Chapter 49
Inside the magic carriage.
My companions and I were seated inside.
Seron, with wide eyes, curiously scanned the elegant interior.
“Is this your first time seeing a carriage like this?”
“…Yes. To think it runs without a coachman…”
“It’s a magic carriage, a piece of advanced magical technology.”
“Ah… Then, it must be expensive?”
“This one costs about 700 platinum coins.”
Naturally, this was one of the few magic carriages owned by the family. We only had five of them in total.
If I weren’t a direct descendant of the Marquis, I wouldn’t even have been able to approach it, let alone ride in it.
Seron let out a quiet whistle at my words.
His expression suggested he was beginning to grasp the sheer power and wealth of the Marquis family from the cost of a single carriage.
While Seron admired the view outside the window, the rest of the group was relaxing.
‘I was expecting to be ambushed before leaving the city.’
Though I had no intention of leaving anyone alive to report, life was unpredictable.
I couldn’t be entirely confident that everything would go perfectly, so I had prepared contingency plans just in case.
Fortunately, we left the city without a hitch.
Luck and skill.
Both had aligned, allowing us to enjoy this peaceful ride home.
“Everyone, get some rest. I doubt we’ll face any ambushes.”
Seron tilted his head in confusion at my words.
“Wouldn’t they chase us as soon as they check the underground levels?”
“This carriage is as fast as it is expensive. They won’t be able to catch up.”
Unless they had some extraordinary horses, it was safe to say there would be no pursuit.
The carriage, carrying four passengers, was far faster than any horse.
Its high price was not without reason.
By now, the Viscount must have received the report.
‘It’ll take some time for him to figure out the culprit.’
The remaining traces of magic.
The power of the magic left behind would suggest at least third-circle capability, but the Viscount believed me to be a first-circle mage.
He was likely imagining some plausible reason for my sudden departure, such as fleeing in terror after a gruesome murder at the venue.
He wouldn’t know the truth until he caught the gladiators.
And once he did?
Even if he pursued us, catching up to the magic carriage would be impossible.
We had already traveled about twenty minutes outside the city walls.
On the main road leading to Trastan Territory.
Inside the plush carriage, I quietly closed my eyes.
***
The magic carriage ran nonstop until we crossed into the territory governed by the Marquis.
Half a day.
We traveled continuously, skipping meals and holding back nature’s calls.
Once we reached the edge of the territory under the Marquis family’s control, no one would dare pursue us further.
Would the Viscount’s forces cross the border unlawfully?
That would be handing us a perfect excuse to crush them.
The Viscount was greedy but clever enough to know better than to overreach.
Destroying his illegal operation was one thing, but he wouldn’t escalate it into a full-blown conflict.
As the magic carriage’s position on the map indicated we had entered the family’s domain, a faint smile appeared on my lips.
It was safe to assume any potential pursuers had been left far behind.
‘He might send assassins.’
Given how enraged he must be, it wasn’t impossible. Assassins were criminals bound by a code of silence regarding their clients.
‘I’ll have to set up alarm spells around the estate.’
Just in case he tried it, I decided it would be prudent.
The real issue wasn’t detecting them but ensuring they couldn’t sneak up unnoticed. As long as I could detect them, dealing with assassins was no problem.
We briefly stopped the carriage to handle basic necessities.
After another half-day of travel, Trastan came into view.
“Wow…”
Seron, his eyes wide, pressed against the window of the magic carriage, marveling at the sight of the grand city.
“Is this your first time seeing such a large city?”
“…Yes. I have no memories of such places… Other than Prinus from yesterday, I can’t recall anything.”
“You’ll see plenty of places like this in the future. Not just here, but elsewhere too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I plan to travel around a lot. For instance, I’ll be visiting Helena soon.”
Helena.
The moment I mentioned it, curiosity lit up in the eyes of my companions. It was Leonhardt who voiced the question on everyone’s mind.
“Helena… Are you planning to participate in the magic tournament there?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Helena.
It was one of the largest magical cities in the Alton Empire.
More prosperous even than Trastan, the city was governed by the Hamilton family, one of the three ducal houses in the Empire.
‘It’s about time for the magic tournament to be held there.’
The magic tournament in Helena, held every two years.
It was the largest magic tournament in the central continent, with a history and prestige spanning centuries.
“Have you decided which category you’ll participate in?”
“I plan to compete in the theoretical category.”
“Wouldn’t the practical category be easier for you, Young Master?”
“But the rewards are smaller compared to the theoretical category.”
At that, the knight seemed to realize something and cautiously asked.
“…Don’t tell me… Are you aiming to win?”
“That’s right.”
The categories in the magic tournament were broadly divided into two: theoretical and practical. I had decided to compete in the former.
The theoretical category showcased new or modified spells, presenting who could create the most innovative magic.
In this category, the rewards were even better than those in the practical field.
‘You can gain the qualification to become a Tower Master.’
A Tower Master.
Literally, the owner of a Magic Tower.
A Magic Tower was a faction of gathered magicians. Establishing one required meeting numerous prerequisites.
Just as companies in the modern world must meet certain conditions to go public, the same principle applied here.
Without such requirements, anyone could claim to establish a Magic Tower, leading to chaos.
The prerequisites varied.
For instance, contributing significantly on the battlefield.
Discovering groundbreaking magic formulas.
Or steadily building a stellar reputation.
Only by fulfilling such conditions would the Empire grant permission to form a Magic Tower.
However, if one won the magic tournament held in Helena?
All those cumbersome prerequisites could be skipped entirely.
This alone made the grand prize of the tournament the most valuable reward.
Once a Magic Tower was established, numerous benefits came with it.
Among those, the greatest advantage was:
‘The Magic Tower would be recognized as an organization equivalent to a noble household.’
In modern terms, it was like the government recognizing you not as an individual but as a medium-sized corporation.
Naturally, establishing a Magic Tower greatly expanded one’s scope of influence.
What was impossible as an individual could be achieved far more easily through the power of an organization.
Leonhardt solemnly nodded at my words.
“Young Master, does this mean you’re considering independence?”
“Yes. The next heir to the family has already been half-decided. If I remain within the family, I’ll inevitably hit a ceiling.”
“A ceiling, you say…?”
“Our family is renowned for swordsmanship, not for magic like the Hamilton Ducal House. And I don’t plan to end my life as just the family’s magician.”
If I had possessed the body of this troublemaker during his childhood, I might have been able to vie for succession. But unfortunately, the successor had already been half-determined.
The competition had almost ended before I could even start.
Becoming the next Marquis was undoubtedly the best option, but that ship had long sailed before I arrived.
Thus, the logical alternative was to choose the second-best option.
For me, that was becoming a Tower Master.
The Marquisate.
It had been my support and background, but I had no intention of staying anchored to it forever.
Once I dealt with Adolf, I planned to move toward independence.
“…I see.”
“To reach greater heights, I believe building my own power base is the way forward.”
I planned to maintain a good relationship with Abel and use him as a capable ally.
Such was the strength of blood ties, after all.
At that moment, Erciel, who had been quietly listening, looked at me.
“Young Master, isn’t Helena over a month’s journey away by magic carriage? The tournament isn’t far off now…”
“Don’t worry. I plan to use a teleportation gate.”
So far, I had relied on magic carriages as my primary means of transportation, but this time, there was no need for that.
The pinnacle of magical convenience: the teleportation gate.
I planned to use it to instantly travel to Helena.
Count-level households and higher were allowed to install teleportation gates within their estates. However, to use the gate, the destination also needed a gate.
Of course, Helena, as a major city, had its own gate.
“Young Master, have you thought about how to cover the mana stone cost? I’ve heard that even activating the gate requires high-grade mana stones…”
“I’m planning to ask Father for help.”
“You mean the Lord?”
“Yes. Where else would I get mana stones?”
The reason I hadn’t used gates until now was precisely due to the cost of mana stones.
Activating a gate required at least one high-grade mana stone.
Moreover, depending on the travel distance, additional stones were needed. For example, traveling to the relatively nearby Neylon Count’s estate would require:
‘At least ten mid-grade mana stones.’
It was an exorbitant expense.
That was why I had stuck to using the magic carriage until now.
Requesting permission to use the gate would have been immediately denied.
‘But this time, it’s different.’
Traveling to Helena would likely consume two high-grade mana stones and twenty mid-grade ones.
The cost increased with the number of travelers, so even limiting it to just Leonhardt and me would still incur that base expense.
The fee was astronomical, but if I could win the tournament, it would be worth every coin.
The largest magic tournament in the Empire.
Magicians from five nearby kingdoms and even the Holy Empire traveled to participate.
Winning the tournament and elevating the family name would far outweigh the cost of dozens of high-grade mana stones.
The mixed casting system for first-circle magic.
Even showcasing just a few of these innovations to the Marquis would demonstrate that my chances of winning weren’t low.
In the realm of magic, discovering even a single new third-circle spell was cause for celebration. Creating new magic was no small feat.
‘Five first-circle spells.’
Revealing just this much at the tournament would make winning the trophy nearly inevitable.
Soon, the magic carriage arrived at the annex.
Stepping out of the carriage, I turned toward the direction of the inner castle.
Now that the tasks were clear, it was time to start preparing.
—
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