58 - The Freed S*aves Became Obsessed

Chapter 58: Obsession of the Liberated Slaves At the edge of the continent. At that place where the end of the world unfolds, there stands a lone tower reaching toward the heavens. A tower that is both awe-inspiring and peculiarly gigantic. No matter how much you tilt your head back to see the sky, its peak is not visible, disappearing into the foggy clouds as if it touches the realm of the gods. The lighthouse of the world. The pinnacle of knowledge. The Tower of Truth. In addition to these grand titles, many others are attached to that place, which people refer to as the ‘Magic Tower.’ The sorcerers' tower, the Magic Tower. This place is not merely a site of academic pursuit but a sanctuary for those seeking to uncover the secrets of the world and transcend the boundaries of reality. For those who hone the craft of magic, it is a dream sanctuary where dreams and ideals come to fruition. This is the image publicly associated with the Magic Tower. However, reality paints a slightly different picture. Those with any knowledge of the tower unanimously assert that it is not a beacon of enlightenment. It is a madhouse of fanatics attempting to dismantle the boundary between gods and humans and a limitless vault of insatiable desires. A borderline where madness and genius intersect, a grave for sorcerers who seek truth. Before the grand pursuit of truth, human-defined morality does not serve as any barrier to them. The sorcerers of the Magic Tower are those who would not hesitate to carry out human experimentation to achieve their ideals. It is a place built upon the endless greed of those seeking power beyond the principles of the world — the Magic Tower. Edmund was one among them. Edmund Alexius Wilmore. An elder of the Magic Tower. A man once from a now-extinct marquis household. He was the traitor of his family, having obliterated them upon being caught researching forbidden magic. But guilt did not burden Edmund. To him, even his family was nothing more than kindling for a grand cause. Of course, he fled and survived through it all. It was to the Magic Tower that the fugitive, with a bounty on his head and nowhere left to go, finally arrived. The Magic Tower is a place that takes in even a serial killer who has slaughtered dozens or a traitor who has sold out his nation, as long as they are a competent sorcerer. Edmund, a court mage immediately upon coming of age, found himself provided with a personal laboratory and ample support when he joined the tower, which facilitated his ambitious progress. Thanks to this, he rose to the rank of a grand sorcerer and even managed to take revenge on those who had mocked him as a heretic. It took him 40 years to get there. His remaining life seemed destined not for vengeance but to be a leisurely pursuit of magic as a sorcerer. But recently, a new concern had arisen. What Edmund was researching was transformation magic. Among them, the forbidden of the forbidden, magic to turn humans into dolls. The dollification of living humans. Not only their bodies, but their minds and personalities could be customized to one's liking. The stronger the base, the better their performance would be once dollified. In other words, he wanted to capture a young, yet strong child with potential, molding them to his will. ‘And they should be pretty.’ He wouldn't settle for unattractive ones. A doll should be beautiful. ‘But where would one easily capture such a child?’ All promising talents are the offspring of nobles. Seeking them in the slums is more challenging than plucking stars from the sky. Ah, if only a prospective great sorcerer would flaunt themselves openly. While entertaining such ludicrous hopes in his mind, Edmund walked the streets laughing like a madman. “Hmm?” What caught Edmund's eye as he walked was a young maid sitting alone on a bench at dawn. Her hair was navy blue, and her face was round and cute. A maid’s uniform suited her petite stature well. The short skirt only reached to her thighs, revealing her tender bare legs. ‘A slave.’ She was not a hired hand paid for with money but a slave, marked by the black shackle around her neck. However, what really captured Edmund's attention was the staff she held so dearly. ‘Is that?!’ A silver handle emitting a brilliant light. The blue crystal on top glowing. Edmund immediately recognized what it was. Because it resembled the Heavenly Oath used by the great sage Arseria from the [Collection of Legendary Weapons of Ancient Heroes]. But as legends are often exaggerated, no one truly believes in them. They are tales of the mythic past, after all. Could it be a replica then? But even considering that, there’s something extraordinary about it. As a sorcerer, when curiosity piqued, it had to be pursued to the end, and so, Edmund approached the maid. The girl’s eyes held a luminous hue. In a flash, Edmund saw the navy magic light shimmering in her pupils. This girl is a child blessed by mystery. “Child.” “…?” “I must have startled you, speaking to you out of nowhere like this. My apologies. Once you reach my age, you can't resist your curiosities any longer.” Edmund imitated a gentle voice to speak to her. “Where did that staff come from? It looks very similar to one I know.” “It was given to me by a very important person.” “I see. Well, I have a great interest, so would you mind if I took a closer look at it?” “No, thank you. Why should I?” “Huh?” Surprised by the girl's forthright refusal, Edmund blinked like a bewildered man. The girl’s defiant face softened into gentleness, resembling any girl of her age. Her under-eye circles suggested insomnia, making her cute face appear fierce. “If you have no more to say, I will be leaving now.” “W-wait just a moment!” Edmund urgently called out, hoping she might be the very child he had been searching for. “You’re… a slave, aren’t you?” “Do I look like one to you?” “What? Oh, no, I didn’t mean it like that…” “What a relief…” “Huh?” The fierce expression vanished instantly, replaced by a shy smile typical of her age. "Do kids your age find being a slave popular these days?" Though uncertain, it seemed beneficial to ride the current mood. Edmund decided to keep the conversation flowing. "Why are you out here so early in the morning?" "I'm looking for my master. They are very far away." "Hmm, your master is far away, yet you haven't run away; you must have a good master." "Yes. My master is a good person." Edmund began to understand. This child took pride in being a slave. Her master seemed to cherish her greatly. The 'precious person' who gave her the Heavenly Oath was undoubtedly her master. To gift such a weapon to a slave... "Child, is your master perhaps a noble?" "Someone even greater than a noble." The tangled threads in Edmund's mind unraveled all at once. Greater than a noble. At least a royal. This means the girl had caught the eye of a royal from some kingdom and became a slave. A wandering sorcerer who enhances their skills and extends their influence while traveling the world. Maybe she was on the way back after completing a mission. 'I can't let her go.' She could be a masterpiece of a lifetime. Missing this chance would mean lifelong regret. "Since it's late, why not come with me to my home instead of staying here? My laboratory is in that tall tower." "Isn't that the Magic Tower?" "Grandfather is quite a capable sorcerer. Say, are you interested in magic at all? If you are, I could teach you some magic." "Magic...?" This time, the girl didn't immediately refuse. She seemed to contemplate it, her previously dull eyes now sparkling with interest. Indeed, this child was a kindred spirit. Regardless of important tasks, she couldn't hide her desire in the face of new knowledge—a magic fanatic. The answer was obvious. "Then, just for a little while..." *** "This is my laboratory." Much like enticing with a 'grandfather will buy you delicious candy' promise, Edmund led the girl to his private lab. He would have forced her if she hadn't come willingly, but she did, to his relief. Edmund's lab was on the 49th floor, just below the top of the tower. To access it, one had to either use the magic-enhanced elevator or fly through the massive central aperture. Among the many branches of magic, flight magic is considered extremely difficult—a spell that allows one to soar through the sky like a bird. However, even among grand sorcerers, few can freely navigate the skies. Most can only hover briefly by enveloping themselves with telekinesis. For most, it's levitation magic rather than true flight. Only those who have reached the pinnacle can perform it, and as an elder of the Magic Tower, Edmund naturally knew how. Yet, today he chose the lift, considering the girl. Though naturally gifted for magic, she was an unbloomed flower. ‘I shall help this flower bloom.’ The laboratory was fully equipped for his dollification research. Engaging the mechanism would absorb the target's mana. It extracts their mana and invades their weakened psyche to remove their personality. Then, the empty shell could be customized at will. Getting them here was the hard part; once inside the lab, it was already over. "Are there many books like these in the tower?" "There are. Generations of sorcerers' research data and knowledge accumulated over centuries are piled up here. It's like heaven for sorcerers." "Hmm." The girl, intrigued, stared deeply at the magic tomes. She might not understand them now, but it didn't matter. Once she was turned into a doll, he could easily fill her with knowledge. Now, while she was distracted, he set the target. Edmund activated the device. Magic circles glowed above and below the girl. Zap! A white lightning barrier encircled her. The device immediately started absorbing the girl's mana. Her navy magic was being extracted in an explosive surge. Realizing something was wrong, she turned to look at Edmund, but it was too late. Even the great Arseria, the owner of the Heavenly Oath, couldn't break this device's hold. "I'm truly sorry for deceiving you. It's all for your own future. Grandfather will transform you into not just a mere slave, but the world's mightiest combat weapon." “……” Mana continued to pour out. Continuously. Endlessly... Why… isn't the mana stopping? By now, even a grand sorcerer should be an empty shell. It was around this realization that Edmund started doubting something had gone wrong. He was startled by the flow of mana. The girl was glaring fiercely at him. "I am my master's slave. Forever my master's slave, even in death." "What?" "I won't let anyone who tries to interfere with our bond go unchallenged." Thunk. The girl tapped the Heavenly Oath on the floor. With just that action, the barrier shattered. The magic device Edmund had invested his lifetime to design broke futilely. Edmund tried to extend his hand to cast a spell, but his mana wouldn't respond. It was being suppressed by something. Rumble… The space vibrated. The tower quaked. It was all from the mana emitted by the girl. It was an unimaginable amount of mana, surpassing common sense. "What kind of ridiculous mana…!" Pushed back by the waves, Edmund fell with a thud, his bottom hitting the ground. His entire body trembled as he beheld the girl, a mixture of emotions washing over him. Fear. Terror. And also reverence. Faced with the girl's power, Edmund's face was filled with a paradoxical joy. The thought that she might be the one the tower had long awaited. This child was not someone to turn into just a mere doll. She was the destined figure who would fulfill the sorcerers' long-cherished desires. Unthinkingly, he got up and knelt before the considerably younger girl. And said, "Child, have you ever considered becoming the Master of the Magic Tower?" 7 Comments 4.8 / 39 Frada 2024.09.18 01:58 Report Seems like the sequence got mixed up. 1 wdijif 2024.09.18 02:14 Report Maybe it's explained later? 0 SKKQ12 2024.09.18 04:08 Report It’s clearly stated this is Chapter 58. 0 narbami 2024.09.18 09:33 Report I knew something felt off, the order was messed up. 0 zeelgam 2024.10.17 21:59 Report Something doesn't feel right here. 0 Name 2024.11.03 00:48 Report What’s supposed to be off? This is Chapter 58. 0 Desk10 2024.11.06 23:29 Report The order seems a bit off? 0 Only logged-in members can post comments. 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