Chapter 341

Chapter 341. Searching for Radel (1)

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍2nd Prince, Arteo, walked down a sparsely populated corridor, carefully surveying his surroundings.

‘So ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍this is the mana of the Mage Tower.’

Cold ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍and alien mana, utterly different from that of the Imperial Palace, wrapped around his skin.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was mana flowing directly from the Mage Tower itself.

‘Its ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍purity is certainly high.’

Just ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍as with the Academy, places where mages settled required mana of high purity.

That was why the Mage Tower had been built in the middle of such a remote island—because powerful mana flowed through this land.

Of course, that alone would not have made the Mage Tower so renowned.

Designed with ancient technology, the tower itself was a magical structure that constantly emitted mana.

That was likely the reason the mages here were so exceptional.

However, due to its extremely closed nature, it was not easy to gain entry into the Mage Tower.

Even Arteo, a 2nd Prince, was visiting it for the first time as part of an imperial envoy.

‘I wonder what kind of secrets lie within.’

With the official welcoming banquet postponed until tomorrow, now was the perfect opportunity to carry out the Emperor’s secret orders.

Avoiding watchful eyes, he intended to search for traces of a research laboratory where the former 6th Prince might have stayed.

‘It looks peaceful on the surface, but…… it is hiding something.’

That was the moment he took another step forward.

Wiiiiing—!

The magic lamps hanging along the corridor began to spew an eerie red light all at once.

Urgent footsteps echoed from all directions, tearing through the silence, and the atmosphere of the entire Mage Tower shifted ominously, as if entering a state of full alert.

“Research materials have disappeared! Seal off all areas!”

“An intruder! All mages of intermediate rank or higher are to assemble in the central hall immediately!”

Shouts rang out from somewhere.

From what he could gather, it seemed that something under research had gone missing.

Arteo frowned.

‘A thief?’

Inside this closed-off Mage Tower?

At the exact moment the imperial envoy had arrived?

A cold, mocking smile tugged at Arteo’s lips.

“Bold, aren’t they.”

At the same time, it had to be someone exceedingly clever.

Taking advantage of the chaos caused by outsiders coming and going suggested that the culprit was someone thoroughly familiar with the Mage Tower’s internal affairs.

“Restrict the movement of all personnel! This is the order of Acting Mage Tower Master Aaron!”

To mobilize the Mage Tower’s mages—who were normally obsessed only with their research—so uniformly.

Through this commotion, Arteo became certain of one thing.

‘This so-called Acting Mage Tower Master has a formidable grip. The Mage Tower is completely in his hands.’

In any case, he had to hurry.

In the midst of this chaos, it might actually be easier to find clues.

Leaving the floor where his lodgings were located, Arteo headed for a deserted stairwell to move deeper inside the tower.

And there, he encountered someone entirely unexpected.

A silhouette emerging from the darkness.

On his back was a limp body slung over his shoulders.

A slender frame, pale cheeks, and limbs dangling lifelessly like a doll’s.

Anyone could tell the person was unconscious.

‘Could it be…… not theft, but abduction?’

Tension surged through Arteo’s entire body.

What was even more shocking was the kidnapper’s attire.

The shabby work clothes worn by Mage Tower laborers.

As far as Arteo knew, laborers were strictly forbidden from entering the upper levels.

So why was a laborer here, carrying a person on his back?

‘What is on his back might very well be the true subject of that “research.”’

The moment his judgment was made, Arteo moved swiftly and blocked the laborer’s path.

Sensing someone ahead, the laborer came to an abrupt halt.

A wary presence emanated from the darkness.

Judging by the aura radiating from his body alone, he was no ordinary man.

‘Not a mere laborer.’

Arteo’s golden eyes gleamed like blades.

He spoke coldly toward the intruder in the dark.

“……Who are you?”

***

“Ugh!”

Just as he seemed to be regaining consciousness, the 6th Prince, Harpel, suddenly fell silent, having apparently passed out again.

Radel slowed his pace to check Harpel’s condition.

“Huff, huff, Your Highness, you are too fast.”

Armandy, who had been following with enhancement magic active, gasped for breath.

On his back was his master, Helio, unconscious.

The moment Armandy saw the recording stone, he immediately recognized the location shown within it.

A sealed laboratory his master had once used.

A place he had warned young Armandy never to approach because it was dangerous.

To think that the 6th Prince had been secretly researched there.

Armandy was deeply shaken, but he could not afford to stand idly by.

The two of them rushed straight to Helio’s laboratory.

As expected, his master was there.

Seeing his master collapsed in front of the barrier, Armandy’s eyes trembled.

Perhaps because Armandy carried Helio’s pendant, entering the laboratory was not difficult.

They went inside and checked the glass tube.

Indeed…… there was a person inside it.

The 6th Prince, who had been officially declared dead.

Armandy squeezed his eyes shut.

‘This is a grave crime.’

He was an agent of the Ability Management Bureau.

A secret agent of the institution tasked with monitoring the Empire’s royal family.

Because of that, Armandy knew all too well how serious his master’s crime was—researching and hiding a royal prince without authorization.

‘But…….’

Blub.

The 6th Prince was breathing inside the glass tube.

If it had not been for his master, the 6th Prince would not have survived.

“Armandy. We do not have time.”

Radel spoke to the deeply conflicted Armandy.

“For now, we need to get out of here. Someone might come.”

Radel’s voice was calm, yet realistic.

Armandy snapped out of it and pulled the 6th Prince out of the glass tube.

From that moment on, Radel did not hesitate for even an instant.

He hoisted the 6th Prince, Harpel, onto his back, supported the collapsed Helio, and handed him over to Armandy.

And then he ran.

Following Radel’s instructions, the two moved swiftly.

There were moments when they slowed their pace, but Radel never let his guard down and continued running.

Judging by the fact that the elder had erected a barrier and collapsed afterward, he had clearly been trying to protect the 6th Prince from something.

‘Most likely Aaron, the elder’s first disciple.’

Aaron had even obtained the Key of Seal.

What would happen if he learned that the 6th Prince was alive was obvious.

They could not allow a royal prince to fall into the hands of someone who had contracted with a demon.

They had to escape with the elder and the 6th Prince as quickly as possible.

Radel’s destination was the lowest floor.

Surveillance magic was weak there, and unlike the upper levels filled with roaming mages, it was occupied only by laborers, making it easier to deceive eyes with magic.

And yet.

Something felt off.

‘……What is this?’

Radel’s steps faltered for a brief moment.

A chilling sensation ran down his spine.

Despite this being a corridor he had never walked before, he vaguely knew what awaited him around the corner.

A creaking old staircase, a crooked picture frame hanging on the wall, and even the faint smell of mold.

Everything was unfamiliar, yet eerily familiar at the same time.

‘……Déjà vu.’

This was not the first time he had felt it.

For a fleeting instant.

As if something that had just happened moments ago was being rewound.

His senses were reacting to something unknown, sending out a warning.

It felt as though the laws of the world had twisted ever so slightly, then snapped back into place.

“Stop.”

Radel spoke quietly.

There was tension in his voice, replacing his usual composure.

At his words, Armandy turned back with a puzzled expression.

“Why, Your Highness?”

“It would be better not to go to the abandoned collection area.”

Armandy’s eyes widened.

The abandoned collection area was the only escape route they had planned.

“But…… that place is the safest. Every other route will fall under Senior Brother Aaron’s surveillance.”

“We cannot go that way.”

Radel could not explain it himself.

He had no clear basis.

But he felt an unpleasant sensation.

That beyond that path lay death.

That the moment they chose it, everything would become irreversible.

He decided to trust his intuition.

What had saved him countless times on the brink of death had never been logic, but instinct.

“I do not know why either…… but it feels like we have to do this.”

Just as Armandy hesitated at Radel’s firm conviction—

“Kgh……!”

Helio, slung over Armandy’s back, suddenly convulsed violently and spat out blood.

Startled, Armandy came to an abrupt stop.

“Master!”

After coughing up a mouthful of blood, Helio’s body went limp.

Only his faint breathing proved that life still barely lingered within him.

Watching from Radel’s shoulder, the Spirit of the Library shouted urgently.

“Mana depletion! He used even the last of his life force to maintain the laboratory’s barrier! The old man is far too weakened!”

In desperation, Armandy placed his hand over Helio’s body and cast healing magic.

But his mana scattered uselessly before it could even reach Helio.

“It is no use! That old man is no longer a mage! His body is rejecting mana!”

“Then what should we do?!”

At Armandy’s desperate cry, the spirit answered.

“We need divine power stronger than a mage’s heal! But there is no way a priest would be in the Mage Tower……!”

Before the spirit could finish speaking, Radel asked Armandy.

His eyes were calmer than ever.

“Armandy. Where is the lodging of the imperial envoy?”

A priest.

There were none in the Mage Tower, but now that the imperial envoy had arrived, the situation was different.

Understanding Radel’s intent, hope flickered across Armandy’s face.

Four figures and one spirit cut swiftly through the darkness.

***

The corridor of the imperial envoy’s lodging.

Inette and Gusto were hiding, their faces concealed by masks.

They had succeeded in slipping out of the lodging while avoiding surveillance, but the real problem lay ahead.

The Mage Tower’s maze-like corridors were more than enough to make one lose all sense of direction.

Irritated, Inette nearly tore off the mask covering her face.

“What is this awful mask, anyway?”

She grumbled irritably.

Beside her, Gusto—wearing the same mask—answered in a solemn voice.

“It is a sacred mask that His Highness often used as well. It completely conceals one’s identity.”

What was the point of hiding one’s face?

Wandering around in such a shabby mask only made them look suspicious.

Inette was dumbfounded.

This apprentice holy knight had been sticking close to Radel for so long that he seemed to be picking up strange habits as well.

‘No, no.’

She shook her head, brushing away stray thoughts.

What mattered now was safely finding Radel somewhere within this deeply unsettling Mage Tower.

“We need to find Radel quickly. Being here makes it feel even more ominous.”

At her words, Gusto nodded grimly.

“I agree. We should find His Highness as soon as possible and leave the Mage Tower.”

From the moment he had entered the Mage Tower, Gusto’s nerves had been on edge.

A barren space where not even a trace of divine power could be felt.

There were priests and holy knights of the Supreme Deity Order even at the Academy, but in this vast Mage Tower, there was not a single one.

That meant they would be unable to respond properly if a heretical attack occurred.

‘To think His Highness was alone in such a dangerous place.’

But not anymore.

Because he was here now.

Gusto steeled himself and stared into the dark corridor ahead.

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