After Master of the Magic Tower Neris’s visit, several users came looking for me.
The stories were all different, but the point was the same, and I gave the same answer.
“I’m not participating, and I can’t offer help.”
Even a slight involvement from me could flip the current Siege War 180 degrees.
I could help with my understanding of mana from a professor’s perspective, but as ‘Lord of Elbrite’, I couldn’t offer any support.
“I didn’t come for help, you know?”
“? Then why are you here?”
Thud.
Aisha dropped her sword on the table and collapsed onto the sofa.
By the way, Aisha had practically been living in the Academy for the last few days, so I ended up seeing her a lot.
There was no reason for me not to acknowledge a diligent student.
I heard she spends almost 10 hours a day at the Academy.
“Impressive.”
Her enthusiasm was commendable, especially since she went as far as to follow the Sword Saint and take on the role of fan club president.
“I heard you’re not participating in the Siege War.”
“Yep.”
“Then the Academy won’t operate during the Siege War, right? I think that’s how it’ll go, but just in case.”
“Hmm…”
Eli Academy is a building within the territory of Elbrite.
Since it’s located inside the Inner Fortress, running the Academy essentially opened the path to the core of Elbrite.
There are layers of Holy Shields above Elbrite, including mana, but the internal protection isn’t that great.
Normally, it would make sense to close the doors of the Academy and Elbrite during the Siege War.
I shook my head.
“Well, of course, we will. I doubt there will be much class, though.”
“…Really? What if someone does something strange?”
“They can.”
“?”
Using the Academy to secretly infiltrate and look for a gap to ‘attack’ my fortress?
If someone had the guts to do that, I would want to applaud their bravery.
“Seeing someone with that level of courage would be enjoyable in its own way. Personally, I hope they manage to get through.”
“……”
“If you’re worried about using the Academy, feel free to use it. We plan to keep it running during the Siege War.”
“Um, it feels a bit strange, but… okay.”
“Aisha, aren’t you participating?”
“Participating?”
Aisha looked back at me while munching on a snack.
I had seen her often these days, but strangely felt familiar with her.
‘Something feels off…’
“I don’t have a fortress.”
“? Aisha doesn’t have a fortress?”
“Yep.”
Aisha doesn’t have a fortress.
In the past, it might have been believable, but these days, high rankers, whether individuals or guilds, each possess at least one fortress.
Eden Guild and every kingdom has at least one castle.
In fact, it’s become surprisingly common, even to the extent that some end up occupying entire kingdoms themselves.
Aisha had been consistently bouncing around within the top 10, so I thought she must have had at least one castle.
But Aisha chuckled and shook her head.
“Well, I had one, but it became meaningless, so I dismantled it.”
“Oh.”
“Now it’s just the NPCs’ land.”
Was it related to the Sword Saint?
It seemed like it was connected to a fan club, but since the Sword Saint’s fans had scattered or only a few remained, it had lost its significance.
“It didn’t even seem like it was a castle she had raised from scratch.”
It looked like it was just held for symbolic reasons.
After that, Aisha mainly asked about swords before leaving the Dean’s Office.
Left alone, I recalled the dozens of users who had come by until now.
“Siege War, huh…”
In fact, it wasn’t just users or the Guild Master who had come regarding the Siege War.
Since the Siege War is streamed on broadcasting platforms and stations, I had even received a proposal to give me a “special commentary” spot for the official broadcast.
It seemed like it could be entertaining, but at the time of the proposal, I couldn’t decide since I didn’t know when the Main Temple would end.
Most importantly, since I was a participant myself, it would be hard to take on commentary.
“The Empire probably won’t step in. There’s no way the Spirit Lord would be crazy enough to initiate Occupation War Season 2.”
With the Empire split into three and the original instigator, Duke Huangyeol, out of the picture, they were unlikely to get involved.
One problem remained, though. The overgrown ‘User’ attacking the ‘Empire’.
Even if the Empire has weakened and split, they aren’t a group that would just sit back and take a beating, so the likelihood of a counterattack is high.
Perhaps the war might intensify more than expected…
“…Well, they’ll manage just fine.”
If they didn’t want to turn the entire world against them, they would adjust accordingly.
After all, they would have witnessed that ‘precedent’ with their own eyes.
■
[Lilha~]
[ㄹㅀㅀㅀㅀㄹ]
[Oh]
[Lilha, Lilha]
[Oh, finally Siege War ㅋㅋ]
[Kimochi de maximum ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ]
[Lily, are you participating in the Siege War?]
[Perfectly timed]
[Look at the speed of viewers pouring in]
[Kya]
[Here ㅇㄷ]
[Screen?]
August 18, 5:30 PM.
I turned on the broadcast 30 minutes early before the start of Season 4’s Siege War.
I had a large magic screen set up in a separate space, and on the screen, Deoen’s dedicated official broadcast was playing.
Soon, the Siege War would begin.
“Lilha~ everyone, come on in!”
[ㅎㅇㅎㅇ]
[What is this place?]
[Looks super comfy ㅋㅋㅋ]
[Wow, look at the setup!]
[What’s that?]
“What’s going on? Is the food disappearing?”
“I’ve made it a bit more fancy. If we’re going to watch, let’s do it right.”
The interior was decorated like a high-class movie theater.
Right in front of the screen, there was a long table and a fluffy sofa that was definitely over 10 meters long.
The not overly bright red sofa was tailor-made for ‘someone’ to enjoy the show.
On the table, despite its small appearance, magical designs were causing dozens of foods to appear and disappear in a loop.
“Oh, and. I announced earlier today, right? That there are some guests watching with us.”
[Yeah, yeah]
[Yena?]
[Are you watching with Leo?]
[?]
[No way!]
[I’m excited, hehe.]
When I clapped my hands, the guest made their entrance.
The ones who stepped out were Gapwoo and Sre, carrying the tattered form of Karabus, along with Lasty.
Sre immediately started devouring a chicken leg that was placed next to him instead of sitting at the table as if he had been waiting for this moment.
The chicken leg was a level 100 delicacy, but in Teshiniria, it had become a meal for Sre.
“Slow down.”
“Wooof, wooof.”
“Looks like Sre is really hungry.”
“They’re like that, the white pig.”
When I said that, Gapwoo nodded while Lasty sank into the plush sofa.
Lasty stared intently at the blue camera capturing us.
“Hello?”
[Oh]
[Hahaha]
[???]
[Whoa!]
[Hahaha~]
[How does Lasty even recognize the camera?]
[It’s Gapwoo!]
[Progenitor sis…]
[It’s these three, huh?]
[Basically, it’s just two of them.]
[Why does Sre feel like a long-lost friend?]
[For real, haha.]
[Haven’t you watched with Yena?]
“Well, I thought about inviting other users too, but everyone is busy. Quite a few are participating in the Siege War.”
Hmmm.
I sat down right next to Lasty and took a bite of a small skewer with crab meat.
Just so you know, this crab meat is quite popular.
“Lord Heavenly Horse and Lord Leo are busy too, and Miss Yena is still working on the Main Temple, so I thought it would be better not to call them. They’d just make a brief appearance like me, I guess.”
Though I knew quite a few other users, they were all focused on the Siege War, so I only gathered the monsters from my group.
They weren’t that busy, after all.
Saying that, Lasty stared at me with her ruby-like eyes.
“I’m super busy. If there’s extra time, it’ll probably just be that white pig eating and the little crab.”
“Wow?”
“I, I’m training too!”
Sre and Gabwoo, who had been munching away since earlier, suddenly perked up their heads.
It was a bit funny and cute because they were doing similar things.
[Hahaha]
[Lasty’s roast, what?]
[Big S Tier]
[Both of them have been a bit out of it]
[Not sure about Gabwoo, but Sre really just seems to be eating]
[For real, lol]
[Totally looks like a pig]
Chomp, chomp.
One difference was that Sre had his bright eyes buried back in the food again, while Gabwoo still kept his face up.
“Ugh… Lasty…”
“Just kidding. Eat comfortably.”
“N-No, that’s not a joke, right…?”
“Partially?”
“That’s harsh!”
“But it’s the truth.”
Lasty said this happily, swirling a wine glass filled with blood.
Of course, Lasty didn’t actually dislike Gabwoo or Sre.
Even though the words and actions might look cold due to her vampire traits, her true feelings weren’t that chilly.
Chomp, chomp, chomp, chomp, chomp!
“…That’s quite impressive.”
Of course, Sre was 100% sincere.
[Hahaha]
[Sre is cute]
[The Progenitor is pretty cute though]
[For real, lol]
[Big Progenitor]
“Lasty is busy, huh? Doing magic research, classes, and also helping me with my work.”
“Yeah. I’m busy.”
“Then do you want to go back?”
“No.”
Thwack.
Lasty snuggled close to me as if determined not to part.
“I’m cold, sister.”
“It’s a bit warm here because I’ve got heat magic set up.”
“I said I’m cold.”
“Use a blanket. Sleep.”
Flap. The red blanket I made wrapped around Lasty.
She didn’t seem too thrilled about it but looked somewhat satisfied that I made it.
“…Hmph.”
“Anyway, it’s about to start. I wonder who will win this year…”
Unless notable strong contenders like the Heavenly Horse, Leo, or Yena participate, it’s hard to tell.
With the Angel Guild also declaring its absence, who will ultimately seize victory is still uncertain.
[Oh]
[Let’s predict]
[Let Lily just smash and win, lol]
[Rookies are a lot now, so it’s still uncertain, hmm]
[Black Moon?]
[The Medium and Small Alliance is quite strong; it doesn’t seem ‘medium’ at all]
[For real, lol]
Chichi, chichi…
“Ah, it’s starting.”
Season 4, the curtain of the Siege War was rising.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
