Bireta crossed the village, leaving Sharti with the dark mongrel.

A guest who arrived in the village through the beam of light that had flashed earlier stood receiving the gaze of all the villagers.

The guest with triple eyes was wearing flashy clothes with magic stones hanging all over their body like jewels.

“I see you still haven’t cut that hair, Magic Tower Master.”

“It’s been a while, Bireta.”

The Magic Tower Master flipped his long water-colored hair with slender fingers for show. The hair, so long it would drag on the ground, had a floating spell cast on the ends to barely avoid touching the earth.

“What use does a man have for such long hair?”

“Ha ha! As I’ve said many times, it’s to make me look even more charming when I use magic.”

Bireta clicked her tongue at the Magic Tower Master who still seemed mentally unstable.

“I spoke with the Vice Tower Master, so why did you come personally, Tower Master? And alone at that.”

“Well, I’m the decision maker anyway. Why did you bother contacting the Vice Tower Master twice, Bireta? Did you think I wouldn’t respond to your message?”

Bireta’s expression soured as she dealt with the sly, chuckling Magic Tower Master.

The Magic Tower Master, who appeared to be in his early 30s, was actually around the same age as Bireta. Thanks to his considerable magical power, he had maintained his youth since taking the position of Magic Tower Master.

So Bireta didn’t look kindly upon the Magic Tower Master who only pretended to be fresh on the outside.

“Ah−. Did you misunderstand? I thought push and pull was important in our relationship, so I was pushing.”

The Magic Tower Master had only grown older, with the mental age no different from a toddler.

He was lighthearted and sly, and above all, very sincere about teasing people.

“By the way, what an interesting village.”

As Bireta’s eyes flashed with murderous intent, the Magic Tower Master quickly averted his gaze. His hand, with rings packed tightly on all ten fingers, lightly waved through the air.

Whoosh−! The mana in the air reacted to the Magic Tower Master’s magical power, sparkling like stardust. The corners of the Magic Tower Master’s mouth lifted to the point of tearing.

“A place like this, I needed to come see for myself. Who else would believe it?”

The Magic Tower Master slowly began to walk. Bireta silently moved away from him and walked alongside.

Receiving the gaze of all the villagers, the Magic Tower Master headed toward the center of the village.

An ecstatic smile spread across the Magic Tower Master’s face as he arrived at the place where three stone towers stood.

“Bireta−.”

The Magic Tower Master turned to Bireta, covering his mouth with his hand as he laughed. Not that it hid his torn mouth corners.

“Is there really a need for a village to exist in this place?”

Chang−. In an instant, as if the wind blew, the mercenary group appeared in the blink of an eye, pointing their weapons at the Magic Tower Master with fierce gazes.

Surrounded by dozens of blades pointed at his nose, the Magic Tower Master smiled faintly.

“I’m not saying I’ll take it, it’s just an innocent question, isn’t this rude?”

As the Magic Tower Master snapped his fingers, all the mercenaries’ weapons turned to water.

Even then, as the Kropfl mercenary group’s killing intent didn’t waver, the Magic Tower Master immediately raised his hands, showing his palms.

“You know, Bireta? I was just saying~.”

The Magic Tower Master claimed innocence as if humming a tune.

Karun, the leader of the Kropfl mercenary group who had somehow come to Bireta’s side, gave a signal with his eyes, and the members slowly retreated and disappeared again. It was a movement more like a large assassination group than a mercenary group.

The Magic Tower Master laughed “ha-ha” and brushed back his slightly disheveled hair.

“You know I meant it’s that attractive of a village, right?”

The Magic Tower Master met each of the villagers’ fearful gazes directed at him and smiled brightly.

The villagers quietly moved away from the Magic Tower Master and hid.

The atmosphere turned chilly, making his carefully chosen outfit for this rare outing seem out of place.

“No one appreciates me.”

Bireta and Karun looked at the Magic Tower Master pouting his lips as if he was detestable.

The Magic Tower Master lightly turned his hand, wiped the smile from his face, and looked up at the stone towers.

“This village, or more precisely, the treasure hidden beneath it is dangerous, Bireta. I can assert that only I can handle it.”

The Magic Tower Master had already finished measuring the mana levels underground from the moment he arrived in the village. The treasure hidden underground was mana that was infinitely generated from nature. It was a treasure that would make not only the Magic Tower Master, but even the Emperor of the Empire, go crazy.

To be frank, this village needed to be fully owned by the Magic Tower to be safe. If this village and the people living here were to avoid bloodshed, that is.

“For the Tower Master to assert such a thing.”

Despite the Magic Tower Master’s advice given without a hint of humor, Bireta just laughed hollowly.

Bireta looked to the side.

“Village Chief, you heard that, right?”

The Village Chief and village executives, who had arrived at some unknown time, nodded resolutely with tense faces.

“Now that its value has been proven, there will be more who covet it in the future.”

“All the more reason why our Magic Tower’s presence will be needed.”

The Magic Tower Master quickly interjected into the conversation between Bireta and the Village Chief.

The Magic Tower Master stiffly raised his neck and spread both arms to the sides with a solemn face.

“Therefore, I, the Magic Tower Master, formally propose that this land be handed over to me for the development of the Magic Tower.”

Cheureurek, the magic stones worn by the Magic Tower Master shook along with his hair. It was a sophisticated and dignified gesture befitting the Magic Tower Master.

As the Magic Tower Master was completely immersed in his own dignity, a disgusted gaze pierced him.

“That would be difficult, Magic Tower Master.”

“…Are you refusing? Dare you refuse the Magic Tower Master’s proposal?”

The Magic Tower Master glared threateningly as he raised his eyes.

On the other hand, the Village Chief exchanged glances with Bireta and then made a troubled expression.

“We are just village residents, so such a proposal is not valid in the first place.”

The Magic Tower Master blinked. What did the village have to do with wanting the land?

He was vulnerable to imperial law.

“Above all, this village does not belong to us, but to a certain noble lord.”

“A noble? A hidden village is privately owned?”

“Let’s go inside and talk. We also have a proposal for you, Magic Tower Master.”

The Village Chief naturally led the Magic Tower Master to the negotiation table.

Bireta and Karun also followed as bait. They had already anticipated how the Magic Tower Master would react and prepared alternative plans.

The Magic Tower Master obediently followed the Village Chief to move locations. And as soon as he heard the story behind the village, he clenched his fists and began to tremble.

“So, you’re saying that ‘that’ scorpion-crested noble is planning to ruin the friendly relationship between the Magic Tower and the Imperial Family?”

The Magic Tower Master who had initially burst into laughter saying it was nonsense was nowhere to be seen.

“‘That’ noble said that this village is a precious resource to be used for a great cause.”

“But the attitude of the noble faction towards the Magic Tower has been subtle from before, right? Needless to say now that the war is over.”

“It seems they think that as long as they own this village’s resources, they can use it as a substitute for the Magic Tower anytime.”

“So ‘that’ noble unilaterally concealed and diverted the existence of the village long ago, didn’t he?”

The information shared by the mercenary group and the secrets the Village Chief had kept hidden until now fit perfectly.

“…They were waiting for the right time and preparing?”

The Magic Tower Master held his forehead.

If pieced together, it meant that there were those who dared to oppose the Magic Tower.

Meanwhile, the gazes of Karun, the Village Chief, and Bireta clashed for a moment and then disappeared.

“After the long Great War ended and the turbulent times passed, a gap would form as the bonds between the Imperial Family and the Magic Tower loosened.”

“They will try to erase the existence of the Magic Tower in the name of peace for the Empire.”

“Coincidentally, the number of villagers collapsing from mana poisoning is gradually increasing, so they might think that ‘time’ has come.”

It was land hidden as a ‘resource for rebellion’ aimed at the Imperial Family from the beginning.

Since the Magic Tower has close ties with the current Emperor who formed an alliance, and the noble faction is aiming for the throne, it became quite a plausible conspiracy theory if the truth was twisted cleverly.

“…These X sons of Xs dare to see us as X and do such X things.”

The Magic Tower Master’s hair swayed in the air from the magical power he was emitting.

Since the noble faction was mentioned, it was impossible not to know who the ‘scorpion’ crested noble they were talking about was.

“Briedend, you XXX XXX…!”

The Magic Tower Master jumped up. His eyes blazed as if he would rush into the Briedend Viscount’s residence and smash it right away.

Magicians cannot tolerate disrespect and oppression from others.

Especially trying to touch their ‘Magic Tower’ was no different from aiming for their hearts.

“Don’t get so excited, Tower Master. It’s all just speculation anyway, isn’t it?”

“Ha! Bireta, are you serious?”

After pouring oil and fanning the flames earlier, now she was throwing water.

The Magic Tower Master frowned and got angry, while Bireta laughed hollowly.

“Would the head of the noble faction, skilled in political machinations, leave behind any evidence? Rather, he would have prepared to counterattack if someone rushed in after catching a whiff of something suspicious.”

“That’s only possible while he’s alive, isn’t it?”

The Village Chief gulped dryly at the Magic Tower Master’s ominous murder forecast.

On the other hand, Bireta and Karun showed no change in expression and reacted indifferently.

“We have to keep him alive, why kill him?”

“Right. Of course, we should dry those rotten bastards out and see their X faces.”

“…”

The Village Chief tactfully closed his ears, and the Magic Tower Master made an expression of realization. The Magic Tower Master gathered his long hair into one and combed it with his hand as he sat down demurely.

A deep smile appeared on the Magic Tower Master’s lips again.

“I have a feeling the reason you told me about this village was because of that charming plan of yours.”

Ignoring the Magic Tower Master’s greasy wink, Bireta tapped the table with her index finger.

“Let’s start by taking out the magic contract first.”

“Is there any need to ask?”

The Magic Tower Master covered his mouth with his sleeve and smiled narrowly like a fox.

As he snapped his fingers, two magic contracts appeared on the table.

“Our mercenary group has already finished negotiating with the Village Chief.”

Karun placed one magic contract in front of the Village Chief and stood up along with Bireta.

“Negotiation. It seems like the mercenary group has already taken all the good stuff.”

“It was a negotiation for a symbiotic relationship, so you can rest assured on that point.”

The Magic Tower Master stroked his chin and hummed at the Village Chief’s words, saying they had already divided things fairly.

In fact, even without negotiating with a mere village chief, everything would be dealt with simply and clearly if the Magic Tower took full action. However, to play with the Briedend Viscount family and deliver a satisfying blow, cooperation with this village and the Kropfl mercenary group was necessary.

It was wise to follow Bireta’s advice to see the face of someone who had their possessions stolen and was getting teased, not knowing what to do.

“Let me formally introduce myself. I’m the Magic Tower Master here to negotiate.”

The Magic Tower Master chose coexistence over monopoly. If the alliance with the Newyton Imperial Family was precarious due to the existence of the noble faction, it was good to establish other symbiotic relationships.

There was no reason to refuse since it meant gaining both military and magical power at the same time.

“Then we’ll take our leave now.”

Karun and Bireta, who were bait from the beginning, left their seats.

Afterwards, the Village Chief calmly met the Magic Tower Master’s demanding conditions one by one without trembling. The magic contract was completed as each line was added.

The Magic Tower Master, who had been resting his chin with an ambiguous expression, stared at the Village Chief.

“Village Chief, why did you make this decision? If you make a mistake, you could die like a dog. Aren’t you afraid after escalating things this far?”

“I am afraid.”

The Village Chief answered readily.

“I’ve lived thinking it was natural to die quietly while keeping the village’s secret hidden, so I realize every minute, every second how insane what I’m doing now is, with my heart pounding.”

Even to the Magic Tower Master, it seemed so. Just the fact that they didn’t leave the village with their mana-poisoned bodies was enough to easily guess the old story settled in their years.

“But there was someone who said they would help if we said we wanted to live and asked for help. An outsider sincerely clashed with us and persuaded us that they would definitely save us.”

The Magic Tower Master raised an eyebrow. What a meddlesome outsider. They must be a servant with a strong spirit of sacrifice. The Magic Tower Master judged cynically.

“They say there are moments when people have to make choices. That outsider made the right choice, and we saw the results of that choice with our own eyes. So we couldn’t make the wrong choice.”

“Well, in the end, I’m sitting here, so the result of that choice wasn’t bad.”

No longer interested, the Magic Tower Master cut off the old-fashioned story.

And only when the day was about to end did the Magic Tower Master come out holding rolled up magic contracts with the Village Chief.

“Ah, I guess I should pay the down payment first?”

The Magic Tower Master leisurely headed towards the hut where the patients were, following the Village Chief’s guidance.

The area around the hut was bustling with mercenary magicians and patients’ families.

“Hmm?”

At that moment, two figures in dark robes were seen hurriedly avoiding behind the hut.

The Magic Tower Master slightly tilted his head, his gaze drawn to the larger figure.

The mana that filled the village was uniquely not sticking to that person.

“It resembles?”

It resembled the constitution of one of the nobles present when forming an alliance with Emperor Newyton.