"Ah, this is bad! A tremendously strong wizard is coming this way... Aaaagh!"

I nudged the back of the magic swordsman who was spilling a report through the crack in the door. He screamed loudly, as if a weak person, and collapsed immediately.

At the same time, the archway opened wide, as if clearing a path for us. Through the now open view, the scenery of the top floor became visible.

The grand interior, a combination of a library symbolizing knowledge and an observatory symbolizing the world, was impressive.

"Looks like the challengers have already arrived, huh?"

"How shameless! How dare an outsider step onto the Tower of Truth with dirty feet without permission!"

A young man with sky-blue hair blinking while sitting on a chair. And a blonde ponytail magic swordsman who was scolding us, trying to look stern.

Regardless of that, Reid spoke to me.

"Is this our first meeting? Should I introduce you, Ayleth?"

"Yeah, I’d appreciate it if you could."

Of course, it wasn’t a mutual introduction, but rather a one-sided provision of information.

"Moriphis Marcelion and Odelite Marcelion."

"Ah, those guys."

"I know them just by the name. I like how quick the conversation is."

"But why is Moriphis here? Where did the Tower Master go?"

The answer came from Moriphis.

"The previous Tower Master has retired! Now, I am the master of the tower! Ahem!"

"Reid, did you hear that? We just need to catch him."

Reid stepped forward, looking at Moriphis who was sitting in the chair.

"Get up. I challenge you for the right to that seat."

"Heh, you’re young, so you have a lot of spirit. I was the same way until I was one hundred and twenty."

The thousand-year-old Reid didn’t even smile.

"It seems you're not from the Tower of Magic. Shouldn’t we start with a level test?"

"I’m out of the measurement range."

"Oh, I knew you’d say that! Those frogs in a well talk so big, and then they get discouraged when their 2nd circle emerges! You’re quite a serious case yourself!"

It was clear that Reid was getting tired of replying, so I figured I should step in.

"If he challenged you, you should accept. It’s tradition, right?"

"We should charge a challenge ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) fee!"

"Is that a thing?"

Everyone, not just me, looked confused.

"I just made it up using the Tower Master's authority! Since I am the Tower Master now."

"Alright, I’ll respect it, but you’ll have to come down in five minutes. How much?"

"Money isn’t needed. What I want is for you to have a meal with my wife!"

"...What?"

Agnes voiced what I was feeling.

<Why is he suddenly targeting Ayleth for no reason? And why is his face turning red? This is uncomfortable.>

I decided not to question it for now.

"Is payment due later?"

"Yes, of course!"

<Wow, he’s shaking his head so hard I think his neck will break.>

Reid didn’t seem to mind too much.

"That fee can be collected by the next Tower Master."

[‘The Scales that Judge Souls’ is thrilled by this date.]

Moriphis, either mumbling to himself or humming, didn’t hear Reid’s provocation.

"Now that I see it, that astrologer was something. Now, now! Beatrice, Catalina, Esmeralda! Please go somewhere far away."

The small animals that were in his arms scattered quickly.

Moriphis stood up from his chair and faced Reid. As the standoff took shape, Odelite frowned as if in dismay.

"Tch, you’re jumping into a settled situation."

"Princess Marcelion, you should not just watch, you need to call the Magic Council!"

"I’ll handle it, so stop interfering!"

Odelite snapped at me, but she did what needed to be done. After activating a magical tool with a summoning function, the elder wizards were soon summoned into the room.

"Didn't you say you’d kick me out? What is this now?!"

"That’s right. Always making us come and go... Huh? A challenger?!"

The wizards, quickly assessing the situation, became silent. While it saved me from explaining, Odelite’s mood didn’t seem to improve.

She stood with a fierce expression, placing herself between Reid and Moriphis. She was there to oversee the duel.

"Both sides, state your names."

The first one to speak was Moriphis.

"I am Moriphis Marcelion, the current master of the tower, an 8th circle grand wizard, and a chimera researcher."

He had many grand titles. On the other hand...

"Reid."

He didn’t flaunt anything.

There was no need for him to make a show before the fight.

Odelite declared.

"Both sides, you will fight using only your innate talents and the magical efforts you’ve accumulated. The result of the battle will determine the superiority of magic, and you will accept the outcome."

"We swear."

"Agreed."

From the ground, a geometric magic circle appeared. Dozens of concentric circular barriers enclosed Reid and Moriphis.

"Begin the battle!"

Neither Reid nor Moriphis rushed. They stood in place, calmly facing each other.

After a long moment of idle waiting with no intent to explore, it was Moriphis who made the first move.

"I’ll take the first move."

The air around Moriphis turned white. His magic interfered with the environment, rapidly lowering the temperature while gathering moisture.

The condensed vapor quickly turned into ice and grew into shapes resembling what he had visualized in his mind.

Dozens of ice arrows shot toward Reid.

KABOOM!

The ice arrows, missing their target, collided with the defensive barrier protecting the space. The explosion was absorbed, but the vibration made the entire tower rumble.

The destructive power was enough to ignore the anti-shock magic. Each ice arrow was comparable to a siege weapon.

If they had struck directly, the frail human body would have left no trace. However, the ice arrows couldn’t even reach three steps ahead of Reid.

They stopped, as if they had been pinned to an invisible barrier, shattering with a crisp sound.

"Is this what you caught with brute force? In that case, I’ll use something formless!"

As he formed a pact, a light flickered in his firm face. A giant flame shot up like a harpoon, blending into the ice arrows.

<Oh, two spells at once?>

"Hey, Agnes. With an 8th circle wizard, double casting is nothing to boast about."

The flaming harpoons surged toward Reid, clearly aimed at him.

Reid didn’t set up any barriers. He simply pulled out one hand from beneath his coat and casually waved it, causing the flaming arrows to scatter and tear apart.

"Yikes!"

The one who needed to form a barrier was Moriphis. The remains of the divided flames reversed their trajectory and flew back at him.

It was impressive enough that even the Magic Council members were praising it.

"Oh, indeed, a chimera researcher!"

"You can’t trash talk him based on personality or preferences, but his skill is undeniable!"

Although the praise was somewhat vague, it was still supportive. However, Moriphis didn’t seem to be in a good state. He paused and glared at Reid in front of him.

"Are you not going to attack?"

"I’m thinking about it."

"Thinking?"

"Wondering what magic I can use to finish this without killing you."

"What?!"

"My usual power is something like this."

Reid’s shadow stretched and covered the area where Moriphis was standing. As if he had stepped into a conqueror’s domain, Moriphis looked down in shock at his feet. Then, his gaze met what had been hiding in the shadow.

It was a wicked and chaotic power.

Agnes, having directly felt it, was sure Moriphis wouldn’t miss it.

"Ugh...!"

"Grandfather?"

At Odelite’s call, he couldn’t respond. Moriphis was too busy defending himself from being consumed by the chaotic evil energy.

At that moment, like a capricious tyrant, Reid withdrew his power.

"I’ve thought of it. This will be good."

He gathered his mana to form the image in his mind. For a rare spell requiring a pact, he stretched out both hands.

"Oh, no."

Moriphis’s face turned pale with fear.

Reid, who had scattered siege-level flames with a single hand, was now preparing a spell that he was using both hands for...

[‘System’ Warning. Ultimate skill ‘Marionette’ is being activated.]

Reid’s fingers moved slowly, as though playing an invisible keyboard in the air.

"Uh, uh?"

Moriphis’s body moved unnaturally. His neck twisted to the right, his waist to the left, and one arm and one leg stretched out in segmented motions.

This creaking was like a malfunctioning articulated puppet.

"What... what is this?!"

At that moment, Moriphis raised both hands above his head, making a circle, and then jumped as if performing ballet. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Just as it started to feel like some sort of rhythmic dance, Reid clenched his fist. As though pulling an invisible thread, he tugged.

"Aaaah!"

At the same instant, Moriphis struck a pose, lifting one leg high.

"...Ballet?"

Reid looked at me.

"It’s not easy. I wonder if I made you lose your sight because of the poor puppet show, Ayleth Rodeline."

I guess that was it.

"Ahhh! Stop! Please, stop! I’m not that flexible... Aaaah!"

"Ah, was it the puppet’s fault, not mine?"