Chapter 25
* * *
The next morning.
Through Check's mouth, Iri's 5 Commandments were announced throughout the Magic Tower.
Of course, at first, no one followed them.
But......
"Get up, you crazy bastards!"
Martin, reborn as Iri's complete servant, started waking people up from early dawn.
"Are you seriously insane?"
"Hey, you wanna die?"
Suddenly turning on the lights while they slept brought a flood of curses.
"Check-nim said from now on, anyone who doesn't get up mornings for exercise gets kicked out immediately."
"What?"
"And anyone who doesn't wash gets their research funds cut."
"Whoa."
"Anyone who dirties public spaces gets zero research funds."
Of course, all lies.
But thanks to living confined only in the Magic Tower, they were quite naive.
On top of that, Check lived with 'I'm cutting research funds' on his lips every day.
To the crazies locked in the basement doing only research, Check who provided funds was a godlike existence.
"Check-nim's on the top floor, so go get cross-checked."
"Hey, we'll die climbing the stairs. It's 10 floors......"
"Yeah, 10 floors for real? XX impossible, right?"
And so they fell perfectly for it.
"So, uh, what is it. How much do we gotta do."
"Can't last more than a day, XX......"
Grumbles poured out then.
A very refreshing little girl's voice rang out.
"It's okay-nimida! Just do it for about a week-nimida!"
"Hm?"
"Whose voice is that?"
From beside Martin, a silver-haired kid, Iri, popped out.
"Ah, a week? But who......?"
"I'm!"
"......?"
The child confidently put hands on waist and said.
"Iri, who'll spend fun time with everyone-nimida!"
Weird. Why does she sound like a kid selling something? No way a five-year-old would.
"So, uh, damn. What do we gotta do? No clue!"
First. Clean around you spotless.
With Check's permission, Martin installed windows in the stuffy Magic Tower for ventilation.
Since it was semi-basement, that alone was plenty.
Second. Keep your body clean.
"Wash a bit, wash."
"I already wash once a week anyway......"
Martin just dumped soapy water on him.
"Wash every two days!"
"Aaaah!"
Third. Don't dirty the floor.
"Aaah, public space! Public space!"
"Yeah, I'll eat the gum stuck on the floor again. That good?"
"......Disgusting."
This part had some debate, but anyway, most splendidly swallowed gum and such.
All for research funds.
Fourth. Regular exercise.
Outdoor walks still hard.
Zombie-like folks endlessly walking hallways for 5 minutes appeared.
They effectively cleared hallway obstacles, two birds with one stone.
Fifth. Be good to sick friends.
Right when another researcher broke a flask.
Instead of cursing like usual, he clenched teeth and muttered.
"You dirty-minded sick bastard! Did another cool experiment today?"
At first, countless wizards complained.
Grievances exploded, more people cursing bystander Check.
Suddenly appearing and sparkling 'You didn't follow the 5 Commandments-nimida!' kid Iri didn't get kind looks either.
Of course......
"How dare insult Lady Iri? Wanna get beat?"
Anyone badmouthing Iri ended up headbutted by Martin.
Actually, Iri didn't think they'd be perfectly reformed either.
She just meant it for Magic Tower cleaning.
But things flowed quite mysteriously.
"Living like this ain't bad?"
"No panting every morning."
"What? Was always depressed but mood's super good."
......The Magic Tower was slowly changing.
In a bigger scope than Iri expected.
* * *
Around when the chaotic basement cleaning nearly finished, Red Room location clearly revealed.
Test subject Karhen was bored-faced, locked in the Red Room.
His days always the same.
Go some Magic Tower spot, blood drawn, thrown in dark room—repeat.
But lately, Magic Tower vibe weird.
Wizards drawing his blood, experimenting looked anxious.
And the man ordering him as test subject.
Melding, called wizard mad scientist, threw sharp gaze.
"What, higher-ups probably don't care about monster hybrids anyway, but just in case."
"......"
"Monster experiments paused for now. Go inside. Don't get caught looking dirty."
Faking experiment logs, he said indifferently.
Karhen stuck in Red Room felt constant outside cleaning.
Red Room poor, no soundproofing.
So he heard all of Iri's voice.
"Wow!"
Girl completely different from him.
Probably curly cute silver hair.
And......
*'Loved by countless people.'*
Jealousy flickered, but Karhen just closed eyes.
But another test subject woke him.
"You're a monster hybrid dragged in as test subject too?"
"......"
"Newbie's rude no answer. I've endured over a week here. Called longest."
"......"
Karhen sat silently meek. Unknown test subject sneered.
"Hear that kid outside? Apparently Ortejo's daughter."
"......"
Chatting laughing voice came.
"Some born with silver spoons frolic like that, others blood drawn experimented on, no one knows."
Karhen suddenly imagined.
Kid laughing world's purest brightest, no worries.
Living happy world unlike him.
"World's really unfair, right?"
Karhen agreed.
But noise from door outside.
"Hewwo-nimikka! Cweaning supew supew hawd-nimida! Best-nimida!"
After hearing chatty kid's voice, not deprivation.
Just indescribable weird emotion rippling in gut.
* * *
Iri lately proud.
Every Magic Tower visit, lots steadily cleaner.
No more sweat-heat fog.
Even Cookie fainted first step now revived.
"Phew, finally feel alive!"
Duo very refreshed, felt could find Red Room easy.
Plus walking halls doubled pride.
"Work going well lately."
"Sunlight effect?"
"Being trapped in uniform comfier than thug life. No need think what to wear?"
"Whoa, thinking, no rotten smell nose, concentration better."
Magic Tower thugs self-reforming.
Even big liking toward Iri who enabled, huge gain.
*'Magi nom nom!'*
Absorbed enough magi for Ring of Purification two laps plus!
*'Thus, Phase 1 big success.'*
And finally strolling Magic Tower basement, saw.
Originally hidden by huge crates fog.
Super suspicious 'red door'!
And Iri straight asked Martin stuck like gum beside.
"Martin Teachaw-nim, what's that wed dowr thewe-nimikka?"
