Chapter 27
Stunned, I lowered my voice and asked Theodore,
“Who was my master trying to bring back to life?”
“I don’t know the details either. Even this much is only known to a few people in the temple. Most people just know he was excommunicated for using forbidden magic.”
He shrugged.
“It was your master. You didn’t know?”
“Not at all.”
From the temple, black magic, trying to revive the dead—
I had never heard anything like that about Lowell.
Theodore continued explaining.
“Still, the relationship between Ciprian and the temple wasn’t this bad back then. It got drastically worse after that.”
“What happened?”
“There were political issues too, but you probably know about those, so I’ll skip them.”
What political issues?
Not wanting to be treated like an idiot, I nodded as if I knew.
“Right, right. And the other reason?”
“About ten years ago, the temple searched and seized the Ciprian estate. They claimed there were signs that black magic had been used again.”
“Did they find any evidence?”
“No. The Ciprian estate was spotless. But they were suddenly treated like criminals, and some materials were lost during the search. I heard Ciprian was furious.”
Ah.
So that’s why Lowell would bristle every time the temple was mentioned. Now his reaction finally made sense.
“By the way, you can’t even use magic—how did you end up becoming Ciprian’s disciple?”
“Oh, my master was Master Lowell’s disciple.”
“Really? Who was your original master?”
“His name was Brion. He’s passed away now.”
“That’s unfortunate. My condolences.”
I shrugged as if it didn’t matter.
And honestly, it really didn’t. I didn’t even know Brion’s gender, age, or appearance.
Theodore kept questioning me.
“So you were with Brion the whole time before that?”
“That’s right.”
What I knew was that Brion had taken in Aisha, an orphan from the countryside—and that the game began with reading his will.
“May I ask where your hometown is?”
Did he suddenly feel like interrogating me?
Why was he digging so much?
“Lindelbrock.”
“Hm…”
I asked Theodore, who was stroking his chin thoughtfully,
“Why are you asking that?”
“Just because. You remind me of someone I know.”
“Me?”
“Yeah. But the name and hometown are different.”
Theodore stared at me with unusually serious eyes, then shrugged.
“There’s no way you’re the same person. I just asked on the off chance.”
He let out a faint chuckle. There was a strange bitterness in his smile.
Still, I look like someone he knows? Is Aisha’s face just common in this world?
Just then, Lowell called out.
“Lady, we’re departing.”
“Ah, yes!”
I turned to Theodore.
“I should get going.”
“Alright. Let me know if anything progresses with the Duke.”
Theodore gave a light wave before returning to the group of holy knights.
When I approached Lowell, he wore a faint smile—though there was no warmth in it.
“I’d prefer if you didn’t get too close to the people from the temple, Lady.”
I looked at him quietly.
I understood why Lowell disliked the temple.
But did I really need to distance myself from Theodore too?
Besides, the more I saw of him, the more decent he seemed. He even gave me dating advice.
Of course, I did need to be careful not to raise his affection level.
Pretending ignorance, I asked,
“May I ask why?”
“I’ll explain in detail once we return to the imperial palace. This isn’t the right place for it.”
Lowell glanced warily toward the holy knights.
“In any case, it’s best to keep your distance from temple people.”
I nodded for now.
If he was warning me this strongly, I should at least pretend to listen out of courtesy.
Lowell gathered Jerome’s group, the imperial knights, and the holy knights, then assigned areas to investigate.
“The imperial knights will search the north. The Duke will take the west. The holy knights will take the east. If you find anything suspicious, report immediately.”
We split into three groups and began the investigation.
I quietly stood beside Lowell and reaped the benefits.
When I had to fight monsters alone, I truly thought I would die. But now the burly knights handled everything themselves—there was nothing for me to do, and it was comfortable.
The imperial knights really are skilled.
Watching them easily defeat monsters that could have killed me instantly was nothing short of impressive.
After walking for some time, we arrived at a massive cavern.
Including the path we came from, four tunnels converged into one chamber.
“This place…”
“It appears to be a natural cave.”
Just as we were cautiously examining it, we sensed movement from the opposite tunnel. At first, I thought it was monsters—but soon, familiar faces came into view.
“Duke Winston?”
“Lord Ciprian?”
In the vast chamber, we ran into Jerome’s group. Both parties lowered their weapons after preparing for combat.
Lowell asked Jerome,
“What happened?”
“We followed the direction the monsters were coming from and ended up here.”
“Same for us.”
Then, another presence approached.
“What? What are you all doing here?”
This time, Theodore’s group appeared from another tunnel.
With the previously separated groups now gathered in one place, Lowell spoke gravely.
“If we’ve all converged here, there are two possibilities. One is that illusion magic was cast to block intruders. Did anyone notice markings on the walls along the way?”
“No.”
“Didn’t see any.”
At Jerome and Theodore’s replies, Lowell nodded with certainty.
“Then we’re heading in the right direction. It means the monsters are coming from one place. Let’s continue.”
All eyes turned toward the remaining tunnel.
There were four paths in total. Since each group had come from a different one, only one path remained.
As I walked with the flow of the group, I felt someone watching me.
Unable to ignore it, I turned my head—and locked eyes with Jerome.
I gave him an awkward smile and waved. Jerome nodded in return.
Oh? Are we finally getting closer?
Just then, Lowell pulled me toward him.
“Lady, don’t get distracted.”
Huh? What’s his problem now?
When I looked at him in confusion, he continued,
“We don’t know where a monster might appear. Don’t stray too far.”
Oh, that’s what he meant.
I thought he was telling me not to look at Jerome.
I nodded and stayed close to Lowell’s side.
We walked through the cave for quite a long time. The trek became so long and tedious that even the occasional monster felt like an event.
After who knows how long, we finally saw it—a massive magic circle drawn on the wall ahead. It looked similar to the one we had found at the waterfall.
If my memory was correct, beyond this wall lay the portal from which the monsters were emerging.
Lowell stepped closer to the magic circle.
“It’s illusion magic. There’s likely a hidden space behind this wall.”
The commander of the imperial knights beside him asked,
“How long will it take to dispel it?”
“About half a day.”
Half a day?
We’d have to wait here in this suffocating cave doing nothing for half a day?
Eager to leave as soon as possible, I strode forward toward the magic circle.
If it was the same one from the waterfall, we didn’t need to wait half a day. The wall would disappear with just a touch.
I placed my hand on the magic circle.
“Master. About this magic circle—”
“Lady, you mustn’t touch it care—!”
It happened then.
From the spot where my palm touched, the magic circle began emitting a blue light. The glow spread across the entire formation, and the whole wall started to ripple.
At the same time, losing my balance, my body tilted forward—passing straight through the wall.
“Ah!”
“Lady!”
“Miss!”
“Aisha!”
I barely managed to steady myself before falling flat.
Catching my breath, I lifted my head—
“Wow…”
The sight before me drew an involuntary gasp.
Sharp stalactites hung from the ceiling of the cavern. And at the far end, a portal hummed, radiating a dark bluish-black light.
Yes! We found it!
Beaming, I turned around.
“Everyone! I did it—!”
Huh?
Where the group should have been, there was only a solid wall.
I approached it.
“Hello? Is anyone there?!”
I pressed my ear against it and pounded with my fist.
No response.
“What? What’s going on…?”
Then the wall rippled once more—and something burst through it.
Standing too close to the surface, I had no time to dodge the sudden figure.
As a large form lunged at me, I squeezed my eyes shut.
Thud!
My backside hit the stone floor as something heavy landed on top of me.
“Ugh…”
The solid weight pressing me down carried a subtle woody and musky scent.
I carefully opened my eyes.
Someone filled my entire field of vision.
Jet-black hair like the darkest night. Refined, sculpted features. A firm arm braced against the ground.
The owner of those blue eyes was looking down at me. In the calm depths—like the sea—there was a faint tremor.
Drawing in a sharp breath, I whispered his name as if exhaling it.
“Your Grace…?”
