The AI Archmage - Chapter 63

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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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AI Grand Mage Episode 63

‘This is entertaining.’
Sion watched Hayden stare at him with eyes brimming with murderous intent, and smiled inwardly.
It truly was entertaining.
The very fact that Hayden was moving exactly as he’d predicted.
[Well, the human did intend this, after all.]
‘Which makes it all the more amusing.’
What could he say.
The Hayden before him reminded him of a younger Rotel Kaul.
Remarkable talent, yet narrow-minded and arrogant.
Possessed, too, of that quintessentially mage-like quality.
“You certainly have much to say, it seems.”
With those words, mana began to coalesce around Hayden.
The compressed mana subtly bore down on Sion.
Skillful work, indeed.
……if only it had been aimed at him.
[The young human is quite reckless. Already trying to subtly crush his opponent like this.]
‘To him, I’m a rival, after all.’
“Ugh……!”
Sion staggered as though he’d been struck.
Seeing that reaction, Hayden grinned.
“Are you in pain?”
“No. Just a bit…… dizzy.”
“Ha, your constitution seems rather poor.”
Hayden laughed as though he knew nothing, and steadied Sion.
Then he leaned close and whispered softly in his ear.
“There are things in this world one must not covet, young Rostery.”
……
“Lumia is a treasure born with unprecedented talent. And one worthy of possessing such a treasure must themselves be endowed with talent befitting that status.”
With that, he withdrew his hand from Sion and gave his shoulder a light, patronizing pat.
A victor’s smile played across Hayden’s face.
The expression of one certain that Sion possessed far inferior talent.
Sion smiled thinly.
“I find myself in agreement with your assessment, Hayden.”
“Hmm, you do?”
“Yes, indeed…… it seems there was a small ‘miscommunication’ between us.”
“……A miscommunication?”
Hayden’s face twisted in confusion as he tilted his head.
Sion let slip a smile of unparalleled meanness, his voice honeyed.
“Yes, well. I merely wished to propose a favorable transaction with you.”
“……A transaction? What do you mean?”
“I wonder. Given this situation, surely you can guess what transaction I might propose?”
……!
At those words, Hayden’s eyes flew wide.
He stared at Sion for a moment, as though wondering what on earth he could be thinking.
……but then he nodded.
And spoke to Sion.
“Guide me to somewhere quiet. This is not a conversation for a place like this.”
“An excellent idea.”
Akasha, watching Sion’s performance, offered a brief comment.
[Gift of Gab mode: ACTIVATED.]
‘Save the bullshit.’
He was cursed for it, of course.

* * *

Following Sion’s guidance into the room, Hayden immediately seated himself in the place of honor as though he were master of the house.
With arms crossed, he gestured for Sion to sit, nodding dismissively.
[Why not just hit him, Human?]
‘Not yet.’
Sion smiled faintly and, following Hayden’s suggestion, took the seat across from him.
‘If I beat him senseless right now, my conscience might rest easy—but I’d lose what actually matters.’
[Hmm, then what do you intend to do?]
‘What else? Watch closely from here on. I’ll show you just how silver my tongue can be.’
[Ah, yes…….]
Akasha nodded, her voice tinged with reluctance.
Sion spoke with exaggerated courtesy.
“You came here today representing the Council, did you not?”
“……That is so.”
“And yet, if I may venture a guess, your true purpose isn’t the Council’s errand at all, but something far more ‘…personal,’ wouldn’t you say?”
“…….”
At those words, Hayden’s brow furrowed.
At the same moment, his Mana began to press down upon Sion’s shoulders.
Thud!
[It feels rather like a massage, doesn’t it? Quite soothing, I’d imagine?]
‘Rather, yes.’
It was, admittedly, rather pleasant.
He even found himself wishing it would continue—his shoulders had been stiff lately anyway.
But outwardly, he twisted his face into an expression of great distress.
“Ugh……!”
“I dislike circumlocution, young Lord Rostery.”
Hayden viewed Sion as clearly beneath him.
Sion forced a strained smile and raised his head.
“This is…… forgive me, I’ve been discourteous…….”
“Come to the point.”
“Lumia Kabala. The current owner of the Main Tower. And my betrothed.”
“……!”
In that instant, Hayden’s teeth ground together—a display of naked displeasure.
And Sion, having begun, was thoroughly enjoying his method acting performance.
‘Did you know, Akasha? I once dreamed of becoming an actor.’
[Last time, weren’t you saying you wanted to be a novelist? What is it with all these dreams of yours?]
‘Now is the moment to realize them.’
[Ah, I see.]
Akasha’s responses had grown decidedly perfunctory.
Sion pressed on regardless, determined to pursue his dream.
The reason he was going to such lengths was simple.
‘I need to provoke Hayden.’
More precisely, he needed to prevent Hayden from carrying out his Council duties normally.
Later might be different.
But now, an open clash with the Council would serve no purpose.
“Of course, you must be uncomfortable. I’ve no wish to antagonize you deliberately.”
“……What do you mean?”
“Only that I’m prepared to trade you what you want.”
“……!”
At those words, something shifted in Hayden’s eyes.
He relaxed his bearing and shifted his posture.
“Do continue.”
“You may not know this, but our betrothal is entirely a matter of family contract.”
“I was told it was founded on love.”
“Ah, that’s merely the formula people employ. It’s simply easier for others to understand that way.”
As he spoke, Sion drew up the corner of his mouth—a smile that, perhaps, bore a striking resemblance to Hayden’s own.
[Your expression acting is quite competent. I’d give it an eight out of ten.]
Ignoring Akasha’s remark, Sion unveiled his prepared words.
“But I find it distasteful.”
“Distasteful, you say…….”
“Because in the end, I’m merely being exploited by my family under the guise of a strategic marriage, and my market value becomes fixed the moment that occurs.”
“I see…….”
Hayden regarded Sion with newfound interest.
“You’re seeking the position of successor to the Rostery Family?”
“Indeed. With sufficient accomplishments that the Family desires and capable allies, it’s entirely feasible.”
“Accomplishments and allies, I see…….”
If he didn’t understand by this point, that would be the real surprise.
He knew something of the Rostery Family’s fundamental principles.
A smile played at the corners of Hayden’s mouth.
“Coincidentally, I believe I’m in a position to provide exactly those things.”
“Ho.”
“So perhaps you’ll have no regrets if this transaction proceeds, my lord.”
“Well…….”
Sion paused, considering what expression he should wear in this moment, but the deliberation was brief.
“Treasures ought to pass to those who truly merit them.”
“Ha ha!”
At those words, Hayden burst into hearty laughter.
“Splendid! An answer that pleases me greatly! My lord, I must apologize for my rudeness at our first meeting. I confess I never imagined we would find ourselves so perfectly aligned…….”
“Ha ha, you’re too kind.”
Sion offered Hayden the appropriate affirmation and pressed forward.
“And I’ve already prepared concrete plans for this transaction. Would you care to hear them?”
“I’m listening.”
“As you know, Tower Master Lumia won’t readily open her heart to you.”
“Ah, quite true.”
Hayden shook his head with an expression of genuine regret.
“She possesses talent, but unfortunately, she was not born with the proper mindset of a mage.”
“Yes. Time would heal that eventually, but wouldn’t it be better to accelerate the process?”
For instance…….
“Through a contract, couldn’t Tower Master Lumia become something you personally ‘own’?”
The very words made nausea rise in his throat, but Sion resolved to stay in character.
If the Hayden he’d come to know was anything like he suspected, he would never refuse the bait being offered now.
And as if to prove that very thought——
“Ho, do continue.”
Hayden smiled with evident interest, gesturing for him to go on.
“And the most convenient means of binding a mage through contract is none other than a ‘duel’.”
“Ah yes, just as the Main Tower once seized mages from the Blue Tower through such contests.”
“Precisely.”
Sion watched Hayden quietly.
A thick hunger flickered to life in Hayden’s eyes.
“As you know, contracts forged through duel are absolute. No matter how capable Tower Master Lumia is, she cannot refuse them.”
“Ah.”
Was he imagining the scene before him?
Sion watched Hayden’s eyes glaze over with exhilaration, and inside, he let out a silent, bitter laugh.
Honestly, if not for this performance, he would’ve grabbed the man by the hair and beaten that face into pulp right here.
[There’s still time.]
‘Don’t tempt me…….’
So he rebuked Akasha inwardly and maintained his smile toward Hayden.
‘Go on. Ask. Say you’ll do it.’
And as if answering Sion’s silent wish, Hayden’s lips parted.
“In other words, you’re saying you’ll hand Lumia over to me through a duel?”
“Yes. However.”
Sion added a justification that would earn Hayden’s trust.
Since the Rostery Family was genuinely targeting the Blue Tower, it would be more than sufficient to dispel Hayden’s suspicion.
“The Blue Tower is what I wish to claim for myself.”
“A fallen Magic Tower? What’s the point?”
“It carries the prestige of its past glory. Strip away the useless Magic Engineering, and it’s hardly deniable that it remains an attractive tower, is it?”
“True enough. It was once among the Four Great Magic Towers.”
Hayden nodded, affirming Sion’s words.
He’d managed to dispel most of Hayden’s doubts, but one more move was necessary.
He needed to make Hayden trust him completely.
For that, first——
“Of course, we’ll make the price of the duel quite substantial to persuade Tower Master Lumia. As you understand, without sufficient inducement, there’s no way she’d consent to this scheme.”
“That’s certainly true.”
“Testify to the Council about the Blue Tower’s inspection results in a way favorable to the Main Tower. And…….”
Sion continued.
“Dissolve the contract of the Main Tower’s mage who became affiliated with the Red Tower ten years ago.”
“Ah, ten years ago…… you must mean Maxwell. Hmm, that’s not difficult at all. Breaking a contract is hardly…….”
For Hayden Kaul, such a thing was no great hardship.
He wasn’t even considering the possibility of defeat in the duel.
He saw it merely as a formality, a means of establishing justification.
Satisfied that everything was unfolding according to plan, Sion smiled and asked.
“Well then, how will you conduct this duel……?”
“What, that’s already settled. Do I have any reason to refuse?”
Hayden grinned and extended his hand toward Sion.
“I’d like to maintain this constructive relationship going forward. Once more, I apologize for my earlier rudeness.”
“Ha, what are you saying.”
Sion clasped Hayden’s hand and laughed.
Thus the agreement was sealed.

And shortly after.
“……That’s how it turned out, Tower Master. Of course, I mentioned it to you beforehand, but at any rate, it went well.”
“I see. Then what would happen if things went poorly?”
“…….”
“Sion?”
“…….”
“Hey.”
In any case, Sion’s plan moved forward regardless.

* * *

“……Hmm.”
After sealing his agreement with Sion, Hayden fell into thought for a moment.
“Is something troubling you, sir?”
“Ah, Raul.”
Hayden smiled faintly and turned his gaze toward his junior.
“I was meaning to call you anyway, so this works out perfectly.”
“What is it, sir…….”
“It looks like I’ll be facing the Blue Tower in a duel. Of course, there are a few things I’ll need to verify beforehand, but assuming those check out without issue…….”
Hayden was no fool, and certainly no novice.
Before starting the duel, he intended to assess the Blue Tower’s condition.
At minimum, he needed to determine whether there was some trap waiting in this confrontation.
And beyond that.
“Tell the other juniors on my behalf.”
“Tell them……?”
“There’s no need to hold back in this duel.”
There was a fact Hayden had deliberately not mentioned to Sion.
In truth, if Sion cooperated with him as promised, it wouldn’t even be necessary.
“All the juniors who came with us this time are 4th Circle mages, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right, sir.”
“Make sure you crush them thoroughly.”
Hayden’s smile turned vicious.
It was time to show Lumia the harsh truth of reality. And that too was a companion’s duty.
‘Don’t feel too sorry about it, Lumia.’
If she felt despair, that was retribution for all the worry she’d caused him up until now.
Surely that was a price she would have to bear.

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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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