…Two days later.
"Whew…"
In the common room of Masal's residence, Louina was taking a deep breath. She'd just woken up and been sighing ever since.
"So, was there anything hidden in that spell?" asked Ihelm, looking over.
"I don't know."
"…"
Ihelm shook his head.
"Anyway. Whether it has any other meaning or not, it is correct to disclose the analysis results."
"…"
Louina turned to regard him.
"How? Deculein will stop us as soon as we try."
"Deculein will not have the time to take care of us. Didn't you hear the news?"
"…?"
Ihelm rubbed the back of his neck.
"Her Majesty has made a move. She told Deculein to go to Annihilation first and wait for her."
"…Ah."
"So we don't have much time. The comet will fall soon."
Ihelm pointed to the sky outside the window. Louina's eyes widened.
"It's… visible."
Although still very small and faint, the comet twinkled like a star in broad daylight.
"If we reveal this madness, many will be on our side. Most of the wizards still don't even know what the lighthouse was built for. If we do that, we can bring down Deculein. He will become a public enemy worse than a black beast", said Ihelm.
Louina pondered for a moment.
"…Oh, right. What about Elesol?"
"She's outside waiting for you. She said she would escort you until you reveal it."
Louina stayed silent, before Ihelm urged her again.
"So? What do you think? Hurry up and make a decision!"
Louina was still unsure. She couldn't help but have doubt about Deculein's real motives. A voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Let's do it."
Louina looked behind her at Lia.
"That is also the will of Her Majesty."
* * *
On the 66th floor of the Imperial Tower, Relin's office.
"Chairman Deculein has to go to Annihilation…"
Sophien called it the 'advance guard,' and his purpose was to establish a camp and report the movements of the Altar. But in reality, it was exile. Of course, the central events could be heard through the Altar's network, but the difference between being there and not was huge. But, those things didn't matter to Relin. His attention was focused on two people, Louina and Ihelm, who escaped from their prison. They were holding on somehow, but if Deculein ever found out, he would die.
"Did you find them or not?!"
Relin yelled into the crystal ball he clutched.
—We didn't.
The morons from the Altar couldn't find two wizards. Relin squeezed his head.
"Fuck… find them quickly. Chairman Deculein is on the 99th floor right now…"
After saying so, he pressed down his crooked hair and raised his glasses with trembling fingers.
"This garbage… I told him not to lock them up in the first place…"
At that moment, as he voiced his resentment-
—Professor Relin!
Someone called Relin. Relin startled and stood up straight. He straightened his posture and readied to salute.
Slam—
However, the door opened, and the person who entered was an undergraduate. Relin frowned.
"What do you want?"
"I'm assistant Lefund!"
"…Are you my assistant?"
"Sorry? Oh, yes! It's been six months!"
"Why did you come? You cheeky bastard."
Relin calmed his heart that was about to explode and took off his coat. The teaching assistant promptly held out a wizard board.
"Look at this!"
"…What is this?"
"The true purpose of the lighthouse the Altar built, someone anonymously revealed it to the Academy!"
As soon as the teaching assistant mentioned the Altar, Relin felt chills. But these days, there weren't many wizards who didn't receive an elixir from the Altar. Relin cleared his throat and took the wizard board.
"The real purpose of the lighthouse?"
"Yes. The lighthouse isn't just for the Altar to worship the cult's god!"
"…Cult? You talk a little harshly."
"Excuse me?"
"Nothing. Shh, quiet."
Relin placed his hand to his lips and began to read. He was curious, too, of the purpose of the great lighthouse. To be honest, Relin had no interest in this secret faith and cooperated with them solely because of the elixir…
"…!"
Relin's eyes widened. The flow of this spell, which Louina summarized, was well organized and analyzed so that even an incompetent magic professor could understand it. So, in an instant, Relin realized its purpose.
"Attracting... a comet?"
Suddenly, Relin turned his head and looked out the window. Next to the moon was a small pinpoint of light.
"…This is crazy!"
Relin ran through the hall and slammed the buttons on the elevator. His destination was the Chairman's office.
* * *
The top floor of the tower.
I was preparing for my last trip. With the light of the moon and stars above, I was picking what to pack for Julie and which clothes would suit me best when I died.
"Anything goes well on you, but still... this outfit is the best."
As expected, Julie chose a suit with Midas' Hand-applied on it. I smiled slightly and nodded.
"Okay. I wanted to wear something a little different, though."
"Which one?"
"Those flashy ones."
I pointed to a bright suit. The lining was red, the outside was blue, and the tie was checkered. Julie looked at it and smiled.
"You're lying."
"Yes. It was a lie."
Clothes that even Kim Woojin wouldn't have worn. I smiled a little and grabbed a vase that held the forget-me-not Lia gave me.
Julie nodded happily.
"…That flower is growing well."
"It isn't a flower that has a long life. It's not dying because I'm taking good care of it."
The lifespan of forget-me-nots wasn't long since it bloomed between spring and summer.
"But… why did Lia give you this flower?"
I looked at the flower without saying a word, smiling a little.
"Well. You'll find out soon."
"How do you know that?" asked Julie with an innocent expression.
"Because I'm going to ask her myself."
"…Oh."
When Julie smiled a little-
Ding-!
A "ding!" resounded by the elevator. At that moment, Julie put on her helmet, and I put the vase in the preservation bag.
"…Chairman!"
A professor rushed in as soon as the elevator's door opened. He wasn't alone. Relin, Ciare, Fadel, and the professors who cooperated with the Altar rushed into the Chairman's office, panicking.
"Chairman! This is terrible!"
They completely forgot their dignity and made a fuss, but they weren't the only ones. Listening closely, I could hear countless more vibrating sounds through the floor.
I smiled a little. Finally, the time had come.
"Look at this, look at this!"
Relin said first, holding out the wizard board.
"The Altar deceived us!"
I took it. They still didn't know what the real purpose of the Altar was. After all, they had willingly cooperated with Quay because they weren't aware.
"The Altar, the real purpose of this lighthouse is to destroy the c-continent…"
"I know."
"Excuse me?"
At that moment, the professors were stunned. And to them, who had their mouths open like stupid pigs, I calmly continued.
"I made this spell myself. It's a lighthouse that I built."
It was a confession that made me feel better for some reason.