Vince hurried into Veronica’s office as soon as he received the summons. Veronica brought him up to speed and told him that he was going to be one of the two being dispatched. Vince’s expression hardened when he heard the details. He considered a criminal organization that trafficked intelligent species to be the worst kind of gutter rats.

“I understand the mission,” Vince said. “Liberate the slaves from the organization, Shackler, and eliminate members of said organization. In addition, find out why they’ve come to Meltor and investigate what’s behind the deal, right?”

Veronica nodded. “Exactly. If possible, capture the commander. If not, you’re authorized to extract as much as you can and kill them.”

“I understand.”

It was a bloody conversation, but the Red Tower was no stranger to violence. Plans would often go awry, so the royal family allowed the Red Tower the right to execution in certain circumstances. Moreover, they were also perfectly okay with torture as a means to extract information. It was one of the reasons Meltor’s enemies feared and hated the red robed magicians of Meltor.

“... Tower Master,” Vince didn’t immediately leave the room.

He knew the mission was difficult, but he didn’t want his disciple to dip his feet in this dirty ditch. It was enough for Vince to bloody his hands. He should be able to handle this much of a force on his own.

However, Veronica read his mind and shook her head. “No. I don’t have a good feeling about this. The White Tower gave us excellent information, but it’s incomplete. If there are more hidden forces, then you won’t be strong enough to handle them on your own. Take the kid.”

Vince argued, “Theodore is still only nineteen years old.”

Veronica shook her head. “He is also a 5th Circle magician that I’ve personally evaluated.”

They locked gazes as they refused to give in. Neither doubted Theo’s skills. After all, his capabilities had already surpassed the rank of Average, and he could keep up with his mentor, Vince. But the two of them forgot to take Theo’s decision into account.

Theo took a step forward. “I will do it.”

Vince turned to him in surprise. “You will?”

Theo smiled. “I don’t want to send Master to a dangerous place alone. If I can be of assistance, then please let me accompany you.”

Veronica grinned at his attitude. “What he said, Vince.”

Vince sighed. “... Then it can’t be helped.”

Veronica chuckled. “Well, think of this as the price for having a very good disciple. You don’t have to worry about him doing well.”

She plucked a piece of parchment from a drawer, scrawled a few lines, and stamped it with her Tower Master seal.

Veronica tossed the piece of parchment toward Vince. “This is my stamped order. If you need it, use it to ask for the cooperation of Earl Bergen. You two may not be able to hold down the organization just by yourselves.”

VInce stared at the drying seal in bemusement. “Huh? Wouldn’t it be a nuisance for you?”

“Hey, if I give it to you, then just accept it.” Veronica shouted, forcing Vince to accept the parchment.

Vince didn’t think it was a good idea, but he thanked her anyway. However, Veronica wasn’t done.

“Kid, take this.”

Theo caught the object thrown at him. “Huh? Ah.”

It was a small pouch. Veronica spoke, reminding of something he had forgotten about, “Apparently, your dimension pocket hasn’t been reissued yet? I’ll lend you mine instead.”

“Thank you for your consideration… Huh?” Theo was confused by the strange weight of the pouch. “Tower Master, are there things inside?”

She coughed. “Don't mind the clutter. There’s a couple of useless potions and scrolls in there.”

Why would she leave useless things in her dimension pocket?

Theo realized Veronica’s intentions when she avoided his gaze. He smiled; she still couldn’t hide her feelings.

Veronica nonchalantly fanned her face. “Go. I’ve said everything I needed to say. Old Man Shugel must be waiting.”

“I understand.” Vince and Theo answered at almost the same time, but unlike Vince, Theo didn’t turn around to leave. Instead, Theo looked at Veronica with a strange expression.

“I will be back.”

His last words were said soundlessly since he was embarrassed to say them in front of his master. However, he still conveyed them. Veronica’s eyes widened and she smiled like a blooming flower.

***

Flash!

A light suddenly lit up a narrow room that didn’t have any furniture. The dust twirled around as the air distorted. It was a spatial phenomenon as people were teleported into Earl Bergen’s territory.

Two magicians appeared in the middle of the room. Since they weren’t accompanied by the caster, only Vince and Theo appeared.

“... Hoo, those damn side effects haven’t changed.”

Vince was no exception to the dizziness caused by spatial magic as he pressed a hand to his forehead. It was an inevitable side effect for anyone who didn’t repeatedly pass through space like White Tower elders. Theodore was also affected, but it wasn’t as bad for him since he had experienced it recently.

Theo asked, “Should we take a rest for a while?”

“No, it is fine. This dizziness will go away in a few seconds.” Vince quickly regained his sense of balance.

He immediately walked toward the exit. They had arrived in a secret house on the outskirts of Bergen. The location was classified, so even Earl Bergen, the master of this territory, didn’t know about the existence of the house. The two magicians quietly opened the back door and slipped into the alley to blend in with the crowd.

“... I didn’t expect to come back to Bergen after sending my resignation letter,” Vince murmured as he saw the familiar city skyline.

In retrospect, they had only been gone for around a month. However, Vince and Theo felt like they had been away for much longer.

The hobgoblin chief, the finals, Sylvia… the Elder Lich, the grimoire, and Veronica.

He had fought off an ambush and met a genius he never thought he would reach in his lifetime. Then Theo had encountered a monster he’d only read about in books and survived. Unexpectedly, Theo had even gotten acquainted with an unimaginable person who asked him to call her ‘sister.’

Theodore had gone through so much in just one month. Vince had accepted Theo’s diploma for him, but that didn’t matter. The past month had felt like a dream.

... No, it isn’t.

Theo denied it firmly as he looked inward. He saw five Circles moving according to his will; clear evidence that the past month hadn’t been a dream.

At that moment, Vince spoke quietly, “Theo.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Let’s look around first. We came secretly, so we shouldn’t expose ourselves.”

“Understood.”

Since this was a quiet infiltration mission, they were dressed in casual clothing that was a common mix of brown, gray and green. They needed to keep their identities as magicians quiet.

Step, step.

The two magicians walked through the streets, occasionally purchasing some street food to maintain their cover as they inconspicuously kept an eye out for their targets. They walked around for approximately an hour while conversing.

Vince remarked, “Foreigners… There seem to be a lot of people from Austen.”

Theo murmured, “I can sense aura users and well-trained warriors.”

Vince nodded slightly. “They are either members of Shackler or mercenaries. Either way, this isn’t great. It is probably a patrol.”

The veteran war mage and Theodore’s perception meant they could sense things that ordinary people couldn’t. It was easy to grasp someone’s level of mana or their martial arts proficiency when they passed by. Theo’s Hawkeye discovered strangely curved swords on someone’s back.

When he discreetly pointed it out to Vince, the latter explained, “Those are shamshirs, swords used by Austen warriors. The shape of the handle and the blades are streamlined.”

It was difficult to use it as a stabbing weapon, but it specialized in slashing attacks. They were specifically designed for the warriors of the desert kingdom, Austen. It was at this moment that Vince and Theo both felt something.

“Ah.”

“Yes.”

The two magicians pretended to be ignorant and started moving again. Vince realized that Theo had also caught on.

He murmured even more quietly, “We have a tail.”

Theo did the same. “Yes, but I don’t feel any danger.”

“I don’t feel any killing intent either. Not assassins… Maybe intelligence operatives.”

The two of them hadn’t done anything that should raise suspicions, so they didn’t know why they had picked up a tail so quickly. Soon, the two silently came to the same conclusion and made their way to a less populated area.

They were going to catch the tail.

After a while, they reached an empty alley.

...?! 

The person following them flinched as he sensed something when the two magicians activated their magic power. Vince finished his spell a heartbeat earlier than Theo, and a blinding light emerged from his palm.

It was the 4th Circle spell, Burning Flash, and it was extremely effective when used as a surprise attack. The light revealed an empty void on the road behind them. Vince and Theo didn’t know what method the person used to hide themselves, but the stealth was exquisite.

Furthermore, in a situation where the target was blinded, they reflexively prepared for battle. A person unused to fighting might’ve tried to flee, however, this person was outnumbered.

“Ugh, dammit!”

Theo’s spell activated a beat after Vince, causing the air to constrict around their stalker and disabling their stealth technique.

However, a strange expression appeared on Theodore’s face. “... You?”

Surprisingly, Theo was familiar with their stalker.