Chapter 43

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Chapter 43 – What Kind Of Relationship Do We Have?!

Kaligo, who was leaning against the bed, raised his upper body at Redin’s words. “Tell me more.”

“It’s not totally broken yet.”

“You mean to say it’s in progress.”

“Yes, and there is about only a half of it left.”

“…A half.”

“I heard that it would all be gone in a day or two.”

The barrier was collapsing and there was half a day remaining. Redin spoke calmly while Kaligo listened indifferently, but it was actually a very serious situation. That barrier had never been disturbed or collapsed during the long time the Magic Tower was built.

The allied Empires of the Magic Tower were being protected by the barrier, but that now was collapsing. In other words, it meant that the protection of the other empires would also be in trouble.

“Isn’t this what happens when an unqualified person ascends to an undeserved position?”

“Yes, my lord.”

The position of being a Magic Tower’s master – a position where one had to take on a heavy responsibility, one had to have strong magical and mental power to get it.

“It looks like it will affect the Imperial Palace as well.”

“Hmm.” Kaligo’s glare didn’t waver as he let out a small sigh.

At that moment, Ashia, who had been quietly listening to Redin’s words next door, entered Kaligo’s bedroom. “I think there’s something wrong with the Elemental Cube.”

Looking at where she came out from, Redin widened his eyes in surprise. The room was something he had never looked at before. Kaligo used to be displeased with that space connected to his bedroom. He hated the Grand Duchess’ room itself to the extent that he threatened him that one day, he would block that door. And yet, Ashia Bliss calmly walked out of that room.

‘No wonder I was told that Miss Ashia Bliss was nowhere to be found…’

Redin realized that the relationship between the two of them had gotten deep without him knowing.

Kaligo got up. “Ashia.” He grabbed her hand and led her to the chair next to the table. “The barriers of the Magic Tower work with the Elemental Cube, and the barriers protecting the other empires we have allied were also affected by the Elemental Cube.”

He nodded as he pulled out the chair so she could sit down, then he brought another chair beside it and sat down. Ashia continued speaking after Kaligo sat down.

“The Elemental Cube is a mana stone that is maintained by the Magic Tower’s master’s power.”

“Mana stone…”

Kaligo’s gaze then shifted to the area around Ashia’s neck. “Come to think of it, I don’t see that mana stone necklace of yours today.”

“Ah,” Ashia glanced down and patted her empty neck, “I forgot and left it.” She smiled awkwardly before continuing, “The Elemental Cube is very different from regular mana stones, although they vary greatly in ability and size. Of course, it’s also important how much magic power of the Magic Tower’s Master is maintained enough to use the Elemental Cube in various ways.”

“I see.”

’Are you even listening to what I am saying?’

Kaligo sat next to Ashia and nodded while he fiddled with each of her fingers. Ashia’s eyes moved busily between Redin and Kaligo.

“Kaligo.”

“Yes, keep talking, I am listening.”

“…”

His answer was natural. Seeing how he was holding Ashia’s hand tighter, it seemed like he had no intention of stopping.

Ashia cleared her throat and continued speaking, “If the barrier is collapsing, then that means there is a problem with the Elemental Cube… that’s what it is.”

“I think something happened in the vicinity of the Magic Tower’s master – that woman named Lisa.”

“Yes, she probably ran out of mana from using it in the Imperial Palace. She used a spell that consumed a lot of it.”

“Hmmm… So it’s a place using the mana of the Magic Tower’s Master at most.” Kaligo laughed slowly.

He was still moving his fingers diligently. He scrambled to fit his large fingers between her small ones. Satisfied, he raised his head and met Ashia’s eyes. His smile deepened more than even his cold eyes gently curved.

“Isn’t that better?”

“…”

“I thought that the tower system would collapse at some point. Would it thus be called the Tower of Bad Omens?” His hand continued fiddling with hers contrary to his serious tone and expression.

Ashia nodded, watching her hand disappear as if swallowed into Kaligo’s large one. “…I agree with the opinion that the tower needs to be shaken up at least once. But, we have to stop the Elemental Cube from breaking,” she said determinedly.

“How? Wasn’t that the unique authority and ability of the Magic Tower’s master? Who on earth can do such a thing?”

Ashia sighed for a moment, closed her eyes, and opened her mouth slowly, “I…”

“…” Kaligo stared at her lips as he waited for her next words.

“I will go to the Magic Tower.”

“…” The smile on Kaligo’s lips disappeared.

Silence fell between the two of them as they stared at each other. The first person to open his mouth was Kaligo.

“I don’t like it.”

“…Yes?”

Kaligo shook his head as if he didn’t want to hear anything anymore. Though he gave instructions to investigate Ashia, he didn’t delve into the smallest information about her. Because of that, he was unaware of the fact that it was because of Ashia that the village was burned, and that she was expelled from the Magic Tower as a result. Naturally, he was also unaware of her situation that she couldn’t receive any protection from the Magic Tower at all.

Still, he just didn’t like it. For some reason, it seemed like he shouldn’t send her to the Magic Tower at all.

“I don’t want you to go to the Magic Tower. Can’t we just let it fall into ruins? Let them take care of it on their own.”

There was a sigh in his voice, but Ashia had no intention of backing down either.

“Karhan Empire will also be in danger if the Magic Tower collapses, Kaligo.”

“And?”

“Pardon?”

“No empire will ever be at peace. There are crises and we overcome them. It means that you don’t have to step in to do everything.”

What he said wasn’t wrong. It was just that Ashia’s thoughts were a little different.

“There will be great chaos if all the barriers collapse. We can calm down that chaos in advance.”

“That’s why I am asking you why you should be the one doing that?”

His doubtful eyes stared at Ashia.

’Why on earth do you not know? Was it because he had come to realize that this place was a world inside a book? And is that why it doesn’t matter what this place is? No, he may have no regrets or affection in this world in the first place.’

But even if he really took this world lightly, Ashia couldn’t. She’d spent ten years here. What she experienced during those ten years wasn’t an illusion but her reality. This wasn’t just a book to her, but a new place to live.

“I don’t want my world to fall apart again.”

“…”

Kaligo’s lips parted softly at her words. He thought that she knew what she was talking about, so he could see what she was worried about right now.

“I don’t want to lose anything anymore—this time, for a long time.”

“…”

“…I want to be happy.” Her voice was soft but firm. It seemed she had already made up her mind.

Kaligo’s lips twitched, but he didn’t follow through. Because to her, he was also the person who took away the world she had lived in.

Ashia let out a sigh as he slowly turned away, as if he was ashamed. “Are you going to lock me up again?”

“…Ah.”

“Are you going to order me not to leave the mansion again?”

Kaligo couldn’t even look at Ashia. He felt his skin become hot with remorse. “…Ashia, things are different then and now.”

“It’s a relief that you’ve come to that conclusion.”

“…”

“As you said, the situation is completely different. I’m not the kind of person who would collapse and vomit blood.”

Kaligo began to realize that the more he spoke, the more he dug his own grave.

“I don’t want to repeat those things again.” Ashia stroked the back of Kaligo’s hard hand in a circle as if soothing him. “Kaligo… Let me do as I want, please?”

“…”

“You have nothing to worry about, trust me.”

“…”

The corners of Kaligo’s eyebrows drooped down at Ashia caressing his hand and soothing him.

‘This is so…’

Redin was a little perplexed now. The conversation between the two of them seemed like one between people who had been married for several years. What more, it wasn’t his master that led the conversation and set the tone, but that small and slender woman.

Kaligo was more feared by his subordinates who had committed wrongdoings. Such a small woman had him on the palms of her hand, and she gently calmed the situation so that he couldn’t open his mouth.

’The world is falling apart. Losing? Locking up? What do they mean?’

Had the two of them known each other before? That would be impossible though…

Redin had a vague idea they had some connection with each other that he couldn’t possibly understand.

“I was a completely different person from back then, Kaligo.”

“Ashia….”

“Yes, I am Ashia—Ashia Bliss.” Ashia gently caressed Kaligo’s cheeks. “Renna Cornelli isn’t here anymore.”

Kaligo’s eyebrows moved further downward at Ashia’s words. He sighed, resigned. Deep anguish formed between his wrinkled brows.

Ashia let out a light sigh as she looked at Kaligo being like that. It seemed like they were now finished with the talk. Her heart aches seeing Kaligo’s gloomy expression on his face.

“Kaligo…”

’Sorry, I had no intention of bringing up the things of the past that had already passed… I had to do this to convince you, and I am regretting it now.’

Kaligo looked so exhausted.

She caressed his cheek carefully, feeling apologetic.

‘But I can’t let the world we live in collapse…’

Kaligo rubbed his face against Ashia’s palm and let out a sigh. “Ashia…”

“Yeah.”

“It’s not possible.”

Of course, he couldn’t accept it.

“Oh really?! Kaligo!”

He was too stubborn!

Ashia jumped up from her seat. “I will go!”

“Ashia.”

“I will!”

The fact that none of her words she told her as an adult, and soothing worked on him, brought out her voice full of anger.

“What kind of relationship do we have?!”

Redin, as well as Kaligo, opened his eyes in surprise. Kaligo looked at Ashia with a puzzled expression.

’So, who on earth was the woman I was rolling around with in the bed just now?’

“Ashia?”

Ashia didn’t pay any attention to Kaligo. “Did we sleep together? Did we have a baby? All we ever did was kiss!”

“Haa!” Kaligo also got up after her and sighed.

“Listen, don’t think that you can sway me with just one kiss. Do you understand?!”

Kaligo’s eyes shook slightly as if he had received a shock. “Kissed… one time? How can that be only one time?”

“Do you count it by how often our lips touched? We just grabbed each other and did it once!”

The quarrel between the two of them had reached its climax. Of course, even then, Redin, who had to listen to all of their words, wasn’t even worried.

(T/N: I worry for Redin who was third-wheeling [bunny praying for Redin])

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