RMA 38

chapter 38

Annex.

Ikel arrived at the place where Lawrence was staying, using “[Report Writing]” as an excuse.

Although it was Medea’s order, at some point a rebellious feeling had arisen in his heart.

Why must he torment that young one?

Ikel had no idea where such thoughts had come from, but he was already leaning toward Lawrence’s side.

Moreover, that man… wasn’t he the heir to a family renowned as great?

“Are you there? It’s Ikel.”
“Oh, come in.”
“Excuse me.”

Ikel faced Lawrence, who was inside the annex gathering his belongings.

He saw Rachel bustling about and an elderly man watching him from beside the youngest master.

Ikel knew who he was.

The Lord of the Iron Tower.

The one who would walk alongside Lawrence for the next two years.

There was nothing wrong with making a good impression.

Even if the Tower of Change and the Iron Tower were bitter rivals, that had nothing to do with him.

“I am Ikel of the Yurgo family. It is an honor to meet the Lord of the Iron Tower.”
“Ha ha, good to see you show courtesy. Yes, you two handle your business.”
“Thank you. I’ve come to write a report and give my briefing, young master.”
“Shall we talk somewhere quiet first?”

Lawrence asked Rachel to take care of the luggage and led them to a quiet place.

Iron Hama also helped carry the luggage with Rachel.

Ikel wasted no time and got straight to the point.

“I will give Medea a false report. Please advise on the approach.”
“Just say there was no useful result. And she’ll try to plant another spy. We’ve been burned before.”
“A cross-verification, I see. I will brainwash and make them my tool.”

Even just by saying one thing, Lawrence understood exactly what he meant—a proof of why wizards were known to be intelligent.

Ikel went further and shared another crucial piece of information.

“I also witnessed a meeting between a man from the Difertor family and Lady Medea. I’m not sure what kind of relationship they have.”
“Is that so? Hmm… this is something to remember.”
“That’s all I have to report.”
“Don’t get caught and keep yourself safe.”

Ikel bowed.

Little did he know, he himself was under the brainwashing spell he had cast. He was already living as Lawrence’s loyal dog.

The Difertor family…

They were a family that constantly coveted Monteemer’s position.

Always waiting in the shadow as second-in-command for a chance to leap to the top.

<Those shady bastards? Don’t even get me started. All the sneaky things that happen behind the scenes? Probably them.>
<Seriously, they look fancy on the surface but are utterly sinister.>
<Gentlemanly family? Don’t make me laugh…>

A family that the assassin uncle had described as utterly detestable.

Hopefully, they weren’t in cahoots with them. Could that be why Monteemer’s clan was annihilated…?

“No, too early to jump to conclusions. The destruction only happens 20 years later.”

Lawrence decided to take note of the critical information.

It might serve as a hint to curb Medea’s influence.

“That’s it for now. You may leave.”
“Yes. Please take care of yourself.”

Ikel bowed deeply and departed.

With him around, there would be no shortage of information for the time being. They could buy enough time.

“This is more complicated than I thought. For now, let’s just focus on getting stronger.”

Lawrence’s task was simple: grow stronger, rise higher, and become a force no one could challenge, commanding his own power.

“Let’s go. To the Iron Tower.”

Finally, he could enter the tower: a place filled with the scent of iron and flesh.

That was exactly where Lawrence was headed.

#2

“This is the Iron Tower. Not a very luxurious place, huh?”
“It’s better than I expected. I thought it would just be like living in a cave with only iron…”
“Ha ha ha.”

Being from a prestigious family, her imagination was surprisingly rich.

The tower’s lord chuckled internally.

The Iron Tower looked exactly like that:

About five stories high.

Cracks everywhere, the exterior needing repair.

Mana flowed through it, but the foundation looked precarious.

Not a modern building, it felt like surviving somehow inside an ancient structure.

‘The Iron Tower looked like this… but why does the lord die?’

He had to find out why the lord was dying.

Only then would it be easier to counter Medea and her backing.

No matter what, the death of the Iron Tower Lord must be prevented.

The three of them entered the Iron Tower from the carriage.

“Welcome! Lord of the Tower—!”

The moment they entered, a loud cry startled Lawrence and Rachel.

They realized the clumps of mana gathered there… and apparently, everyone had been assembled?

“Ha ha, everyone working hard on your training?”
“Yes, Lord of the Tower!”

A bulky elder of the tower bowed and greeted Iron Hama.

It looked like a scene straight out of a noir film, making Lawrence smile wryly.

The tower residents stared at Lawrence and Rachel with eyes saying, “Who is this kid?”

“From today, Lawrence Monteemer, the young master, and his maid Rachel will train here for two years. Take good care of them.”
“Gasp!”
“A newbie! Finally! I’m escaping the bottom ranks!”

A booming voice rang out.

A middle-aged man pushed through the crowd, grabbing Lawrence’s shoulder with a hand the size of a pot lid.

“Pleasure to meet you, young master! Ah, coming from the famous Monteemer family to this humble place! I’ll make sure you grow stronger!”
“Haha… thank you, senior.”
“Today is a party! We must celebrate! Right, brothers!?”

Isn’t this like a military system?

While Lawrence imagined this nervously, the Tower Lord spoke.

“We are all here chasing legends. This is not a place of strict hierarchy. You all understand?”
“Yes! Of course!”
“Answer well. Especially you, the young master of Monteemer. So behave accordingly.”
“Understood!”

It felt like being the son of a general dropped into a regiment.

Anyway, Lawrence and Rachel secured their place safely in the tower.

As soon as they were assigned rooms and sat down, a message appeared in Lawrence’s mind.

This place was more important than he thought.

[Restore the crumbling Iron Tower.]
[This tower was built on the site where the Gold Dragon Icaller, once a guardian, nested.]
[Restoring the dragon’s relics will cause the hidden inheritance to come to you.]

“Oh…?”

[The seal is weakening.]
[If the dragon’s power spreads uncontrollably, invaders will soon come.]
[Eliminate the cause of the distortion and inherit the dragon’s legacy.]

He now understood why his own soul had been drawn here.

A name he had read in historical records:

[Great Battle Mage: Icaller].

The founder of Iron Magic and a one-man legion.

His relics were here—a truly fascinating story.

The records only mentioned him as an extraordinary wizard, but of course, he was a dragon.

“Wait! I only know how to carve magic circles. How am I supposed to restore this?”

[This tower itself is a massive artifact.]

“…Ah, I see.”

He was supposed to maintain and repair an enormous artifact.

Lawrence gave a wry smile.

It seemed a huge main quest had just appeared.

“Feels like starting a long-term project.”

He had some experience, though not on a building-scale.

Lawrence’s eyes began to shine with passion.

#3

Where the head of the Monteemer family resided.

Edward looked at Nikolai and said,

“Figure out the truth. I recommend cooperating with the western families.”
“Yes, Lord.”
“Send a letter to His Majesty as well. Bring the crystal orb if possible.”
“Yes.”

A short command.

The truth Edward referred to was about the Algeras family, corrupted into undead, and their knights.

In the northern region, where two pillars of the empire overlapped, a dark wizard brazenly operated… an unacceptable situation.

Nikolai bowed and tried to ease the tension.

The current lord seemed to be in a very good mood.

“You’ve been handling mana management quite often lately.”
“Have I?”
“Yes. Today as well, you adjusted mana and oversaw the children yourself.”
“I see. Maybe because many things are changing.”

The lord spoke in a way Nikolai didn’t fully understand, but he maintained a smile.

Today’s behavior by Lord Edward was unusual.

Everyone in the family must have noticed that the youngest master, Lawrence, was behind it.

Perhaps due to Piazze or Arthur.

But there was a decisive clue:

‘Who has the lord ever praised as exceptional at that age?’

None. Not even the eldest son, closest to becoming heir, had been praised at eleven.

After awakening his innate abilities, young master Lawrence was growing at an astonishing pace.

“The investigation will conclude quickly. The Green Tower will actively assist, and the Holy Nation will also act.”
“Hmm.”
“His Majesty will not remain idle either.”

Undead must be eradicated in the empire.

Being closely tied to the Holy Nation, those controlling undead were enemies.

Moreover, something even more important was at stake.

“They will pay for daring to touch Monteemer.”
“I shall keep that in mind.”
“Let us proceed.”

Overwhelming mana surged from the lord’s body, pressing down on Nikolai.

If he felt this pressure, how could an eleven-year-old endure it?

‘The more I think about it, the more incredible he is.’

Nikolai quickly left the office to escape the oppressive force.

The lord, left alone, gazed outside and thought:

‘Little by little, the twisted things seem to be returning to their place.’

He thought of his son in the Iron Tower and the one who had collapsed.

But as a father, there was nothing he could do.

This was a vow, a promise, and a chain binding him.

Swallowing his frustration, he looked at the sky once more.

The eyes of an absolute being, yet they seemed anxious.

Like a tiny human before the infinite universe, he gazed beyond the world.