…At noon the next day.
The underground area of the Imperial Palace was designated as the site of the magical incident. Entry into the area was strictly prohibited, and all the wizards and knights of the Imperial Palace were dispatched, including Lia.
“…Haaahm. What’s going on?”
Lia yawned and rubbed her eyes. Last night, she had sparred with Delric, Leo, and Carlos in succession, and kept worrying about Deculein afterward, so she was exhausted.
“Don’t get close. It’s dangerous.”
People were chattering and wandering in the hallways of the Imperial Palace, near the library. There were many curious courtiers milling about. The knights were holding them back, but each of them poked their heads out and whispered.
Lia approached the knights and asked.
“What is it? What’s going on?”
“Don’t even be curious… oh. Is it you, Lia? Hmm… yes, look over there.”
The knight beckoned to the Imperial Palace Library.
“It’s a magic attack.”
“A magic attack?”
“Yes.”
Was it the Altar? Lia glanced over the knight’s shoulder. The library was already a mess. The bookshelves lay collapsed like dominoes, and the books were scattered about the floor.
“Everyone who has visited the library over the past three days is missing.”
“Missing?”
“Yes.”
“You hadn’t realized this sooner?”
“…The Library isn’t a crowded place. This came to light last night when a screening wizard and their escort knight went missing. But there’s more to it than that…”
The knight cleared his throat, glancing sideways. And then he whispered softly.
—The number of missing persons in this Palace are increasing.
“…Really?”
The palace was wide. Many people didn’t know, but there were tens of thousands of people living here. Not only high-ranking officials and courtiers, but also palace knights and wizards, their attendants, and hundreds of houseguests from abroad. Therefore, it was difficult to dismiss rumors that had already begun to circulate.
“Is it time for me to step forward?”
The knight grinned at Lia.
“Do you want to go in? I think it’ll be dangerous even for you.”
“It’s okay.”
“Alright.”
So she was allowed to enter. Lia slowly looked around the people investigating the site. There were too many gathered here. From the court wizards scattering mana here and there, men and women in suits from the intelligence agency, the deputy commanders of the Imperial Knights, Isaac and Lawaine, and Delric.
“…What’s going on, Knight Delric?”
She asked Delric.
“Eh?”
While talking to the agents, he noticed her approach.
“Oh, is it you, Lia?”
“Yes.”
Delric was kind, but the reason he smiled when he saw her like this was probably because of Deculein. No, was it thanks to Deculein?
“Yes. Selection wizards, knights, and librarians were pulled in.”
“Where are they getting pulled into?”
“This canvas.”
Delric pointed to the blank portrait lying in the middle of the library.
“The culprit seems to be this, but… we’re investigating who put this canvas here. Why? Are you going to join them too?”
“Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
Whooong—
Then something vibrated. Delric pulled a crystal ball from his cloak. After staring at it for a while, he cleared his throat.
“Everyone, get ready. Count Yukline will be here soon.”
“Yes!”
At Delric’s words, everyone, including the intelligence agency, stood straighter. Was he really the most powerful person in the empire? Lia felt uneasy about their loyalty, but she decided to wait for Deculein with them.
Stomp-
Everyone in the library looked back, and Lia gulped. Her heart fluttered, but she took a deep breath to calm herself and erased her expression.
“Welcome, sir!”
Delric saluted. So did the other agents, while Lawaine and Isaac maintained their sullen expressions. There was no loyalty from those two. Perhaps, Lia could use their help.
“A magic attack?”
Deculein asked.
“Yes, that’s right.”
Delric replied.
“What is presumed to be the mediator?”
“This canvas!”
The canvas. Deculein stared at it for a moment, then walked closer.
“Oh, Count. It’s dangerous. Don’t get too-“
Despite Delric’s warning, he removed the canvas without hesitation. He scanned the sheet of paper, turning it around.
“…Did you find out anything?”
Isaac asked. Deculein nodded without saying a word.
“What is it?”
This time, Lia asked. Deculein looked down at her quietly.
“She will come down from the Floating Island.”
“…Yes?”
Everyone looked bewildered. Then Deculein hung the canvas on the wall and said:
“Epherene.”
“…”
Epherene Luna.
“Looks like that girl is doing something strange.”
Now she was being chased by the Floating Island officers. Her crime was being the seed of disaster that could destroy the continent. The biggest threat was the Altar, but the Floating Island was only trying to chase Epherene.
He could understand. It didn’t mean he sympathized. However, the Floating Island had nothing to do with the continent, so the biggest harm to their organization was an existence that had the potential to undermine the foundation of the current magical system. In a word, Epherene.
“You mean that Epherene?”
“Yes. There have been a few missing reports recently.”
“…”
Delric looked at the intelligence agent beside him. The agent explained quickly.
“103 cases inside the Imperial Palace and 830 cases outside.”
There were quite a few disappearances. Lia was also surprised to hear it was so extensive.
“…”
Deculein lost himself in thought for a moment, then twisted his lips into a sneer and muttered.
“It’s foolish.”
They didn’t know what was foolish. But, as he turned around quickly, Delric asked.
“Sir. Where are you going?”
“I’m going to look for Epherene. The Floating Island must have probably gone to find her.”
Lia asked him.
“What are you going to do when you find her?”
Deculein looked at Lia with cold eyes. His sharp voice hung like a blade over her head.
“…I will kill her.”
Deculein left without looking back. From the look of his back, Lia was almost convinced.
—The current Deculein was dangerous.
* * *
I was running. My two legs were faster than a horse or a car. If I used the Mirror Passage placed in every corner of the continent, I could cross vast distances in moments.
Epherene’s canvas. It was clear what she was trying to do with it. I think I could tell, since she once did something similar in the distant future. No, she would do something similar in the future.
…She was preparing herself for the continent’s destruction. She was thinking of saving the life of this continent, with her magic on a scale worthy of being called an Archmage.
“…”
However, it wasn’t that girl who I came to today. I wasn’t able to find the girl who hid quite well, no, the girl who was no longer dependent on time.
“Etheric Deculein.”
Instead, I was facing Epherene’s hunter on Floating Island, this heavy cloaked man.
“Did you hear the news?”
Killer Mayev. He asked me. I looked around. We were at the foot of the empire’s mountain, at the hut they built. I still didn’t know what they were up to. They only had magic and mana in their heads, so at least ten screws were missing.
“…By news. You mean the disappearance?”
“Yes. Epherene is doing something strange.”
Something strange. Mayev’s face wrinkled into a frown as he continued.
“We’ve definitely told you that Epherene is an extremely dangerous wizard. This is the price.”
“Just explain what’s going on.”
“Epherene has gone crazy.”
He said. I was disconcerted. Indeed, was it enough to be mistaken in that way?
“Epherene’s magic is sucking people in. Not one, not even two. It’s a major event that is happening all over the continent.”
That may be correct. Epherene was abducting people into the canvas. She might have gone crazy in the infinitely repeating time.
“She’s gone mad.”
The Killer said. I swallowed a laugh.
“Can you even catch her?”
“Yes. Are you planning to collaborate?”
“Have I ever not cooperated with you?”
I replied. Indeed, there was never a time I hadn’t cooperated.
“By the way, how are you going to catch her?”
“Great magic.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Great magic?”
“Yes. It is giant magic that freezes time in a specific space.”
Something was strange. Magic that freezes time in space, that is, logic related to time. I shook my head and glared at the killers.
“…Did you accept Epherene’s theory?”
“…”
They didn’t answer. At least when it came to time, all the wizards in the world could do nothing but follow Epherene.
“Well, there is a saying that if you know your enemy and yourself, you can win every battle.”
They managed to nod along to my words.
“Yes. Epherene’s theory is still dangerous, but we learned it because we can handle and seal it according to our capabilities.”
What a disgusting rationalization. Too disgusting to say it’s funny, too pathetic to say it’s clever.
“Hmph. Don’t even bother with the excuses. When do you plan to perform the spell?”
“In three days.”
Three days. I thought about that time, and I considered my power. The number of the slayers was six. The power of each of them was too difficult for even me to bear. They were skilled murderers when it came to dealing with wizards. However, it wasn’t impossible either.
Preparation was a villain’s specialty. If you choose your own means, you can win.
I asked.
“Can you finish it by then?”
Therefore, three days was the time I had to plan to kill them.
“Of course, it is possible.”
I looked around them quietly.
“Hmm. Is it?”
A plan quickly came to mind.
“I also think it will.”
…About killing them all.
* * *
“…I think Deculein is trying to cooperate with the Altar.”
At the same time, the Imperial Palace was drenched in darkness. In the room wrapped in Silence, Lia finally spoke.
“I don’t know the reason, though….”
Ganesha sat opposite her with the Demon Blood Elesol. Lia was finally able to deliver those delicate words.
“Really?”
But, surprisingly, Ganesha didn’t look surprised. Lia found that strange.
Ganesha stared back as she tilted her head and smiled.
“I see.”
“…What’s up with your reaction?”
“What?”
“You’re not surprised.”
Ganesha chuckled. Then, she let out a small sigh.
“Yeah. Why am I not surprised~? Is it because I have already received a mission~?”
Lia frowned, but Ganesha continued to smile.
“If you had known, the others would have too. Isn’t that right?”
“Others? You mean…”
Lia paused. Leo and Carlos by her side looked the same.
“Yes. That’s right.”
Ganesha nodded, her expression shifting to one of the utmost seriousness. Then, she produced a sealed Imperial letter and held it out.
“This is a mission request that the Imperial Family gave us directly.”
Lia opened it. Her eyes widened with astonishment.
“…Ha.”
If it were the truth that Lia knew, of course, someone from the Imperial Palace would have a glimmer of suspicion.
“The Imperial Intelligence Agency is also suspicious of Deculein.”
——[Mission Request: Red Garnet Adventure Team]——
◆ Follow the target and investigate. If there’s suspicion of treason or conspiracy, notify immediately.
◆ Target: Deculein von Grahan Yukline.
Lia put down the letter and stared blankly at Ganesha.
“But the question is, will Her Majesty believe us? Oh, of course, we’ll need proof.”
Ganesha rested her chin on her hand.
“What should we do, Lia? Should we try? Should we follow Deculein?”
Following Deculein, revealing that he was a spy collaborating with the Altar. Obtaining that evidence and presenting it to the Imperial Intelligence Agency and Her Majesty.
“…We don’t have a choice.”
Even if that meant betraying Deculein, there was nothing they could do.
“Now he is trying to complete the Lighthouse.”
Even if it was because of her that Deculein was doing this now, or because of the setting of Yuli, the ex-fiancée she added without much thought…
No, because of that.
“We have to fix it. If we can’t convince them….”
Lia gritted her teeth.
“Even if we have to kill him… no matter what.”
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