WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Coughing Baby

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

Chapter 237: 237

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I casually looked around.

All kinds of gleaming ornaments caught my eye. Every one of them seemed to carry a deep history.

Even if I sold several outfits like the one I was wearing now, I probably could not afford any of them. Yet those items surrounded the entire banquet hall like pebbles on the road.

The field of magical power harmoniously formed from those items also prevented Icewall City’s magical power from intruding inside. I could not help but marvel at such an exquisite arrangement.

This could not be called magic. For magic to function, it normally needed a distinct flow of magical power.

This, on the other hand, was merely the result of placing objects in precisely the right locations.

I reached out and brushed the flow of magical power passing before my eyes. Could such an excellent barrier truly be built through nothing but the harmony of magical power? It was astonishing.

And the reason they had spent so much money to erect this barrier was clear.

It was to ensure the comfort of everyone who entered.

Mages were naturally wary of the magic around them. Even while attending a banquet, they would still examine any magic present. If a filtering spell had been installed, everyone would have remained somewhat tense.

But if a field was created through such natural flows of magical power, the guests had little reason to be concerned. This was not magic, merely the effect of magical power.

I lightly shook my head as I recalled what Hongryeong had told me. He had said his family had sent servants for this banquet, people who had served the family faithfully for generations.

I had always been extremely curious about the servants of great families. In a way, they were pioneers on the path I had walked.

So I had wanted to appreciate their skill through this opportunity, and as expected, it was remarkable.

Yet Hongryeong had called this no more than a small banquet. Outside, they supposedly held banquets thousands of times larger than this. Once again, I could feel just how formidable a great family’s resources were.

I leaned lightly against the wall. The banquet had not begun yet. There was still plenty of time, and few people had arrived.

I clicked my tongue. I had not intended to arrive this early either.

Mira was largely responsible for that. I glanced to the side and saw her sitting in a chair, swirling a wineglass.

Mira wore a thin black dress layered with crisscrossing silver-white threads of magical power. When her white hair caught magical power and reflected the light, the dress beneath it took on a faint sheen as well.

The dress suited Mira’s aura perfectly. Choosing it so carefully had been worthwhile.

When our eyes met, Mira smiled with her eyes and spoke.

“Why are you standing there instead of sitting down? Come, you can sit here.”

Mira lightly patted the seat beside her.

Immediately, I felt piercing gazes pouring toward me. They belonged to people entranced by Mira.

Mira took a small sip of wine as if enjoying those gazes. I gave their owners a bitter smile and a glare.

They were all quite accomplished mages. Judging by the aura they gave off, even the weakest among them had surely surpassed the third floor. Under normal circumstances, they would not have shown such desire toward Mira.

Even so, they were now captivated because she was giving off her magical power so strongly. I lightly shook my head and sat beside her.

A rich rose scent seeped into me.

I cut it off lightly and looked at Mira. Then I reached toward her pale-looking face.

A slightly cold sensation reached my hand.

“Mira, it seems your stomach is still upset.”

Mira puffed out her cheeks slightly as she sipped her wine. Then she gently rubbed her stomach.

“Of course it is. Do you know how potent that magical power was? I’ll be collecting a proper debt for all the trouble I went through this time.”

Mira narrowed her eyes at me.

I nodded. She had played a major role in allowing me to solidify my domain this time. She had swallowed every magical power bomb with her mist.

But even Mira could not absorb all of the city’s magical power. That had left her with a bit of an upset stomach.

The alluring magical power she was now spilling into the surroundings was one such side effect.

No matter how firmly a mage had built their mind, the moment they smelled that scent, they could not help feeling desire for a while.

It was magical power meant to lure prey.

Mira licked her lips and looked around. As her magical power wavered, it seemed her desires were wavering as well.

I placed my hand over hers as she let that magical power flow.

Then a strange current began to rise from the ring Mira had given me before. It soon began connecting my magical power to hers.

A pain pierced my chest.

Icewall City’s unique magical power, held within Mira, was clearly encroaching on my domain.

But the pain quickly subsided to something faint. The puppets contained within my shadow domain had begun sharing that burden.

At the same time, the magical power leaking from Mira gradually diminished. Since we had shared her burden, she had likely regained control over her magical power as well.

Of course, this was only a temporary measure. I could not endure this magical power for long.

Still, this was enough for now.

I gave a light cough and removed my hand from Mira’s.

“Please calm down a little now. They are all distinguished guests invited here. You need to be careful how you behave.”

“Oh my, it was just starting to get fun. What a shame.”

Mira looked slightly disappointed.

I could only shake my head. She had clearly wanted to come early so she could enjoy a situation like this.

Still, perhaps Mira was satisfied enough. She drew in her magical power, and the others’ gazes gradually turned away from her.

I gently placed a hand over my chest.

The trace of magical power I had received from Mira churned inside it. It was only a small portion, yet it still stabbed at my domain.

If my domain had consisted of me alone, I would not have been able to withstand it.

“It really is potent.”

I muttered as I sensed the magical power.

Mira glanced at the floor. There was a faint discomfort in her gaze.

“It can’t be helped. To dig into a place like this and build a city. Mages really are impossible to understand.”

I looked down where Mira was looking.

Beyond the upper floors where we stood, beyond the middle floors, beyond the lower floors, I pictured the area below them all.

Icewall City was slowly growing as it consumed the things around it. And as it grew, the city had to expand as well.

They were carving out another floor below the lower floors.

I had heard this was an attempt that had continued since before Mookgeumgo settled in this city. They had apparently carved out about half of it by now.

If they invested another ten thousand years, another floor would be created.

Continuing to cut away the ice walls also protected the city. If they stopped excavating the ice, the city would quickly fill with ice.

By digging beneath the city, they concentrated the magical power held by these ice walls below, preventing too much magical power from gathering in the city itself.

What exactly lay beneath us that it contained such potent magical power, I had no idea.

Still, this magical power was somewhat useful. By stripping it away little by little like this, I could leave traces of it within my domain.

This might become a part of my magical power in the future as well.

I lightly patted my stomach and looked around.

Then I saw Isabella talking with someone in the distance. She soon finished her conversation and walked over to us.

Isabella was drawing people’s attention as well.

I gave her a glance. She wore a dark purple dress. Its thin gold thread embroidery along the edges was striking.

It intertwined with Isabella’s red hair and ignited magical power like sparks. That passionate fluctuation of magical power seemed to pour out a captivating color strong enough to seize anyone’s gaze.

I had spent a long time selecting that outfit as well. Since I was spending expensive points anyway, I had tried to choose the one that suited Isabella best.

And my effort had not been wasted.

But Isabella was not drawing attention merely because she was beautiful. Unlike Mira, she could not give off the scent of allure.

I narrowed my eyes and looked over the people watching Isabella. Most of them were surely from Mookgeumgo.

Their gazes toward Isabella seemed to contain some unpleasant emotion.

They were likely people who had known Isabella while she was alive. Isabella must have felt those gazes too.

But without showing anything, she approached my side together with the person she had been speaking to.

I turned toward the smell of blood that brushed past my nose.

Ailey had taken a place beside me and was gesturing at Isabella with her chin.

“Was it Isabella? I really like this puppet. Enough to want her as my secretary. The ones I use now are terribly unreliable.”

[You flatter me. Thank you for the offer, but I am most comfortable at my master’s side, so I will remain here. How about renting one of our puppets instead? I believe one can satisfy you just as well as I can, Lady Ailey.]

With a gentle smile, Isabella began promoting our puppets to Ailey.

Ailey gave a small nod. Isabella had already attracted a customer. Bringing her had definitely been the right choice.

Ailey, now settled beside us, held out a hand and called over an attendant. She took a glass of wine and gave it a small swirl.

She seemed somewhat irritated.

“I didn’t know they would arrange such a bothersome gathering. If our young master hadn’t called me, I wouldn’t have come.”

Ailey raised the glass and drained it in one go.

The dark wine flowed from the corner of her mouth like a streak of blood. She put the glass down and looked at me.

“Since I’m bored, shall I talk with Evron? Ask if there’s something you’re curious about. For example, who those people over there are and what they do. Ah, perhaps you already know.”

Ailey gestured with her chin toward the people talking while leaning against one wall.

They were mages covered in scars. Seeing the magical beasts beside them, they were clearly magical beast tamers.

Being invited here meant they were important people. So I already knew where they came from.

Naturally, I had investigated the guests before attending the banquet.

I stole a look at Ailey.

I was more curious about something other than those people. How had she come to work with Hongryeong, the person she called young master? And how had she come to this city?

But I had no need to ask that here.

So I said nothing and merely shrugged. Ailey, looking bored, raised her glass again and began sipping wine.

I watched her and lightly shook my head.

If I had wanted to dig into it, I could have learned about their relationship long ago. A month was not such a short amount of time.

But I had not wanted to pry. On the contrary, I had avoided even meeting Ailey during that time.

Even when I had things to handle, I sent Isabella instead.

The reason I had avoided Ailey for so long was that I needed to be careful with my actions. By cooperating with the People’s Council, she had practically declared herself half one of Hongryeong’s people.

If I met Ailey often, people would surely see me as one of Hongryeong’s people as well.

Hongryeong inviting me here might be part of that process too.

Even if I had made a contract with Hongryeong, there was no need for me to be branded as his person and become deeply entangled in their conflict.

So I intended to present it as though I had only established a connection with him through the People’s Council.

Hwaryeong was no fool. She surely knew that I had contacted Hongryeong beforehand.

Still, through this, she would surely notice that I had not abandoned her completely.

I intended to draw profit from both Hwaryeong and Hongryeong without letting either go.

Was that not how someone like me survived?

Of course, to do that, I needed to hold a delicate position.

“Evron is interesting after all. I should have made you into a letter when we first met.”

Ailey murmured with narrowed eyes.

I could only tilt my head. I did not understand what she meant.

“I think I heard that before. What do you mean when you call someone a letter, Lady Ailey?”

Since Ailey had said I could ask questions, I spoke without hesitation.

Ailey wore a deep smile at my question.

“You would understand if you became a letter yourself. I’ll be considerate of you and give you a light stab. It won’t hurt.”

Ailey raised a finger and poked my chest.

For some reason, blood-red murderous intent seemed to ripple in her eyes.

I swallowed and shook my head.

“I’ll decline. I’ll put that curiosity aside.”

“Indeed. As I said before, if you want to kill this person, you’ll have to get past me first.”

Mira lightly linked her arm through mine and smiled.

Feeling the trace of magical power rising from Mira, Ailey quickly withdrew her murderous intent. Then she sipped her wine again with an impudent smile.

“Evron is lucky. He has such wonderful puppets at his side. I’ll have to find some other stationery, then.”

Ailey turned her head and looked over the others entering the banquet hall.

Deep desire stirred in her eyes.

They were the eyes of someone who wanted slaughter.

Looking at those eyes, I understood what she meant by letters.

She probably meant granting death.

That naturally made me curious.

I glanced at Ailey. She called killing people letters. If so, there must also be someone who received those letters.

Who was the person she wanted to send her letters to?

But I did not voice that question. I could tell well enough that this was an important part of Ailey’s life.

There was no need to rummage through her past.

As Ailey watched the people entering the hall with desire in her eyes, she frowned slightly.

It seemed someone she disliked had entered.

“I didn’t know that old man would come here too.”

Ailey’s eyes were filled with annoyance.

I looked where she was looking and saw a young man with slitted eyes.

He was a mage who looked far too young to be called old. That surely meant he had reached a high realm.

Several mages who seemed to be from Mookgeumgo stood beside him. The young man had been speaking to them, but perhaps he noticed us watching and turned his head in our direction.

After spotting Ailey, he gave a slight bow.

Ailey clicked her tongue at him.

The young man smiled faintly and resumed speaking with the mages around him.

His face seemed strangely familiar. I felt like I had seen someone with a similar face recently.

Someone with slitted eyes. Where had I seen someone like that?

Slitted eyes...

As I fell into thought, I soon clicked my tongue.

I remembered.

I narrowed my eyes at the young man.

He was clearly related to Ugo. His face was the perfect image of what Ugo would have looked like after growing up.

Was that person the senior elder of Ugo’s family whom I had investigated before?

I glanced at Isabella beside me. I had felt the young man’s gaze, which had just swept over us, pause briefly on her.

“Did you know him?”

[…Yes, but he doesn’t matter anymore. It’s all over now.]

Isabella slowly closed her eyes.

I could see complicated emotions in her. Had he been someone connected to her while she was alive?

I already knew that Ugo’s blood relatives had a presence in Mookgeumgo. Ugo had belonged to a fairly respectable family from the beginning.

Naturally, that family maintained at least a small faction at the university.

That was Mookgeumgo.

Gaon had not taken Ugo as a disciple for no reason.

I felt as though some threads concerning Isabella’s past were beginning to connect.

That young man, Ugo, and Gaon. They were surely all connected to Isabella.

I lightly rubbed my chin. Something about that young man gave me an unpleasant feeling.

I watched his back as he slowly disappeared into the crowd, then shook my head.

I had already entrusted Isabella with everything concerning this city.

If her relationship with him could harm me, she surely would have explained it beforehand.

As she said, it was already over. She probably did not want to mention it.

So I needed to respect Isabella’s wishes as well.

She had already become my puppet. There was no need to cling to the past.

As each of us fell into our own thoughts, people continued entering and filling the banquet hall.

Then Hongryeong approached our gathering.

“I did not expect you two to be together like this. What were you discussing?”

“I was saying how boring this banquet is.”

Ailey glared at Hongryeong slightly.

Hongryeong gave a small smile and bowed his head.

“I did not want to hold a banquet like this either, but it could not be helped. It is my family’s tradition. More importantly, let us share a drink to commemorate us entrance-exam classmates gathering together.”

Hongryeong held out the glass in his hand.

Entrance-exam classmates. I gave the two of them a glance.

Normally, few people who had been assigned to the same group during the entrance exam remained connected once they entered the university.

In that sense, the three of us were connected in a rather strange way.

Of course, these two had probably known of each other before then. Perhaps there had been some backing behind their being placed in the same group as well.

But I had been no more than a wandering outsider, separate from them.

Yet somehow, I was now standing alongside them like this.

I lightly shrugged.

Even I had not expected a connection from fifteen years ago to continue this far. It meant I had advanced that much.

Feeling slightly proud, I clinked glasses with them.

Ailey clinked her glass as well and stared directly at Hongryeong.

There was something slightly mischievous about her.

“Hm, there is one more person besides us. You should have invited that witch too. The moment she heard news of you, young master, she would have come running.”

I paused slightly.

A witch. She must have meant Shaking Rope.

I glanced at Hongryeong. His expression had hardened at Ailey’s words.

The memories of the entrance exam I had taken with them remained vivid in my mind.

So did Hongryeong’s deep hatred toward the witch.

Why he harbored those feelings, I did not know.

But one thing was certain. Because of it, a thread of enmity had formed between Shaking Rope and Hongryeong.

Mages did not forget grudges.

But even among mages, there were those with whom it was especially troublesome to build resentment.

That was witches.

Witches practiced magic based on humans. Thus, emotions were among the greatest ingredients of their magic, including deep resentment toward others.

Rumor had it that witches remembered even the scent and air temperature of the day a grudge was carved into them.

Such resentment would someday return.

Hongryeong clicked his tongue quietly and looked at Ailey.

“Let us stop speaking of such a base thing. I have no desire to soil my mouth further here.”

“As expected, young master is interesting. It is worth keeping you close and watching you.”

Ailey burst into laughter and sipped her wine.

Hongryeong fell silent in thought for a moment, then narrowed his eyes.

He looked toward the banquet hall doors and spoke.

“They are here.”

I followed Hongryeong’s gaze toward the entrance.

Strong magical power was churning there.

The doors opened, and people with an aura similar to Hongryeong’s slowly began entering the banquet hall.

There were about five of them.

They were surely all Hongryeong’s rivals, those competing for the successor position.

Hwaryeong was among them as well.

And behind those family members, I saw a face I had not seen in a long time enter the hall.

Miryeong, the one who had engraved the contract upon me.

I slowly rose to my feet and looked at him.

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