Chapter 3.2

‘I’m not allowed to leave until I become an archmage? Who came up with that nonsense?!’

Ordinary apprentices needed at least a decade of training to become an archmage.

Luckily, Cecilia had reached that level in just five. But aside from finally being allowed to leave, nothing had really changed.

And that wasn’t the end of it.

Even as an archmage, she was entirely cut off from the outside world while living in the Guardian Tower.

Which meant that right now, Cecilia had no idea what’s transpired beyond its walls over the past five years.

New apprentices did arrive from time to time, but discussing the outside world within the tower was strictly forbidden.

“It’s an outdated and cruel policy, Master.”

“She’s right!”

“That’s our Lady Cecil!”

Cheers erupted from the apprentices, and Branto’s face flushed red and purple.

“You are an archmage nurtured by this Guardian Tower! What could you possibly do out there on your own?”

Branto fired the words without pause.

“If you leave now, I’ll banish you! Even if you come crawling back, begging with tears, I won’t take you in. So think carefully, Cecil!”

Cecilia scoffed inwardly.

Sure, people outside Mezina were wary of magic, but archmages were a different story.

Anyone who truly understood her power’s worth would gladly pay whatever it took to hire her.

This was something the younger apprentices didn’t understand, having entered the tower at such a young age.

‘I’m not the same person I was when I first came here. Whoever comes after me, I’ll deal with them myself.’

She no longer feared the tyrant who once hunted her.

If ordinary knights tried to come for her now, she could blow them away like fallen leaves with a flick of her hand.

“I’m never coming back! Don’t even think of summoning me. I’m sick of this tower and everything in it!”

Branto’s face crumpled into a scowl.

“I thought of you as my successor…! How much longer must this poor, aging master toil…”

She had enough.

Cecilia truly respected her master, but that didn’t mean she was going to stand around listening to a bunch of pointless whining.

And she certainly wasn’t about to inherit the burden of the Guardian Tower.

There was only one solution.

‘I planned to teleport outside, but… no choice now.’

Cecilia met Branto’s gaze squarely.

“Forgive me, Master. But you’ll live another 50 years, won’t you? Good luck!”

Bright, azure magic began swirling around her, and a teleportation circle floated into place above her head.

“You’re teleporting here?! You’ll destroy the tower!”

Branto roared in panic, but it was too late.

“…CEEECIIIILLL!”

⋆˚✿˖°⋆˚✿˖°

The capital of the Magic Kingdom, Mezina.

A woman appeared in the middle of the square in a flash of light, but no one batted an eye.

Magic was that mundane in Mezina.

But for Cecilia, this moment was anything but ordinary.

‘Finally…!’

She cheered inwardly.

‘Time to live life to the fullest! I’ll find a rich employer and splurge money like it’s water. I’m going to live in a grand mansion again, just like before, without lifting a finger!’

But her soaring dreams were shattered in an instant.

The moment she looked up, she saw the wanted posters plastered all around the square.

Posters that featured her youthful face from five years ago.

[Cecilia Ceres
Report to the Imperial Palace immediately upon sight. Failure to comply will result in summary execution.
Bounty — 100,000,000 Crova]