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“…by tomorrow, this book will be available at….”

“…I have to make this experiment work… I haven’t eaten, slept, or bathed in a week….”

Well, it was where such people voluntarily became slaves to wizards better than them.

“Coffee…where’s the coffee.”

“Stay awake! Don’t fall asleep! We can’t afford to fall behind on our research!”

And one woman looked at them with boredom. She sighed as she looked at the dying wizards of the tower. Her grass-like green hair rustled in the breeze as she stood up from where she was running.

“Damned life.”

The woman muttered and looked down at the book in her hands. Her rainy gray eyes blinked. How the hell had she gotten herself into this mess? She swallowed the sigh that was rising again and trudged down the hallway. Ever since ‘that day,’ she had become a hollow, unmotivated lecturer.

“I’m done with this, I’m done with this. What’s the point, really.”

The woman muttered grimly, and as she paced, she saw a figure behind her who seemed to be urgently following her. The woman spun around to face the Tower Master’s slave who had followed her. When the slave saw her face, he quickly bowed and said.

“Associate Professor Nella, did you know there is a new professor and assistant in the Tower for this semester?”

“A new professor and assistant?”

Nella was a genius who had once been a powerful offensive resource for the Hero’s Party and was still regarded as having a bright future. Nella Thar frowned slightly. New professors and teaching assistants coming in was something that happened all the time. There was no reason for her to panic. Nella tried to ignore the ominous feeling of foreboding that suddenly poked its head out of her chest.

“I believe they were going to join the Astronomical Society. I hear you’re dipping your toe into that subject now.

The slave said in an urgent voice. What’s the big deal, I’m just attending a joint course… a conference… it’s not that important. Nella said to herself and looked at the wizard.

“But that’s not the important thing; it’s who’s coming. Perhaps you should speak to Associate Professor Nella.”

Resisting the urge to ask him just to say the names, Nella gave a short sigh and waited patiently for them to speak.

“Daphne Epifon, the wizard of the Hero’s Party, and the Hero himself are coming, though I’m not sure what the occasion is, as I heard from Professor Ames of Astronomy. He says the Tower Master has given her permission and arranged it.”

Nella let go of the books she held. The thought of preparing for her next class disappeared from her mind, and she took a quick step toward the elevator, the slave’s voice drowned out by the wind.

‘They’re coming to throw salt in the wound, right?’

Her hair was graying white with irritation. Nella pushed the button labeled 13 when she stepped into the elevator and stomped her foot inside.

“Hero…Elroy…!”

After another minute of sulking to herself, Nella leaped out of the elevator as soon as the doors opened and strode across the hallway. The top of the tower, the thirteenth floor, was for the Tower Master. ‘What the hell is she thinking?’

Nella reached the massive doors in a flash, took a deep breath, and gathered her thoughts. She needed to organize what she would say before she burst through this door. She took a deep breath, exhaled, and breathed in again. ‘Remember to stay calm and not let rage consume me; I have grown.’

“Come in.”

But before Nella could compose her thoughts, she heard a short, thin voice. The heavy door creaked open very softly. Nella looked at the door in bewilderment, and beyond it was a person lying on their large desk, bathed in sunlight.

“Nella Thar. It’s been a long time. How is your research progressing? I can sense that the Sixth Circle is just around the corner.”

A playful tone. The Tower Master, Laura Maureen, greeted Nella with a smile. Nella shrank back a little from the aura the archwizard exuded, then cleared her throat and spoke.

“It’s been a long time, Tower Master. I see you are doing well.”

“I know why you’re here.”

Nella frowned, and Laura smiled.

“It’s because of him, isn’t it? The new teaching assistant and professor.”

At Laura’s words, Nella almost nodded, barely holding it back. If she admitted it, her pride would sink below a donkey’s. Instead of acknowledging it, Nella chose the words in her head.

“…I need you to explain how this happened, Tower Master. At this rate, I may end up working on the same subject as the Hero who just unilaterally kicked me out, and I’m not sure I can take that lying down.”

“I’m sure you know why the Hero is here, Nella; you don’t need me to tell you.”

Laura said, lifting her head from its lazy resting place. Nella knew. The observation and study of the Sixth Disaster and when it would approach. It was information the Hero should know, and she supposed he would come for it at some point… but she didn’t think she would come when they didn’t know anything yet.

“Well, I’ll leave the Society then. I won’t sit around giggling with them and watching the night sky. I don’t want to.”

“I see. It seems like you’ve lied about your age in your profile. I’ve been thinking about putting you in the academy, anyways.”

“Anything but that, Tower Master!”

Nella opened her mouth in panic, but Laura shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly.

“This is unacceptable. Are you trying to bully me on purpose? Besides, there’s still a month until the semester starts… What the hell do you expect me to do in the meantime?”

“Nella. You can’t keep avoiding him forever.”

Laura lowered her voice, and Nella bit her lip. Laura’s yellow and blue eyes bore into her.

“This is partly a test, Nella. You have most of the qualities of a wizard. The only thing you lack is a cool head.”

Laura spoke admonishingly, and Nella frowned. Advice and instruction from the kingdom’s greatest archwizard. Despite her pride, she had to take each word to heart.

“Humiliated, angry, or otherwise, the Hero is someone you must work with. When you see him again, you may see things differently.”

She was right. While Nella had stopped paying attention, she still heard of his success. She felt nothing when word came that he had defeated a Fourth Disaster and the Fifth. There was a resigned thought that she didn’t belong.

Nella wanted to be the best wizard she could be, to become a Tower Master. And leaving the party was just another step in her growth.

“I know you’ve been chasing the Sixth Disaster harder than anyone, Nella.”

Nella’s face flushed bright red at Laura’s words. She shook her head vigorously in denial and raised her voice.

“W-Who is chasing the Disaster now?”

Laura let out a small chuckle.

“Grow up, Nella. You are a candidate to take my seat, after all.”

With that, Laura gave Nella a bombshell. Her words echoed in Nella’s head.

“Ah.”

The next thing she knew, Nella stood in front of the elevator, dazed. Somehow, she felt like she’d been seduced and forgotten why she’d gone to see the Tower Master. A bell rang, and the doors in front of her opened. Nella stepped into the empty elevator, contemplating what had just happened.

“…I feel like a fool.”

Nella said bitterly and leaned against the elevator’s handle. She slowly descended. Outside the elevator was a view of the land. It was a neighborhood that doubled as a training center for up-and-coming talent. Young students, who hadn’t yet learned the fearlessness of graduate school, were walking around in groups. Once, she had been one of them.

“…I’ll do my best.”

Looking at the scene, she felt calm. Her anger seemed to have subsided so she could look at the Hero’s face and not be angry. Nella let out one last long breath, closed her eyes, and stood in the elevator doorway that would take her to the first floor.

Ding.

The bell rang, and the elevator opened. Nella opened her eyes and stepped out of the elevator.

“Uh.”

A man was waiting in front of the elevator. Nella looked to meet the man’s face as he entered the elevator.

“Looks like you’re doing okay.”

A crooked smile complimented by turquoise eyes. Nella froze at the sight of the Hero who had appeared at such an inopportune time. She stood there, watching him enter the elevator with a wizard following behind him.

“You….”

“I’ll listen to your story later. We have some business to attend to.”

The pink-haired wizard that followed him glared at her, and Nella cringed at the sight of her. ‘That bitch, why is she so strong? How has she reached the Sixth Circle.’

“…Wait…let me get out first…”

Nella’s eyes were tinged with tears as she felt the elevator move up.

***

“Did you meet Nella on your way up?”

Laura had an amused grin on her face. Daphne looked nervous as she faced the greatest wizard in the kingdom. An archwizard who had woven her Seventh Circle. How she wanted to be at that level.

“I heard that she’s been living in the Magic Tower.”

“She’s been working on several things. You can consider her our real ace in the hole.”

Laura nodded.

“You didn’t stop her from leaving the party.”

“Yes. Though I may as well have kicked her out.”

I said, looking back at Daphne. I didn’t have it in me to make the two get along when they first met, let alone function as a party.

“You may think it’s a cruel choice, and if you want to criticize it, I’ll accept it.”

“Don’t worry, Hero, I would have done the same thing.”

Laura then turned to Daphne.

“Daphne, your qualities surpass Nella’s in every way. I don’t know how you recognized them, Hero, but….”

Laura trailed off.

“If I had to keep one of them, I would have kept Daphne.”

With that, Laura clapped her hands to say she was done with the topic.

“Now, then, let us discuss the Sixth Disaster. You have been informed that you will join the Astronomical Society, as you must keep an eye on the Meteor.”

“Understood.”

“I don’t think there’s anything in particular you need to do there. Just listen to what Ms. Daphne and the scholars will discuss.”

“…Uh, is that all I need to do?”

“Of course. Though, there is one thing I would like to ask you to do.”

Laura looked at me grimly, and I held my breath at the change in her demeanor.

“I think some strange creatures are lurking in the tower.”

At her words, my expression hardened.

“I need you and Daphne to help me find them.”