The King's Inspection (3)

"I’d heard the rumors about the Sage’s Tower and thought I might pay it a visit, but..."

"Then the timing is perfect," the man said. "Wait right there."

"I... pardon?"

I gave a confused nod. He ignored me, hoisting a massive iron hammer and swinging it with full force toward the structure. At that moment, a violent shockwave tore through the air.

"Stop! You'll bring the tower down—"

I instinctively shut my eyes, bracing for the thunder of collapsing stone, but the sound never came. When I slowly looked again, the tower remained—standing as it always did, looking just as precarious and unstable as the moment I arrived.

No... that’s impossible. It looks like a stiff breeze would topple it.

"I see you're in the dark," the man remarked. "The Tower Master here... well, she blew the place up once. Whether she’s holding a grudge about it or actually reflecting on her mistakes, I couldn't say. Either way, she performed Magic Toolization on the entire structure to ensure it can never be destroyed again."

A Magic Tool? This whole tower? What could possibly be the point?

"If that's the case," I ventured, "then an Attack on the tower shouldn't accomplish anything, should it?"

"Not necessarily. She doesn't manage the place at all, so it's undergone Dungeonization. The internal layout is a mess. Climbing through that maze is a nightmare, isn't it? But if I do this, the tower's defensive functions activate to prevent damage... and the surprise usually brings her running out."

As I listened to his explanation, something suddenly shot out from the top floor. It plummeted through the air, landing squarely on top of me and pinning me to the ground.

"Why must you always resort to this!?"

It was Sage Melty. She was as disheveled as ever, wearing nothing but a single, tattered shirt. The man didn't even blink at the sight of her; he simply let out a heavy sigh.

"Because you won't come down to the ground. And you let the place turn into a Dungeon on top of that."

"I-I have to! If I don't, you'll just try to make me work. I just want to be a shut-in!"

"I don't care if you're a shut-in, but I need you to do your job."

"I am doing it! I have proof!"

The Sage reached behind her back and produced a Shovel.

"Look, I even finished the Renovation on Fritz's weapon."

"Listen... why is my weapon a Shovel again?"

"Eh? Is it not? Lord Yuri told me you killed a Dragon with a Shovel."

The pieces finally clicked. I remembered him now. There were reports of a man among Yuri's retainers who could slay a Dragon single-handedly. I had officially granted him the title of Dragon Slayer based on those reports.

That’s right. It was him.

He had always been carrying a Shovel for some reason, and that bizarre image had stuck with me more than his actual face. Now that he held the tool in his hands, I was certain. This man was the Dragon Slayer.

And that means this tower—looking as though it might collapse at any moment—is actually a defensive bulwark capable of withstanding a blow from the Dragon Slayer himself? Could the Kingdom of Inraku incorporate such technology?

...Fine. I'll ask Yuri about it later.

With those thoughts tucked away, I remained pinned under the Sage’s feet, waiting for their bickering to end.

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