Chapter 186
Chchchchch.
The massive, twisted power surrounding the Magic Tower clawed at the barrier as if it would collapse the tower at any second—then dispersed like mist.
Has he already recovered that much strength?
The Archmage Mercedes, master of the Tower and of its barrier, stood still without the slightest movement. She stared at the “something” beyond the trembling wards.
【See you next time, teacher.】
The face of Mercedes—usually expressionless like a doll—twisted slightly.
Watching her former disciple teasingly abduct star-ranked mages right before her eyes made her want to rush out immediately.
But she stayed put.
Because stepping out was exactly what Cheyen wanted.
Cheyen…
The seal was one that should never have been broken, not even over eternity. And she was the one who had crafted it.
“Teacher, what exactly… did you make me into?”
From the memories of an immortal—memories so ancient they were fraying—Mercedes closed her eyes.
She had come out because the secret guardian of Halbern damaged part of the Infinite Library. She hadn’t expected to encounter Cheyen again so soon.
…That child as well.
The screen that reflected the outside of the barrier shifted to view inside the Tower.
There was a child surrounded by mages, completely unaware of the danger outside.
“Arelene, was it?”
Even before she knew the child’s identity, she sensed something unusual. A human shell barely holding in something so incomplete and undefinable that even she—a Grand Archmage—could not fully discern it.
The daughter of the Duke of Halbern, and…
“A singularity.”
Arelene once again carried the aura of her “old disciple.”
I’m certain I erased it.
She even used a spell of command so they would never be entangled again.
What in the world was her disciple doing?
“I swore I would never again interfere with the mortal world…”
Mercedes’ gaze toward Arelene grew deep and troubled.
* * *
Ever since the stars chose her, the mages’ attention clung to Arelene—eventually focusing on her health.
That began when Hilla, who had collapsed from overwork, woke up and joined the others.
“I can’t believe I’m getting this chance!”
Harley had already given a full briefing to the Duke of Halbern as the core of the Arelene Recovery Task Force, but after Valer suddenly decided to storm the Infinite Library and caused chaos, Harley hadn’t been able to report anything afterward.
To write a proper “report,” Harley needed to see Arelene in person and test her with scan magic and magical instruments. But since Valer had broken only a part of the barrier and then disappeared, Harley had half-given up.
And then—Arelene herself appeared!
“Ehehe, please place your hand on this artifact. It’ll feel a little tingly.”
Arelene looked suspicious but obediently followed Hilla’s instructions.
Thanks to that, they discovered all kinds of things they couldn’t learn from records and blood samples alone.
“You should’ve seen it. When all the stars chose you, the entire Tower lit up. Probably visible from outside!”
“It’s a once-in-history talent. She’ll excel at anything she touches—maybe even unravel research we’ve been stuck on for decades.”
“Hey, didn’t you read the official announcement earlier? Watch your mouth!”
“I’m just frustrated!”
While others chatted, Hilla focused on only one thing—Arelene.
Hilla removed her artifact-glasses, her expression turning serious. Arelene tilted her head.
“What’s wrong?”
“Do you have any pain anywhere?”
“Not really?”
Hilla stared at the cute girl’s face and chose her words carefully.
“Arelene… do you know why you’re sick?”
“Yes.”
“……?”
“My body can’t withstand my power, so I’m slowly dying, right?”
Hilla’s eyes widened.
“Did the Duke tell you that?”
No, her status window did.
Arelene grinned, and Hilla looked conflicted.
“Your star-power compatibility is at 100%.”
“?!”
The mages who were eavesdropping erupted.
“100% compatibility? That means she can use star-power without corruption!”
“A dream realm!”
“Is that even possible with a human body?”
“She’s born to be a mage!”
Now the mages fully understood why every star had rushed toward her.
“But she can’t learn magic right now.”
“Why not?!”
Cries exploded from every side. Hilla ignored them and spoke only to Arelene.
“She’s been exposed to the Authority of Sloth for too long. Her body is extremely weak. At this level, even lifting a spoon should be difficult.”
“……!”
To finally meet a mage who understood her suffering—Arelene was moved.
“Aah, so the reason I’ve been living like a useless glass-spined shrimp is because of that Authority or whatever?”
“Most likely. The blessings of immortals usually come with side effects. Why do you think it’s called ‘Slumbering Sloth’?”
“Because it makes people sleepy and lazy?”
“Haha, close. We don’t know the exact principle, but it’s similar. It likely creates a state of being ‘slow,’ ‘stiff,’ ‘old,’ and ‘unchanging.’”
Arelene froze.
…Wait. Is that why I have constant mental debuffs? And that soul-crushing apathy that takes over whenever I stop thinking about it?
“The Authority of Sloth was suppressing your latent ability—and slowing the rate at which that ability destroys your body. But—”
But?
“When the latent ability awakened and started functioning, the destruction of your body accelerated again.”
“……”
Arelene sighed quietly.
So that was why her condition had tanked recently.
I really got stronger…?
The eavesdropping mages debated:
“Even so, Sloth is one of the more human-friendly immortals.”
“If you compare it to the Dragon clans, true.”
“It’s neutral. As long as you don’t invade its domain, it barely notices you.”
“Researching it is easy, at least.”
“Still—an immortal is an immortal. Even a benevolent blessing causes this kind of side effect.”
“No wonder they’re called ‘gods without divinity.’”
Hilla gave her conclusion.
“Don’t use your ability for a while.”
Arelene blinked.
“But don’t you mages need my ability?”
“Not enough to make you suffer.”
It was the exact opposite of how they behaved until now.
The other mages nodded loudly.
“Right, all our research abides by the strict ethical rules of the Tower!”
“And since all the contamination has been purified, her corruption level reset—so we’ve bought about fifty yea—OUCH!”
“Even if we haven’t solved purification permanently, we’re always prepared for emergencies and contamination.”
And now Arelene had become someone chosen by the stars, just like them.
“Do you see that?”
A bearded mage smiled. Under the Tower’s emblem, the motto was written:
《PER ARDUA AD ASTRA》
Through hardship, to the stars.
“We’re seekers of truth, whose goal isn’t to live long, but to reach the stars.”
“Mhm.”
“Well—living long is nice too.”
Arelene looked at them—and for the first time, the mages looked like real mages.
“We will find a way. A cure for you. So please—don’t give up.”
She never gave up in the first place.
“Yes.”
* * *
Many things happened in the Tower, but right now Arelene only cared about one thing.
The spoils of her trip to the Magic Tower.
Her car.
“Mehen, look! This is a prototype automobile!”
Even with a magi-engine, car evolution seemed similar to the world she remembered.
“Only five exist in the world! Premium high-end car—Helios!”
They had practically ground star-rank mages into dust to cram every convenience spell in existence into it.
“Oh…”
“Wow…”
Even the childcare unit, who once said “a horseless carriage sounds weird,” fell speechless seeing it in person.
Understandable. A sleek, pearl-white, aerodynamic car parked at the entrance made the Halbern estate’s carriages look… shabby.
Strange. Considering their Pegasus-blooded horses, the costs should be similar.
“Is that the ‘automobile’?”
Even Mehen—who had zero interest in possessions—was intrigued by the design.
Ah… I finally get to say this line:
Sis, I bought a car.
“Wanna take a ride?”
