I Became the Magic Tower Master's Experimental Mouse - Chapter 28

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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A boy wrapped from head to toe in heavy layers entered with the Tower Master.
His appearance might have looked suspicious at first glance, but with his ashen complexion and winter gear piled on, he resembled nothing so much as a patient recovering from illness.
The Tower Master supported him at the shoulder, as Cassian still found walking difficult.
“He really does seem weak, doesn’t he…….”
Liz murmured under her breath.
She watched the Tower Master, with his expressionless face, assist Cassian with surprising tenderness, and her brow furrowed as if she’d witnessed something she’d rather forget.
Cassian held his body rigidly upright, breathing slightly hard as he surveyed the surroundings.
“Liz, he’s a distant relative of mine. He’ll be staying to recuperate for some time, so do keep that in mind.”
The Tower Master placed a hand on Cassian’s shoulder as he made the introduction.
“Indeed. ……No, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Cassian had begun to greet her in an imperious tone, but seeing Liz’s startled expression, he switched to respectful speech.
Only those of the highest nobility would carry themselves with such arrogance otherwise.
Cassian, whose true station was grander than any of theirs, seemed somewhat exasperated—his lips twisted slightly in displeasure.
‘Pepe, that young gentleman doesn’t seem to have the best temperament either…….’
Liz whispered as if only I could hear.
‘Though I’m sure he caught that…….’
The poison had weakened him into frailty, but Cassian was a Hwan-su Demihuman, after all.
The proof was clear enough—he’d been visibly shocked when I cursed him from a distance last time, muttering that he’d become ugly and filthy.
I watched his act unfold with a soft, breathy laugh.
Sensing that I’d laughed, Cassian glanced toward me, and his rigid expression seemed to relax somewhat, as if reassured.
“And your name, sir?”
At Liz’s question, the Tower Master gazed into the distance with a faintly creaking air of discomfort.
It was clear he’d worked out all the details of the cover but had never settled on a name.
‘He can’t just use the name Cassian as is.’
The Tower Master glanced beyond the window and answered quietly.
“His name is…… Ash.”
“Ah…… It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lord Ash.”
Liz bowed awkwardly, and Ash—or rather, Cassian—nodded with affected coolness.
I gazed out the Magic Tower’s first-floor window at the ash trees visible beyond, inwardly clucking my tongue at the Tower Master’s lazy naming sense.
Since ash trees lined every street, probably half of all common folk bore the name Ash.
By any measure, it was hardly a fitting name for a young nobleman.
“He’ll be staying in the room next to my experimental subject, so do assist him where you can.”
The Tower Master spoke while regarding me.
“Of course. Shall I show him there now?”
“Yes!”
Before the Tower Master could even answer, Cassian blurted it out.
I blinked in surprise, my eyes widening.
Then Cassian’s expression shifted awkwardly, and his lips stuck out in a pout.
“Though I am but a rodent, grant me the honor of being attended by you!”
“What an exceptionally glorious opportunity for this squeaking creature!”
I landed a hibernating dormouse of a punch straight into Cassian’s ribs, grinning widely.
The tasteless species-discrimination remark made my voice come out as a high squeak, but…….
‘He’s embarrassed and just babbling now—let’s see how he likes that.’
I threw the punch with a bang, and Cassian’s skeletal frame fluttered like a paper doll.
“Ugh…….”
Cassian let out a small groan.
Liz covered her shocked expression with her hand.
Yet the Tower Master simply nodded with composure.
“Looks like you’ve already warmed up to each other. Well, go show him to his room.”
The Tower Master led Cassian and me up the stairs.
Once the gazes of the others had faded from view, the tension drained from Cassian’s shoulders.
“That name is terribly…….”
Cassian muttered resentfully, glaring at the Tower Master, who was now properly supporting him.
“Well, if you didn’t want just anything thrown at you, you should have sorted it out sooner, Lord Ash.”
I deliberately emphasized the alias, teasing Cassian.
“……Don’t call me by that name.”
“Why not? The Tower Master gave it to you.”
“……I dislike it.”
His pouting lips and sullen expression made him look for all the world like a petulant child.
‘Children always seem to find their pride in the most pointless things.’
Still, the fact that he had the energy to sulk at all was a relief—it meant his body had clearly improved over the past few days.
The Tower Master, unbothered by Cassian’s muttering, set him down on the bed before finally speaking.
“From now on, this room is yours to use as you please. The room on the left belongs to my lab assistant, the one on the right is mine. If you feel yourself losing control, you must pull the emergency cord.”
“……Understood.”
“Now that you’re above ground, you absolutely cannot let anyone in the Magic Tower discover your true identity.”
Cassian nodded obediently at the Tower Master’s warning.
“Also, my lab assistant is here only to help with your Detoxification treatment, not to serve you. Make that distinction clear.”
Cassian’s face darkened at that.
But I found myself looking up at the Tower Master with sparkling eyes, touched by his consideration for my rights as an employee.
I must have run myself ragged across my entire previous life to deserve meeting such an extraordinary employer.
Still, watching Cassian’s spirits sink under the weight of all these reminders, I felt a strange pang of sympathy for him.
“Is it okay if I hang out with you during free time?”
At my question, Cassian’s face hardened and he muttered something like ‘What, why would I, play with you,’ but his voice was so quiet.
Besides, he wouldn’t let go of my hand, so I had to laugh to myself at his obvious lie.
‘Hmph, so you were bored too.’
No matter how precious a Young Duke he was, lying in bed every day would drive anyone to boredom.
Having suffered plenty of injuries myself, I knew the perfect recovery method.
The most important treatment was deliberately moving your body and mind, and having proper motivation to recover.
Just thinking about the Apple Pie sold near the guild—limited to one per person—was enough to make you drag yourself up from a half-dead state.
‘Ah, damn.’
The moment I thought of that warm, fresh pie, I clamped my mouth shut to stop drool from slipping out.
“Free time is free time, by definition.”
The Tower Master said it plainly.
“Though you needed support today, the fact that you walked at all suggests some light walks might do you good going forward.”
“Hmm, then you’re welcome to join me for walks whenever you feel like it.”
With the Tower Master’s permission granted, Cassian’s face brightened at the prospect of finally being able to move.
‘I’ll pester them for Apple Pie as a snack and take it along on our walks.’
The kitchen was definitely Liz’s domain…….
I made my walking plans while hoping Liz wouldn’t work herself to death.
* * *
A few days after settling into the new room.
Word spread through the Magic Tower that ‘the Tower Master’s sickly relative’ had arrived.
The Four who had barely recovered from the shock of the intrusion were on the verge of bursting with curiosity.
Except for Ollie, still bedridden in the infirmary and unable to move about, the other three kept peeking past Cassian’s door.
If the Tower Master’s bedroom hadn’t been right next door, they might have camped out in front of it entirely.
“Pepe, is it walk time?”
“……Oh my, you startled me.”
I’d already sensed them from outside the door, but I pretended to be surprised before nodding at Lilly’s question.
“Oh, you’re not fooling anyone. Where’s the Tower Master’s relative? Inside?”
“I suppose so. I was about to ask him to join us for a walk.”
“Can’t we come too?”
Lilly, Leo, and Killian looked at me with shy smiles.
Under the assault of those sparkling eyes, I felt my resistance melting away without permission, and I panicked.
‘Damn, so the sparkling eyes thing really is that effective.’
Another social lesson learned.
I fidgeted with my fingers before giving a reluctant answer.
“Let me ask first.”
I knocked on Cassian’s door and called out loudly.
“Ashé, would you like to go for a walk with us?”
It was a warning—there were other people outside.
When I opened the door, Cassian was sitting neatly on the bed, watching me.
‘He’s definitely gotten stronger in how he sits.’
Right after waking up, he’d been slouched almost on his side, but time really was the best healer.
The daily Detoxification treatments were working too, and as a Hwan-su Demihuman, his basic constitution was simply superior.
‘Hmm, he should be able to walk from today onwards.’
I was thinking that when Cassian, who’d been smiling faintly at me, suddenly hardened his expression.
His gaze wasn’t on me—it was directed past my back, toward the door.
‘What’s wrong?’
They were just peering cutely into the room.
“……Those ragtags too?”
Cassian asked with obvious reluctance.
“They’re apprentices at the Magic Tower. They’re all good friends. You don’t have to go if you don’t want to.”
I’d suggested it thinking he might grow restless lying in bed all day, but perhaps he simply hated exercise.
“Wait, wait a moment!”
The instant I turned to leave, I heard the sound of him tumbling over behind me.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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