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?”

Even though she’d heard it with her own ears, 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 their future successors who would inherit their will, such as Penia. This made him very popular among the Wizards of other towers. He was someone who never hesitated to freely offer advice and instruction.

However, even the kind Celaime held great authority and pride in his magic. An incident where he completely overwhelmed 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 had also been an occasion when the Green Tower master challenged Celaime’s lecture, leading to a three-day forced debate until the Green Tower master finally conceded defeat.

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

Turning her gaze, she saw that the other Wizards were just as bewildered and, once she confirmed she wasn’t mistaken, they all 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 particularly 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, wondering whether to ask or not, hesitated—only to be invited in.

“Ah, please come in.”

“Is that really okay?”

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

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

“Please sit here.”

“I can just stand at the back...”

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

Thanks to Celaime’s over-the-top 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 had been the right choice. In terms of magic, he had gained a lot. However, if someone asked whether he wanted to attend another of Celaime’s lectures, that would be difficult.

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

Even putting aside the glares, what about the laughter...?

Alon thought back to earlier, to the burdensome smile Celaime had given him, a smile that seemed to carry some hidden agenda, and he left 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 said with a genuinely pleased nod.

“But may I ask you one thing?” Alon added.

“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.

“I 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 spoke 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 very good things, actually. 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.”

From those 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!”

“???”

Parkline was left speechless, wearing a look that practically asked whether Celaime had finally gone mad.

“Have you lost your mind, wandering around the country chasing your magical wanderlust?”

Before he could continue—

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

A Wizard opened the classroom door 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 nonchalant.

“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 °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° would be perfect. But saying something so personal felt inappropriate, so instead he left it at that.

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

Without a chance for Alon to respond, Parkline grabbed Celaime and dragged him away.

And then—

“See you next time, Marquis!”

Watching Celaime being pulled away with an unusually bright smile, Alon could only 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 seemed to ripple for a moment.

Everyone quieted down as Hidan began his report.

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

“How many sites?”

“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 still haven’t identified 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 grin, her golden eyes lighting up.

“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 Raksas, three near Ashtalon, and three near Lartania.”

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

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

“Same here.”

“I’ll do the same.”

“There don’t seem to be any in the Colony, so I’ll head to Ashtalon. We just need to kill them, right?”

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

Yutia let out a light sigh, easing the heavy atmosphere a bit, and then brought up 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 didn’t argue further.

Her idea was so off the mark it was hard to know where to even begin correcting it.

“You can’t go 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 appeared.

[·······]

Even though the other Moons made faces as if to say this was a bit too much, Deus seemed lost in thought, oblivious to their reactions.

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

By this point, Deus was already deep in his own considerations, and the other Moons, accustomed to his behavior, simply 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 Raksas—

“!?”

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

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

Ever since he had been dragged off by Radan, nearly died, then returned and started savoring life twice as much as before, Alexion the Appraiser was suddenly struck by an inexplicable 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 a strange tension, Alon prompted,

[Call them once.]

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

Following those words, Alon summoned Basiliora just as he had before, 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 stunned.

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

“Yes, it seems so.”

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

For some reason, he felt a little scared.