[V6 Bonus 3] Conference of Three Spiremasters
Translated by Jodas 6: Secrets of the Wedge TowerMillie Alto was the eldest daughter of the famed Alto Classical Magecraft Family from the South of the Empire.
She studied both magecraft and art from a young age, and developed a knack for both pursuits. By age fifteen, she had already built a reputation as a genius.
Afterwards, she enrolled at the Wedge Tower. There, she continued researching her fusion of magecraft and art.
She studied magecraft, music, painting, and sculpture. However, as the years took their toll, she could feel her talents withering away.
— First, she gave up the chisel.
— Not long after, she dropped the paintbrush.
Nonetheless, she refused to let go of her passion for music. That was, until a true genius came to the Wedge Tower.
A nun who had been chased out of the Ras Belsch Orthodoxy, Satie.
Said to be a former candidate for the title of Saint Helena, she had an incomparable voice, and was able to perfect the fusion of music and magecraft that Millie had spent years researching — She managed to use it to a degree of precision that Millie hadn’t even imagined possible.
The fusion of magecraft and art was Millie’s life’s work.
She should have rejoiced to have a successor appear who could use her techniques flawlessly… Yet, an overwhelming feeling of emptiness welled up from Millie’s heart.
As Millie fretted, a man her age said to her:
“Artisans are all self-obsessed losers who care only about their own works. That’s why I keep making things!”
‘Gehahaha,’ He laughed indelicately. Then, he muttered under his breath.
“You’ve just been humbled.”
Ah, he was totally correct.
All this time Millie had spent making a place for herself, working for her organization, and worrying about how everyone around her saw her, she had lost the ability to become absorbed in herself.
In time, Millie allowed her instruments to collect dust and sculpture, painting, and music became nothing but idle pastimes to her.
The afternoon after the magic battle between the Apprentices and the Extermination Office, a conference between all three Spiremasters was held in a meeting room in the First Spire: White Smoke.
All three participating Spiremasters were in their sixties or seventies, some of the oldest members of the Wedge Tower.
Spiremaster of the First Spire: White Smoke, the calm and refined black-haired Abel.
Spiremaster of the Second Spire: Golden Needle, the large, one-armed Lowein.
Spiremaster of the Third Spire: Water Bubble, with her white hair cut short, Alto.
The topic of their conversation was, naturally, the magic battle that was held that morning.
Lowein had a deep frown on his face since he walked into the room.
Although the creases in his brow were already significant on account of his age, they were now deep enough he could probably hold one or two cards between them. As Alto idly wondered about such things, she began the conversation with a light tone of voice.
“Why the long face, Lowein? Are you imitating your dog?”
Lowein had a dog that he kept on the Wedge Tower’s campus.
He was a powerful fighter, so he’s received numerous offers to join the Extermination Office, but he refused them every time with the reasoning that he didn’t want to be away from his dog for any stretch of time. This man was a truly dedicated dog person.
Said dog person now growled more ferociously than his dog.
“…For fucks sake. Those students of mine went out and fought like cowards!”
Back when Lowein had been part of the Guidance Office, the Apprentices he was responsible for teaching were Frederik and the others.
As a result, Lowein was especially harsh on Frederik, Rikard, and Helena.
Alto maintained her light tone.
“Don’t you think your former students being soft on the Apprentices was a reaction to you being too harsh on them?”
“They’re members of Monster Hunting Families and a Ras Belsch Saint! They’re supposed to be front line fighters! What were they thinking, going soft like that!?”
Lowein scowled harshly, to which Abel gently interjected.
“My, my… That aside, Spiremaster Lowein, how did the Apprentices look from your perspective?”
“All of them did well, I’d say. Julius Löwenich and Roswitha Ohlendorf go without saying. Besides them… Gerald Anker and Tia Vogel had good movements.”
Both Gerald and Tia were inexperienced as mages, but their physical prowess was impressive.
Gerald, using a drawing board as a shield, did a heroic job supporting his teammates. Tia, meanwhile, made impressive use of the Magical Flying and Leaping Devices.
“No matter what a mage does, they’ll be vulnerable when chanting their incantations. So, those who have the physical capabilities to cover for that give a huge boost to our survival rates. Even if they only join the Investigation Office, I want those two. Abel, please advice those four I named to come to the Golden Needle.”
The Apprentice Mages belonged to the Guidance Office in the First Spire: White Smoke.
Therefore, White Smoke Spiremaster Abel had sway over the course of each of the Apprentices.
Abel placed a hand on her cheek and spoke gently.
“Very well. Although they themselves will ultimately have the last say… I will make sure to inform them during the interview process.”
“Lowein, what about that Princess? Wasn’t her physical capability impressive as well?”
To Alto’s teasing words, Lowein’s wrinkles deepened further. By this point, one could probably hold ten cards in those wrinkles.
“Don’t be stupid! Do you know what the Emperor would say if I sent his sister to the front lines!?”
“…Personally, I find it stranger that he hasn’t said anything already. Abel, have the General Affairs or Finance Offices been able to figure out what the Black Lion Emperor is up to?”
As she spoke, Alto gave Abel a prodding look.
While the Wedge Tower was isolated, they didn’t completely shut off all communications with the outside.
Buying supplies, selling magical devices, coordinating with the Mage Association, conducting external negotiations, and information gathering were the responsibilities of the General Affairs and Finance Offices.
And both of those Offices belonged to the First Spire: White Smoke, putting them under Abel’s control.
Abel spoke, of course without breaking her gentle expression.
“For the time being, the Black Lion Emperor has not made any noticeable movements, but…”
Her comforting eyes narrowed subtly.
No matter how nice of an old lady she looked, she was the one responsible for the Wedge Tower’s human resources and external relations.
“Perhaps, he might already be making moves under the surface.”
Abel had said ‘perhaps,’ but it was safe to assume that she was more or less certain.
Regardless, Abel always spoke in uncertain terms. Even to Alto and Lowein, her fellow Spiremasters.
Among these three, Abel was the youngest, but she was also the longest-serving at the Wedge Tower.
And she also became Spiremaster before Alto or Lowein did.
“Abel.”
Alto called Abel’s name in a low voice.
“Is there something you can’t share with us?”
Abel’s gentle smile remained unchanged.
“I believe I am sharing everything as I understand it, Spiremaster Alto.”
“…You don’t need to bear everything alone. That is why there are three of us.”
“I thank you for your concern.”
Abel’s placid expression did not change all the way to the end.
Just as it has from the very beginning — Indeed, ever since Alto first arrived at the Wedge Tower.
Once the meeting came to a close, Alto returned to the Third Spire: Water Bubble to find a group of artisans drinking on wooden boxes in front of the Management Office.
Most of them either rushed to hide their bottles from view or act as if they were merely enjoying a glass of water when they noticed Alto approaching, but there was one who made no such effort.
That was, of course, Management Office Director Kappel.
“Oh boy, it sure does taste better when you’ve been drinking all day!”
“You were even drinking while watching the battle, weren’t you?”
Alto exasperatedly approached Kappel.
It seemed like Kappel and the others were in a good mood after the Magical Flying Device made a big showing in today’s magic battle.
“The newbies this year have put together some rather interesting things. The drawing boards and tubes may have been made to support inscription magic, but if you think of them as a way to assist magical devices, they have considerable potential.”
“Sure, but that’s just because of my teaching! Gehahaha!”
Kappel had always been like this. He was a self-important, selfish, and self-centered man.
Alto occasionally envied him.
Alto sat on one of the wooden boxes and crossed her legs.
“It’s a lovely thing to have a youngster come catching up to you, huh… No, that’s a lie. I actually find it quite scary.”
Alto was born into a family of mages and had always held a passion for the arts.
She did quite well for herself when she was young, but ultimately she failed to amount to anything.
Music, painting, sculpture, magecraft — She couldn’t claim to have mastered any one of them.
Alto picked up a glass with liquor in it and took a sniff.
It was a cheap liquor with a scent that made her nose curl. That said, at times like this when all she wanted to do was run away, this sort of liquor was just the thing.
“Have you heard of Benjamin Mording? He’s a genius young musician from a neighboring country. The moment I heard a song he composed, it shocked me to the core. I could never make music like that.”
Kappel’s expression looked entirely disinterested.
“Then don’t. Just make music that’s not his.”
“Don’t ask the impossible of me. Do you know how much work it is to be a Spiremaster? Mister Director-who-doesn’t-meet-his-deadlines?”
“I always make whatever I want to make. I don’t have time to follow those arbitrary deadlines you guys set up!”
Nothing about that attitude of his had changed since they were young.
Even though he had lost his youth from back then, so long as the fire of passion did not burn out, he had what she could call ‘talent.’
Therefore, with the utmost respect he deserved, Alto spoke to him.
“You never change, Kappel. You’re as self-absorbed as ever.”
“You haven’t changed much yourself.”
Kappel tossed back his glass of liquor and sighed, relishing the flavor.
Then, as if he just remembered something, he spoke.
“You haven’t touched your harp or piano lately, haven’t you? I’m sure if you had, that little squirt would have paid you a visit by now.”
“…?”
“When you have the time, try playing for a little bit with the window open. You’ll hear something that’ll knock your socks off.”