No.
Selvier reached the cold, rational conclusion that Crazy Wizard could not be her childhood friend. Their personalities had been completely different from the very start.
It became evident when she compared them, point by point. Truly.
First of all, her childhood friend had been a deeply kind person—someone who never abandoned those in trouble. He always helped others however he could.
“I guess I have no talent for fire magic. I’m just a human ice cube. A completely useless existence with no way to increase firepower⋯⋯.”
“There’s beauty in low-temperature flames too. Plenty of things can’t be done with high heat. Like cooking. Let’s find magic that only works at lower temperatures!”
“That⋯⋯kind of makes sense now that I think about it.⋯⋯?”
Yes, that kind of encouragement⋯⋯.
No, it still wasn’t him. Although they shared a tendency to approach problems head-on and offer solutions without hesitation, if it had been her childhood friend, he would have been even more perfect.
Second, her childhood friend had always been concerned when she was in a difficult situation. And it wasn’t just mere meddling.“Oh, are you working on that problem from the bulletin board? For things like this, it’s important to broaden your thinking. Even though calculations are fundamental, sometimes completely unrelated knowledge can be surprisingly helpful.”
“⋯⋯Don’t interfere! I need to figure this out on my own!”
“I know, I know. You told me it’s like a job advancement quest. But what if I just teach you how to fish⋯⋯?”
Guiding her to think critically and push herself forward like this⋯⋯ Yes, this kind of princely thoughtfulness felt somewhat similar.
And finally, third.
Her childhood friend never wavered in the face of injustice or pressure when standing up for what he believed in.
Even in that wretched one-eyed village, he had stood firm. He believed that children deserved a happy childhood and never backed down, no matter how much the adults towered over him.
For a child to oppose adults was incredibly difficult. Her childhood friend had been caught countless times, suffering merciless beatings with clubs.
Even when his bones cracked and blood poured freely, his spirit remained unbroken.
Because he had always looked out for her. Even so, this part was⋯⋯.
“Ah, the Red Magic Tower Master put restrictions on this? Hah, tch, this won’t do. I’ll just pop up there real quick. I’ll deal with this and get those restrictions lifted
“Hey, you crazy punk-!!”
Selvier sprinted after Crazy Wizard with a broom to beat him up. Academy professor or not, master of Illusion Magic or not, the Tower Master wasn’t some neighbor’s puppy to casually visit.
And to make things worse, the Red Magic Tower Master was notoriously unpredictable and moody.
Sure, she might find Crazy Wizard’s antics amusing once or twice⋯⋯ but just as easily, she could explode in fury and impose a terrible punishment.
So, Selvier stopped him—physically.
Pak pak pak-!
“Ow, ow!”
“I’m hitting you because you need to feel pain! There’s a hierarchy in the Tower! How do you think an apprentice can just waltz in and demand a meeting with the Tower Master?!”
“Then isn’t there also a hierarchy at the Academy? So how is it okay for a student to beat up a professor?!”
“Euk⋯⋯! Just shut up and listen to me!”
This could almost be seen as something similar. But no, it wasn’t.
While her childhood friend had been admirable for his unwavering convictions, this was just recklessly charging into a burning house naked out of sheer stubbornness.
So, in the end, it wasn’t him.
It absolutely couldn’t be. And yet.
“What’s wrong? You suddenly look down. Are you sick? Want me to walk you back to the dorm?”
“⋯⋯It’s nothing.”
She disliked herself a little for constantly searching for traces of her childhood friend in this man, while at the same time, denying the possibility over and over.
One spoonful of pathetic inability—failing to recognize at a glance the sun she had admired all her life, lost between real and fake.
One spoonful of pathetic jealousy—bubbling up at the thought of the two women by his side⋯⋯ even though she should have been happy if he really was her childhood friend.
One spoonful of pathetic hesitation—too afraid to ask the simplest question: Have we met before? As if the answer would be too much to bear.
With these three spoonfuls combined, she was an utterly pathetic person.
Still, she had to move forward someday. That was something she had learned from her childhood friend.
But for now, she needed time. Time to sort through her thoughts. She needed proof.
Because what if she convinced herself that Crazy Wizard was her childhood friend, only to find out he wasn’t? That would be a betrayal to both of them.
Nothing was certain. Right?
So carefully──
===============================================================
I started stalking Selvier.
About 30% of it was because I wanted to ask, “Hey, want to take a quick trip to the Academy with me?” and get an escort. The other 70% was driven by a strange impulse.
It felt like reuniting with a cute younger cousin I hadn’t seen in years—a kid who used to cling to me but had now grown moody with age, stubbornly declaring they wouldn’t play with their uncle anymore.
Basically, I kept feeling drawn to her for some reason.
There shouldn’t have been any prior connection between me and Selvier. Her hometown was Swallow Village—same as mine—but was there a meeting buried somewhere in my lost memories?
Or was I just happy to run into someone from the same hometown?
I studied Selvier’s side-profile as she glared at the『Gate of Advancement』 like she was trying to burn a hole through it. Her red hair shone like the sun, her eyes carried a fierce energy, and that peculiarly braided strand of hair fell forward as she leaned in.
For reference, her chest size was average.
“Hey.”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”
Pretty quick on the uptake, as expected.
To ease the awkward atmosphere, I shifted my gaze to where Selvier was looking. Her focus was locked on an assignment posted in the corner of the 『Gate of Advancement』.
[Field Assignment – Eliminate the expelled Red Tower wizard, Kravellin Render.]
The name was vaguely familiar. An exiled wizard, a Fire Mage, and a “K-something”⋯⋯ wasn’t he a guy who was a favorite to win the Hero Selection Tournament?
Considering he was an Expelled Wizard still walking around freely, tossing fire magic, I figured the Red Tower had been oddly lenient. But I guess they just hadn’t been able to catch him.
That guy had probably crash-landed somewhere on the continent after getting caught up in 『Force Exile』 as well.
“⋯⋯I’m not planning to take that one. Professor, there are plenty of other assignments in the 『Gate of Advancement』 so please don’t choose that one.”
“Why?”
“A lot of Red Tower wizards have tried, and they all came back as ashes. Eliminating Kravellin Render is the hardest assignment on the 『Gate of Advancement』. Since you could pass with any of them⋯⋯.”
She was basically telling me not to take the needlessly difficult route.
Not that I had any plans to go after K-something anyway, but I nodded. I had no interest in playing on hard mode when I could pass normally.
I didn’t even want to pass in the first place.
Even studying Fire Magic in secret already made me self-conscious about Yuna’s disapproval. But if I went as far as winning a spot as the Red Tower Master’s direct disciple⋯⋯ Yuna might seriously kidnap and imprison me.
And then, she’d cry her eyes out in front of me until I repented. My heart wouldn’t be able to take it.
I carefully asked Selvier.
“Your goal is to become the Red Tower Master’s direct disciple, right?”
“Yes. The Red Tower Master grants each of their disciples a Wish Ticket .”
“So you’re more interested in the reward than the fun of magic. What wish do you want granted⋯⋯?”
“⋯⋯I want to find my childhood friend. We were separated when we were young.”
A childhood friend, huh.
I’d heard bits and pieces about Selvier’s Saint-like childhood friend back when I was clinging to her asking for advice.
The things he’d said were practically pearls of wisdom.
That emotions should be acknowledged as they were—not buried or cut off.
That even if someone rejected your love, you shouldn’t erase the feelings by pretending they never existed.
The wisdom I’d received secondhand through Selvier had been genuinely helpful.
Come to think of it, I don’t think I ever paid her counseling fee.
That was back when⋯⋯.
After I heard the devastating news that Ping Valerez was unconscious, when I had been half out of my mind.
Selvier had told me not to let emotions control me, to make a plan instead. She even said I could brag to her if I succeeded—then, and only then, would she take back calling me an idiot.
Maybe this was my chance.
I had received something from Selvier, so it was only right to repay her properly. As it happened, I was an apprentice at the Red Tower now and had built up some skill in fire magic. There couldn’t be a better time to help her with her predicament.
Since her determination to improve shone so brightly, I wouldn’t solve everything for her outright. But I could at least smooth out some of the unnecessary hardships.
Right. I’d just help Selvier pass the『Gate of Advancement』and then return to the Purple Tower. By then, I should be strong enough to solo-kill an ogre. I nodded to myself with determination.
And since I was already on the topic—
“Ah, right. I got two girlfriends thanks to you.”
“⋯⋯Why are you bringing that up now, like you’re bragging?”
“Well, you said I could brag if my plan succeeded⋯⋯.”
“Bragging about getting girlfriends right in front of someone who’s looking for their childhood friend—you’re prepared to face the consequences, right?!”
Selvier’s grip on the broom tightened. Even with my mental processing power slightly reduced, I immediately understood what that meant.
She was going to hit me really hard.
I hesitated, debating whether to activate Heavenly Demon-Guard or make a run for it with Heavenly Demon-Running.
Bebebebeep-!
The portable thermometer issued to Red Tower wizards suddenly shot up to 43 degrees.
Sizzzzzzle ⋯⋯!!
Steam boiled and evaporated in the air. I felt an abnormal heat source approaching from behind—along with mana so massive it felt like a mountain shifting.
It was comparable to Yuna’s.
I turned around.
Flowing red hair, like molten lava. Eyes burning as fiercely as the sun. Skin untouched by a single burn, smooth and pale. Clothes… unreasonably light.
More draped, rather than dressed.
Her fox-like eyes carried a playful charm, and the delicate tear mark at the corner of one eye added an alluring touch. She was beautiful enough to topple nations, but⋯⋯
For those who understood how to handle mana, fear and terror came before lust or admiration.
When a volcano in human form approached you, wouldn’t it be terrifying regardless of how beautiful its colors were?
Though this was my first time meeting her, I knew immediately who she was.
The Red Tower Master.
Selvier’s expression flickered between admiration and tension before she bowed at a perfect right angle.
“Hello R- Red Tower Master⋯⋯!”
“My, my. It’s been a while, darling. I thought you’d run off to the Purple Tower, but have you finally realized the wonders of fire magic?”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯?”
Then, I realized.
The Red Tower Master had completely ignored Selvier’s greeting and was speaking directly to me directly.
Selvier, equally bewildered, glanced back and forth between us.
I frowned slightly and asked reluctantly.
“…Do you know me?”
“How hurtful. After darling you asked me yourself ⋯⋯ are you pretending not to know me? Eung?”
“No, I have a⋯⋯ condition. Yes. I have amnesia.”
Her fiery eyes narrowed slightly before sweeping over my entire body in an instant.
“Heung⋯⋯ That explains it. You don’t seem normal. Your mana heart’s output is completely shattered, and the wisdom in your eyes has dropped to that of an ordinary person.”
Did she just analyze my specs with a single glance?
And more importantly—did she really know me?
Of course⋯⋯ when the Tower Masters came to scout me, I’d seen her. She’d seen me. It made sense that she would recognize me.
But my memory of that was so vague, it didn’t feel real. I couldn’t even be sure if we had really met.
I wanted to ask if she knew me—
But before I could, the Red Tower Master glanced between me and Selvier before curling her lips into a fox-like smile. Then, as if she was promising to keep a secret, she placed a finger to her lips.
“Alright. I’ll keep quiet about the private parts of that day. But⋯⋯ you’re planning to help Selvier even now, aren’t you?”
“⋯⋯What about it?”
“That’s not fair. The whole point of the『Gate of Advancement』 is lost when someone with with world-altering talent starts playing favorites.”
With a casual wave of her hand, the parchment hanging at the top of the『Gate of Advancement』 fluttered down into her grasp.
The assignment Selvier had called the hardest one.
[Field Assignment – Eliminate the expelled Red Tower wizard, Kravellin Render.]
“Here. If you two do this together, I’ll acknowledge it. Selvier, if you really wish to become my direct disciple⋯⋯ then from now on, you’ll have to take down Kravellin Render.”
“⋯⋯⋯⋯?!”
Selvier turned stark white in shock as her job advancement quest was suddenly locked to Extreme difficulty.
I quickly opened my mouth, trying to cover for her somehow.
“You just saw for yourself, Red Tower Master. Maybe if I were in good shape—but seriously, right now, I’m split into thirty pieces.”
“I’ve fully accounted for your poor condition.”
“What if I just don’t help Selvier and ditch?”
“Then, poor Selvier will never become my direct disciple?”
It didn’t work.
Mischief danced in the Red Tower Master’s eyes.
I understood instantly. This wasn’t just about fairness—she wanted to mess with me. A prank, born from her lingering resentment⋯⋯ from the sting of me choosing the Purple Tower over the Red Tower.
This woman.
At the same time, she genuinely seemed to believe this was ‘really balanced’.
With my shattered specs and Selvier’s abilities combined, she saw challenging the highest-difficulty『Gate of Advancement』 assignment as a fair adjustment.
⋯⋯Wasn’t this stupid?
To sum up the assignment in one sentence: 2-Star duo vs. Metamorphosis Wizard.
Obviously, the latter would win.
Wasn’t she overestimating my talent way 0too much? I was already struggling with my nerfed state as it was.
“Could it be our dear is underestimating himself?”
“I appreciate your confidence, but if this is set in stone… I think I’m in serious trouble. Right now, um⋯⋯.”
Selvier was glaring at me like she was ready to murder me.
Her eyes practically itching to bite the Red Tower Master—the difficulty increaser—on the spot.
The Red Tower Master simply smiled brightly.
“Oh my. Too bad. But I will compensate you both for the increaseddifficulty. Both Selvier, and my darling. After all, both of you have something you’re looking for⋯⋯ right?”
Fwooosh!
And just like that, she vanished in a burst of flames.
I stood frozen, like someone who’d just been hit by an unexpected bomb. Then, creakily, I turned my head to look at Selvier. She was practically a beast now.
“You—because of you, the difficulty—!!”
“No, I was trying to help. It was pure goodwill. It’s not my fault!”
“That’s why I asked why an Academy professor disguised himself as an apprentice to sneak in, in the first place—!!”
Pak pak pak pak-!
I had to take the full force of her broom with my body.
But I could tell she was holding back, careful not to actually hurt me too much.
So, while pretending to be on the verge of death, I secretly smiled to myself.
Wasn’t the situation kind of funny?
Selvier, who had always preached that Academy students needed trials—
Now, her own words had come right back to bite her!
***
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