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Chapter 4
The Magic Tower exploded.
This was the phrase used to describe the cultural and industrial revolution led by the Magic Tower over a century ago.
Up until then, magic had remained primitive and one-dimensional—limited to things like artificially creating the elements of nature. In other words, magicians obsessed only over useless tricks that had no bearing on real life.
But then someone stirred a new wind within the Tower.
“Man, this is boring as hell.”
“No wonder people say magicians are rotten, stagnant water. How long are you going to keep playing caveman, making fire and rubbing balloons for static shocks?”
The Tower Master of the time announced a new kind of magic.
It was the fusion of magic and scientific technology.
At first, everyone thought the Tower Master had finally lost his mind. After all, the hot topic among magicians was still, “Who can create the bigger, more destructive fireball?”
And since the Tower Master came from the notoriously eccentric Adbelo family, he was mocked even more.
But the new magic he devised turned out to be invaluable—it prevented a year of bad harvests and repelled invading bandits from neighboring nations.
Those who had laughed at him were left speechless in shock.
“…Idiots. Look at your stupid faces.”
The Tower Master casually picked his nose and moved on to the next research.
From that day on, the Magic Tower was renamed the Institute of Magical and Technological Development.
The Tower itself became wholly bound to the Adbelo family.
The kingdom granted the Adbelos a dukedom and worked with them to revive the nation.
Carriages began to run on magical energy instead of horse power. Sewage systems improved sanitation and reduced mortality rates. Fertilizers boosted food supplies, reducing famine. With a better quality of life came stronger economic and educational development.
The greatest innovation of all was in the military.
With Adbelo’s support strengthening the crown, the royal family abolished the system of private armies and consolidated all military power under the crown.
Other than a small elite royal knights’ order, a new military system was built:
An army in the north.
A navy in the south.
Military academies and supporting facilities to train quality soldiers.
And on top of that—modernized weapons.
The weak kingdom, once squeezed between great powers, rapidly rose into a hegemon.
As the nation grew richer, politics and culture advanced as well, putting them ahead in every field.
But such sudden shifts in power inevitably drew envy and hostility from neighboring nations. The kingdom soon found itself facing invasions from the great powers.
Yet in the very same year, the kingdom crushed the coalition led by the Empire, the strongest of them all, and emerged with a complete victory.
This was the Adlabor Counteroffensive War, fought seven years ago.
***
The mornings in the south were always lively.
With the sound of ship horns signaling departures, sailors bustled about. Cargo was unloaded and loaded, while cats darted between crates to steal fish.
In the plaza, shopkeepers swept in front of their stores in preparation to open.
People on their way to work hurried their steps to catch the tram on time.
This pleasant bustle reached even the mansion on the hill.
“We are the sunshine of the south!”
Before a mirror, Clare sang her school anthem with gusto.
“Sailing across the blue sea!”
“Now then, shall we give a cheer for the young lady?”
“The dolphins!”
As Clare raised her arms, As quickly dressed her, skillfully replacing her pajamas with her neat school uniform.
“Marching forward!”
Now clad in navy uniform, Clare pumped her little fist high into the air.
“Children of Marea!”
Lately Clare had been utterly obsessed with her school song, singing it whenever she had a moment.
And each time, As showered her with genuine praise.
“Surely the heavens themselves meant your voice when they spoke of angels singing.”
“There’s music class today! I’ll sing the loudest, so loud that maybe you can hear me from home, As!”
“My lady…!”
Overcome with emotion, As hugged Clare tightly.
“It feels like just yesterday you were toddling around in diapers…”
As wiped the corner of her eyes, voice trembling.
“When did you grow up so quickly?”
“Well, that’s because…”
Clare’s voice trailed off, and with a sigh, her eyes drifted toward the sofa.
Or more accurately, to the older sister sprawled on it since morning.
“…I figured at least one of us had to act like a grown-up.”
“They say when one sibling is a mess, the other turns out fine…”
As sobbed harder.
“…Hey.”
Finally, Noah sat up, unable to listen any longer.
“You do know I can hear all of this?”
She was already distraught from yesterday’s incident, and instead of comforting her, her family treated her like some pathetic wreck. It was infuriating.
“Do none of you even feel sorry for me?”
“Not really?”
“Not at all.”
At their blunt replies, Noah buried her face back in the cushions.
“This damned household…”
She let out a fake sob, pretending to cry.
Sure enough, small footsteps pattered toward her. Noah smirked into the sofa.
Kids would be kids—worried because their big sister was crying.
“Sis.”
But instead of sympathy, the ever-sharp Clare scolded her.
“What are you crying for? Grandma said the only thing the guilty should shed is blood.”
Recalling her grandmother’s parting words, Clare launched into her lecture.
Now Noah really did feel like crying.
“Aren’t you going to work?”
As finally cut in, trying to stop Clare.
“After what I saw yesterday, it doesn’t seem like you actually need to quit….”
Yesterday’s uproar, in the end, had been nothing at all. Just a quarrel between a man and a woman. That was all.
“That guy looked handsome. And rich, too,” Clare remarked, picking her nose.
“Why not just marry him?”
“You—! Easy for you to say!”
Fuming, Noah shoved the child’s nose-smeared finger against her lips. Clare recoiled in disgust and clamped her mouth shut.
“I will never marry that man!”
Noah declared firmly.
“Ah, little miss…”
As sighed, knowing well that such words always seemed to invite the opposite.
“…Anyway, I’ll take the young lady to school now.”
She decided to back off for the moment. Noah looked truly exhausted. She probably needed time to think.
“Please eat breakfast while we’re out.”
“Now that Sis is unemployed, she should at least listen to As.”
“Does no one in this house take my side…?”
Noah grumbled as she stood to see them off.
“Be safe.”
“Since Sis isn’t going to work anymore, take me to school instead!”
“Oh my, don’t you like when I take you?”
“I want to brag at school that my sister’s a bum. Sensha bragged yesterday that her divorced aunt moved in with them!”
“So you just want to see me cry, huh?”
Noah muttered in a dry voice.
And right then—
As the door opened, something suddenly thrust inside.
Noah instinctively stepped in front of As and Clare, who quickly hid the girl behind her back.
“Huh?”
Peeking from behind As, Clare’s eyes lit up.
“It’s the Colonel!”
“Good morning, sister-in-law.”
Behind a bouquet of flowers appeared a suspiciously beautiful face: silver hair shining in the sun, and round, crimson eyes.
“And now…”
Handing the bouquet to Noah, Leto smiled.
“Shall we head to work?”
Noah scowled. The bright flowers suddenly seemed pointless.
***
In the end, Noah returned to the unit.
“They can’t process anything unless you actually submit your resignation, you know.”
Despite yesterday’s disaster, there was only one reason Noah had to show up today.
She hadn’t turned in her resignation letter.
“……”
“……”
When As and Clare realized this, they gave her the most disappointed, pathetic looks imaginable.
“…Now I can’t even brag at school.”
Clare grumbled that Ririne’s dad was way better, and headed off with As.
“Who’s Ririne?” Leto asked as he started the engine of his prized steed.
It was the latest magi-powered car, released that year by Cheti, famous for its vehicles. Of the five in the Empire, Leto alone drove the only one in the South with practiced ease.
“…My sister’s school friend,” Noah answered weakly, fiddling with her seatbelt, still wounded by her family’s cold looks.
The ride was as smooth as ever, she thought absentmindedly.
“And why does our little sister-in-law think that guy’s father is better than you?”
“Because Ririne’s father was caught having two households, then went missing the very next day.”
“….”
“Don’t worry. He was only kicked out and is now fighting a divorce suit.”
Ah, so it wasn’t a compliment.
Leto chuckled briefly, easing the car down the hill and through the city until they reached the coastal road.
The ocean spread brilliantly outside the window.
Noah stared blankly at the waves, while Leto did not press her with conversation.
They drove in silence for a long while.
“…Are you enjoying yourself?”
Noah’s gaze flicked toward him through the window’s reflection.
“Enjoying what?”
“Toying with me.”
“I’ve never toyed with you.”
“To me, all of this feels like one of your games.”
“….”
Leto didn’t answer. Instead, he turned the wheel left, slowing as his crimson car entered a restricted zone.
This was the naval base.
The guards at the gate recognized them and saluted.
As always, Leto ignored them, while Noah returned the salute politely, adding a word of thanks for their service.
Once the car was inside, however—
“Noah.”
Leto stopped the car.
“Noah.”
He called her name again, reaching out.
But his confident hand paused mid-air, then slipped down cautiously, twining her golden hair around his fingers. His thick, bony fingers tangled with her strands.
“….”
Noah looked at him wordlessly.
For once, she was glad she had left her hair loose. Otherwise he’d easily see how red her ears were right now.
“I know why you hate me so much.”
“Then good.”
“But.”
Leaning against the steering wheel, Leto let out a quiet laugh.
“If I told you I had my reasons… would you believe me?”
“….”
Noah frowned.
Even in this situation, she couldn’t deny—
The man before her was the most beautiful thing in the world.
“How infuriating.”
She could no longer deny that she still had feelings for him.
And Leto, knowing full well what was in her heart, smiled softly with his eyes.
