"Arghhhh!"
An elderly man with black hair clutched his abdomen, screaming in agony.
Startled, the bandaged man, Freddy, hurriedly ran over and grabbed the old man by the shoulder.
"What's going on?"
"Ugh... That damn brat!"
"Damn brat? Are you talking about Verdin?"
The elderly man's expression turned sharp and uncomfortable as he swatted Freddy's hand away.
Smack.
"Yes, that accursed youngest of the Stranges!"
Freddy let out a long sigh, shrugged his shoulders, and stood up.
"Did you fail the mission?"
"..."
"Hah! You were so confident, and yet you couldn't even handle such a simple task."
"Shut up."
"Getting beaten by a kid and taking it out on something else, huh?"
"I wasn't beaten by him."
"Then?"
The elderly man abruptly stood up and spread a large canvas on the floor, responding as he did.
Rustle.
"Beratir."
Freddy snorted in disbelief, as if what he heard was absurd.
"Beratir? That crazy old man?"
"Despite rumors that his abilities were sealed by the Tower, he was hiding his strength."
"Really? When I met him last year, he was struggling just to walk, drunk off his feet."
"It was all a lie. He was strong enough that even Strange's power didn't affect him."
"... I didn't see it myself, so I can't say for sure, but it seems like you're overestimating him."
The elderly man, infusing his brush with aura, began to draw on the canvas while yelling.
"Bullshit! I've lived more than twice as long as you. Do you think I'd overestimate someone's strength?"
"Why are you getting angry? Right, Bonnie?"
A thin woman with purple hair and puppets on her hands answered.
"Let him be, that old man finally seems to have lost his mind. Win or lose, it's all the same. Excuses, tsk tsk!"
Snap!
The brush the elderly man was drawing with snapped. Veins bulged on his forehead as he glared at Bonnie.
"Watch your mouth, Bonnie. The only reason you're with us is because of Monestier."
Bonnie moved the mouths of her puppets, performing ventriloquism.
"Blah blah, spirit something!"
"Monestier this and that!"
Silence fell.
Though the conversation had ended, an invisible tension persisted. The elderly man and Bonnie continued to glare at each other.
Unable to bear it, Freddy slapped his forehead and spoke to both of them.
"Enough. So, what are we going to do now?"
The elderly man replied.
"What else? We'll have to kill Lois first."
"Can you do it?"
"Why not? They say he can't even move properly."
"Don't underestimate Lois. You know better than anyone how strong he is."
"That's why we need to hurry. If he recovers, not only will the plan fail, but we'll end up like Monestier."
Thud, thud, thud.
The elderly man sat down on a part of the pentagram drawn on the floor, which looked like a starry night sky, and spoke to Freddy and Bonnie.
"Enough with the pointless chatter. Let's go catch Lois."
Freddy took his place on another part of the pentagram and nodded.
"We're still missing one person. With Monestier gone, there should be four of us."
"Oh, he said he'd be a bit late. Since he's been to the 40th floor with Lois, he can find us on his own."
"Really? I had no idea he climbed the tower with Lois."
"You wouldn't know. They moved secretly to avoid revealing the strategy to Glazier."
"... Understood. Let's go then. Hey, Bonnie, hurry up."
Bonnie moved one puppet's head up and down and the other side to side as she sat opposite the elderly man and Freddy.
"Wait! Before we go, let's settle one thing. Who gets the southern land if Lois dies?"
The elderly man and Freddy both pointed at Bonnie simultaneously.
"It's yours."
"You can have it."
Satisfied, Bonnie flared her nostrils and raised her arms triumphantly.
"Great! Then let's go!"
With a clap from her puppets.
Clap!
Light erupted from the barrier.
Whoosh-
Pop!
In an instant, the three people and the pentagram on the floor vanished.
---
"So, your father is in danger of being killed by an unknown force?"
As expected, Instructor 'Beratir' was quick to catch on.
After briefly explaining what had happened, he not only grasped the situation but also understood the external world's dynamics and the delicate position between Strange and Glazier, as well as the Empire's forces.
"Yes."
"Hmmm-. Lois and the Emperor never got along, but I never thought they'd go so far as to threaten each other. No matter how strong he is, how could a knight aim for the Emperor's neck without a just cause?"
He was right.
No matter how strong my father was, he couldn't wield his sword against the Emperor. Even the wizards of Glazier, who worshiped a different god, wouldn't cross that line. How could a knight?
They weren't bandits, after all.
"You can't take the Emperor's head even with a just cause."
"True, but as you know, the Emperor is dying, right?"
"I've heard rumors, but I don't know if they're true."
"They are. I saw it with my own eyes."
"What did you see?"
"A decrepit old man, barely holding on. They say he's gone mad and sometimes even eats people, like a monster."
Though I knew the truth, I feigned ignorance and listened intently.
Was there any detail I was missing? But no, it was just as I remembered.
'However.'
The Emperor wasn't dying just yet.
He would live for two more years, surrounded by grotesque rumors.
He will be beheaded by his own son when I turn ten.
'If things are the same as back then.'
I wasn't in the palace on the day he died, so I didn't know the exact details. Still, the rumors said that one of his vassals started the rebellion. They also said that the emperor's most trusted servant had betrayed him.
'I wish I had paid more attention back then.'
Back then, it didn't concern me, so I didn't care. Whether the emperor changed or not, my position remained the same. Whether they lived or died, it had no impact on me. My only connection with the imperial army was as a contractor. So, why would I bother caring?
I kept my expression neutral as I answered.
"People eating people. It's truly unbelievable."
"It must be a curse."
"Is that so?"
"You don't think so?"
"No, I don't. There's no one in the palace bold enough to use curses. If someone even attempted to chant one, someone would be right there to chop their head off."
"...That's true."
Veratir scratched the back of his head with a sheepish smile.
"By the way, it seems that Phillip has already fled the academy. He must have been placed here by someone."
That confirmed Phillip's involvement. Now, if we interrogate his associates, the matter can be resolved quickly.
'Valentine could easily handle this.'
Should I contact her? She did say to inform her if any problems arose, and this matter involved our father.
'...No.'
To be honest, she still felt intimidating. Even though she is my sister, she felt so distant.
Such a request should be made when we're closer.
This is a matter I can handle alone.
"Has that Phillip been here for long?"
"He was here before I arrived. I don't know exactly how long, but at least six years, which is longer than me."
From what I knew, he'd been at the academy for ten years. If Veratir arrived six years ago, the timing matched.
"Oh, by the way, Tony regained consciousness and remembered causing the commotion in Phillip's lab. He feels terrible about it."
"Really?"
"Yes, he remembers everything. He said he couldn't help but attack us due to uncontrollable rage. Who knows if that's true."
I wasn't sure whose power it was, but it seemed they could influence but not completely control the mind.
'That level of power must come with significant limitations.'
The complexity of a power often correlates with its strength.
Veratir looked me over and turned me around by my shoulders.
"Now go get some rest. You'll be here until tomorrow, right?"
"Yes."
"We can talk more later. For now, recharge your energy. I'll have the academy guards look for Phillip."
"Thank you. We could be in real trouble if we don't find him."
"Don't worry. You know me, right? I used to be stronger than Lois."
I knew. He used to be unbeatable in arm wrestling.
I smiled lightly and nodded.
"Thank you."
* * *
Back in my room, I lay on my bed.
I hadn't been in any major battles, but I was mentally exhausted from all the thinking. As soon as I lay down, I fell asleep.
I didn't sleep deeply. I heard myself snoring a few times before a voice I didn't recognize filled my ears.
"It's been a long time, Verdin."
A soft, sweet female voice.
"I spent so many years in chaos just to meet you again."
It felt so familiar, but I couldn't place it.
"I wrote your name down every day, so I wouldn't forget you."
I didn't remember, but my chest tightened.
I tried to see who it was, but my head was fixed in place, and my body wouldn't move.
"I won't forget you, so don't forget me."
'Who are you, telling me not to forget you? Tell me who you are!'
Knowing it was futile, I shouted in my mind.
"My name is Cynthia."
Cynthia?
No, the voice was completely different from the Cynthia I knew.
"I am your…."
'Your what?'
A flash of light cut her words short.
Slap!
Someone slapped my cheek, waking me up.
"Wake up, Verdin. If you don't open your eyes now, you'll die."