The Problematic Child of the Magic Tower-Chapter 319

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Chapter 319: Special Prescription (1)

Day 390 of Drifting in the Spirit Realm.

A day that he had long awaited at first, but wanted to push away the closer it came, had finally arrived.

— When the time comes, Mother Tree will open the dimensional gate.

“……”

Standing on the green plains—the place where the World Tree had promised to open the dimensional passage—Fran suddenly turned around.

He engraved the sight of the Spirit Realm deeply into his eyes, then slowly opened his mouth.

“Lady Silaphrion may not know this, but I was raised quite… carefully.”

— It certainly looks that way.

“?”

— Ah, I don’t mean that sarcastically. I genuinely mean you look like someone who was cherished. Purely.

She smiled faintly and urged him on.

— Please, go on.

“Well… honestly, at first everything went dark for me. No bed, no toilet, not even a shower. I kept thinking—how am I supposed to endure a year in a place like this? It felt hopeless.”

As the youngest son of the Sirius Trading Company, he had lived with comforts far beyond what most people enjoyed.

For such a pampered young master to be dropped into a place no different from the primitive age—his despair was only natural.

“If it weren’t for you, Lady Silaphrion… every single day would have been hell.”

The only reason he had endured life here was because of her.

Sometimes she was a conversation partner, sometimes a guardian.

As memories from the past year flashed by, Fran’s expression darkened.

Now that it was time to leave, emotions far more complicated than he had imagined surged up.

“I’m sorry.”

Fran bowed his head deeply.

He had received so much, yet given nothing in return.

The guilt forced his head down.

— Why are you doing that? Lift your head. Come on.

“……I feel ashamed. I received so much, but gave nothing back.”

— Nothing? Why do you think that?

Silaphrion spoke with a gentle smile.

— This past year spent with you will remain the most meaningful and enjoyable year of my life.

“Come on…”

— It’s true. Life here is peaceful… but that also means it’s monotonous.

Every day repeating the same cycle, like a hamster wheel.

Then suddenly, a human appeared—how could that not be fascinating?

— If anything, I’m the one who’s grateful. Thank you for making the past year enjoyable.

With benevolent warmth, Silaphrion chose a beautiful farewell.

— When you return home, stay healthy. Eat properly. Don’t neglect your training.

“……Thank you.”

Fran’s voice trembled with moisture.

For over a year, she had been by his side constantly.

Someone who gave without reservation—like a mother.

“I truly owe you everything.”

Fran bent deeply at the waist.

Simply bowing didn’t feel enough to convey his gratitude.

— W-What are you doing? Get up. It’s uncomfortable when you bow that deeply.

As Fran straightened, a gentle breeze brushed away the dirt and grass from his knees.

Feeling the warmth within the wind, Fran asked,

“Will we meet again?”

— That would be difficult, wouldn’t it? No matter how special you are, coming back to the Spirit Realm won’t be easy.

She wasn’t wrong.

The only reason he had reached this place at all was because he had entered the deepest layer of the World Tree.

Now that the World Tree was fully healed, there was little chance it would take such a risk again.

— But I’ll continue to receive news about you.

“……Then I should ask after you whenever I meet spirits.”

Smiling softly, Silaphrion looked at Mu, who stood beside Fran.

Compared to her adult form, Mu looked almost child-sized.

— Please take good care of Fran, Mu.

— I am his companion, not his guardian.

— Hehe, that’s true. But that’s more than enough.

Like a mother reassured that her child wouldn’t be alone on a long journey.

Silaphrion looked more at ease than ever.

Woooong!

At that moment, space twisted in the middle of the plains as a dimensional gate opened.

— The World Tree is calling. Fran, it’s really time to go.

“I’ll never forget you.”

— Nor will I.

Fran took a step, then turned back.

Another step, and he turned again.

Silaphrion remained where she was, smiling as always, waving back at him.

When Fran finally disappeared beyond the gate, she slowly closed her eyes.

— ……

Living for countless eons as a Spirit King dulls one’s emotions.

Yet this single year had stirred her heart more strongly than most eras.

That was why it had been joyful—and why its end was so regrettable.

Leaving behind only good memories, she opened her eyes and looked toward the territory of fire.

— I should go get a drink.

A feast among defeated Spirit Kings—perhaps not so bad.

* * *

“……So.”

Oscar tilted his head slightly.

Staring at the small will-o’-the-wisp floating before him, he said,

“You rejected two Spirit Kings to contract with this?”

— Correction requested. I am not an object. Therefore, referring to me as “this” is discouraged.

“Ah… my head.”

Oscar pressed his forehead, a dizzy spell washing over him.

It felt like selling everything to send your kid to an elite university—only for them to bring home some deadbeat as a prospective spouse.

‘Ignious. Silaphrion.’

The Fire Spirit King and the Wind Spirit King.

Just their names alone were overwhelming.

If Fran had contracted with them, Oscar wouldn’t have worried even if the demon lord’s grandfather showed up.

‘But instead…’

Oscar stared again at the good-for-nothing orb—no, the spirit.

No matter how he looked at it, he didn’t like it.

And with Spirit Kings as the comparison, how could he?

“Hah. Fine.”

After calming himself, Oscar asked,

“So what kind of spirit is this, anyway?”

“Uh… a colorless spirit?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

It was genuinely the first time in his life he’d heard of such a thing.

Oscar asked grimly,

“So then—is it a Spirit King too? The Colorless Spirit King?”

“Uh… not sure.”

Fran glanced at Mu.

Catching the intent in his gaze, Mu replied,

— I do not know. I am an undefined existence. Rank does not apply.

“Ah.”

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That seals it.

Another wave of dizziness hit Oscar as he collapsed onto the sofa.

“Hey, Fran.”

“Y-Yeah?”

“Later on, be my guarantor.”

“…Out of nowhere? Why?”

“Just because. You seem like the kind of guy who’d do a good job.”

Was there another idiot in the world who would reject Spirit Kings for a spirit like this?

“Hoo…”

After letting out a long sigh and gulping down cold water, Oscar regained his composure.

What’s done is done.

Thinking calmly, he could at least understand Fran’s mindset.

‘He doesn’t want pre-completed power.’

As a mage, it was the best possible choice.

If Sasha or Lloyd had made that decision, Oscar would have applauded through tears.

Those two had the talent to reach the pinnacle on their own.

‘Fran Sirius…’

Oscar looked at him.

This kid had talent—there was no doubt.

Cold as it might sound, if he hadn’t, Oscar wouldn’t have tried to stop him from leaving the White Tower.

‘Well… who knows.’

He was already walking a path no one had ever taken.

The first human to enter the Spirit Realm.

A contract with a never-before-seen colorless spirit.

History would judge the results.

“Do your best. That’s all I’ll say.”

Oscar glanced at Mu and added gruffly,

“You listen to Fran too.”

— I am Fran’s partner. Not baggage or a subordinate.

“Yeah, fine. Then get along.”

Standing up, Oscar said,

“Let’s head back. Home.”

“It ended up lasting way longer than I thought.”

“It probably felt especially long to you.”

For Oscar it was no short time—but for Fran, it had been over a year.

“Hey.”

Suddenly, as if recalling something, Fran put on a mischievous grin.

“Hey, Oscar.”

“What.”

“What do you mean, what? Is that how you talk to your older brother?”

“…What?”

At Oscar’s dumbfounded stare, Fran puffed out his chest.

“Well, what. I lived a whole year longer than you, so that makes me your senior, right?”

“……”

Chuckling as if amused, Oscar wordlessly patted Fran on the shoulder.

Still green behind the ears.

* * *

“Are you stupid?”

“Are you actually stupid?”

Yes.

This was the normal reaction.

Those were the first words out of Veronica and Killian’s mouths upon hearing Fran’s choice.

Hurt, Fran covered Mu’s ears and shouted,

“Cover your ears! Don’t listen!”

— In my current form, blocking hearing is meaningless. Also, I have already heard it.

Mu had taken the form of an orb to remain longer in the mortal realm.

Naturally, Veronica and Killian—having low spirit affinity—couldn’t hear any of that.

“Well… I guess I should be relieved.”

Veronica muttered while sucking on a lollipop.

“If you’d contracted with a Spirit King, it would’ve felt unfair.”

“Huh? Why?”

“It’d be like the guy chasing after me suddenly flying way up there—somewhere I could never even look at.”

“Hm. Fair point.”

Killian nodded with arms crossed.

“Good choice, Fran. Contracting with the Spirit of Incompetence was wise.”

“It’s colorless!”

“All right, enough chatting.”

Oscar cut in to reset the mood.

“Let’s handle the backlog first. Killian, organize the requests we completed while Fran and I were gone. Veronica, check the newly arrived ones. I’ll review the important documents from the Shadow Trackers.”

“Wait—then what about me?”

Fran pointed at himself.

A scoop of fear lingered on his innocent face.

That fear born from knowing Oscar would never leave him idle.

“Oh, you’re heading to the closed-training wing. I applied as soon as you arrived.”

“…Who decided that?”

“I did.”

“I spent over a year rolling around in the Spirit Realm!”

“And because of that, you’ve contracted a new spirit. Now you need to learn how to use it.”

Fran’s current strength was hard to gauge.

Even he didn’t fully understand it yet.

Evaluation and adjustment were necessary.

“Figure out what the two of you can do together, and assess your current level. Fifteen days should be enough.”

“Fifteen days…”

Thankfully, it wasn’t too long.

“Fine. I’ll go and come back.”

Just as Fran answered with slumped shoulders and a gloomy face—

— Attention from the broadcast room.

All four looked up at the ceiling speakers simultaneously.

— Oscar Crucian, Oscar Crucian. Please stop what you are doing and report to the Tower Master’s office immediately.

“……”

Oscar’s eyes narrowed.

When they called like this, urgently—

Nine times out of ten, something had gone wrong.

“Tch. I’ll be back. Sorry, but handle the documents among yourselves.”

This damned Mage Tower never lets anyone rest.

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