Episode 137
The stronghold of the Saxon Viscount, ruler of the Northern Demon Lord’s domain.
The “City Master’s Emissary” visited Dale regularly, each time discussing the guild city’s ledgers through a secret code. This day was no exception—until the emissary’s eyes lost focus and he spoke.
“Wise and brilliant Prince of Saxon, it is an honor to meet you.”
”……!”
“Our Blue Tower is ready to fulfill its promise to you.”
The emissary, who was supposed to secretly liaise with Dale, seemed to be under the influence of the Blue Tower, acting as their mouthpiece.
The Blue Tower of intrigue and deceit. They never broke their silence from the start to the end of the Empire’s continental unification war. But their silence didn’t mean inaction.
“How did you find out about the guild city’s emissary I was in contact with?”
“They say birds hear what is said in the day, and mice hear what is said at night. No matter how desperately you try to keep a secret, some things inevitably leak out.”
The City Master’s emissary, now a puppet of the Blue Tower, spoke.
“Enough with the unnecessary talk. Tell me where the Blue Tower’s ‘Sorceress Council’ is being held.”
“Ah, the council is already in session.”
The puppet of the Blue Tower replied to Dale’s question, causing him to momentarily tilt his head in confusion.
“And as an officially invited guest, you, Prince Dale, have the right to attend.”
The City Master’s emissary said, and a fierce wind, like a blizzard, enveloped Dale. The world around him shifted.
Suddenly, Dale was no longer standing on the frozen ground of Saxon. Around a large table, women in robes sat on thrones, and in front of Dale was the only empty seat.
On the icy land where the blizzard raged.
“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Prince Dale.”
An unforgettable voice spoke beside him, and Dale turned to see ‘Titania of York’ smiling softly from beneath her hood.
Sorceress. A woman magician from tales.
Except for Titania, the other sorceresses hid their faces in the shadows of their hoods, expressing themselves through seductive giggles, silence, or wary glances.
From ordinary humans to succubi and elves, each concealing their true nature, these were the veiled powers ruling the Blue Tower of intrigue and deceit.
Officially, the “Blue Tower” was located at the southernmost tip of the continent, known as the Land of Crystal. In a way, it was the counterpart to the Northern Saxon Duke’s Black Tower. But for the council they hosted, physical distance or location held no meaning.
‘Illusion? No.’
A high-level mental manipulation magic that transcended physical distance, binding the consciousness of participants as if in a hologram. It wasn’t hard to guess who could possess such extraordinary skill.
“You’ve made quite the journey, wise Prince of Saxon.”
A voice came from across the table, where a sorceress smiled. Her gentle voice echoed, leaving the shadows beneath her hood behind.
“May I ask, on behalf of the council, why you have convened us?”
”……Are you the one who stands at the pinnacle of the Blue Tower?”
“It is rude to speak before the Chairwoman, child of Saxon.”
“Erze, I have not yet given you permission to speak.”
The sorceress called the ‘Chairwoman’ spoke, and ‘Erze’ fell silent.
“As you asked, I am the one who represents the will of the Blue Tower.”
“What is your true identity?”
“A loyal servant waiting for the King of Shadows, opposing the tyranny of gold.”
“That makes things quicker. I have convened you for two main reasons.”
Dale continued calmly.
“You claimed the Blue would fight for the Shadows against the opposition of gold. Therefore, as the ‘King of Shadows,’ I demand the Blue Tower’s loyalty to serve me.”
“Oh my, you speak as if you truly are the ‘King of Shadows.’”
“Is there any reason to doubt?”
“As you know, we have been observing you closely for a long time, Prince Dale. We are deeply impressed by your talents and qualities.”
The Blue Tower’s leader continued.
“However, it is far too early for you to stand against the ‘Golden Sovereign’ as the representative of the Shadows. Therefore, regrettably, the Blue Tower cannot break its silence.”
“I have no need for a champion who only pledges loyalty after gaining power.”
Dale replied coldly.
“What I need are those who will willingly stand by me when I am at my weakest.”
The Blue Tower’s leader remained silent at Dale’s words.
“How disappointing. Is this the extent of the Blue Tower’s so-called loyalty?”
“How astute you are.”
The Chairwoman laughed, seemingly amused.
“We understand that you are not pleased with the Blue Tower’s ‘silence.’ However, we are already proving our loyalty to the Shadow Sovereign in ways beyond your imagination.”
“Are these things that must remain silent despite that?”
“Indeed. Ah, it seems there is no longer a need to remain silent about York’s loyalty.”
“For now, that one fact is enough.”
Dale replied.
“But remember, my patience will not last long.”
“We will keep that in mind. Now, shall we hear the other reason you convened the council?”
“I am here to settle the debt Sepia owes to the Blue.”
The mountain assassins. A secret organization of dark elves from the desert, purging the ‘exiles’ of the world. The Sorceress Council had dealt with them to protect Sepia’s life, holding her life as collateral for that debt. A most useful puppet.
“Oh my. Wasn’t Miss Sepia a stranger with no ties to Saxon?”
“Miss Sepia taught me invaluable things.”
Dale said.
“Even if it was a puppet show orchestrated in your ‘silence.’”
“Oh my, how touching your regard for your mentor is.”
“The desert’s dark elf organization… the mountain assassins. Tell me everything the Blue Tower knows about them and the details of your dealings.”
Dale coldly demanded, facing the smiling leader of the Blue Tower.
“From now on, it is not the Blue Tower’s role to protect Miss Sepia.”
Even if she had already left his side, nothing would change.
When the Sorceress Council adjourned, Dale found himself back in his usual office.
“Ah, uh, uh…?”
Similarly, the City Master’s emissary looked around in confusion, unaware of what had just transpired.
“The discussion is over. You may leave.”
Dale said calmly to him.
“Ah, understood!”
The emissary bowed and left. Alone in his office, Dale silently gazed into the air.
Thinking of the dark elves of the desert, at the eastern edge of the Empire, where the hot sands and swirling dust storms reigned.
The Great Labyrinth of the Demon Lord’s domain, Labyrinthos, under the rule of the Saxon Viscount.
The project to develop the ‘Demon Lord’s Land’ around it was progressing smoothly. Those who challenged the labyrinth, those who accepted requests to clear the area of demons, and those needed for various tasks gathered to fulfill their roles. Only when they encountered situations beyond their capabilities did the Saxon family step in.
Even if Dale left to attend to his duties, the system he had established ensured that the Demon Lord’s land gradually illuminated its darkness.
Around that time, a new force began to gather on the Saxon Viscount’s land to fulfill the alliance against the demons that Dale had once promised to the Lancaster family.
“Oh, it’s such a pleasure to see you again.”
A beautiful woman with blood-red hair stood there, wearing a tight-fitting red uniform and a crimson hat.
“Who would have thought I’d meet the Prince of Saxon here….”
Lady Scarlet, a high elder of the Red Tower.
“I never imagined the Red Tower would be so passionate about developing the ‘Demon’s Land.’”
Dale remarked nonchalantly, and Lady Scarlet smiled, undeterred.
“Oh my, not at all. Our Red Tower is always dedicated to the ‘peace of the Empire.’”
With the Red Tower’s mages behind her, Dale rose from his throne.
As the ruler of the Demon Lord’s domain and the Saxon Viscount, he pondered the hidden motives of Lady Scarlet and the Red Tower.
Nothing had changed. The Blue Tower and the Sorceress Council had begun to stir, and the Red Tower was also gathering under the pretense of aiding the demon king’s territory expansion.
Soon, the White Tower would break its silence upon realizing that the sacred relic, the holy sword of the first White Tower Master, had been shattered.
Three towers were converging, leaving only the Green Tower uninvolved. Meanwhile, Dale had not forgotten the true ruler of this land.
The frozen lands of Saxon, this place was the domain of the Black Tower and the Black Duke, the very legacy of the ancient darkness, and ultimately, the Shadow Lord’s territory.
At that moment, in the deepest chamber of the imperial palace.
“Your Majesty, I hope you are in good health.”
A voice echoed in the darkness. It was the voice of Marquis Yuris, the Blood Duke of the Red Tower.
”…We have intelligence that the Blue Tower has broken its silence and attempted to contact the Shadow Lord.”
“The Shadow, you say.”
In the silence, a man’s voice finally resonated.
The one who reigned supreme as the Emperor of Fire and Light, the Golden Sovereign.
The Golden Emperor, Arthur Pendragon Magnus.
“I regret to inform you, but there are growing concerns about the ‘silence’ that Your Majesty and the royal family are maintaining.”
“What do you seek, Lord of Fire and Blood?”
The Golden Emperor, standing at the pinnacle of the empire, asked. The Lord of Fire and Blood. As the ruler of the only nation on earth, it was a question that defied imagination.
“I humbly request your permission to mobilize your bloodline… the golden lineage.”