspective, it might just feel like finding a job for his daughter, but from Franz's side, this was a colossal issue akin to the chairman's daughter getting a parachute position.
Anyway, as the representative of the group, he needed to know the reason at least.
"Why did you come to think that..."
"I simply wish for my daughter to be happy. That child loves magic, you see. Dealing with troublesome political affairs is enough for me and my sons."
"Understood. We will be prepared to receive her at any time."
The Magic Tower wasn't a gathering of riffraff, but he couldn't exactly refuse when the Emperor himself made such a direct request.
And besides, the Princess still had 8 years until she came of age; there was probably no need to worry about it from now, he thought.
'Right, let's just not think about it. That's easier.'
In the end, Franz chose to ignore reality.
Some time passed, and Franz, judging the timing appropriate, conveyed his intention to leave.
"Is that so? True, you did say you were busy, so keeping you would be inconsiderate. Still, do visit occasionally, at least to keep me company for tea."
The Emperor spoke as if disappointed, but Franz felt no disappointment at all.
Yet, on the other hand, he felt a little pity.
He wondered how few people the Emperor had to confide in that he would say such a thing.
Anyway, that was the end of the farewells.
Franz didn't call for a carriage but used teleportation straight away.
He detested having his back ache any further.
'Come to think of it, I have to ride a carriage with Arian too.'
His vision already seemed to swim.
* * * * *
Immediately after returning to the Magic Tower, Arian came to find him, as if it were only natural.
"Was everything alright at the Imperial Palace...?"
"Well, maybe yes, maybe no. It was just the same as usual."
"Then that means you received some kind of request."
"...That's right."
Franz hesitated slightly.
'Is it okay to tell her?'
The matter of the cult subjugation was surely a secret.
If rumors were to spread, the cultists would hide themselves even more thoroughly, undoubtedly causing difficulties for the plans later on.
But hiding it from Arian didn't sit right with him either.
He would inevitably have to be absent, and it was a bit strange for his secretary not to know the reason.
Finally, after deliberation, Franz—
Snap—.
—cast a soundproofing spell.
He doubted anyone would eavesdrop on conversations in the Tower Master's office, but those cultist fellows showed such bizarre behavior that he couldn't let his guard down.
"Is that a soundproofing spell...?"
"Yeah, what I'm about to say is a secret. If you don't want to hear it, tell me now. I won't force the story."
"I'll listen."
Arian answered without a hint of hesitation.
A faint smile played on her lips.
"Actually, His Majesty the Emperor..."
Franz recounted the cult subjugation request from His Majesty.
About the plan to completely root out the cultists, the need to find and kill the Seven Deadly Sins, and even that the reward for the task was the title of Duke.
"...A storm of blood is coming."
Arian, having heard the whole story, said with a bitter expression.
"Well, yeah. Honestly, I don't think it will be easy."
"Are you alright, Tower Master?"
"I'm fine. Honestly, I didn't like those cultist bastards anyway."
"Still, please don't overdo it. You haven't even rested properly after subjugating the Demon King."
Arian's eyes were filled with worry.
Her words were certainly true.
Right after subjugating the Demon King, he had done various odd jobs at the Emperor's request, and after becoming Tower Master, he had poured all his attention into getting this rotten Magic Tower running properly.
Amidst all that, hadn't the translucent display appeared, telling him to save the world from ruin? And just when things seemed to be going well, now it was the cultists.
Someone said that the harder you work when young, the more comfortable you'll be when old; by that logic, shouldn't he reach a level in his old age where food gets delivered straight to his mouth even if he just lies still?
'Food delivered even if I lie still...?'
The moment he thought that, a strange scene suddenly came to mind.
Hera, wearing a collar around her neck, spoon-feeding him food.
A slave would certainly be capable of such a task.
'Am I tired...?'
Normally, he wouldn't have entertained such thoughts, so it seemed he really was tired.
Anyway,
'How is Hera doing?'
Aside from being overly traditional, her personality itself wasn't too bad.
That aspect could actually be beneficial for a leader, so he thought she might be doing well.
'Going all the way to the Great Forest is a bit much, though.'
Even though he had helped the Elves, he was still human.
He had no intention of needlessly stirring up trouble and narrowing Hera's standing, so he wanted to avoid going to the Great Forest if possible.
So, well, no news is good news. He could only assume she was doing fine.
...Or so Franz had thought.
Just a few days ago, that is.
Thinking Yustia should have returned from the Imperial Palace by now, he was about to head to St. Serpia Cathedral.
Coming down from the top floor where the Tower Master's office was to the first floor, he saw someone arguing at the entrance.
One figure wore a hood pulled down low, and the other was clad in a robe, the typical appearance of a Magician.
Recognizing the robed figure, Franz approached him.
"Roan, what's going on?"
"Ah, good day! Tower Master!"
He exclaimed loudly, bowing his waist 90 degrees in greeting.
Like a soldier in the army filled with discipline.
Franz was taken aback by this.
He had only asked the office workers to maintain basic courtesy; he had never enforced military discipline.
'Could this be how His Majesty the Emperor feels...?'
It was truly awkward beyond measure.
"Well, the thing is, sir. This person here said they wanted to meet the Tower Master, but they won't reveal their identity nor take off their hood. I was explaining that they cannot enter the Magic Tower under those circumstances."
At Roan's words, Franz's gaze shifted to the hooded figure.
'Something feels familiar...?'
The moment he thought that, green eyes sparkled from within the hood.
"Hera...?"
"I believed you, of all people, would recognize me."
"Why are you here..."
While Franz was flustered, Roan's expression was simultaneously hardening.
Noticing this belatedly, Franz patted his shoulder reassuringly.
"Roan, you handled it properly, so you did nothing wrong. Just keep doing that from now on."
"Th-thank you, sir..."
"Alright, go on up and handle your duties."
Roan bowed his head once and entered the inner part of the Magic Tower.
Now, it was truly just the two of them left.
"Hera, what's with the sudden visit without any contact..."
About to continue the conversation, Franz suddenly realized.
She had definitely said that once she rescued all the Elven slaves, she would become a slave herself.
Her appearance before him meant, in other words, that she had finished her preparations to become a slave.
'I didn't think it would end this quickly...?'
'Did the nobles perhaps voluntarily return the Elven slaves...?'
However, that thought of Franz's was shattered by Hera's single sentence.
"Franz, I am truly sorry, but. Would you help me just one more time? The World Tree is acting strangely. A-as soon as this matter is finished, I will immediately become your slave. If I alone am not enough, I will bring several others who volunteer. So please..."
Franz's hand slowly rose to cover his forehead.
'One Elven slave is already overwhelming, but she's offering to bring several more...?'
'Does she intend to increase her sentence...?'