Chapter 20
Of course. He wanted to break this illusion.
[Helios.]
Just as he grabbed the doorknob to turn it, Ogothai’s illusion called out to him.
[Then at least covet Enya’s body.]
Ogothai stepped closer and pressed her hand against the door. When he turned, her eyes gleamed at a distance close enough for their foreheads to touch.
[Don’t try to possess what cannot be seen. Do not take in the other’s emptiness.]
She whispered the warning into his ear.
[If you do, there will be no turning back.]
He had no idea what exactly couldn’t be undone, but he dismissed it as nonsense. It was just the illusion’s last attempt to hold him back.
“Mind your own business.”
Twisting his lips, Helios turned the doorknob.
As he stepped outside, bright air greeted him. It was no longer the night garden—before him stood Enya in broad daylight, lifting her head as if she had sensed his presence.
Their eyes met. Just like the first time they met, Enya gave a plain smile and lightly swirled her glass.
Seeing someone who had been so indifferent now smile at him stirred a strange sense of satisfaction. Feeling the dull tension in his chest, he strode forward without hesitation, spreading his arms as if to embrace her.
Then, in one swift motion, he cupped her chin with both hands and forced her to meet his gaze.
The roughness of the gesture made Enya look puzzled. But her unguarded face made him want to devour her.
Slowly, deliberately, he examined every distorted detail of her features before cruelly declaring his victory.
“I won.”
Enya stumbled back out of his grasp. Heat rushed to her face as if her head might explode.
She had been sure she was about to win.
‘Did he use divine power?’
But there was no trace of it in his arrogant, triumphant posture. Grinding her teeth, Enya glared at his flawless face. Humiliation churned in her mind, bringing with it all sorts of violent thoughts.
Should she crush his mind into pulp and erase his memory? Or capture those holy knights and use them as leverage?
“I can hear your thoughts from here.”
Helios stepped forward as if none of that would work. His long stride closed the distance instantly. With a gentle, almost benevolent smile, he gestured with his chin.
“Tower Master. You should keep your promise. Unless you plan to drag what little honor you have through the dirt.”
Trying to suppress her anger, Enya kept her mouth shut, her nostrils flaring. He mercilessly noted the detail.
“Tower Master.”
“Ugh! Ah! Aah!”
“Are you the one under an illusion? You’ve lost your mind. Tell me if you need training.”
“Ah! Ah! I had you! I had you right there!”
Enya threw a full tantrum.
She stomped in place, slammed her forehead against the wall, and even grabbed Laila by the shoulders while screaming and shaking her. Eventually, she collapsed onto the floor, flailing her limbs and whining, “I can’t do this.”
Gray and Mari watched in stunned silence.
The master of the Morgenda Magic Tower, with over 300 years of history, was… far from dignified.
Still, as if she pitied her master, the loyal mage Laila approached Enya and knelt beside her.
“Lady Enya, you still have time. Try again.”
Her quiet suggestion was clever.
“You might think subjugation favors priests and holy knights, but in truth, it’s practically a stage for mages who use power similar to monsters. In the domain of a succubus, you could recover from this loss.”
Enya’s tightly shut eyes snapped open.
Laila was right. In a succubus domain, she’d have plenty of chances—she could disguise illusions as the monster’s magic or induce magical instability, as long as it didn’t interfere too much with the mission.
Light returned to Enya’s eyes. Laila smiled, satisfied.
“What do you think? Can you do it?”
Enya sat up abruptly and nodded.
“Yeah. I think I can.”
“Good. Try everything you can. Preferably with your body.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Laila’s last words were too quiet to hear. Pretending nothing happened, she helped Enya to her feet.
“Thanks.”
As Enya, now calmer, leaned in to lightly kiss Laila’s cheek in thanks—
Helios stepped between them.
She nearly kissed his broad chest instead.
“What—”
“Tower Master. Keep your promise. Answer.”
With a radiant smile befitting his name, he stood before her. Determined to repay this humiliation, Enya opened her mouth under everyone’s curious gaze.
“Mm… mm.”
But instead of speaking, she only nodded and hummed an unknown tune.
Looking down at her, Helios urged without losing his smile.
“How long are you going to act childish, Tower Master?”
Enya shook her head repeatedly, gesturing that she would do it later. No one understood.
She pointed toward the door as if generously dismissing them.
But Helios wasn’t backing down. He even closed his eyes and wrapped himself in divine power, just in case she tried to force something with magic.
He was determined to hear her speak respectfully right here.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
Truthfully, he had his reasons.
Though he hadn’t completely lost, he had been shaken by the illusion. His pride demanded compensation. He wanted Enya to be more humiliated.
And honestly, seeing her angry lifted his mood more than restoring his pride.
Like handling a kitten, he called out:
“Tower Master?”
At this point, even Mari felt like “Tower Master” sounded like a pet name. Both subordinates wanted to leave.
“…Why is he like that? Did killing the Demon King make him bored?”
“He has been living a rather boring life…”
Ignoring them, Helios slyly opened one eye. Seeing Enya flushed red and unable to control her expression made his thoughts scatter.
Her reddened cheeks and eyes sent a sharp thrill down his spine.
He silently mouthed:
Respectful speech.
“Haa…”
Enya knew he wouldn’t leave until he heard it.
Now that he was the commander of the subjugation force, obedience was necessary. She could pretend ignorance, but her contract was with his sister.
Fine. If she had to do it, she’d do it once and be done.
“Heli—”
She steeled herself and opened her mouth wide.
“Mm.”
“Helios…-nim.”
“Good.”
Her voice was small and dragged, but he smiled generously.
Mari muttered in disbelief—had their commander always been capable of smiling like that?
But his beauty meant nothing before Enya’s pride. It only irritated her more.
Face burning red, she muttered:
“The formation… will follow your… decision.”
“Setting formations is the commander’s right. You will follow my orders in the subjugation. It would be better to put it in writing.”
He stroked his chin, smiling faintly.
“I need something I can trust.”
“I already swore in blood.”
“I don’t trust your actions.”
Her face hardened.
“Are you saying I would cause insubordination?”
“It’s possible.”
“Like what you’re doing now?”
“You?”
“…Like what Helios-nim is doing now?”
“Yes. I expect you to follow even the smallest orders. And to be clear—judgment is not yours to make.”
He leaned in, closing the distance to less than a handspan.
“I’ll make it.”
“….”
“You just listen.”
It wasn’t wrong.
But still—
“I didn’t know the knights were this rigid. The name ‘Holy Knight Order’ is wasted.”
“You’ve never treated it properly anyway.”
“…Do we really need documentation? I’ll comply.”
“I said I don’t trust you.”
“Then give me an order. Even something trivial.”
Her tone slipped into casual speech.
“….”
“Commander?”
His playful smile disappeared. His gaze turned still and deep.
After a moment, he slowly reached out and tapped the corner of her lips.
“Smile.”
It wasn’t entirely impulsive.
The image of her smile from the illusion still lingered like a splinter.
Every time she smirked at him, it unsettled him. He wanted to confirm it in reality—to erase the illusion’s afterimage.
“Hurry.”
At his low urging, Enya hesitated, then forced a smile.
“Is this awkward…?”
She muttered, barely showing her teeth.
