The Problematic Child of the Magic Tower-Chapter 306

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Chapter 306: Forest of Spirits (3)

The front gate of the White Magic Tower.

“……”

The man looked up at the pristine white tower with eyes full of tangled emotions.

There had been a time, long ago, when he had called this place home.

Days so happy that merely recalling them made his mood lighten—

days that now felt far too precious for someone like him.

“……”

He checked the time on the old, worn leather watch around his wrist.

If he didn’t want to be late for his appointment, he should go in soon.

And yet, his feet refused to move, as though glued to the ground.

It felt as though a voice deep in his chest was shouting that he had no right to step inside.

“Huh?”

“Do you know him?”

“I might be mistaken, but…”

A few mages near the entrance whispered as they noticed him.

With a faint sigh, the man began walking before any of them could approach.

“……”

The moment he entered the first-floor lobby, he flinched.

The atmosphere was almost identical to the one in his memories.

Groups of mages chatting quietly among themselves.

That refined liveliness—noisy at a glance, yet orderly—had not existed when he left the tower.

‘No… it’s even older than that.’

It was closer to the atmosphere of the White Tower’s golden age—

back when he was still alive.

That was why the man was genuinely surprised.

He knew the White Tower had shown remarkable progress over the past year,

sending out clear signs of revival across many fronts.

Though his body was far away, his heart had always remained with the tower.

‘But still…’

Even if the White Tower regained its prosperity, even if talented mages gathered once more,

he had believed that this atmosphere—the one from his memories—would never return.

‘Was that belief wrong too?’

The feeling was strange.

This atmosphere, which he thought he would never experience again, felt painfully nostalgic—and deeply welcome.

And yet, there was also a faint sense of regret, as though something that had once been only his memory

was now being shared by everyone.

“Hmm? Chester?”

At the voice from the side, the man turned his head.

Several familiar faces were lined up there.

“What nonsense. Why would that guy be here?”

“Look closely! That’s Chester, no matter how you see it!”

“Now that you mention it… it does look like him.”

Maxim, Fidelina, and Schwein.

Seeing his former comrades, the man—Chester—hesitated over what expression to make.

“Ha ha ha!”

Maxim rushed over and pulled him into a tight embrace with his massive frame.

“To think I’d see you at the tower again! How long has it been? Four years?”

“…You haven’t changed.”

“I prefer to think of it as consistency.”

After stepping back, Maxim looked the same as ever—

so much so that Chester could still see the face of the teenage boy he once knew.

They had been the youngest together here.

It was a long bond.

“Good to see you, Fidelina. Schwein too.”

“Yeah, seeing you like this… it’s honestly nice.”

“Would’ve been better if we’d met more often.”

They were the ones who had leaned on each other during the White Tower’s darkest days.

Though more than ten years had passed, they felt as familiar as if they’d met yesterday.

Fidelina narrowed her eyes.

“You’re not here for money—you were sending us fees instead of taking activity pay. So what wind blew you back?”

“The Tower Master summoned me. It sounded urgent. Do you know anything about it?”

“Urgent?”

She tilted her head, confused. Maxim and Schwein looked equally clueless.

“No idea.”

“Could be something external rather than internal.”

“If it’s an outside matter, it makes sense they’d call Chester instead of us.”

For over ten years, Chester had handled the White Tower’s external affairs.

If it couldn’t be solved inside, he was the obvious choice.

After checking the time, Chester spoke.

“I should go. It’s about time.”

“Drinks afterward?”

“…Another time.”

Maxim nodded quietly, then suddenly spoke again.

“The White Tower’s changed a lot, hasn’t it? Or maybe it’s returned to what it once was.”

“…Yeah. Honestly, I was surprised.”

“It’s thanks to everyone working together. Your efforts were a big part of that too.”

Chester knew what he was trying to say.

“You can come back now. You’ve done more than enough. No one would object.”

“……”

Chester didn’t answer.

He simply patted Maxim’s shoulder a couple of times, as if to thank him for the words.

“See you around.”

Maxim watched Chester’s retreating back with complicated emotions.

Fidelina, also watching him, crossed her arms.

“He’s stubborn as ever, huh?”

“…Yeah. An idiot.”

“Do you think he wants to come back?”

“He probably does.”

Schwein muttered softly.

“But only after he forgives himself. And no one knows when that’ll be.”

“Well, who knows?”

Fidelina shrugged.

“Miracles have been happening around this tower lately. Would it really be strange if he suddenly returned as an Elder tomorrow?”

“…That’d be fun to see.”

A future where the four of them served as Elders together.

Maxim sincerely prayed for that day to come.

* * *

[Translator - Night]

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“Ah, you’re here. Please, sit.”

Seeing Sasha greet him with a bright smile, Chester failed to hide his discomfort.

“…Please speak formally.”

“Oh come on, between us?”

“…That kind of talk is forbidden. Others might misunderstand. Maintaining the tower’s hierarchy is essential.”

“But everyone already knows! That you used to carry me on your shoulders, comfort me when I cried, and play tag with me.”

…That left him with nothing to say.

Memories surfaced, and a small smile escaped Chester’s lips.

‘Those were good times.’

When he got tired of playing with his disciples, he would call Chester or Maxim to take over.

He remembered watching them play from afar while holding meetings with Vice Tower Master Marlon.

“Oh! You smiled!”

Sasha beamed.

“See? You look so much better when you smile. You used to be so cheerful.”

“…I’ll try.”

Chester quickly composed himself.

“You mentioned something important in your letter. What is it?”

“Wow, straight to business?”

“You said it was urgent.”

“Well… I wanted to introduce someone to you.”

That was urgent?

‘Did she drag me back here just to pressure me into taking an Elder seat?’

It felt a little underhanded—but since his answer wouldn’t change, it didn’t matter.

Then Sasha called toward the door.

“Come in!”

With a light knock, a familiar-looking man entered.

Chester’s eyes widened slightly as he turned.

“You’ve heard the news, right?”

“…It’s been a while, Chester.”

It was Lloyd—wearing an uncharacteristically awkward expression, his gaze drifting.

“Senior, come sit here.”

“I’m fine standing—”

“Sit. Here. Now!”

Under Sasha’s glare, Lloyd sighed and complied.

Seeing the scene felt strangely touching.

‘He’s the same as ever.’

Lloyd had always been like this with his siblings—especially with the youngest, Sasha.

A strict-looking brother who couldn’t resist her at all.

‘He grew up just as I remember.’

Chester turned his head before his eyes could sting.

When he’d heard Lloyd became the Red Tower Lord’s disciple and left, he’d been shocked.

For a time, he had truly resented him—

believing Lloyd shared blame for Gilliot’s disappearance.

‘Time really has passed.’

Now, instead of resentment, warm memories surfaced first.

“It’s good to see you, Lloyd.”

“…Yes.”

“I’ve heard about you. Level 8—that’s an incredible achievement. Congratulations, even if it’s late.”

“Thank you. Though I’m not sure I deserve congratulations.”

“No one needs qualifications to receive congratulations. Only sincerity.”

Chester finally understood why Sasha had arranged this meeting.

“You don’t know why my brother had to leave the White Tower, do you?”

“…Why he had to leave?”

As Lloyd tried to stop her, Sasha waved him off and explained everything.

After hearing it all, Chester nodded.

“So that’s how it was.”

After a brief pause, he patted Lloyd’s shoulder.

“You’ve had a hard time out there.”

“…!”

Lloyd’s eyes widened.

Those words, coming from someone who had walked the same harsh outside world, struck deeply.

“…Thank you.”

Chester smiled faintly and turned to Sasha.

“Thank you, Tower Master, for arranging this.”

“Again with the formalities. And also—no?”

“…No?”

“The person I wanted to introduce wasn’t Lloyd.”

“…What?”

“Wait—oh no, it’s been so long! What if they’re still waiting outside?!”

Flustered, Sasha hurried to the door.

“P-please come in!”

Chester frowned slightly.

For Sasha—now Tower Master—to treat someone with that much deference…

‘Just who is it?’

As he turned toward the door—

A remarkably young man entered.

‘That face…’

He didn’t recognize him personally, yet he knew instantly.

Flawless, porcelain-like skin.

Deep eyes.

The present and future of the White Tower, endlessly praised by the world.

‘…The noble young master.’

But still—was he really someone who made Sasha this nervous?

“Oh—sorry to keep you waiting.”

“?”

Why was Lloyd acting like this too?

Arms crossed, Chester stared sharply at the White Tower’s golden prodigy, as if dissecting him.

“….”

Then, the young man—who had been staring right back—slowly opened his mouth.

“Tsk tsk. What a foolish fellow you are.”

“…?”

It was a kind of greeting Chester had never imagined.

[Translator - Night]

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