The AI Archmage - Chapter 35

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

AI Archmage Episode 35

 

Sion observed Cornelia’s reaction as her eyes widened in shock.

 

From her perspective, this situation must be the epitome of incomprehensible absurdity.

 

How would she react?

 

And after a moment, her reaction was slightly different from what Sion had expected.

 

“What… did you do.”

 

Cornelia’s face was completely distorted.

 

She instantly closed the distance and grabbed Sion’s wrist without warning.

 

“There’s no way someone with such pathetic talent could display that level of power.”

 

“…”

 

Sion let her act as she pleased.

 

After all, no matter what she did, the possibility of her harming Sion was approaching zero.

 

Cornelia’s mana quickly swept over Sion’s body.

 

But naturally, nothing was discovered.

 

“You’re… perfectly fine.”

 

“There’s nothing wrong with me.”

 

Sion chuckled softly and nodded.

 

“Don’t tell me you thought I violated some taboo and gained excessive power as the price?”

 

“You call that a question?!”

 

Suddenly Cornelia’s face contorted as she spoke.

 

“You already have a precedent!”

 

“A precedent?”

 

At those words, Sion frowned.

 

At that moment.

 

Throb!

 

Suddenly, a locked memory surfaced.

 

The Black Room.

 

Driven to desperation, Sion Rostery had touched something he should never have touched.

 

And then…

 

“Huh?”

 

Having recalled that much, Sion briefly pressed his forehead.

 

‘Wait, now that I think about it, wasn’t this guy’s cause of death from attempting something he shouldn’t have on his own body in the first place?’

 

What if that attempt wasn’t the first, and there was a precedent?

 

And what if Sion being sent to the Blue Tower as if exiled from the Rostery Family wasn’t simply due to incompetence, but was the result of such factors mixed in…

 

As his thoughts reached that point, Sion could only smile bitterly.

 

And looking at Cornelia, he organized the memories that had just surfaced in his mind.

 

So her reaction felt different, and the current situation also felt different.

 

She hadn’t simply undervalued Sion.

 

Of course, that would also be a reason.

 

But more than that.

 

‘The hatred for touching a taboo that should never be touched.’

 

It would be reasonable to think that such a reason was also included.

 

Of course, in the end, the cause of touching that taboo was also that incompetence.

 

But that taboo was…

 

“I see. So that’s how it was.”

 

Sion realized that fact and let out a hollow laugh.

 

At this, Cornelia frowned and said.

 

“Why are you laughing.”

 

“No, an interesting thought just crossed my mind. Well, it’s not a big problem.”

 

Sion shook his head lightly once and continued speaking.

 

“I’m talking about the memory of when sister tattled to the Marquis about the circumstances of me attempting the taboo.”

 

“…!”

 

At those words, Cornelia’s eyes wavered for a moment.

 

Sion looked straight at her and said.

 

“It wasn’t a taboo. Right?”

 

“No, it was a taboo.”

 

Cornelia’s tone was full of conviction.

 

She seemed to truly believe that.

 

“What you attempted that day was a type of dark magic classified as taboo by the Council!”

 

“Haha.”

 

At those words, Sion burst into laughter.

 

“A type of dark magic? Do you really think so?”

 

“…What?”

 

“Stop talking nonsense. That was just a magic formula with a ‘similar structure’ to dark magic!”

 

Sion growled as he glared at Cornelia.

 

“You just misunderstood your immature brother’s ignorant attempt and arbitrarily led him to ruin.”

 

“Stop talking nonsense! Father acknowledged it too! That’s why he punished you!”

 

“No. He used sister’s tattling as an excuse to dispose of the ‘family’s disgrace.'”

 

“…What?”

 

“Ha, you didn’t even know that?! Even until now?”

 

Sion couldn’t stop laughing, as if he couldn’t help it, and giggled for a while.

 

Then suddenly he turned fierce and shouted.

 

“How utterly shameless!”

 

Akasha, who had been quietly watching that scene, said.

 

[Wow, human. Your acting is really impressive. Anyone who didn’t know would think you’re really angry.]

 

‘Shut up for a bit. I need to concentrate.’

 

Sion silenced Akasha, who was admiringly mocking him in his head, and focused on his emotions again.

 

Naturally, it wasn’t that Sion had become sentimental due to being influenced by past memories.

 

He was just a bit on edge.

 

He was planning to use the newly recalled memories to his advantage.

 

He intended to use this opportunity to drive Cornelia into a corner and make her look like trash.

 

“Ha, that’s when you started despising me!”

 

“Th-that’s… no, that can’t be. Father wouldn’t…”

 

Cornelia stammered in confusion.

 

From that reaction, he could see her true nature.

 

‘She’s not complete trash.’

 

She was somewhat arrogant and treated her brother like trash for lacking talent, but she didn’t cross certain lines.

 

Which meant…

 

‘She’ll be easy to manipulate.’

 

It also meant he could use the guilt Cornelia was feeling right now to his advantage.

 

“This trash!”

 

“Urgh!”

 

Cornelia couldn’t refute Sion’s words and stammered in confusion.

 

“N-no, there’s no guarantee your words are true…!”

 

“That’s what you’d think.”

 

“If I ask Father…”

 

“Oh my, I’m sure he’d answer wonderfully. Right? To the question of whether he used your words to bury his incompetent biological son.”

 

“N-no…”

 

Cornelia couldn’t continue her words any further.

 

Normally she would maintain her composure, but in this situation, it wasn’t easy to maintain.

 

And at that moment.

 

Drip, drip.

 

“…Huh?”

 

A single tear flowed from Cornelia’s eyes as she was being verbally beaten down by Sion.

 

[She’s crying?]

 

‘Indeed.’

 

Sion watched her reaction and made a decision.

 

‘I need a powerful finishing blow.’

 

A finishing blow to completely subjugate Cornelia, who thought she was in the right and had the upper hand in negotiations with the Blue Tower…!

 

“What did you do so well that you’re crying?”

 

“Sob.”

 

Finally, tears began streaming down Cornelia’s face.

 

* * *

 

“After… after confirmation, we’ll… talk again…”

 

Cornelia left the room weakly, covering her swollen eyes.

 

Only Sion remained in the room, and Akasha spoke to him.

 

[But earlier, about Sion Rostery committing a taboo.]

 

“Why is that?”

 

[If I had to say, wasn’t Sion Rostery at that time doing it with the ‘purpose’ of committing a taboo?]

 

“That’s right.”

 

Sion chuckled and nodded his head.

 

It was a fact he hadn’t revealed when speaking to Cornelia, but ‘Sion Rostery’ had performed that ritual that day with the thorough purpose of committing a taboo.

 

However.

 

“He was stupid and completely misunderstood the Magic Formula itself.”

 

[So, regardless of his intentions, the situation itself matches what you explained to that woman earlier?]

 

“That’s right.”

 

Of course, what Sion Rostery’s intentions were doesn’t matter now.

 

That Sion is already dead, and what’s here is Altair.

 

“If we can use it, there’s no reason not to, right?”

 

[I agree with that.]

 

Sion stretched and got up from his seat.

 

“Then shall we slowly begin?”

 

[What do you mean?]

 

“We need to prepare to receive our guest. I shook her mentally a bit with that conversation just now, but that’s not enough.”

 

We need to prepare a justification that even Rostery can accept.

 

So from now on…

 

“Akasha.”

 

[Yes.]

 

“Call everyone together. I have something to discuss.”

 

At those words, Akasha asked with a very uneasy expression.

 

[…What are you planning to do?]

 

“I told you. I’m going to respond.”

 

The smile on Sion’s lips deepened even more.

 

“I need to present Rostery with a very impressive sight.”

 

Something they can’t ignore, even if they want to.

 

* * *

 

“…Huh?”

 

When she first heard those words, Lumia’s mind rejected that information.

 

“Rostery? Right now?”

 

“Yes, right now.”

 

Barean answered matter-of-factly.

 

Barean was someone who thoroughly distinguished between public and private matters.

 

Now was the time to treat Lumia as the Tower Master.

 

“Sion immediately brought me that news. He also said he would buy us some time.”

 

“Th-they’re really coming…”

 

Lumia clicked her tongue.

 

It wasn’t that she didn’t know.

 

Sion had been wary from before, and she too knew that such a possibility was quite likely.

 

However, when those words became reality, the fear accumulated through long experience came rushing in.

 

“…Phew.”

 

Lumia caught her breath.

 

She had hastily become Tower Master and lived by barely managing to handle things while fumbling around.

 

But she couldn’t continue like that forever.

 

Especially now when the Blue Tower was on an upward trajectory.

 

Now she had to take the leading role.

 

As Sion had said before, she now had to lead the Blue Tower as its head and manager.

 

“Senior, sister… no, what is Vice Tower Master Serentia doing right now?”

 

“The Vice Tower Master is currently informing the students in the Tower of this news and controlling the situation.”

 

“That’s fast.”

 

“Yes. Sion immediately took appropriate measures. If he hadn’t, everyone would probably have fallen into confusion.”

 

Barean appeared calm.

 

He had abundant magical knowledge, but above all, he possessed excellent work capabilities.

 

Knowing this, Lumia and Sion had decided to retrieve Barean first.

 

“The attitude Tower Master needs is just one thing. Composure and confidence. And the expressive ability to effectively explain the Main Tower’s value.”

 

“…Yes.”

 

“That said, you mustn’t give the impression of being too dependent on the Rostery. Of course, Cornelia Rostery is by no means an easy opponent, but Tower Master’s abilities as a mage are not inferior to hers at all.”

 

“Yes.”

 

Lumia quickly ran a rough simulation in her head.

 

Information about Cornelia Rostery.

 

The White Tower’s promising magical genius.

 

The Rostery’s eldest daughter.

 

Arrogant, but a rational person.

 

‘…The fact that she’s rational is important.’

 

Of course, the arrogance she possessed as a Great Family’s eldest daughter was nothing to take lightly.

 

Especially, the power dynamic between her and herself at this point was clear.

 

Normally, she might have been discouraged by that fact and dug herself into the ground.

 

But now it was different.

 

‘If worst comes to worst, Sion will somehow handle it.’

 

She had some kind of baseless faith in Sion.

 

Of course she would do her best, but even so, if she made a mistake, there was someone who would clean it up for her.

 

Just like when her master existed in the Blue Tower.

 

“Alright. I’m ready.”

 

Lumia’s eyes sparkled with light.

 

Barean nodded and quietly stood behind Lumia as well.

 

And shortly after.

 

Knock, knock.

 

[Tower Master, this is ‘Alpha’. Shall I let the guest in?]

 

“…Please escort them inside.”

 

Alpha was a golem that Sion had recently created.

 

Since it wasn’t a simple golem, Sion had said it should be treated as a member of the Tower.

 

After a moment, the door opened and the problematic Cornelia revealed herself.

 

Lumia was tense.

 

She reviewed the simulations she had done earlier about how to respond to Cornelia’s pressure.

 

But the words that came out of Cornelia’s mouth were somewhat unexpected.

 

“N-nice to meet you. Blue Tower Master, Lumia Kabala.”

 

“Ah, yes.”

 

“The reason I came today is…”

 

Lumia couldn’t help but blink at Cornelia’s polite greeting and conversation.

 

What?

 

‘Why… is she being respectful?’

 

What on earth had happened?

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