Chapter 30 - Damn Reincarnation

Red Tower

Succubi were dream demons so famous that scarcely anyone had never heard of them. Naturally, Eugene knew them well, too. When he had wandered Helmuth in his previous life, those goddamn dream demons would worm their way into his dreams whenever he was exhausted in body and mind, then pull all kinds of shit.

"This isn't fucking Helmuth. Why are there succubi here?"

"P-please calm down."

The guide raised his hands, thoroughly flustered by Eugene's angry outburst.

"It may not be Helmuth, but we do have the Black Tower, don't we? There are quite a few demons there, not just human black mages."

"So Eward, that bastard... I mean, my older brother, has been fooling around with a succubus from the Black Tower?"

Even as he said it himself, Eugene could scarcely believe it. A descendant of Vermouth, the eldest son of the main family... fooling around with a demon? And a succubus, at that?

"... Well... strictly speaking, rather than fooling around... it's purely a form of entertainment..."

"What's the difference?"

"I imagine every city has one, but Aroth also has a street rife with criminals and that sort of business. You might say it's tolerated as a necessary evil..."

"And?"

"That street is famous for its black market, and there are a few disreputable establishments that employ succubi as hostesses. I've heard that Lord Eward visits them regularly..."

"Crazy bastard."

Eugene's language grew vicious. Since the guide had mentioned the Black Tower, he'd thought Eward might be dating a succubus mage who belonged to it. But the guide's story filled Eugene with contempt for Eward.

A descendant of Vermouth had fallen under a succubus's spell and was offering up his vitality to her. That alone was contemptible, but she wasn't even an ordinary succubus—she was a hostess.

And "hostess" was an exceedingly polite way to put it. A succubus working in a place like that was undoubtedly a low-ranking succubus of the most debased sort. In human terms, she was no different from a cheap whore.

"Crazy fucking lunatic. What the hell is that wet-behind-the-ears brat doing?"

The guide couldn't help being flustered once again by those vicious words. Eugene sounded exactly like an adult reprimanding a delinquent child.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Well, I can't really... It's only a rumor..."

"Where's this street? Do you know?"

"It's called Bolero Street. It isn't open every day. It only becomes a street of vice on the night of the full moon each month."

"All right."

Eugene answered through gritted teeth. He hadn't come to Aroth wanting to get along with Eward. He'd meant to keep a reasonable distance, ignore him, and focus on his own business.

But hearing that story made fury boil up inside him. It wasn't because Eugene's surname was Lionheart. He simply couldn't accept that a descendant of Vermouth was offering his vitality to some cheap demon.

'Unfilial bastard.'

Eugene hated demons as well as Demon Kings. If he ranked the demons he hated most, succubi would be right at the top. The first time one had attacked him in the demon lands, he'd suffered a fucking humiliation.

'Succubi, incubi—all those dream demons need to be exterminated.'

He had no desire to dredge up that embarrassing memory. In any case, he had torn a great many succubi and incubi to pieces in his previous life.

"... Lord Eugene. Please keep this story a secret..."

"Oh, don't worry. I swore on my name, didn't I? I won't tell anyone, and I won't say anything to my fucking brother for now, either."

The Red Tower was drawing closer. Eugene had been grinding his teeth, but at the guide's worried voice, he gave a perfunctory nod.

'I'd like nothing better than to grab him by the collar and slap him across the face.'

For now, though, it was only a rumor. An unreliable rumor, at that. Slapping Eward over some unfounded rumor would land Eugene in trouble. Unless he witnessed clear evidence, he would have to hold back.

"... The night of the full moon. Bolero Street, you said?"

"Yes..."

"All right."

The flying carriage descended in front of the Red Tower. Eugene threw open the carriage door first.

"Oh, you don't need to get out with me. We're parting ways here anyway. Take care, and if we happen to run into each other on the street sometime, let's say hello."

"C-could I at least give you my business card? My name is..."

"No need, no need. I've got a good memory. I'll definitely recognize you next time, so we can say hello and go our separate ways then, too."

Eugene waved off the offer and stepped out of the carriage. The guide's intentions were obvious. He wanted to establish a connection however he could. If things went well, his name might even reach Lovellian, the tower master.

That was none of Eugene's concern.

"Lord Eugene Lionheart?"

A tall red tower stood before him. A woman was waiting outside it. Her magenta robes and enormous hat made quite an impression.

'Even three hundred years ago, nobody dressed quite that much like a mage...'

They said fashions came back around. Could that outfit count as a kind of retro fashion, too? Eugene glanced at her pointed hat, then nodded.

"Yes."

"I'm Hera of the Red Tower."

Hera removed her hat and bowed her head.

"The tower master is upstairs. He had intended to come greet you himself, but a small problem arose, so he couldn't come out."

"A problem?"

Hera looked uncomfortable at his question. Unable to answer immediately, she hesitated for a moment, glancing back at the tower.

ZIIING!

Mana spilling out of the tower agitated the mana in the air. Hera's shoulders flinched at the piercing sound. Eugene also looked at the tower with a slight frown.

"... Uh... Has there been some kind of accident?"

"... It's a common occurrence."

Hera cleared her throat softly and put her hat back on.

"The Red Tower... well... has many mages who research summoning magic. Of the various kinds of magic, summoning magic... hmm... has a high chance of failure."

"If you're going to explain it, explain it properly."

A voice abruptly cut in.

"It's not that there's a high chance of failure. They fail on purpose! They send the mana in the summoning circle out of control to summon something completely different!"

The irritable voice belonged to Lovellian. He opened a window high up the tower and launched himself outside. The instant the window opened, black smoke came billowing out.

WHOOSH!

"But this goes too far. You truly are incredible geniuses. How, just how, do you manage to summon a shadow beast from a lava shark's summoning circle?"

Outside the window, Lovellian swept his hand through the air. The shadow beast, which had been melting into the darkness of the night sky, was caught by the mana he released.

"Your creative spirit of experimentation never ceases to amaze me. What do you intend to do after summoning a monster you can't even handle? What do you think would have happened if you'd made a mistake and let that shadow beast escape? I can't say for certain, but over a hundred people would have died!"

"We're sorry... We're sorry..."

The young mages who came out after him bowed their heads repeatedly. But Lovellian's anger did not subside.

'Those lunatics.'

Eugene was also dumbfounded. Shadow beasts were monsters that roamed Helmuth's nights. Like most monsters, they possessed no real intelligence, only destructive instincts.

If that shadow beast had been released into the night sky, it would have immediately begun hunting the people of the capital.

"We didn't intend to summon a monster... W-we only..."

"As of today, you're the Red Tower Masters."

"What?"

"Even I can't summon a shadow beast from a lava shark's summoning circle. Absolutely, absolutely cannot. But you've managed a summoning that even I can't perform, haven't you? That makes you better mages than me, so you should be the Red Tower Master."

"T-tower Master...!"

"Do you think my eyes are buttonholes? Your summoning circle was wrong at its very foundation! If you're going to introduce variations, do it properly. Of course a monster comes bursting out when you've twisted even the basic framework!"

Lovellian roared.

"Pack your things and get out this instant!"

The mages bowed their heads, tears streaming down their faces. But Lovellian did not change his mind. He stopped glaring at them and turned to Eugene.

"... Oh."

Lovellian's expression changed in an instant. It was the face of the kindly man who had beamed and addressed them as "children" at the Bloodline Succession Ceremony four years ago.

"It's been a long time, Lord Eugene."

His smile was the same as back then, but his manner of speaking was not. Eugene's position had changed. Four years ago, he had merely been one of the countless children of the collateral branches. Now, however, he was an adopted son of the Lionheart main family.

"You've grown so much. Haha, to be honest, I almost didn't recognize you."

"You look just the same, Master Lovellian."

"Yes, well. I preserve my youth with magic. Looking young is better than looking my age, wouldn't you agree?"

Lovellian landed on the ground with a broad smile. As far as Eugene knew, he was nearly a hundred years old. Yet he looked to be in his mid-twenties at most.

'It is different from seeing him four years ago.'

He had sensed it vaguely even then. He hadn't trained his mana, but that didn't mean he couldn't sense it. Now, however, he could tell for certain.

Lovellian was strong.

That much was worth acknowledging. As one of only five tower masters in Aroth, he ought to possess that degree of strength.

But beyond strength, Eugene felt no other impression from him. He recalled the powerful people he had encountered in his previous life, particularly those who had left a distinctive impression beyond their strength.

'He's nowhere near Senya.'

Lovellian was also studying Eugene.

'... Absurd.'

He was astounded by the mana he sensed from Eugene.

Lovellian was the one who had suggested adopting Eugene. He had taken note of Eugene's potential during the Bloodline Succession Ceremony, and even after returning to Aroth, he had kept in touch with Gilead and heard news of him.

He had heard that Eugene had sensed mana within ten minutes of entering the spirit vein. An abnormal sensitivity to mana—and beyond that, a monstrous affinity that allowed him to control the mana he sensed immediately.

Whenever he heard news of Eugene, Lovellian couldn't help having mixed feelings.

Because of Eward.

"... I've heard from Lord Gilead. You're interested in magic, I understand?"

"Yes."

"Magic is a very fascinating field of study. It's correspondingly difficult to master, but... I imagine you'll do well, Lord Eugene."

Murmuring those words, Lovellian turned his head.

The tower's ground-floor entrance. He sensed someone beyond the closed doors. He didn't like the way that person was hesitating without even opening them. Lovellian clicked his tongue and glanced at the entrance.

WHOOSH!

The closed doors swung open. A startled gasp followed. The person who stepped backward in surprise at the suddenly opened doors was a rail-thin young man.

Eward Lionheart.

Eugene didn't recognize him immediately. Four years was an enormously long time for children.

Eward had grown much taller. But his build had not filled out to match his height. Eugene looked at his limbs, which had little muscle, and at his dull eyes, devoid of alertness. His gray hair, as much a symbol of Lionheart as its crest... was dry and brittle, like withered grass.

'That fucking bastard.'

Fire lit Eugene's eyes as he looked at Eward.

'He looks like he's advertising to the whole neighborhood that a succubus drained his vitality.'

"Why don't you come over and at least greet your younger brother?"

"... Ahem."

Eward cleared his throat and looked at Eugene.

"... I'm not sure what to say..."

"It's good to see you, Brother."

Eugene put force into his voice as he glared at Eward.

"I look forward to your guidance."

"Y-yes."

Eward nodded, avoiding Eugene's eyes. Then he began edging backward, watching Lovellian's reaction.

"... What are you doing? If you have no further business here, go upstairs and read a book, at least."

Lovellian spoke as he looked away from Eward. If Eward hadn't been a legitimate son of the Lionheart main family, if not for the request of his old friend Gilead... he would never have allowed him to stay at the tower. For several years already, Lovellian had been struggling inwardly with the urge to throw Eward out.

"Yes..."

Eward withdrew with his shoulders sagging. Without looking at that wretched retreating figure, Lovellian let out a heavy breath.

"... Goodness. You've seen nothing but unpleasant sights since arriving."

"It's all right."

"The disturbance earlier... well... as Hera said, such things are fairly common at the Red Tower. Though disturbances as violent as today's are rare."

Lovellian glanced at Hera with a wry smile.

"I heard from Lord Gilead that you don't wish to learn magic directly from me..."

"I don't want to burden you unnecessarily, Tower Master."

"I don't mind. Provided you live up to my expectations, Lord Eugene."

Lovellian liked his answer. He had felt it four years ago, too: the boy before him was unusually thoughtful for his age.

'Or should I call him calculating rather than thoughtful...?'

It wasn't something to judge lightly. Lovellian did not know much about Eugene, nor had they spent much time together.

Either was a good thing, wasn't it? Being thoughtful was better than being shameless and incompetent, and being calculating was better than being stupid and greedy.

"I'm not confident I can meet those expectations without fail."

Eugene answered, taking a step back.

"Swinging a sword, thrusting a spear, striking with an axe—I'm very confident in those things. I've been certain of my talent since I was young. But magic is a field I've never encountered before... so I can't presume to be confident."

Lovellian liked those words, too. Far better than Eward, who lacked both motivation and effort.

"Furthermore, if I were to learn magic directly from you, Master Lovellian, countless people would look upon Lionheart with resentment. So for the time being, I'd like to study magic on my own."

"... Very well. In that case, let's do this."

Lovellian nodded with a pleased smile.

"I won't interfere unless you wish me to, Lord Eugene. But magic is a difficult field for a beginner to study alone... so if you need help, please ask at any time."

"Yes."

"Have you found lodgings?"

"No, not yet."

"Then stay at the tower. It isn't as lavish as the main family's mansion, but it's quite a comfortable place to live."

"May I move in right away?"

"There's no reason you can't."

Eugene also broke into a broad smile at that ready answer. Room and board at the tower was exactly what he wanted. He had refrained from finding separate lodgings with that in mind.

"In that case, may I visit the library first?"