Chapter : 7
“Wizards? I was just honestly sharing my thoughts. There are things I learned through research, and things I’ve experienced personally.”
Daniel, who tried to object, found his words blocked by Mini.
Wiz, who was licking candy without even asking why they were going, hardly looked like a scholar. Yet the Central Tower was known for having people with strong personalities and strong egos. At least, that’s what people said. A widely known prejudice.
Mini bit down on her strawberry candy and spoke.
“So, does that mean you’re not doing research anymore?”
Wiz didn’t even turn her head as she replied.
“Research?”
“Yes.”
“The Tower Master said it’d be fine if I just disappeared from his sight. He even cried a little.”
“…Excuse me?”
Daniel understood everything, but didn’t know how to respond. He could only awkwardly respond, and Wiz looked up and smiled slyly.
“Just kidding. He didn’t say anything about research. I’m actually in the middle of writing a paper.”
“If you want to do research, don’t you need books, objects, or field studies?”
“You do. Ah, is it because there’s no paper in the shop? That’s why you’re asking?”
“Uh… yes. If it’s not too much trouble.”
“There’s a dedicated lab. In the bookstore basement.”
“Oh, in the basement…”
No, no. Daniel, who was watching the conversation, tilted his head slightly. This wasn’t right. His companion was missing one important detail.
His lips moved hesitantly. Should he ask? Somehow, he had a premonition that someone’s dignity might be destroyed if he did. But curiosity won over conscience.
Finally, he spoke.
“Um, about research…”
“Huh? Oh, the Tower Master? Yes, he did cry asking me to disappear. There are even tear marks on my certification.”
His premonition was correct. Wiz had completely ruined the solemn image of the Tower Master without a care. Daniel pressed his hand to his forehead, and Mini covered her mouth with her fingertips in dismay. Oh dear.
The paper in the frame Wiz had been holding had a slightly yellowed tint. On that yellow paper, there were white, water-like stains. It had bothered her before—why would there be water marks on such an important document kept in a frame?
But now… those were the Tower Master’s tears?
Daniel felt pity for the Tower Master.
Back in the newspaper room, Wiz quietly ate jelly.
Even after eating two candies on the way, as soon as she sat down, she pulled out an even smaller bag of jelly from the small pouch around her neck. The tiny cube-shaped jellies were beautifully colored and looked delicious.
No one stopped her as she nibbled diligently.
Although she was seated in the newspaper room for convenience, this time, the situation was one in which they actually wanted to ask her for a favor.
The Silver Fox Squad hoped Wiz would kindly agree to help them.
Ellicier sat in front of her out of courtesy, and Daniel accompanied them in the newspaper room to help calm Wiz’s temperament.
Of course, Daniel was holding a neatly packaged candy basket in both hands.
Once Wiz finished the jelly in her mouth, Ellicier finally spoke.
“I’d like you to write and send a letter for me.”
No introductions, no apologies, no greetings. The only change was a bit of politeness. Wiz’s eyes widened at the sudden request.
“A letter?”
“To the Central Tower. To the Tower Master.”
“Ah.”
She nodded and blinked blankly.
In this room, Daniel’s role was basically “being present for emotional stability,” so he could think freely without causing problems. He quietly observed her, then furrowed his brows in confusion.
Huh.
Wiz didn’t recognize him at all. Not his face, not his name, not anything that had happened. She didn’t remember. Couldn’t. Wouldn’t… didn’t.
Even people in the alleys of miscellaneous items didn’t recognize her. When the hero who had knocked her down a few days ago came under Daniel’s watch, Wiz didn’t recognize him either.
She even asked if the incident with the bouquet happened at all when the hero apologized, turning his stomach.
Yet she remembered the Tower Master?
She remembered the content of books, the location of candy stores, and even that candy existed. But that was just information—not people.
…How? Why?
Daniel recalled her words about how she could forget trivial things every day but remembered what was important. Did she remember the Tower Master because he was important? But even so, Wiz had completely messed with the Tower Master several times in recent days.
He silently observed her.
It wasn’t just that her bad memory made her a “pure fool.” The things she forgot had no context. She didn’t connect names to faces, didn’t remember events, yet she remembered obscure things like the publication date of a weird book titled Riririri Wizard Pyoro-Rong. Was it that her memory lacked context, or that the importance she assigned lacked context?
He sighed.
Despite all these unrealistic traits, she gave no sense of dissonance, likely because of the gentle and innocent impression she gave. Her features were soft and naive, and overall, Wiz had a clear, childlike aura.
It was her exclamation that woke him from his unnecessary, yet somehow useful, musings.
“Ah-ha.”
Huh? How far had they gone while he was lost in thought?
Blinking rapidly, he alternated his gaze between his superior and Wiz to understand the situation. But Wiz showed that nothing had progressed.
“Ah-ha.”
What?
“…But what were we talking about again?”
“….”
No way… had he just forgotten the topic in a second and pretended to be surprised all this time?
Daniel felt his throat tighten. No matter how brave a knight he was, he couldn’t act that dumb in front of Ellicier. Even if she was known as kind and gentle, this was extreme. The spectators in the observation room were surely shivering in fright.
Yet Ellicier calmly explained again.
“To the Tower Master of the Central Tower. Could you write it in your own hand? Send the letter. Can you do that?”
“….”
Daniel almost burst into laughter—no, tears. This was like dealing with a little kid. He envied the knights in the observation room, likely laughing against the wall. He had never learned how to hold back laughter… or tears. This was a sad scene, not funny.
He tried to protect Wiz’s dignity with a pointless display of kindness.
Following Ellicier’s polite explanation, Wiz nodded, then tilted her head.
“So, what exactly did you want me to do…?”
“Sir Daniel. The basket.”
“….”
In the end, the basket was brought over.
Placing the basket on the desk, Daniel felt awe. Even Ellicier couldn’t beat Wiz. She truly was extraordinary.
As soon as the basket was on the desk, Wiz took a deep, serious breath. She shook her head slowly with a solemn, sad expression, like a plant killer facing a doomed pot.
“Even I would be sad if tempted with something like this. But if I am tempted, I welcome it. You said to write a letter to the Tower Master, correct? Bring me paper and a pen. Let’s finish this quickly.”
Daniel stepped back, pressed his forehead, and let out a sob. His eyes were moist. He wasn’t laughing—he was crying. Finally, he realized that crying would upset Wiz less than laughing… maybe… hehe.
Ellicier, sensing her subordinate’s state, calmly gave a command.
“Sir, leave the room.”
“Yes… hhuh-huh…”
Daniel ran away while sobbing.
Once the door clicked shut, Ellicier took out high-quality paper, a pen, and the letter Wiz would copy and set them in front of her. Wiz quietly smiled at the candy basket on the desk while waiting.
When everything was ready, she picked up the pen seriously.
“So, I just copy this?”
“….”
Ellicier nodded, and Wiz began writing without hesitation.
Even though she was viewing it upside down, her handwriting didn’t seem neat. No, it wasn’t just about neatness… the problem grew as the letter progressed. Ellicier cautiously asked.
“Are you writing in code?”
“Yes.”
“….”
Was it really a cipher? He glanced aside, then back.
Before Ellicier could ask, Wiz explained herself.
“If I send it normally now, they’d ask who I am. I should’ve been less playful. It’s always troublesome. But if they can’t decode it, the spirit of the scholar and genius will cry, right? The Tower Master is revered as a genius. I heard from the Vice Master that the last note I sent took three days to decipher. It was just a line saying today’s strawberry cookie was tasty.”
He decided not to hear the rest. He asked quietly.
“Is the cipher different every time?”
“Mostly, yes. Sometimes it’s the same.”
Ellicier narrowed his eyes at Wiz’s furrowed brow and lowered lashes.
“The cipher you’re writing now?”
“Of course it’s the first time I’m using it.”
Wiz replied casually. Ellicier’s eyes flickered.
No, it was absolutely not “of course.” If true, this woman was a genius in some respects.
Her pen moved without pause. Normally, even copying without a cipher involves a few hesitations to check. Even if the cipher were familiar, some pauses are normal.
Within a few minutes, she finished the cipher.
The content, “I sold the Tower to Ario in exchange for candy. Please help me,” was understood. She copied it flawlessly without hesitation or complaint.
When the pen finished scratching the paper, Wiz finally reviewed the letter and looked up.
“Hmm. Should I send it myself now?”
“Send it yourself? Now? What do you mean?”
Ellicier looked at her, ready to take the letter to verify. Wiz pulled out a thin ring from the pouch she used for jelly.
“Most researchers living outside the Tower can’t use couriers. Going to the Tower just to request a book is bothersome. Honestly, if I go to the Tower, I’d have to carry the book myself. Heavy. Annoying. I’d rather not research. That’s why the Tower Master distributed these to outside researchers.”
“….”
“Called ‘The Tortoise and the Hare.’ Shortened to ‘Kibuki.’”
“….”
“The Tower Master said: Crawl steadily like a tortoise, even if slow, come yourself. Use this to send letters as if coming fast like a hare, but take a detour if possible.”
It didn’t sound solemn; more like a curse. Yet Ellicier thought for a moment and nodded, feeling no need to object.
(To be continued in the next chapter)
