Special Side Story Episode 3

“But I am merely a lover. Lovers can change at any time, can they not?”

The conversation had circled back to the beginning. Secian pressed a hand to his forehead at Xenon’s almost obstinate attitude.

—Oh, my head.

“Therefore, I must get married.”

—What?

“I will be escorting Lady Anelli on this visit to the Magic Tower. I must ensure this proposal succeeds then.”

If he were at least bound by social duty and responsibility, if it became a relationship permanently documented in official papers and records, wouldn’t his anxiety lessen somewhat?

It wasn’t that he doubted her love, but Xenon wanted to completely block the possibility of anyone else interfering, to the extent his abilities allowed. Compared to uncertain, uncontrollable forces like gods or miracles, paperwork was a relationship he could secure very definitively.

Truthfully, he had been contemplating marriage for a very long time. He had calculated far more potential outcomes than when devising a new magical formula. Yet, while he was being so meticulous, Heinri had gone and announced an imperial marriage first!

—……Must I even know about your proposal plans?

“You are my master, and you are currently at the Magic Tower! While I am here, you must decorate the Tower for me! There aren’t many who can deploy magic extensive enough to cover the entire outer wall of the Magic Tower, are there!”

The moment it was decided the proposal would be at the Magic Tower, transforming the entire drab, monotonous outer wall naturally became a necessary step. Setting aside that it was a place meaningful to him, Xenon was more objectively aware than anyone of how bleak a stone tower the current Magic Tower was.

Had he resided at the Magic Tower instead of Veladia Castle, he would have long since diligently planted flowers to try and change the atmosphere. Flowers were pleasant to look at and fragrant, perfectly suited to mask the musty smell of stuffy mages and refresh the ambiance.

How lamentable that not a single mage in the Tower possessed such aesthetic sense.

—Why should I….

“Do you intend to ruin your only disciple’s future in this manner?”

—If a future can be ruined by such a trifle, then first step down from that Tower Master position. I’ll sit back down.

Secian retorted in a weary tone. Well, Xenon himself would also love to cast off this cumbersome title if he could. His magical prowess wouldn’t vanish just because he wasn’t the Tower Master, and becoming Tower Master only increased his workload.

Had his master’s health permitted, he would still be planting flowers at Veladia Castle as the Tower Master’s successor.

Xenon, who had been quietly watching his master’s gaunt face visible even through the indistinct communication channel, pouted.

“Where is it right to take back what’s been given? Moreover, Lady Anelli said she prefers the Tower Master over just a mage, as it seems more impressive.”

—Do you have any awareness of being the Tower Master? What on earth are you lacking!

“Don’t go around saying such foolish things. How dare a mere Tower Master be considered equal to the Resurrected One?”

—Oh, I won’t die before my time.

“More importantly, I have a few ideas. Could you take a look? The current Magic Tower is too ugly, you see. I’d like to decorate it more beautifully……”

Letting the familiar nagging go in one ear, Xenon eagerly laid out his plans. It was true that Anelli’s firm answer had heightened his anxiety, but he had no intention of postponing the proposal.

* * *

There may be no single correct answer for a proposal, but there likely exists a sentiment generally shared by people. Xenon had been investigating people’s proposal methods early on, aiming to create a perfect proposal with as little room for personal dislike as possible.

Presenting a bouquet and ring in a romantic location, orchestrating a surprising situation with the help of several assistants, or confessing quietly but sincerely in a secret place for just the two of them…….

Xenon thought Anelli would likely accept any method with a smile, as long as it wasn’t too fussy. To be precise, it was more accurate to say he believed her love for him was steadfast enough to accept any form of proposal.

So, in fact, there was no major issue while preparing. Xenon had set his goal early on: to create the most beautiful scenery he could imagine and complete the most beautiful time and memory.

Coincidentally, he had been thinking he should show her the Magic Tower someday. The Tower was the most comfortable and cozy space in Xenon’s life and, aside from Anelli, the place that had the greatest impact on his life, holding deep meaning for him in many ways.

Therefore, decorating the entire Tower to use as the proposal venue was a personally meaningful choice.

Of course, even a mage belonging to the Tower couldn’t use the entire Tower as if it were private property. In that sense, becoming Tower Master was truly perfect timing. A Tower Master decorating the Tower for a proposal wouldn’t seem strange at all! Well, if anyone complained, he could always invoke the Tower Master’s authority a little.

In short, Xenon was confident. He had prepared very meticulously from the planning stage!

However, the moment they arrived in Asud, the region where the Magic Tower stood, he had a premonition. That today’s fortune was not ordinary. Of all days, the day that needed to be most perfect, the day he planned to propose…….

“Now, this is Asud……!”

The arm proudly stretched forward trembled, flinching. Anelli, who didn’t notice that slight tremor, stepped out of the warp gate and looked around with a blank expression.

“The Magic Tower is closer to the city center than I thought?”

Being her first time here, Anelli felt nothing amiss and was busy taking in the unfamiliar sights.

‘……What’s this?’

Only Xenon, who had been expecting Anelli’s pleasantly surprised face, was busy hiding his flustered expression.

“If you didn’t say so, no one would know this is the road to the Magic Tower.”

The place they stood offered a scene no different from the streets of any ordinary village. The problem was that the scenery Xenon had prepared was not this mundane landscape at all.

He had clearly decorated the path leading to the Tower by scattering red rose petals to lay down a pretty crimson carpet……. He had secretly slipped out at dawn without Anelli knowing, procured fresh, beautiful red roses from the morning market, carted them over by the wagonload, and scattered them!

“……While there are essential living facilities inside the Magic Tower itself, for the daily lives of the mages… well, there are more than a few mages, so commercial districts and such naturally formed around the Tower.”

Though he couldn’t fathom why such a clean, ordinary street lay before his eyes, Xenon calmly guided Anelli for the time being.

“But where is the Tower?”

“At the end of this road. A barrier is permanently active, so the Tower cannot be seen with the naked eye. One can enter only under the guidance of a mage belonging to the Tower.”

“I thought the Tower was just sitting alone in a remote mountain.”

“Yes, many think so. Looking at history, it actually was like that at times too. It’s not entirely wrong. For free research or magical experiments, maintaining a certain distance from civilian settlements is safer……”

As the topic shifted to his area of expertise, Xenon unconsciously began explaining rapidly. Then, belatedly coming to his senses, he offered an awkward smile.

“Ah, this must be boring for you?”

“I didn’t know today’s schedule was ‘a lecture on the history of the Magic Tower.’”

“Of course not! I didn’t bring you all the way here just to spout tedious nonsense!”

Xenon jumped and waved his hands dismissively. Already half-conscious was elsewhere due to the grand plan of the proposal he had to realize, so he was needlessly startled by a single remark.

At his exaggerated reaction, Anelli’s eyes widened instead, then she chuckled softly and shrugged her shoulders.

“You don’t need to be so sensitive. Just seeing an unfamiliar place after so long is interesting enough.”

Not a speck of suspicion tinged her voice. It was the demeanor of one who believed with ironclad certainty that Xenon would never hide anything from her. Thanks to that, Xenon felt even more awkward.

Even though a proposal wasn’t a bad deed, and it was something prepared to maximize the other’s感动, the fact that he had prepared something without telling Anelli beforehand pricked his conscience.

“……Haha.”