Four years ago, Eward’s eyes had sparkled brightly upon seeing the magic cast by Lovellian. He had held a pure passion and interest for magic. Born as the eldest son of the Lionheart clan’s direct line with an excessive amount of expectations placed on him, Eward had held a much greater interest in reading books and learning magic than he had in learning how to swing a sword and move his body.

However, just because he was interested in it didn’t mean he had a talent for it. This was actually pretty common. Most people unfortunately didn’t have a lot of talent for the things they really liked and wanted to do.

But Eward had felt betrayed by this. To the same extent that he had once felt love and hope for learning magic, Eward felt frustrated by how different his reality was from his ideal.

Eward’s suffering wasn’t particularly cruel or uncommon. It was something that had happened to a lot of people.

Although Eward held a great passion and interest in magic, even going so far as to harbor love for it, magic didn’t return Eward’s affections.

* * *

Gilead hadn't waited for dawn, though it was already late at night. A few minutes past midnight, Gilead arrived at the capital of Aroth. Then he immediately headed to the Red Tower of Magic.

And Gilead wasn’t the only one to come to the Red Tower of Magic at this midnight hour.

On the top floor of the Red Tower of Magic, along with Lovellian and Eugene, a man wearing a pair of black-framed glasses was waiting in his seat.

“It’s nice to meet you,” the man greeted them politely.

His name was Balzac Ludbeth.

He was a powerful black wizard who had been occupying the seat of Black Tower Master for the past few decades. He got up from his chair and bowed his head deeply to Gilead.

“My name is Balzac Ludbeth,” he introduced himself.

“...I am Gilead Lionheart,” Gilead reluctantly returned the greeting.

Glaring at Balzac, Gilead gave the man a slight bow of the head, then exchanged a short glance with Eugene.

Tanis, who had accompanied Gilead, absolutely refused to bow her head to the man. Biting on her bottom lip, she glared at both Eugene and Balzac.

“...What are you doing here?” she demanded harshly.

Tanis couldn’t contain her surging emotions. Eward was her only son, the one who was meant to become the next Patriarch of the main family. But because he was more interested in magic than martial arts, she had reluctantly released him from her watchful eye so he could go and cultivate himself. But her beloved son had actually attempted to learn black magic. Tanis absolutely refused to accept such a terrible reality.

“Please calm yourself,” Lovellian requested in a gloomy voice. “...This incident has nothing to do with the Black Tower Master.”

“What kind of nonsense is that!” Tanis cried out. “Didn’t you say that Eward was tempted into dabbling with black magic?! But are you really going to look me in the eye and expect me to believe that the Black Tower Master had nothing to do with it?!”

“The Black Tower of Magic does not hold authority over all the black wizards in Aroth.” As he sat back down, Balzac continued to speak, “As for the black wizard responsible for this unfortunate affair…. Although we now know that his name is Gavid, he is not a member of the Black Tower of Magic. He is only a member of the Wizards Guild.”

The Wizards Guild was known as the largest community of wizards in the world. However, it didn’t have as much prestige as it had scale. Unlike the guild, which allowed anyone to join as long as they could use magic, the Towers of Magic were far more exclusive and would only accept those with genuinely exceptional skills.

“Although strictly speaking, I might also be a member of the Wizards Guild, that does not make me consider Gavid to even merit being an associate. Wouldn’t you agree that that is the case?” While pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose, he gave Lovellian a glance, “For example, while we both might be wizards belonging to the guild, I’m afraid that the Red Tower Master and I don’t consider ourselves as part of the same fraternity.”

Though he remained silent, Lovellian nodded in agreement. Still furious, Tanis attempted to continue speaking, but Gilead raised his hand to prevent her from doing so.

“But you still haven’t explained why you’re here,” Gilead pointed out in a cold voice.

If he claimed that the Black Tower of Magic wasn’t involved in this incident, why had Balzac insisted on being here? Gilead’s concealed rage made the air in the room grow cold.

However, Balzac wasn’t overwhelmed by Gilead’s hostility and instead calmly admitted, “The reason I’m here is to take responsibility for this matter.”

As the Patriarch of the Lionheart Clan’s main family, Gilead was one of a handful of the strongest people on the continent.

But so was Balzac. Decades ago, he had originally been in line to become the next Tower Master of the Blue Tower of Magic. Now he was one of only three legendary black wizards to have signed a personal contract with the Demon King of Incarceration.

Balzac continued, “Although Gavid isn’t a member of the Black Tower of Magic, as the Black Tower Master, I intend to take responsibility for the problems that Gavid has caused.”

“Responsibility?” Gilead questioned.

“Yes, for tempting Eward into learning black magic and arranging such a contract,” Balzac confirmed. “Strictly speaking, these cannot be considered ‘crimes.’”

Hundreds of years ago, just learning black magic would cause one to be sentenced as a criminal and executed. However, after the treaty agreed upon between the Great Vermouth and the Demon Kings was signed, learning black magic had become a personal right.

Balzac elaborated, “Though that might be the case…. I hope to show proper regard to the Lionheart clan’s stance on this matter.”

“I don’t really like the sound of your words,” Gilead spat out. “It sounds like you’re saying that, for the sake of the Lionheart clan’s prestige, you’re willing to bow your head in apology even though you don’t really need to. Have I got that right?”

“Yes,” Balzac immediately responded without any attempt at denying it.

Pop.

Gilead’s knuckles clenched. His killing intent ratcheted up a level, causing space itself to tremble. As Eugene assessed the killing intent in the air, he glanced down at the goosebumps being raised on his forearms. He had felt such levels of killing intent countless times in his past life. But the body he had been reincarnated into, which had only ever experienced this life, was trembling in the face of the killing intent.

“It isn’t something I strictly need to take responsibility for, and I hope you understand that.” A ghastly wave of killing intent had engulfed Balzac. Still, even in the midst of this, his face remained calm as he continued, “However, I wish to take responsibility anyway, as a fellow black wizard. Because I have no desire to lose the current amicable peace that we have maintained with the Lionheart Clan because of this incident.”

“If that’s how you really feel, how about getting down on your knees?” Tanis demanded in a sharp tone.

Balzac immediately got up from his seat and, without any hesitation, said, “If that’s what you desire.”

As Balzac was about to kneel down, Gilead shook his head violently and shouted, “Stop, there’s no need for that.”

Reluctantly, Gilead continued, “...I will gratefully accept your offer of nonobligatory responsibility. But there is one thing that concerns me. I fear that you may be attempting to cover up this incident in the name of taking responsibility.”

“Crimes involving drugs are governed by the law of Aroth. Everyone caught in the drug den will be confined in Aroth’s prison, leaving me unable to conceal anything,” Balzac paused for a moment to give Gilead a look. “Unless you would like to behead them yourself?”

“...Such words seem like an insult to my honor,” Gilead growled. “All I ask is that the laws of Aroth be applied fairly. By what right should I, as a foreigner, attempt to pass judgment over the laws of Aroth?”

“I’ve done you a discourtesy,” Balzac said as an apology.

Gilead changed the subject, “What will happen to the succubi?”

“The business they’re operating isn’t illegal. Even the hallucinogens they make use of in their store aren’t considered drugs, but… there will be sanctions placed on them for allowing mistreatment of their patrons.”

“Then how exactly are you supposed to be taking responsibility?” Tanis hissed.

As Balzac sat down once more, he replied, “I have arranged for the incubus with whom Gavid is currently contracted and who attempted to sign a contract with Sir Eward to be beheaded.”

“...I beg your pardon?”

“Baron Eoin Olpher, an incubus who serves under Duke Giabella. As Duke Giabella was not involved in this scheme, she cannot claim any responsibility for it, but… the one who was directly involved with Gavid, Baron Olpher, will lose his head.”

Balzac raised his hand. At this movement, Gilead leaned his body slightly closer to Tanis. This was to protect her should something unexpected occur.

Although Gilead’s actions and attitude blatantly showed his caution and distrust of Balzac, Balzac did not feel offended by this. With a completely serene expression, he just drew his finger down through the air.

Fwoosh.

A black burst of flame ignited in mid-air and a scroll appeared.

After waiting for the fire to die down, Balzac took the scroll and declared, “...The Demon King of Incarceration has sent a personal message.”

Eugene took firm hold of his body that was about to react unconsciously. He held back his rage. Nothing good would happen from pointlessly showing a reaction in this situation. His mind began to race in the place of his frozen body.

The Demon King of Incarceration was one of Helmuth’s two remaining Demon Kings. In his past life, Eugene hadn’t been able to storm into the Demon King of Incarceration’s castle.

“The Demon King of Incarceration would like to convey his immense disappointment over causing such distress to the family of his good friend Vermouth,” Balzac read out.

His good friend Vermouth?! 

These words caused Eugene’s stomach to turn. He wanted to immediately jump up from his seat and grab Balzac by the collar. He wanted to snap at the man to go and tell that Demon King he served to stop spouting such bullshit and just keep his trap shut.

Eugene wasn’t the only one whose expression twisted at these words. Gilead also began glaring at Balzac while biting down on his lips.

Even as he ignored these looks, Balzac continued speaking, “As such, he declares that he will personally behead Eoin Olpher, and if desired, he can have the head delivered directly to the Lionheart clan.”

“There’s no need for that,” Gilead ground out these words with a grimace.

“...If that’s the case, I will inform him that just beheading the baron will be sufficient,” Balzac said as he stood up once more. “Once again, allow me to bow my head in apology to you. While this arrangement may not be enough to appease your anger, Lord Patriarch, please know that neither the Demon King of Incarceration nor the Black Tower of Magic have any desire to offend the Lionheart Clan.”

“...,” Gilead stayed grimly silent.

“Well then… I look forward to meeting you again under more pleasurable circumstances,” with this farewell, Balzac made to leave.

Before he exited the room, he shot a glance at Eugene. Eugene felt this gaze, but he didn’t immediately return Balzac’s look.

There was a short silence.

“...I will take Eward back with me to the main estate when I return,” Gilead was the first to speak. As he rubbed his stiff cheeks, he let out a long sigh and said, “Master Lovellian… I’m afraid that I’ve made a grave error. All of this is my fault.”

“Not at all. If I had only been more strict with Eward, something like this wouldn’t have happened,” Lovellian confessed with a similarly long sigh. He shook his head from side to side before bowing his head towards Tanis, “My sincere apologies.”

“...Eward… what is that child doing now?” Tanis asked, her eyes overflowing with resentment.

She truly believed that Lovellian was at fault for Eward’s error. If he had only accepted Eward as his disciple and had taught Eward with a whole-hearted zeal, then there was no way that her son would have gone out and done something like this.

Eward didn’t have enough talent to be his disciple? What did that even mean? There was no way her son, Eward, could be lacking in any form.

“I told him to rest in his room,” Lovellian replied.