Chapter 143

Chapter 143. I Am the Master of the Tower

Deep in the night.

An overwhelming pressure filled the castle of Lortel.

While the knights who arrived early stood motionless, caught in a daze, unable to comprehend the unfolding scene, those who arrived later gasped, stunned by the sight before them.

“Sir Zeke…?”

“Wait, is that Sir Hamelan?”

“How could it be that those two are…?”

They directed these questions at the men already gathered there, searching for clarity—but no one possessed an answer.

Meanwhile—

Zeke tightened his hold, fingers clenching firmly around the hilt of his weapon.

Gigeuk, geuk.

The edge of the blade bit into his palm, slicing deep enough to grate against the bone, but he remained unfazed. He was well-acquainted with this variety of agony.

At that moment, Hamelan, the First Sword, inquired,

“You truly refuse to release it? Surely you are not intending to protect an intruder within Lortel?”

“That man is no intruder.”

“Then, what is he?”

“……”

Zeke kept his mouth shut.

He was bound by the directive of the Head of House to maintain strict secrecy.

Regardless of the fact that his opponent was Hamelan, the supreme leader of the Ten Swords—this was a secret that had to be upheld.

A flash of insight crossed Hamelan’s eyes. But it was only for an instant.

Hamelan spoke again.

“If you provide no explanation, I have no way of knowing. Is that acceptable to you?”

Zeke realized the time had come to steel his resolve.

‘There is no other way.’

Hamelan had firmly made up his mind.

Even if that erratic mage were to cease the release of his aura, Sir Hamelan would undoubtedly attempt to claim the mage’s life.

If that were the case…

‘Conflict is unavoidable.’

His mission was singular.

He had to deliver that mage to the Head of House.

‘My right hand is a sacrifice I am prepared to make.’

That was the extent of his determination.

Just as he attempted to draw his blade with his unpracticed left hand, a voice reached him.

“Step aside.”

“…?”

The voice belonged to Aster.

“That is enough. Since you saved my life once, I have no intention of losing sleep over this.”

“What are you— hnng!”

Zeke let out a cry of disbelief.

Aster had snatched the sword without retreating even an inch.

Had it been a common blade, it would not have been so shocking, but Hamelan’s weapon was currently churning with a terrifying density of Aether.

Zeke himself had been pouring his own Aether into the contest to contain it.

A single mistake, and the violent collision of their two Aether streams would have shredded flesh and bone alike!

“It is lethal—let go this instant—!”

Zeke attempted to warn him, though it was already too late—

Tzzzz—

A sharp, chilling flow of mana pierced the steel.

And it did not end there.

Kkudeudeuk, kkudeuk.

‘It is… overriding my Aether?’

Furthermore, it was actively pushing Zeke’s Aether away!

It was impossible.

Mana is fundamentally less cohesive than Aether.

Yet, to suppress Aether with mana? Even a master at the same level of capability shouldn’t have been able to achieve that!

Of course, Aster did not escape the encounter unscathed.

“…Damn it, you absolute monsters.”

Hurk.

Crimson blood spilled from his lips like a torrent.

I had not intended to intervene.

Hadn’t Zeke mentioned it earlier?

That clashing blades between the Ten Swords without prior authorization was prohibited by the house’s laws. I had assumed there was no way he would actually sever Zeke’s hand…

‘This old man was not joking.’

So, what now?

The one who created the knot must be the one to undo it.

At this juncture, half-hearted measures would not resolve the situation. In fact—if I were the type to act with half-measures, I never would have traveled to Lortel to begin with, but regardless.

Aster cleared his mind and narrowed his focus.

The aura he had previously projected in all directions dissipated entirely. He poured every nerve into the task of resisting Hamelan’s Aether.

Zeke regained his focus at the sight.

‘This is dangerous.’

He was merely clinging to the situation by a thread.

Zeke attempted to rejoin the struggle for control, but—

Suddenly, a monstrous surge of Aether rushed up through Zeke’s grip on the hilt and breached his defenses.

“Keogh!”

Zeke reeled backward from the sudden impact.

Suffering from severe internal damage, he coughed up a spray of blood.

Hamelan’s voice followed immediately.

“Third Sword, stand down. Did the man not speak for himself? Since he saved you once, it is not a debt worth dying over.”

Yet, Zeke would not yield.

“That cannot—”

It was then.

“Sir Zeke, I apologize.”

Captain Ekst, who had been watching in silence, stepped into the fray.

And as the wounded Zeke was subdued and escorted away by Ekst and the surrounding knights—

The center of the arena was left occupied by only two men: Aster and Hamelan.

Hamelan shifted his gaze toward Zeke and then smirked.

“My gratitude. Because of you, I avoided an unpleasant situation. But… are you holding up? You appear to be struggling quite significantly.”

“I am not well, and yes, it is difficult.”

“For a man in such a state, you seem remarkably composed.”

“Hardly. I would prefer to die this instant.”

“It would have been wiser to remain hidden behind Sir Zeke’s protection.”

“I am already regretting it. I had no idea you were such a monster.”

“Ha.”

Hamelan finally broke into laughter.

“Conversation is surely a strain for you, yet you remain stubborn.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“Hmm…?”

“If you find it admirable, I was hoping you might go easy on me. I am, after all, a mere novice.”

“Wha—!”

Hamelan erupted into laughter once more.

The sound was even louder than before.

“You lunatic! Ha—there is no questioning your madness! Even in the ancient wars, few were as reckless as you!”

It was… oddly pleasant.

I had assumed it was already insane enough to scatter my aura in every direction in the heart of Lortel.

This was beyond any rational expectation.

But that amusement was fleeting.

Hamelan abruptly ceased his laughter, his gaze turning icy.

Amusement was one thing, but the task at hand remained unchanged.

“In return for saving the hand of the young lord’s blade, I will spare your head. Shattering your core should serve as a sufficient penalty.”

Hamelan intensified the output of his Aether.

His intention was to force Aster’s mana out in a single strike, penetrate his physique, and crush his core entirely.

Kwa-gwa-gwa-gwa—!

Aether, like a furious tempest, raced along the length of the blade.

Resilient mana attempted to block the onslaught, but the violent Aether tore through everything in its path.

At that moment, a fountain of blood erupted from Aster’s mouth.

Puheok!

But then—

‘…?’

In the very heartbeat before Hamelan sensed victory—

He saw it with perfect clarity.

Even as blood splattered, the mage’s lips curled upward, just slightly.

Was it the vacant grin of a madman? No—something was different. Those piercing eyes were the eyes of a predator waiting for the perfect opening!

As Hamelan sensed a sudden shift in the tide—

Jjeo-eong—!

“…!”

A vortex of mana swirled around the mage.

A final, desperate act? No—if that were true, then…

‘Danger!’

Prompted by the scream of his instincts, Hamelan immediately withdrew his Aether. Then he projected it outward in a flash, forming a protective barrier around his body.

An unbearable wave of heat crashed over Hamelan immediately after.

Kwarorororor!

‘W-what is this—!’

Hamelan felt his skin crawl at an intensity of heat he had never encountered in his life.

And just before the flames obscured his vision, he perceived the truth.

The mage was grinning.

A pillar of fire that erupted without warning illuminated the darkness of Lortel.

Below it, the knights gazed up at the sky in stunned silence.

Not a single soul uttered a sound.

Everyone could feel the presence.

Geugeugeugeuk—

The flow of mana churning within that terrifying pillar of flame. The very atmosphere trembled in resonance.

It was an awe-inspiring spectacle.

So profound was the display that even knights with no understanding of magic had their attention completely captured.

However, the sensation did not last.

“What are you doing! Will you not recover your wits!”

A roar pierced their minds.

At Captain Ekst’s command, the knights snapped back to reality.

“T-this…!”

“S-Sir Hamelan!”

“P-extinguish the fire… someone, get a mage!”

Confused cries echoed from every direction.

One man shouted the name of the First Sword trapped within the inferno, while another scrambled to locate a resident mage of the house.

But the confusion was short-lived.

“All of you, cease your movement! Regain your discipline!”

At the command laced with Aether, the knights who had been scrambling froze instantly. And when even the sound of their ragged breathing stilled—

Captain Ekst surveyed the gathered knights and spoke.

“Sir Hamelan is secure. Do you truly believe he is a man who would fall to such trivial magic?”

“…No!”

“Then what is your objective?”

His voice sounded like a blade being unsheathed.

The resonance of his Aether drilled into the minds of the knights.

Indeed. Lortel’s First Sword would not succumb to such minor tricks. What, then, must be done?

There was only one task.

“……”

Execute the mage who had infiltrated Lortel and dared to threaten the First Sword.

Tzzzz—

The intent to kill bloomed across the clearing. One strand, then another—sharp, honed like newly forged blades.

And naturally, that killing intent was directed toward—

The mage standing before the pillar of fire, coughing blood in a relentless stream.

Srrrng—

Sgeuk.

Without the need for a command, blades were drawn, and the collective killing intent grew even sharper.

And just as the knights prepared to launch themselves forward like arrows released from a bow—

The mage, who had been struggling to breathe, straightened his posture.

The knights froze in that single moment.

“…!”

“…!”

Tzuz, tzuzjeuk—

A moment of absolute stillness. No—what hardened was not the air.

Rather… yes.

Mana.

The mana of the entire vicinity had frozen.

It was not a physical force that restrained the knights.

The reason they were paralyzed was… instinct. Without a word being spoken, they understood.

This territory had been claimed.

So—

‘If we move… we die.’

Gulp.

As the crowd held their breath, and only the sound of nervous swallowing filled the air—

The pillar of fire created by the mage flared violently once more.

Was the magic shifting?

That thought crossed the minds of the knights.

But no.

Seogeok—!

A single, clean slicing sound.

The pillar of fire that had reached toward the heavens split in two.

The flames that appeared impossible to extinguish dissipated instantly.

And where the fire had vanished—

“……”

Lortel’s First Sword, Hamelan, stared at what stood before him. Or more precisely, at the unknown mage.

With an expression that seemed strangely light, and eyes sharper than ever, he asked,

“Who are you? You do not appear to be an ordinary pest.”

For the first time, Hamelan directly questioned his identity.

That was how striking the mage’s presence had been.

And it was not only Hamelan who sought to uncover the mage’s name.

Every knight present strained to hear the answer.

In the silence that followed—

The mage replied.

“I am the Master of the Tower.”

“…Tower?”

Hamelan tilted his head at the cryptic response, and then—

Kugugugugugu—!

The mana in the air surged violently at that very moment.

“…Hup!”

Even Hamelan stopped breathing for an instant—then a brief silence. And…

In the quiet, the mage’s voice cut through the air.

“Is this how Lortel treats its invited guests?”

At this moment, no one viewed him as a mere mage.

“Bring the Head of House to me.”

He was a legendary archmage.

He was the Master of the Tower.