The Crimson Tower was the Duke’s hidden weapon. Their plans to overthrow the kingdom left no room for adherence to the unspoken rules of mage towers. In the previous timeline, the Duke’s faction destroyed every mage tower that defied them, and leading the charge was the Crimson Tower. The Crimson Tower Master, Delmude, was a creation of the Duke’s faction—a man deliberately cultivated and installed as the tower’s leader. He had slaughtered the previous master and their disciples under the guise of a fair duel, taking control of the tower by sheer force. No one could stop him—not only because it was a formal duel but because no one dared. In mage towers, power determined rank. By the same logic, eliminating Delmude would leave the Crimson Tower in chaos, shattering its influence entirely. As Ghislain pieced together memories of his past life, he issued a new command to Claude. “Lower the price of runestones for the Scarlet Tower by half. Tell them to use the extra resources to expand their influence.” Claude and the other vassals were taken aback. “What? Lower the price? Even with the huge stash of runestones we secured recently, you want to just hand them out at a discount to the towers?” “Yes. But it’s temporary—just for now. They’ll appreciate it.” Claude gave Ghislain a skeptical look. His lord was many things, but someone who gave without a reason wasn’t one of them. In Claude’s mind, Ghislain was far more likely to take from others than to give. After all, even the land they now stood on had been seized. “And why, exactly, are we doing this?” Claude asked. “Think of it as a gift. A little thank-you for their support—both the tower branch and the mages they’ve sent us.” “...” The vassals exchanged glances, none of them buying Ghislain’s explanation. His tone sounded far too forced, like someone begrudgingly giving away something they’d rather keep. In truth, Ghislain had a much bigger plan in motion. ‘The Crimson Tower must be tearing its hair out right about now.’ The Crimson Tower had been tasked with destroying the Scarlet Tower. To this end, they’d been granted vast resources by the Duke’s faction and Harold. Using this funding, they monopolized runestones, choking the Scarlet Tower’s growth. But after Ghislain’s intervention, that strategy had started to unravel. The Scarlet Tower had bounced back with the runestones provided by Fenris. ‘I need the Scarlet Tower to grow even stronger—strong enough to provoke the Crimson Tower into making a move.’ Ghislain couldn’t simply attack the Crimson Tower outright. While he could technically launch an assault, the cost would be steep. Politics aside, the mages of the Crimson Tower were formidable, and their master was a 7th-circle mage—a living legend. A direct confrontation would result in massive casualties. That left only one viable option. ‘I’ll lure him out and take his head myself.’ The goal was to kill Delmude in a non-wartime scenario. For that, he needed the Crimson Tower to act first. Strengthening the Scarlet Tower was the bait. The thought of facing Delmude reminded Ghislain of another 7th-circle mage from the Duke’s faction: Elois. Before Delmude reached the 7th circle, Elois had been the kingdom’s sole 7th-circle mage. Few knew, but Ghislain, who had fought the Duke’s faction in his previous life, was well aware of Elois’s mastery. ‘I’ll need to prepare carefully to deal with him.’ Elois was an exceptionally difficult opponent. Unlike other mages who relied on destructive spells to ravage battlefields, Elois specialized in manipulating the environment and controlling the flow of battle. While Ghislain’s mage, Vanessa, could likely handle most other mages, Elois was in a league of his own. Ghislain needed a way to neutralize Elois’s magic entirely. ‘I have time now. I need to act while I can.’ With his strategy forming, Ghislain turned to his vassals and issued additional orders. Though the administrative side of Fenris had been fully organized under Claude, Ghislain himself still managed much of the military, leading to overlaps in authority. “Our forces have grown significantly. It’s time to restructure. Gillian, I’m appointing you as the Warden of Fenris. You’ll oversee the defense forces and organize troop deployments across the territory.” A murmur of agreement spread through the hall. Everyone had seen this coming. The position of Warden would give Gillian formal authority over Fenris’s military. While he already held significant influence, the official title solidified his role. “I’ll do my utmost to fulfill my duties,” Gillian said as he knelt to accept the position. Until now, Ghislain had shared the responsibility of training and managing the soldiers with Gillian. But with Fenris’s growing responsibilities, Ghislain would become increasingly preoccupied. The knights would still train directly under him, but Gillian would take full charge of the regular soldiers. Turning to Lumina, Ghislain continued. “Lumina, you’ll be in charge of the archers. Train the new recruits and oversee the care of their mounts.” “Ack!” Though Ascon served as the leader of the elves, it was Lumina who effectively commanded the archers. Formalizing this role clarified their responsibilities. “Max, you’ll command the security forces.” “Yes, sir!” Max, a troubleshooter once caught gambling, had earned his place as a capable officer and now found himself rewarded with a position of authority. Ghislain also promoted other commanders, organizing them into new roles. The mage corps remained under Vanessa’s capable leadership, requiring no changes. The appointments went smoothly, having been long planned by Ghislain. But not everyone was satisfied. “I want a position too!” Kaor shouted, stomping his feet. “Make me the captain of the knights!” Ghislain stroked his chin thoughtfully. ‘This guy always ends up doing a bit of everything.’ Kaor had been treated as a glorified errand boy even under the Duke’s faction. Finally, Ghislain nodded and said, “You’ll lead the Fenris Assault Corps.” Kaor frowned. “That doesn’t sound very impressive.” Ghislain grinned. “It’s more than fitting for you.” Ghislain explained further. The Assault Corps would be an independent special unit comprised of elite soldiers and mercenaries, tasked with handling the most dangerous missions during wartime. The unit would answer directly to Ghislain alone. Kaor’s eyes lit up. “An independent unit, you say?” Despite knowing the risks involved, Kaor was thrilled by the prospect of commanding such a force. With the appointments finalized, Fenris began preparing for its next moves. The Scarlet Tower would receive its runestones, and agents moved to recruit more mercenaries across the kingdom. Dominic organized mercenaries, Kaor returned to the Shadow Mountains to gather hunters, and Gillian began restructuring Fenris’s military. Meanwhile, the administrative officers focused on developing the territory with newly acquired resources. Fenris buzzed with renewed energy as it marched forward under Ghislain’s ambitious plans. *** “How has life been treating you so far?” “Yes, sir!” Ghislain had summoned Arel to the training grounds after a long while. Although Ghislain had instructed him in swordsmanship whenever possible, his busy schedule meant he couldn’t always personally oversee Arel’s progress. As a result, Arel spent most of his time training with the soldiers. Occasionally, Gillian would step in to mentor him, but it was far from enough. “Now, I’ll teach you a mana cultivation technique.” Hearing this, Arel’s expression tensed. He had yet to learn how to cultivate mana. While eager to start, his physical conditioning had been prioritized until now. Thanks to rigorous training and a steady diet, Arel’s physique had notably improved, his body now well-toned for the trials ahead. “Sit down. You may have heard about this already, but brace yourself—it’s going to be grueling. If you falter, you could die.” Arel clenched his teeth and sat cross-legged on the ground. He’d overheard stories of the intense and painful process knights endured to cultivate mana, so he had mentally prepared himself. But Ghislain’s tone hinted at something far more daunting. “The technique I’m about to teach you is even more dangerous than what the knights use. Keep your wits about you.” What Ghislain intended to impart wasn’t the conventional knight’s mana technique but a far stronger, more perilous variation—one that mirrored the techniques he himself practiced. “I’ll begin now.” Without further explanation, Ghislain placed his palm on Arel’s back. A powerful hum filled the air. A torrent of mana surged into Arel’s body, rampaging like a storm, tearing through his insides. “Urgh!” Arel involuntarily gritted his teeth and groaned. It felt as though blades were slicing through him from the inside. The sensation was unbearable, leaving him on the verge of losing consciousness. His mouth hung open in a silent scream, his mind begging for release. “Hold on. If you endure, you’ll survive.” Ghislain relentlessly guided the mana, carving mana pathways—or “mana roads”—within Arel’s body. Each surge of mana caused Arel to convulse, his body struggling to contain the energy coursing through him. “Think of the barbarians. Remember that moment. If you want revenge, you have to endure.” The words reignited a fire in Arel’s heart. He bit down so hard his teeth felt like they might shatter. Blood trickled from his eyes as he bore the unimaginable pain. A low, resonating hum emanated from his abdomen as a mana core began to form, sending streams of energy coursing through his body. Despite the agony tearing him apart, Arel clung to a singular thought. — I must grow stronger. The drive to protect and never again experience such loss fueled him. To survive in this harsh world, to safeguard those he loved, he needed to rise above. Blood poured from his eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, but he endured. The pain only solidified his resolve. Ghislain, observing this display of tenacity, nodded approvingly. “As expected, he’s holding on.” Ghislain had chosen to teach Arel a technique stronger than what most knights used, trusting in the young man’s grit. In the previous timeline, Arel had died at the hands of Ghislain’s subordinate during the Year of War. But Ghislain held no personal grudge against him. Arel had no direct involvement in Ferdium’s fall; he was merely a man consumed by his hatred for the barbarians. Somehow, Arel had survived and caught Harold’s attention, eventually earning knighthood and command of the northern fortress as Ferdium’s successor. His relentless vengeance against the barbarians had earned him his title and reputation. The journey Arel undertook was not for the faint-hearted. His single-minded drive and sheer willpower had elevated him to the rank of baron, earning him the moniker “Slayer of Barbarians.” Recognizing Arel’s potential, Ghislain entrusted him with this potent and dangerous technique. The mana flowed intensely, settling into Arel’s body and solidifying its presence. What felt like mere moments to Ghislain was an eternity of torment for Arel. Even as his body bled and convulsed, Arel remained steadfast, meeting Ghislain’s expectations. Few seasoned mercenaries, even those hardened by battle, could withstand such a process. Yet this young man had held on. With the foundation established, Ghislain gently removed his hand. Thud. Arel collapsed, unconscious, his body crumpling to the ground. Ghislain looked at him with a faint smile. “Remarkable.” The pain Arel had endured would have broken most people. But his unyielding spirit and determination proved their worth. “Hmm, we’ll need to do this a few more times. How should I handle it...?” This session was just the beginning. Like the knights, Arel would need to repeat the process several times to fully cultivate the technique. After a moment of thought, Ghislain nodded to himself. “I’ll take him with me and oversee the process along the way.” Ghislain had no intention of staying idle in his territory. To confront the Duke’s 7th-circle mage, he needed to prepare new powers. The time had come to seek out that strength.