Chapter 86

“I can let the oil slide, so just come this way!”

“I won’t understand unless someone explains what’s going on! Are you being wronged or something?”

The mages were shouting frantically, but the person in the robe stood there silently, not saying a word. It became clear why they couldn’t just attack—the robed figure was holding a small glass lantern, brightly lit with flame.

‘So many mages here, and they still couldn’t put out that fire?’

Just as that thought crossed my mind, I heard murmurs around me.

“Magic doesn’t work.”

“It must be a magical item itself.”

Damn it.

I was about to call for Gabbie, but then paused, recalling what had just happened.

‘Don’t just think about one tactic—anticipate the next move, too.’

If I were a terrorist or arsonist, what would I do?

Showing myself in front of all these people meant I had no intention of fleeing. Someone like that wouldn’t have come with only one plan in mind.

“…Theo.”

Theodore, prepared for anything, slowly lowered his stance and moved his right hand to the hilt of his sword. When I called to him quietly to avoid breaking his concentration, he looked over with just his green eyes.

“The flame will go out soon. When I give the signal, help the others evacuate.”

“How can you know that? I heard what the mages said.”

I lowered my voice even more.

“You know it too.”

“…”

“The power of the spirit.”

“…!”

Startled, Theodore began to straighten up, but I firmly pressed down on his shoulder.

“I’ll explain on the way back. Doesn’t it seem strange that a person is targeting the largest gate to the north?”

His expression hardened.

“We’re getting back safely—together.”

“Don’t worry. Fire can’t hurt me.”

I surprised myself with those words. As I watched Theodore quietly slip away through the crowd, I found myself thinking: ‘Wait, did I really just say that? That wasn’t Gabbie pulling strings?’

— You know I’m not allowed to do that under our contract!

Gabbie grumbled nonstop like he’d been waiting for this moment.

‘Ah, sorry. It’s just that you’re the most powerful and mysterious being I know. Have mercy, generous Gabbie.’

— I guess I have to be pretty generous to… huh?

It seemed he realized something felt off at the end, but he let it go. That was enough.

‘Fire can’t hurt me.’

I never imagined I’d say something like that. It felt like proof I was finally moving past the trauma from my previous life—surprising and wonderful.

— It’s all thanks to me!

‘…Yeah, yeah.’

I replied halfheartedly to the ever-proud Gabbie. Just then, I looked up to see Theodore on the second-floor balcony, forming a circle above his head with his hands. Beside him stood an elderly mage, his white brows furrowed.

Judging by the mood, things hadn’t been resolved peacefully. If they had, he wouldn’t have moved that quickly.

‘All right, your turn now, Gabbie!’

— This’ll be easier than eating mochi lying down!

Suddenly, Gabbie’s presence beside me vanished. At the same time, I nodded firmly toward Theodore.

Just as the glass lantern’s light blinked out, the mages flinched.

“Why isn’t there an evacuation order if that thing went out…?”

“This is an emergency alarm! Everyone, get out now! All magic circles are deactivating.”

True to their words, the crystals in front of each magic circle were going dark one by one. As the mages bustled about, I glanced at the robed figure—and sucked in a breath.

Among the crowd, he was looking straight at me.

I froze, but a mage quickly pulled me aside.

“You must be a noble lady. Pardon the roughness, but we have to get you out of here—something terrible’s going to happen!”

It wasn’t right to scold someone trying to help out of good will. But I couldn’t leave either.

“Go ahead without me.”

“No, staying here is—”

I knew. The man standing alone before the magic circle had just thrown aside the glass lantern and was now weaving intricate hand signs.

I’d seen that before—in the home of Princess Maya in Caduren.

‘The Cult of Fire.’

Why did they always show up just when things were calming down? Then again, with Austin in Roquate now, it wasn’t surprising they’d act here.

If he detonated one of those massive fireballs over the oil-slicked floor, it’d be catastrophic. This kind mage would get caught up in it too.

To prevent that disaster, I decided to borrow the name of the most powerful mage I knew.

“I am the proxy of Archmage Brassidas. He will arrive soon—go to safety.”

“You? But I don’t sense any mana at all.”

That’s because I don’t have even a drop of it.

But I kept a straight face and whispered to myself: ‘I have so much in me. I’m raising a hundred black flame dragons.’

I even put on a wistful smile, like a mage tormented by overwhelming power.

“I can’t show it recklessly. It’d cause trouble for everyone…”

“Oh, you’re the new apprentice the Archmage took on?”

Well, that’s not true.

‘Sorry, Palos.’

Big sister will do better from now on.

I nodded boldly, offering a heartfelt apology to the real apprentice.

“Yes. I’ll hold this guy off until he arrives. Please get to safety!”

“But you’re still so young—I should be the one helping—”

“It’s all right. Age doesn’t matter—we’re comrades, aren’t we?”

“…Comrades!”

A fiery spark lit up in his eyes.

“Be careful, you hear? I’ll be outside preparing with my friends—don’t forget, we’ve got your back!”

I must have pressed his passion button. Just as I started to feel a bit guilty, a fireball hurtled toward us like it was telling us to shut up already.

“Haaah!”

The mage barely raised a shield in time but was pushed back by the force. From where he couldn’t see, I reached out my hand and absorbed the spreading flames. Watching the fire die down, the mage nodded as if to say “I knew it.”

But the flames soon flared up again—the oil was everywhere. I hurriedly pushed the mage out and slammed the door shut.

In just those few seconds, the room had already become a blazing inferno. Yet everywhere I stepped, the fire bent to my will and vanished.

“Did Austin put you up to this?”

Crack. I cracked my neck and did my best to look menacing as I taunted him.

The figure flinched briefly, but then clenched his jaw and began weaving hand signs again.

“Gabbie, how much spirit energy does he have? Worth devouring?”

Gabbie appeared next to me in the form of a child, grinning.

— We’ll have to taste him to know.

The figure’s lips trembled slightly. It was brief, but I saw it—and I grinned.

“You’re with the Cult of Fire, right? Did you know that the ‘pure flame’ you worship actually comes from this spirit of fire?”

He suddenly froze.

“…Lies.”

I hadn’t expected a response and was slightly surprised—but I couldn’t waste this chance.

“Can’t believe it even when it’s in front of your eyes? Tell me—have you ever seen your ‘god of fire’?”

I kept drawing him into conversation while gently absorbing the flames. I remembered someone saying the magic gates ran on crystals, not the circles themselves.

If the circle behind him broke, it would trap countless people. Mother and Elga could find another way, but not the commoners.

I had to be careful.

Then came a shocking reply.

“Pure flame isn’t a god. It’s a light that will cleanse this world—and until that day, we summon the god of sand sleeping in our land.”

“…Your land?”

So he was from the southernmost region?

And summoning a god of sand? I looked at Gabbie, feigning amazement.

“You can summon a god?”

— You believe that nonsense?

“…So? What’s your take?”

I asked politely, but he had no intention of chatting.

“How dare you sully the flame’s champion with your filthy hands!”

Ugh.

I clicked my tongue and… absorbed his next attack.

I wasn’t trying to reason with a zealot—I just wanted to knock him out and extract info to bring Austin down.

“I’m not here to fight. I’m here to lead you to the real fire.”

“Blasphemy! I am the flame’s champion, by the flame, for the flame!”

“…”

I was speechless. Just how long had Austin been brainwashing this guy? He was clearly cut out to be a cult leader.

No use talking anymore. I’d have to knock him out and take him in.

I nodded at Gabbie.

‘Do something!’

— What a joke.

Gabbie clicked his tongue and vanished again.

Just as I thought I only needed to buy a little more time, the fanatic suddenly hurled a fireball at one of the crystals.

“Hey!”

I blocked it easily and turned back with smug satisfaction—only to gasp.

“…!”

He was holding a black sphere.

I stepped back, eyes widening.

This world might revolve around magic and divine power, but that didn’t mean chemistry hadn’t advanced.

And that was a bomb, no matter how you looked at it.

‘I can absorb fire, but shockwaves and shrapnel… that’s not within the domain of fire.’

Should I have kept Clidane or Theodore by my side?

Human greed truly knows no end. Now that I no longer coughed blood or feared fire, I wanted strength to face this situation too.

— Don’t worry. I’ll block at least that much for you.

Gabbie appeared behind the cultist. The remaining fire converged around him, and his body stretched out like a flying squirrel.