The Isolated Marchioness Just Wants to Make a Living - Chapter 158

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 158

“Let’s have some tea first…”

The Magic Tower Master, who had been cheerfully floating teacups with magic while smiling brightly, saw Alpheus’s serious eyes and sighed.

Then she plopped down in her seat and said.

“Fine, I’m not really in the mood to leisurely chat over tea right now either. Let’s just go through the motions and get straight to the point.”

The teacups settled obediently on the table, and tea automatically filled them.

But neither the Magic Tower Master nor Alpheus touched their teacups.

“I figured Miss Brisa would be curious.”

The Magic Tower Master blinked with a tired expression.

“It’s been quite a while since we handed over Miss Dahlia, and we captured Paul Bakken who has loose enough lips to spill information freely, plus we even captured a Dark Mage alive, yet it must have seemed like we had no results at all.”

“That’s exactly it. That’s why I came.”

When Alpheus nodded, the Magic Tower Master smiled bitterly.

“I underestimated Marquis Sears.”

Her small hands trembled slightly with tension.

“Actually, I thought he was just a muscular human goldfish who only listened to his sister’s orders, but he has the judgment to come here alone without bringing Miss Brisa.”

Fortunately, Alpheus had enough judgment not to say ‘I came alone following Brisa’s orders.’

“I originally wanted to talk only with Miss Brisa’s guardian. But Miss Brisa is too perceptive, so I was really struggling with how to make contact, but this worked out perfectly.”

He also decided not to mention that the Magic Tower Master’s very existence was the answer to that dilemma.

“No matter how mature she is, a child is still a child… We can’t burden her with too heavy a load. Having appropriate secrets is also an adult’s duty for the child’s sake.”

The Magic Tower Master slowly waved her hand in the air.

“Shall we begin our conversation in earnest then?”

Then a map image of the continent floated in front of Alpheus.

Before Alpheus could even admire it, the Magic Tower Master’s tired voice continued.

“800 years ago, a Dimensional Traveler appeared in Riente Kingdom and greatly twisted the balance of power. The Dark Mages received support from Riente Kingdom and used the ‘power of story’ that the Dimensional Traveler possessed to curse the four great families of the continent.”

Alpheus straightened up and focused intently.

“They hoped that the continent’s ‘barbarians’ wouldn’t unite their forces to cross the sea and attack Riente. They knew. They knew that once the continent’s ‘barbarians’ began to take the form of nations, they would become incredibly strong.”

Then Sears’s coat of arms appeared in the center of the map.

“The first Emperor Daxion used Sears to pacify the four families, and the Dimensional Traveler who became Queen of Riente followed the first Emperor out of conscience and sealed the demon. After that, the Dark Mages began thinking in a different direction.”

Dark magic symbols appeared on the territory of Riente Kingdom, which had now become Sebon’s land.

“That becoming a Half-Human, Half-Beast wasn’t a curse, but a way to gain power…”

At the same time, Paul’s frightened face appeared. Paul in the image trembled as he spoke.

“They need blood… If human blood won’t do, then even livestock blood… They say they’ll all become superior to the continentals, stand above us… be reborn with stronger, more beautiful bodies… If I behave well, they’ll let me join their group…”

The Magic Tower Master spoke slowly.

“They’re trying to become Half-Human, Half-Beasts themselves. Probably otherworldly Half-Human, Half-Beasts that need blood… ones that can ‘infect’ others, a new species much stronger than ordinary humans.”

Alpheus bit his lip.

He had never defeated a Half-Human, Half-Beast.

Somehow, Brisa had always solved everything.

“And for reference, would you like to see this too?”

The Magic Tower Master waved her hand once. Then another image appeared.

It was the Empress Dowager, whom he had seen once from a distance when staying briefly in the capital with Maximus.

“Magic Tower Master, I want to become young. How can I rejuvenate like you? I… I hate growing old so much.”

“It’s not rejuvenation but a side effect of magic power, Your Majesty the Empress Dowager. I don’t age here. Do you truly think this appearance is good?”

“It’s better than being old. Grant me the blessing of that side effect too. Please?”

The Empress Dowager’s image disappeared.

The Magic Tower Master said.

“Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has made the same request every year. But she hasn’t come since last year.”

When she waved her arms one last time, all the images vanished.

“I extracted the energy from Dahlia, Paul, and that Dark Mage to partially trace back the thoughts of the Dark Mages as a whole.”

Once again, there was nothing between the Magic Tower Master and Alpheus.

“The fact that they haven’t yet completed that new ‘Half-Human, Half-Beast’ means something is lacking, and I suspect that lacking element is what they’re trying to extract from Brisa, the last bloodline of Riente. Just like I did. If so, it makes sense why they were so desperate to capture Brisa alive.”

Alpheus remained silent, biting his lower lip hard.

“The most rational method we can think of here is to kill Miss Brisa to completely cut off the information that would go to the Dark Mages… Oh my.”

The Magic Tower Master, who had been continuing her words, tilted her head.

“I thought the Marquis would explode even with just this much, but you’re surprisingly calm?”

“Acting emotionally in war leads to certain defeat.”

Alpheus said coldly.

“Outside the battlefield, I try to be faithful to my desires, say everything I want to say, express all my love generously, and show my entire heart. Because on the battlefield, I have to kill all those things.”

“…You’re not a war hero for nothing.”

The Magic Tower Master gazed intently at Alpheus.

“I heard you haven’t known Miss Brisa for very long. So why do you care for Miss Brisa so much?”

“She’s my only blood relative, so it’s natural.”

“That’s not a very impressive answer.”

The Magic Tower Master said cynically.

“Blood relatives acting like enemies toward each other can be seen in real-time at the Imperial Palace without having to go far, and it’s always playing to rave reviews for all ages.”

She counted on her fingers as she asked additionally.

“Because Miss Brisa is capable? Because she’s of practical help to you, Marquis? Because she’s kind and cute? Or just… because you pity her?”

“If I had to give reasons, I’d say none of those four. And this conversation isn’t helping our tactics right now.”

Alpheus said curtly.

“However, that first method is rejected. If anyone tries to harm Brisa for that reason, they’ll have to kill me first. So.”

After taking a deep breath, he asked with an upright posture.

“What do you think is the second most rational method, Magic Tower Master?”

“It’s a bit more fundamental and a bit more righteous path. But as always, such paths are…”

With the tired expression of an old person on her young face, she slowly added.

“A bit more difficult, a bit more complex, a bit more arduous, and also…”

The Magic Tower Master looked straight at Alpheus.

“Someone will have to sacrifice a bit more.”

Alpheus didn’t avoid her gaze.

* * *

That afternoon, Leopold arrived in the capital with Harrison.

But on their way to Nogen’s townhouse by carriage, they encountered a strange sight. It was Brisa standing in front of the main gate of Bakahun townhouse.

“Stop for a moment.”

When Leopold spoke to the carriage, it immediately stopped in front of Bakahun townhouse.

Brisa, who had been pacing in front of the door, also spotted Leopold and Harrison through the carriage window.

“Huh?”

Brisa’s eyes widened at the unexpected visit.

She approached the carriage and asked.

“What brings you here so early?”

Harrison answered from inside the carriage.

“Were you waiting for us? After getting Leopold’s message?”

Actually, Leopold had planned to contact them after arriving at Nogen townhouse.

While he was hastily adjusting his tie at this unexpected encounter, Brisa answered.

“I had no idea you were coming, I’m just… Alpheus still hasn’t returned from the Magic Tower, so I was worried.”

“The Magic Tower?”

“Yeah.”

Leopold detected anxiety in Brisa’s expression.

She answered with a somewhat uneasy face.

“I sent him to the Magic Tower this morning to ask why they haven’t sent us any investigation results. I know he was supposed to meet with the Magic Tower Master today. But he’s late.”

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