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Chapter 287: The Primordial Evil (2)

“No.”

Right after returning to the White Tower with the problem children,

Oscar brought up the subject of the expedition, only to be rejected immediately by Sasha.

‘Didn’t see that coming.’

He hadn’t expected Sasha to turn down such a golden opportunity.

Taken aback, Oscar swallowed dryly and tried to persuade her.

“Think carefully. We can gain three major benefits from this expedition. First—”

“The airship will get plenty of publicity, the Tower’s prestige will rise, and our relations with the Church will improve. You think I don’t know that?”

“Then why say no?”

“Because you’re not taking me!”

Sasha’s cheeks puffed up in full-blown sulk.

“Why are you taking Senior Brother instead of me? Am I not trustworthy enough?”

…That’s the problem?

Oscar blinked in disbelief.

“Well, you’re the Tower Master.”

“Then I won’t be Tower Master anymore!”

“…….”

So this is what it feels like when your kid throws a tantrum about not wanting to go to school.

With a faint sigh, Oscar’s eyes hardened.

‘No choice then. I swore I’d never use this method again… but—’

Come forth, Hellish Cane.

His voice turned cold and formal.

“Sasha Maestro.”

“……!”

Her already-large eyes grew even wider.

Terrified, she squeaked out a reply.

“Y-yes, Master?”

“Did I ever tell you why the Tower Master’s room is at the very top?”

“No, sir…”

“It’s not so you can look down on others and do whatever you want. It’s so you can look out over everyone, to help and support them when things are hard.”

His narrowed eyes fixed on her.

“The Tower Master doesn’t have to be the strongest. Or the smartest. But she must have the strongest sense of responsibility. And what did you just say? You won’t be Tower Master anymore?”

“Th-that was just a joke…! I didn’t mean it!”

“Hmph.”

Sasha fidgeted nervously with her fingers, terrified she’d be scolded further.

Ever since she was little, hearing her full name in that stern tone always scared her.

‘Guess I’ll stop here for today.’

Oscar softened his expression and nodded.

“All right. But don’t even joke like that again.”

“Okay…”

Her head drooped as she bit her lip.

Tears threatened to spill, she hadn’t meant anything bad.

‘I just wanted to joke around a bit since I feel comfortable with Master…’

She hadn’t expected to get scolded like that.

If she’d known, she would never have said it.

Even biting her lip hard couldn’t stop her eyes from reddening.

“W-wait, why are you crying?”

“Ee-uh-uh-eehh hhuuhffhh-huhuhhhfhhhuhhh!”

“…….”

His heart dropped and a cold sweat spread down his back.

He hadn’t even scolded her harshly—why was she crying?

And what on earth was she saying?

‘“I just wanted to…”? No, not outrageous… ah—affectionate? She just wanted to be affectionate with me?’

His brain went into overdrive and found the right answer.

Oscar quickly began patting her back gently.

“Ahh, I see. Our little Sasha just wanted to be affectionate with her Master.”

“Sniff.”

“But then your Master didn’t realize it and got all serious, so you felt sad, right?”

“Sniff… yes…”

Oscar summoned a few tissues with magic and held one to her nose.

“Here, blow. Blow!”

“……Hff!”

She blew her nose loudly, then looked away, embarrassed when their eyes met.

“All done crying?”

“I—I wasn’t crying!”

“Then what’s that running down your cheeks, sweat?”

“Khih!”

Even she started giggling at how ridiculous it sounded.

Oscar leaned back with a sigh.

“Whew. It’s been a while since I’ve had to comfort a crying disciple. Caught me off guard.”

“Sorry…”

“No, no. It was a refreshing experience.”

Never in his life had he imagined he’d end up consoling a crying Tower Master.

“If Lloyd or Gilliot saw you, they’d tease you nonstop. ‘Crybaby Sasha.’”

“I’m not a crybaby anymore!”

Her indignant protest only made her puffed-up eyes funnier.

“Go look in the mirror and say that again. Even your reflection wouldn’t believe you.”

“Hee-ing.”

“Anyway, about the expedition, there’s a reason I’m taking Lloyd.”

“What reason?”

“He abandoned the magic he’d practiced for over twenty years. Even if he won’t admit it, his head must be a mess. Sometimes, the best cure is to clear your mind in the field.”

“Aha.”

Sasha nodded slightly, understanding.

“…When you say it like that, it just makes me look petty.”

“Hm? You weren’t already?”

“Ugh, I said I wasn’t!”

Yup.

Teasing Sasha never gets old.

“So, you’re giving your approval for the expedition?”

“Do I even get a say? You’ll decide everything anyway.”

“Still, if the Tower Master says jump, we jump.”

“Tch.”

Reluctantly, she nodded.

“All right, I get it. But next time, I want to travel with you too.”

“…It’s not exactly a trip, but sure.”

“You’re going to see Senior Brother now?”

“Yeah. Need to discuss some expedition details.”

Sasha grinned mischievously as she grabbed her coat.

“Then I’m coming too.”

“Why?”

“To watch.”

“To… watch?”

Oscar tilted his head in confusion.

* * *

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“Oh.”

Oscar’s eyes widened as soon as he arrived at the garden.

Lloyd looked strangely different, even from afar.

“You’re here.”

He stood up from tending to the flowers, smiling gently.

“…You cut your hair?”

“Yes. A fresh start calls for a fresh look.”

“Anyone hearing that would think you just got out of prison.”

Once waist-length, Lloyd’s hair was now neatly cropped.

But what drew Oscar’s attention most were his eyes—

his right eye, now uncovered.

“…Looks good. Must feel less stuffy too.”

“Yes. My eyesight actually recovered when I reached Level 8.”

That made sense.

At such a level, a mage’s body reconstructed itself, repairing almost all damage.

But even after that, Lloyd had continued to wear the eyepatch.

“I used to look at that eyepatch every morning, remember the pain of losing my eye, and steel my resolve to survive. But… I don’t need that anymore.”

It seemed Lloyd had finally found peace.

Oscar smiled warmly and patted his shoulder.

“Congratulations. Not joking—you look five years younger.”

“Thank you.”

Then Lloyd hesitated, before adding quietly,

“It’s always been you, Master. Every time I’ve changed for the better, it’s because of you.”

“Hmm, that’s awfully sentimental. But yeah, that’s what Masters are for.”

Even now, when both his disciples had surpassed him in rank,

it felt good to still have that role.

Just then, Lloyd glanced toward the garden gate and spoke.

“You can come out now.”

“Heheh.”

Sasha awkwardly stood up from behind a giant flower she’d been hiding behind.

“You saw me?”

“Now that I can see from my right eye, yeah.”

Their relationship seemed much smoother these days.

‘Well, Lloyd always did care for his juniors.’

And Sasha, when it came to people she liked, was practically radiating friendliness.

Then Lloyd’s brow twitched.

“You… were crying? Who made you cry? Why?”

Oscar almost raised his hand but quickly lowered it again.

That voice and expression were cold.

Admitting it would probably get him killed.

“Ah, it’s nothing. Master scolded me a little… hehe.”

“Oh, that’s all.”

Lloyd’s face instantly softened, voice light.

“If Master scolded you, you must’ve done something wrong.”

“I know that! But hearing it still annoys me.”

“Your eyes are so puffy you look ugly.”

“Shut up!”

Nice.

Watching them bicker so naturally made Oscar smile.

‘If Gilliot were here, this would’ve been even livelier.’

Then Lloyd, as if reading his mind, said quietly,

“He’ll be fine. No matter where he goes, he’s not the type to die easily.”

“…True. Maybe I should send a search party.”

“A search party, maybe not. But a searcher? There already is one.”

“Hm? Someone’s tracking Gilliot?”

Sasha nodded.

“A Captain named Chester. You probably know him, Master.”

“Wait—Chester? As in Chester Landus?”

“That’s right.”

It had been ages since Oscar last heard that name.

Chester Landus.

In his previous life, he was the adopted son of Deputy Tower Master Marlon.

Since awakening in this body, Oscar had never once heard of him again—

he’d assumed Chester had left the Tower.

“He’s still affiliated with the White Tower?”

“Yes. Mostly handles outside assignments, but whenever he has time, he searches for Second Brother’s trail.”

“But with his experience, he could easily serve as a Council Elder. Why hasn’t he…?”

“Well…”

Sasha hesitated before continuing softly:

“I’ve asked him several times, but he keeps refusing. Says he has to honor your final wish.”

“My… final wish? Did I have one?”

“They say you didn’t take him along on the Night of Purge—the hunt for the Great Emperor.”

“Ah, right.”

Back then, Chester had only just reached Level 6.

Oscar could have taken him, but chose not to.

‘Partly because he was Marlon’s foster son…’

But mostly, because he was too young.

Barely twenty-four, too young, too bright, too promising to throw into a death mission.

‘What excuse did I give him again…?’

After a moment of recollection, Oscar murmured:

“Got it. I told him to stay behind and protect you all, my disciples.”

“Yes. But since Junior Brother left the Tower… he’s been blaming himself, saying he failed your last order.”

“……”

All that—over something so small?

How foolishly earnest.

Oscar’s mouth twisted bitterly as he pictured that young face.

“Sasha, once this expedition ends, summon him back to the Tower. I want to see him.”

“Does that mean… you’ll reveal yourself to him?”

“If he didn’t know, that’s one thing. But knowing and still suffering outside? I can’t allow that.”

Lloyd and Sasha exchanged glances.

After a moment, both nodded, clearly trusting Chester’s loyalty.

“I remember him too,”

Said Lloyd.

“His devotion to you was remarkable.”

“Yeah, if it’s Captain Chester, he’s trustworthy. I’ll arrange it after we return. Though honestly, knowing him, he’ll probably refuse and keep wandering.”

“I think so too.”

Oscar shrugged.

“Then I’ll just have to meet him myself.”

After that, the three wrapped up their discussion about the expedition,

and publicly announced the airship’s departure date to the Heavenly Sword House and the Temple of the High Gods.

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