Chapter 53

In the latter half of the original story, the dark wizard, realizing that his own power was insufficient, approached the Magic Tower Master. Initially, he merely offered an alliance, promising to help the Magic Tower gain the power to rule the Empire instead of the incompetent Imperial family, provided the Magic Tower abolished the laws banning dark magic.

However, the Magic Tower Master also considered dark magic to be a vile magic that defiled their sacred magic. Thus, he planned to eliminate the dark wizard once the Magic Tower overthrew the Imperial family and gained control of the Empire. The dark wizard, having overheard the Magic Tower Master discussing this plan with his son Groen, killed the Magic Tower Master in a fit of rage and devoured his soul. From then on, he began impersonating the Magic Tower Master, disguised in his face.

Given the original story’s details, Enria felt the probability of the current Magic Tower Master being the real one was low. Even when Groen came to kill her, thinking she was the Master of the Oracle, the Magic Tower Master might have already been the dark wizard in disguise.

“The dark wizard might have killed the current Magic Tower Master and disguised himself as him.”

At Enria’s words, Caldeon’s and Rahar’s faces hardened slightly, and Fyoren stared intently at her with a look of intense curiosity. That gaze seemed to stem from the need for new information, as he managed one of the Empire’s most capable investigation agencies, and also from the wariness toward someone who possessed information he was completely unaware of.

“If it’s not too much to ask, may I inquire on what grounds you’ve come to that conclusion?” Fyoren asked.

Enria looked at him for a moment, then nodded once and said, “When Groen almost killed me, he thought I was the Master of the Oracle. You remember, Rahar?”

Enria looked at Rahar, who nodded, confirming he remembered.

“No matter how I think about it, the Magic Tower has no reason to kill the Master of the Oracle. Unless they tried to win them over to their side.”

Even without that, the fact that the Magic Tower would consider harming the Master of the Oracle, a person chosen by the gods was impossible. After all, the Magic Tower was composed of those chosen by the gods, so its Master would not dare to oppose the gods and attempt to kill the Master of the Oracle. Moreover, there would be no benefit for the Magic Tower Master or the Magic Tower in doing so.

But for the dark wizard, the story would be different.

“The dark wizard would want to eliminate Caldeon’s black mana, against which his magic is ineffective. I, who possess the divine power to suppress that black mana’s rampage, would be a thorn in his side. Furthermore, if he considers me the Master of the Oracle, who has the power of absolution, even I would be desperate to kill myself.”

Caldeon’s and Rahar’s expressions grew seriously grave at Enria’s words. Fyoren carefully asked Caldeon, “By the power of absolution, do you mean the ability that can nullify the Magic Tower’s magic as well?”

Caldeon nodded once in reply. “It is the same ability the former High Priest spoke of.” The same power as the Master of the Oracle who sealed the Evil God in the past.

That alone would make the dark wizard want to eliminate the current Master of the Oracle by any means necessary.

“Indeed.” Fyoren muttered, nodding. “Then, is Her Grace the Grand Duchess truly the Master of the Oracle?”

“I’m not sure myself. I still don’t know how to use the power of absolution, and the spirits all insist Hayden is the Master of the Oracle.”

“It doesn’t matter which of them is the Master of the Oracle. I will protect both.”

Fyoren nodded at Caldeon’s words, as if he considered that a given. “Don’t worry, if he attempts to invade the Grand Ducal Castle again like he did three days ago, I will kill him with my own hands.”

Rahar, who had been silently listening to their conversation, widened his eyes at Caldeon’s words. “He invaded the Grand Ducal Castle? Three days ago?”

“Ah, yes… He planted poison.” Enria briefly and clearly explained the recent events to Rahar, adding that Hayden was safely protected by Windel within the barrier cast by Graum.

“Why didn’t you inform the spirits? They would fly over immediately if you called them…”

“Sil… No, I called Rahar’s wind spirit.”

“Ah, you did.” Rahar nodded a couple of times as if that was well done, but he didn’t erase his worried expression as he asked her, “Are you alright? Did you inhale any poison…”

“I am concerned about my woman’s safety, so mind your own business, Rahar.”

Caldeon interjected with a displeased expression, and Rahar sighed briefly and said to him, “Before she is your woman, she is a comrade who uses the power of my spirit. I’m allowed to worry.”

“Your worry is impure, so it’s not needed.”

“Impure, what do you mean?”

“It’s too obvious to deny, so drop it.”

“…”

Due to Rahar suddenly shutting up at Caldeon’s remark, the eyes of Fyoren and Arsen, who was working in the back, trembled uncontrollably. As the air in the office grew heavy with the subtle tension, Enria tried her best to change the atmosphere naturally.

“I’m fine. More importantly, I think we should first find out if the Magic Tower Master is actually the dark wizard.”

At Enria’s words, Fyoren tilted his head once. He thought that since Groen was so close to his father, he wouldn’t fail to notice if the dark wizard was impersonating Pahomel.

Enria, instantly sensing Fyoren’s thoughts, continued, “If the dark wizard devoured the Magic Tower Master’s soul, Groen probably wouldn’t know. Dark magic has the power to maintain the appearance of the devoured soul for a long time.”

“Ah…”

“I heard that he can mimic the devoured soul’s appearance, behavior, speech, and even daily habits.”

At that, Rahar looked at Enria with an expression asking how she knew that, so she slightly frowned, pretending to search her memory.

“It’s something I heard a long time ago in the Grand Temple, so it might not be accurate, but if the dark wizard devoured the Magic Tower Master’s soul, it’s a completely possible situation.”

“But the Magic Tower Master wouldn’t let the dark wizard devour his soul so easily.” Fyoren muttered, stroking his chin with his hand.

In the original story, the dark wizard consumed Pahomel’s soul because he blackmailed him with the life of his greatest weakness, Groen. It seemed likely that the dark wizard approached Pahomel in the same or a similar way this time, but Enria closed her mouth, not wanting to reveal that much and make the quick-witted Fyoren suspicious.

Instead, she decided to speak indirectly so that Fyoren, with his fast mental processing, could figure it out.

“Perhaps he was caught off guard by some weakness. If someone were to approach me and threaten the safety of Lord Caldeon or Hayden, I would inevitably listen to the dark wizard.” She added that if someone used such precious people to threaten her, she would have no choice but to be controlled.

At that, Caldeon instantly made a fierce expression and said to Enria, “You only need to worry about your own safety.” He added that he would worry about Hayden’s safety, and she didn’t need to worry about his own. Caldeon then said the terrifying statement that if Enria were in danger, he would lose his reason, and the Empire might turn into a wasteland, dark wizard or no dark wizard.

As Enria looked dismayed, Fyoren and Rahar nodded a couple of times with expressions that suggested they fully believed it, and said, “That cannot happen.”

“If that man loses his reason, the Empire will definitely turn to ashes.”

“Anyway, I understand what the Grand Duchess said. This is a very sensitive matter, so I will personally investigate it.”

Fyoren quickly changed his expression to a serious one and spoke to Enria, and Caldeon called Rahar.

“You prepare for battle with the wizards hunting spirits. Make sure Countess Kaznaren and Tearen are ready to join the fight as soon as they return from the Imperial Palace.”

“Understood. What about your spirits?”

“In the Spirit Village. They are discussing this matter with the village spirits.”

Rahar nodded once at Caldeon’s answer and stood up. “I didn’t expect the battle with the Magic Tower to happen this quickly, but what can’t be avoided will inevitably happen.” He said he wanted to avoid a battle with the Magic Tower as much as possible, as a war between the Magic Tower and the Imperial side would result in the deaths of the Empire’s people.

“If, as Enria said, the dark wizard is impersonating the Magic Tower Master and deceiving the Magic Tower, the story will change.”

Rahar nodded at Caldeon’s words, expressed his wish for that not to be the case, and turned to leave. Fyoren also stood up and bowed to Enria.

“It was an honor to meet you, Grand Duchess. Until next time…”

“Ah, yes. It was nice meeting you.”

Enria also quickly bowed her head to return Fyoren’s greeting, and Caldeon gently held her chin, turning her toward him, and said, “It would be best for you and me to have a more in-depth discussion about what you just said.”

“…Just now? Ah, the story about the dark wizard impersonating the Magic Tower Master?”

“No. Your statement that you would willingly put yourself in danger without regard for your own life if I or Hayden were in peril.”

“…When did I say that?”

She was utterly taken aback by how her words, intended merely as a hint about how Pahomel might have been forced to give up his soul to the dark wizard, had been twisted this far. Of course, if the dark wizard threatened Caldeon’s and Hayden’s lives, she would indeed do anything to save them, regardless of her own safety, just as Caldeon said.

In any case, Caldeon seemed utterly displeased with Enria’s sentiment. As soon as Fyoren left, he pressed his lips against Enria’s and said, “Tell me you will prioritize your own safety, no matter what happens.”

Threatened with a continuous kiss if she didn’t comply, Enria glanced at Arsen, who was still in the office. The moment she opened her mouth to say that they weren’t alone, the quick-witted Arsen immediately stood up and left the office.

Finally alone, Caldeon cupped her cheeks with both hands to prevent her from escaping and said, “Answer quickly. Unless you want worse to happen here.”