Father, I Won’t Do Anything

“Persuading the Emperor to maintain neutrality was the extent of what I could achieve. Despite Rosian’s and my efforts, dispatching troops proved impossible.”

As Elia hung her head in apology, Jaina shook her own and grasped Elia’s despondent hand reassuringly.

“Your presence here, in such perilous circumstances, is gratitude enough.”

“As for Rosian…”

“No need to explain. As the Crown Prince destined to inherit the imperial throne, he couldn’t come. I understand.”

“…Thank you for your understanding. Neither Rosian nor I were in a position to join you.”

In truth, upon the temples’ declaration of war against the Magic Tower, Rosian had immediately attempted to journey there.

It was none other than Elia who had dissuaded him.

She had reasoned that while her own life had run its course, his youth precluded such recklessness.

Now was the time for him to accept that his life no longer belonged solely to himself.

Naturally, Rosian had resisted, but Elia had forcibly confined him before departing for the Magic Tower herself.

Aware of Rosian’s feelings towards Jaina, this weighed heavily upon Elia’s heart. However, upon witnessing Jaina’s understanding, her concerns dissipated.

‘Truly, she possesses a profound maturity.’

With a faint smile, Elia resolved to invite Jaina to the imperial palace once more after this war’s conclusion, formally acknowledging Rosian’s adulthood by facilitating their union.

Though Diamid regarded Elia’s intentions with evident disapproval, none seemed to notice.

“Professor Izren, you’re here as well.”

“The headmaster abandoned the academy to join us, I see.”

Meanwhile, Seiden, surveying their surroundings, spotted Izren polishing his blade in the distance and waved in greeting. Approaching with an amiable grin, Izren exchanged friendly banter with his former colleague.

Their camaraderie at the academy seemed to have blossomed into a warm rapport.

“Indeed, it seems the time has come for me to relinquish my mortarboard.”

“As for myself, I’ve grown weary of professorship and yearned to reprise my role as Jaina’s escort.”

After regarding Jaina with an affectionate gaze, Izren turned towards the window, where the sun was setting.

Near the horizon, dragons and demonic beast hordes could be seen advancing in droves.

“So it begins.”

“They seem determined, even deploying mere hatchlings.”

As the dragon forces and beasts drew nearer, the Magic Tower’s magicians sprung into action.

“Confirm the defensive barrier.”

“Have all the traps been set?”

“What about the weapons?”

Those who typically paid no heed to such matters now united wholeheartedly to fortify the Magic Tower’s defenses in the face of war.

At their vanguard stood Mikael, his expression uncharacteristically grave compared to his usual playful demeanor.

“Hey, you slacking off?! You want to die?”

“If your mana falters, at least roll out of the way!”

Though his brusque, uncouth manner persisted as ever.

After some time had elapsed, Mikael’s voice, amplified by a sonic spell, reverberated throughout the Magic Tower.

“Fire!”

Bang!

Baaaang!

Mana cannons erupted from the anti-demonic beast armaments, raining projectiles upon their assailants.

“Kaaaak!”

“Kiiit!”

As the charging demonic beasts succumbed to the barrage, the magicians operating the armaments spurred one another on.

“My research has indeed borne fruit!”

“Since the Tower Lord will handle the dragons, we need only eliminate those vile ground-dwelling beasts! So remain steadfast!”

Though the ‘Anti-Magic Defense Mode’ hadn’t been fully activated in decades, the Magic Tower’s magicians, through rigorous training, displayed neither fear nor consternation.

Instead, they deftly eradicated the demonic beasts with practiced efficiency – elite among human magicians.

“Defend our research funds!”

“An opportunity to properly study the dragons!”

While their motivations differed from mere allegiance to Diamid or the Magic Tower, any impetus bolstering their combat resolve proved immaterial.

This was, after all, the Magic Tower – a haven for eccentrics.

“Kuuuurrrr!”

“Kkatkkak!”

Witnessing their comrades fall, the demonic beasts relentlessly assailed the Magic Tower’s walls.

Baaang!

Bang!

Yet despite the thunderous impacts, the fortifications held firm, reinforced through Diamid’s and the magicians’ meticulous preparations.

“Excellent, maintain this momentum.”

“Let’s become dragon slayers ourselves!”

However, their premature jubilation proved short-lived.

“Huh?”

Whooooooshhh!

A single, devastating strike.

-Foolish humans.

A blazing fireball, unleashed by a crimson dragon, slammed into the Magic Tower’s walls with catastrophic force.

As the searing heat stunned the magicians, the Blazing Flower clan clan simultaneously prepared their assault.

Whooooooshhh!

Witnessing the billowing flames emanating from the dragons’ maws, the Magic Tower’s magicians froze in trepidation.

‘If a single strike could breach our defenses, what chance do we have against their combined onslaught?’

Yet Diamid wouldn’t idly observe.

In the distance, clouds unnaturally converged at an accelerated pace, as if time itself had hastened.

The sky transitioned from azure to ashen gray – an unnatural, ever-darkening hue impossible through natural processes.

“The Tower Lord!”

Their master, Diamid, had begun casting a spell.

Baaaaaaaaang!

An immense barrier manifested from Diamid’s gestures, its thunderous resonance deflecting the dragon fireballs.

However, the defensive barrier swiftly showed signs of fracturing under the relentless bombardment.

“No!”

“At this rate, the barrier will shatter!”

As the magicians trembled in dread, Diamid invoked another incantation.

At the precise moment the barrier seemed on the verge of collapse–

Bababang!

Babababababang!

Deafening peals of thunder rumbled as countless lightning bolts rained from the storm-laden skies.

“Baaaaaahk!”

Shaaaaaaahhhh!

Accompanied by torrential downpours, the scorching dragon flames met their match against Diamid’s conjured tempest.

The Blazing Flower clan dragons screeched in agony, battered by the raging magical maelstrom. Yet their ordeal was far from over.

“Haaaaap!”

While Diamid bought time with his defensive barrier and flashy offensive, Mikael had been preparing his own spell.

Wheeeeeeeeeeing!

Beneath the darkened heavens, a ferocious gale erupted, threatening to extinguish and devour the dragon infernos entirely.

“Aaaaaahk!”

“Kaaahk!”

An impeccably coordinated joint assault, as if anticipating the Blazing Flower clan’s strategy.

‘Incredible, to witness Father’s and Brother Mikael’s power!’

However, the tide rapidly shifted once more in the Magic Tower’s disfavor.

Amidst the demonic beast ranks, figures clad in white robes strode forth, assuming the vanguard position.

The temple priests who had declared war upon the Magic Tower.

“Can we attack them? They’re neither demonic beasts nor dragons…”

“I, I can’t attack… They likely have families too…”

No matter how singularly devoted to the study of magic, the Magic Tower’s magicians hadn’t become so emotionally hardened as to assault fellow humans without compunction.

Moreover, they lacked any experience in combat against human adversaries.

Understandably, they hesitated to engage.

“Kuuurrrrr!”

And their enemies exploited this opening without mercy.

Gargantuan demonic beasts began scaling the Magic Tower’s walls, while temple forces equipped with grappling hooks and ladders steadily ascended as well.

“Prevent the enemy from breaching the tower!”

Boooooong!

Channeling divine power, the paladins’ maces rained down upon the magicians with ruthless abandon.

“They are heretics! Show no mercy!”

Unlike the reluctant magicians, the paladins who had taken holy orders harbored no such reservations about attacking.

“Aaahk!”

“Kraaahk!”

Moreover, paladins proved the bane of magicians.

Their divine blessings effortlessly disrupted magical workings, while their close-quarters combat allowed no reprieve for incantations.

The magicians fell with horrifying ease, as if mere blades of grass beneath a scythe. With a breach secured, demonic beasts and paladins flooded through the opening in droves.

“An overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation – how entertaining. Reminds me of the Demon King’s subjugation.”

However, their advance was promptly halted.

A woman wielding an elongated rapier barred their path, Izren standing resolute by her side.

Though only two opponents confronted the horde of paladins and beasts, they faltered, daring not engage.

“I shall permit none to proceed further.”

“Sh-She is Her Highness Elia, the Empire’s Shield!”

Inflicting harm upon the imperial princess could provoke the Empire’s military intervention – moreover, her formidable prowess as the ‘Empire’s Shield’ was widely renowned.

Elia’s mastery of the imperial sword techniques specialized in defensive maneuvers.

Her solo slaughter of a thousand demonic beasts was a legend known even to seven-year-old children throughout the Empire.

And this legendary feat seemed poised to be reenacted.

“Kururuung!”

Undaunted, Elia struck first, mowing down the charging demonic beasts.

Scores fell to her blade within mere moments. Yet Elia remained unfazed, calmly flicking the viscous fluids from her sword as she prepared her next offensive.

“Haaa!”

Meanwhile, Izren, fighting alongside her, proved equally formidable.

As he matched Elia’s demonic beast butchery, she murmured impassively, her back to his:

“Izren Danarod. I will remember that name.”

However, their dominance proved fleeting.

“Your Highness, danger!”

Shrrrrrraaaak!

A colossal spear hurtled towards them from an unknown source. Though Elia swiftly moved to deflect it, an intervening demonic beast’s lashing foreleg disrupted her stance, leaving her momentarily off-balance.

‘To have committed such a grave error…’

In that instant, as she twisted to evade the lethal projectile–

Baaaaaang!

The thunderous impact indicated the immense force behind its trajectory.

Belatedly opening her eyes, Elia gazed at the weapon embedded in the ground before turning with a puzzled expression.

A familiar figure stood before her, his back turned in a protective stance.