The Returned Magician Prevents the End

Chapter 7

Junk’s appearance was exactly as Rough had seen before he passed out.

An unbelievably obese middle-aged man with a ferocious demeanor, his body stuffed into a faded gray suit.

The only reason Junk’s massive, quivering bulk didn’t collapse seemed to be the mechanical prosthetic leg replacing his right leg.

From Junk’s mechanical leg, an unpleasant metallic screech emanated with every slight movement, bearing the weight of his enormous frame.

Beside Junk stood a tall man.

Dressed in leather armor reinforced with metal plates here and there, a well-maintained pipe pistol hung from his waist.

‘Well-kept gear and even a weapon. Is he someone Junk trusts? If so, he’s likely the one assigned to guard him.’

As Rough scrutinized the stern-looking man, Junk spoke.

“How’s your condition? I was worried because you hadn’t opened your eyes for so long. Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”

Junk addressed Rough in an overly affected, gentle tone.

But hearing his voice, Rough felt a chill run down his spine.

A fat, menacing middle-aged man reeking of foul herbs, approaching with a face full of feigned kindness.

Unable to move, Rough could only turn his head to avoid the stench instead of responding to

Junk’s words.

“What’s wrong? Don’t tell me you’ve lost the ability to speak? Oh no! This is serious. I’ll call a doctor for you right away…”

“No, that’s not it, Master Junk.”

Junk turned to glare at Victor, who had mustered the courage to interject.

Facing Junk’s fierce, sharp gaze—completely different from the one directed at Rough—Victor swallowed hard.

Yet, despite the oppressive pressure of being whipped by that gaze alone, Victor managed to finish speaking.

“Half… Rough isn’t unable to speak. Just moments ago, he was talking with me. Perhaps he was just startled by suddenly seeing you, Master.”

Rough let out a small sigh as Junk glared at Victor, as if to say, What nonsense are you spouting?

For now, it seemed better not to openly show hostility toward Junk.

“Master Junk.”

“Oh, yes, yes, my child. No need to be so afraid. Come, sit comfortably.”

Junk flashed a gentle smile at Rough, as if his earlier demeanor had never existed.

Rough barely endured the nauseating stench leaking through Junk’s crooked teeth.

“I heard a lot happened while I was unconscious.”

“Hm? Oh, yes. You must’ve heard from this guy. As you said, a lot has happened. We even dealt with that traitor.”

“By traitor, do you mean Hank?”

“Yes, Hank. I never would’ve guessed that scum was touching my property. A wretch not even worth tearing apart!”

Spitting as he cursed Hank, Junk soon grinned slyly, looking down at Rough.

“That guy won’t be seeing you again.”

Seeing Junk revealing as if he were a child who’d broken a toy he’d grown tired of, Rough grimaced.

“You don’t seem pleased. The guy who tormented you is gone—aren’t you happy?”

“…What do you want from me?”

At Rough’s question, Junk’s smirking laughter stopped.

In a low, sunken voice, Junk gave an order to the man beside him.

“Kain, leave us.”

At Junk’s command, the man in leather armor, Kain, bowed silently, took Victor, and left the room.

“No need to be so scared. I even sent my guard captain away to talk with you.”

Junk met Rough’s suspicious gaze with what he considered a warm look.

Of course, to Rough, it was still nothing but a grotesque stare.

“I don’t want anything special from you. We’re a family bound by this community called Scrap Mountain, aren’t we? As members of the Junk Family, if we do what we can for each other, that’s enough.”

Family, my foot. Since when did you treat me like anything but a slave worked to the brink of death?

Rough barely swallowed the words rising in his throat.

Seemingly unaware of Rough’s thoughts, Junk pulled out a familiar notebook from his coat.

When opened, the notebook emitted a dazzling glow, forming the shape of a deer, just as it had when Rough opened it.

As Rough’s eyes followed the deer prancing chaotically around the small room, he said bluntly,

“Do you want me to find Artifacts?”

“Oh, yes. If you could do that, I’d be overjoyed.”

Junk flashed a wide grin, revealing his filthy teeth, and closed the notebook, making the glowing deer vanish.

Staring at the spot where the deer had been, Rough crossed his arms.

“I think I can help identify Artifacts. But I have a request first.”

“Speak. Any request from you, Rough, I’ll grant.”

“Will you remove the collar from my neck?”

Finishing his words with an innocent tone, Rough closely observed Junk’s reaction.

Let’s see how he responds.

Junk’s face crumpled, as if deep in thought.

Fidgeting with the sleeve of his suit as if troubled, Junk firmly shook his head.

“I’m sorry, but that’s difficult.”

“Why? You said you’d grant any request. This collar is so stifling. Who even put this thing on my neck?”

“Hm… I can’t lie to my family. I’ll tell you the truth. That’s not an ordinary collar—it’s an Artifact called the ‘Collar of Domination.’ I put it on you myself while you were unconscious.”

“What? You, Master Junk? Why would you do such a thing?”

“Please don’t misunderstand. This was absolutely necessary for your safety, mine, and everyone’s.”

Rough felt bewildered by Junk’s feigned sorrowful expression, as if he genuinely regretted it.

“Ever since I started wearing this, I haven’t been able to use magic. Is the fact that I can use magic a problem?”

At Rough’s increasingly sharp tone, no longer bothering to hide his frustration, Junk clicked his tongue as if he had no choice.

“Tch. Fine, I’ll be honest. I was afraid of the fact that you could use magic!”

Rough was speechless at Junk’s candid confession.

A bead of cold sweat rolled down Junk’s chubby cheek, as if recalling a horrific memory.

“Many things fall from Meltogan in the sky. Sometimes, even wizards fall. They’re barely alive, like walking corpses, but they destroy everything in sight until their last breath. With magic!”

Junk pulled a handkerchief from the tight inner pocket of his suit and wiped his sweat.

“I was glad to see you awaken to mana, but I was also afraid. If you set your mind to it, we’d be crushed like ants. That’s why I had to put the Collar of Domination on you. To protect you and all of us.”

“….”

“Can’t you understand me?”

Having fought wizards his whole life, Rough could understand Junk’s fear of them better than anyone.

As long as humans wielded the incomprehensible power of mana, they would never stop casting suspicious glances at wizards.

But Rough had no intention of sympathizing with Junk’s actions.

At first glance, it seemed like a tragic situation where a trusted child had to be restrained, but in truth, it was no different from a declaration to keep exploiting Rough as a slave.

Rough didn’t miss the cunning hidden in Junk’s sad eyes.

“If I understand, what do you want from me, Master?”

“If you understand and help us, we can rise to a place where no one dares challenge us. When that time comes, we can remove the collar from your neck.”

“A place where no one dares challenge us—what do you mean?”

“The Tower of Domination!”

It was an unfamiliar term to Rough, who had only recently awakened in the junkyard.

He didn’t know exactly what it meant, but Junk’s confident demeanor made it clear that the tower held significant meaning for the people of Scrap City.

“What’s the Tower of Domination? Why is it so important?”

“Well, you see…”

Junk explained in an excited, quickened voice.

The seven towers stand in various parts of Scrap City.

These towering structures were the only remnants left by the wizards who once dwelled on the ground.

Learning that the Collar of Domination around his neck was an Artifact found in one of these towers, the Tower of Domination, Rough grew highly alert.

Sounds like a place used as a research facility by wizards. But why are humans after the towers? They can’t even understand magic.

Rough’s question was soon answered.

Though the humans left on the ground couldn’t comprehend the magic stored in the towers, the people of Scrap City assigned their own meanings to the seven towers.

The seven tower lords, who began calling themselves nobles, transformed the towers into symbols of dominance over Scrap City.

“Possessing a tower doesn’t just mean gaining the Artifacts stored within. The tower is a symbol of subjugating all other forces in the city. The tower is power, and whoever controls it rules this city.”

By the time he finished explaining, Junk’s chubby face was flushed red with boiling excitement.

Still brimming with that excitement, Junk grabbed Rough’s skinny hand.

“Among them, the Tower of Domination has changed hands the most. So, if you help, Rough, that tower will soon be ours. We’ll finally escape this filthy junkyard!”

Rough carefully considered Junk’s words.

To find clues to bring down Meltogan, entering Scrap City was essential for Rough.

Moreover, in the process of seizing the Tower of Domination, he might find a way to break the damned collar around his neck.

Above all, Rough knew Junk’s plea was, in reality, a threat.

Though Junk, with his unstable mind, was begging Rough now, he was a ticking time bomb who could turn at any moment.

“Alright. I’ll help you, Master Junk.”

“R-Really? You’ll really help us?”

“Of course. As you said, we’re family.”

Rough sneered inwardly at Junk’s exaggerated surprise, as if he hadn’t expected it.

Filthy pig. Acting innocent when you would’ve dragged me along by force if I’d refused.

“Family… Yes, family. Haha! Yes, exactly. We’re the Junk Family. One family. You clever thing! You’re truly a great gift to us!”

“Just one more request.”

Feeling his spine might shatter under Junk’s massive hand slapping his back, Rough barely managed to speak.

“What is it?”

“Please assign Victor to me. He’s helped me so far, so he’ll be a great help in finding Artifacts.”

After a moment’s thought, Junk nodded readily, as if it were no big deal, and stood up.

“Fine, that much I can grant. I’ll tell the underlings. Rest for now. If you want to recover quickly, you need to rest.”

As Junk, reeking of foul stench, left, the headache that had been plaguing Rough seemed to subside.

Feeling refreshed, Rough thought over Junk’s proposal.