My Nerdy Neighbor Is the Master of the Magic Tower
Chapter 15
“The original owner of the mansion came to the Magic Tower. He wanted a rare magic tool, so I gave him that and received this mansion in exchange.”
“So you’re saying us becoming neighbors was purely a coincidence?”
Lien hesitated and shook his head at the question, which might have sounded a bit sarcastic.
“The reason I decided to move here was… because I was curious about the Saintess-nim.”
“……About me?”
“Yes. Are you aware that articles about the Saintess-nim are published occasionally, not just in Weberdin, but even in the Capital?”
She didn't know.
To think she was treated like a celebrity when she was merely a Saintess-candidate.
She finally realized that the Pope's words—that many people wished to see the Saintess—hadn't been a lie.
“I happened to come across an article about the next Saintess-nim before. So, if I ever had the chance, I wanted to meet the person herself, Cecilia-nim.”
Good heavens.
Cecilia clamped her mouth shut to keep it from hanging open awkwardly.
‘To think he was interested in Cecilia even before I started my schemes!’
She wasn't sure whether to be happy about Plan D’s impending success or to be repulsed by the creepiness of him hiding his true intentions all this time.
But before her heart could lean one way or the other, Lien added shyly.
“I was curious about the Divine Power the Saintess-nim possesses.”
‘Ah.’
Of course. He was just curious about the Divine Power.
Cecilia recalled the white cluster of light that had erupted from her hands. She too was curious about the true nature of a power that produced results from unclear causes.
However, he was a magician who had not a shred of connection to Divine Power—and the leader of them, at that.
“Why?”
It was a question asked without much weight, wondering exactly what aspect had piqued his interest.
But the moment Lien pushed up his large glasses, she realized it had been a mistake.
“It couldn't be anything but interesting. Divine Power is fundamentally different from magic, which utilizes mana from within the body and the atmosphere. In an isolated environment, energy is neither created nor destroyed. Only its state changes. Magic does not defy this law either. It converts magic power into potential energy, light energy, or thermal energy. But Divine Power is not like that. Not only is the power different in essence, but the Divine Power of the Weberdin family, which is passed down through heredity, is even more so……”
The sight of him pouring out explanations with a glint in his eyes was somehow familiar. It must be her imagination that he reminded her of those slaves to their theses who looked like they’d sell their souls for a proof.
“I, I see.”
Cecilia, recalling some unpleasant memories for a moment, cut him off mid-sentence. She didn't want to hear about physical laws like the conservation of energy in another world.
Perhaps Lien mistook her attitude for anger, as he returned to his dejected state.
“I thought those points were interesting. But…… after meeting the Saintess-nim—no, Cecilia-nim—in person, I presumptuously began to think that I wanted to stay by your side.”
“…….”
“Because you were kind to someone like me and became my friend.”
Ah, now she felt a pang of guilt. It had all been a scheme to devour him.
This innocent man was showing his affection for his first friend without reservation.
“But I'm sure you find me terrible for lying. It's alright if you curse at me or spit on me. I will humbly accept it if you trample on me or slap my cheek.”
“……Pardon?”
Listening to him, his self-deprecation was sinking past the floor and digging a tunnel into the earth. If she accepted or agreed to his slightly intriguing suggestion, Lien would probably dig his own grave and seek eternal rest.
‘In that case…….’
After a short but deep contemplation, there was only one conclusion.
‘Let’s just turn a blind eye.’
Well, it wasn't like his identity was a Delanche.
Though the Marquis would probably clutch his neck and faint just knowing he was someone who used magic.
The issue of whether to trust Lien’s excuse or not was the same. There was no reason for the notorious Magic Tower Master to act so subserviently before her, and above all, that trembling and those gloomily sunken eyes could never be an act.
“I won't curse. I won't trample or hit you either. And I won't throw you away, so lift your head.”
Cecilia gently placed her hand on his cheek. He obediently tilted his head back following her touch.
His exposed eyes were flushed red.
‘To anyone else, it would look like he’s pleading with a lover who’s saying goodbye.’
It was just a guess, but it was likely because she was his only friend. Or perhaps it was an obsession toward a precious research subject.
Either way, Cecilia decided to interpret it as a lover—well, something similar—meaning, she’d interpret it however she liked.
“Does that mean…… you are giving me permission to stay by Cecilia-nim’s side in the future as well?”
“What is there to permit? I was the one who asked you to spend time with me in the first place.”
Cecilia smiled like a truly benevolent Saintess.
“So please stay by my side as much as you want, Lien.”
Since she had decided to embrace him, she figured she might as well consider that Plan D was progressing very smoothly.
As if moved by her mercy, the man who had been frozen for a moment smiled back like a flower in full bloom.
“Yes. I want to be by your side from now on—no, I will be by your side.”
As long as you permit it, always.
He whispered as if in passing and lightly rubbed his cheek against her palm, which was still touching him.
It was a moment where the heart-shattering cuteness made her feel dizzy.
“Always.”
“…….”
“I mean always.”
He murmured the same word for the third time.
‘I feel like the path has become a bit strange now.’
Plan D is going smoothly, right……?
* * *
When she first dropped into this world, it was the cool early spring that brought goosebumps to the skin at night. Before she knew it, the season of lush greenery and pulsating life was approaching outside the window.
During the long time it took for the flowers in the garden to change once, Cecilia had achieved quite a few results.
She had proven that Plans A, B, and C, which she’d racked her brain to come up with, were garbage; she had met Charles, who almost became Schrödinger’s cat; and she had learned social dance and etiquette—which would be useless once she returned to her original world—from the male lead (to be).
‘……It feels like not a single thing has gone right.’
Ah, she had also taken up the front page of the newspaper.
The headline was none other than ‘The Miracle of the Saintess! Even a severed head is restored……’
To begin with, the head hadn't been severed, nor had she ever restored it.
In any case, there were many witnesses to the accident that day. The faithful servants of God worked their mouths off about how much God cherished the Saintess and how great that miracle was.
As a result, despite still being a fake Saintess, her fame was rising day by day.
Lately, she graced the first page of every newspaper published in the Weberdin fief and the Holy Land.
It was likely because the Relief Festival was approaching, and there was also the influence of the Marquis’s pressure.
But whatever the cause, it was not the direction she wanted at all.
<Grand Temple makes a surprise announcement that the Saintess will be in charge of the rituals for this Relief Festival! Will she perform a miracle once again?>
Especially if it was an article like this.
Cecilia forced her eyes away from the newspaper newly published today. They’d been singing about rituals, rituals, and it seemed the Pope had finally caused trouble.
Did the newspaper companies know?
That she, the idol of the Temple, was truly screwed.
Since the day of the accident, during the deep nights when even Melanie had withdrawn and she was left alone in her bedroom, she had repeatedly tried to turn her hands into light sources.
However, she could never find the power button. It meant she hadn't learned how to turn on her Divine Power.
‘Should I ask Melanie to bash my head with a glass?’
It was the moment she finally thought of a last resort.
Knock, knock.
Along with the sound of knocking, Melanie’s voice was heard from beyond the door.
“My lady. May I come in?”
“Yes, come in.”
Melanie, appearing at the perfect timing, was holding a silver tray, upon which sat a letter and a vase with fresh water.
“Could you break my head with that vase?”
“I shall decline.”
Melanie calmly refused as she set the vase down on the table by the sunny window. She seemed to think it was an extension of the bizarre behavior Cecilia had practiced for Plan C.
“I'm joking.”
“I know half of it is serious.”
“It's probably not even half.”
Maybe about 45%?
“Please behave yourself, especially when there are so many guests, my lady.”
Avoiding the sighing Melanie, Cecilia glanced down out the window.
Beyond the greenery, at the far-off main gate, people, horses, and carriages the size of ants were busily coming and going.
“The Relief Festival must be a big deal. There are even more people than this morning.”
In the morning, Cecilia, who had been forced awake by the mansion being noisier than usual, had belatedly learned the identity of the guests who had flocked in like a pack of dogs.
