Starlight Torch Tower

Seeing the thief burst out of the seafood section, Rorschach watched him vault and weave through the stalls. Not only could he hurdle the stands, but he still had the leisure to grab eggs and throw them behind him to hinder his pursuers.

"What a waste of food." Rorschach felt that although the fellow was fairly nimble, his actions were undoubtedly foolish. The eggs had limited effect and only expanded the chasing crowd.

He really was fast. If this world had sports academies, perhaps he would not have needed to steal and could have trained properly instead.

"Damn it, watch where you're going!"

While Rorschach ate and imagined the fellow reaching the peak of his career, the thief darted right in front of him in an instant. Rorschach blocked his path, and the thief even turned his head to curse at him.

"You're the only one with legs and a mouth?" So good at running? So good at taunting?

Everyone's attention focused on the taunting thief.

Then, before everyone's eyes, the thief could no longer run. He stopped in midair in a bizarre pose.

Cold air rose between the gray-robed youth and the thief. White ice crystals outlined a massive arm that gripped the thief tightly.

The vast, noisy market fell silent in an instant. Only chickens clucked and ducks quacked as the onlookers exchanged glances.

Rorschach felt uncomfortable with the atmosphere, but fortunately, applause and cheers suddenly broke out. "Excellent! Let the thief have a taste of magic's power!"

More applause followed. The suspicious faces broke into smiles, and everyone cheered for Rorschach. The stifling air in the market began to flow again, and the onlookers gradually dispersed.

"So you're a mage, sir!" A tall, thin man stepped out from among the thief's pursuers. He was the very man Rorschach had quietly helped when entering the city.

"Tie up that gentleman who is so good at running, then pour some hot water over him. Otherwise, he'll freeze to death."

The thief was now covered in white frost, shivering as he curled into a ball, nearly unconscious.

"Yes, yes." The other stallholders brought out thick hemp ropes and bound the frozen thief again and again. A woman wearing a leather apron, covered in fish scales and reeking of fish, walked over and kicked him before taking the small pouch from the thief's hand.

"This thief stole Lady Aina's money."

"He was picking through the herring all sneakily. I knew he was no good!" As she spoke, the woman kicked him again.

"Floran, administrator of the seafood section at the grand market."

The tall, thin man smiled and shook hands with Rorschach. Rorschach noticed that his smile was restrained, and his grip was gentle as well. Floran did not seem to be in good health. No wonder he had nearly fallen while moving goods that morning.

Rorschach was somewhat surprised. "My name is Rorschach, a mage from the Tower of Stars. So you're the administrator. I saw you moving goods this morning. Floran, you're rather different from the administrators I imagined."

"Helping out gets things done faster. Don't block the road for too long."

"That's not what I meant. Forget it." Rorschach did not want to waste any more time and prepared to leave.

Yet at that moment, the fish-selling woman who had left came back. "Mage sir, I haven't thanked you yet!" She held out two little fish with strings threaded through their mouths, intending to give them to Rorschach.

"No need. It was nothing." It truly had only taken a lift of his hand—an Ice Hand enhanced with Energy Deprivation.

Floran lowered his voice. "Please accept them, sir. If you don't, they'll feel uneasy!"

Rorschach looked at Floran, then at the woman with her evasive gaze, and sighed. "Then I must thank you, madam."

Floran continued, "Hurry along, Mage Rorschach. If the priests come here, it will delay your business."

After leaving Valuana's Belly, Rorschach had not only filled his stomach but also acquired two wet fish. He asked the butcher for a paper bag, froze the fish, and wrapped them inside it—if he carried fish into the city center, he would probably draw even more attention.

After the gray-robed youth left, the market's onlookers discussed him animatedly. "So that's a mage?"

"That little fellow looked so handsome catching that thief! If only I could do that, then this!"

"Don't let that big fat man hear you!"

"You mean Brother Boar? What's there to fear? That guy is probably still sleeping right now."

Rorschach did not know what the others said after he left. Following Floran's directions before departing, he took a public carriage to Pastoral Street.

Pastoral Street was one of the city's main thoroughfares. Tall roadside trees and splendid buildings lined both sides, and the passersby were often gentlemen with canes and powdered wigs, or noblewomen carrying little parasols. At the end of the road stood a tall, flat-topped tower. Its base formed an A-shape and straddled the park, while the tower itself resembled an unlit torch.

This world's technology tree isn't much, but its architecture is impressive!

Rorschach thought again of the Sky Tree, which served as an airship port. It was said that the Starlight Torch Tower had been built under dwarven guidance, hired by the Mage Guild, as a gift to King Charles XVI.

Every year, on the night of His Majesty's birthday, its highest point would be lit, and magic would project specks of starlight into the sky. That was how it earned the name Starlight Torch.

There had also been a small incident during its construction:

The Order Church had expressed dissatisfaction with the mages building such a tall structure in Valuana. His Majesty entrusted Lord Duplessis, the cardinal serving in the palace, to mediate. It ended with a miniature monastery being established on the platform at the very top of the Sky Tree.

Pascal, the fellow who could turn one sentence into three, had told Rorschach all this. He also told him that there was a famous restaurant midway up the tower, where Mage Kano unfailingly enjoyed brunch.

When breakfast stretched until before lunch, it became brunch. It could fill the stomachs of nobles who slept late, while ordinary people were already working at this hour!

However, when he took the elevator to the restaurant in the tower, a polite waiter stopped him at the entrance. "I'm sorry, sir, but we are not open at the moment."

Rorschach looked inside and saw waiters moving about with trays. He asked, "Isn't it brunch time?"

"Yes."

"But you're not open?"

The waiter said nothing, as though waiting for Rorschach to understand on his own. After hesitating for a moment, Rorschach took Lionel Kano's business card from his storage ring, then removed his Mage Emblem and handed both to the waiter.

"If Master Kano is inside, please deliver these to him and tell him Rorschach has arrived."

The waiter nodded, accepted them, and turned to walk inside.

"I sincerely apologize for keeping you waiting." Before long, the waiter returned, gave Rorschach back his two items, and bowed as he opened the door for him.

Extremely expensive, perfectly colorless and transparent glass could only be made in the merchant city-states along the continent's southern coast, where its crafting methods were closely guarded secrets. Rorschach now saw the largest floor-to-ceiling glass hall he had ever encountered. It was only natural that a restaurant overlooking Valuana would be so popular.

Yet it had only one customer at the moment: a slightly plump man diligently spreading chestnut paste over a small cake. He wore a loose white shirt, and his neatly groomed little mustache trembled with every movement of his mouth. On the table were also grilled fish, bean mash with meat sauce, layered sliced baked vegetables, and a bowl of thick soup whose ingredients could not be identified.

This must be Archmage Kano. Just as Rorschach thought so, Kano spoke. This time, he was not consuming food. "Sit, Rorschach."

After saying that, the waiter who had been standing beside him pulled out the chair opposite the Archmage for Rorschach, while another brought over a plate, a silver knife, spoon, and fork.