Mellat, a sixth-order Wizard and a professor at the Red Tower, involuntarily opened her mouth in shock at the scene unfolding before her. It was all because of what Celaime Mikardo, the master of the Blue Tower, had said.

“An honor?”

Despite hearing it herself, Mellat could hardly believe it. Celaime Mikardo, the Blue Tower master, was known to be unusually gentle and kind compared to other tower masters or the future successors who would inherit his will, such as Penia. This made him very popular among the Wizards of other towers. He was a person who did not hesitate to give advice and teachings freely.

However, even the kind Celaime held great authority and pride in his magic. An incident where he completely dominated the Purple Tower master, who had belittled Celaime’s magic during a central tower meeting, was well-known among all Wizards.

Was that all? There was also an occasion when the Green Tower master had challenged Celaime’s lecture, leading to a forced three-day debate until the Green Tower master conceded defeat.

Thus, although Celaime was kind, he was proud of his magic and did not easily bow his head to anyone. That’s why the current situation was so astonishing.

Turning her gaze, she saw that other Wizards were similarly bewildered and, confirming it was not a misunderstanding, stared at Marquis Palatio.

His hierarchy was the fourth order. While it was unusual for a Wizard to use ancient magic—primarily primitive magic—there was nothing else remarkable about him.

“What exactly…? Why is the Blue Tower master making such a fuss…?”

While doubts filled her mind, Marquis Palatio himself was also puzzled.

‘Really, what is it?’

Alon, contemplating whether to ask or not, hesitated before being invited, “Ah, please come in.”

“Is that really okay?”

“Of course. How could I not make room for the Marquis?”

Before he could finish his thought, he was quickly ushered into the lecture hall.

“Please sit here.”

“I could just stand at the back…”

“That won’t do, it’s fine. This was originally my seat anyway.”

Thanks to Celaime’s excessive hospitality, he ended up sitting in the front row, feeling the piercing stares of everyone behind him.

After the lecture ended, it was clear that attending Celaime’s lecture was the right choice. Magically, he had gained a lot. However, if someone asked if he wanted to attend another lecture by Celaime, that would be difficult.

While the content was good, Alon had to endure the intense glares from other Wizards behind him.

Even conceding to the glares, what about the laughter…?

Alon recalled earlier, specifically the burdening smile Celaime had given him, which seemed to have a hidden agenda, making him leave the classroom with a troubled expression.

“How was the lecture?”

Suddenly, the source of his discomfort appeared.

Alon was taken aback but quickly regained his composure.

“It was enlightening.”

“I’m glad you liked it,” Celaime nodded, seeming genuinely pleased, to which Alon asked, “But may I ask you one thing?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“I remember last time you didn’t use formal speech, so why suddenly…?”

It was as perplexing as it was uncomfortable.

Celaime smiled warmly.

“Just suddenly felt a sense of respect.”

“A sense of respect?”

“Yes.”

“Suddenly, why?”

Once again lost, Alon was about to receive an answer when a voice from behind interrupted.

“Celaime, what the heck did you do to make everyone lose their screws like that?”

Turning around, Alon saw a figure he had never met in person but knew well—Parkline Agrulus was standing there.

“Hurry up, didn’t you say you’d help with the magic this time? Aren’t you already too busy, what are you doing here?”

As Parkline approached, visibly annoyed, he soon noticed Alon.

“You are definitely—”

“It’s nice to finally meet you, Lord of the Red Tower. I am Alon Palatio.”

Alon bowed his head slightly in greeting. Parkline let out an exclamation and then said with a slightly uncomfortable expression.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. You use primitive magic?”

“Um, yes, that’s correct.”

Alon was puzzled by his reaction. However,

“I’ve heard good things indeed. You also saved my daughter in the jungle recently, didn’t you?”

“Yes, but—”

“Thank you. My daughter spoke very highly of you. Quite a lot actually, for over a week straight after returning.”

Through these words, Alon realized why he was behaving this way.

‘This man… he’s a doting father.’

Just as Parkline was about to add a few more words, suddenly,

“Stop!”

“Damn it, you scared me!”

Celaime shouted from the side,

“How dare you speak to Marquis Palatio like that! Apologize!”

“???”

Following this, Parkline was at a loss for words, with a look that seemed to ask if Celaime had finally gone mad.

“Have you lost your mind roaming around the country because of your wanderlust for magic?”

Before he could continue,

“Tower Master, may I know how long should we wait?”

A Wizard opened the door to the classroom and asked casually, then sighed heavily.

“Stop talking nonsense and come along. Keep your promises.”

Parkline turned to leave.

“Wait! Shouldn’t we finish our conversation first? Marquis, is there anything else you would like to ask?”

Indeed, Alon had something to ask.

“Speaking of which, I recently heard a rumor about the tower, and I’d like to inquire about it.”

“What rumor?”

“I heard a rumor that you, Tower Master, have approved a relationship between me and Lady Penia.”

“Ah, that rumor.”

Celaime nodded seemingly nonchalantly.

“If it’s something the Marquis wishes, I see no harm in it. It’s the right age for that, after all.”

In truth, Celaime’s thoughts were not so simple.

A union between the Marquis and Penia? It wouldn’t just be ‘no harm’; it would be perfect. But revealing such personal bias seemed inappropriate, so he said as much,

“Come on, follow me! We’re just getting started!”

Without a chance for Alon to respond, Parkline pulled Celaime away.

And then,

“See you next time, Marquis!”

Alon watching Celaime being dragged away with an unusually bright smile couldn’t help but hold his aching head.

***

Blue Moon’s regular meeting.

The Moons, who had been chattering until just moments ago, suddenly fell silent.

The face of Yutia projected on the screen was unusually serious.

“We’ve found those who tried to defame the Great Moon.”

The air rippled momentarily.

Everyone quieted down as Hidan began his report.

“I will now explain. We have been consistently tracking an organization in our area, and we’ve located several places that were sending orders to lower-tier organizations.”

“How many places?”

“A total of twenty-one, and we’ve confirmed that all of them are directly connected to the real brains behind the defamation of the Great Moon. However, we have yet to identify the ‘head’.”

After a brief silence,

“So, we just need to raid these organizations to find the bastard who tried to defame the Great Moon?”

The previously innocently smiling Seolrang flashed a fierce smile, lighting up her golden eyes,

“Where are they?”

Continuing the discussion, Rine asked,

“The locations vary. Based on the regions where the Moons reside, there are five near Caliban, five near Laksas, three near Ashtalon, and three near Lartania.”

As Hidan finished his report, Yutia’s voice echoed sharply.

“Did everyone hear that? Pass the information and start moving now.”

“Same here.”

“I’ll do the same.”

“There seem to be none in Colonia, so I’ll head to Ashtalon. We just need to kill them, right?”

“Make sure to get the information before you kill them.”

Yutia sighed lightly, easing the heavy atmosphere a bit, and then introduced another topic.

“There’s another matter.”

“Another matter?”

“What is it?”

Radan and Seolrang reacted immediately.

“It seems the Great Moon needs specialty goods for the domain. Does anyone have a good proposal?”

“Is he looking for something characteristic of the domain?”

“It seems so.”

“Me! Me me me!!” Seolrang eagerly raised her hand.

“Let’s hear it.”

“I’ll build a coliseum in the Great Moon’s domain and I’ll be the specialty product!”

“Rejected.”

“OH—”

Seolrang made a sulky face but she did not argue further.

Her idea was so off the mark that it was unclear where even to begin correcting it.

“You can’t come yourself. We all have our own orders.”

“Ugh—”

Then,

“Specialty products, isn’t it already decided?”

Deus’s confident voice cut in,

“What is it?”

“If the Marquis writes his autobiography, that solves everything.”

Another unusual suggestion sprang up.

[·······]

Despite other Moons making faces that suggested this was a bit too much, Deus seemed lost in thought, oblivious to the reactions around him.

“A self-written autobiography by him… that would be interesting. Like a classic novel, maybe I could even co-author to make sure it’s—”

By now, Deus was deep in his own considerations, and the other Moons, accustomed to his behavior, let him be and moved on with the agenda.

“Specialty products.”

Behind Seolrang’s dissatisfied voice, Radan, stroking his chin thoughtfully, spoke up.

“I have a not-so-bad idea about this. Let me handle it.”

“What is it?”

“Since none of us are particularly good at that kind of thing, how about we bring in someone who is?”

“Is there such a person?”

“Yes, I’ve recently met someone.”

Radan smiled slyly.

Meanwhile, in the alleys of Laksas,

“!?”

“Brother? Why are you shivering all of a sudden?”

“It’s like a sudden chill came over me.”

Ever since being dragged off by Radan and nearly dying, only to return and savor life twice as joyously as before, Alexion the Appraiser was suddenly struck by an unknown chill.

“What’s that?”

Filled with unease, he looked out the window.

…There, the Blue Moon was shining.

***

At that moment.

Having seen the rising moon, Alon immediately set out to learn magic and greeted,

“Good day.”

“Welcome.”

He encountered Heinkel in the library bathed in blue moonlight.

“Now, the thing you requested.”

Her face looked remarkably better than when they had met the day before.

Despite sensing an odd tension, Alon prompted,

[Call them once.]

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

Following his words, Alon summoned Basiliora just as he had before by channeling magic into the pattern, and soon, Basiliora appeared.

“I will never act up again, I’m sorry, so please, I beg you, spare me from the fist-bending, aaaaahhh!”

Seeing the somewhat broken Basiliora,

“Ah, ah-ah-ah! I’m alive. I’m alive, I’m alive, I’m alive, I’m alive!! I’ll do as you say! I’ll do anything you want, just subjugation or whatever, just please save me~!”

Hearing the desperate cries of the little snake, Alon was momentarily shocked.

[How about that, it worked out, right?]

“Yes, it seems so.”

Smiling, Heinkel made a comment, and Alon broke out in a cold sweat.

Somehow, he felt a little scared.