I Became the Magic Tower Master's Experimental Mouse - Chapter 87

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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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“Let’s go inside and talk, shall we?”
Camilla spun the chair I was sitting in so my face wouldn’t be visible from the doorway as she spoke.
The door opened, and the sharp tap of boots echoed through the room.
“Thank you for your cooperation, Tower Master of the Healing Tower. We’re currently searching for a child who has been running a high fever or emitting toxic energy.”
“Before that, let me ask—why are you looking for this child?”
“I’m afraid I cannot disclose that information.”
“My, is that so? Well, I can’t just hand out patient information either. Medical records are protected by law, after all. Whatever crime this child may have committed, I have a duty to protect my patients.”
“Tower Master. We’re not searching for a criminal. There’s no intent to harm. The order is to notify the Imperial Palace immediately upon discovery. His Majesty himself is conducting this search.”
“Physical description? Name? You’re conducting a rather peculiar search without providing proper information.”
I held my breath, my eyes widening.
‘The Emperor is looking for me? Why…?’
Genuinely unable to make sense of the situation, I covered my mouth and swallowed a gasp.
“And this child here…?”
“She’s a messenger from another Magic Tower. I’d rather not have my guest become the subject of interest.”
“Ah, my apologies. That wasn’t my intention.”
“If a child matching your description comes in for treatment, I’ll notify the Imperial Palace right away. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
“Thank you. Then I’ll take my leave.”
Soon the door closed, and the footsteps faded into the distance.
I turned my head to look at Camilla.
“…Were you just lying?”
“Lying? I said I’d notify them if you came for treatment. You’re already here, aren’t you?”
Despite her innocent appearance, Camilla spoke with a roguish tone and laughed.
“I just…”
My mind churning, I mumbled while staring at the floor.
‘Surely… surely that can’t be it.’
A Core had appeared in me out of nowhere, and now the Emperor was searching for a child matching my condition. What did that mean?
‘It seems I’ve gotten tangled up in something far stranger than I thought.’
As I sighed deeply, shoulders slumping, Camilla pulled her chair closer and sat facing me.
“Let’s get to the point. What did Claude have you do? When the poison was leaking.”
“He told me to imagine swallowing the poison into my body.”
I spoke evasively, not wanting to reveal my Detoxification Ability to Camilla. She nodded at this.
“It’s the first time in my life I’ve seen a Core manifest this late. Normally it activates automatically the moment you’re born—like a heartbeat.”
“What exactly does a Core do?”
“It’s an organ where a Beast-being’s power accumulates. So most Beast-beings have theirs already manifested at birth, and it grows as they develop. But…”
Camilla glanced at my ears and tail as she spoke.
“I suspect…perhaps your Dormouse body simply couldn’t withstand it, so it’s been dormant until now. But why did it suddenly awaken…?”
I pondered for a moment before asking.
“I did make contact with another person’s Core once. I felt something strange at that moment—could that have been the cause?”
I spoke, recalling the time I detoxified Cassian.
Camilla shrugged at this.
“Well, it’s possible, but…I don’t know.”
“Huh?”
“I’m saying I don’t know. Look, I’ve never seen a case like yours before. While I’m at it, should I research this and write a paper?”
“N-no, that would be impossible!”
I shot up from my chair and cried out. The sudden movement destabilized me, and poison dripped from my fingertips again, falling to the floor.
I watched as smoke hissed and rose, and said nothing.
“Mm-mm…”
“Hmm, Claude definitely has that. Go back and ask him for a Mana-Viewing Magical Tool and wear it at all times.”
“Oh, I’ve used that before!”
“Dragon Poison…no, that aura is a mixture of Mana and poison together. So whenever Mana tries to burst out of your body, you’ll be able to sense it in advance. If you practice suppressing your power each time, you’ll eventually learn how to control it.”
Dragon Poison? I heard the new term from Camilla and filed it away in my mind. I’d have to look into that later.
While it wasn’t an immediate solution, at least I had a concrete plan now, which was a relief.
“By the way. You said earlier that there was only one Beast-being showing these symptoms. What exactly am I…?”
I asked hesitantly, thinking I should probably head back soon.
Part of me wanted not to know, but…avoiding the question didn’t suit my nature.
“…If my suspicion is correct, it’s not something I should be telling you. Claude probably knows anyway, so ask him.”
“Do you think Tower Master knows?”
“He seems to know something, but won’t tell me, which is why I came here in the first place, isn’t it?”
I pursed my lips and nodded.
“I should probably get going.”
“Sure. Want me to call you a carriage?”
“No, thank you. I came in secret, and I can’t afford to leave a record.”
I shook my head firmly and bowed to Camilla.
* * *
The trouble started at the Carriage Station.
“Oh dear. The Imperial Palace has closed off this area for an investigation. If you’re in a hurry, you’d be better off walking about thirty minutes to the main road and catching one there.”
“Ugh.”
I grimaced and left the station.
‘So it’s the Palace Guard Knights conducting the investigation……’
At that rank, they’d all be nobles.
Irritated at the sudden tyranny of fallen nobility, I followed the shade of the avenue trees in the direction I’d been told.
‘Does that thirty-minute estimate even apply to a body like mine?’
Early winter or not, the long robe blocked the wind perfectly, so I wasn’t cold at all.
Far from cold—the faint heat radiating from my body made it feel warm instead, so I pushed back my hood to bare my face and sighed.
‘I was just exercising my rightful prerogative, but the Tower Master might still be angry with me. Maybe I should prepare a gift to bring.’
Should I buy some snacks? I was deliberating what to bring to avoid harsher scolding when an odd premonition crept over me.
‘……A tail?’
About fifty paces behind me, I’d say.
No footsteps, but I could feel the unmistakable presence of someone following.
I walked calmly and altered my route. I cut through vendor stalls, down alleys, back onto the main street several times, but the sensation of being followed persisted.
As a last resort, I cut across the Market. It’s harder to tail a child through crowds, after all.
Moving with flawless timing, I slipped into the throng, weaved through deftly, and emerged from the far side of the market.
‘This should normally be enough to shake them.’
The moment I stepped out of the alley, a figure slid down from a wall ahead of me.
“Hello. We meet again?”
It was Claude.
“I came to keep my word. You said we’d see each other again next time.”
“……I never actually agreed to that.”
“It doesn’t matter. A one-sided promise is still a promise.”
Claude smiled pleasantly and extended his hand to me.
“I was thinking about breaching the Poison Tower, but how fortunate you’ve walked right out on your own two feet. Lucky I’ve been keeping watch.”
“……Don’t you think the Tower Master will have something to say about this?”
I asked the grinning Claude.
Of course, I had no intention of whimpering something pathetic like “Tower Master! Help me!” because Claude wouldn’t fear that anyway.
“Oh, they’ll be too busy to care!”
Claude smiled and extended his hand to me again.
“You know, I’m rather impressed by your situational judgment and all. How about you come with me? I’ll train you myself.”
“Train me?”
“That’s right. The world of Assassination is quite entertaining, after all.”
Claude appraised me with the same cold eye one might use to judge the marbling of meat or measure a garment’s fit.
“I’m particularly fond of that Detoxification Ability of yours.”
The moment I saw the smile on his face, I heard the cry of my newly awakened Core from deep within my chest.
‘He’s really trying to drag me into hell again.’
Tasting the flavor of poison on my tongue, I glanced around cautiously.
With my experience and the power of my Core, I might be able to hold my own against Claude. But if there were innocent people nearby, I couldn’t rely on the Core’s power……
‘No one’s here.’
I shook my head without hesitation.
“I refuse. And what did you do to the Magic Tower?”
“Tsk, if you’re going to be like that, I really will have to kill you.”
Claude clicked his tongue regretfully and drew a weapon from his sleeve.
At the same moment, a crimson miasma of poison rose from my body.

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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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