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There was a steaming dish of braised carp on the table, so I quickly grabbed a piece and ate it.

“What a bold young man.”

I looked at Elder Parin’s profile and replied,

“I didn’t know you enjoyed this kind of thing either.”

Elder Parin poured himself a glass of moonshine and turned his head to look at the Eastern Lake.

“…When you’re cooped up in the magic tower, you sometimes long for this kind of atmosphere.”

It was an unexpected remark. It didn’t seem to fit the personality I had heard about.

Elder Parin took a sip of the moonshine, nodded, and murmured,

“Good liquor.”

As if he needed someone to talk to, Elder Parin asked,

“Do you know why moonshine is good liquor?”

I also took a sip of moonshine.

“There’s no better drink for clearing your mind.”

Elder Parin suddenly turned his head and met my eyes.

He generally had a fastidious impression, but he also seemed like someone who enjoyed a quiet, leisurely atmosphere.

There was also a playful look in his eyes.

Elder Parin looked at me with a surprised expression and then smiled.

“That’s an interesting thing for a young man to say. You’re right. There’s no better drink than moonshine for clearing your mind.”

“…”

“You guys, have a seat. I’ll be getting up soon.”

The three people who were watching from behind awkwardly sat down. They had all heard about Elder Parin’s strict personality, so they seemed to be having trouble adjusting to the current situation.

Elder Parin poured each of the three a glass of liquor and then looked at me.

“I was just thinking about having a chat with you, and here we have this opportunity.”

I poured myself a glass of liquor.

“I didn’t know you knew me. You wouldn’t happen to remember the names of everyone who attended the banquet, would you?”

It might have seemed like a disrespectful question, but I’m not the type to worry about such things. Elder Parin smiled playfully.

“How could I not know you after you made such a scene in the duel?”

“I didn’t think you’d care about something like that.”

Elder Parin let out a cheerful laugh.

“Of course, I don’t care.”

“Then…”

“But the way you manifested your magic was quite intriguing.”

I momentarily stopped the glass I was bringing to my mouth.

“The manifestation method?”

“You’re the first person I’ve seen use a circle besides Baekga.”

“…”

I casually emptied the glass into my mouth.

‘He’s sharp.’

It’s unlikely anyone told him. He must have sensed the mana fluctuations when I briefly opened up against Moose.

It’s not surprising that he noticed the mana fluctuations themselves, but it’s another matter to be certain it was a mana circle from that distance. Parin’s knowledge of magic is quite impressive.

I suddenly remembered where I had heard the word “Baekga” before and asked, “What is Baekga?”

Elder Parin, tilting his head, looked at me with an amused expression

“Do you really not know, or are you pretending? I’m referring to the Upper Tower of the White Magic Tower.”

[TL/N: Upper Tower is not the final name, I will decide the final name after I get more context.]

“White Magic Tower?”

Come to think of it, Hector had also mentioned the White Magic Tower right after our fight.

I had many questions, but since I didn’t know much about Elder Parin yet, I decided to keep my mouth shut. There was no need to reveal information unnecessarily.

During the ensuing silence, I carefully examined Parin’s ‘Qi’.

‘6-star mage.’

His ‘Qi’ was well-contained. At a glance, I could tell how he had trained. He seemed to have honed himself considerably.

Even when our eyes met continuously through his monocle, it was difficult to read his inner thoughts, as if there was an invisible barrier.

He was the first mage like this besides Hector.

Seeing my continued vigilance, Elder Parin waved his hand.

“I seem to have touched a sensitive spot unintentionally. It was just simple curiosity, so there’s no need to be on guard. I was studying a recently acquired magic book and found something interesting.”

Parin finished his last glass of liquor and continued.

“Even after studying magic for a long time, there’s still so much I don’t know. Anyway, you don’t have to worry about it. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”

Seeing him like this, he strongly exuded the air of a scholar.

For some reason, I felt that this encounter was not a coincidence.

“We’ll have a chance to talk again later, right?”

The owner brought out another spicy braised carp and a bottle of moonshine.

The glasses naturally made another round. This time, Parin looked towards the White Horse Knights and asked,

“Did you all go into the Demon Realm as well?”

Taylor answered.

“Yes.”

Parin looked at the three of them in turn.

“And you received instruction at the Red Magic Tower.”

For a moment, Taylor unconsciously tensed up. He was worried because of the bad blood between the towers.

However, Parin simply looked at the three with the eyes of a mentor looking at his students.

“Not bad. You seem to be progressing well. And you should be careful about your body stiffening. There’s something unnatural about the connection between your core and your beast form.”

Blair, looking surprised, as if he hadn’t expected to receive such guidance, replied, “Ah, yes.”

An awkward silence fell again.

Perhaps uncomfortable with the atmosphere, the three kept their mouths shut, and I had no intention of stepping in either.

We just stared at the lake as the night deepened.

“Tsk. You’re suffering because of the stubbornness of the old folks. It would be nice if we could openly exchange with each other. The problem with the magic towers is that they are too closed off. Even with the Magic Tower Alliance, it’s just a shell. They’re so busy keeping their high-level magic and theories to themselves that progress is bound to be slow.”

I looked at Parin and said.

“You seem to regret it.”

Parin nodded.

“It can’t be helped. The White Magic Tower is different from us. And it’s not easy for us to take the initiative and open up. There are too many obstacles.”

At this point, I asked what I was curious about,

“What is your relationship with Urgon?”

When Parin turned to me with a puzzled look, I brought up the main topic.

“I know the Blue Magic Tower has a close relationship with the Urgon clan. Is that the case with you as well, Elder?”

“My presence here represents our tower’s intentions, so what difference does it make?”

“It seems the head of the Urgon clan wants to send a disciple to study under you.”

Parin said with an amused expression,

“Are you referring to the head’s eldest son?”

“Well, yes.”

“I can barely manage myself, let alone take on a disciple.”

Parin, who had been looking at us in turn, asked with a knowing look,

“What clan did you say you were from?”

“Samael.”

“Samael, is it?”

I felt Parin’s reaction was strange, but I didn’t press further.

“I don’t know what you’re worried about, but let it go. All matches will be conducted fairly.”

“What if Urgon has other motives?”

“Motives?”

“For example, trying to crush a promising young talent from another clan they dislike.”

“The young man’s imaginations are running wild.”

“What if it’s true?”

Parin’s tone suddenly became firm.

“As long as I’m here, that won’t happen.”

Then, Parin rose from his seat and said,

“I should be going now. I enjoyed our conversation.”

“I did as well.”

After Parin left, Blair took a sip of moonshine and sighed.

“He’s very different from what I’ve heard. I heard he was strict, but he’s surprisingly easygoing.”

“But it’s a bit strange. He doesn’t seem to know much about Urgon… Don’t you think so?”

“He didn’t seem interested at all.”

“Exactly. What do you think, Ruin?”

I looked at Blair with a surprised expression.

“You’re asking for my opinion?”

“Of course.”

I looked at Parin’s receding figure and replied, “Well…”

* * *

As the drinks flowed, we brought up the main topic we hadn’t finished discussing.

Blair’s expression turned serious.

“There was nothing strange. When I fought against the Red Phoenix Division, I even felt like they were holding back to avoid hurting me. I didn’t sense any killing intent at all.”

“Taylor?”

“Same here.”

I asked the two of them,

“What about during the evening?”

“I deliberately approached clans with questionable reputations, but it was the same. I didn’t sense anything strange. They seemed like they were just here to enjoy the banquet.”

“Hmm.”

“Just in case, I kept an eye on those who left the banquet hall, but no one was leaving periodically. There were a few people who left their seats for a long time, but I didn’t notice anything particularly strange.”

Taylor shook his head at Blair’s words.

“That’s what makes it strange. It’s a completely superficial banquet.”

“That’s true.”

“Why did they bother inviting us? I don’t understand the reason. In any case, we need to be prepared when we return. We should also request to be dispatched to the Red Magic Tower again.”

Seeing him go off about the Red Magic Tower again made me sigh. This guy still has a long way to go.

“If you mention the Red Magic Tower one more time, I’ll smash your head in.”

“I have to protect Samael.”

“You disgrace the name of Samael.”

“There’s nothing wrong with building a relationship with the Red Magic Tower.”

Whack— As soon as Taylor, who had been hit on the head, slammed his head on the table, he got up and glared at me.

“Think rationally, Ruin. We’re still not strong enough.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll see you later.”

Today is not the day to educate Taylor. It was a bit delayed because of Elder Parin, but I had other plans for today anyway.

I looked at Arin and asked,

“What do you think?”

Arin, who was sipping moonshine, replied with a cold expression, “About what?”

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Didn’t you sense anything strange from Urgon?”

“No.”

Still a cold reply. I chuckled and responded,

“Cut it out now. If you’ve had a good meal, you have to pay for it. Are you just going to freeload?”

Arin hesitated for a moment before saying,

“There’s really nothing. I spent most of my time alone.”

“You fought against Libre and Layla, didn’t you? Didn’t you sense anything strange then?”

Arin flinched and a chill emanated from her body.

“What did you sense?”

“I said there’s nothing!”

“Don’t lie.”

Taylor and Blair, thinking I was being harsher than usual towards Arin, intervened in a firm tone.

“Take it easy, Ruin. You should know Arin’s personality by now.”

I slowly reached out my hand towards Arin.

“Do you want me to tell you what you felt?”

Like lightning, I lifted Arin’s veil and met her eyes. Her pupils were filled with coldness.

“You must have felt a sense of shame. Your mana control must have been unstable.”

“…”

The three flinched simultaneously, and Taylor and Blair let out sighs of dismay.

“Ruin.”

Arin’s cold gaze intensified, and she looked at me as if I were a bug.

“I told you to leave me alone.”

“You looked like you were about to hit me just now.”

I drank the rest of my liquor in one gulp, walked a few steps away, and then turned around.

“Follow me.”

Arin just glared at me without answering. I pulled out the Red Dagger from my waist and threw it in one swift motion.

Swoosh— The Red Dagger, engulfed in flames, flew and pierced the center of the table.

I smiled as I met Arin’s eyes.

“Or do you want to get hit here?”

———-