LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 52
As tears filled his big eyes, Lee Hyun hugged Lena tightly.
“Ren. That doesn’t mean I’m leaving right away.”
First, he had to hand Lena over to the Ivory Tower. Only then would he feel at ease. Despite his gentle words, the tears flowing from Lena’s eyes did not stop.
“Huu, huuaaaang! Uuuaaaan! M-master! Boo-hoo, please stay with me! Boo-hoo… Uuuaaaan~!”
No matter how much of a genius she was at high-level magic, she was still just a kid. In the most critical moment, all she could do was throw a tantrum.
Holding on tightly to Lee Hyun, Lena cried her heart out, wishing he wouldn’t leave. After sobbing for a while, Lee Hyun lightly picked her up.
“This kid. Light as a log. Are you even eating properly?”
“A-asura sect… if you’re going to fight… I-I want to fight too… hic!”
Now, she could stand next to Lee Hyun and fight. So why not fight together?
“When we get to the Ivory Tower, you’ll be promoted to the position of Director in ten years. A Director of the Ivory Tower will be treated like a count in any country.”
“Hic… I don’t need that… Boo-hoo… I just need Master…”
“Haha. This kid. So childlike.”
“…Ah, I’m still just a kid…”
With a tone that clearly indicated her indignation, Lena muttered softly. To this, Lee Hyun could only smile.
.
.
.
Departing from the forest and passing through Greenhilled, they arrived at the place with the Dimension Magic Circle.
This was a place operated by the Ivory Tower and a necessary stop to reach the Ivory Tower.
“W-where is this…?”
Fearing that Lee Hyun might abandon her, Lena held onto his hand tightly. However, Lee Hyun didn’t stop her. Perhaps that was why? Lena, who usually didn’t cling, was now sticking to him even more with childish charm.
“This is the place with the Dimension Magic Circle connected to the Ivory Tower. Please take us to the Ivory Tower.”
“Four gold coins, please.”
Gold coins? Shocked by the unimaginable price, Lena’s eyes went wide as Lee Hyun took out the gold coins.
As the receptionist took them and murmured something, several wizards came out. Lena watched in wonder as they stood around the magic circle and channeled their mana, when suddenly she grabbed Lee Hyun in surprise.
“Are we going to the Ivory Tower?!”
“Yep.”
Panic set in. Lee Hyun had said he would leave her at the Ivory Tower. That meant he was really going to leave her.
Terrified, Lena hugged him as tight as she could, as if that would keep him from vanishing.
“Wooow…”
As the Dimension Magic activated and the surroundings began to change, Lena couldn’t help but gasp in amazement.
“I-is that… the Ivory Tower?”
A long tower that seemed to touch the sky appeared before her. Just as she swallowed her breath, the tower’s door opened, and a lively girl ran out.
It was Yuria. Joy lit up Lena’s face as she waved at her friend.
“What are you doing at the Ivory Tower?!”
Yuria, bouncing with excitement, asked while holding Lena. Lee Hyun, gazing seriously at her, asked, “Where’s Bella?”
“Master? She’s inside. Let’s go to the Red Chamber!”
Under Yuria’s guidance, they entered the tower, and once again, Lena’s eyes went wide in amazement.
She was astonished by the numerous doors inside the tower. How could she not get lost here?
In the meantime, a small disk appeared before them. “To room 31123!”
“AHHH!”
As soon as they stepped onto the disk, Yuria cheerfully shouted. The disk lifted into the air and started moving swiftly. Startled, Lena crouched down and held onto Lee Hyun’s hand tightly, while Yuria burst into laughter.
“Hahaha~! People who ride this for the first time always react like that~.”
“Eek… D-does this, uh, not fall?!”
“Doesn’t fall! Doesn’t fall!”
Looking like she was having the time of her life, Yuria lifted Lena up. Meanwhile, the disk came to a stop.
Seeing they had risen so high that the ground was no longer visible, Lena trembled, while Yuria opened a closed door.
“Ah…”
Lena gasped at the sight inside. It revealed an endless plain. Only a single large house stood in the vast landscape where the horizon was visible.
How could they see something so far away in a tower? And why was the ground still there after going so high up?
She couldn’t make heads or tails of it. Seeing Lena’s bewildered expression, Yuria looked at her affectionately.
“This is the power of the Ivory Tower~!”
The heart of all magic. A place where all magic converges. Here, maybe, she could uncover secrets of magic and explore the truth.
‘But…’
Yet, even if she could, she didn’t want to learn at the cost of separating from Lee Hyun.
Lena held onto his hand tightly. Was it the strength in his hand?
Stealing a glance at Lena, Lee Hyun smiled softly.
“What brings you here?”
As the house door opened, Bella appeared. Being the head of the Red Chamber in the Ivory Tower, Lena hurriedly bowed down.
Pleased by her response, Bella nodded at Lee Hyun, who looked at her.
“Seems like something troublesome has come up. Follow me.”
Guided by Bella, they entered a clean and surprisingly spacious house. The delightful scent from numerous books on the walls calmed Lena’s nerves a bit.
“Drink this.”
A teapot and cups floated in the air and landed in front of them. The teapot poured tea on its own, using telekinesis. As Lena marveled at this strange trick, Lee Hyun spoke calmly.
“I taught Lena high-level magic.”
“COUGH! COUGH!”
Bella, sipping tea elegantly, choked on it. Her eyes filled with shock zoomed in on Lena.
“…I heard this child has been learning magic for about a year.”
“That’s right.”
“But high-level magic?!”
“Yep.”
“I-I can’t believe it… So?”
“I want you to teach her the rest. You know I can only teach a limited amount of high-level magic myself, but you can teach her more.”
“M-master! I-I…”
“Shh.”
For the first time, Lee Hyun’s expression lacked a smile. His seriousness made Lena bow her head.
She had said she didn’t need anything. She just wanted to be with him.
As Lena’s sobs began to swell again, Lee Hyun continued without pause.
“I can’t bring Lena to where I have to go.”
Lee Hyun’s unyielding words made Lena finally burst into tears.
.
.
.
Lena’s loud wailing made it impossible to continue the conversation. No matter how hard he tried to comfort her, Lena’s cries wouldn’t stop.
Eventually, worn out, she lay down gasping, and Lee Hyun gently placed her in the room Bella had prepared.
“Let’s continue the conversation. Lee Hyun, are you planning to keep fighting the Asura sect?”
‘The Asura sect? Well, I’m thinking of fighting them.’
The reason he couldn’t bring Lena was that he had to go through years of hardship at the Sage’s Tower to become a Sage, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t fight the Asura sect.
Lee Hyun’s goal was to observe the true ending. To do that, he had to clear the Religious War Event. And the condition for clearing that event was to defeat the Asura sect, so ultimately, it could be said he would continue to fight them.
“Yep.”
“It won’t be easy. The Asura sect is far from weak. Even the Ivory Tower can’t fully understand their power.”
“Still, it needs to be done.”
“Why?”
“Well, because they’re evil, I suppose?”
As he said that playfully, Bella frowned. Lee Hyun was always like this. He treated others lightly and casually but always hid his true feelings.
It was true that he opposed the Asura sect, but nobody knew why he did. Bella squinted her eyes, staring at him before shifting her gaze to Lena.
“What are you going to do about that child? She seems like she wouldn’t be able to do anything without you.”
“Don’t underestimate her. Ren is my proud disciple. She’ll be able to move forward even without me.”
“I don’t know. From what I saw earlier, it didn’t seem that way.”
‘But that doesn’t mean I can take her to become a Sage.’
After all, she wouldn’t even be allowed into the Sage’s Tower. Of course, she could if he obtained the qualification, but would he want to go through that hassle?
Lee Hyun shook his head with a bitter smile.
“The path I must take is hard and painful. So, I can’t take her with me. She shouldn’t have to suffer through unnecessary hardships. Ahead of Ren is a path of blessings and glory… I don’t want her to give that up.”
Lee Hyun gently stroked Lena’s silver hair. Receiving that affectionate touch, Lena closed her eyes, deep in thought.
‘…It’s because I’m weak… that Master thinks I can’t accompany him on his tough journey against the Asura sect…’
Feelings of regret, along with sorrow over her weakness, overwhelmed her.
‘I want to grow strong… strong enough to stand by Master… and…’
Pausing her thoughts for a moment, Lena clenched her teeth.
‘Asura sect… it’s because of you… that Master is leaving…’
Never.
‘…I won’t forgive you.’