The Problematic Child of the Magic Tower
Chapter 18: The Ugly Duckling (1)
Knock, knock.
After a light knock, the door opened, and a familiar face peeked in.
"What? It's you?"
Fran gestured him inside with his usual cheerful expression.
"Come in. Now that I think about it, this is probably the first time you've come to see me first, isn't it?"
A leather suitcase lay wide open on the bed in the tidy room.
Fran chuckled softly as he neatly packed his folded clothes into it.
"Oh, this? I'm going back to my family this time."
"I heard. You're from a pretty prestigious family, it seems."
"Haha, you found out. Losing your memory made that a bit easier."
Fran, scratching the back of his head awkwardly, nodded.
"Life at the Magic Tower was fun, but it's time for me to return to my place."
"To learn the trade business?"
"As you know, I have a good eye for things. I'll help out with the trade business and... also get married."
"Marriage?"
Oscar asked with an intrigued expression.
"Do you have someone in mind?"
"...Yeah, I do."
Fran muttered with a bitter smile.
"They say she's a good person. Plus, her family is influential and could help ours in various ways."
"You're taking a long time to say 'arranged marriage'."
Oscar plopped down on the sofa and asked.
"Are you okay with that?"
"They say she's beautiful, kind, and comes from a good family. What's not to like?"
"I'm not talking about marriage. I'm asking if you're okay with giving up magic."
Fran's busy hands stopped abruptly as he was packing.
Staring blankly at his suitcase, he finally spoke after a long pause.
"Well, it would be a lie to say I'm not disappointed. But you can't always do what you want in life."
"Most people can't, but someone from a great family like yours probably could."
"...That's exactly why I can't."
Fran shook his head with a bitter smile.
"I grew up enjoying privileges and experiences that most people couldn't even dream of. But I can't keep taking without giving back. I need to start pulling my weight."
"Is that just how trade families operate? Even with family, everything is strictly accounted for."
"Honestly, I prefer it that way. Receiving everything one-sidedly makes me uncomfortable too."
Oscar felt he understood the sentiment.
When someone shows you kindness without reason, you often feel uneasy and burdened, knowing you'll need to repay it someday.
You'd think family would be different, but it doesn't always seem to be.
"But do you have to repay that debt through trade alone? You could succeed as a mage and repay them that way."
"...I wish I could."
Everyone has grand plans.
It's just that the odds of those plans actually succeeding are usually slim.
"I used to think I was a pretty special person, you know? But coming here made me realize I’m not."
It's a common story.
A child who thought they were exceptional finally waking up to reality.
Fran turned slightly and looked at Oscar.
"I'm sorry to say this to someone who loves this place so much, but honestly, I chose the White Tower because it seemed like the easiest option. I thought I could at least become the head of the snake here."
Even though it's fallen from grace, the White Tower is still one of the four major Magic Towers.
If he could become a representative mage of the White Tower, he'd have plenty to say to his family.
"But I couldn't make it here either. I guess my talent was only that much."
"...Fran Sirius."
"What? Go ahead, insult me if you want."
His tone suggested he no longer cared.
Oscar glanced at the well-organized room that reflected its owner's meticulous nature and turned away.
"You do have talent."
"Thanks. It's nice to hear that from a genius before I leave."
"I'm serious. Listen carefully."
Oscar looked at him with a more serious expression than ever.
"Want to give it a try? Being the head of the snake."
"...Did you not listen to anything I just said? I can't do it even if I want to."
"That's why I'm offering to help with that part..."
Knock, knock.
At that moment, a knock interrupted their conversation, and both of them turned their heads.
Even without the owner's permission, the door opened, and someone stepped inside.
It was a man with a hollowed cheek on one side, giving him a cold and sharp impression.
"This room is quite unimpressive."
The man glanced around the room with a dry gaze, then walked up to Fran with his hands behind his back.
"I'm already busy enough, but because of you, I'm going through all this trouble."
"...Brother."
Fran's voice came out in a barely audible whisper, his shoulders hunched.
He looked visibly intimidated, but the man seemed used to it and didn't care.
"If you're done packing, come down. I'll be waiting downstairs."
Having said only what he wanted, the man turned sharply to leave the room.
"How much?"
He paused.
Fran's brother slowly turned his body back and looked at Oscar, who was sitting on the sofa.
"...And who are you?"
"Oscar Crucian. This guy's friend."
"Ah, the mage who made the cure this time."
Nodding, the man introduced himself formally.
"My name is Gran Sirius, the eldest son of the Sirius family and deputy head of the Sirius Trading Company. I'm this good-for-nothing's brother."
Gran's gaze narrowed.
"Now, what did you just ask?"
"I asked how much it would cost for Fran to stay. The White Tower still needs him."
"How insolent. Under imperial law, the punishment for human trafficking is death, no exceptions."
Gran continued, unfazed, with a dry expression as if telling a dull joke.
"Besides, I have no intention of selling him. Born into the Sirius family, he must first follow the family's rules."
His gaze shifted to Fran.
"More importantly, sending out a foolish person who can't even voice their own opinion is embarrassing."
"......You're right, brother."
Fran bowed his head and closed his leather bag.
"Oscar, I appreciate you stepping up for me, but it's enough now."
"Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm only doing this for the White Tower and myself."
With that, Oscar walked past Fran and approached Gran.
"If you're a merchant, I have a deal you might find enticing."
"A deal?"
Gran tilted his chin arrogantly.
"Go on, speak."
"I'll turn this guy into a top mage of the White Tower within two years. In the long run, this will be more beneficial for the Sirius family than learning the family trade."
"A top mage of the Four Great Towers in two years?"
Gran asked back, looking somewhat intrigued.
"Then what's the cost if you fail?"
"I'll offer what merchants love most."
Oscar made a coin shape with his fingers.
"If I fail to keep my promise, I will hand over all profits from the treatment and vaccine sales of the Cadena Flu to the Sirius Trading Company for the next 50 years."
"Hey, hey! Are you crazy?"
Fran jumped in shock.
Although Oscar was the one who restored the treatment, this was beyond his authority to decide.
Gran pointed that out too.
"Do you have the authority to proceed with such a big deal?"
"If needed, I can have the Deputy Tower Master serve as a witness."
Gran stroked his chin in thought before nodding.
"Hm. The risk-reward ratio is so favorable it almost feels like a scam. But let me ask you one thing first."
"Go ahead."
"Do you believe this guy is worth all this effort, or is this just a matter of simple friendship?"
Worth the effort, huh?
Oscar spoke with utmost seriousness.
"......You may find it laughable, but I intend to restore the White Tower's prestige to its peak within five years. The Cadena Flu medicine was just the opening salvo."
"Hmm."
Seeing Gran's intrigued expression, Oscar glanced at Fran.
"You asked if he was worth the effort?"
There's no need to say it twice.
Oscar saw limitless potential in this clumsy, young mage.
"He is. Fran Sirius is one of the essential talents for the new White Tower I'm planning."
Fran swallowed hard.
Due to his background, he'd met countless types of people since he was young.
Most approached him with ulterior motives, acting fake and selfish.
This was the first time.
The first time someone said they needed him, not as the youngest son of the Sirius Trading Company, but as Fran Sirius, the mage.
"......How naive."
Gran chuckled lightly.
"But as a merchant, I can't overlook an opponent's mistake. However, I have one condition."
"A condition?"
Oscar had already revealed all his cards.
He thought any merchant would undoubtedly accept the proposal.
"......I believe the offer is already quite good."
"I agree, but there's one thing you've overlooked."
Gran extended his index finger.
"Top-tier merchants value customer trust more than money. You can always earn money, but trust is not so easily gained."
"Trust......?"
"I don't do business with just anyone. This is also a matter of my clients' dignity. So, prove that you have the capability to deal with the Vice Leader of the Sirius Trading Company."
"How should I prove it?"
"I have a Level 5 knight among my escorts. Tomorrow at noon, demonstrate your abilities in a duel against him, and I'll accept the deal."
"......You say this knowing I'm only a Level 2 mage?"
"Oh, is that so? Then we'll make it a condition that he won't use sword aura."
Oscar bit his lip.
Even at his current level, fighting a Level 5 knight was impossible.
Even if the knight didn't use sword aura, the result would be the same.
'This guy, he's basically saying he won't give up Fran. Refusing an astronomical sum just to keep Fran likely means one thing. The arranged marriage partner's family must be extraordinarily powerful.'
"Alright then, I'll see you tomorrow."
As Gran left the room, Fran quickly spoke up.
"Oscar, let's go back to him now and call this off. I'll go with you."
"Why aren't you saying anything? He's just mad at you and wants to beat you up."
"Hold on, be quiet for a second. I'm thinking."
Cutting him off, Oscar suddenly circled around Fran, examining him closely.
After a moment, he nodded to himself, having reached a conclusion.
"Hmm. This might work."
"What? Are you crazy? Even if you're a genius, some things are just impossible! How do you plan to fight a Level 5 knight as a mere Level 2 mage? Besides, your body isn't fully recovered from the injuries you got in the herb field."
"Sure, if I fight, I'll lose. Out of a hundred battles, I might win one."
Even with his countless combat experiences, they wouldn't matter against overwhelming strength.
"But if it's a Level 4 mage, it might be doable, right?"
"......Are you saying you're going to become a Level 4 mage in just one day?"
"No way. Even I can't do something that ridiculous. But instead..."
Oscar's strange gaze fixed on Fran.
"Helping a mage stuck at the cusp of Level 3 advance to Level 4 is possible."
"......Wait a second. Are you serious?"
"Fran Sirius."
Gran didn't say Oscar had to fight the knight himself.
He just needed to prove his abilities during the duel.
Oscar grabbed Fran's shoulders and smiled broadly.
"You, you'll become a Level 4 mage today."
"And then you'll fight in my place."

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