Chapter 76

Enria, struggling desperately against Groen, grew increasingly anxious as she watched her familiars fall one by one to the meteors he rained down.

 

The sea-horse familiar that had created a massive water pool above her head—sinking the meteors into it—had long since collapsed, and the frog familiars guarding her sides had been struck by countless fireballs, now on the verge of disappearing.

 

Only the skeletal fish familiar still fought properly, ceaselessly raising waves to strike at Groen.

 

Enria, repeatedly erecting barrier after barrier around herself and her familiars, could feel her holy power running out.

 

If even the skeletal fish familiar fell, she had no idea how she could possibly hold out afterward.

 

Then she remembered the moment she had first faced Groen—how Undy and Rahar had been utterly overwhelmed by him and driven back to the spirit village.

 

‘If even Rahar and Undy couldn’t win against him, there’s no way I can…’

 

Realizing this too late, despair washed over her.

 

Because Panz, the devourer of spirit souls, could appear at any moment, she couldn’t even summon Silri or the other spirits.

 

Everything added weight to her dread.

 

Enria began to feel certain she was going to be killed by Groen here.

 

‘What about Hayden…’

 

As she layered multiple barriers around the skeletal fish familiar deflecting Groen’s meteors, her thoughts deepened.

 

If only she had listened to Caldeon and let him face Groen instead.

 

He would have defeated Groen long ago and rescued Hayden safely.

 

The regret that surged up made her bite her lower lip without realizing it.

 

‘…No. That’s not right.’

 

She shook her head and corrected herself.

 

Caldeon was indeed monstrously strong—but Groen was not a dark mage who could be easily suppressed by Caldeon’s black magic.

 

His meteors were far stronger than expected.

 

Considering Groen had also defeated Rahar and multiple spirits with ease, he truly lived up to his title as the next Tower Master.

 

Of course, remembering how Groen and Pahomel had failed to easily overpower Caldeon in the original work, she knew Caldeon was superior overall.

 

Still, she couldn’t help worrying.

 

Enria continued wracking her brain—she had to escape this situation somehow.

 

‘Maybe I should wait for the moment he lets his guard down and run…’

 

No—she had come here for a reason. Running away would defeat that purpose.

 

She couldn’t simply stand here waiting to die.

 

Just as she struggled for a solution, a massive fireball—not a meteor, but a fast, round blaze—came flying at her.

 

Startled, Enria threw up a quick barrier before her, but the fireball pierced through it as if mocking her effort.

 

As the fireball grew larger in her sight—close enough that she thought she might die the instant it hit her—a black shadow shot in from somewhere and blocked it completely.

 

Enria whipped her head toward the shadow, and—

 

Caldeon pulled her into his arms with fierce strength.

 

“Lord Caldeon!”

 

Enria called out, her voice filled with shock, relief, and overwhelming gratefulness.

 

Caldeon held her tightly, his grip full of the same relief, tenderness, and desperate concern.

 

Enria buried her face in his chest, trembling in silence.

 

With one arm wrapped firmly around her fragile shoulders, Caldeon used the other to conjure wave after wave of black shadows that clashed with Groen’s attacks.

 

His shadows split into dozens of tendrils, devouring every fireball and meteor in the air.

 

Groen’s expression twisted more and more, until he finally spat a low curse.

 

“Damn…!”

 

It was clear even by sight alone—Caldeon’s black magic overwhelmed Groen’s fire magic completely.

 

Realizing Caldeon’s power held absolute advantage, Enria finally allowed herself to feel ease.

 

At the same time, she remembered Hayden—she had to find him.

 

She resolved to leave Groen to Caldeon and summon an earth-element familiar to go search for Hayden.

 

But before she could even tell Caldeon her intention, Groen fled.

 

He sliced through the shadows choking him with a blade of fire, quickly widening the distance.

 

Blocking more incoming shadows with flaming arrows, he turned and ran at full speed.

 

“H-He’s running away!”

 

Enria pointed and shouted.

 

Caldeon pulled her even closer and answered in a low voice:

 

“Let him run. Hayden’s more urgent.”

 

“You met Hayden?!”

 

She asked in shock.

 

“Yeah. He’s safe, so don’t worry.”

 

Caldeon carried her as they left the battlefield, then pressed a firm kiss to her forehead—as if saying, ‘You’re safe too, thank goodness.’

 

Her nose stung.

 

She felt guilty again—for disobeying him, sneaking out, and coming here alone.

 

Instead of scolding her, he looked relieved simply because she was alive.

 

That only deepened her guilt.

 

‘If I had known Groen would break his promise, I wouldn’t have come.’

 

If she had realized his deceit sooner and convinced Caldeon to come together, things would have been easier—emotionally and time-wise.

 

If Caldeon hadn’t arrived at that exact moment, she would have been gravely injured, or dead.

 

The thought sent chills down her spine.

 

She swallowed dryly and looked up at Caldeon, who was now hurrying to save their child as well.

 

The gratitude and guilt swelled again in her chest.

 

***

 

 

Groen, well aware he could never defeat Caldeon, fled to avoid direct battle.

 

‘At this rate, I’ll have to rely on Belona’s power…’

 

He had known that if he lured Enria to the Tower, Caldeon would follow.

 

He never wanted to face Caldeon—someone so strong he could probably outlast every mage in the Tower combined.

 

But he did have one hope:

 

His lover, Belona, was the only mage with light-attribute magic capable of temporarily binding black magic.

 

Even so, relying on her strength to win felt pathetic.

 

He wanted to handle everything with his own power—to be recognized by Belona and his father as a capable next Tower Master.

 

So the moment he saw Caldeon and instinctively ran, a wave of shame hit him.

 

How frightened must he have been, to bolt the instant his attack was blocked?

 

Groen clenched his teeth in frustration.

 

He had failed Pahomel’s order to kill Enria, and now Caldeon had appeared at the Tower.

 

He resolved to have Belona bind Caldeon’s feet with her light magic.

 

Belona was gentle by nature and unable to easily kill—but with her power, she could at least immobilize Caldeon.

 

As Groen reached her location, he froze.

 

Belona was holding Hayden in her arms.

 

Pahomel should have disposed of the child.

 

Belona should never have met Hayden, much less be holding him calmly like this.

 

Groen’s mind raced to understand.

 

“Groen.”

 

Belona called to him.

 

He looked at her—then at the child in her arms.

 

The child’s black eyes and sharp gaze, resembling Caldeon’s, triggered instinctive wariness in him.

 

At a child, no less.

 

“What exactly is going on here?”

 

“Groen, this is—”

 

“Father was supposed to kill him. Where is Father, Belona?”

 

“…There’s something I need to tell you about that.”

 

Hesitating, Belona stepped toward him with Hayden still in her arms.

 

Groen backed away instinctively, eyeing the Caldeon-like child.

 

“Don’t tell me… you betrayed me and my father?”

 

He didn’t want to believe it—but the sight before him ignited dread.

 

“Groen.”

 

Belona flinched at his cold gaze.

 

He demanded again, sharper than ever:

 

“Answer me, Belona. Did you betray us?”

 

“It’s not betrayal. It’s not—but the Tower Master is—”

 

Belona was about to explain Pahomel’s use of dark magic—that he might actually be a dark mage—when she suddenly froze.

 

Behind Groen, black smoke rose in a thick plume.

 

Belona’s eyes widened.

 

The smoke began forming a figure—first showing the true face of a dark mage—then morphing into Pahomel.

 

Confirming the dark mage had disguised himself as Pahomel, Belona pointed frantically behind Groen.

 

“Groen, dark ma—!”

 

But before she could finish, and before Groen could turn, the black smoke vanished—leaving only Pahomel standing there, perfectly intact.