Chapter 9
‘Why on earth is the master of the tower doing this?’
Mari felt uneasy. Was it because a paladin from a backwater showed a lack of respect that he was being treated so harshly? She tried to anticipate the personality of the tower’s master she would be working with.
To make matters worse, Helios, who was supposed to guide them, had stopped in place and was smiling in a way Mari had never seen before. The corners of his mouth lifted with a subtle, almost mocking expression.
By her oath, Mari had never seen Helios smile like that.
“How trivial.”
Helios spoke coldly and put the silver compass back into his chest. Remaining calm, he dismounted and gave an order.
“Gray, Mari. Gather around me.”
Even without orders, they had no choice but to move closer. A vast amount of magical energy was slowly gathering around them. Mari had only felt such powerful magic once before, when facing a demon lord. Quickly moving to Helios’s side with Gray, Helios spoke softly.
“A stray cat is throwing a tantrum.”
“Huh?”
“That’s why we’re lost. Stay close, Mari.”
“What on earth…?”
Divine power ignited like flames in Helios’s hand, clad in white gloves. Mari stopped asking questions and moved to his rear. Gray, clinging to her like barnacles, muttered.
“The commander really hates that woman.”
“That woman… You mean, could it be Enya Valencia?”
“Yes, Enya Valencia. Since you submitted the report, the commander’s been saying she’s worse than a beast. And since she nearly killed someone precious to him, wouldn’t he be furious? A subordinate nearly killed…”
“Ah…”
It didn’t seem like he was angry because of them, but Mari noticed Helios gathering divine power behind them.
‘But usually, when someone dislikes a person, they don’t call them a cat throwing a tantrum.’
Instead of showing hatred, he seemed to take pleasure in toying with her like a predator chewing on a trap.
Mari felt a premonition that this journey would be exhausting as she sensed the divine power radiating from the Radiant Knight.
“The master of Morghenda Tower.”
The white flames rising on Helios’s right hand leapt like wildfire. A blade made of flames seemed to form in his hand.
“Is that all?”
As if he knew Enya was watching, he bared his white teeth in a brilliant smile and clenched his fist. The remnants of the shattered flames scattered in all directions, forming thin lines that circled them.
Thud.
As if a giant had stamped its foot, the circular divine power expanded, reverberating through the forest. The wind stirred from the sheer force, making Gray and Mari squint their eyes.
In an instant, the divine power swept like a gale, purifying the magical energy Enya had scattered through the forest.
When the area fell silent, Gray carefully opened her eyelids. The forest that had filled their surroundings retreated, revealing the tower of Morghenda soaring skyward. Mari gasped without realizing it.
“That… is Morghenda Tower.”
Two massive vines wrapped around the tower like centuries-old tree trunks, resembling serpents coiling around a staff. Gray, staring blankly at the tower like Mari, suddenly stiffened.
“Commander, could it be that the Morghenda Forest was entirely an illusion?”
“No. The forest exists. Only the part we saw was an illusion.”
Helios replied nonchalantly, signaling for the horses. Since there were no stables at the tower, they loosely tied the reins to the tree trunks and walked toward the entrance.
“…This is quite the welcome.”
Mari caught up to Helios as he led the way, her senses on high alert.
“Commander. Enya’s control over magic is extraordinary. Even though she’s been in seclusion for years, she’s not someone to underestimate.”
Helios’s expression slightly darkened as he silently listened.
“…Mari. Do you know the master of the tower personally?”
“…Huh?”
“When have you seen her to call her that way?”
Mari was flustered, and he felt the need to clarify.
“She’s skilled at changing her appearance and deceiving people. I worry she might have reached out to you as well.”
Mari was certain Helios wasn’t concerned for her. He didn’t glance at those he cared about. In terms of attachment, he seemed far more emotionally involved with Enya than with Mari. Even now, it was as if he was piercing through to the very top of the tower where Enya was.
Mari said wearily,
“…Commander, I think you’re mistaken. I’ve never met Enya… um, the master of Morghenda Tower. I only call her that to avoid repeating her title endlessly in front of you.”
“Your report showed a considerable bias toward the master of Morghenda Tower.”
“Commander!”
Bias? Mari couldn’t believe she was being accused like this in such an absurd way.
“I was not… really! Objectively, I just recommended the most suitable person.”
“Mari, I can overlook it this once.”
He spoke with an unusually merciful tone.
“I am aware that the master of the tower has a way of drawing people in. So speak truthfully.”
“The truth! Is that I! Was not coerced! I have never even seen the master of the tower, commander! I don’t know what it means to be drawn in by her!”
He had a temperament that made it hard to trust even those close to him, Mari knew that. But this situation was utterly ridiculous.
By common sense, if she disliked someone, she would avoid or ignore them. If Enya’s actions were contemptible, he could just handle them moderately. So why all this fuss? Why scrutinize me over Enya Valencia? Mari wanted to ask.
But as an efficient subordinate, she decided to provide the explanation he wanted, mixed with advice.
“I understand your feelings toward Enya Valencia, commander, so please drop any unreasonable misconceptions. Also, I advise that this expedition is important. It’s best to maintain a reasonable distance from the master of Morghenda Tower without unnecessary friction.”
He pressed his lips firmly.
Mari was right. There was no need to force closeness, nor to treat her as an arch-enemy.
He had survived among countless murderers and frauds after leaving the temple. He knew how to handle dangerous individuals.
Enya, of course, was far more dangerous than those he had encountered. Her piercing gaze, unpredictable actions, and the forest alone were enough. Her magical energy surged with purity and intensity, stirring a desire to gauge her strength.
But keeping distance was enough to avoid being swept away. There was no need to act overzealously in front of his subordinates.
He brushed his face angrily.
“Mari, as you say…”
“Ah! Wh-what is that!”
Just as he admitted his mistake and started to speak, Gray, who had entered the tower first, screamed. Helios and Mari immediately drew their swords and moved before him.
“Gray! Step back…!”
“Oh my….”
Helios froze at the source of the scream, and Mari dropped her sword in dismay.
“It’s an illusion.”
In the tower lobby, drums and various strings played as if a performance had begun, and pink petals rained from all directions.
This was a powerful illusion that no divine power, even wielded like a shield, could dispel. Translucent silk curtains floated in midair. Through them, unbelievably beautiful humans—no, illusions—danced seductively toward the paladins.
And at the center…
[Have you come, Helios!]
Ogatai, radiant as the sun, sat on a lavish bed, holding a cup and gesturing toward them. Another Ogatai, dressed similarly, displayed toned bronze abs and well-shaped thighs, offering a cup to them.
[Helios! You’ve lived austerely for some time. Here’s a gift prepared for you—enjoy it to your heart’s content.]
The illusion of Ogatai in blue silk even mimicked her speech perfectly. Her dazzling golden eyes met Helios’s paladins unabashedly.
[Ah, Mari. You are Mari.]
Approaching smoothly, she naturally wrapped an arm around Mari’s shoulder. Mari’s dull blonde hair fell over Ogatai’s firm forearm.
“E-excuse me, Your Highness. Th-this is inappropriate…”
[It’s fine. I’ve already heard a lot about you.]
Mari tried to step back, but the stunning beauty of Ogatai, the embodiment of Haan, was overwhelming. The illusion was so precise that even habits and subtle expressions were replicated, causing Mari’s body to betray her will. Simultaneously, powerful magic entered the paladins’ bodies like pollen, inducing not pain but a dreamy intoxication.
‘If this continues, I’ll completely give in.’
Mari, loyal to her master and a model paladin, struggled with all her might to resist the illusion.
“I-I am… Helios’s person…”
[Your mind and will are already with Helios, I can tell.]
“Wha-what? No… not that much.”
[You could give me just one night.]
Ogatai’s golden eyes were fixed on Mari.
[It feels like we are already one.]
Overwhelmed, Mari finally conceded. Gray too couldn’t break free from the women clinging to him. Enveloped in the illusion, Gray shed tears of joy along with a nosebleed.
“Oh, divine heavens. I could die right now and be satisfied!!!”
Above this chaos, the trumpet-shaped stairs of the tower twisted and split as if rejecting the door. Dozens of doors on the walls disappeared and reappeared repeatedly, creating the effect of a thousand blinking eyes.
Below, still…
“Ogatai, actually, for a long time…”
Mari’s confession, weighed down by defeat, and Gray’s exclamations…
“I’m going to the west to set up a home. Oh, sister too. Sister too! Sister too, sister too! Haa… yes.”
Everything blended into chaos. The only one who remained composed, Helios, quietly closed his eyes in the maelstrom and gathered his divine power.
“I suppose your advice was ignored, Mari. It seems too late for pleasantries now.”
