BVGW Chapter 23

I let my guard 68c64a708b down.10fe4a97c2cc44d7

I never 498b32faf9 imagined a 078d55fce3 situation like 815549035f this could ae47305da0 happen. I hadn’t even 6947980029 considered that I 5626670f25 might end up ae24787f93 visiting the Mage 6ed8c6bd1c Tower in the 2f19b13302 first place.251ef401bde3bce6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

[5, 4, 3…]

Ah, this 25b91aee09 is driving ffc8a48fad me crazy!d929a14d5c5b63e2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

With a 457e2a4116 trembling hand, dd4e469557 I finally 1bafded99b selected one c6296a52a7 of the 4eb28986c2 options, unable 7547a1881e to move 1801ec8ce5 until the 209ef995fb last moment. As soon 4af480ab3e as I 9d9404e5b7 did, the b251785d8f shaking in 1923c0838c my body 6d98075374 miraculously subsided.d7a75ba0ef3257f0

A smirk 1682d6a549 lifted one 1d4bdab0fa corner of 3ce355816d my lips. Not of my own 34c67712b0 will.af16dd50c8250b6e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“What does it 4a403ab0bf matter to you 099a658088 whether this kid ae97e7888a came here to ab24631248 play or not? If you’re so 57c1f1cd7c upset, why don’t af3aa5c22b you take it d3fa03faea up with the 16e92dcf54 Tower Master?”6072511eaece0f95

I tilted 197f7794fe my head bd9bb984a9 slightly to db8b47aec5 the side, 84bd90800e casting a 6ed310e4d2 crooked glare 80a9c23c55 at the 6dc8f716b7 burly mage.327eb8a6fe25b79a

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I couldn’t bring myself 2340b12bb5 to pick the other 10429422ae choices, as they were df9e469d00 far too provocative.82ff00b913a1cbfd

“…”c93944b54dd884b5

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

And then I b7c3e6e97b stood there, frozen, 053256bd6d while my mind 9dddf10729 went blank.ff7898e7c0e2fada

Shocked gazes pierced e2305be71f through me from 60c0475c0e every direction, including 3c1a4482c7 from the mage 710aea4a33 who had caused 2a20fd26ab the commotion in 0a6521d75f the first place. They, too, 4202e6aab9 stared at 5301f7be1b me with f156b7981a their mouth 22950f35de hanging open 1eb7f8c3ee in disbelief.afba662c679baf72

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

‘Why do they look 19b8633d05 like that?’d0892e473d8ad962

Even though I aa11a9332a had just thrown 3cd07504a1 out a sharp 78aab6ba1b retort, they weren’t f773a208ae blushing with rage. Instead, their de928cbf3c eyes were 014dd03fcd wide with f8b2ac7b11 surprise, their fc9e106452 mouth agape, f3865206c4 as if 672acc25d0 they’d witnessed 5cf40a47fc something unbelievable.0664fd90fe051dbc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The other mages around b2d0a422b2 us looked just as 7ccb3ae223 stunned.0c7aaef51128b727

That’s when 9439200526 I heard cac611026b a cold c396bd5cb7 voice from f833ff120f behind me. The moment 2dd92986f3 I realized e1addc8334 their gazes 0a0eca7911 weren’t directed d8cc51d64c at me b0f8f42d77 but at fbfc491766 something—or someone—behind b2582ab079 me.64ddc26711b6efbb

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Exactly. Why don’t cfa70b46b0 you take 17b4ea93f2 it up 839592f2fc with me?”37158fb0e4cc2af6

Me…?1491fbd5b2fcfcfb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

With a creaking sound, c161a19ed4 I slowly turned my d645b9d4e2 head to find Billy 87d52dd3fe and a man I c65fea9fb4 didn’t recognize standing there. Billy was c54f7fc501 grinning as 2a08ae1246 if he 127ec50062 was enjoying d4f1222d9f the show, b9d0ce8edc and the 7b0c4e65c9 other man 9efe23ad82 had a 50f5bd51d7 soft smile 2671b5526e on his da61b94201 face.1edf58844c82b05e

They say 77d8d13521 beastfolk are 5deaef8c90 so terrified 73fbc75469 when they’re 5edcea5b54 scared that 8dc19dbd95 they can’t 057edeb6a0 even scream. That’s exactly what 661ec2fe2e I felt as c012fe8f0d I froze on 6055bbd128 the spot.1a7f4a817f567f5f

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“What could they possibly 7c743f7a42 be so dissatisfied with?”b81bf3d4907f6e38

The question was directed a300f11e7a at the burly mage. His face, already pale, 1394a92337 turned ghostly white as 12cf2b2a84 he collapsed to his 1e3604e19d knees with a thud, 12b8404aff unable to hold himself 8f59b5fb7f up any longer.8ff8cb0f985b64d6

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Something about the man’s 3aa575d5df calm tone and kind 968a695a03 smile made my skin aabba8be9d crawl. I felt like if 5a8f8762be I said anything further, 9a00419ba9 I might end up ee05ae0721 on my knees, too. So I carefully 4c43a40696 stepped back and 66d604d8c1 sat down quietly 233fe3741d next to Ed, 4cb97ce653 keeping my mouth f490213de7 shut.15ac82d2c81ce1cc

“T-T-T-Tower Master!”8582dce27e670c83

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The man 606bcc0875 they called 6ef1d208fc the Tower 4617b5e657 Master still 0064e1ec94 wore that eb34ef7c0d unwavering smile. It was as if 7b099cbb41 that expression was permanently e8e16c076c fixed on his face.3d414dc46e40b8c5

‘I… I 6b567bca39 just said 1f612b49e2 that in f09aa2c6e4 front of 6023aac3a1 the Tower 3bfe1635c6 Master…’30797c12de5918ec

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Would it 5f7f12197b have been 4315257015 better to 5f01ec941a choose the 2e27f6497e option criticizing 40b16cadaa the Mage 096036edbb Tower’s standards?34ff09a524f71d04

I had dbb5d852f8 never felt 78d7c51df8 so resentful 672e219599 toward the 9d60503321 limited choices 53a3854e84 I’d been cb87821ce0 given.6b2c7626fd0b8e46

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As my mental 0c45d652c9 state crumbled in 08fb5188f7 real time, I 55cee5b445 noticed Ed looking 1ccbbc818f at me with d2910ec81b shining eyes, completely ab634af89a unfazed by the f7f83c85d0 situation.6fc93e737212e6c3

It seemed he was 93123a4030 deeply moved by my 7595cd0d56 earlier remark.47f9c2bcd6ba22c2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 f1ea01c38ed211ce

[Affection: 30%]

 fbd53e2c737126f0

His Affection had 1268a89dd8 increased by 4% 9bff7a82f7 in one go.f0b0d1aa10d903f8

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Well, dramatic situations like d40fbaf3ce this were bound to a573669957 leave a bigger impact a5a546b155 than small acts of 1a97ddb242 kindness in daily life.dc33d40a1b7f6c48

Even though I bce3176542 should’ve been happy 4de7a45c04 about the unprecedented 0bc612089f increase, I couldn’t d52c2eb80e stop glancing at 0fed5e3562 the mage kneeling 8384e06f3f on the floor, e517b50dbc head bowed in fb4dafb99f submission.51268667074331ed

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

‘Am I next?’32fc8a4bc3141bbb

Before coming to b36bb6a0e0 the Mage Tower, 457bef01f4 I had asked afa062c543 Billy about the d053262fd9 new Tower Master 45c8707c25 after hearing he 806935cd40 had recently taken 191a895b3b over.5fdbdfc9ff8ae7f1

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 e645ffad1d168449

“What kind of person e9cdedfad3 is the new Tower a3e6a07d37 Master?”3ecd9cfac0f29238

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“A weirdo.”94ccc0b13bfbafa8

“…Huh?”92a35b73fc0b56a0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“He enjoys tormenting mages de46840af5 while wearing that smiling 43a789debb face of his.”d6a5191b7b6fd76e

 b29719219c909d28

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Billy’s words about how 63d7e2e419 it wouldn’t do me 41916521c8 any good to get 18025303d6 close to him echoed 502be8afc1 endlessly in my mind.c7ea1538de3a1f7b

A cold 4ab189bac9 sweat trickled 555cae05bc down my 252a0b1f74 back, which 0f79930f25 had yet c84ca3a8d6 to dry d7dfd99850 from the 2c335d1864 previous one.dd7a4652255f3090

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Stand up. We’ll discuss 1ca1e381e6 the details c0b07b9f3f later.”3c314e73ce5021d2

The Tower Master’s voice 6b80acdd42 was still as gentle 28ceb9479e as ever.070c5db20fa64ffb

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Which made it all 62513b4329 the more terrifying.69466801b4244618

The burly mage, cb3164fd77 trembling like a f4edc8b250 condemned man awaiting b049d5f1b4 his execution, managed 642b761a0a to get to 999ca2cceb his feet. As he turned e97b1e6cd5 to leave, his 215f1a3a6d sunken eyes briefly 3ae217aaf9 met mine before 4c85ddc612 averting again.63611cae606683a0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was a a5d0447813 gaze I instinctively 5009ce4756 found hard to 07200a2ccd meet.a242704d590bc647

“Remi Morton, correct?”86f7871c9a89424c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Yes, yes? Oh, yes!”58deb56956320fd8

 861b209b2b9c2a49

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Startled, I sprang 03529158fb to my feet 3490173d1a and responded, my 6ae1c4cc85 voice filled with 8b97329247 tension.6b93765d437a32f4

The man—still smiling 7035d65b47 in a way 0fe34f7ab1 that made it 3181e95258 hard to believe 3cef8cdfad he enjoyed tormenting 73d2a270c8 others—introduced himself.bd511cbcf8b49e70

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“I’m Nick Fren.”46e881b921a8d3d9

Nick’s brief self-introduction was 6deb2623bc followed by an amused 15177fefce glance in my direction.d3cdf20bad4933db

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You’re even 0af322c8b5 more interesting 10e71c70b2 in person.”c623284c0bfd4be0

…What?67a174933031e82c

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Let’s head to a6742f3bec my room.”1e6f6fff9e650436

Without further 00e6b4a469 explanation, he 25408cd418 snapped his 8919d3ca16 fingers.fbe9945f91aef7a9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Once again, 25abe9bd96 the scenery cf4e3e8af7 shifted before 7ab0dc2145 my eyes. This time, we 7a4f92eef2 were in a 04f8838d12 neatly organized office-like 1c427a5044 space.6ebbaf1abc9c442c

Unlike the extravagant decor 142cc6a3f1 of the other floors 1a4400b8a0 of the Mage Tower, 4ec2d10e2c this room was unassuming c95924ba80 to the point of 0e4a2c95fc being modest. Whether it 19ddd597c1 had been ad5377f410 deliberately remodeled 4ae8ca33ae this way 10b6649afc or not, 76320f7a82 it was 4acf7973a1 clear that ad2c59894a Nick’s preferences a8c5a8289b were reflected 6416362e5c here.fb7411b97171d467

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Have a seat.”4bd5740f494bd06f

Following his 7dfe782448 instructions, I bfd1f3de97 nervously shuffled 83d7d9c0fd over to 5ccf522d44 a sofa 99cf45aced and sat a4412ecd85 down.24d8a026f3d6529d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Nick took 720b989f6b a seat 37fa765769 across from f678174b8e me, while 1a29a30a34 Billy leaned efd10f46a9 against the fe653f9ca0 desk, letting d87f0a3639 out a 4c2266213d deep sigh 9e51c3d622 as he 29b52e404b looked at 3da6eaba9a Nick.d1582b7c4b09ffe3

“So, uh… ad6a55a231 you called 74fad89453 me because 2641190ca7 you had 4ebeba7f91 something to bc1ed28d49 ask?”0fc454ab2f9d0add

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Nick nodded 572b116bc5 lightly at 7bd9009a5c my question 282b00e95c and replied 8dee09af30 in an 043e5841a8 endlessly kind d0b2c56970 voice.176cce8d93852826

“That’s right. But honestly, that was 3736fe1f73 just an excuse.”bc7cd3cf8bfc0cc4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Pardon?”97285edc55d86939

“I just wanted 8fc8d06906 to meet the 8f9533ed6d beastfolk who sent 1e378a29be a letter to a180b8a999 the Mage Tower.”9b5583ce1e1f1a77

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

…What?06b4a26beba8d433

“You don’t seem all 3a37d89cd1 that brave, though.”1301ef2f4631ba4a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

???91d2fc5553e0b46b

Wait. This way of 0bc4f9493d speaking felt oddly e95b1df056 familiar.7b96432a0d1bc969

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Suddenly, the 0183b8d245 memory of c644b89b84 exchanging messages 04ff020530 with the 4c407d56bb Mage Tower 2a7242b630 back at 4cc4e0745b the Morton 442dfa5445 estate flashed 59fc875b8d through my f00e1bbd17 mind.02b421cfd6236c56

If you opened 9d97944071 the door, doesn’t b2783c2f8b that mean I’m fb69fc1af2 supposed to come 8378bb8fd8 in?3c1ed3388662fb6e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The Mage fb81aba13d Tower doesn’t ece8190d60 deal in d2af6a98a6 such matters. I recommend trading a8d196c913 with the Zebra df68a0e5d0 Territory instead.704607a1f7855cb7

I was curious because 0375f562b1 it’s the first time 95bf075aa6 someone has sent a e7a41d8761 personal letter to the 847e44e040 Mage Tower.b523bd787fb5535b

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 aa7fa24f545f4a12

Ah, my 37bd928111 ears are 97ea504bb8 hurting—please lower 4a309a744e your voice 65b0e8ad10 a little.cf67b36d118e8926

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

 59b55bcdab48adc4

That subtly rude… 6b33d2dbec no, slightly grating a8ba87ecc1 tone.931df0d1599ea6aa

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Could it be…?”1cb4df7cdd624225

“Could it?”0ee3f7f56a927f25

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“That weird guy I was communicating with back then…!”df1b4288431fe89b

“Oh, you finally realized? You’re slower than I thought.”f6a5bb0adb1c2d5d

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Wow, he’s right. Now it 4fb37dfc60 makes sense.aef1f1d037290aec

The poor sound b71402428b quality of the 0ec36da3f2 magic communication scroll 8e9060ad4b back then had 9a15a622fb prevented me from 5618ae286d recognizing the voice.7060c825cba0f890

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Ed, who was fc2d54103f sitting beside me, 02a0aeab1f leaned forward slightly 097fedfd4d to look up b9459e3546 at me, his 782ab2d7d9 round eyes brimming b9f4712a2e with curiosity.a7f2a3bb4dc802a4

“Remi, do you know the Tower Master?”ffebe76ee04e48a6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Huh? Oh, rather than know him…”7658c04e776fa514

“Of course you do. You’ve been secretly exchanging messages with him, after all.”9fc4c39fbf36e7af

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Why would you say it like that?!”27a8f297e36b8519

This Tower Master was f31961a923 so different from the 35fa35d0d2 countless rumors claiming he 67220d8784 was some kind of 8d5caf79d7 demon king.939f45a054c87b4c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The more I 6773b8a587 spoke with him, 1e3a7cedd7 the more I 0a89f798c7 found myself speaking 66460a76f5 casually, despite being f6900f771c a carnivorous beastfolk. It was unsettling.7cdd777db6a9d2e8

Nick chuckled as if 429a9461eb joking and cleared his 27ab6b8990 throat before getting to b094d7ec18 the point.2f03bb3b29c9aaef

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“While part of the reason I called you here was curiosity, I do have a legitimate reason as well.”a11e269edb1214c2

As I 114004aff8 had been 19013c64db told, the 3eb01d6a63 purpose of 5ae41f41dd my summons 33c48ebad0 to the f8dbc90261 Mage Tower bf3f75868f was to 317a4c9893 investigate life ccaefe7960 in areas 9935fcc0c3 with no 8432c051d9 proper mages.8c1b0cd6380bb892

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

When I asked what 402b509112 the investigation was for, a0db20680b Nick’s response—saying the Mage 7b9f99ff41 Tower might provide mages dab824d56b to such regions—genuinely shocked 2d3d37689a me.f5886097be759522

The Mage Tower? Doing something like that? It was so out 05c9119970 of character for their f497f43ddb image.7aaa64521867d176

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Noticing my surprised 8218eededa expression, Nick smiled 7f2a5277e2 brightly.2c1f651d0f0b8714

“I thought I’d take a different path than my predecessors.”d702827d3bf0c9be

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His reason was 1e3a3423fe simple. Not because 69f27bc52c he wanted ab5d429c51 to improve 4e77790e47 the Mage 8d9b794c3c Tower’s image ff98648109 or do a6299f5c57 good deeds, 4a8d446b91 but simply 6de253efe1 because he 52ddd032ec found it 34218801a2 interesting.c8e9720be84bb968

Since he 40a483d2f2 was interested, 606faa71e4 he was 44c5c8c683 doing it. And if he lost 94288f31ce interest, he might stop 64da691283 at any time.59a686e61cb2516e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The Q&A session ended more quickly than expected.19aff6f6af8310f3

I also learned a 0e62429825 few updates I hadn’t b53dc452ad been particularly curious about.19444b5d4a1c6341

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“It seems the Sheep Territory has decided to resume receiving magical support from the Kangaroo Territory. They even paid a hefty sum to renew their contract.”2420111e72e04fef

So that’s how 560b2d78d1 it ended. Well, after my marriage 16735c32f9 fell apart, Raymond didn’t ebb1096c77 really have any other 23e83ce321 options besides the Kangaroo 637c73c319 Territory.3b899e0a57112aa3

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Exhausted despite having done 08d729a626 very little, I sluggishly 1c85eab9ae exited the Tower Master’s 181451da29 office. I had intended to 97d9c07aae leave with just Ed, 0bbf40a480 but Nick and Billy 5dd98cc5f1 followed us out as 8a16e61383 well.39792989e44dde04

We descended to a daea4c0242 storage-like space on the 044ddeef96 floor below, where mages 017e1b2dfd were busy transporting magical e46dab9532 items they had crafted. Occasionally, I c11ebf0c78 spotted herbivorous ed592e2aa0 beastfolk, which c56eec7126 was a 3e066aab30 bit of c1b9b0e1b6 a relief.936885323f27b2d3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ed’s eyes sparkled with bc55eb8c3f curiosity as he stared db75fd99ac at the magical items, 08c107d568 each encased in transparent 0e6703dc16 boxes of various shapes, b35ede2e2e being carried around.83ef2936cc472848

Now that 42985099cf I was 763c48a6c7 about to c2cf46a3a4 leave the 9e0b3b52c1 Mage Tower, 22887fc025 I felt 9b7c4da781 more at ed2ced8649 ease. With a gentle smile, 8f86aaca44 I turned to ask 2649645fa3 Ed if there were 076a5e7772 any magical items that f8f48d277e interested him.1d0ab5471e957c0b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Nick, the 755c9d252d Tower Master 8c7b66af90 who had 7cf236498b unnecessarily tagged 5f1053b55b along, was bcc63748c6 still standing df5c204cb3 beside me. But since I wouldn’t aa273414b8 see him again soon, 28a63dbefa I was less bothered ff9d970e43 than before. Though he was 8c076d8041 still intimidating.8fd46617435e8411

However, the 86ad19e63f options didn’t b8b43ff765 seem to d1450f7915 care about 34dea20622 my sense aab31a896f of peace.1dfe8738f41dbe74

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

 957bc0ce25e7a85d

[1. A kid 89002f9012 is just eb02623077 a kid. Look at him wagging d15c47e1f4 his tail over something 07f7943ff9 like this.2a93e7331cdf883e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

2. What’s so fascinating about that? These are all pretty common things.
3. If there’s something you want, ask your uncle. Who knows? He might get rid of the Tower Master and hand you the entire Mage Tower.]

 a75cd8b1b7503dd6

What kind of madness b09c4980a6 was this?!2ba4b4f5fe1eed8b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

We’ve been getting along a0d583c936 so well lately… why 5f6ffa61d3 is this happening to e022edac7d me?!f1ff867f9d07befe

Looking at the magical items being transported, it was clear none of them were “common.” And pressing the third option felt like a one-way ticket to never seeing Nick or Billy again.1e6959f042ad6bc4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But pressing the first f4fc828f96 option?ae5409847e8fb58b

No, I couldn’t do e3bdbaa9d6 that either.24168bf1b493a149

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I glanced at Billy 45f994523e and Nick, who were e091f08b5d still standing nearby, with 2b21b2c9e4 trembling eyes. It was clear that dcaf3f1177 no matter what I 939bdbedd6 said, I’d end up 48d1fbf9d8 annoying one of them.d1a3a04435d54b15

And then it cb9c4967a5 happened.1320330a0c705b7a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Crash!b8b623ef80a6f4a5

“Huh?!”474d96ec5d24e85f

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A mage ea641f3f87 who had 479e7203e2 seemed unsteady 6eb1f12cc2 suddenly tripped c4bcf0f085 over nothing 29254dc241 and toppled c1c10fd7a2 forward, spilling ce049c91d4 a box b100f42ece of magical 812d17a2cf items toward 3972d784a7 me.785da3887f9a87eb

“…What?”4abeb24b1d7989c4

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

In the chaos, 78ab333b98 my body was 2dd512e76e shoved, and, against 10ca2b83c5 my will, I b59bdd2c91 accidentally pressed one 1cdd2b0bf5 of the options.7a3ef5373f7010a6

What followed was my c6a0286827 voice, sharp and cutting, 28f4744ac4 emerging from my mouth.070ed3f9ef4ff7f7

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“A kid is just a kid. Look at him wagging his tail over something like this.”fa34ceb65b780e6a