Spirit Tomb Albion

Days passed one after another, and before long, the Eastern Spring Festival was drawing near.

Li Mo's eighteenth birthday was also just around the corner, which left him inexplicably excited.

Eighteen! He could finally start a sweet romance whenever he wanted!

Though at the Clock Tower, aside from Touko, the only person his age he knew, he really couldn't think of anyone else to spend it with...

What Li Mo, immersed in fantasies of coming of age, didn't know was that a storm stirred up by two Monarchs was preparing to descend upon him.

Labyrinthos.

This was deep beneath the Clock Tower, the place where a great Fallen Dragon had been buried, and also the Clock Tower's largest source of thaumaturgical materials.

The Clock Tower had another name for it: Spirit Tomb Albion.

Here, magi could always obtain things even they had never expected, such as the remains of Phantasmal Species or mysterious relics that seemed to have survived since the Age of Gods.

Of course, fate was fair. Opportunity was often accompanied by danger.

Not only were there corpses of Phantasmal Species here, but countless living Phantasmal Species also dwelled within. There were even apex predators. If anyone who entered encountered them, then...

There was no need to run. At that point, it was better to think about how to die in a more stylish manner.

Of course, human desire was endless. Even though Spirit Tomb Albion was so dangerous, it still could not stop those consumed by greed. To this day, people continued digging deeper within it.

And deeper within Labyrinthos, inside a chamber that even ordinary high-ranking magi could not reach, voices that sounded like people discussing something echoed continuously through the surrounding caverns.

"Then it's settled. Bartholomello will take another percentage point from the newly excavated Hydra." The speaker seemed to grow increasingly overbearing, her aggression pressing down upon the others like a dragon's breath. While she spoke, no one else said a word.

Looking closely, with her brown hair and white trench coat, wasn't she the eldest daughter and head of the Bartholomew Family, the Clock Tower's current Monarch, Bartholomew Lorelei?

Seeing that no one answered, Lorelei nodded in satisfaction. "Then does anyone have any objections regarding the twelfth faculty, the Modern Magecraft Department?"

"I do not support establishing a twelfth department. The Clock Tower has not had a new faculty in a thousand years. If one is truly established now, who will become its department head?"

"You, Bartholomello? Or why not ask which Monarch is willing to take the position?"

The man who spoke had white hair and beard, his long white hair falling loosely around him. He was none other than Luphreus Nazelie Ulifis, Monarch of the Spirit Evocation Department.

"Seconded. This department has no persuasive basis. We do not even know what it would teach, so there is no need to establish it." From a corner of the room, a rugged, powerfully built middle-aged man spoke.

"Hmph! Everyone knows your three families are in bed together. Gaius Ling, are you really saying that without someone pulling your strings?"

"Mystery is fading into obscurity, and the development of modern society is constantly squeezing the space in which we magi can survive. If we continue sitting around and waiting for death, then whether the Clock Tower can still exist by then will be another matter entirely!"

An angry voice rang out from across from Lord Gaiusling, Monarch of the Animal Department.

Of course, if Li Mo had been there, he would have recognized him as McDonell Tramberio Elrodt, Monarch of Mystic Code in the Department of General Fundamentals, the very man who had held up his transfer application for two months.

McDonell stood up directly and glared furiously at Gaius Ling and Lorelei. "The times are changing so quickly. Why are you all still refusing to wake up?"

Family lineages are the foundation of magi. That is true.

But clinging to the glory of the past every day, then studying the magecraft passed down by one's ancestors—is that truly useful? Can that truly allow us to reach the Root?

As if he had exhausted every ounce of strength in his body, McDonell slumped after saying that. He shook his head, swept his gaze helplessly across those present, and sighed. "Is there really any need to keep waiting? I am the Monarch of Mystic Code, yet even my perception of Mystery is growing weaker and weaker."

"Unless we find a new path, the longer we drag this out, the less likely we are to reach the Root."

Everyone fell silent. Only after a long while did someone rise and speak. It was Jigumare, Monarch of the Curse Department.

Gigilmal first shook his head and gave McDonell an apologetic look before speaking. "I believe McDonell is right. The longer we delay, the less likely we are to reach the Root."

"But establishing a new department is no small matter. What would it teach? Who would become its department head? Which Monarch would be willing to give up their current department and move into it?"

"This is not merely a matter for the Clock Tower. It also concerns the functioning of the entire Mage Association."

"It is difficult, but it is still necessary. Therefore, I suggest we preserve this resolution and let everyone decide when the time is right."

Everyone pondered in silence. After a long time, someone finally voiced agreement with the proposal.

"Agreed." The one who spoke was Brishisan. He tilted his head, then looked at the other Monarchs present.

"Seconded."

"I agree..." Voices continued to ring out, making Gigilmal nod and sit down in satisfaction.

Though McDonell's eyes still held dissatisfaction, seeing that everyone had already nodded, he ultimately accepted the proposal and could only sit down helplessly.

Lorelei did not seem surprised by the result. She tugged at the bow on her chest, raised her head, and looked at everyone. "Then this Grand Role Resolution ends here."

"Please remember your duties. If you have objections, bring them up next time."

"Meeting adjourned!"

"Wait!"

The Monarchs were about to rise when a voice full of arrogance suddenly rang out, freezing their movements.

Lorelei slammed the grimoire she had brought onto the table and looked dissatisfiedly at one of the Monarchs. "Kayneth, are you dissatisfied with our decision?"

Everyone else also looked toward Kayneth, their gazes full of amusement and mockery.

He was merely a Monarch in name only. Standing up now would make him nothing more than a clown.

Facing everyone's gazes, Kayneth seethed inwardly, but his expression did not change in the slightest. Instead, he looked toward Brishisan.

"Lord Brishisan, did you bring back a disciple named Li Mo half a year ago?"

Brishisan was stunned. Why had the matter suddenly turned to Li Mo?

He nodded and stared coldly at Kayneth without speaking.

Seeing that Brishisan remained silent, Kayneth smiled instead and looked at him teasingly. "May I presumptuously ask how many Magic Circuits your disciple has?"

"When your disciple first arrived at the Clock Tower half a year ago, he met me. Yet when I encountered him again some time ago, the magical energy within him had already far surpassed mine. I heard that you had never taken a disciple all these years, so naturally, I became curious."

After entering the Clock Tower for only half a year, his magical energy had already surpassed that of a Monarch?

Every Monarch present was stirred, but none spoke rashly. Instead, they looked at Brishisan to see how he would answer.

Brishisan's expression darkened. Though he did not wish to reveal the truth, he also knew that after Kayneth had brought it up, some Monarchs would definitely investigate Li Mo in secret later.

"Fifty-six." Brishisan's lips moved slightly as he gave the number he had prepared.

It was better to hold something back. Perhaps if he said that, the other Monarchs would not investigate on their own.

Fifty-six!

An uproar erupted. Everyone present wore expressions of disbelief, then stared at Brishisan with blazing eyes, as if they wanted to bore holes into his face.

"Don't fucking look at me like that, and don't even think about trying to put him under a Sealing Designation. I won't allow it!"

"I, Brishisan, have no descendants. Li Mo is now my adopted son."

"I'm telling you, if any of you dare lay a hand on him, I'll fucking fight you to the death with the foundation of the Department of Lore!"

Brishisan roared, no longer resembling the easygoing man he usually was. Instead, he fixed the others with a fierce glare.

The heat in everyone's eyes gradually faded, and Brishisan's words forced them to think twice.

That was too fucking terrifying. He had actually said he would fight with the foundation of the Department of Lore.

Never mind whether those fifty-six Magic Circuits were worth risking their lives for. Brishisan had just declared Li Mo his adopted son. Who would dare remain at the Clock Tower after attacking one of its own?

The dean's accumulated authority over the years was not something they dared challenge lightly. Besides, talent was only talent. Was it really worth giving up their comfortable lives at the Clock Tower to become wandering magi constantly on the run for the talent of fifty-six Magic Circuits?

"Boring." Lorelei's expression remained calm as she rose gracefully and left the room.

"Don't worry about anyone attacking your disciple. My magus troops are not useless."