Adopt 194

194
The fact that he had tracked me down in the middle of being chased by clerics and magicians spoke volumes.

The Red Tower Master possessed not only extraordinary magical skills, but superb situational awareness as well.

He had instantly realized I was the one facilitating communication among the clerics and magicians.

Cold sweat slid down my back, but I met the Red Tower Master’s gaze, praying my fear didn’t show.

I opened my mouth, trying to sound as unruffled as possible.

“Well, if you truly found it troublesome, you’d have hidden that staff—your republic’s national treasure—first.”

At my words, the Red Tower Master burst into laughter, his innocent child’s voice resonating strangely loud even through the crashing rain.

“My, my. I’d heard the marquis was but a fledgling, but you’ve got quite the nerve for your age. I can’t recall the last time a youngster met my eyes so steadily.”

He nodded approvingly, as if genuinely pleased.

Since he hadn’t assaulted me straight away with attack magic, it seemed things weren’t quite as dire as they could have been.

Just moments ago, through the messenger beast, I’d been exchanging the real-time positions of the black magicians with Cheshire.

For now, I had to stall for time.

At least until Cheshire, noticing the missing messenger, came to check on me.

I tamped down my instinct to flee and watched as the Red Tower Master climbed onto the window ledge.

Though he must’ve crossed the storm, not a drop of rain marred the robe that cloaked his small frame.

I didn’t take my eyes off that gold-flecked stare, combing my mind for a possible escape route.

On my right, beneath a floor-level wooden hatch, a hundred stairs spiraled downward like a coiled snake.

To elude a magician, make it down every last step, and reach the ground unscathed—that would take not only ten million gold in luck, but a miracle beyond even Suga’s means.

So instead of waiting for a lapse in his vigilance, I actively tried to buy more time with conversation.

“How did you find me here?”

“I tracked the magic of the little rat who disrupted the meeting. Such frantic fluttering—nearly drove me mad.”

He said it lightly, but it was no simple feat.

Cheshire had used barely a speck of magic in her messenger beast to avoid detection. To sniff out such faint traces, one would need magical perception little short of miraculous, able to scan an entire port city and sense the faintest flicker on the wind.

‘So, he didn’t become Red Tower Master for nothing.’

Then, with a smile, the Red Tower Master lowered his voice.

“If I had my way, I’d sit and converse at length with you, marquis. I’m quite interested in that peculiar beast-taming.”

His gaze flicked to the Cerberuses behind me, baring fangs and growling.

‘My power? Has my beast-taming piqued the Red Tower Master’s interest?’

Perhaps that’s why he hadn’t snuffed out my life already.

Though I disliked it, if talking about my ability could buy a bit more time, I was willing to lay all my cards on the table.

I prepared myself to summon Kkao’s avatars at the slightest provocation and spoke up.

“If you’re interested in my ability—”

“Marquis, you wouldn’t happen to know our so-called Ascetic, would you?”

But he interrupted me, his question veering in an unexpected direction.

The Ascetic. Leader of the “Veilwalkers”—the black magicians’ clandestine sect.

I fought to keep any surprise from my face, staring up at him in silence.

The Red Tower Master scrutinized me, as if intent on extracting a hint from my expression.

“To command a beast able to expose black magicians—just think of the risk a person like you poses to us. And yet you’ve remained safe in this city. Why do you suppose that is?”

“……”

I couldn’t answer.

At first, I’d thought they simply didn’t know Suga could expose them.

After Giuseppe was attacked, I assumed my proximity to Cheshire discouraged further attempts.

“The Ascetic gave orders no one was to harm you. What do you make of it, marquis? Do you know anything of him?”

“……?”

The Ascetic?

‘Why would he…?’

Involuntarily, my confusion registered on my face.

At that moment, the Red Tower Master’s eyes narrowed.

“So, you know nothing of the Ascetic.”

Suddenly, the previously gentle air grew tense.

Only then did I realize that this entire exchange—the Red Tower Master playing along—had been to see if I knew anything about their leader.

Ruff!

I gestured, calming the snarling Cerberuses behind me as I scanned for any crack to slip through.

“…You said the Ascetic forbade you from touching me.”

Desperate though it was, I clung to the hope of the Ascetic’s mercy.

“That’s true, but… everyone makes mistakes, don’t they? Suppose, for instance, I ‘accidentally’ bring down this tower—unaware you were inside?”

Grinning, the Red Tower Master looked up at the lofty ceiling; gold glimmered in his eyes.

“Yo—”

Boom!

A thunderclap roared overhead, as if a bolt had struck the roof of the spire.

“You senile, deranged old man!”

I screamed, unleashing every last avatar of Kkao I had prepared.

I poured all my magic into them, and the sky filled with an erupting flock of crows, as overwhelming as a volcano’s eruption. It must have blinded the Red Tower Master, too.

Amid the torrent of crows, magic flashed from the Red Tower Master like thunder.

Crash!

His spell savaged the wooden hatch—my sole escape route.

“You damned insects!”

While his furious cries rang behind me, I clambered onto the opposite window ledge with Cerberus.

Could I make it?

No, at this point, survival was what mattered. No sense questioning if it was possible.

“Cerberus.”

At my murmur, flames fanned from Cerberus, licking my clothing.

I didn’t care, only flung my arms tight around Cerberus’s neck as his body swelled to full size.

Crack.

With a sound of doom from the spire’s roof, Cerberus leapt from the tower, me clinging to his back.

“Marquis!”

The Red Tower Master’s voice echoed behind me as the roof caved in.

---

Whoosh!

Cerberus raced across clustered rooftops, trampling their tiles without care.

Unlike riding a saddled horse, I clung desperately to Cerberus’s sodden fur, little better than a cicada on an old tree.

Every time Cerberus launched from one roof to another, I’d lift weightlessly, only to crash back onto his body with a thump.

The more the rain soaked his fur, the more my grip slipped, and my already-waning strength started to fail—but I couldn’t call for Cerberus to stop.

The Red Tower Master would surely pursue me doggedly.

Mid-dash, leaping rooftop to rooftop—

Yelp!

Suddenly, Cerberus let out a cry and stumbled, tumbling off the roof.

“Cerberus!”

Thud!

I was swept down with him, powerless to resist.

Thanks to Cerberus’s protection, I wasn’t badly hurt in the fall.

Scrambling out from under his limp form, I surveyed the situation.

Rainwater pooled with Cerberus’s blood.

Both his legs were mangled horribly.

“You are a troublesome one, marquis.”

That youthful voice came from overhead. Slowly, I lifted my gaze.

The Red Tower Master, drenched and looking weary, stared down at me.

I wanted to curse him out, but whether from shock or exhaustion, only ragged breaths escaped my lips.

“Let’s end this game of tag.”

As he muttered, a brilliant magic circle spun above his head.

Flames burst forth, aiming straight at me.

“Belinda!”

Someone yanked me back by my collar and stepped protectively in front of me.