The Seed Thief

After finally collecting himself, Ervandas explained to the Master why he had come.

“Hmm, so you’re saying you want the tower’s help to ensure a peaceful winter for the continent? And you want us to send our most powerful mages?”

“To be honest…”

“I know. You want me to get involved directly, don’t you?”

“…”

The Tower Master was right. Ervandas had hoped that she would personally intervene in the chaotic situation on the continent. He didn’t necessarily want her to take his kingdom’s side.

Of course, it would be ideal if his kingdom could end the war without further casualties, but if that wasn’t possible, he at least hoped for a temporary peace, a ceasefire that would allow people to prepare for winter.

“But as you know, the Magic Tower doesn’t interfere in worldly affairs. Sure, some mages are involved in the war, but a few individuals acting on their own is completely different from the Magic Tower taking action directly.”

“I understand.”

“Then you must also understand how much more chaotic things will become if the Magic Tower gets involved this time.”

“…”

Her voice was light, but the implications of her words were heavy. He understood. If the Magic Tower intervened even once in the continent’s affairs, it would be expected to intervene every time a major event occurred. And if that happened, the situation on the continent would become even more chaotic. Many kingdoms would offer tributes to the Magic Tower, begging for their assistance.

“Fine. Well, putting that aside… what will you give me if I intervene?”

“What?”

“If you want the Master of the Magic Tower, you need to bring a suitable offering. So. What will you give me?”

“…Nothing.”

“What?”

“I have nothing to offer you in exchange for the Magic Tower’s intervention. I simply came to request humanitarian intervention, for the sake of those who are suffering and dying.”

Lulu stared at him, her mouth agape. A long silence stretched between them. Then, she suddenly burst into laughter, her cackles echoing through the room. Sharia, who was outside, was startled and called in, asking what was going on.

Lulu, clutching her stomach, couldn’t even answer. After a while, she finally managed to compose herself, wiping away tears from her eyes.

“Ervandas Richard Arsipen. A prince, raised in the temple… you’re full of surprises, aren’t you?”

Ervandas remained silent. He knew. He knew how absurd his request was. The mages’ greed was unmatched. The very existence of the Magic Tower was proof of that. Even he thought it was insane to come before their leader and ask for their help without offering anything in return.

“Honestly, the things people bring when they come begging for help are all so pathetic. Do they really think I, the Tower Master, would be swayed by such trivial things…? I chased them all away because I thought they were looking down on me. But to come here empty-handed and ask for help? To appeal to my compassion and ask for humanitarian aid…”

Lulu rested her chin on her hand, her gaze fixed on him. Her posture brought her cleavage into view, and Ervandas hastily averted his gaze. She chuckled, enjoying his discomfort, then rose from her chair.

“Fine. But I have a condition.”

“What is it?!”

Ervandas couldn’t help but raise his voice at her response. He had come here clutching at straws. In fact, he had considered himself lucky if she didn’t just mock him and throw him out. He figured that instead of offering her something inadequate, it would be better to come empty-handed, hoping that she would state her demands. And as long as it wasn’t something morally reprehensible, he was prepared to offer her anything within his power.

He waited anxiously, wondering what she would ask for.

“I want you to stay here.”

“What?”

“I need some time to get to know you. To see if you’re really here because you’re concerned about the suffering of others, as you said, or if you’re just trying to use the Magic Tower for your own benefit.”

She licked her lips suggestively. Only a fool wouldn’t understand what the Master wanted. Ervandas clenched his fists. She was clearly targeting him. His body, to be precise.

‘So that’s it.’

To his surprise, he felt no disappointment or contempt. He was actually relieved that she was targeting him, the person in charge, rather than the other knights.

“Very well. How long do you require me to stay here?”

“Hmm, a month should be enough.”

A month. During that month, this Tower Master would have her way with him. Ervandas thought of all the lewd and vulgar things he had seen in the world, clenching his fists. 

No, discarded would be a blessing. What if she keeps demanding…

Just as his thoughts were spiraling down a dark and dangerous path,

“Now then.”

Oh no. Was she going to drag him to bed right now?

He caught his breath, trying to maintain his composure, as he saw the lustful glint in her eyes. He subtly lifted his arm, checking his clothes and scent.

Lulu turned around and waved her hand.

“You’ve come a long way, so go wash up and get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow. Bye!”

With that, she vanished. Ervandas stood alone in the reception room, staring blankly at the spot where she had disappeared.

“…?”

What? She just told him to rest?

He had thought she was about to drag him to bed, judging by the way she was looking at him. But she just told him to wash up and rest? That was a perfectly normal way to treat a guest who had traveled a long distance.

‘Was I wrong? Is she not interested in me?’

He pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

No. Maybe she thought he looked too tired right now. So she wanted him to rest, regain his strength, freshen up, and then…

There was no point in just standing here. He left the reception room, and Sharia, who had been engrossed in a discussion about some strange magic with her fellow mages, approached him as if she had been expecting him. She showed him to his room and explained the rules he needed to follow.

“Oh, by the way, how long did Master Lulu say you could stay?”

“About a month.”

“Wow, a month. She must really like you. The last one only got three days…”

“The last one? Have there been others before me?”

His voice, though unintentional, came out sounding like an accusation. Sharia shrugged and replied,

“Of course. You’re not the only handsome man on the continent. But a month is the longest anyone’s ever stayed, so be confident, Your Highness! And try not to get kicked out like the others!”

She said that and then left, her task seemingly completed.

He decided to overlook the fact that she had addressed him so casually, even though she knew he was a prince. It seemed that in the Magic Tower, social status was only superficially acknowledged and not taken very seriously. What bothered Ervandas more were the “previous men.”

As he washed up in the bathroom next to his assigned room, he kept thinking about the Tower Master’s other men. Had they been summoned alone like him? Were they assigned to the same room? What did they do before they left?

Regretting not having done more research on them before coming to the Magic Tower, he went to bed. Was it because of the plush bed and soft blankets, so different from his spartan accommodations at the temple? Ervandas tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Staring at the ornate ceiling, the red eyes he had seen earlier kept flashing before his eyes.

* * *

“Hello. Yaaaaawn. Good… morning…”

“It’s lunchtime.”

“The first meal after waking up is breakfast.”

“It’s two in the afternoon.”

“Then, starting today, just remember that two in the afternoon is breakfast.”

The Tower Master, after being absent for most of the day, finally emerged from her chambers, stretching languidly. The mages, accustomed to her behavior, quickly set the table with food.

“Want some, Er?”

“Er?”

“Your name’s Ervandas, right? That’s too long to say. So, I’ll call you Er.”

Er. The nickname, so casual, so… intimate. He blushed, his hands fidgeting. Seeing his flustered reaction, Lulu said magnanimously,

“You can call me Lulu too, Er. We can be on a first-name basis.”

“Your name’s already Lulu.”

It was her name, wasn’t it? Why was she acting as if she were granting him a special privilege?

“Don’t be so picky. Anyway, eat this.”

She said that and then tossed him the reddest apple from the fruit bowl. Ervandas, who usually only ate what was absolutely necessary, stared at the red apple for a moment, then took a bite.

The juicy flesh and red skin filled his mouth, bursting with a sweet and tart flavor. Ervandas, as if entranced, continued to eat the apple. Lulu watched him with amusement, then looked down at her plate and frowned.

“Er, do you like carrots too?”

* * *

After dinner, Lulu disappeared for a while, then returned, dressed impeccably. She must have finally woken up after her late lunch.

‘It would have been fine if she had come as she was.’

Ervandas was startled by his own thought. It was disrespectful to appear disheveled before others. So if Lulu had come out without bothering to get dressed, it meant she wasn’t being courteous towards him. But why did he feel a pang of disappointment?

As he puzzled over his confusing emotions, Lulu spoke to him,

“Now then, shall we have some alone time?”

“Now… you mean?”

He glanced at the window. The sun was starting to set because of Lulu’s late rising, but it was still broad daylight. And she wanted to have some alone time now?

Oh, God.

He bit his lip, silently calling out to God. What kind of shameful act was she planning in broad daylight? Cursing himself for letting his guard down, he followed Lulu, who was humming cheerfully, his steps heavy.

“I actually knew you were coming in advance. So I thought I’d call for you as soon as you arrived.”

“I see.”

Ervandas thought of the gazes that had been directed at him, in the royal palace, in the temple, on the battlefield. So that’s it. It was as he had expected.

“And I thought you would be good at it.”

Ervandas was dumbfounded by her confident tone. She must know he was a former Temple Knight. And she thought he would be good at… it? Sure, he was skilled in most physical activities, but he couldn’t guarantee that he would be good at something he had never done before, especially something like… that.

“Good at… what exactly…?”