Chapter 275

Chapter 275 – The Magic Tower Embraces a Harmful Talent

Aster related the entire chronicle to Evelyn concerning the Magic Tower.

What it represented, along with its historical friction with the Decullan Family.

He masked the identities of Parun and Henji behind anonymity, and withheld specific revelations regarding the Heavenly Origin Art.

Nevertheless, his explanation was precise enough for Evelyn to comprehend the precarious state of the Magic Tower. When the essential outline concluded, a quiet lull enveloped the room.

“Uh, um, so……”

Evelyn moistened her lips.

“Go on, speak.”

“I am attempting to, but… uh… This is straight out of a novel, isn’t it? Or perhaps the mental strain of regression has compromised your sanity along the way.”

“Moments ago you regarded me as a terminal patient, and now I am a lunatic?”

Aster grinned at the anticipated skepticism. Yet Evelyn remained entirely earnest.

“No, truly—who could possibly credit such a tale?”

“Why shouldn’t you?”

“To begin with… you are claiming to have reached transcendence as a grand archmage? Does that strike you as remotely plausible?”

“And what if it doesn’t?”

“If it doesn’t… if it doesn’t… Excellent point. Where does that leave us? You see—once the words leave your mouth, it genuinely sounds like standard speech……”

Evelyn blinked as though her senses were drifting. Her vision grew hazy.

“What sort of scenario are you conjuring up?”

“Well……”

Evelyn’s eyes fluttered unhurriedly. She was assembling her scattered thoughts.

When the concepts finally aligned properly, an awkward grin touched her face as she spoke.

“Just… perhaps, membership in some underground organization? You know, those syndicates exist everywhere. A mutual pupil raised secretly by several different factions……”

“Do they exist?”

“…In fiction, certainly.”

“You are truly remarkable. Why not author a book yourself?”

“It wouldn’t yield a profit.”

“…Naturally.”

Evelyn evaluated reality purely through financial metrics.

In any event, their superficial back-and-forth did not endure.

Aster rubbed his brow and guided the conversation back to the primary matter.

“So, have you regained your composure?”

“Somewhat.”

“Summarize it for me.”

Evelyn blinked once more. This time, however, her look was sharp.

“So……”

Evelyn levelly recounted the details she had gathered.

Her comprehension of Aster’s current circumstances came down to this.

“There exists an organization known as the Magic Tower.”

“Correct.”

“And you are the original founding Tower Master.”

“Tower Master, indeed.”

“Lortel possesses the Platinum Badge as a partner, and the Decullans are your mortal adversaries. You entered the conflict, terminated two of the Seven Mages, and nearly perished at the hands of the First during your return?”

“The First?”

“Oh, it is a term merchants utilize. Meaning the pinnacle figure of a collective or something similar……”

Vernacular for every conceivable situation.

Regardless, Evelyn’s breakdown omitted a great deal, yet captured the critical core.

Save for a single detail.

“So, where do I fit in?”

“I am… the Magic Tower’s Chief Financial Officer?”

“Precisely.”

Aster gestured in approval.

He had designated her for the role without informing her—the secrecy had been tedious. Now she comprehended her status as the CFO.

Exemplary.

“Wait, is this actually genuine?”

Aster angled his head at Evelyn’s sudden exclamation.

“What is it?”

“Who assigns a position to someone without their knowledge? …Hold on. Good heavens. Does this imply your initial interactions with me were actually……”

Evelyn glared at Aster, her gaze trembling with disdain.

The previous summer recess, just before its conclusion.

Her sibling’s machinations had caused her father to cast her out, leaving her shivering over the cost of academy tuition.

What had his words been at that moment?

• Anything except the brooch?

Yes, that was the origin of it all.

And subsequently…

• I shall handle your educational fees. Yet the brooch strikes me as problematic.

• My requirements are minimal.

An alternative to the brooch.

She had dismissed it at the time, but a strange hesitation had lingered between his phrases. As if he were selecting his vocabulary with extreme care.

And his eventual response was this.

• No hidden agendas. We are simply fellow academy alumni, correct? It felt appropriate to extend assistance during a difficult period.

• You mean…

• Nothing profound—merely companions. What are your thoughts?

Revisiting those memories, Evelyn’s lips began to twitch. Not a subtle tremble—a violent shudder. Absolute preposterousness.

Detecting the shift, Aster offered a strained smile.

“A matter of the past. All things serve a purpose, correct?”

“No, wait a moment.”

“Your manner of speaking has suddenly…”

“Be quiet.”

“……”

Aster sealed his lips at the intense tone.

Evelyn methodically retraced her path through memory with absolute fury burning in her eyes. Peculiarly, Chenbi’s commentary echoed in her recollection.

The academy was currently in the midst of midterms.

Chenbi, studying for the examinations, had remarked casually:

• The prior year was demanding.

• Demanding?

• Indeed, Damian is capable of academic focus now, but it wasn’t so back then. Consequently, I engineered ‘De.Mo.P.’

• ‘De.Mo.P.’?

• The Damian Model Student Project.

The objective: elevate Damian into the superior echelons.

Chenbi, alongside even the Dinai branch member Purion, had labored relentlessly. Purion was signed over to Dalia and functioned like a servant……

At that realization, homicidal intent filled Evelyn’s eyes.

“You?”

“……Excuse me?”

“It was you, wasn’t it?”

Aster reverted to ‘Railley Mode’ upon sensing the hazardous atmosphere.

“Whatever could you mean……”

“Was it your doing? Let me think.”

Evelyn scrutinized her thoughts once more.

Once skepticism firmly took root, occurrences she had discarded as mere chance locked flawlessly into alignment.

‘I established Divei as the public face.’

She could scarcely recollect the enterprise at present. Yet she distinctly recalled Divei clashing with Aster immediately prior to the Trial Gate.

She had perceived Aster as an ordinary scholar then, overlooking the connection. But introducing a single premise altered everything.

What if Aster harbored resentment toward Divei and bided his time for retribution? And discovered the underground marketplace operation?

No matter how impenetrable the defenses, they would not obstruct a transcendent spellcaster.

…Naturally, Evelyn was oblivious to the fact that Aster lacked such power at the time—yet remarkably, her deduction hit the mark.

‘De.Mo.P., the animosity toward Divei, and……’

• Evelyn de Plancher, step forward if you please.

• Offer this student an expression of appreciation.

That vindictive display as well.

And furthermore?

‘…The accolade was advocated by M3 Class’s Assistant Professor Yorbi.’

The pieces integrated seamlessly.

Far too synchronized to be random fortune.

Thus, the murderous gleam in Evelyn’s gaze was entirely logical. Entirely rational…

“I am uninvolved in whatever scenario you are composing.”

“……”

Evelyn shook with rage at Aster’s uncharacteristic submission.

Then she took a deep breath in and let it out. First, second, a third time.

A method of composure.

Subduing her simmering irritation while examining her previous conduct.

Impartially evaluating and regretting one’s errors was no simple feat. Yet Evelyn possessed the capacity to achieve it, surprisingly enough.

And her conclusion.

“…Very well.”

“Pardon?”

“Yesterday’s events belong to yesterday. Everything… carries significance. Yes. Quite right.”

Evelyn chose not to investigate any further.

The underground marketplace crisis had been agonizing, but looking back, her behavior on that day was deeply embarrassing.

And yet…

• Duke, my gratitude.

• Duke, accept this… token.

It was not entirely terrible.

The weathered sphere she had treasured as a memento. The children’s asymmetrical, chaotic illustrations.

A soft expression graced Evelyn’s features.

Though it proved fleeting.

Her gaze sharpened as she locked onto Aster.

“Regardless, the matter of transcendence… I cannot fully accept that just yet. Clear?”

“Haha, of course…”

“Mind your speech.”

“Ahem. Understood.”

Aster cleared his throat uncomfortably, conforming to her demand. Evelyn spoke immediately afterward.

“So, I function as the Magic Tower’s CFO?”

“Correct.”

“In that case, the financial domain belongs to me?”

“Uh… presumably?”

Evelyn held out her palm.

“Deliver it.”

“……Deliver what?”

“The capital.”

“……”

Aster remained silent.

He had entangled himself with a dangerous individual.

“Oh, and the Arapurugin territory belongs to the Magic Tower, yes? Procured for its construction. Provide the property deed to me once it arrives.”

Aster stammered in opposition.

“However… the structure is mine, so the ownership…”

“What does that matter? Retain the ownership. But to exert representative authority, you require the physical deed.”

“……”

“Is that accurate? Or is it incorrect?”

Aster muttered beneath her intense observation.

“It is accurate, though…”

“What, you disagree? Are you asking for a blow? Go ahead, attempt it. But keep one detail in mind.”

“……What detail?”

“If you ever find yourself destitute on the streets, your fortunes will reside within my possession. Every last bit.”

“……”

Evelyn straightforwardly admitted to future misappropriation of funds, yet Aster lacked any counterargument.

A conflict relied on momentum, and currently, the momentum favored her entirely.

The primary directive of engagement: avoid conflict. The secondary: engage only when victory is assured.

This instance satisfied neither.

However, in the next moment.

Aster advanced a belated inquiry.

“But are you genuinely comfortable with this? Dealing with the Decullans and the surrounding chaos.”

It was not an attempt to change the subject—simply verifying whether she comprehended the magnitude of the danger and remained committed.

Decullan influence had nearly ensnared them quite recently.

Evelyn offered a careless shrug.

“If the situation collapses, I shall flee.”

“……”

“What, am I forbidden?”

“No, that is perfectly acceptable.”

“Then there is no problem?”

“No… problem.”

Aster chuckled aloud before finishing his thought.

‘An unusual individual…’

Had she asserted an intention to bear the entire burden, it would have prompted greater anxiety. This response was ideal.

Sufficiently clever to chart her own path of retreat.

Only…

‘…I merely hope she recognizes that misappropriating funds leads directly to a swift demise.’

He would enlist a secondary accountant in the future to maintain proper oversight.

“Well, it is a pleasure to enter into this arrangement with you.”

Evelyn considered:

‘Submit to my terms like an obedient hound.’

Aster met her extended hand for a shake, offering a nod.

“Yes, likewise.”

Aster considered:

‘Enjoy your amusement for the moment.’

He would re-establish his ultimate Tower Master sovereignty eventually.

……In this manner, the Magic Tower welcomed a hazardous asset.