* * *
Ethan’s explanation was simple.
“If you don’t mind... would you consider staying at the Magic Tower for a few days? There’s a lot of pure energy there that’s good for mana.”
While staying at the Tower, Ethan had beco able to use his mana.
Up until then, he hadn’t been able to use it because he had too much.
The Tower Master, upon seeing Ethan’s mana, reportedly couldn’t hide his excitent, exclaiming, “Looks like a greater archmage than is about to erge.”
However, since Ethan hadn’t used a single drop of mana for 13 years, it had piled up imnsely—so much so that the Tower had to construct a space on the rooftop just to contain it.
“If I really do surpass the Tower Master and beco an archmage, I might even be able to conceal Rosie’s divine power directly. [N O V E L I G H T] Once I reach the 9th Circle and ascend to the rank of Archmage, my mana will explode in volu.”
Ethan clenched his fist as he spoke.
“Until then, you just need to stay at the Tower rooftop. With my imnse mana there to counterbalance it, your divine power will be suppressed.”
In theory, it wasn’t impossible. Mana and divine power were naturally antagonistic—magical artifacts, for instance, would stop functioning if divine power was present.
I blinked in a daze.
“The... rooftop? I’m supposed to live on the rooftop for years?”
Originally, Ethan didn’t beco an archmage until well after coming of age.
Well, he had entered the Tower early, and started young, so maybe it would happen sooner...
But that still ant I would have to hide on the rooftop of the Magic Tower until then.
“‘Rooftop’ is just a word—it’s bigger than the entire Noart estate. It’s made of glass walls, so there’s plenty of sunlight! Lots of mages co and go too, so it won’t feel stuffy. So mages don’t leave the Tower for over 30 years.”
I’d been to the Magic Tower before—I knew how massive it was.
And I knew how many people lived inside.
“Publicly, we’ll just say you were so obsessed with magic you joined in the Tower.”
I had a rough idea of what kind of people mages were, thanks to that visit.
It wasn’t unusual for them to disappear into the Tower for years when they were imrsed in magic.
Honestly, if it hadn’t been for my birthday, Ethan wouldn’t have left either.
“The Tower Master can’t help but be favorable to Rosie. He’ll definitely approve and offer you every convenience. But...”
Ethan scratched his cheek and added:
“Except for the Tower Master’s drawing room, the Magic Tower is off-limits to outsiders. That ans no visits from the outside.”
Hearing that, Grandfather and Theo imdiately shook their heads.
“Until Ethan becos an archmage? Ethan, you’re thirteen years old. How long are we supposed to wait?”
“So Rosie won’t be allowed out? And no one can visit? Then we might not be able to see her again for who knows how long.”
Both of them looked at Ethan with full distrust.
But I simply smiled and nodded without hesitation.
“I’ll do it.”
Because Ethan will beco an archmage.
“That way, no one has to be sacrificed.”
I ant it.
“I wouldn’t be happy living well alone after sacrificing Assistant Yuta. And none of you want to die either, right?”
Everyone fell silent at that.
I looked at the rabbit sitting on Yuta’s lap and smiled faintly.
“See, you dumb bunny.”
“You said if we put our heads together, we might find a way.”
“Why do you look like that? Just because you’re cute on the outside doesn’t an I’ll treat you gently like a pushover.”
To that, Ethan muttered, “That pushover would be . Rosie is kinda cute...”
Either way, I’d been locked in a dungeon beneath the Temple for years in my previous life. The rooftop of the sprawling, populated Magic Tower? That was no problem.
Honestly, I was grateful the solution had co so easily. And since Ethan was destined to beco an archmage, this wasn’t so wild gamble.
At most, ten years. But it would definitely be shorter. Thanks to , Ethan had entered the Tower early.
“But Rosie...”
Yuta began cautiously.
I cut him off with a sharp look.
This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.
“You were ready to die for . And now you can’t even ask to stay at the Tower for a few years?”
“Mm...”
“Think about it from my perspective for once.”
A heavy silence fell.
Of course, it wasn’t like I had no regrets.
I’d have to stay away from Zahid using every excuse under the sun, and pretend to admire every single accessory Julian wore just to keep close to him.
The people I wanted most to be with were all here.
But... that still couldn’t compare to Yuta dying.
The one who broke the silence was Theo.
“You have to live, Senior. Don’t you know Rosie’s personality? She couldn’t stand watching act like a jerk to her—there’s no way she’d watch you die.”
Theo continued with his usual stern face.
“Rosie, I think you should go. While you’re away, I’ll research material combinations at the Academy to help conceal your divine power.”
He added slowly, lost in thought:
“If I can find a combination that contains Ethan’s mana and create a magic artifact from it, then even if Ethan isn’t nearby, just carrying it will help suppress your divine power.”
Oh, that kind of thod!
The fact that such words ca out of strict, uptight Theo’s mouth ant he was fully committed to the research.
I was grateful for that, too.
I smiled brightly and said,
“You’re all doing your part. For Grandfather’s dream. You heard what Yuta said, right? The Temple’s far stronger right now.”
Especially the High Priest—he was terrifying. But knowing the truth sohow brought hope too.
I had enough divine power to make the High Priest covet . And I had already beco the master of two Divine Beasts.
I didn’t know how yet, but if I beca the master of all four, maybe I really could defeat the High Priest, just like the prophecy said.
“In a few days, my power will start returning to , right?”
I smiled gently and looked at Yuta.
“When that happens, beco Liri’s master. Then dig deeper into the Temple, and find out what the master of four Divine Beasts can really do.”
By then, Julian would surely be the proud heir of Grandfather.
With Grandfather and Julian firmly leading House Noart, Theo at the Academy, Archmage Ethan, and Yuta as a top-tier spy in the Temple...
These were all people who hadn’t been beside Ray and Zahid in my previous life.
Maybe that’s why we failed to destroy the Temple last ti.
But now, maybe... this life would be different.
I smiled to myself—then suddenly asked,
“But... do you think I’ll make it to the Imperial Palace banquet?”
Yuta counted on his fingers, then tilted his head.
“Hmm... It’s cutting it close...”
“I really want to go...”
And I ant it. There was soone I had to save there. The Emperor.
The current Emperor resented the Temple. At that banquet, the Temple planned to assassinate him.
After that, they’d place a puppet child on the throne, and once again, the Temple-loving Empress Dowager would rise to power...
I have to save His Majesty this ti.
And one more thing.
I had to say goodbye to Zahid.
Honestly, who knew how many years this would take? I couldn’t keep up a fake engagent forever.
...I was planning to just drift into marriage... But even I know this would be crossing the line.
From the mont I heard the truth from Yuta, I had made up my mind. Still, I couldn’t help feeling sullen.
I didn’t think I’d be the one bringing up a breakup...
But it was better than dying while clinging to Zahid.
And I couldn’t make the young Zahid—who didn’t even feel that strongly for yet—wait endlessly.
We agreed to et at the banquet. I’ll say everything that day. If I manage to save the Emperor, I might even have a good parting gift for Zahid.
What if, when I ca out of the Tower, he was with another girl?
Tears nearly welled up from sheer sadness, but I held them back with all my might.
Instead, I just muttered, twitching my lips.
“I want to go to the Imperial Palace banquet...”
At my words, Yuta smiled softly.
“Then I’ll try. But to hold onto your divine power longer... I’ll need to be physically far from you. The closer I am, the faster your power returns.”
“Ah...”
“That ans... this is where I say goodbye.”
And then our eyes t.
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