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Chapter 243: Lloyd Schultz (1)

Most of his conversations with the Emperor weren’t about trivial memories but rather about future plans.

“Oh, and you’ll be joining the Shadow Trackers.”

“The Shadow Trackers?”

Oscar blinked in surprise at the sudden statement.

“Is this related to the task Your Majesty wants me to take on?”

“Exactly. A hole has formed in the grand net known as the Shadow Trackers.”

“A hole, you say…?”

“Turncoats have started to appear.”

Turncoats—traitors to humanity.

No matter what word you used, Oscar scowled at the thought of such vile beings.

“Is that even structurally possible?”

“Of course not. One of the conditions for joining the Shadow Trackers is signing a Pact Scroll.”

“Then there must be a problem with the vow system managed by the Order.”

“More accurately, it seems our enemies have found a way to neutralize that system.”

Oscar had heard about the Shadow Trackers from both Nebula Grime and Sasha.

They were the Empire’s shadow, hunting down evil beings like demons and the Black Fingers and eliminating them.

“This is the worst-case scenario. We can't even fully trust our own. Wait… could it be?”

Oscar instinctively felt he understood what the Emperor was getting at.

“You need someone who can track enemies while also watching our own people. Ideally, a fresh face who’s not known to be close to the Emperor.”

“You’re quick to catch on.”

The Emperor nodded with a satisfied smile.

“I’ll provide everything you need. Just say the word.”

“People.”

Oscar responded without hesitation.

“People, you say?”

“Yes. I need people I can trust and use as my hands and feet.”

“Do you have someone like that…? Ah, you mean those around you?”

“Since waking up in the infirmary, I’ve been nurturing a few seedlings—watering them, changing their soil.”

He was, of course, referring to Killian, Fran, and Veronica.

He had already worked with them on several special missions and knew how well they matched his tempo.

The Emperor nodded slowly.

“Seedlings raised by your own hand… I look forward to meeting them.”

“They’re still far from being impressive, but they’ve got potential.”

“Good. I’ll look forward to seeing them with my own eyes. Bring them with you to the Substitute War, and I’ll arrange for them to join the Shadow Trackers.”

That would ensure he could keep them under his care going forward.

Once the conversation died down, the Emperor—lost in thought—asked a question.

“…Didn’t you once say you had no intention of leaving the Wind Archive to the White Tower?”

“I did back then.”

It wasn’t because of any grand reason.

“No one else could use it properly, and I didn’t want it to become a meaningless high-tier spell just gathering dust…”

“Is it because of Sasha?”

“Yes. I didn’t want to become a shameless teacher who steals from their own student.”

As expected, the Emperor gave a soft chuckle at the answer.

“To be honest, I wish you would lead the White Tower again.”

“Sorry, but that won’t happen.”

At his firm rejection, the Emperor immediately dropped the idea.

He knew how stubborn Oscar could be.

“You’re still such a hopeless student-lover.”

“People don’t change that easily. And you, Your Majesty—you’re still the same, just with a few more wrinkles.”

“…That many?”

“It’s been 21 years. Of course there are.”

After wrapping up their heavy conversation, they shared a brief moment of playful banter.

Then, in a more serious tone, the Emperor spoke again.

“Gilliot, was it? I’ll send someone to track down your second disciple.”

“…Thank you for the consideration.”

He had no idea where the guy was or what he was doing.

If he had become a disciple of another Tower Master like Lloyd, maybe they would’ve at least crossed paths.

Oscar let out a deep sigh—and the Emperor handed him a slip of paper.

“This is a direct line to contact me. It’s a private network installed by the Imperial Family, so there’s no need to worry about eavesdropping.”

Giving this meant the Emperor wanted him to report anything important immediately.

Oscar grinned as he tucked the note away.

“This feels pretty nice. I suddenly have the strongest backing in the Empire.”

“Then let’s call today my victory.”

The Emperor smiled in the same way and replied,

“I’ve gained the strongest trump card in the world, after all.”

* * *

Returning to the White Tower was instantaneous.

He used a portal with the Tower mages that Sasha had gathered in an open space.

“Was that spatial magic?”

“Whoa… I like airships, but imagine if this were commercialized.”

“If possible, it’d be amazing. You could travel across the continent in a day.”

The mages who were seeing spatial magic for the first time couldn’t hide their amazement at its overwhelming convenience.

For a moment, eyes filled with admiration and envy turned toward Oscar.

Then, some familiar faces approached him.

“Oscar! Congratulations on your Oscar Award!”

Maxim, with hands as big as pot lids, wrapped Oscar in a bear hug and shouted gleefully.

Feeling like he was being hugged by a bear, Oscar responded,

“Thank you.”

“And that’s not all—congrats on inheriting your predecessor’s high-tier spell!”

Elder Fidelina congratulated him as well, and Oscar bowed.

“Thank y—urk.”

“What are you thanking me for? And hey, let go already. The kid’s suffocating.”

“Oh, sorry.”

As Maxim released the hug, only then did the cool air rush into Oscar’s lungs.

Watching the orderly procession of mages entering the White Tower, Oscar asked,

“Elder Maxim, nothing happened while I was gone, right?”

“Of course not. Everything’s been perfect lately.”

“What about Elder Fidelina?”

“Thanks to the potion and delivery divisions, our income is stable now. Nothing too troubling anymore—at most, she worries about whether we can save a few extra coins from minor leaks.”

“Sounds like a good problem to have.”

There were few things more reassuring than hearing that the Tower was without issues.

Seven months had passed since Oscar opened his eyes in the body of the young boy.

Only now did it feel like he was beginning to shed the burdens of his past life.

“Oh, and… hmm, never mind.”

That infuriating way of speaking again.

Oscar, now feeling a sudden tightness in his chest, asked,

“What is it?”

“I wasn’t sure if I should bring it up… but now that I think about it, maybe it’s fine? It’s not like it’s anything huge.”

Fidelina shrugged.

“I was reviewing the overall cash flow recently, and I noticed something strange.”

“Something strange?”

“Yeah. Do you remember what the Tower was like before you started the potion division?”

“It wasn’t even that long ago. It was awful.”

At Oscar’s blunt words, she made a sour face.

“...Yeah, I can’t exactly argue with that. It was the worst. We couldn’t even send proper support funds to members working outside, the Tower cafeteria was watering down canned soup to stretch the broth, even soaking beans… I don’t know how we survived when I think about it now.”

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“……”

So that’s the secret behind that god-awful soup.

Staggered by the revelation of such a universal truth, Oscar asked,

“But why bring up that time now?”

“The only reason the Tower didn’t collapse back then was thanks to donations.”

“Oh, right. Donations.”

More people than expected sent support to the Tower—

Some did it individually, others through businesses or noble families, and occasionally even lords.

“We owe them a lot.”

“Exactly. And remember this—never forget the people who helped you in hard times. If someone shows you kindness, you should know how to return it. That’s why, now that the Tower has a stable income, I wanted to send them plaques of appreciation and some small gifts.”

“Hmm.”

Oscar nodded instinctively.

You must never forget those who helped you during hardships.

“But… I can’t reach them.”

“Huh?”

Oscar blinked, unable to grasp the context.

“What do you mean you can’t reach them? Did they all go missing?”

“No. I mean it literally—I can’t get in touch with them. And not just one or two, but dozens.”

If they’re unreachable, can’t you just go to them in person?

Oscar asked.

“From what I know, unless the donations were anonymous, there should be addresses, right?”

“Right. So we sent people to those addresses, but guess what—those individuals or companies who used to send donations? They’re either dead or bankrupt. Now, only unrelated people live at those addresses, completely unaware of any donations.”

“……”

Oscar, too, wore a puzzled expression.

After all, what is a donation if not a gesture done out of hope to help someone?

Sure, some donors prefer to stay anonymous or hide their identities.

But that’s what the ‘anonymous’ option is for.

“That is strange. If they didn’t want their identity known, they could’ve just donated anonymously.”

“Exactly! This isn’t some criminal act—why go through the trouble of using fake addresses to donate?”

Now it made sense why Fidelina hesitated to bring this up.

There was no solution to offer—just another person to puzzle over it.

“Any common traits among them? Like the date the donations started, or the amount?”

“Not a single one. They’re all over the place. If they had all started donating recently, that might’ve explained it… but some were doing it over a hundred years ago. That’s what makes it weirder.”

It truly was bizarre.

As the two spoke, Maxim, who had been quietly listening, offered a thought.

“Could it be another arrangement made by the former Tower Master?”

“Oh… that’s actually possible.”

“Maybe he wanted to leave funds behind over decades so his successors wouldn’t spend recklessly.”

“You really think that’s true?”

“He was a man of great depth.”

“……”

‘Sorry… I wasn’t that deep.’

As Oscar gave an awkward chuckle, a mage came running toward them, holding a document.

“B-breaking news!”

“Breaking news?”

“What is it?”

Fidelina and Oscar leaned in as Maxim accepted the document.

After reading what was written, all three of their expressions changed.

[Red Tower’s Lloyd Schultz has succeeded in ascending to Level 8.]

“Hmm.”

“Ugh, what now.”

Maxim let out a long breath, while Fidelina openly clicked her tongue in annoyance.

“Well, at least our Tower Master reached Level 8 first.”

“You guys seriously treat this like a competition?”

“Better than letting a traitor beat us, don’t you think?”

“It’s not even you who reached Level 8. Why are you so happy?”

“Shut up. It’s a pride thing.”

Ignoring the two as they bickered, Oscar stared at the document for a long moment.

‘Level 8, huh.’

When he last encountered Lloyd beneath the mountain range, he hadn’t seemed much different than he was on the western front.

That meant Lloyd had already been capable of reaching Level 8 at any time.

‘Maybe he just hadn’t crossed the threshold until now…’

Still, the timing was too convenient.

Only two days after witnessing Sasha reach Level 8, Lloyd ascended as well?

Too coincidental to dismiss as random.

While Oscar was lost in thought—

“B-breaking news! Emergency report just now!”

Another mage came running, waving a document in the air.

Fidelina crossed her arms and scoffed.

“If this is about that traitor again, we already got the message.”

“Uh… it is, but… this just came in!”

“If it’s just more about him reaching Level 8, someone already brought tha—”

As she muttered and accepted the document, her expression shifted instantly.

“…What is this?”

Muttering in disbelief, she stared at the paper.

Oscar and Maxim approached and looked over her shoulder.

[Emergency Report]

[Lloyd Schultz issued Special-Class Wanted Order]

[Crime: Attempted Murder of Red Tower Master]

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