As he approached the towering magic tower, an extraordinary magical energy flowed from it.
Around the dim tower, the space shimmered with a spectrum of colors.
In the golden eyes of Sigmund, a mirage of an oasis or valley faintly shimmered above the dry desert.
“Truly impressive. It seems your strength has increased significantly since before. There was a reason you were chosen as the first wing.”
Callisto, the prince of the Holy Empire.
Chosen by the goddess to be the first wing, but became Leticia’s fourth wing after being swept away by the flow of fate and not meeting his master in time.
Even though he had already reached a supreme level, Sigmund found himself involuntarily smiling at Callisto’s seemingly endless growth.
“Hmph. Still, humans are just humans.”
As Sigmund praised Callisto, Heintz immediately frowned.
Though it had been a long time ago, he was the master of the great tower.
Not an ordinary tower master like a pebble lying on the street, but a great wizard who commanded the entire continent.
Entranced by transcendent power, he had made a contract with Sigmund and turned his back on the tower. Yet he still took pride in being the greatest wizard.
“Must you defeat a much younger junior to find satisfaction? Your narrow-mindedness is never going to expand.”
“What? So, Lord Sigmund, are you saying I’m not worthy? When you were siphoning others’ powers to dust, now you dare compare me to that brat?”
“How long will you keep talking about the past? The age of new children is soon upon us; do you intend to live forever in nostalgia?”
“Well, you only speak well when it’s unfavorable for you. And my power has not fully returned yet, has it? I’m still in a boy’s body, you know? I’m far from being able to accept all that great power!”
Long ago, the tower master, captivated by Sigmund’s golden aura, had made an incredible proposal.
He would offer everything he had, just to feel even a sliver of that great power.
Others might have called it madness, but for him, the Tower Master, it was natural.
The unknown world sparkled enticingly, beckoning him. He simply could not turn away.
Contrary to the perfect first impression, Sigmund was merely a cantankerous old man.
“Stop whining. It’s only been two hundred years. For a herring to become a dragon, it would surely take at least three hundred.”
“Ugh, then hurry up and shorten that time!”
Even now, knowing Sigmund’s true nature, he had no intention of breaking the contract.
Despite his nasty temperament, Sigmund’s power was undeniable.
Moreover, he was precise in his calculations. He returned as much as he had received from the tower master.
In fact, he was quite generous.
Thanks to that, the tower master was steadily drawing closer to the transcendent power he desired. He had reached a decent level, considered closer to a transcendent being than a human.
‘In the long run, this was indeed a fortunate thing.’
The tower master glanced at the purple stone held by Sigmund. As they neared the tower, the purple hue deepened. It was because the soul of Lehir within it was thrashing about in desperation to escape.
The tower master twisted one side of his mouth at the sight of Lehir.
‘If I hadn’t met that old man, that foolish one might have approached me.’
To win the tower master to his side. Lehir was indeed strong, and there was a substantial chance he could have lured him.
The tower master thought of himself, blinded by the allure of great power, to the point of not recognizing his own parents or children.
If Lehir dangled great power as bait, he would surely have crossed the line.
The outcome would have been as pitiful as Lehir’s current state.
Years ago, Lehir had been subdued by Leticia and sealed in his soul form by Sigmund, enduring times too horrific to describe.
Even after Dinute chose to focus on protecting her children and distanced herself from Lehir, Sigmund continued to hold on to Lehir, as if punishing him was his mission.
Kururung―.
As Sigmund stepped onto the barrier of the tower, the ground suddenly began to shake. He watched the rising clouds of dust without a hint of disturbance.
The murky wind filled the surroundings, yet it couldn’t approach Sigmund and retreated. After a moment, the earth slowly rose. The earth spirit, adorned with rocks and dried grass, gradually opened its eyes and bowed deeply.
“I greet the great being.”
“Where is your master?”
“He has gone to the Holy Empire for a moment. He heard delightful news from the imperial palace.”
“Indeed, he has already taken action.”
Sigmund smiled slyly. The news of the second nephew’s birth had propelled him into action at the speed of light.
“If that nephew is so lovely, he should form a bond without delay. Why is he still boasting?”
Callisto had not yet found a partner. In fact, he hadn’t even thought about finding one.
Though he had passed the youthful days of his early twenties, he remained attractive.
It was no secret that countless women of the Holy Empire had fallen for the pricey tower master, who appeared every few months.
Still, Callisto had never once engaged in a deep relationship.
Given his status, no one pressured him into marriage.
Aside from Banessa, no one else had been nagging or assisting Callisto with marriage.
Even Banessa could easily be dismissed if Callisto set his mind to it.
‘Despite appearances, he’s quite foolish.’
A bitter smile lingered on Sigmund’s lips.
Though one would expect him to cut off relationships swiftly like a sharpened blade, it was not the case.
‘Perhaps it’s because he governs the power of the earth. He doesn’t change easily.’
Callisto still bore the traces of his first infatuation.
Despite having nurtured that affection for so long, he showed no intention of confessing or seeking it, quietly supporting the one who basked in brilliant happiness instead.
That foolish path was Callisto’s choice.
‘He seems satisfied with that choice, though.’
Sigmund felt increasingly concerned.
Perhaps it was because he saw his own image reflected in the inflexible Callisto.
He too was hopelessly foolish when it came to love.
He had been captivated by a human heart and, even after many years, could not forget his wife.
‘The more so, the busier I must be. Indeed, that’s how it should be.’
Experience told him that the emptier the heart, the more one must keep busy.
Whether managing the tower or handling affairs of the Holy Empire, Callisto would feel aggrieved if he heard that he needed ten bodies, but Sigmund believed that to be true.
Thus, he brought Lehir along.
‘I must entrust Lehir’s fate entirely to Callisto.’
If it were the tower master, who was thriving in new peaks each day, he could surely subdue Lehir. A miraculous revenge might even be possible.
‘That child has a right to it.’
To whom should Lehir’s soul be entrusted? Sigmund had pondered this for a long time.
Ideally, he would want to take responsibility until Lehir’s soul disintegrated, but that was not feasible.
A considerable amount of time had passed since Sigmund had come into the human world.
Transcendents who stayed in the human realm ultimately made one of three choices.
They either decided to blend into humanity and remain in the human world forever, looked down upon humans, or left the mortal realm altogether.
Goddess Dinute belonged to the first category, while Lehir fell into the second. Sigmund had long struggled between the first and third choices.
He still loved humans but held a firm belief that human lives belonged to humans.
He thought that the clumsy intervention of transcendents might dull humanity even further.
Despite this, he had refrained from acting too hastily for fear that his departure would lead to humanity’s collapse.
But that was no longer the case.
Once as fragile as glass, humans had grown increasingly strong. Even if he left, his children would continue to illuminate the world more brilliantly.
‘So, I should start preparing to leave.’
Nonetheless, before departing, he needed to deal with Lehir’s soul.
After much contemplation regarding the multiple wings, it was clear that Callisto was the right choice. He had suffered the most because of Lehir, bore deep resentment, had the power to control Lehir, and—
‘I must give him a mental education as well.’
Unrequited love is beautiful, but it cannot last long.
Even while still loving his wife, Sigmund sometimes felt resentment toward her.
The longing made him bitter, for she had left him alone. Yet even that bitterness quickly transformed back into affection.
‘That’s something only a great dragon could manage.’
Just as Sigmund arrogantly awaited Callisto, a surprising event unfolded in the Empire for Callisto.
* * *
“You knew about my heart?”
“Yes.”
After hearing the news of his sister’s pregnancy, Callisto rushed to the Empire like the wind, and everything unfolded as he had anticipated.
Banessa was twice as excited as usual, charging toward Callisto like a bull. He immediately poured out a torrent of words, which he couldn’t properly hear as he blocked the noise, but a few phrases pierced his ears.
“Brother, you must…!”
He didn’t need to hear the rest. Whether he heard it or not, it was likely just urging him to marry. After being pestered so much, he was no longer annoyed—rather, he found it amusing. How could he be so full of energy? Did having a child make him so tireless?
Perhaps that thought sparked something?
A slight touch of the loneliness he had almost forgotten began to resurface, especially since there was no cherished niece around in the imperial palace. His closest friends must be enjoying good times in Genos.
Thinking of Genos naturally brought Leticia to mind.
For a moment, he considered going to see her in Genos.
Callisto smiled and shook his head. He had no intention of going to Genos unless she called him.
In truth, merely looking at her while harboring feelings for her was sinful. It was not an act he could justify to Dietrian either.
He didn’t particularly like Dietrian.
He was the husband of the woman he cherished; how could he feel good about that? At one time, he had found it quite irritating. But he quickly resolved to change that mindset.
He was a good man. A good king, and a good husband for many years. He was the perfect match for Leticia. In fact, he was grateful to him.
Callisto often imagined standing beside Leticia instead of Dietrian. If he were in Dietrian’s place, could he have done as well? Could he have been that perfect?
…He felt he could.
After all, it was Leticia he was talking about. He would have strived to maintain that perfection with all his soul.
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