The Problematic Child of the Magic Tower-Chapter 323

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 323: Terror (1)

Leaving the pub behind, Oscar looked around the quiet street.

Trash scattered across the ground, white steam billowing up from manholes, rats rummaging through garbage bins.

The city's emptiness stirred an inexplicable sense of nostalgia, and for a brief moment, loneliness crept in.

Then—

From an alleyway, a small face peeked out.

‘Master, over here!’

Following Sasha as she fluttered her hands excitedly, Oscar stepped into the alley.

She spun around in place, checking the surroundings thoroughly.

“Are you hurt anywhere? I was so surprised when your mana suddenly disappeared, Master.”

“Ah, permafrost iron.”

Oscar nodded lightly, as if he understood.

“The inner room—floor and walls alike—was entirely made of permafrost iron. That’s probably why it lost track of my mana.”

“W-What? They built an entire room out of that insanely expensive material?”

“Yeah. And it was pretty spacious.”

“……Who in the world owns a place like that?”

“The Designer.”

At that answer, Sasha’s innocent-looking eyes wavered.

Then, at a speed incomparable to before, she began spinning around again.

“Are you hurt anywhere?! Anywhere at all?! If there’s even a scratch the size of a fingernail, I’ll— ngh!”

Oscar grabbed the back of her neck and lifted her up.

Sasha dangled helplessly, like a kitten caught by its mother.

Meeting her eyes at the same height, Oscar spoke calmly.

“First, take a deep breath. Calm down. I’m fine.”

“H-huff! Hah! Huu… haaah… Okay, please put me down now.”

After gently setting her down, Sasha straightened her clothes and asked,

“That weirdo didn’t do anything strange to you, right?”

“Not yet?”

Oscar explained everything—the conversation he had with the man, and even the details of the deal they’d made.

After hearing it all, Sasha frowned deeply.

“I don’t like it.”

“What part?”

As Oscar pressed his index finger against her furrowed brow, smoothing it out, he asked again.

“The fact that he wants to examine your body, for one. And overall, it feels like everything is flowing exactly the way the Designer wants.”

“Can’t be helped.”

The Designer held the information they needed.

Naturally, that meant he had the upper hand in the negotiation.

“For now, we’ll move according to what he says.”

“If you say so, Master……”

Sasha agreed reluctantly, but she still looked dissatisfied.

“Is there something else bothering you?”

“Of course there is. You’re putting yourself in danger.”

So that was it—she was worried about him.

Oscar tilted his head slightly.

“I appreciate the concern, but is this really that dangerous?”

“You heard what Kaya and Oran said, didn’t you? Not to get involved with the Designer.”

“That was then. Now I have you with me.”

“……Huh?”

“If something goes wrong, or if we decide it’s a trap, we can just set up a new board then.”

That confidence came from one thing alone—

Sasha, an eighth-level mage, was at his side.

“This operation is only possible because I trust you completely.”

“Ah……”

“If you weren’t here, I wouldn’t take on something this risky.”

After a brief moment of thought, Sasha’s eyes sparkled.

She clenched her small fist, as if steeling her resolve.

“No matter what happens, I’ll protect you, Master! Just trust me!”

* * *

Two days later, at the western wall of Rouen.

Oscar, waiting for the Designer, checked the time and muttered,

“I thought he’d be late……”

“No way.”

At exactly 12:00 AM, he appeared—right on the dot.

“We agreed to meet at midnight.”

Smiling gently as he approached, the Designer shifted his gaze to Sasha.

“A pleasure to meet you, Sasha Maestro. Or should I call you the White Tower Master?”

“…….”

After studying him briefly, Sasha nodded.

“Call me the White Tower Master.”

“Very well. Are you ready to move?”

“Wait.”

Oscar stopped him.

“Before we go, I’d like an explanation.”

“An explanation?”

“Where we’re going, and why you think the Violet Brigade’s leader is there.”

“Ah… hmm.”

After a short pause, the Designer nodded slowly.

“You’re right. There’s nothing I can’t say. We’re heading to the airport.”

“……The airport?”

Oscar frowned.

“Why there?”

“And if it’s Rouen’s airport… it should still be under construction.”

“In a few hours, that airport will explode.”

“……What?”

“The Violet Brigade’s elites plan to kill the workers and guards staying there overnight, plant a large quantity of explosives, and detonate them at dawn.”

Oscar’s gaze turned icy.

“If this is a joke, I’d rather not hear it.”

“I know many amusing jokes, but unfortunately, this isn’t one of them.”

“……Is this why you met with the leader alone?”

“Oh, yes. Sharp memory.”

The man who casually predicted a horrific terrorist attack smiled as if amused.

Watching him, Sasha snapped sharply,

“Why are you smiling?”

“Because it’s funny.”

“What exactly is funny?”

“Hm?”

Noticing the hostile looks directed at him, the Designer tilted his head.

After a moment, realization dawned on his face.

“Ah, I see how this could be misunderstood. I haven’t finished yet. There’s more.”

“……Go on.”

“Tonight, the leader will appear at that airport.”

“To kill people and plant explosives?”

“No.”

Shaking his head, the Designer continued,

“To eliminate the perpetrators before anyone is killed and before any explosives are set.”

“……?”

Neither of them understood immediately.

Sasha blinked in confusion.

“So… the culprit— no, what do you mean? I don’t get it.”

“We didn’t plan this. When I asked the leader, he said it was news to him as well.”

“What?”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

“But tonight, the terrorist attack will happen. And by tomorrow, word will spread across the continent that the Violet Brigade was responsible.”

At last, Oscar understood.

“Someone’s trying to borrow your name.”

“If people believe it was us, no one would question it.”

“Do you have any suspects— no, I guess there’s no need to ask.”

If the leader didn’t know, that was exactly why he’d go personally.

“You’re absolutely right. When I first got the information, I thought it was strange too—so I confirmed it with him.”

“Where did you get that information?”

Instead of answering, the Designer smiled.

“I’m afraid that’s a secret.”

“You sure have a lot of those.”

“You’ll be informed of everything you need to know. No need to worry.”

“……Let’s hope so.”

“For now, let’s move.”

The three vaulted over Rouen’s western wall and entered the plains beyond.

In the distance, the massive airport—slowly taking shape—came into view.

“Why do you think that is?”

Sasha, deep in thought ever since hearing about the terror plot, spoke up.

“Who would want to attack the airport… and why?”

“Hard to say. There could be many reasons.”

Every airport under construction across the continent was backed by the Imperial Family.

Attacking one was tantamount to challenging the Empire itself.

At the very least, the terrorists were dangerously bold.

‘And there is something else bothering me.’

Oscar glanced at the back of the Designer’s head as he walked ahead.

The Violet Brigade was already a group of public enemies.

Adding another crime to their name wouldn’t change much.

‘So then… why?’

Why stop the attack at all?

Because someone was using their name?

Or because they were enemies of whoever planned it?

“It’s a very simple reason.”

Without turning around, the Designer spoke.

“Airships are incredibly convenient. We’d like to use them as soon as possible.”

“…….”

Could he really believe that?

Coming from one of the continent’s most infamous criminals, it sounded far too innocent.

After a moment’s thought, Oscar shrugged.

“Even if the airport is completed, it’ll be hard for you to use it.”

“Why is that?”

“Only people with verified identities will be allowed onboard. Passenger safety, you know.”

“Oh, that won’t be an issue. We have dozens of forged identities.”

“…….”

At a loss for words, Oscar shook his head and asked,

“Is the leader going alone?”

“Unlikely. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him travel solo.”

“Hm?”

“There’s a monster he always keeps with him. We call it the Mad Fiend.”

The same creature Kaya and Oran had mentioned.

If even the Designer called it a monster, it had to be exceptionally powerful.

“With those two, stopping the terrorists should be easy.”

“Well…….”

The Designer replied in an ambiguous tone.

“I certainly hope so.”

* * *

Rouen Airport—its basic structure completed.

As two guards patrolled the corridor in pairs, one spoke,

“I really don’t get it. Why patrol a building that isn’t even finished?”

“Come on. Do you know how much money’s been poured into this place? Of course they’re being careful.”

“Still, it’s so clean there’s not even an ant in sight.”

Designed by an architect handpicked after rigorous Imperial screening,

Rouen Airport was meant to embody overwhelming scale and pristine order.

The guards had never once felt confined inside.

The towering ceilings made it hard to believe they were even indoors.

“And there are over a hundred workers staying here overnight. Wouldn’t it be bad if a criminal sneaked in?”

“Well, that’s—”

Screech!

A sound came from a side corridor.

The two guards exchanged glances.

‘Did you hear that?’

‘I did.’

Lowering their voices, they turned their flashlights toward the sound.

Moving slowly, suppressing their footsteps like thieves—

Screech, screeeeetch!

A man was crouched in the dark corridor, drawing something on the floor with chalk.

“W-Who’s there?!”

“Don’t move!”

The guards shouted, but the man ignored them, continuing his work.

“Is that… a magic circle?”

“Damn it. This feels really bad.”

Even to their untrained eyes, the floor-etched circle was complex.

It was clearly not a simple spell.

Unfortunately, it was the last thing they would ever see.

“……It’s complete.”

Screech. Tap.

The man bowed his head deeply, reporting to someone unseen.

A heavy voice—one that seemed to vibrate through the very space—answered.

—Begin.

“Yes.”

Still bowing, the man spoke.

“For the Great Rite.”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]