Chapter 105

A sly smile curled at the corner of Allen’s lips. If his suspicions proved correct, there could be no greater figure behind this than the one he now imagined. There was even a chance that the very person at the end of his suspicions could halt the ongoing investigation in Neitzia.

He looked at Matt, who waited anxiously for his words, and asked.

“S-So, did you hand over the Philoia to him?”

“For now, I only promised I would procure it, but I haven’t delivered anything yet.”

“The deadline?”

“Three days.”

Three days.

It was time enough to confirm his suspicions.

“Go-good. Then—”

Knock, knock.

Allen, who had been wearing a satisfied smile, turned his head at the sound of someone knocking.

‘The Grand Duke?’

Allen wondered if Estieren had come to see him about the matter in Neitzia. His gaze darted to the crystal orb resting on his desk. However, the orb, revealing the scene outside the building, showed a face he hadn’t expected.

A flicker of confusion crossed his own features.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ୨ৎ ໒꒱ ‧₊ ୧‿︵

“So much for a wizard’s pride. Did you throw that into your soup as well?”

Hailheim, an elder of the Magic Tower and Lev’s mentor, sneered at him. On the other hand, Lev merely shrugged as if he had grown used to such remarks.

“Do the money-grubbing mages even know the meaning of pride?”

“You insolent brat… Does the Grand Duke know what sort of person you truly are?”

“Of course he does. But I’m so exceptionally talented that it hardly matters.”

“It matters to me, you insufferable brat!”

Lev rubbed his temples, letting Hailheim’s bellowed words go in one ear and out the other. His gaze remained fixed on the two magic crystals resting on the desk.

‘What is he plotting this time?’

Hailheim let out a sigh as he looked at his pupil.

So this was what they meant by affection lingering even for the most troublesome ones. Perhaps, despite himself, he had truly grown fond of his one remaining disciple.

“What are you doing?”

At the quietly spoken question, Lev lifted his gaze to meet his master’s eyes. He hesitated, weighing whether to speak, then seemed to reach a decision and opened his mouth.

“Have you heard about what happened in Neitzia?”

“You mean the incident where someone withered away to death?”

At the unruffled reply, Lev frowned in disbelief and pressed further.

“I have to ask, but surely the Master of the Magic Tower isn’t involved in this matter…”

“If I were involved, do you think I’d have time to sit here in your room like this?”

Lev, chastened by his master’s sharp retort, pressed his lips together in embarrassment. Under Hailheim’s steady gaze, he gave an awkward little cough and spoke.

“Ahem! I didn’t really think so, but I had to ask, just in case.”

“Get to the point.”

“I was examining the traces of magic left in the corpse. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever encountered, so I wanted to uncover its nature.”

“….”

“Since the Magic Tower keeps the magic of monsters stored in crystals for research purposes.”

Hailheim quietly settled into the chair across from him as Lev spoke.

“And? Did you find anything?”

“It seems it doesn’t match any of the magic stored in the Tower’s crystals. Honestly, I never imagined I’d come up empty-handed here as well.”

Lev raked his fingers through his hair in frustration.

Since arriving at the Magic Tower, he’d spent three days shut away, skipping meals, comparing traces of magic. The next three, he had barely slept, combing through every record he could find. And yet, he still hadn’t found an answer. It was enough to drive him to the brink of madness.

Watching his pupil collapse onto the desk, Hailheim picked up one of the magic crystals and spoke.

“If you couldn’t find it at the Magic Tower, then the only ones left are those held by the imperial family.”

“…It would be easier to confront a monster directly. The imperial family, honestly…”

Grumbling, Lev muttered his complaint, while Hailheim only smiled faintly and closed his eyes. All of a sudden, as he felt the magic stored within the crystal, his brow twitched ever so slightly.

Lev didn’t miss the fleeting change in his master’s expression.

“Did you discover something?”

For a long while, Hailheim kept his eyes closed, saying nothing before he opened them slowly and asked.

“Where did you say this magic came from?”

“…It’s the magic that came from the corpse in Neitzia.”

Even after hearing his answer, Hailheim remained silent for a long moment. The quiet grew heavy, and Lev pressed him again, unable to contain his frustration.

“Do you… know which monster that magic belongs to?”

“I can’t say what sort of monster it is. But isn’t there a second trace of magic sealed in this crystal?”

At his master’s words, Lev swallowed hard.

Hailheim, his expression grave, spoke to his anxious pupil.

“I’m telling you that I recognize the other magic you’ve been searching for.”

He tightened his grip on the crystal filled with power. At last, Hailheim parted his lips, as if forcing out words that refused to come.

“Luciela.”

Luciela…?

“There’s no doubt that this magic belongs to her.”