Chapter – 47
“Someone among you chased my son-in-law out of the tower.”
“……!”
In an instant, Karon’s head shot up.
This was it. The reason the Duke had been giving him such a hard time!
“……Hmm, I think we’ve talked enough. You drank your tea well. As I said, I am busy with official matters, so I’ll take my leave.”
“Ah, yes! Please take care, Your Grace.”
Once the Duke left, Karon finally felt a breakthrough—he’d found the clue he needed. But the satisfaction was short-lived, quickly replaced by the old man’s face turning red with fury.
‘Who the hell did this!’
Daring to touch the Duke’s son-in-law and make things difficult for him! Whoever it was, they would pay dearly if caught!
“……For that reason, you all will have to do some work for me.”
“Yes, Master!”
Karon called his five trusted, capable disciples and had them thoroughly examine the list of expelled students.
The disciples meticulously checked each person’s details and the reasons for their expulsion until they found a promising candidate for the Duke’s son-in-law.
“Master, take a look at this. Leonard Rodeline! The name contains ‘Rodel.’”
“The age is appropriate, and judging from the portrait, he’s handsome. Princess Elthea would certainly have liked him.”
“It’s recorded that he had exceptional talent in potion alchemy. Judging by the effects of the potions released under ‘Rodel,’ the characteristics match.”
“This person… yes, he must be the Duke’s son-in-law.”
“Let’s see…”
The reason for expulsion was that he had stolen the research of his master, Hichem Saramatan. Karon was stunned.
“Hichem? Hichem?!”
The candidate for the next Ivory Tower Master’s name appears here?
‘Nah, surely not! It can’t be!’
However…
“Master! Here’s the report thoroughly investigating Hichem and the Duke’s son-in-law.”
“Ah, it’s not certain yet. Don’t call him the Duke’s son-in-law.”
“Master, with all due respect, it seems he really is the Duke’s son-in-law.”
“Ugh.”
The report brought by his youngest, most capable disciple was shocking.
Leonard Rodeline had entered with excellent admission scores and was once a highly promising talent. Many elders wanted him as their disciple, but at the time, Hichem, who wasn’t even an elder and hadn’t achieved much, had slyly snatched him up.
His methods were despicable. He manipulated the situation with lies, claiming, “What if the elders truly intend to take you as a disciple?” and used the rule that if one didn’t register a master that day, one would be expelled. Through these tricks, he forcibly made the disciple-master bond.
“What? He pretended to be generous, claimed he’d be the master, and forcibly established the master-disciple bond?”
“Yes, that’s correct, Master! His character is entirely the opposite of yours!”
“If true, that’s utterly despicable. Youngest, is this information reliable?”
“Master, do you not trust me? I am hurt.”
“Forgive me. You’re so cute, I momentarily forgot you’re the successor of the Dark Information Guild.”
“I understand. Sometimes I forget because I’m too adorable.”
“…….”
Karon drank the nerve-calming potion offered by the youngest and continued reading the report.
From the very moment the master-disciple bond was formed, the real story began.
Leonard’s achievements, once anticipated by the Ivory Tower, stagnated, while Hichem thrived.
Leonard, once considered a precious gem, was treated like a roadside pebble and forgotten. Meanwhile, Hichem produced research results that seemed impossible for someone previously considered incompetent.
His most remarkable achievement was in the field of regenerative potions—potions that could regrow severed body parts. Once developed, alchemy would no longer be considered inferior to divine magic.
Since this was a long-desired goal in the alchemy community, Hichem was quickly supported by many alchemists and promoted to an elder of the Ivory Tower.
“……But could it be that all these remarkable achievements were stolen from his disciple?”
“Yes. There was even an attempt to expose it.”
“When?! Why didn’t I know?”
“It happened while you were recovering from pneumonia, Master, and Hichem was holding actual power in the Tower at the time. I hadn’t yet entered the Tower myself.”
“Ah… that would have been six years ago, then.”
“Yes. That incident was the direct cause of the Duke’s son-in-law being expelled from the Tower, as noted in the next page.”
The brave person who tried to expose Hichem was elder alchemist Orca Getter.
He publicly revealed that Hichem had exploited the flaws of the apprentice system to steal the research of his disciple, Leonard. However…
“Hichem is astonishingly skilled in politics.”
“Contrary to his accusation, evidence and testimony started pouring in showing that the disciple had stolen from Hichem.”
Public opinion swelled against Orca, claiming he was jealous of Hichem’s success and slandering him. Every newspaper in the kingdom supported Hichem and criticized Orca.
Justice was never served. Orca was dismissed from the elder position and retreated into isolation, developing social anxiety. Leonard was quietly expelled from the Tower.
“By the way, at the time of expulsion, Leonard Rodeline had a six-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter, both with pink hair.”
“…….”
Princess Elthea’s pink hair is well known. The fact that there was both a son and daughter aligns with the Duke’s statement about his grandchildren.
Having verified all the information, Karon finally reached a conclusion.
“Hichem Saramatan! That bastard is the one! We act immediately!”
“Yes, Master! What shall we do?!”
The five disciples’ eyes gleamed, awaiting his command.
Within the golden Ivory Tower, Karon, the Tower Master, could wield absolute power like a god. Now, he was about to reveal his true nature. How exhilarating!
Karon shouted:
“Summon Hichem and all twelve elders immediately!”
✠
“A meeting for emergency measures?”
The sudden summons was quickly understandable. Recently, the Duke’s all-around pressure had put the Tower’s finances in jeopardy.
‘Who dares provoke the Duke’s temper? Tch!’
Middle-aged alchemist Hichem Saramatan, with hair only around the sideburns, confidently believed he wasn’t the culprit.
Even if nothing else, his talent for gaining favor from those above was unmatched. Years of research funding and sponsorships proved it.
However, this Tower Master was a stiff old man, incapable of flexible responses.
Hichem thought he could demonstrate his insight and handling skills at the emergency meeting and resolve the issue—something a prospective Tower Master should naturally do.
With this in mind, he made his way to the elders’ council chamber, entering with an air of pride. The other elders were already seated.
Hichem felt elated at making a grand entrance as the last to arrive.
“Haha, I was busy with research, so I’m a little late.”
“You may sit now.”
Karon’s eyes were unusually sharp, and he immediately began the meeting.
“We now begin the emergency measures meeting. The topic, as you know, is the financial crisis the Ivory Tower is currently facing.”
“Master…”
Hichem immediately lifted his seat.
“I believe it is crucial to consider the Duke’s mood on this matter. Fortunately, I am an expert in this area. If you send me to the Duke as the Tower’s representative, I will carefully ascertain what troubles him.”
“…….”
Karon, glaring at Hichem, remained silent.
“Oh, Hichem Professor, I think you’re trustworthy!”
“Indeed, a future Tower Master in the making!”
The other elders eagerly praised him like sparrows chirping, hoping to curry favor with the likely next Tower Master.
Karon inwardly snorted, silently acknowledging Hichem’s smugness.
“Hichem, I agree. Sending you to the Duke should make everything go smoothly.”
“Smooth sailing, even! Truly, Master, your insight into people is unparalleled.”
“However, before that, I have a few questions.”
Hichem, having finally been acknowledged in front of everyone, beamed even while hiding his cunning nature.
“Do you remember the name Leonard Rodeline?”
“…….”
His smile froze, unable to conceal his unease.
‘Why is that idiot’s name coming up now?!’
The elders, wanting to protect Hichem’s reputation, stalled for time.
“Master, mentioning that name may not be pleasant for Professor Hichem.”
“Ha, why bring up an incident from over six years ago?”
“Back then, Professor Hichem went through so much anguish due to absurd accusations…”
Thanks to cleaning up public opinion with money, the world sided with Hichem.
Hichem, feeling relieved, skillfully masked his concern with a practiced smile.
“Leonard Rodeline… of course I remember. He was like a painful finger to me.”
“A painful finger?”
“He lacked talent in alchemy, but was decent at documentation, so I took him under my wing. But as everyone knows, he repaid kindness with betrayal…”
Groans of sympathy arose from the elders. Hichem, encouraged, continued passionately.
“No matter how impatient he was for results, how could he even think of stealing my research!”
“…….”
“Truly foolish. And he stole research related to regenerative potions—my achievement! Who would believe he could present it as his own? Tch!”
At this point, the elders chimed in with supportive agreement.
“Indeed, indeed. What a senseless act.”
“Completely unforgivable, even as a disciple!”
Karon raised a hand to quiet them, continuing with more questions regarding Leonard Rodeline.
“Apparently, Leonard had a family, yet lived in a small cottage on the outskirts rather than the capital, commuting with great difficulty. Wouldn’t he get substantial support funding? How did this happen?”
“Uh, well… I, I….”
Of course, he embezzled it himself!
Now, questioned by the supreme authority of the Tower, he was nervous.
“His… wife! Leonard was infatuated with a gold-digger type woman. Quite a problematic fellow… But why is this old story relevant now?”
Hichem regained his shameless composure.
“Master, aren’t we discussing the Tower’s finances? This has nothing to do with the emergency meeting.”
His excuse was plausible, and the elders fell silent.
But Karon, the Tower Master, replied calmly:
“It is relevant, so I’m asking.”
“Eh?”
“Hichem.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Hichem Professor.”
“Yes, yes.”
“You bastard, Hichem.”
