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Chapter 45 – That’s The Original Deal

Redanes clenched her fists in anger at her relaxed expression. Even so, she didn’t tell Ashia to get lost immediately.

Even now, the barrier was continuously melting and half of it already disappeared. In other words, they had no time to find another way. There was no other choice from the moment they brought her inside the Magic Tower. It was Redanes, more than anyone else, who hurriedly asked for Ashia to be brought in after she heard she had come to the Magic Tower.

Ashia seemed to be more relaxed than ever in the current situation where she could clearly see what they were thinking.

She tapped her finger over her lips and spoke skillfully, “Let’s see, let’s see…. It will take a long time if we hold a meeting with the Elders now, and… discussing it before coming to a conclusion… phew, is the barrier going to be safe until then? No, rather than the barrier…” Ashia tilted her head and blinked. She met Redanes’ eyes. “Will the Elemental Cube hold on?”

“…”

‘I wonder if they are splitting the gold now,’ Ashia added and Redanes ground her molars.

Had there ever been a time in the history of the Magic Tower that was as urgent and precarious as it was today? It was frustrating and disgraceful. It was also vexing that they had to borrow the power of the wizard whom they had driven out with their own hands.

Suppressing her anger alone, Redanes fixed her gaze on Ashia and beckoned a wizard. “…Contact the Elders scattered across the country using the telecommunication channels. Gather all those who were summoned at the gate as soon as possible.”

“Ah! Y-yes, Madam Redanes!”

The wizard who was given the order rushed out. Redanes’ gaze was still on Ashia, while the latter was smiling warmly at her.

“Satisfied? Either way, a meeting with the Elders will soon be held and will reach a conclusion. But first, starting with the barrier…”

“Pardon? What are you talking about?”

“…What?”

“You shouldn’t ask me to put out the fire first when none of the conditions I set have met yet.”

“Ashia Bliss!”

The anger that had barely subsided rose up again, but Ashia didn’t care. She just put her arms on the sofa and put her chin on it. She gazed out of the window, muttering, “That’s the original deal.”

Those in desperate need are inevitably at a disadvantage.

“I hope the meeting results come out soon.”

’Give up. I already took initiative.’

Redanes glared at the smiling Ashia. The other wizards who filled the parlor swallowed dry saliva at that ferocious energy.

The sky was dyed red through the glass window that occupied one wall. At that moment, Lisa, who had fallen asleep like a dead log, began to tremble. She lifted her eyelids sticky with sweat and tears. She suddenly realized that she had lost consciousness as she looked around with a hazy vision.

‘What happened…’

Lisa kicked off the blanket and got up from the bed.

“Oh, you’re awake?”

Fiddling with the potion she bought from Ashia’s shop, Aileen got up from her chair at the sight of her waking up. She approached Lisa with a blank look on her face, felt her forehead, then sighed with relief. “Your fever fortunately has gone down. I’m glad the medicine worked.”

Aileen’s demeanor felt unfamiliar—no, the body temperature of the person who touched her was unfamiliar. Avoiding her touch, Lisa slowly turned her head. “How… long have I slept?”

Aileen looked out the window and fell into thought for a moment at Lisa’s question. A long time had passed even after she bought the potion early in the morning and fed it to Lisa. “Uhm… you’ve been sleeping ever since you woke up for a bit last night. Now that I see it, the sun is already setting.”

“…” Lisa’s eyes fluttered violently.

‘That long?’

Lisa looked down at her hands and repeatedly closed and opened her fists. She quickly assessed the amount of magic remaining inside her body. However, something was strange.

‘What is this? My magic….’

‘What is this? My magic… This can’t be, this can’t be happening.’

She bit her lip.

It didn’t seem like her body. She could still feel the tingling sensation in her muscles and skin; her energy was restored to some extent, and she had regained consciousness, but her magic was somehow not restored at all.

‘I’ve only used that much magic so far…’

Clenching her fist, Lisa’s hand trembled with exhaustion.

The Magic Tower’s master’s magic was bound to the Elemental Cube. The Magic Tower Master’s magic had to continuously be supplied to the Elemental Cube in order to maintain it. Their magic was the supply, as if their magic was being exploited the moment they became the Magic Tower’s master. That was also one of the conditions to become the Magic Tower’s master.

The problem was that Lisa’s magic recovery speed wasn’t that fast.

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