The magician who was constantly called incompetent is actually the strongest in the world, but was imprisoned and didn't realize it Volume 1 Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Magical Metropolis

"Truly worthy of being called the Magical Metropolis. Plutone City pales in comparison."

The moment they stepped through the city gates, a breathtaking scene unfolded before their eyes.

The streets teemed with crowds, lined with vendors whose shopkeepers shouted energetically to attract customers.

"Amazing. It’s not just the sheer number of people—there’s such a variety of races too."

The Magical Metropolis—the capital of the Magic Association and the gathering place of the world’s greatest talents.

The center of the world.

In Plutone City, aside from the towering spire, there wasn’t a single building over three stories tall.

But here in the Magical Metropolis, numerous buildings soared five stories or more, standing side by side.

The iconic Tower of Babel, the city’s symbol, reached over eighty floors—and astonishingly, it was said to still be under construction. Though everything paled in comparison to that tower, the first visit to the Magical Metropolis was endlessly fascinating.

"No wonder they call it the greatest city in the world. I was just as awestruck the first time I came here. Elves and dark elves are a common sight too," Karen said, her eyes narrowing with nostalgia as she watched the two newcomers marvel at the sights.

Then, as if recalling something, she patted Julia’s shoulder as they walked side by side.

"Oh, right, Big Sis! I heard Father and his old retainers managed to escape to another country."

"Is that so…? That’s a relief," Julia replied, a shadow briefly crossing her face. Amid her joy, there was a trace of sadness.

But she quickly masked it with a casual smile.

"More importantly, I want to hear about you, Karen. How’s your promotion going?"

"Just a few days ago, I advanced to the fourth rank, ‘Ophanim’! Only two more ranks to go before I can challenge the Demon Lords at the second rank."

"That’s incredible! As expected of you, Karen!"

The Magic Association operated on a system of ranks known as "Tiers," twelve in total.

Those who reached the second tier, "Seraphim," earned the right to challenge the Demon Lords who reigned over the first tier, "Lucifer."

To become a Demon Lord, neither status nor lineage mattered. One only needed to contribute to the Magic Association and prove their strength.

Even the mightiest of the current Demon Lords, Shurahat, hailed from commoner roots.

Since most commoners were born with little to no magical talent, his rise to Demon Lord was an extraordinary rarity in the modern world.

"I recall the current Demon Lords are considered the strongest in history, right?" Julia asked.

"Exactly. That’s what makes them worth challenging," Karen replied.

A Demon Lord who lost to a challenger would forfeit their title. The fact that the current Demon Lords remained undefeated spoke volumes of their power.

Thanks to the rule of these twelve formidable Demon Lords, the Magic Association wielded immense influence.

(The Demon Lords shouldn’t be a concern… but from what I know, several of the Twenty-Four Councilors have ties to foreign nations,) Ars thought to himself.

The Twenty-Four Council consisted entirely of second-tier "Seraphim"—those who couldn’t ascend to Demon Lord status or had been dethroned from it.

Wherever power existed, people naturally flocked together and formed factions.

This was especially true for those in middling positions, harboring dark ambitions deep within.

"We’re here," Karen’s voice snapped Ars out of his musings.

It seemed they’d reached their destination while he’d been lost in thought.

"This is our guild’s headquarters!"

"Ours…?" Julia tilted her head, clearly hearing this for the first time.

"Huh? Didn’t I tell you, Big Sis?" Karen asked.

"The last time we exchanged letters, you only mentioned saving up money…" Julia replied.

"Oh, right~ I guess Big Sis didn’t know. I should’ve kept it a secret longer to surprise you," Karen sighed dramatically, looking up at the sky in mock regret. Julia, meanwhile, smiled warmly, her eyes crinkling with amusement.

"Hehe, too bad. So you managed to buy it after all?"

"Yep! We all pitched in to buy the guild headquarters together!"

"That’s wonderful. Congratulations!"

"And it’s not just a base. My guild also runs a tavern here."

"A tavern…? Oh, Karen running a tavern? I didn’t know you drank," Julia said, surprised.

"Oh, Big Sis, you’re so naive… You don’t need to drink to run a tavern," Karen teased.

"Is that so…? I thought you’d have to pour drinks for the customers and chat with them over drinks."

"That’s a different kind of place, Big Sis. We just serve food and drinks here. Oh, though we do get the occasional clueless idiot now and then—we politely show them the door."

Ars wasn’t entirely sure how "polite" Karen’s methods were. When she said that last part, he caught a faint whiff of menace in her tone. She likely had her own way of dealing with troublesome patrons.

"Still, it’s surprising. I never imagined Karen would run a place like this…" Julia remarked.

"Running a guild costs money. That’s why I decided to open a tavern," Karen explained.

Though affiliated with the Magic Association, that didn’t mean they received funding from it. Whether it was maintaining the guild or covering living expenses, they had to earn their own keep.

"Is that so? Then I’ll have to pitch in and help too," Julia said with determination.

"Mm-hmm, that’s the spirit! I’ll definitely ask for your help someday, Big Sis. But first, you’ll need to get used to the Magical Metropolis," Karen replied encouragingly.

As the two sisters chatted warmly, Ars turned his gaze back to the establishment.

A tavern bearing the sign Lantern Sisters.

Though the guild’s name had hinted at it, they clearly had no intention of hiding their connection to the Virte Kingdom.

"Lantern Sisters, huh? I think it’s a pretty good name," Ars commented.

"Right? It’s mine and Big Sis’s shop!" Karen beamed.

Wasn’t this supposed to be the guild headquarters? Ars thought about pointing that out but swallowed the remark.

"Come on, you two, don’t just stand there gawking—come inside!" Karen urged, opening the door with practiced ease. The pair followed her into the tavern. Perhaps it was a rest day, as only a few staff members were present, with no customers in sight. The place lacked the lively bustle one might expect from a tavern.

As Ars cast his eyes toward the interior, a woman emerged from the shadows, her figure illuminated by the tavern’s lights.

Like the other staff, she wore a long skirt paired with a maid outfit adorned with cute frills. Perhaps due to her blue hair and matching blue eyes, she exuded an air of cool detachment—a strikingly beautiful woman.

Her skin was as pale as a porcelain doll, complementing her features so perfectly she could have stepped out of a religious painting as a goddess. Yet the faint veins visible beneath her snowy complexion confirmed her humanity, each subtle movement affirming her vitality. Even so, she gave off an otherworldly impression, as if she existed on the boundary between reality and fantasy.

"Welcome back, Karen-sama," she said in a dispassionate tone before bowing deeply to Julia.

"Your Highness Julia, I’m relieved to see you safe and sound."

"Elsa, it’s been a while!" Julia exclaimed warmly.

"Yes, two years and three months, to be precise… And this is?" Elsa’s gaze shifted to Ars.

"I’m Ars. I ended up coming to the Magical Metropolis with Julia due to certain circumstances. Nice to meet you," he replied, introducing himself casually.

Elsa’s delicate eyebrows twitched slightly at his informal use of Julia’s name.

That subtle reaction alone wasn’t enough to gauge the nuances of her emotions.

"…I see. I’m Elsa," she responded after a brief pause, though what exactly she’d understood remained unclear. With that, their short introductions concluded.

Ars and Elsa locked eyes, staring at each other intently.

There was no trace of warmth or affection in their gazes.

As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, Julia stepped in to break the silence.

"Elsa, it was Ars who saved me," she announced cheerfully, despite no one having asked.

Elsa remained silent, merely tilting her head to listen, nodding quietly several times. Watching the two of them, their dynamic felt less like that of a master and servant and more like old friends reuniting after a long separation.

"Elsa used to be Big Sis’s handmaid," Karen whispered to Ars, having sidled up to him at some point.

"I see. No wonder they seem so close—they must get along well," Ars observed.

"Elsa really looks up to Big Sis. But when Big Sis found out I was coming to the Magical Metropolis, she was worried, so she sent Elsa to accompany me. Now she’s an indispensable part of the guild’s operations," Karen explained.

"…She certainly doesn’t seem like an ordinary handmaid," Ars noted.

Every gesture, every step she took was precise, without a single wasted motion. Even as she conversed with Julia, there wasn’t the slightest opening in her demeanor.

If someone attacked her in this very moment, she’d likely respond instantly with the poise of a seasoned veteran.

"From cooking and laundry to managing the guild and running the tavern, she’s practically perfect," Karen boasted.

Then what do you do? Ars nearly asked but held his tongue.

"I see… There are several staff members here too—or rather, bodyguards?" he ventured.

Even to an outsider, it was clear the staff, while not on Elsa’s level, were well-trained individuals.

If pitted against the magic knights Ars had encountered, they’d likely come out on top with ease.

"They’re not ordinary staff or bodyguards. They’re called Schüler," Karen clarified.

"Schüler?" Ars echoed.

"The guild leader is called Lehrer—‘teacher’—and the members are Schüler—‘students.’" 

(Translator’s note: These are German terms for "teacher" and "student," respectively.)

"So you’re running the tavern as a guild?" Ars asked.

"With a few exceptions, most guilds in the Magical Metropolis operate this way. It’s like a family. In contrast, Demon Lords are assigned territories and live like kings," Karen explained.

Midway through their conversation, Julia and Elsa finished their chat and approached with Elsa in tow.

"Thank you for saving Her Highness Julia," Elsa said, bowing respectfully before raising her head.

"It’s hardly a proper reward, but I’ll prepare a meal. I hope you’ll enjoy it."

"That’s more than I could ask for. I’m looking forward to it," Ars replied.

Though he had no evidence, he felt certain Elsa’s cooking would be exceptional.

"Then please wait a moment," Elsa said with a slight nod before vanishing into the shadows at the back of the tavern.

"Have a seat," one of the female Schüler said, bringing over a chair for him.

"Ah, thank you," Ars said.

"Please take your time," the female Schüler replied with a slight bow, picking up a broom and heading toward the stairs leading to the second floor.

Ars watched her retreating figure before settling into the chair she’d prepared for him.

"Oh, wait a sec! Elsa, I’ll help too!" Julia called out.

"If Big Sis is helping, then I’ll pitch in too—it’s been a while since I last showed off my skills," Karen added.

Julia and Karen hurried after Elsa, disappearing into the back of the tavern.

However, they returned shortly after, heads hanging low.

"She scolded me, saying I should focus on entertaining the guests," Julia said dejectedly.

"She told me I’d just get in the way. Isn’t that a bit rude?" Karen grumbled.

"Hehe, same old Karen," Julia chuckled.

"I’ve improved, okay? I’ve even learned how to wash vegetables!" Karen protested.

As expected of sisters, their culinary skills seemed to be on par—or rather, equally lacking.

Ars silently thanked Elsa for kicking them out of the kitchen.

With nothing to do but wait for the food, the three of them naturally fell into conversation to pass the time. Karen turned to Ars with a question.

"By the way, Ars, what’s your Talent?"

"It’s [Hearing]," Julia answered eagerly before Ars could respond, puffing out her chest with pride.

Ars gave her a wry smile before elaborating, "It’s just a Talent that gives me good hearing."

"[Hearing]? Just good hearing…?" Karen repeated, tilting her head in confusion.

"Well, there are some odd Talents out there from time to time, but [Hearing] is a new one even for me… Superior hearing… Is that something you can use for magic?" she asked skeptically.

"There are countless types of Talents, including rare ones or bloodline-specific ones, so I ‘hear’ them and research slowly," Ars explained.

"That’s true. Even a rare Talent like Big Sis’s [Light] hasn’t seen much research progress," Karen nodded.

"That’s why I don’t think it’s strange that [Hearing] could be used for magic. I saw him use it with my own eyes—there’s no doubt about it," Julia chimed in confidently.

"Well… that does make sense… but [Hearing], huh? That’s a pretty unusual Talent," Karen mused, nodding thoughtfully several times before turning her gaze back to Ars.

"Being able to hear better than most people must be tough, right?"

"Not really…" Ars replied.

As a child, he’d indeed grown weary of the cacophony of sounds his [Hearing] picked up. But perhaps because he’d been confined, limiting the range of noises around him, it had only ever been mildly annoying. In a strange way, he might owe his father some gratitude for that.

"I used to think it was a terrible environment, but looking back now, it might’ve been the best setting for me," he said, only realizing after the words left his mouth that he hadn’t quite answered Karen’s question.

She didn’t seem to mind, though. Her red eyes softened with a gentle glow.

"Hmm… I don’t really get it, but don’t let it weigh on you too much," she said kindly.

"Exactly. For now, let’s just look forward to Elsa’s cooking," Julia declared, clapping her hands together to dispel the somber mood.

"Oh yeah, Elsa’s food is delicious. You’re in for a treat," Karen added with a grin.

From their exchange, it was clear both sisters were kind-hearted, always thinking of others. Though they seemed like opposites—one lively, one calm—they were unmistakably siblings, their similarities shining through.

"Sorry to keep you waiting," Elsa announced as she emerged, carrying large platters in both hands.

The dishes set on the table looked utterly mouthwatering.

There were bite-sized skewers of grilled beef, a golden vegetable stew, flour-coated fried chicken, thin wraps stuffed with ingredients, and several other dishes Ars had never seen before.

"My apologies—these are just tavern fare, but they should taste decent," Elsa said modestly.

"Not at all. Every dish looks delicious—I can’t wait to try them," Ars replied sincerely.

Compared to the meager rations of his confinement or Julia’s cooking, this was a world apart.

"Can I dig in?" he asked eagerly.

"Of course, please help yourself," Elsa permitted.

With her approval, Ars reached happily for the meat.

He popped a beef skewer into his mouth, and the juices burst forth immediately. The grilling was perfectly timed, the texture succulent and satisfying, though the flavor was a touch mild.

It was likely a considerate choice on Elsa’s part, adjusting the seasoning for Ars and Julia after their long, exhausting escape to the Magical Metropolis. While Ars preferred bolder flavors, complaining about such a trivial detail—or failing to appreciate Elsa’s thoughtfulness—would be ungracious. The polite thing, he decided, was to finish every bite.

"Julia, you’ve got some rice on your face," Ars pointed out.

"Huh? Where?" Julia asked, flustered.

"Right here," he said, reaching over to pluck the grain from her cheek and popping it into his own mouth.

"Uh—wha—what!?" Julia stammered, her face turning beet red.

"Wow… Bold move! That’s su~per daring!" Karen cheered, clapping her hands in delight.

"Hm? Did you want to eat it yourself?" Ars asked in confusion.

"No, that’s not what I meant!" Julia protested, flustered.

"Julia-sama, please calm down. Ars-sama, don’t mind it and continue eating. And Karen-sama, please close your mouth and focus on your meal," Elsa said sternly.

"Ugh, Elsa… Are you stricter with me than everyone else?" Karen complained.

"That’s just your imagination," Elsa replied coolly.

"Is it? Well, if you say so…" Karen muttered, her face showing lingering dissatisfaction as she resumed eating.

Ars stayed out of the trio’s exchange, focusing wholeheartedly on enjoying his meal.

Seeing him devour the food with gusto, Julia seemed to regain her composure, a smile softening her features.

"Elsa’s cooking has always been amazing, so I knew it’d satisfy you," she said warmly.

"That’s why our tavern’s so popular! Delicious, affordable, and full of beauties," Karen boasted.

As Karen had claimed, every dish was far tastier than Ars could have imagined.

For a while, they ate in silence, but as their focus began to wane, Karen spoke up.

"Our guild’s heading to the ‘Lost Lands’ tomorrow… Big Sis, are you guys coming?"

"I’d love to see it. What about you, Ars?" Julia asked.

"I’m interested too. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to join you," Ars replied.

The northern part of the continent—commonly known as the "Lost Lands"—had been a human-inhabited region a thousand years ago, ruled by the Demon Emperor.

Legend had it that after the Demon Emperor was slain by the gods, order collapsed, sparking a series of wars, large and small, over succession. In the end, the resentment and obsession flowing from the corpses cursed the land, and the accumulated magical energy from the battlefield ruins of the gods and the Demon Emperor gave rise to powerful magical beasts. Since then, the region had become uninhabitable for humans.

That tragic period was known as the "Dark Era."

The original Tower of Babel, the first headquarters of the Magic Association, once stood in the Lost Lands but was destroyed during the war between the gods and the Demon Emperor. Countless magical artifacts and knowledge were lost with it.

Now, venturing into the northern continent to recover lost magical tomes and other knowledge had become a task for the magicians under the Magic Association.

"But isn’t the Lost Lands pretty far from here? Are we going on foot?" Ars asked.

"No way we could walk that distance. We’ll use the teleportation gate in the Tower of Babel," Karen answered.

She went on to explain, "There’s a dragon-ruled nation in the Beastman Alliance called ‘Shurea,’ located at the entrance to the Lost Lands. The teleportation gate in the Tower of Babel connects to it. We’ll stock up on any supplies we need there, so we don’t have to bring much luggage. Even if we forget something, we can come back easily. But…"

Karen trailed off, poking at her chicken with the tip of her fork and letting out a sigh.

"The Lost Lands aren’t exclusive to any one nation, so surrounding countries send their armies to claim rare magical artifacts and resources. That’s the tricky part."

"There’s bound to be conflict between them, right?" Ars guessed.

"Exactly. Not just the Earth Empire—other nations stake claims to parts of the Lost Lands too. We end up clashing with other guilds, and there are bandits using the ruins as hideouts. Fighting over magical knowledge is just another day in the Lost Lands."

"Sounds like a brutal place…" Julia murmured, swallowing nervously as her eyes widened.

"That’s why good relations with other nations and cooperation between guilds are so important. Our guild’s allied with a few others to make sure no one thinks we’re an easy target. It’s a way to signal that messing with us means trouble," Karen explained.

"Even if other guilds aren’t an issue, we’ll need to be cautious of the Earth Empire among the surrounding nations," Julia said, her expression darkening as she recalled being targeted.

"Caution’s always smart, but if we steer clear of the areas the empire claims, we probably won’t run into them. The Lost Lands in the northern continent are way bigger than the southern part—running into trouble isn’t that likely," Karen said with a reassuring smile.

"Anyway, we won’t know until we go see for ourselves. If something comes up, we’ll deal with it then. Julia-sama, you don’t need to worry—Elsa will be by your side," Elsa interjected, speaking up for the first time since quietly eating.

Her emotionless tone and detached demeanor might seem cold and unfeeling to someone unfamiliar with her.

But to those who’d known her for years, it clearly wasn’t the case.

"Big Sis~! Elsa doesn’t seem to want to protect me! Boo-hoo, doesn’t she care if something happens to me?" Karen whined, putting on a dramatic pout and burying her face in Julia’s shoulder.

From Ars’s angle, he could see the mischievous smirk tugging at her lips.

The ever-earnest Julia fell for it, stroking Karen’s head with a puzzled look as she glanced at Elsa.

"Of course I’ll protect Karen-sama too—but I’d prefer if you learned not to break dishes while washing them before mastering fake tears," Elsa retorted dryly.

"Urk!" Karen clutched her chest, caught red-handed and verbally struck down, her face twisting in mock distress.

"Alright, enough playing around. It’s getting late—shouldn’t we all rest soon?" Elsa suggested.

Glancing at the clock, they realized night had already fallen.

"True. Let’s call it a day. Once we get to the Dragon City, everything will become clear. Seeing a world you’ve never experienced before will definitely blow you away," Karen said cheerfully.

Her excitement about adventuring with her sister shone through in every word.

"Then let’s look forward to tomorrow and get some good rest tonight," Julia agreed, smiling as she rose from her seat.

"The Dragon Nation, huh… It’s my first time going, so I’m really excited," Ars mused.

During his confinement, he’d picked up bits of information about that nation through his [Hearing].

It was a land governed by the most ancient of dragons, where people thrived under its rule.

It was one of the places he’d longed to visit after gaining his freedom.

"I’ll clean up the dishes before resting. Could Karen-sama show Ars-sama to the guest room?" Elsa asked.

"Oh, we can help too! With four of us, it won’t take long, right?" Julia offered.

"No, I’d rather not lose any more plates. Let’s wait until you’ve improved a bit more. Besides, Julia-sama and Ars-sama have had a long day. It’s best to rest early for tomorrow," Elsa replied firmly.

Faced with an unequivocal rejection, Karen puffed out her cheeks in a cute pout, clearly displeased.

But realizing she couldn’t win an argument against Elsa, she slumped her shoulders in defeat.

"If Elsa insists… I’ll leave the rest to you," Karen conceded.

"Understood. I’ll handle it," Elsa assured her.

With that settled, Karen turned and strode between Julia and Ars toward the stairs.

"I’ll show you to the guest rooms on the second floor. By the way, Big Sis, is it okay if you and Ars sleep separately?"

"O-Of course! I mean, it’s not that I dislike Ars or anything!" Julia stammered.

"Oh? Oh?" Karen teased, raising an eyebrow.

Ars tilted his head, unsure why Julia was so flustered, while she looked like she’d dug herself into a hole, her eyes brimming with tears.

"There’s a saying in the Virte Kingdom: ‘Men and women shouldn’t share a seat after seven!’ So I think separate rooms are better, but I wouldn’t mind sharing either!" Julia blurted out.

"Aww, Big Sis is adorable when she panics," Karen cooed.

"Seriously! It’s all because you said something weird, Karen!" Julia huffed.

"Okay, okay, Big Sis, calm down. Ars, don’t mind it either," Karen said soothingly.

"Uh, I’m not really sure what’s going on… but I don’t mind," Ars replied nonchalantly.

"Let me give you the rundown then. The second floor has guest rooms and living quarters for the regular Schüler. The third floor is for the higher-ranking Schüler, including Elsa. There’s also a bathroom—I’ll explain that part later. It’ll be more fun that way," Karen said as she climbed the stairs.

Her odd comment midway piqued Ars’s curiosity, but the mention of a bathroom truly captured his interest. Back when he was confined, he’d only been given a bucket of water and a towel to wipe himself down daily.

"I’m looking forward to it. By the way, unlike Julia, I don’t plan on joining the guild. Is it really okay for you to take care of me like this?" Ars asked.

"You’re Big Sis’s savior! Stay as long as you like," Karen replied generously.

"I don’t intend to impose for too long. I’d hate to owe too many favors—it could come back to haunt me," Ars said cautiously.

"Oh, don’t worry about it! If you repay me properly, I won’t mind at all," Karen quipped.

She stopped in front of a guest room on the second-floor hallway and turned to face him. Whether she was joking or serious was hard to tell from her expression, but her smile seemed to say there was no need for formality.

"Here’s your room. It’s cleaned every day, so it’s spotless. Feel free to use it however you like."

The guest room assigned to him wasn’t large, but compared to his confinement, it was a world of difference.

For starters, there was no moldy stench. The air wasn’t thick with dust either—daily cleaning clearly wasn’t an exaggeration.

No rats scurried about, no leaks threatened the ceiling, and there’d likely be no disgusting pests either.

The furniture was minimal: just a table, a chair, and a bed with a feather-stuffed quilt.

Though it had only the basics, it was evident the room had been carefully prepared for guests.

"If you need anything or find something lacking, just let Elsa know," Karen said.

"No, it’s more than enough. Thank you for your kindness," Ars replied sincerely.

"No need to thank me. Alright, Big Sis, let’s go take a bath!" Karen chirped, sniffing Julia before grabbing her arm and dragging her along.

"There’s this wet-dog smell that’s been bothering me. Were you locked up with animals or something? It’s a bit—well, no, pretty strong. But there’s still a faint, nice scent. As expected of Big Sis… I’m jealous!"

The odor she mentioned likely came from the hellhounds they’d defeated on their way to the Magical Metropolis. Using the carcasses to shield themselves from the wind and keep warm had naturally left them reeking of blood and beastly stench.

"Karen! Don’t say that in front of Ars! Wait, stop dragging me!" Julia protested.

"Ars, you might act all innocent, but you smell just as bad. I’ll come get you later, so don’t fall asleep—wait for your turn to bathe," Karen called over her shoulder.

Ars nodded silently at her fleeting glance, opting to stay out of trouble.

After watching the sisters head downstairs in their affectionate banter, he lifted his arm to his nose, grimaced at the stench, and stepped into his assigned room. He surveyed the space before his gaze settled on the bed.

"Hmm… I’ll sleep after a bath."

The white sheets were topped with a fluffy, feather-filled quilt.

It looked soft and cozy—slipping into it would surely bring a moment of bliss.

But crawling in without washing would undoubtedly soil it. Ars felt that doing so would be disrespectful to Karen and the others who’d provided this place, so he opted to sit in the chair instead.

"Though a lot has happened… compared to being stuck in that cramped little world, these have been fulfilling days."

The outcome had diverged wildly from his expectations, yet he’d made it to the Magical Metropolis.

Tomorrow, he’d head to the Dragon Nation and the northern continent he’d always dreamed of visiting.

"And then there’s getting information about the ‘Essence of the Magic God,’ but…"

He was still completely unfamiliar with the Magical Metropolis. Gathering intel wouldn’t be easy.

"There’s no point in rushing. For now, I’ll just enjoy the adventure."

Everything was just beginning.

Be it the Lost Lands or the Dragon City, there were countless places in this world yet to explore.

The surrounding nations encircling them were filled with things he’d never known.

"Ars~! You still awake?" 

A cheerful voice accompanied several bold knocks on the door.

The door swung open, revealing Karen standing in the hallway, her hair still damp from her bath.

"Oh, it’s you, Karen. What’s up?" Ars asked.

"Have you already forgotten? I told you I’d come get you before we parted earlier," she replied.

"Oh! The bath? I’ve been looking forward to it," Ars said eagerly.

"You’ve never bathed before?" Karen asked, surprised.

"When I was confined, I’d just wet a towel with water to wipe myself down. I’ve only heard about bathing—never experienced it," Ars explained.

"I see… Well, you might feel dizzy, so don’t soak too long, okay?" Karen cautioned, a flicker of concern passing through her red eyes. She handed him a small wooden bucket that could be carried with one hand. Peering inside, Ars saw a towel and several peculiar bottles.

"What’s this?" he asked.

"It’s cleanser! Use the purple bottle to wash your hair first, then the white one. The blue bottle’s for your body, and after you’re done, rub the liquid from the red bottle—perfume—on yourself. It’ll make you smell nice," Karen instructed.

"Oh~… So this is cleanser," Ars mused.

Though he’d never used it during his confinement, he’d heard of such things. Curious about the scent, he leaned in and sniffed Karen’s hair.

"Whoa, you’re way too bold! Big Sis mentioned it, but you really have no sense of personal space!" Karen exclaimed, startled.

"Hm?" Ars tilted his head, puzzled.

"Ugh… I get it now. I’m not sure if you’re just clueless or what, but no wonder Big Sis reacts like that," Karen said, her cheeks flushing slightly as she offered a gentle smile.

"Fine, I’ll let it slide. So, do you like the smell?" she asked, lifting a strand of her hair to make it easier for him to catch the scent.

"Yeah. It’s somehow… comforting," Ars replied.

"Good to hear! It gets even better once your hair dries," Karen said with a grin.

Cleansers had been invented about a hundred years ago, their raw materials discovered and refined by the Soleil Queendom, located in the eastern part of the Magic Association’s domain.

The Soleil Queendom closely guarded their production methods, monopolizing the market for cleansers and other cosmetics. Other nations had tried to replicate them, but none could match Soleil’s quality. From what Ars had gathered through his [Hearing], it required specific magical energy and rare materials—naturally, it wasn’t easy to imitate.

To Ars, Karen and the others had already done him a favor by providing a room. If he could find the materials in the Lost Lands, he might be able to teach them how to make cleansers as a way to repay them.

"Alright, I’ll take you to the bathroom," Karen said.

"Thanks, I appreciate it," Ars replied.

As they walked, something nagged at him, and he called out to Karen from behind.

"By the way, what happened to Julia? I thought she’d come too…"

"Oh~… Big Sis? Uh, I sent her back to her room," Karen answered vaguely.

"I see. Still, watching you two, it’s clear how close you sisters are," Ars remarked.

"Of course! She’s my pride and joy, and I’m hers," Karen said confidently.

The bathroom seemed to be in the basement. After reaching the first floor, they descended another set of stairs near the kitchen.

"The changing room’s right across from this entrance," Karen said, stopping in the middle of the hallway and pointing to a sliding door.

"Next time, let’s bathe together. I’ll scrub your back," He added casually.

Ars had heard that in the empire’s public bathhouses, close friends often bathed together.

What he hadn’t registered was the distinction between men’s and women’s baths.

"Uh… Wow, this is… You really don’t get how tricky this gets until you’re in the moment," Karen muttered, her face turning bright red as she floundered at his sudden invitation.

Ars flashed her a bright smile.

"We’re practically friends already. No need to hold back with me," he said.

His cheerful grin carried no hint of ulterior motive. Faced with such pure, untainted kindness, Karen couldn’t help but nod.

"Y-Yeah, you’re right. If we’re friends, it’s only natural, right? I’m not totally sure, but… I’ll count on you when the time comes," she stammered.

"I’m looking forward to it," Ars replied cheerfully.

"W-Well, I’ll head off then. Let’s do our best tomorrow!" Karen said, flustered.

"Good night," Ars called after her.

After watching Karen leave, Ars slid open the door and stepped inside.

The changing room had a small cabinet for a few people’s belongings, with another sliding door further in.

Ars stuffed his clothes into the cabinet, holding the bucket Karen had given him in one hand, and opened the inner door.

"Whoa, this must be steam…" he murmured, waving away the warm mist clinging to his face.

"Hm, someone’s here," he noted.

Standing before him was a stunned, naked woman.

"Why… is Ars here?" Julia asked, her wet silver hair cascading over her shoulders as she stared at him wide-eyed.

She must have just stepped out of the bath, her well-toned body steaming faintly. Combined with her ethereal beauty—seemingly sculpted by the gods themselves—it created a dreamlike scene.

Droplets of water trailed down from the strands of hair clinging to her cheeks, gliding effortlessly over her delicate skin, tracing a path from her neck to her collarbone before vanishing into the shadowed curve of her ample chest.

She quickly covered herself with her hands.

Even so, there was only so much she could hide, and the gesture only heightened the allure of the moment.

"Uh, listen… Are you even hearing me? Why are you here?" Julia stammered, her face and neck flushed red, while Ars stood there with an air of complete nonchalance.

"Hm? I was told the bathroom was here," he replied casually.

"I-Is that so…?" Julia managed an awkward smile, momentarily at a loss for words.

"So, don’t you have anything to say about this?" came a voice as the blue-haired Elsa stepped forward, positioning herself protectively in front of Julia.

Like Julia, she covered herself with her hands, though it did little to conceal her curvaceous figure.

"I think you both have beautifully toned bodies. You should be more confident," Ars commented sincerely.

"T-Thank you. Um, I’m flattered?" Julia replied hesitantly.

"Julia-sama, now’s not the time to be thanking him. And I wasn’t asking for your opinion on our bodies. W-What I mean is, what are your thoughts on this situation?" Elsa pressed, her tone sharp.

"It’s a huge bathroom. Since it’s my first time bathing, I’m really looking forward to it—that’s about it," Ars answered cheerfully.

"Ugh… This guy," Elsa muttered, her face twisting into an exasperated grimace.

Up until now, Elsa had always maintained an expressionless demeanor—so much so that Ars had wondered if she was incapable of showing emotion. Seeing her make such a face felt oddly refreshing to him.

That said, he still had no clue what she was getting at.

He racked his brain for the right response and landed on something he’d once heard: close companions often washed each other’s backs in the bath.

Supposedly, it was a way to bond, deepen trust, and strengthen relationships.

"If you two haven’t finished washing, want me to help?" he offered brightly.

"T-Thanks for the offer, uh… Elsa, why don’t we let him help?" Julia said, flustered.

"Julia-sama, please calm down. How did you even reach that conclusion?" Elsa sighed, casting a stern glare at Ars.

"…Ars-sama, we’ve already finished washing. Every inch of us is spotless, so we won’t trouble you," she said firmly.

"Oh, that’s a shame. Next time, then," Ars replied with a hint of disappointment.

Elsa’s lips twitched at his words, her face flushing as she struggled to maintain composure.

Finally, it dawned on her that their conversation was entirely mismatched.

"May I ask you something?" she ventured.

"Go right ahead," Ars encouraged.

"I heard you were confined before, Ars-sama. Did you ever have any contact with women?" Elsa inquired.

"Aside from my late mother, I’ve never met another woman. Why do you ask?" he replied candidly.

"I see… That explains it. I’d love to sit you down and explain the differences between men and women—concepts like shame or the opposite sex—until you understand, but if we keep this up, Julia-sama might catch a cold, and you’ll get chilly too, Ars-sama. All three of us could end up sick. So let’s save this discussion for another day," Elsa said rapidly, her cheeks still red, though Ars assumed her trembling was from the cold. Standing around naked and chatting for so long could indeed throw off tomorrow’s plans. More than that, he sensed an inexplicable pressure radiating from her.

"I’m not totally sure what’s going on… but alright," Ars agreed.

"Then we’ll take our leave. Julia-sama, let’s go," Elsa said decisively.

"Y-Yes. Good night, Ars," Julia mumbled, her face still flushed with embarrassment as she dipped her head slightly, attempting to slip past him. Elsa flanked her, shielding her as they moved.

"Good night. Let’s bathe together next time. I’ll definitely help wash your backs then!" Ars called after them, treating the exchange as he would with male friends. As they passed, he reached out to pat Elsa’s shoulder, but she dodged with lightning-fast reflexes.

(Oh… I wasn’t wrong about her skills. No, she might be even better than I thought,) Ars thought, genuinely impressed.

However, his hand—left hanging with nowhere to go—accidentally brushed across her back. In that instant, Elsa jolted as if plunged into icy water, letting out a strange hopping motion.

"Eek!?" 

She let out an unexpectedly adorable yelp, slipped, and crashed to the floor, taking Julia down with her.

"…"

The two landed in an utterly unguarded heap, fully exposed before Ars. Julia’s face bore a look of complete resignation, while Elsa stared up at the ceiling with the vacant gaze of a dead fish.

"H-Hey, are you two okay…?" Ars asked, approaching with concern as they lay motionless.

"W-We’re fine," Elsa replied quickly.

Midway through Ars extending a hand, Elsa sprang up, pulling the still-dazed Julia to her feet.

"Did you hit your heads or something?" he pressed.

"It’s not a big deal," Elsa brushed off.

"But… it was a pretty loud fall. Look, Julia’s eyes are all over the place," Ars pointed out.

Julia remained crimson-faced, her gaze darting erratically in a panic.

"Of course, you’ll have to take responsibility. You’re prepared for that, right?" Elsa said, apparently giving up on covering herself. She thrust her chest forward, glaring at Ars with fierce intensity as she leaned toward him.

"Uh, y-yeah… Naturally," Ars stammered, overwhelmed by her forceful demeanor and nodding instinctively.

"Good. Since you’ve given your word, we’ll take our leave for now. Julia-sama, let’s go," Elsa declared.

With that, she guided Julia out, leaving Ars standing there, still processing the whirlwind of events.

Elsa extended her right hand and right foot at the same time, dragging Julia along in an awkward, stilted gait.

"Elsa, he saw everything…" Julia whimpered.

"I’m terribly sorry that this happened despite my presence. But he promised to take responsibility," Elsa reassured her.

The two hurriedly fled the bathroom in a flustered panic, leaving Ars standing there, scratching the back of his head with a wry smile.

"I thought Elsa was colder than that. Turns out she’s pretty entertaining," he mused.

He hadn’t expected her to be the type whose personality flipped so dramatically after a bath, revealing such an excitable, almost childlike side. Ars couldn’t help but chuckle at the discovery.

＊ 

As dawn broke through the night, the sun rose steadily, ushering in a brand-new day.

Ars was no exception. Gazing out the window, his eyes fixed on a towering structure.

The symbol of the Magical Metropolis—the Tower of Babel—overlapped with the rising sun.

The morning light cascaded down like a shower of sparks, illuminating the city below.

It couldn’t possibly be a natural phenomenon. It was more like a mystical display wrought by magic.

This was an everyday sight in the Magical Metropolis, one that only newcomers found astonishing.

"So this is the rumored Morning Meteor Shower… No wonder people from other nations come just to see it," Ars murmured.

It was likely a phenomenon caused by the "barrier" magic cast over the Tower of Babel reflecting sunlight.

Or perhaps it was the handiwork of a mischievous magician with a penchant for pranks.

Since it posed no harm to anyone, there was little need to investigate further.

"Ars, are you awake?" 

Hearing a knock, Ars turned to see Karen framed in the doorway.

She was dressed in lightweight gear: a leather breastplate, a knee-length skirt, and a cloak draped over her shoulders.

"Yeah, good morning," he greeted.

"Hey there! Morning~! Are you ready?" she asked cheerfully.

"I didn’t have much to do besides change. I’m good to go anytime," Ars replied.

"Then let’s head downstairs. Everyone’s already gathered," Karen said.

"What about Julia? Is she still asleep?" Ars inquired.

"Big Sis was watching the Morning Meteor Shower, so I left her in her room. I told her not to stare too long, so she’s probably downstairs with Elsa by now," Karen explained.

Descending the stairs with Karen, Ars found over a dozen Schüler already assembled.

Among them were Julia and Elsa. Whether she was introducing herself or already acquainted, Julia was surrounded by a small crowd.

"This isn’t the full group, but these are the ones joining us for this expedition," Karen noted.

"There are more members?" Ars asked.

"That’s a secret! It’s not that I don’t trust you, Ars, but a guild’s size is tied to its strength. If that info leaks, it could spell trouble. So we’re careful not to let anything slip," Karen explained delicately, mindful not to offend him.

Ars nodded, fully understanding her reasoning and feeling no resentment.

"That makes sense. I’ve even heard of things like guild wars," he said.

"Exactly. If a high-ranking guild declares war on us, it’d be a disaster. I’ve seen plenty of guilds crushed that way. But it’s not the number of magicians that decides the outcome—it’s their skill level. So more than headcount, it’s crucial to keep rivals guessing about what kind of magicians we have," Karen elaborated.

Guilds were ranked in a hierarchy based on their contributions to the Magic Association.

Ranked guilds received various perks from the Association, such as special missions, magical artifacts, access to spellbooks, and land leases.

The top spots—single-digit rankings—were monopolized by the Demon Lords’ guilds, followed closely by the guilds of the Twenty-Four Councilors who managed the Magic Association.

"Whether it’s climbing the ranks or holding your position, building strength is essential. Absorbing other guilds outright seems faster than recruiting magicians one by one—how do guilds manage to coexist peacefully?" Ars wondered.

The "Virte Guild" might soon attract attention from others.

After all, Julia, bearer of the rare Talent [Light], had joined—a prize anyone would covet.

"They can request a challenge unilaterally, but we just don’t have to accept. Sure, there are loopholes to exploit, but I’m not about to lose to anyone using dirty tricks. If someone dares target our guild, I won’t let them off easy—no matter who they are," Karen declared, her voice brimming with confidence and devoid of fear.

"I see… Sounds like you’ve got it covered," Ars said, reassured.

"Ars, good morning!" Julia called out, breaking away from the Schüler to jog over to him.

"Morning. You look like you’ve completely shaken off yesterday’s exhaustion," he observed.

"Yep, all my fatigue’s gone! Oh, Ars, did you see the Morning Meteor Shower?" she asked excitedly.

"Yeah, it was beautiful. It woke me right up. Want to watch it together next time?" he suggested.

"Absolutely! The view from your room probably has its own unique charm," Julia replied, clasping her hands in front of her chest, her face alight with joy.

She glanced between Ars and Karen, beaming brightly.

"Hehe, it’s great to see you and Karen getting along so well," she said warmly.

At Julia’s words, Karen puffed out her chest proudly.

"Of course! He’s the one who saved you, Big Sis. I couldn’t just ignore him. Whether as the Lehrer of the Virte Guild or a former princess of the Virte Kingdom, it’s only right," she proclaimed.

Julia squinted fondly at her sister, as if dazzled by how much she’d grown.

"You’ve really matured, Karen. I still remember how you used to be a little prankster no one could control, always giving the maids and servants a hard time," she teased.

"Was she that bad?" Ars asked, tilting his head.

At Ars’s question, Julia nodded enthusiastically, clearly delighted.

"Oh yes, she was that bad. She’d break vases and blame the maids, scribble everywhere and pin it on the servants, and even kick a foreign diplomat in the rear—then point the finger at the prime minister!" Julia recounted gleefully.

"…And that didn’t spark a diplomatic incident?" Ars asked, incredulous.

"Everyone was kind-hearted and brushed it off as childish antics. But that only made Karen bolder, and her behavior spiraled out of control. Eventually, Father scolded her, locked her in the dungeon, and she bawled her eyes out," Julia continued.

"Wait, Big Sis, stop! You’re ruining my image! I was all dignified just a moment ago!" Karen protested.

"Didn’t you just yesterday tell Ars I smelled bad in front of him? And not only that—you tricked him into going to the bathroom, didn’t you?" Julia countered.

So that’s why she was unusually eager to list her sister’s embarrassing moments—she was still holding a grudge from yesterday.

Even so, her smile remained as gentle as a doting mother’s, which only made it more chilling.

Karen seemed to feel the same, stumbling back a few steps, her lips twitching nervously.

"W-Well, it’s because… I mean—no, Big Sis always smells nice! Maybe I got it wrong yesterday. And I already apologized for the prank, so can’t you forgive me already?" Karen pleaded.

Despite her words, Julia’s expression didn’t shift an inch, her smile fixed like a mask.

Unsure of what she was thinking, Ars used his [Hearing] to check her heartbeat and pulse. Everything was steady and normal—making it all the more unsettling.

The tense atmosphere, on the verge of buckling under that eerie pressure, was abruptly shattered.

"What are you all doing…?" came a puzzled voice.

Drawn by the sound, the three turned their gazes in unison.

There stood Elsa, poised elegantly as ever. Though her face was typically unreadable, compared to Julia right now, her emotions were an open book.

"Elsa! Perfect timing!" Karen exclaimed, latching onto her savior and burying her face in Elsa’s ample chest.

Even with the sudden embrace, Elsa didn’t flinch. She patted Karen’s back and sighed.

"Karen-sama, I’ve already sent the others ahead. Honestly… what are the three of you chattering about so incessantly?"

"N-Nothing much! Let’s get going. You’re good to go too, right, Big Sis?" Karen said quickly.

Even she lacked the courage to revisit that earlier topic.

"Hehe, you’re so cute when you’re flustered, Karen," Julia said with a giggle.

Though her intentions behind that smile remained a mystery, she finally dropped the creepy aura and nodded at Karen.

"I’m ready anytime. Ars, you good?" Julia asked.

"Yeah… Oh, we’re heading to the Dragon City, right? I’m excited," Ars replied.

"Seems like we’re all set. Let’s go, then," Elsa directed.

Following her lead, the group stepped out of the tavern that served as the Virte Guild’s headquarters.

As the four began their trek toward the Tower of Babel, Ars raised a question that had been nagging at him.

"By the way, there were a few Schüler left at the tavern. Aren’t they coming with us?"

"They’re staying behind to hold the fort today. We can’t keep the tavern closed all the time, and it’d be a hassle if someone broke in while the headquarters was empty. So even on off days, we always leave a few people behind," Karen explained.

Ars nodded, seeing the logic in her reasoning.

"Ars, did you know?" Julia chimed in, turning to him.

"Know what?" he asked.

"Since we arrived in this city, we haven’t seen a single child. Doesn’t that strike you as odd?" she pointed out.

"Now that you mention it…" Ars trailed off.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t spotted any children since arriving in the Magical Metropolis.

Even now, the passersby they brushed past varied in race but were all adults.

"The kids are all in the residential district of the Tower of Babel or the special district in the north," Karen clarified, addressing their curiosity.

"Speaking of which, I haven’t really explained much about the Magical Metropolis to you yet," she added, shrugging as they walked.

"Where we are now is the southern entertainment district. Since there’s a tavern, you can probably guess it’s not the safest part of the city. But I got the land cheap, so I’m pretty fond of it. That said, the fact that property prices here are about ten times higher than in other cities still ticks me off."

According to her, the Magical Metropolis was neatly divided into several zones. For magical artifacts and items, there was the eastern commercial district; for weapons and gear, the western industrial district; the northern special district housed the wealthy, surrounded by tight security and high walls; and at the center stood the residential district with the Tower of Babel.

"A lot of guild members have kids—ours included. They live with their families in the residential district," Karen elaborated.

Ars glanced at Julia beside him after hearing the explanation.

"Sounds like an interesting city," he remarked.

"It really is. If you’re up for it, Ars, I’d love to explore the commercial district with you sometime," Julia suggested.

"Sure, let’s go when we’ve got some free time. I’m curious to see what they sell," Ars agreed.

"Hehe, that’ll be fun!" Julia beamed.

"Hey, if Big Sis is going, I’m tagging along too!" Karen declared, latching onto Julia’s arm.

"But today, we’re headed to the Lost Lands. It’s great that you’re all getting along, but you’ve stopped walking," Elsa called from behind.

Startled by her reminder, the trio hurried toward the Tower of Babel.

＊

The Tower of Babel

A repository of rare documents, spellbooks, and magical artifacts collected from across the world.

Access to spellbooks and other materials in the Tower of Babel required a specific tier, and for the rarest and most valuable ones, only those of the first tier—Demon Lords—were permitted to view them.

If a magician’s Talent aligned with a spellbook, there was a good chance they could learn a new spell on the spot.

For this reason, every magician affiliated with the Magic Association aimed to climb the tiers to gain unrestricted access to these spellbooks.

"What a beautiful place," Julia remarked.

Ars and the others were currently in the lower district of the Tower of Babel.

Prompted by Julia’s comment, he looked up, the ceiling soaring so high it was almost out of sight.

Lowering his gaze, he was struck by the sheer volume of people bustling about. Whether they were wandering aimlessly or on a mission, dozens hurried past Ars and his group.

"Do the Demon Lords live in the Tower of Babel too?" Ars asked.

Karen shook her head. "No, they don’t stay here. Demon Lords are assigned territories by the Magic Association to govern. Only magicians below the second tier live in the tower. That said, floors seventy to eighty are designated as the Demon Lord Domain, and entry is strictly forbidden."

"What’s in the Demon Lord Domain?" Ars pressed.

"Rumor has it there are precious documents and spellbooks collected by past Demon Lords from around the world. But since it’s just hearsay, I don’t know if it’s true. Only Demon Lords can enter, so I’ve got no details," Karen explained.

"Sounds intriguing. Too bad we can’t go in," Ars said wistfully.

"Most floors used to be open to the top until recently, apparently. But one day, security tightened up," Karen added.

"What happened?" Ars asked.

"They say magical knowledge related to Talents, which the Demon Lords were researching, was stolen. There’s no proof, though—no one knows if it was really taken. It almost got brushed off as ‘baseless,’ ‘paranoia,’ or ‘sleep deprivation.’ Some Demon Lords couldn’t accept that and started hunting for the culprit themselves," Karen said with a bemused shrug.

"The Magic Association was thrown into chaos. There was even a Demon Lord who claimed it was the work of the Sacred Law Church, nearly sparking a war."

"For magicians, magical knowledge can sometimes be worth more than their lives," Ars noted.

Though Ars, who’d eavesdropped on plenty of knowledge with his [Hearing], had little room to talk, stealing from the Demon Lords would require a master among masters.

The Demon Lords wouldn’t just sit idly by, either.

[Detection], [Surveillance], [Traps], [Barriers]—they’d surely deployed all sorts of magic to protect their secrets.

If the knowledge was stolen despite such measures, the thief could very well be a magician on par with the Demon Lords.

By process of elimination, suspicion falling on the Sacred Law Church—home to the Ten Saints of Sacred Law—wasn’t surprising.

"But it seems war was avoided when it came out that the Sacred Law Church had been hit too. Thanks to that, neighboring nations stepped forward claiming they were victims as well. Now, it’s said magical knowledge has been stolen worldwide—and the magician behind it is called the ‘Essence of the Magic God,’" Karen concluded.

So this place was tied to the "Essence of the Magic God" too.

During his confinement, whenever Ars used his [Hearing] to listen in, he’d always catch wind of the chaos caused by the "Essence of the Magic God." To think they still weren’t satisfied and kept stirring up trouble across the world—what a nuisance.

"I’ve got a question. Is the ‘Essence of the Magic God’ here in the Magical Metropolis?" Ars asked.

"There are occasional rumors, but no one’s actually seen them," Karen replied.

"That’s a shame. I’d love to meet them…" Ars said, disappointed.

"Oh? Are you looking for the ‘Essence of the Magic God’?" Karen asked, intrigued.

"Yeah. Looks like I’ll have to take it step by step, though," Ars admitted.

"I see. According to recent news, the Soleil Queendom in the east has put a bounty on the ‘Essence of the Magic God.’ Apparently, the queen’s furious—some national secrets were stolen, and it could lead to serious losses. Some are even saying other nations should follow suit and issue an international warrant," Karen shared.

"I hope I can find them before they’re caught," Ars said.

Even with his [Hearing], Ars couldn’t pick up any "sound" from this world-shaking figure known as the "Essence of the Magic God." But he was determined to catch them himself and learn the vast magical knowledge they’d accumulated.

"Also, are there any spellbooks a D-rank magician could borrow from the Tower of Babel?" he asked.

The Magic Association’s magicians were divided into twelve tiers, but they were also assigned ranks.

First-tier magicians were S-rank, second-tier were A-rank, third to fifth tiers were B-rank, sixth to ninth tiers were C-rank, and tenth to twelfth tiers were D-rank.

These ranks were used by nations unaccustomed to the tier system.

The tier system was unique to the Magic Association, while other countries used ranks to gauge a magician’s strength. Both systems had been around for ages, so within the Magic Association, they were interchangeable—though some nations refused to recognize anything but ranks.

"Sadly, borrowing spellbooks has been banned for a long time—even for Demon Lords. But you can study and take knowledge with you. You can teach it to your companions, pass it on to your homeland to bolster military strength, or share how to use magic," Karen explained.

Good or evil, the Magical Metropolis welcomed all who sought to learn.

That’s why magicians from across the world flocked here—to fulfill their ambitions of becoming Demon Lords or to serve their nations.

"Looks like borrowing’s out of the question. I get the gist of it now. Thanks for explaining," Ars said.

"No problem. Ask me anything—if I know it, I’ll tell you," Karen replied warmly.

As they chatted, they arrived at a spot in the northeastern part of the tower’s lower district.

"Is this the teleportation gate?" Ars asked.

Before him stood an odd structure—a hollow doorframe.

Where a door should’ve been, a thin, rippling membrane shimmered like water. People who touched it vanished as if swallowed by the gate.

"They say a teleportation gate existed on the first Tower of Babel a thousand years ago, but it was destroyed in the war between the Demon Emperor and the gods. This one was restored three hundred years ago," Karen noted.

"It runs on magic, right?" Ars guessed.

"Yep. Just touch it, and it’ll draw magic from you to activate. Think of your magic as the toll," she confirmed.

The teleportation gate was one of the Magic Association’s closely guarded secrets. Though its creator was long gone, the method of construction had been passed down.

Ars had picked up snippets of conversations about it through his [Hearing] a few times before.

The teleportation gate—a magical artifact crafted through the collaboration of exceptional magicians wielding the Talents [Enchantment] and [Forging].

Since it was originally made a thousand years ago, the knowledge Ars had gleaned through his [Hearing] was limited to maintenance techniques.

To uncover the creation process, one could either climb the tiers to access the relevant documents or destroy the gate in front of them to study it—repairs would likely follow a breakage, revealing some secrets.

"But I’m not that desperate to know," Ars mused.

Unless he planned to live in a castle someday, he had little use for such a massive teleportation gate.

It’d be nice if it could be miniaturized, but no one seemed to possess that level of skill.

Perhaps the dwarves of the subterranean empire could manage it…

"I’ll think about it if it ever becomes necessary," he concluded.

"Pardon me for interrupting your muttering, but do you have any other questions?" Karen interjected.

"Not right now," Ars replied.

"Good. Since you’ve got the gist of it, after you," Karen said with a grin.

"Huh? Wait—!"

Before he could protest, a shove to his back sent him stumbling into the teleportation gate, vanishing in an instant.

Karen burst into laughter at the sight.

"Hahaha! Did you see his shocked face? It was like a goblin catching fire!"

"Everyone makes that face the first time they use a teleportation gate. Since it’s a once-in-a-lifetime expression, it’ll be a fond memory for Ars-sama—etched into someone’s mind," Elsa remarked, a rare hint of amusement in her tone.

Julia, however, reacted differently, shooting her sister a reproachful look.

"Karen, not again… Make sure you apologize to Ars later," she scolded.

"No way~! He’s always got that ‘nothing fazes me, even if the sky falls’ look on his face. Isn’t this refreshing? Making that kind of expression once in a while is good for his facial muscles," Karen retorted playfully.

"You little…" Julia sighed.

"If you’re worried, Big Sis, why don’t you go too?" Karen teased, placing her hands on Julia’s shoulders from the front and giving her a firm push.

"Ah… Karen! You’re unbelievable…!" Julia yelped as she disappeared through the gate.

"Ooh, Big Sis’s face wasn’t bad either!" Karen called after her, waving cheerfully. Her smile was as radiant as a blooming flower, tinged with a devilish mischief.

"Alright, now that I’ve sent them both off smoothly, let’s—"

As Karen turned, she felt a sudden impact against her chest.

"Hey!?"

She staggered back a few steps, barely regaining her balance, only to find Elsa standing before her, expressionless as ever.

"Karen-sama never fails to surprise me with a fresh expression each time she encounters the same situation. It’s quite delightful," Elsa said dryly.

"Ugh, Elsa! What was that for!?" Karen demanded.

"I hear it was you, Karen-sama, who led Ars-sama to the women’s bath. Thanks to that, he saw every inch of me. Fortunately, he seems willing to take responsibility—otherwise, I might’ve been doomed to a life of spinsterhood," Elsa replied coolly.

"Well… Okay, that was my bad… But you don’t have to make a big deal out of it! With your looks, Elsa, you could have your pick of men!" Karen protested.

Even from Karen’s perspective, Elsa was stunning. No—anyone would call her beautiful.

Her flawless allure exuded a captivating charm, the kind that naturally drew men’s eyes.

Back in the capital, suitors had lined up to propose to her, captivated by her refined elegance.

Just seeing her walk side by side with Julia would leave onlookers sighing in awe.

"You’re still young—why not reconsider? Plenty of men will chase after you in the future," Karen suggested.

"I’m not some shameless woman," Elsa replied firmly.

"But I don’t think Ars meant ‘responsibility’ in that way," Karen pointed out.

"A man’s word should hold weight. He can’t dodge it with ‘I didn’t know’ or ‘I wasn’t ready.’ I doubt it’ll come to this, but if he refuses to take responsibility, I’ll apologize to Julia-sama, behead Ars-sama, and spend my life in mourning," Elsa declared.

Karen inwardly groaned. This is bad.

What started as a spur-of-the-moment prank had spiraled into something far bigger.

Of course, Karen didn’t want men seeing her naked either, but Elsa’s reaction was unexpectedly intense.

Given Elsa’s personality, Karen had assumed she’d brush it off with a mature, understated response.

"Elsa… Are you really that pure?" Karen asked, stunned.

"My heart decided long ago that only one man in my lifetime would ever see me bare," Elsa stated solemnly.

"That’s a wonderful sentiment—I feel the same. But… what if, by some accident, another man saw you naked someday?" Karen ventured.

"Then I’d disembowel myself to apologize to Ars-sama," Elsa answered without a moment’s hesitation, her tone resolute and almost gallant.

"She’s completely committed…" Karen shivered.

Elsa didn’t seem to be joking or exaggerating—she was dead serious.

No doubt she’d already mapped out her entire future in her mind.

Elsa was a woman who pursued perfection.

She’d probably planned everything down to the number of children, the layout of their home, and even their retirement years.

"It’s just getting seen naked for a moment… Isn’t that a bit heavy…?" Karen muttered.

Surely Elsa was exaggerating to make her reflect on her actions.

Yes, that had to be it. Karen decided to cling to that thought.

With a light pat on Elsa’s shoulder, she forced a smile.

"Alright, alright, let’s not dwell on it. We’ve got a big day ahead—let’s focus on that!" she said, brushing it off.

Elsa gave a slight nod, her expression unreadable once more, as the two prepared to step through the gate themselves.

"Calm down. It was just a little peek—it’s no big deal," Karen said lightly.

"It wasn’t a little," Elsa countered.

A shadow flickered in her blue eyes, her delicate lips trembling with quiet fury.

"It was everything."

"Eek—!" 

Karen’s face paled as Elsa shoved her forward, sending her tumbling through the teleportation gate.

When using the gate, magic is forcibly drawn from the user, triggering the spell instantly.

The sensation lasts less than a second before you’re spat out at the connected destination.

"Yeek!?"

Karen rolled out of the gate on her back, landing in an ungraceful heap with a cute yelp. Her dramatic teleportation failure drew muffled laughter from the surrounding crowd.

"…Why does even Karen end up like this?" Ars muttered under his breath.

The one who reacted wasn’t Karen, though—it was the person beside him, who’d emerged from the gate in the same awkward pose.

"Ugh, so embarrassing," Julia groaned, pressing her forehead against Ars’s shoulder to hide her face from the onlookers.

"Is this karma…? Ars, I owe you an apology too. I’ve saddled you with something weird—you’ll have a tough time ahead," she said remorsefully.

"Huh? No need to worry about it. It was my first time using a teleportation gate, so I’m actually thrilled. I’ll treasure it as a rare experience," Ars reassured her.

"That’s not what I meant… And I feel bad for Big Sis too—no, those two will probably get along fine, so that’s not a concern," Elsa mumbled.

"What have you been going on about since earlier?" Ars asked, puzzled.

"Nothing. I just learned firsthand that pranks are a bad idea," she replied.

Though she delivered that commendable sentiment from an awkward sprawl, Ars honestly doubted she’d learned her lesson. Given the same situation, she’d probably do it all over again.

As he pondered what to say to this unrepentant girl, Elsa appeared.

She glanced at Karen, still sprawled on the ground, checked her pocket watch, and spoke.

"It seems everyone’s arrived safely. We’ve got some time before the meeting—shall we explore the town a bit? Julia-sama, Ars-sama, anywhere you’d like to go?"

Karen rose behind her, uncharacteristically quiet and subdued.

Though Ars was curious about what had transpired between them, the mood didn’t lend itself to asking.

Instead, he voiced his own request.

"I’d like to look at daggers. And if possible, buy some clothes," he said.

The clothes were, of course, to replace his current shabby attire. He didn’t mind the stares himself, but traveling with him in this state might draw odd looks to Julia and the others.

For the sake of their reputation, new clothes seemed wise.

"Ars, you use magic so skillfully—I didn’t think you’d need a weapon," Julia remarked.

Ars shrugged. "It’s a backup for when my magic runs dry. Plus, against foes too weak for magic, I’d rather conserve it."

You could never have too many combat options. He also needed to test if a dagger synced with his [Hearing]. Best to get used to wielding one now.

"Then let’s head to the Badger’s Den. You can find anything there," Karen suggested.

"I can’t think of anything I want offhand, so that works for me," Julia agreed.

All eyes turned to Elsa, the last to weigh in.

"Seems we’ve reached a consensus. To the Badger’s Den it is," she confirmed.

The Dragon Nation of Shurea was a kingdom ruled by beastmen and dragonkin—collectively known as demi-humans.

A member of the Beastman Alliance, it maintained friendly ties with the Magic Association.

As part of that exchange, the teleportation gate in the Tower of Babel linked to Shurea’s capital, Yaltar.

Ars took a fresh look around the gate’s location.

Though crowded, there was nothing particularly eye-catching—just a space built for the gate’s function.

Stepping outside, they emerged onto a wide street lined with shops on both sides.

A short walk ahead, the central district featured a fountain square.

At its heart stood a massive bronze dragon statue, surrounded by dragonkin—towering figures blessed with immense physical prowess and overwhelming magic. They gathered in the square, bowing in unison toward the statue, seemingly in prayer. Captivated by the unusual sight, Ars’s attention was drawn away until Karen spoke up.

"That’s their worship. Every morning and evening, they offer prayers at the central fountain square or the churches in Yaltar’s four corners. It’s a daily ritual for the dragonkin," she explained.

"So that’s worship… It’s my first time seeing it, so it caught me off guard," Ars admitted.

"I was shocked the first time too. Just a heads-up—interfering with it can get you in trouble," Karen warned.

"Got it. I’ll keep that in mind," Ars nodded.

"Since you understand, let’s go. It’s not far," Karen said, taking the lead as the group moved down the street.

Soon, they reached the Badger’s Den, marked by a sign adorned with a badger illustration.

Large glass windows encircled the shop, offering a clear view inside from the street. Lavish armor and swords were displayed within, alongside shelves of various small items.

"This is a branch run by one of our allied guilds. They give us discounts on a lot of stuff," Karen said confidently, opening the door with familiarity.

Ars and the others followed her inside, greeted by a faint floral scent.

Weapons adorned with cute decorations lined the entrance, while racks of goods flanked the aisles.

The three-tiered shelves displayed an array of goods: the top held rings and necklaces, the middle contained small vials of liquid, and the bottom showcased cosmetics. Each item emanated a faint trace of magic, marking them as magical artifacts.

Julia’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at the accessory rack with delight.

"Ars, aren’t they beautiful?" she asked excitedly.

"Yeah, they’re all finely crafted. This one feels like it’d suit you perfectly, Julia," Ars said, pointing to a white lily-shaped hair ornament.

"Really? You think it’d suit me…?" Julia replied, blushing slightly.

"It’d look stunning with your silver hair—and this one might be surprisingly good too," he added, picking up a larger orchid-shaped headpiece.

Though it was several times bigger than the first, it’d undoubtedly complement Julia just as well.

Ars held the orchid headpiece beside her head.

"See? It’s gorgeous," he said.

"Which one do you like, Ars?" Julia asked.

"You look great in both. I’d like you either way, Julia," he replied earnestly.

"Hehe, I’m flattered, but that’s a sneaky way to put it," she teased.

"Is it? I’m just being honest," Ars said with a shrug.

"I-I see… Then maybe I should get both…" Julia murmured, comparing the two accessories with a serious frown, clearly torn.

Not wanting to interrupt her deliberation, Ars quietly stepped away.

That’s when he noticed Elsa standing at the edge of his vision.

Following her gaze, he saw a display of stuffed dolls.

Under her intense stare, the dolls seemed to sweat nervously—despite being lifeless, they somehow conveyed a strange, emotional aura.

"Do you want one?" Ars asked, approaching her.

Elsa’s shoulders jolted in surprise.

"No, I just like looking at them. Something this cute would be wasted in my plain room," she replied.

"But isn’t the point of decorations to brighten up a dull space?" Ars countered.

"…That does make sense," she conceded.

"And you might end up liking it more than you think. If you decide later it’s not for you, you could always give it to one of the Schüler kids," he suggested.

"Kids… True. Maybe I should buy some for my future children. Probably two girls," Elsa mused.

Her odd comment made Ars tilt his head in confusion.

Then, a realization struck him.

Maybe someone close to her—like a sister—was pregnant.

"Yeah, girls would probably love dolls like these," he agreed.

"If my husband says he wants it, I’ve got no objections. I’ll buy it, then. I’d hoped you’d chip in a bit, Ars-sama, but I’ll cover it this time," Elsa said matter-of-factly.

Her reasoning made sense.

Back when he was confined, Ars had no exposure to such customs, but he’d heard nobles often exchanged gifts for newborns. Though he’d never met this “husband” sister of Elsa’s, it felt like a serendipitous connection. Since he’d suggested it, he ought to see it through.

Unfortunately, having fled with nothing, Ars only had a single gold coin left by his late mother.

"Sorry, I don’t have much money on me right now…" he said apologetically.

Elsa blinked a few times before offering a rare smile.

That fleeting, gentle expression captivated Ars for a moment.

So she could make a face that soft—it left a deep, calming impression on him.

"I understand. But you’ll earn properly from now on, right?" she asked.

"Of course! I’ll make good money. Leave it to me," he promised confidently.

"In that case, don’t worry about it. For now, rely on me. That’s what mutual support is for," Elsa said warmly, turning her gaze back to the dolls.

"Two girls, three boys… Depending on Ars-sama’s situation, maybe more… If they’re a year apart, the dolls’ durability might… Twins or triplets could happen too… Then functionality would… Would it be better if they all had the same ones…? Quite a dilemma," she muttered to herself.

Ars gave a wry smile as Elsa lost herself in thought.

The number of kids had gone up. It seemed this “husband” sister of hers had quite a brood.

Her earnestness in choosing the dolls, her eyes brimming with affection, was oddly endearing.

"Strict yet kind, huh? No wonder she’s the backbone of the guild’s operations," Ars thought.

It was clear why Julia and Karen trusted her so deeply.

Unbeknownst to him, Ars was steadily losing any chance of retreat.

Their conversation had been running on parallel tracks all along.

"Ugh… It’s gotten to that point—there’s no stopping it now. I just hope Ars doesn’t say something weird and get himself stabbed," Karen muttered anxiously, eavesdropping on their exchange.

Shaking her head as if to shirk responsibility, she approached Ars with forced calm.

"H-Hey~! A-Ars, the daggers and stuff are over here!" she called out.

"Hm…? Oh, thanks. But are you okay? You seem a little off," Ars noted.

"You don’t need to worry about me! Just hurry up and pick your weapon already!" Karen snapped.

"Alright, alright, got it. But why’re you mad at me?" Ars asked, bewildered.

Urged on by Karen, he reached a rack displaying daggers and short swords and paused.

The blades were spotless, their prices varying widely, but each bore the marks of meticulous care—likely tended to daily. The sight spoke volumes of the artisans’ devotion.

One imperial gold coin could buy two bronze daggers, or a single copper one if he opted for just one.

Higher-grade options like iron, silver, gold, or mithril were far beyond his budget.

"So, how’s it going? Found what you wanted?" 

Ars glanced to his side at the sound of the voice and saw Julia standing there.

"I want to get two daggers with my one imperial gold coin… but I don’t know the first thing about judging weapons," he admitted.

"Leave it to me. I’ve handled weapons a lot growing up, so I’ve got a bit of a knack for it," Julia offered confidently.

She ran her fingers over a few daggers before selecting a bronze one and handing it to him.

"They all seem light and sturdy, but this one blends especially well with magic," she explained.

"Hm… It does feel light. I can faintly sense some magic in it too," Ars agreed, inspecting it.

Weapons, armor, and accessories like these were often imbued with magic, crafted by smiths with the [Forging] Talent who mixed in magic stone powder and infused them with magical energy. This kept them durable while reducing their weight.

"Compared to that one, this other dagger has lower magic conductivity, but it’s probably the sturdiest of the bunch," Julia added, pointing to another.

Conductivity referred to how well a weapon could channel the user’s magic to enhance its sharpness. The same applied to armor, boosting durability and toughness. Low conductivity meant poor magic flow, which could weaken the gear and even cause it to break under excess unvented magic.

"Then I’ll go with these two," Ars decided.

"Good choice—I’m sure it’s the right call. Oh, and, um, I have a favor to ask, Ars…" Julia said, her cheeks flushing as she nervously twirled a strand of hair.

Ars tilted his head, puzzled by her odd behavior.

"Hm? What’s up?" he asked.

"Big Sis~! How long are you planning to keep Ars waiting?" came a voice, followed by the appearance of the mischievous Karen.

"Oh dear, did I interrupt something…?" she teased.

"Not really. But what’s going on?" Ars asked.

Karen blinked at his response, looking momentarily taken aback.

"Huh? Big Sis hasn’t told you yet?" she asked.

"Ugh, I couldn’t find the right moment," Julia groaned.

"Seriously… You’re hopeless," Karen sighed, planting her hands on her hips and turning to Ars.

"So, Big Sis and I were just talking. We figured it’s not great for you to head to the Lost Lands in that outfit," she said, eyeing his shabby clothes.

"True, but after buying the daggers, I’ll be out of money. I’ll have to pass this time," Ars replied.

"That’s why Big Sis wants to give you a thank-you gift," Karen revealed.

"A thank-you gift?" Ars echoed.

"Um, since I haven’t properly thanked you for helping me yet, could I get you some gear as a token of gratitude?" Julia asked, peering up at him.

Faced with her pleading eyes, Ars couldn’t possibly refuse.

"Is that okay?" he asked hesitantly.

"Of course it’s okay! Stop dawdling and come on!" Karen snapped, losing patience and grabbing Ars by the arm to drag him along.

She led him to a section filled with all sorts of armor—robes, leather, light gear, heavy equipment, everything.

The women’s armor selection was vast and varied, while the men’s options were tucked away in a corner of the shop.

Judging by the merchandise, this place clearly catered primarily to female customers.

"Just like with weapons, I don’t know much about armor. Can I leave it to you two?" Ars asked.

"Y-Yes! Leave it to me! I’ll pick out the perfect armor for you!" Julia said eagerly.

"Fine, fine~ Big Sis can handle the picking, and I’ll just give advice," Karen said with a smirk, leaning in close to scrutinize Ars.

"What’s up?" he asked, blinking at her sudden proximity.

"I think we should match it to your hair or eye color. You’ve got black hair and those reddish-black heterochromatic eyes—so is your Talent tied to the black system or the red system?" Karen mused.

It was said that hair and eye color could shift based on one’s Talent.

This was known as the "Simple Diagnosis." While using the color of a magic circle was another method, magicians often judged a Talent’s magical system by hair or eye color too.

Julia’s silver hair and eyes were heavily influenced by the white system—a sign of strong Talent sensitivity. For magicians, heightened sensitivity was a vital, indispensable trait, affecting the number of spells, magical capacity, and precision of control.

"No, I don’t think it’s the black system…" Ars said.

"Hm… That must’ve been tough for you, then," Karen replied, her tone softening as she cast him a sympathetic look.

Black was seen as a mark of the inept—of mere mortals.

It was one reason magicians scorned the color. Another was that the [Necromancy] Talent fell under the black system, and its wielders—often with black hair or eyes—were shunned.

Black symbolized criminals and the powerless, so few chose to wear it.

"It wasn’t that tough. I learned a lot because of it," Ars said casually.

"Alright, then what system is your magic? We’ll match the color to that," Karen pressed.

"No need—black’s fine," Ars replied.

"Huh? You sure?" Karen asked, surprised.

"Yeah. If there’s no black, another color works too…" he added.

"It’s not a popular color, but they might have some… Are you really sure?" she double-checked.

"If I go all black, my opponents might underestimate me," Ars said.

"Hmm~ That’s a fair point, but if you can use magic, they’d probably be on guard instead," Karen countered.

"I’ve got them!" 

Julia, who’d been unusually quiet, returned with her arms full of armor.

It seemed she’d finished her selection while Ars and Karen were talking.

She laid out a robe, leather armor, a copper breastplate, and casual clothes on a nearby table for Ars to inspect.

"I think these casual clothes would be good," Ars said, picking them up.

"Oh, you’ve got a good eye! The defense is obviously much lower than copper armor, and the magic conductivity isn’t as high as the robe… but it’s higher than any armor. For someone skilled at manipulating magic, its durability could outstrip even mithril," Karen explained.

After her rundown, Julia leaned in toward Ars, her excitement palpable.

"I think those casual clothes suit you perfectly, Ars! Lately, more people are choosing casual wear over armor, so I think it’ll be fine!" she exclaimed.

"Alright, I’ll go with this then," Ars agreed.

"There’s a fitting room—why not change into it now?" Karen suggested, pointing to the side.

Ars nodded and headed to the fitting room. As he stepped inside, Karen handed him something.

"Here, this is from me—a thank-you for saving my sister. You can store both daggers in it. It’s a belt-style sheath, easy to wear. Drawing the blades involves reaching to your waist, so it might take some getting used to at first. But since your fighting style centers on magic, it’s better to start getting comfortable with it now," she said.

"This’ll come in handy. Thank you. I keep relying on you—sorry about that," Ars replied gratefully.

"No need to be so formal! But in return, you’d better pull your weight in the Lost Lands," Karen teased.

"Got it," he said with a nod.

He peeled off the tattered coat that had been with him for years.

Slipping into the new casual outfit, his entire appearance transformed.

"Guess appearances really do matter…" Ars murmured, studying himself in the full-length mirror.

The air of poverty was gone, the shabbiness erased.

The all-black ensemble gave him a sharp, polished look.

When he stepped out of the fitting room, the group of women—led by Julia—awaited him, their eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"It suits you perfectly. My choice was spot-on. You look like a whole new person!" Julia beamed.

"Really?" Ars asked, tilting his head.

"Yeah! You were handsome before, but now you’re even more handsome!" she gushed.

Ars gave a wry smile at her praise.

He could accept it now, but his old outfit wasn’t “handsome” by any stretch—even with a generous lie.

Julia always rated him too highly—taking her words at face value could be risky.

"Wow, the black looks so sleek! It’s better than I imagined," Karen chimed in.

"Ars-sama, this outfit has a real masculine vibe. I don’t mind what you wear, but considering the kids might want to attend a good school, appearances matter. With this, you’d ace a parent-teacher interview, wouldn’t you?" Elsa added, nodding approvingly with a rare glimmer of emotion.

Ars wasn’t sure what angle she was coming from, but it seemed like a compliment.

Getting such positive feedback from the women felt great.

Even if they didn’t care about his clothes, this look meant he wouldn’t embarrass them by standing at their side.

Still, despite the warm reception, he’d never been showered with praise like this before and wasn’t sure how to respond.

Thanks to them, though, his motivation to venture into the Lost Lands had skyrocketed.

"Since we’re all satisfied, shouldn’t we get going? Everyone’s probably waiting at the north gate," Elsa said, perhaps stepping in to spare him further scrutiny.

With her intervention, Ars finally escaped being the center of attention.

ToC

Chapter 3