Volume 15 Chapter 6 In Baroness Tabasa's Room (But The Lady Is Absent) Part Ii
"That's not okay."
Naresh said this in response to Craig's words about the magician's guild.
"Why not? First of all, the lord has a duty to report special spells and magic tools to the magician's guild. This magic tool definitely falls under that category. If you don't report it, Sir Naresh's new barony will be criticized by the magician's guild."
Naresh stared intently at Craig's face.
"What's wrong, Sir Naresh...?"
Naresh shook his head with a sad expression.
"If that means being criticized, then I don't mind giving up the barony."
"Wha──Sir Naresh?"
Craig let out a voice that sounded like a scream, but Naresh continued speaking.
"This promotion to baron has a strong political and diplomatic aspect, which you must be aware of, Craig. Lord Radyard is still mumbling about what all his hard work was for."
He paused to gather his thoughts.
"On the other hand, Al has been fully cooperating with the expeditions in the border regions and the dealings with Marquis Prentis of the Tempest Kingdom and Lord Veil."
His gaze turned distant as he recalled past events, a mix of admiration and nostalgia in his eyes.
"I still dream about the time we thought we had no choice but to charge in with Lord Radyard and Sigmund after hearing about the horde of lizardmen during the expedition."
Naresh's expression grew serious.
"If Al hadn't been there, I would have definitely died. You know about that, right? It was the same with the Blood-Soaked Bandits before that, and Ruella's life was saved by Al too."
After that, he shook his head, a look of determination on his face.
"Considering that, the duties of being a baron or to the magician's guild aren't that important."
Craig bit his lip and thought deeply.
"And I have been fighting against reality all this time. As the second son of a viscount and the nephew of Count Senet, I have tried to carve my own path without relying on my position. The ones who helped me during that time were Ruella, Al, Guildmaster Levy, Lord Radyard, and Kane."
He continued, a hint of defiance in his tone.
"The magician's guild has never helped me. I had to accept this promotion, but I can't betray their trust. Of course, I don't intend to overlook obvious crimes just because they are family."
His expression hardened as he emphasized his point.
"But this is a matter of the level of agreement with the magician's guild. I thought you would understand which is more important."
After a moment of silence, Craig bowed his head.
"...I understand. I'm sorry. I have a friend who, after a long time of hard work, ultimately had to give up on learning spells. Thinking about his struggles with a magic tool I had never heard of made it hard for me to think about anything else."
"There are many like that, I suppose. But I think reporting to the magician's guild is a different matter."
Naresh's words made Craig nod. He looked like he was about to cry. Was it really a story about a friend? Maybe it was about Craig himself.
"So, I have something to discuss with Al. It's a really generous offer, but is it okay for me to borrow such a valuable magic tool? I'm sorry, but to be honest, I can't afford to pay you a reward. I was also curious about the job Kane asked you to do, and now there's this..."
Well, in the end, he intended to get it back, and right now, he didn't have any plans to use it.
If the long effort earlier was about Craig, then it would be fine for Naresh and Craig to take turns using it.
"I don't have any plans to use it for a while, so it's okay. If I need it back, I'll ask for it. Besides, there's no guarantee that Sir Naresh will be able to use the spell yet, so don't get your hopes up too high."
He paused, looking at Naresh with a sense of encouragement.
"For now, I want Sir Naresh to wear this and try the symbol's interpretation──deciphering. If you can't feel any effect, I think it's fine to check with Mr. Craig too. So, shall we give it a try?"
Craig reacted slightly. It might really be the case. Naresh thought for a moment and then slowly nodded.
"Okay. For now, I'll take Al's words to heart. But I can't really relax here. If that magic tool is as Al says, I want to try it out calmly in my own room."
Al nodded, agreeing. Naresh continued speaking.
"By the way, Al, about the job Kane requested and the thanks for this magic tool, how about simply giving you some land? What you build there is up to you. It won't be possible right away, but if you can wait a bit, I can arrange for an architect."
He smiled, envisioning the possibilities.
"Don't you want to build your own tower? Magicians in stories always have towers, right? The area allowed for new baron territory is quite large. If it's unused land, I can give it to you."
Naresh leaned forward, his enthusiasm growing.
"It could be near Nora Village, where I'm planning to build my mansion, or if you want to avoid people, it could be further north, at the foot of a mountain where no one lives right now. It might seem like a small offer," he concluded, "but I can't just not show my gratitude."
If he were to build something, it could be used as a destination for teleportation with the magic tool.
For a small hut, Al could use the same 'Soften Stone' and 'Soften Metal' that the second Magician Corps of the Marquis Prentis family used to build their base.
He might need to think about countermeasures against thieves, but there are various ways to handle that. It's better to accept what can be accepted.
He would think about how to build it later, but for now, it would be best to stay away from human settlements.
"I understand. Then, I'll ask for land. Since I won't be living there, it might be better to choose a place far from people for safety against thieves. Of course, I don't need to arrange for an architect."
"I got it. I'll talk to Kane, so please decide the location together. But it's amazing, isn't it? A magician's tower will be built in my territory."
Naresh smiled happily.
"No, no, I won't make anything grand. So please don't spread the word."
"Ah, I understand. Since it's about land, I have to make it public, but I'll do my best to keep it from spreading too much. Hehe, Al's secret tower, huh?"
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