Book Eater

Wuuuong...!

The space gate connected to the Baekun Mountains shone, and people started to emerge. Theo, Veronica, Aquilo, and the others traveled over thousands of kilometers back to Meltor. Once the last person emerged, Theo cut off the supply of magic power that was being consumed with every second.

「 Close. 」

It was scary to see the space gate close immediately.

“Eh? It takes a bit of time when I do it.” Veronica was surprised when she saw the space gate close instantly.

Theo answered with a smile, “It is due to the priority of the command authority. If users other than me use it, the power is reduced by a few percent. To be exact, I am the user with the key.”

When designing the structure of the central tower, including the space gates, Theo had created keys and designated several people as sub-masters. He had designated the prohibited book, Lemegeton, as the controller for all facilities in the central magic tower. Despite having lost close to 80% of his function, he was the prohibited book that was made personally by King Solomon. There was no way to break through the security system.

[Ahem! I am a precious assistant!]

Theo smiled at the silver ring on his finger and spoke to the people nearby, “Now! Let’s go. We have traveled a long way. Rest, or move if you have any work to do.”

The people gathered around him started to disperse. Randolph and Titania were tired from the battle and moved toward a room to rest. Theo hadn’t healed Aquilo completely, so she moved to the infirmary on his recommendation. Only three people were left behind in the research laboratory.

“White Tower Master, please give your report to His Majesty first. I will visit you in the afternoon.”

Orta bowed. “Yes, Chief Tower Master. I will do so.”

“Sorry to bother you, but I have a lot of work to do. I will leave it up to you.”

“It is nothing.” Orta was already accustomed to being overworked and left at the same pace as usual.

Theo watched him leave with a bittersweet expression and opened his mouth, “Goetia, please call the Blue Tower and contact Sylvia.

[Yes, Master. What business do you have?]

“Just a private matter. Is it so uncommon?”

[Yes… I have called her. She said she is coming.]

“Well done.”

Veronica watched him from the side and asked, “Theo, why Sylvia? I am also here... Do you have something for us?”

“Yes. Please wait a bit.” He could only talk about it once Sylvia came.

Veronica understood and made herself comfortable. A few minutes passed by.

[Identifying visitor. Blue Tower Master Sylvia Adruncus. Opening door E-5.]

The locks whirred, and the entrance to the research laboratory opened.

“Theo!” A woman with beautiful shining silver hair and feminine curves entered. It was Sylvia Adruncus, the master of the Blue Tower and one of the pillars of Meltor.

She was about to plunge into Theo’s arms but hesitated when she saw Veronica. However, Veronica just laughed and pulled Sylvia toward her.

“Aye, don’t be like that. What are you doing? Come here!”

“W-Wait a minute...!”

Veronica’s strength couldn’t be withstood without magic.

Ah!

The three people’s noses struck each other as they were dragged together. They could feel each other’s warm breaths. Sylvia’s face was red because she didn’t have much immunity to skinship. Furthermore, the place where she and Theo shared love had been a dark room. Yet, now they were in a bright room with their noses brushing against each other.

Veronica luxuriated in their closeness. “Are you a bit more relaxed?”

“H-Huh? Ah, yes...”

In a way, it was counterproductive. Sylvia returned to being a teenage girl and shook her head. Veronica saw her face but didn’t release her. Theo realized this was the right atmosphere to talk and looked between the two of them.

“―Veronica, Sylvia. I have something to say.”

He had decided on what to do after hearing the reality of Wrath from Gluttony. It was so he could leave with no regrets. However, it was also something necessary to solidify his will.

“I’m sorry. Thank you. I love you.”

Theo hadn’t spoken these words because he hadn’t been ready. But it was really adorable to see both women’s eyes widen in sudden confusion. He was relieved to also see their eyes fill with delight a few moments later. He felt a twinge of guilt for waiting until now.

After a few deep breaths, he said, “Veronica, Sylvia Adruncus.”

Theo grasped the hands of the two women and barely spoke in a trembling voice, “Will you marry me?”

***

The others were in the dark, but there was another reason why Theo didn’t accept the offer to become a royal duke. The kingdom of Meltor was now in its second golden period. It might suffer financial difficulties building the Miller Grand Duchy, but it would be able to grow into a superpower in a generation or two. In fact, it might become better than Andras and the Central Empire of the East Continent.

In three hundred years, no nation would be able to stand against it... I can’t leave it alone if it blocks the development of humanity.

A number of wars had killed many masters. In a world where mana had started to diminish, it would be much more difficult for masters to emerge. When both swordmasters and great magicians disappeared, what would dominate war? It was a magician who could destroy dozens or hundreds of enemy troops in a single attack. In such a situation, the Meltor Kingdom, who had invested decades of resources into large scale siege spells and developed magic further than any other nation, would have absolute power.

It was the birth of a nation that would place the whole world under its feet.

Well, it is still okay.

There was no concept of good and evil in human history. It didn’t matter if a hegemonic nation was born. The thing Theo was worried about the most was a setback in civilization. If Meltor became a hegemonic nation as he predicted, all nations would be swept into a single magic civilization, and magic civilizations would inevitably decline after a few centuries.

As long as I stay as the chief tower master, I can thoroughly prepare for this.

It would be better if he could study magic engineering, which linked magic and science, or spread out into disciplines that could develop without magic. He was setting up a blueprint that would take almost a thousand years, but it wasn’t impossible for an immortal transcendent. It was hard to separate what he could do and couldn’t do from one another.

Theo drew the future in his mind and let out a deep sigh.

“Chief Tower Master, we’ve arrived.” A few steps ahead of him, a palace servant awakened Theo from his thoughts.

They had reached the audience room where Kurt III was waiting.

“From here on, I will go alone.” Theo opened the door without any hesitation. The king’s room wasn’t bright or dark. It was adjusted to the proper lighting with magic, and the light from the chandelier created faint shadows.

Theo walked down the red carpet past the sculptures and arrived before the throne. “The Chief Tower Master, Theodore Miller, reporting. The eastern expedition has finished, and I have returned to Manavil.”

Kurt III nodded at the formal words. “Yes! I have heard of Chief Tower Master’s efforts from the White Tower Master earlier. I am relieved that you have come back without any problems.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“Haha, I should be thankful. I didn’t do anything for Chief Tower Master.”

It made sense. The group led by Orta had a great deal of success against the variants, but Theo had been the one to neuter the disaster. Without him, the second wave would have never survived. The value of the mines and land obtained in the East Continent was so large that the people of Meltor wouldn’t have to pay taxes for the next fifty years.

“Do you really think so, Your Majesty?”

However, Theo had a strange look, and Kurt III played along.

“Of course. I am even willing to bring out national treasures. However, I don’t think there is anything to help you now that you are a transcendent.”

Theo inclined his head. “It seems so. Therefore, I would like to ask for help regarding something else. Can you please do me a favor?”

“Hoh, the Chief Tower Master wants something? It is rare.”

Theo had refused even the position of royal duke, yet he now wanted a favor. Kurt III waited to find out what it was with an excited expression.

... However, it was completely different from his expectations.

“What?” Kurt’s mouth fell open in amazement.

Theo repeated. “I am going to marry the Red Tower Master and Blue Tower Master. I will do it in secret and want to ask for your cooperation.”

Kurt III sat back in his seat. “... I know about Veronica, but since when have you been in a relationship with the Blue Tower Master? Did something happen in the East Continent?”

Theo hedged. “Well, let’s say that.”

“Young people these days, your progress is very fast... I didn’t realize it, but I have become quite old.” Kurt III stared into the air for a moment, but he soon recovered.

Theo had asked to keep it confidential. Now that there was a nonaggression treaty with Andras and the enemies had disappeared, why did he want to keep it a secret from the outside? The world’s greatest magician stood firmly as the king questioned him.

“We’re keeping it a secret from everyone except Your Majesty, the Tower Masters, and a few guests.”

If he wanted to be luxurious, he could raise the scale as much as he liked. However, neither Theo nor his two lovers wanted that. The guests were just his family, Vince, Randolph, and a few others. Sylvia and Veronica would also want to invite a few people too. The total guest list wouldn’t exceed thirty.

Kurt III thought about it and asked, “... Don’t you need a holiday? How long would you like?”

Theo answered with a smile. “It doesn’t need to be long.”

“I’ll give you three months. If the three tower masters are absent for more than that, the national projects will be in trouble.”

Theo was grateful. “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Kurt mused, “By the way, the marriage of a 9th Circle great magician and two Tower Masters... Looking at the brides and groom, it will be a bold stroke in the continent’s history.”

The half-resigned Kurt and Theo faced each other and laughed. Kurt was the first to stop laughing. “But you are marrying two women at the same time. Didn’t Veronica say anything?”

“She didn’t...?” Theo smiled bitterly as he pulled his robe to the side. His abdomen clearly showed a fist mark where Veronica had punched him. There had been no killing intent in it, but the blow had contained her criticism. After the proposal and acceptance, the groom had been hit.

Kurt winced. “Veronica’s jealous punch, it is eerie just imagining it.”

Theo shook his head. “No, it wasn’t jealousy.” 𝚋𝚎𝚍ｎ𝚘ｖ𝚎𝚕.𝚗𝚎𝚝

It was blaming him for his insensitivity in suggesting a three person marriage without discussing it beforehand. Unlike Veronica who had been willing to accept Sylvia, Sylvia hadn’t been prepared for the situation. It was also part of his reflection that he couldn’t use healing magic.

“Then I am asking this favor of you, Your Majesty.”

“Well, leave it to me. I will do my best.”

After finishing the story, Theo was about to leave when he remembered something and came back. He looked up at the throne and said, “Your Majesty.”

“What is it?”

“Can I take some jewelry from the royal treasury? I wish to find a gift for both of them.”

“... I will allow it.” The king barely refrained from revealing his smile.

He had gotten a bit nervous after Theo had become a transcendent. If an emotionless monster had been born, the mortals would have to obey him. However, Kurt III was no longer worried. A person who would ask for gifts for his lovers... Such a man had a firm grasp of his humanity.