Surviving as a Villain at the Academy - Surviving as a Villain at the Academy chapter 184

184 – Flipping the Tower. (3)

Asti closed her eyes and surveyed the entire tower. Since she had already entrusted the capture of Aime to Sloth, there was only one thing left for her to do.

That was, to lay bare the tower’s vulnerabilities.

And that wasn’t a particularly difficult task. To Asti, the tower master’s magical prowess was no different from that of a newborn baby.

Of course, by human standards, the tower master was a grand sorcerer, a magician who had reached a lofty realm… But Asti was a high demon, and not just any high demon, but one specialized in magic. To her, even a grand sorcerer was nothing more than trivial.

Naturally, it didn’t take long before the secret spaces hidden by the tower master began to appear before her eyes.

“I’ve found it.”

She murmured softly and blended in among the other court magicians. There was no need to attract unnecessary attention.

It was also what Frah had told her, and she had no desire to suddenly be treated as a tremendous magician and become the center of attention.

The concerns of humans were of no importance to her.

Blending in with the court magicians, she pretended to look around casually, and subtly channeled her magic into the spots where she felt the flow of the tower’s magic.

Yet, even as she channeled her magic, no one, including the tower master present, could sense her magic.

‘To conceal magic, it must be done this way. It’s so obvious, yet they’re so confident. The level of human magic is really quite low.’

With that thought, Asti glanced around her surroundings.

However, the tower’s magicians merely sneered at the court magicians and Asti. It was a look that clearly conveyed a sense of superiority.

‘As if you lot could find anything,’ that kind of look was also felt by Asti.

Due to that gaze, Asti realized why the court magicians were so eager to uncover the tower’s vulnerabilities.

It seemed there had been a power struggle between the tower’s magicians and the court magicians for quite some time. Well, it’s a common occurrence when humans form groups.

Anyway, Asti wasn’t particularly interested in the story. Whether they supported or opposed each other, what was important to Asti was to quickly finish this tiresome task and deal with the superior demons targeting Adrian.

She could only laugh at their foolishness. But their foolishness was now pitiable. Perhaps the moment she exposed the tower’s vulnerabilities, they would bid farewell to this world.

Without hesitation, Asti moved the magic she had channeled into the spot she had touched, causing a fissure.

Crack.

An invisible fissure began to expand. Yet, no one felt it. Eventually, the fissure revealed all of the tower master’s hidden concealments.

“Here, there’s a passage leading somewhere!”

It started with the shout of a court magician.

With that shout, everyone’s expressions changed in an instant. The leisurely expression of the tower master hardened, and Edmund Lancel’s face lit up with color.

Amidst everyone’s dramatic change of expression, Asti glanced slyly at Frah. He was also looking at her.

-I had faith in you. You did really well, Asti.

A fleeting whisper of praise brought a pleasant smile to Asti’s face. It was just a single compliment, yet why did it bring such joy?

She wished he would be happier. For that, she was willing to do anything, and she had the capability to do so. Perhaps, her overwhelming power was given to her not for herself, but to be with Praha.

With that thought, Asti suddenly gazed at the passage revealed by the court magician.

Now, the tables would turn.

* * *

The Tower Master was utterly confounded by the sudden breaking of his concealment magic.

‘Who could it be? And when?’

Why did his magic break all of a sudden? There was no sign, no cause. It couldn’t have been tampered with, as no one here could move magic without his notice.

The head of the court magicians? No, he could never pull off such a feat. His magical prowess was significantly lower. Then who else could it be?

But who in this place could possibly do such a thing?

Confusion consumed him. What was happening?

“Investigate. If there is any resistance, suppress it. And if the resistance is fierce…”

In an instant, Edmund Lancel’s eyes swept over the members of the Tower. He had already made his judgment about the unfolding situation. What secrets could be so fiercely guarded?

And why had the Tower Master’s expression, so composed just moments ago, twisted into dismay?

Typical of those who only studied magic in their seclusion, even managing their expressions was sloppy.

To reveal one’s discomfort so openly, what use was it? Of course, for Edmund Lancel, tasked with investigating and interrogating them, it was a fortunate turn. Their carelessness had led him to the evidence he needed.

“Execution is permissible. This is an imperial command.”

A chilling decree was issued.

* * *

Tension began to fill the hall. The magicians, unsure of what to do, looked only to the Tower Master, while the inspection team, including my father, promptly moved towards the secret passage discovered by Asti.

I kept my senses sharp, watching the Tower Master’s movements. It seemed unlikely that he would let us into that place willingly.

And just as expected, the Tower Master signaled the magicians with a determined look.

For those who believed they had no way out, there was only one course of action.

To destroy the evidence by any means necessary.

The Tower Master’s magic enveloped the surroundings.

My father, as if anticipating this, calmly stepped back.

“So, this is the choice you make, Tower Master.”

“Having found a possibility, we must cling to it. Such is the way of magicians.”

“…Then, let me ask you one thing. Is everyone in the Tower involved in this matter?”

“Look around you.”

Edmund Lancel glanced around at the wizards of the Tower at the Tower Master’s words and nodded.

The only thing that appeared in the wizards’ eyes was a longing for the mere possibility they held.

“Indeed. So it is. Are we ultimately headed for destruction?”

At his father’s cold question, which had even dropped the honorifics, the Tower Master simply drew a smile on his lips.

“What’s the use now that we’ve been discovered? Those incompetent court magicians are none of our concern, but we have walked this path for the end of magic. We found the possibility and clung to it. After all, weren’t the missing ones useless anyway?”

“You’re speaking words that should not be spoken.”

“Ha! After all, treating people as chess pieces is no different for you either. I know the blood on your hands; can you truly say you’re innocent?”

“At least, I have never sent innocent civilians to the execution block. If you love the path of magic so much, you should never have entered the Imperial Tower. With someone like you as the Tower Master, it’s no wonder the wizards have gone astray.”

“Isn’t it strange if a wizard doesn’t go astray? Even if it’s a body cobbled together, the dream of immortality, and the ability to look beyond the barrier, is something no wizard would not desire.”

“In the end, are you inviting death upon yourself?”

“Well. That remains to be seen. If I kill you here and escape, they won’t catch me anytime soon.”

“Escape? How far do you think you can run from the eyes of the Holy Kingdom and the Empire?”

“That’s for us to think about. But I’m curious how you’ll find all of us when you barely uncovered my concealment magic. Don’t you think?”

“Don’t forget that we eventually found you, Tower Master. And… when have we ever been compliant?”

“Do you trust those incompetent court magicians, the novice saintess, and the commander of the Imperial Knights? What a joke. You haven’t forgotten that this is the Tower, have you?”

The Tower Master had a confident expression. He acted as if he could bury everyone here if he so wished.

A wizard’s existence is defined by how prepared they are for battle, which determines the outcome.

From noble mtl dot nete

Since they’ve entered the stronghold of such beings, it’s natural for the Tower Master to be so confident.

But to me and Asti, his attitude was merely laughable.

Yes. The Tower Master is strong. But as long as Asti and I are here, things won’t go as he wishes.

I was planning to unleash Salus into the world anyway. After all, only my father, the Emperor’s men, and Adrian’s people are present. It was the perfect condition to make use of Salus.

Even if Asti can’t exert full power, with Salus summoned and Asti’s support, there’s no reason we can’t defeat the Tower Master.

It might have been risky without Asti’s support… but with Asti, I overflow with confidence.