The top of the Aetheropolis Administration Bureau.
The door to the steam-filled grand bathhouse swung open.
"Lord Porcan."
The woman lying in the tub turned her head.
"Hm? Candina? I told you not to disturb me while I'm bathing."
"My apologies. I have urgent news. Rudolf Sargier has returned."
"What? Did he break in illegally?"
"No. The disposal site was cleared by an explosion. The magic circuit interpreted that as the condition being met and reinstated Rudolf's citizenship."
"Ha!?"
Porcan sat up.
A massive silhouette loomed through the steam.
"I spare his life, and he doesn't know when to quit."
A blue light flickered across her shadow, and Candina swallowed dryly.
Porcan had become a magical engineering weapon herself, with magic circuits implanted all over her body.
That glow meant she was irritated.
"He has a companion. It seems that person handled the disposal site. And... he took out one of the gatekeepers. Since it was ruled self-defense under the law, General Rosanna didn't take any action."
"A companion? What fool would help that old man?"
"Someone from outside the Tower."
The light, which had been building slowly, surged in intensity.
It was now too bright to look at directly.
"From outside the Tower."
A moment ago, she was annoyed because of Rudolf.
But not anymore.
The name Rudolf had been completely erased from her mind.
In its place was the existence from outside.
She didn't know when this started, who caused it, or why.
But at some point, those belonging to the Tower had naturally come to accept that an outsider could visit at any time.
Porcan was no different, so she wasn't surprised by what she'd just heard.
But she found it deeply interesting that she *wasn't* surprised.
Anyone else would have just let it slide, but not her—a magical engineering warrior and researcher.
Why wasn't she surprised?
An outsider visiting the Tower was clearly a first in Aetheropolis's history, wasn't it?
"Lord Porcan. What should we do about Rudolf? Kick him out again?"
"On what grounds? The city has accepted him."
She clicked her tongue at the thought of Rudolf.
A man who had wasted his entire life on dolls.
Maybe that's why.
He never understood the situation, then or now.
"Candina. Where is Rudolf?"
"At his home."
"And the outsider is with him?"
"Yes, that's right."
Porcan, now dressed, curled her lips.
The surge of curiosity and that damned Rudolf.
She'd have to deal with both at once to feel satisfied.
"Lead the way."
"Pardon...?"
"I'll go myself."
"Yes, yes!! I'll prepare immediately!"
Candina scrambled out, and Porcan, left alone, licked her lips.
It had been far too peaceful, unbearably boring.
Today, for the first time in a long while, she felt motivated.
* * *
Standing in front of the house, Rudolf turned to look at Jinhyuk.
"It's been years since I last visited. It'll be a mess, so bear with it."
"That's fine. I just did some cleaning."
Rudolf let out a short laugh and opened the door.
And surprise spread across his face at the sight before him.
The house wasn't dirty.
It was spotless, as if it had just been cleaned, without a speck of dust.
It actually looked cleaner than when he'd left.
Seeing this, Jinhyuk swallowed dryly.
"Your standards for 'dirty' aren't different, are they? I can't do better than this."
"No, that's not it."
Shaking his head, Rudolf stepped inside.
It wasn't just clean.
Various foods were laid out all over the house.
Vegetables that still looked fresh, as if they'd been placed there recently.
He turned around to see General Rosanna shrugging.
"Many still miss the past, even if they fear the Bureau's military power."
Rosanna slowly turned to leave.
"I'll take my leave now. Staying long isn't a good combination for me and Lord Rudolf. And one more thing."
She hesitated before continuing.
"I'd advise you to reconsider reclaiming Vayla. It's a meaningless goal."
"What do you mean by that?"
"You'll see for yourself faster. Go to the plaza."
With that, Rosanna left the house.
A sense of unease crept over Rudolf, and he frowned.
The long years spent in the disposal site.
Had something changed in that time?
"Let's rest a bit and head straight to the plaza. I need to check on Vayla."
Rudolf sat down on a chair.
"Yes, let's."
He wanted to go right away, but he decided to wait.
They'd come straight here from the disposal site without rest, and Rudolf looked exhausted.
*Growl.*
Besides, he was a bit hungry himself.
He pointed to an apple on the table.
"Can I eat this?"
"Eat as you like. It's not like I bought it anyway."
"Thanks."
He wiped it roughly on his clothes and took a big bite.
The apple vanished in an instant.
He devoured another, then another, bit by bit.
"You... eat well."
"Want one?"
He flinched and held out a cleanly wiped apple.
He'd been too busy eating to offer one.
"No. I just want to rest for now."
"Okay."
Don't disturb his rest, just eat apples.
He was about to try a pear when he felt a presence.
He stared at the door, and Rudolf looked at him questioningly.
"What is it? Is it rotten?"
"No. I think we have a visitor."
"A visitor...?"
Rudolf turned his gaze to the window.
Nothing was visible...?!
His eyes widened.
A dazzling light began to appear in the distance.
No doubt about it.
The head of the Bureau, Porcan Beldor.
'Why...?'
He couldn't help but wonder.
She valued dignity and honor above all else.
He thought she wouldn't come in person, if only to avoid showing she cared about Rudolf.
He'd been too naive.
"You stay inside."
No matter how strong Jinhyuk was, this was bad.
The head of the Bureau never moved alone.
She brought at least three general-level fighters and over two hundred soldiers.
All of them would be armed with the Bureau's magical engineering weapons.
It wasn't a force one person could handle.
"Yes. I will."
"Don't come out no matter wha—... You said you would, so why are you going out!!"
Rudolf broke into a cold sweat as Jinhyuk disappeared from his sight.
Less than a second after he told him not to go out, Jinhyuk had zipped outside.
First that crazy raccoon, and now this. What was up with this party?
Resigned, Rudolf stepped out of the house.
The street was already empty.
It was only natural. The Bureau was feared by everyone, and its head had just appeared.
Before long, the troops came into view.
"Ooh."
Jinhyuk's eyes sparkled intensely.
People appeared, equipped with all kinds of magical engineering weapons.
The magic circuits running through the barrels and blades made them look incredibly cool.
Especially that mechanical vehicle they were pulling.
He wanted one.
"Can you make something like that too, Lord Rudolf?"
"No? My specialty in magical engineering is dolls."
Jinhyuk's face instantly fell, and Rudolf swallowed dryly.
For the first time, he thought: he should have learned how to make a mechanical motorcycle.
*Kwooooom!!*
A massive burst of steam erupted, obscuring the view.
A giant shadow emerged from within it.
"Long time no see, Rudolf Sargier."
"Long time no see, Porcan Beldor."
"Show some respect, old man! This is the head of the Aetheropolis Administration Bureau!"
"Enough."
Porcan raised a hand and sneered.
"What would an old man who's lost everything know? You're still here, unable to control your own bladder."
Despite the harsh mockery, Rudolf didn't flinch.
He just narrowed his eyes, as if in pity.
"We once respected each other's fields and studied magical engineering together. The fear that started with dolls has ruined you."
"How dare you!!"
A soldier lunged forward.
*Kraaang!*
With a loud crack, he vanished from sight.
Porcan, who had sent him flying, radiated a fierce blue light and spoke.
"Don't act until I command."
The soldier who was sent flying didn't answer.
His body had been shattered, and he was already dead.
Porcan's eyes turned to Jinhyuk, standing beside her.
"Are you the one? The person who came from outside the Tower."
Her voice was noticeably softer.
"Yes."
"You look remarkably cheerful, even facing me and the Aetheropolis army. Is that courage born of ignorance?"
"Think what you like, but I'd say it's confidence born of certainty. That's closer than ignorance."
Silence fell between them.
The generals and soldiers who had followed Porcan broke into a cold sweat.
Who would dare speak to the head of the Bureau like that?
It wouldn't be strange if Porcan killed him on the spot.
But contrary to expectations—
"Kuhahahahaha!!"
A hearty laugh burst out.
She laughed for a long time, as if she found it hilarious, before finally speaking.
"I like that courage. The brave deserve rewards. Tell me what you want. Why did you enter Aetheropolis?"
"I want the doll, Vayla. Can you give her to me?"
Rosanna, who had just arrived, squeezed her eyes shut.
He should be begging for his life, and instead he brings up Vayla's name.
It was over.
The conversation ended here.
A terrible, irreversible conclusion was about to come.
"Interesting."
But once again, an unexpected reaction.
It was strange.
Why was she so lenient with this man?
"Do you even know what Vayla is, having just arrived?"
"I know she fought for the city, but was discarded when she was no longer useful."
"Rudolf Sargier. Did you also return because you want Vayla?"
"Yes."
Porcan smiled and nodded a few times.
Then she turned the head of her vehicle.
"Follow me. I don't know why you want a weapon that only knows how to kill, but I'll give her to you. The blood-soaked doll, Vayla."
The situation was flowing strangely.
Jinhyuk shrugged.
"Let's go, for now? No reason to refuse if they're giving it away."
Nodding, Rudolf followed Porcan with Jinhyuk.
But why?
With every step he took, an inexplicable sense of dread washed over him.
* * *
The plaza of Aetheropolis, where Porcan led them.
The great magical engineer, Rudolf Sargier, who hadn't wavered even before the head of the Bureau—
*Thud!*
Collapsed.
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T/N:
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