Chapter 27
I'm a Homebody, but I've Been Transmigrated into a Grim, Captive Romance
Episode 27
“Aaaaaaaah!”
“O-Our Core…!”
“Nooooooo!”
The mages’ screams could be heard.
At the same time, my eyes met the Grand Duke’s, who was standing a distance away.
I could clearly see his gaze pass over my face and land on the hammer in my hand.
Immediately, one of his eyebrows rose. Startled, I lowered my head.
I figured he must have heard through Liam that I had a hammer… but even so, it seemed he hadn’t expected me to just smash the Core.
Letting go of the hammer in my hand, I slowly stepped back.
The Core, having received a great shock, was shaking unstably.
“What is the meaning of this! Grand Duke Blale, did you order this? We merely requested your cooperation!”
The Tower Lord, who had been standing dumbfounded, shouted and rushed towards the Core.
He was at a loss, looking at the Core, which was visibly more precarious than before.
I cut in before any stray sparks could fly towards the Grand Duke.
“Ah, no. This has nothing to do with His Highness the Grand Duke…”
“Get out of here, you rat! I’ll summon hellfire and turn you into a roasted corpse! Do you think you can get away with this after doing something like this?”
The Tower Lord, furious enough for his beard to tremble, was unable to contain his rage, looking as if he would shoot magic from his staff at any moment.
Then, with a look of despair, he lowered his head.
“Why… why did you do this!”
Before I opened my mouth, I slowly looked around.
The other mages were now glaring at me as if I were their mortal enemy.
The only one in the room who remained calm, without intervening, was the Grand Duke.
Meeting his unwavering gaze, I slowly opened my mouth.
“Um, well….”
“Well?”
“That is….”
My hesitation was brief. Before the Tower Lord, unable to bear the frustration, could raise his voice again, I closed my eyes tightly and stammered out an excuse.
“I… I heard the Core of the Magic Tower speaking…”
‘I’m doomed.’
Even to myself, it was a flimsy excuse that wouldn’t possibly work.
But the arrow had already left the bow, and I had no choice but to continue.
“It, it told me. ‘Break me… break me…’ it kept saying…”
Right next to me was a large window overlooking the outside.
As I barely suppressed the urge to throw myself out, a voice filled with disbelief rang out.
“Do you really think that makes any sense?”
Of course, it doesn’t.
I bit my lip hard.
‘Please, hurry…!’
Glancing sideways, the Core still seemed to be shaking unstably, with no other apparent issues.
However, the anomaly occurred not long after.
“How many mages poured their Magic Power into restoring the Core of the Magic Tower… this cannot be overlooked. If the Core were to shatter, the Magic Tower would…!”
Rumble.
Just as the enraged Tower Lord took a step towards me, shouting at the Grand Duke, the building began to shake violently.
The flow of Magic Power filling the hall was raging like mad; even I, without any magical talent, could clearly feel it.
At the same time, stone fragments and dust fell from the ceiling, landing on my head before transforming into purple Magic Power and scattering.
“Th-The Core…!”
“The Tower is collapsing!”
As someone screamed, the interior instantly became chaotic in a different sense.
Crackle.
‘Did I mess up?’
I watched the Core, my tension unbroken.
The Grand Duke, who had belatedly sensed the danger, was approaching me.
‘Just a little more!’
The Core, which had been cracking like a breaking eggshell, soon shattered into pieces with a bright light.
Completely.
\ \ *
“……”
“…My God.”
Even the mages, who were mostly atheists, unconsciously called out to God in this dire situation.
Those who had closed their eyes due to the light emanating from the Core now stood dumbfounded in the suddenly quiet hall.
“Haa….”
Thump.
After confirming the state of the Core, I slowly sank to the floor.
The precariously trembling Core now floated serenely, its surface smooth as if it had never been damaged.
I watched the fragments that had fallen to the floor slowly dissolve into Magic Power and scatter like gas.
“Wh-What in the world happened….”
The unstable flow of Magic Power was instantly restored.
Not only did the Magic Tower, which seemed on the verge of collapse, not fall, but the Core, which had been on the brink of explosion, was stabilized, and the strange energy that had unsettled all the mages vanished in an instant.
Anyone with even a little Magic Power could instinctively tell.
“The Core has been restored!”
“H-Haha….”
Judging that the crisis had passed, the mages breathed sighs of relief, clutching their chests, or let out cheers.
‘My legs are trembling.’
As I pushed my hips back to avoid being jostled by the people flocking towards the Core, a large hand was extended to me.
“Get up.”
It was the Grand Duke, his expression unreadable.
“…Thank you.”
Unable to offer any excuses or explanations to him at the moment, I awkwardly scratched my cheek.
“H-Haha. It’s all resolved now, right? Well, I’m a bit tired, so I think I’ll head back first…”
Since drawing more attention here wouldn’t do me any good, I intended to leave the cleanup to the Grand Duke.
However, before I could hear his reply, the Tower Lord approached, his expression one of immense gratitude.
His attitude was markedly different and respectful compared to before.
“How did you know?”
“I, I really… heard its voice.”
Having missed the chance to escape and unable to lie while looking him in the eye, I averted my gaze and turned my head.
“So, it’s true that the Core of the Magic Tower was revived thanks to the household of Grand Duke Blale.”
“Isn’t she the ‘Listener of Mana’ who appears once in a thousand years!!”
“…What?”
As if they had overheard our conversation, exclamations erupted from all around, and my face turned ashen.
“U-Um, excuse me?”
“That’s right! It’s undeniable. She might just be the ‘Chosen One’ from the legends!”
Hey, hey.
That’s not quite right, is it?
The Tower Lord, who had been silent for a moment, drove the final nail into my coffin as my escape route steadily disappeared.
“The opinions of my esteemed colleagues seem to be correct.”
The clamor subsided into silence.
“We have received a great boon thanks to the Lady who accompanied Grand Duke Blale to the Magic Tower. Therefore, we wish to offer our apologies for the past rudeness and our sincere gratitude to Grand Duke Blale and the Lady. Especially to the Lady…?”
“Please, call me April.”
“Understood. Lady April.”
The Tower Lord, his previous aggressive demeanor gone, bowed deeply before me, who was much younger than him.
“I shall bestow upon you the title of ‘Ear of the Magic Tower,’ and we will officially dispatch a document to the Cletan Empire regarding this matter.”
Ear of the Magic Tower.
Even though I disliked troublesome things, I understood the meaning.
Those who received a title from the Magic Tower could receive the Tower’s assistance three times in their lifetime without cost.
Magic, while convenient, was astronomically expensive to use, making this an invaluable benefit.
‘I didn’t want things to escalate this much.’
My intention to slip away midway and let the Grand Duke take all the credit was clearly ruined… Anyway.
‘There’s no reason to refuse something given for free, right?’
I subtly glanced at the Grand Duke standing beside me.
Now that I was to receive a title from the Magic Tower, perhaps I could peacefully escape my uncomfortable cohabitation with him.
Of course, even though I had been more than satisfied with my life in the Grand Duchy so far, one never knew what the future held, so having an insurance policy wouldn’t hurt.
“Thank you.”
Having quickly calculated my options, I bowed alongside the Tower Lord.
“For now, let us consider the situation settled.”
At that moment, the Grand Duke, who had been silent, stepped forward.
I looked up at him with a flustered expression, wondering if he might try to take the title away, but he glanced at me with a purely businesslike expression before turning his gaze back to the Tower Lord.
“The Magic Tower has its own matters to settle, and we have ours. If the title you intend to bestow upon Lady April is not something that must be officially received, it would be preferable if it were transferred to the Grand Duchy.”
“We are grateful for your consideration, Grand Duke. Furthermore, I apologize for my past foolishness in failing to grasp the situation properly.”
In the suddenly warm atmosphere, I felt my heart pounding.
‘If it ends this abruptly, more things will come pouring in….’
I prayed it was just my imagination.
I hurried after the Grand Duke, who had already finished his business and was walking away.
