"Being kicked out... means you got fired, right?"
"Wouldn't that be the case?"
"Did she... get her paycheck settled?"
What I was curious about wasn't something like a salary, but I decided to bring it up anyway.
“I guess so?”
"Weren't she unhappy about being kicked out for something like a curfew? I thought there would be people protesting."
Silence fell once again at this question. The two exchanged glances with their mouths closed. Then Karen spoke.
"The third rule: You must not mention the expelled person at all."
"Huh?"
"We aren't supposed to talk about the person who was kicked out."
To tell me not to talk about the person who left. I let out a sarcastic laugh without realizing it. It was no different from blatantly committing a perfect crime.
'As expected, it wasn't that she was kicked out...'
She must have been dead.
"So, nobody knows where the people who left went?"
Karen and Marilyn kept their mouths shut once again, as if by prior agreement. It seemed that even this conversation was violating the rule that 'no mention must be made of the person who was kicked out.'
It was not that I did not understand their feelings. However, there was a fact the servants here were unaware of. No matter how strictly they followed the rules of the Magic Tower, what awaited them was bound to be 'kicked out.'
To a place from which there is no return. Moreover, neither colleagues, nor family, nor anyone else will ever know of that death.
"Let me tell you the fourth rule. You must never enter the room at the far left end of the fourth floor."
Instead of answering my question, Marilyn said the following rule.
"We call it the Forbidden Room."
"Is that the Tower Master's room?"
"The Tower Master's room is on this floor. You can enter to clean or be summoned."
A forbidden room that one must absolutely never enter. I wondered if they might have piled up corpses there. After all, the stench could simply be dealt with using that so-called magic.
Hoping this was just my wild imagination, I took my fingernails, which I had been habitually gnawing on, out of my mouth.
"Even if I ask for the reason, you won't tell me, right? No, it's not that you won't tell me, but you probably don't know either."
I gave up on having a conversation now. I had no choice but to listen to their one-sided explanation of the Magic Tower's rules.
"That's right. Because it is the forbidden room."
"There are other rules, but those apply to the maids, so you don't need to know them, Young Lady. Another researcher will probably tell you about the wizard's rules."
"Yes."
I turned my gaze to where Tara had been. It was empty. It looked like she had finished her meal and left in the meantime. I briefly considered asking where Tara's room was, but I shook my head.
After all, hasty actions might hasten Tara's demise.
***
Yesterday, after returning from the restaurant, I fell asleep as if I had collapsed. I slept for fifteen hours straight, but I didn't feel refreshed.
'There’s no way I could get a proper night’s sleep in a place like this.'
I don't remember exactly, but it felt like I had a disturbing dream.
Having skipped breakfast, I stood in front of the door at the end of this floor. This was the Magic Tower's laboratory.
'I should at least craft a recovery potion.'
I wanted to walk properly as soon as possible. After going through what happened yesterday, I didn't have the confidence to entrust my body to Karen. There would be interference from Eon, but if I factored that in, there was nothing I could do.
'That is something to think about when the time comes.'
I opened the door cautiously, just in case I might disturb someone's research. Of course, I was also scared that something strange might suddenly pop out.
'Is it as if the sun never rises in Magic Tower?'
Of course, that couldn't be true, but the sky was completely covered with clouds. Thanks to that, the room was so dark that it was hard to believe it was morning. As I looked around, I heard a voice from inside.
"So that is the new person."
It was so dark that I could only sense a human figure; I couldn't confirm who the other person was. Perhaps because they couldn't see well either, they turned on a light from their side.
"Nice to see you."
The fact that the researcher was a woman with brown hair and green eyes was no longer surprising. However, her large glasses created a distinctive feature.
"It's called Selinia."
A gaunt hand clasped my hand.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Selly."
“Sally?”
"Yes."
Is it a coincidence? Is it a coincidence that a researcher with brown hair and green eyes just like me is named Sally?
If this novel had been an ordinary romance fantasy, I would have regarded it as the tragedy of an extra reusing a similar name. Unfortunately, however, this novel was not an ordinary romance fantasy. And I was in the lair of a murderer attempting to change the genre of the novel.
"Is your name Sally?"
"That's right. It's simple, isn't it?"
She laughed heartily. Seeing her smile after watching the stiff maids, it felt like I had finally met a human being. I swallowed the remark about my nickname being Sally being a bit strange. After all, it didn't seem like she would know anything anyway.
"I heard you went to a restaurant last night?"
"Is that something to get rumored about?"
"Of course. To think you even thought of having a meal in such a desolate place. It must have been possible because you didn't know any better, right?"
It was just as she said, so I nodded. A hearty laugh burst out once again.
"From now on, please ask them to bring your meals to your room. Most researchers do that. Oh, by the way, did you have breakfast?"
"No, I was hesitant to go to a restaurant..."
“Have some.”
She brought out some biscuits from somewhere. Soon, warm tea was also served. I had no appetite until I came here, but seeing them, I suddenly felt hungry. I hurriedly stuffed the biscuits into my mouth.
"Have you heard about the rules of the Magic Tower?"
I nodded.
"Ah, the rules here are strict. It's not like this is a kids' dormitory."
I really liked her uninhibited way of speaking.
"Still, the researchers are a bit better. As far as research is concerned, I can even talk about things that happened before I entered the Magic Tower."
"Are there any additional rules specific to wizards?
Recalling Marilyn's words, I asked.
"Well... Was there such a thing?"
Selly, who had been tilting her head, laughed heartily.
"I can't quite remember right now, but I'll tell you if I recall."
I nodded lightly. If it was something she couldn't even remember, it must be a trivial rule.
"Anything else? Feel free to ask anything you want."
There was something else I really wanted to know, but for now, I asked something appropriate for a new researcher to bring up.
"How many researchers are there in total?"
"Fifteen people. Among them, you and I are the only ones who specialize in alchemy."
"You knew that I practice alchemy."
"Of course. I'm telling you, you were famous."
Sally said as she picked up the cookie.
"There were rumors going around the Magic Tower even before I came."
To think the rumors were widespread. I suddenly felt anxious. I didn't like standing out to begin with, but being famous here was certainly not a good thing. Sally smiled, as if my expression had changed.
"There's no need to be so nervous. It wasn't a bad portion."
"Could you tell me specifically what it is?"
Sally opened her mouth as if it were no difficult task.
"Do you like the room you are staying in right now?"
I remembered what Karen had said. I could immediately tell that she wasn't simply asking about my likes and dislikes of the room.
"I heard you dressed up because I was coming."
"That's right. It was unprecedented."
"Wasn't it just a matter of courtesy toward a noble lady?"
"Hehe, I'm not the only noble here."
I absolutely did not mean to boast about Hyrn's name, but in the end, that is what I ended up saying. It was a little embarrassing.
"The Tower Master never cared who came to the castle. It was the same when His Royal Highness the Crown Prince visited before. Besides, the Tower Master said it himself."
Sally leaned toward me and whispered as if it were a secret story.
"Someone important to me is coming."
Then, squeezing her eyes shut, she shook her head once. It was a reaction as if she had witnessed a couple's display of affection. I, too, trembled.
'Why is he...'
In this novel, I was nothing more than an extra whose name didn't even appear. For a murderer to treat someone like me differently from others? It was truly a terrible thing.
'What happened before the point where the novel begins?'
However, no matter how much I rummaged through the memories of this possessed body, there was no connection to Eon.
"How about that? Isn't it enough to make a rumor spread?"
I felt the need to clarify things.
"But that is really just a rumor. I met the Tower Master for the first time this time."
"Hmm, perhaps you were a famous young lady in high society."
I shrugged my shoulders as if to say, 'Look at my pathetic state.'
"The flower of high society wouldn't be holed up in a lab making drugs. Besides, I don't think the Tower Master would have any interest in that kind of thing in the first place."
“Then there is one reason.”
Sally set her teacup down with a crisp look, her expression indicating that the deduction was over. Before I knew it, I found myself waiting for her to speak.
"He coveted your incredible alchemical skills, didn't he? Enough to make him determined to bring you to the Magic Tower by any means necessary. Isn't that a very reasonable inference?"
I quietly watched Sally, who was speaking confidently. This cheerful researcher, too, knew nothing. However, judging by the distinctly different attitude from the maids, she might be the only one who had not signed a subordination contract.
"There is no need to be humble. It is not like I have any reason to burn with rivalry..."
“Senior.”
As soon as the thought crossed my mind, I wanted to verify it for myself. Calling her Sally somehow made me feel like I had really become a doll, so I looked for a suitable nickname.
“Senior?”
"Yes. Since I joined later, I'll call you Senior for now."
"Haha, calling me 'senior'... that's nice."
Fortunately, Sally seemed to like the title.
"Could I take a look at your wrist for a moment?"
"Huh?"
She rolled up her sleeves slightly, feeling puzzled.
"Please turn your palm upward."
"What is this? Is it some new greeting trend?"
As expected, there was nothing on the inside of her wrist. However, there was no rule that the mark of a subordination contract had to be found only on the wrist. So, to be sure, the only option was to ask her.
"Did you sign a contract too, Senior?"
The answer came back from behind.
"You are very curious, Miss Selinia."
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