357

I want to see episode 357. (1)

The elders looked taken aback at Hubert's words.

"Vanessa… … huh?"

"Yes, Vanessa. The Vanessa who made it to Circle 6."

Everyone's expressions were droopy at those words. Even Hubert himself, who had mentioned Vanessa, had a similar expression on his face.

They had heard the rumors about Vanessa too. Claude was spreading rumors here and there to catch a wizard, so they couldn't help but listen.

Of course, the name wasn't revealed openly, but it wasn't a secret at all. Even though it was only nominal, the Red Flame Tower, which had a branch in the Fenris territory, could easily find out the identity of the 6th Circle magician.

"Ugh… … She was just a maid. How on earth did she become a 6th circle magician?"

The elders also spoke with gloomy expressions at Hubert's gloomy muttering.

"What on earth did Earl Fenris do?"

"He was clearly a child who couldn't even feel mana."

"That growth rate is too fast. It's a level that you can only reach if you work hard your whole life."

Although it has been quite some time since Vanessa followed Giselle, it is impossible to reach Circle 6 within that period.

But I couldn't help but believe it when it said it had reached Circle 6 no matter how many times I checked.

In fact, many people saw Vanessa in action during the war against Count Desmond.

Because they gave away such a genius, it was secretly said that the Red Flame Tower had no discerning eyes.

The elders sighed and asked something else.

"Then can I just ask to borrow Vanessa?"

Then Hubert frowned.

"That Alpoy kid is still in the 3rd circle?"

"Yes. This is a total embarrassment."

Although he is now half-abandoned, Alpoy was a promising talent in the Magic Tower. However, it is said that the guy who is supposed to be the successor to the Magic Tower is still in the 3rd circle.

It's only natural since he's been doing construction all day, but even so, it's not like the successor to the magic tower is any worse than a maid.

The Red Flame Tower's magic tower was so clear that it was impossible to refute even if it was said out loud that there were no eyes to see.

"Since he's going to live there his whole life anyway, let's strip him of his title as successor soon."

The elders nodded at those words. To be honest, those who were there were now almost like strangers.

Aren't they just the guys who threw it away to maintain a relationship with Jiselle?

"Just one Vanessa is enough. Then, even if we fight, we won't be completely defeated, right? Let's end it at a level where we're moderately embarrassed."

It seems that the Crimson Tower is determined to completely embarrass us, so they will definitely bring only the highest level disciples.

There was no need to confront them so seriously. If we were unlucky, our disciples could get seriously injured or even die.

"There's no one among your disciples who can beat Vanessa. Why don't you put her out there at the end and claim one win? Take care of our disciples."

After suffering for a while because of the Crimson Tower, Hubert had become a fairly realistic person.

The elders nodded as if they agreed with that statement.

Although Vanessa is not a member of the Red Flame Tower, guest wizards can participate in the tower's duels. Among wizards, such connections are considered skills.

That's why wandering wizards who were staying at the magic tower for a while could participate if they wanted.

The exchange meeting was originally an event that started out to build relationships with other magicians. There were also many cases where people gained enlightenment through confrontation.

Besides, Vanessa was originally from the Red Flame Tower, so her appearance wasn't that bad.

"Isn't it a little late to invite wizards from other regions?"

"Yes. When are you going to persuade and bring him here? Until then, those Crimson Tower bastards will continue to cause trouble and interfere."

"Ahh… … you bastards. Let's just wait and see."

Hubert gritted his teeth. This time, he'll give in, but next time, he'll never let it go.

It was a big decision for him to be prepared for this level of embarrassment. Could this be a step back for a step forward?

I don't know if it would be a full-scale war later, but right now I don't want to fight like that. Right now, growing the Magic Tower is more important.

If we can endure this brief humiliation, we will be able to pressure the Crimson Tower with a stronger force.

With the food and runestones that Jiselle provided, I was confident that I would eventually be able to destroy the Crimson Tower.

Having made that decision, Hubert and the elders went to see Giselle, carrying a large gift.

* * *

"Hmm, an exchange meeting… … So you're saying we could borrow 'our' Vanessa as a guest magician?"

"Yes, that's right. If Your Majesty would just pay a little more attention, we could save some face… … ."

Hubert said, repeatedly wiping the sweat glistening on his forehead.

Unlike in the past when he would even lower his voice, now it was difficult to match the status of a top leader.

If he were an ordinary lord, I wouldn't know, but he is the most powerful lord in the North. And he is the noble who is most supported by the prince's faction.

Even the most powerful man had no choice but to give up and go in.

Giselle crossed her legs and said as she watched Hubert like that.

"Hey, why are you so tense between us? Is it because it's been so long since we last saw each other?"

"Oh, that's right… … Yeah, yeah, I guess it's because it's been a long time since I've seen you."

'Damn! This is why I didn't want to come!'

I've seen him since he was a kid leading mercenaries, but now the gap has widened. Hubert, who is narrow-minded, is very upset.

Still, I couldn't show my displeasure since I had come to ask a favor. He smiled awkwardly like the elders and said.

"Oh, anyway, wouldn't it be possible for you to do that much 'between us'?"

"Hey, I sell you food and runestones for cheap, but you want to lend me some for free?"

Then Hubert took a box out of his bosom.

"I brought you a small gift. It's quite expensive."

What Hubert took out was an extremely ornate jewelry box. The jewels were so thickly set on the outside that it was hard to tell whether they were meant to be stored inside or outside.

"… … Are you still collecting these things?"

"No, isn't this pretty?"

Hubert was perplexed when Giselle didn't like it very much. Why wouldn't she like something so expensive and pretty? It was something he couldn't understand.

Still, Jiselle continued speaking, quickly picking up the jewelry box.

"Well, I can do that much between us. But there's one condition."

"Wh, what is it?"

Hubert and the elders gulped. The conditions he put forth were always anything but ordinary.

But the words that came out of Giselle's mouth were unexpected.

"Can I also observe?"

"Are you an observer?"

"Yes, I also want to see a battle between wizards."

"Umm… … ."

Hubert scratched his head.

The exchange meeting was an event for wizards only. Even nobles could not interfere without permission.

However, it was not like there was no precedent at all. Although it was extremely rare, there was a history of nobles participating in exchange meetings.

Hubert nodded readily as the elders gave him a hint.

"Let's do that! The Count should also join and take a look. But don't show off too much. Just a little, you know?"

"Of course. I was also curious about the Matap Exchange Meeting that I had only heard about."

It was a very good result for Hubert, because that idiot didn't really want a big price to pay.

While I was secretly liking it, Jiselle asked me in a subtle way.

"But… … Will the Crimson Tower Master just fight and then back down?"

"What do you mean?"

"He's a 7th circle wizard, isn't he? He could pretend to be crazy and just kill everyone there."

Then Hubert held his stomach and laughed loudly.

"Hahahaha! Why, Count, you are known for being fearless, but why are you more worried than me? That would never happen."

"why?"

"Even if it's a showdown between two magic towers, there's bound to be a line. You could kill a few of your disciples under the pretext of a showdown… … but that's as far as it goes."

Hubert cleared his throat and continued.

"Think about it. Even if the lords do not interfere in the disputes between the magic towers, they would not let such a big incident go unchecked. Our magic tower is protected by the Earl of Brivant. And the Earl of Brivant is a pro-prince."

"Hmm… … ."

Giselle nodded. The Count of Brivant was the lord whom the royalist faction had chosen as a target of support before supporting Giselle.

This means that even though he was intercepted in the middle, he was still a lord that the royalist faction trusted.

The Brevant Estate is a territory that relies heavily on taxes from the Magic Tower. What if the Crimson Magic Tower suddenly destroys such a Magic Tower?

Even though both places are not small towers, they are rumored to be huge towers. It won't end with just 'there was a fight between towers and one was destroyed'.

It is clear that the Prince's faction will exert strong political pressure on the Crimson Tower and begin an investigation into the truth.

Unless the Crimson Tower was going to completely close down its business in the North, there was no way it would do something so crazy.

"Besides, if you do something like that, you will be condemned by every wizard in the kingdom. Everyone will be wary of or hostile to the Crimson Tower. That will definitely not be good for them either."

"What if you do something crazy and risk it?"

Hubert answered Giselle's question with a confident expression.

"We will be holding the exchange meeting. No matter how strong Delmud is, he won't be able to deal with all of us."

The difference in skill between circles is absolute, but the power of numbers cannot be ignored. In the Red Flame Tower, there were five circle 6 magicians and five circle 5 magicians, and there were hundreds of disciples.

The damage would be great, but I was confident that I could win if I fought at my base.

Of course, if they really fought, they would both end up ruined. So Hubert was confident that that would never happen.

"And… … If the Count were to watch, wouldn't Delmud be careful about his actions? He's just trying to dampen our momentum and humiliate us."

"okay."

Jiselle nodded obediently.

Hubert, of course, knew nothing. Since civil war was going to break out anyway, what was the point of being politically pressured by the royalist faction or being criticized and warned by the magicians?

The Duke is currently planning to wipe out all those who don't listen.

The fact that the Crimson Tower had moved itself also meant that the Duke had now begun full-scale preparations for civil war.

Hubert didn't know that, so he just judged it based on common sense.

Jiselle just nodded. She was going to go anyway, so there was no need to argue here.

"Okay. Then let's have Vanessa join us as a guest wizard. Oh, but… …doesn't it mean we don't have to bring Alfoy?"

"Alpoy? He's not necessary. What use would you make of someone who doesn't even have the talent to be a 3rd circle player?"

"… … ."

Giselle was tickled by Hubert's words, who now treated Alfoy as a completely abandoned wizard. He may be a mean guy, but he did a lot of good things here.

I felt like I needed to change my perception a little bit.

"I will add one more condition."

"What is it?"

"Alpoy will also participate in the competition. But he is the successor to the Magic Tower, so shouldn't he have that kind of experience?"

"Umm… … ."

I was wondering when to strip him of his successor status, but now they are telling me to participate as a successor. Hubert hesitated for a moment and nodded.

"Let's do that. It doesn't matter who goes out anyway."

In order to minimize the damage, the truly outstanding disciples were not going to participate. It didn't matter if Alpoy got involved.

However, the reason why he insisted on leaving it out was because he was still the successor to the Magic Tower.

'Hey, it's obvious he's going to lose, and it'll be a big embarrassment to the whole neighborhood.'

Since I didn't think I could win anyway, losing itself was okay, but it would be quite a blow to my reputation if it was my successor who lost, not another disciple.

But it's okay because Vanessa is here. Where would that be if she got even one win?

As soon as he received Giselle's permission, Hubert went back and accepted the exchange. As soon as he did so, the Crimson Tower stopped picking a fight with the Red Tower.

"I knew this would happen. Let's just wait and see. I'll lose this time."

Hubert prepared for the exchange meeting with great enthusiasm. However, the preparation was different from a typical exchange meeting.

Since they were going to fight to embarrass us anyway, there was no need to prepare any other small details.

All you had to do was prepare to confront them in a reasonably spacious place.

Finally, the promised day arrived, and the Crimson Tower wizards arrived at the Red Flame Tower.

Delmud brought two elders and nearly fifty disciples.

Hubert wiggled his eyebrows at the sight.

'Look at this. You brought that many?'

There are just over a hundred disciples in the Crimson Tower. But bringing half of them was too much to just have a showdown.

Of course, we also prepared a similar number of people just in case.

'You're not really planning on going all the way, are you?'

Hubert's face hardened slightly because he had brought more people than he had expected, but soon relaxed.

'What could happen when the Earl of Fenris is here? They'll be careful when they know the Earl of Fenris is here.'

Hubert was still a flower garden in his head. However, Delmude, who came here, was different.

'Today, the Red Flame Tower will be destroyed.'

As soon as he arrived, he spoke to Hubert straight to the point.

"Long time no see, Hubert."

"Yes, it's been a while. Delmud."

Sparks flew from both their eyes.

The two had met a few times when they were young. Even then, they were rivals of the Matap, so they weren't on good terms. No, Hubert, the successor of the successful Matap, completely ignored Delmud.

But now Delmude had become stronger. So Hubert couldn't be happy.

"Since we all know each other anyway, there's no need to prepare anything else. I'm ready to fight right away."

"You're quick-witted."

Delmude looked around with a slight sneer. The person sitting at the head of the table with a dull expression was quite an eyesore.

Delmude asked Hubert with a cold look in his eyes.

"Who is the author?"

Hubert answered that question with a smirk.

"Oh, is this your first time seeing me? Let me introduce you. He is the most popular man in the North, Earl Fenris. I brought him here as a guest of honor."

"Earl Fenris?"

Delmude opened his eyes wide. Hubert laughed inwardly at that reaction.

'Kuhaha, are you surprised? What do you think? No matter what you were thinking, you won't be able to move recklessly.'

Of course, Delmude was surprised. But contrary to Hubert's expectations, he was secretly very happy.

'Today! I will kill Earl Fenris too!'

His eyes began to sparkle with life.