Chapter 10
Enya clawed at her hair, panting. Her eyes bulged in fury.
“Y-you… crazy bastard!”
Every horse they brought, along with the rest of the minor illusions, had completely fallen for it—but Helios wasn’t fooled by a trace of the hallucination, and he moved through the magic tower as if it were his own home.
He channeled holy power into his feet, piercing the floor like a spear, purifying only the magical energy along his path to stabilize the space. Thanks to this, amid the chaotic tower, only the area around him remained calm, and he comfortably made his way toward the room where Enya awaited.
The tower belonged to Enya. It was like an extension of her body, a part of her. The sensation of being probed and intruded upon was not just unpleasant—it was humiliating.
‘Who the hell… do I think I am…!’
Losing his composure, even his pride, already reduced to shreds, flared up. His teeth ground together in frustration as his footsteps grew louder and closer.
Thunk.
Thunk.
Thunk—
Clatter.
Light spilled from the open door.
Radiance. A beautiful, dazzling light.
Helios hadn’t expected to see the power of that title so vividly, but the holy energy wrapping his body like armor emitted light so brilliant it was nearly impossible to look at.
From within the light, a deep voice resonated.
“Master of the Morgenda Tower.”
As soon as the words ended and the holy energy dissipated, Marri and Grey, who had been slung over his shoulders, came into view. They staggered like dogs drunk on sake.
‘No wonder the shoulders looked overly broad.’
Just before Helios entered, Enya had quickly seated herself in a chair, adopting as relaxed a posture as possible. She wouldn’t lose in a psychological duel over such a minor defeat. She smiled faintly.
“Seems your journey was arduous. You look terribly worn out, don’t you?”
“I wouldn’t say worn out.”
Helios, far from fatigued, shook the burden from his shoulders as if shrugging off a cloak. For dealing with unconscious subordinates, the motion seemed almost casual. The fallen paladins gawked in awe, still lost in hallucinations, murmuring “Lord Ogatai… my love…”
Ignoring them, Helios pulled up a chair and sat across from Enya, keeping his breath and expression steady.
“I hadn’t heard that a nightmare resided in this tower.”
Enya’s face scrunched with displeasure at being labeled a nightmare. Helios crossed his long legs leisurely, green eyes like a satiated beast curling toward her.
“So disappointing. This should make the hunt easy.”
“What… disappointing, my ass…”
Failing to maintain composure, Enya snorted, unwilling to back down.
“Yet your subordinates look far more pathetic. Like master, like servants, I suppose.”
Her sharp jab made the veins at Helios’ temple stiffen. Truthfully, he had nothing to argue regarding his fallen subordinates. Not because they were weak, but because Enya was extraordinarily strong. Regardless, he paid it no mind. He flexed his power mentally and changed the topic.
“To employ your sister like that… are you unaware of royal offense?”
“What offense? Got proof?”
“Do you know what it takes to be so childish?”
“Blame your skill for getting caught in a childish trap.”
Lightning seemed to flash between their eyes.
Enya, already at her wit’s end, ground her teeth, plotting how to turn this situation to her advantage, while Helios inwardly noted his surprise. Despite probing the tower with his holy power, her skin remained unscathed, soft to the touch, almost deceivingly so.
“Would you like some warm tea?”
Just as tension reached its peak, a cheerful voice fractured the world around them.
“My apologies for being late. I am Lyla, chief magician of the Morgenda Tower.”
A magician with pale cherry blossom hair and deep, flame-like eyes, Lyla placed tea before them, receiving their stupefied stares.
“Chatter is fine, but don’t you have more important matters?”
The blunt rebuke froze both their expressions.
“Enya, even if your intent was to gauge the paladins’ abilities, you went too far.”
“Hmm? Ah, yes… all for assessing their capabilities…”
Before Enya could finish, Lyla placed her hand on her chest and inclined toward Helios.
“Sir Depert, on behalf of my master, I apologize. We met at the previous banquet—do you remember?”
A lie. Lyla had spent the entire banquet recruiting nobles with aphrodisiacs and drinking, never actually meeting him. She spoke the lie to make Helios uncomfortable. Seeing him hesitate, she quickly added:
“It is an honor to meet you again. Would you care for some refreshments? Harsan has just baked some delicious desserts.”
“Tea is enough.”
Helios, uneasy, glanced at her. Lyla quickly judged him not to be cruel, contrary to Enya’s warning.
“Then you two may converse. Enya, please escort these poor knights to my room.”
“Mm, yes.”
Like a soft storm, Lyla left without hesitation. Watching her retreat, Helios and Enya met each other’s eyes again.
“……You have reasonable subordinates.”
“……Something like that.”
The realization hit them both at once—they had both acted childish, yet the matter itself had to be done.
Exhaling deeply, Enya let out a weak smile and flicked her hand. Vines slithered under the fallen knights, enveloping them and carrying them below the floor. Helios, rising to follow, was told:
“They’re being taken to Lyla’s room, so don’t worry.”
“……”
“Even if your intent was to test their abilities, I admit I went too far.”
Of course, Helios cared nothing for “abilities.”
The skills of the paladins, under Helios who had slain the Demon King, were more than sufficient. There was no need to test them.
Enya’s thin pride simply would not allow her to admit using so much magic just to see ‘you hanging from a branch in nothing but your underwear.’
Though defeated, the battle had cooled their tempers somewhat.
Ultimately, her goal was not Helios, but to ensure the mission’s success and claim the corresponding reward.
“Sir Helios, may I address you like this?”
Enya rested her chin on one hand, the other on the desk, her fingers moving gracefully like gentle waves. His gaze followed every motion, from her pale long fingers to her wrist and jaw, until finally reaching her dark eyes.
“I didn’t expect your subordinates to be so helpless. I apologize.”
His calm eyes traveled from her fingers to wrist, neck, and finally her black eyes. Meeting his gaze, Enya boldly extended her hand.
“Let’s call a truce.”
To the unshakable Helios, she playfully waved and pushed her hand further forward.
“Do you think I like you? I find you annoying and insufferable. Truly, I despise you.”
“……”
“But we have a job to do, don’t we? No need to waste energy glaring and biting at each other.”
“……”
“Oh, I hope you’re not expecting more apologies.”
Enya’s smile never faltered, her black eyes as clear and bright as a moonlit night.
“I never asked you for an apology. Consider this sufficient.”
“I haven’t wronged you.”
“Hmm. Really?”
Enya’s words seemed to affirm his guilt.
Helios struggled to understand her behavior. Lips that would never apologize opened first, extending a hand to end the matter. How could someone laugh so heartlessly? It was as if she could do nothing else.
Her demeanor didn’t match someone who would kill their master or peers to seize the tower. It was infuriating, twisting his chest.
He felt compelled to ask her to ease his confusion.
Did you… really kill your master?
If you did, how do you live with yourself now?
As he opened his mouth, Ogatai’s voice echoed in his mind.
‘Hmm, speaking of skill, she is certainly superior enough to have killed her master. Personally? Disgusting.’
“Sir Helios?”
Enya’s call cut through Ogatai’s voice, returning focus to the present.
“I said, truce.”
Her words were reasonable. A truce was necessary. There was no time to dwell on past deeds, nor did he need to know her history.
Surely, Ogatai, who had fought alongside her in countless battles, wasn’t wrong.
Moreover, he could no longer waste energy on childish antics, the playful chaos of a cat who might go anywhere.
He had to be the master of the West. Not some paladin who could not even fully possess a book, but the true lord of the West.
“Quick. My arms are getting tired.”
When Enya waved her hand, Helios turned his head in mild annoyance, took a deep breath, and grasped her hand.
Contrary to his expectation that he’d only grasp her fingertips, his large hand enveloped hers fully. The groove between thumb and forefinger fit perfectly. Enya pressed her hand into his, and he reciprocated. Her hand, which felt like a giant when using magic, seemed tiny in his grasp. Watching their hands locked, Enya teased.
“You obey well, naughty child.”
“Just… haah. Shut your mouth.”
“Tough, isn’t it? We still have work to do.”
Watching her lively hand, he noted how soft and weak it felt.
“Now, let’s return to the main topic.”
Just like her smile.
