Chapter 415: Proving One's Innocence

“Ah, to be recognized by Lady Jilannis Galanord, the Chief Grand Mage, is truly the honor of a lifetime,” the Old Elf said with a dry, throaty laugh, but no one could detect a trace of honor in it. “However, your friend doesn’t seem to share my view—do you know why?”

“Jilannis, are you really Jilannis Galanord?!”

Anastina’s brow furrowed, her fingers tightening on the hilt of her weapon. If the Moon Elf’s answer was even slightly wrong, she would cut her down without a moment’s hesitation! She would really do it!

‘But… what kind of answer from Jilannis would count as wrong?’

Anastina didn’t want to dwell on it, but the question lingered in her mind like a persistent nightmare. Over the past few days, this Moon Elf had been gentle, calm, incredibly knowledgeable, and exceptionally skilled—nothing like that notoriously evil Mage. ‘Why is there such a discrepancy?’

“If you have any questions, you can deal with me later,” the Moon Elf sighed, looking the Mercenary straight in the eye. “I am Jilannis Galanord, Chief Grand Mage of the Hailan Empire, the one responsible for all the evil experiments you mentioned.”

“I’m not going to waste time making excuses right now, because I have many questions of my own. You only need to know one thing—for the vast majority of those experiments, the only part I played was signing and stamping the documents.”

“Believe it or not.”

The Moon Elf ignored the thoroughly confused greatsword-wielder, raised her eyes, and looked suspiciously at the Spider Elf who had been constantly provoking them. “You do look just like him. Identical.”

“But if I’m not mistaken, you aren’t him, are you?”

“Oh?” The Old Elf raised an eyebrow on his comical and ugly face—though the hairs themselves were almost gone. “Because I’m supposed to be dead, is that it? My dear Jian?”

“Your mastery of Arcane Magic should be far greater than mine. Surely you know about the kinds of Magic that can extend one’s life? Not even one?”

The Old Elf’s gaze shifted to the others, lingering on Ron for a particularly long time. Finally, his chilling gaze brazenly swept over Jilannis from head to toe before landing on her sword. “What a true pity. You sought my way of the sword, but you failed to master its profundity and professionalism.”

“It seems my teaching really was deeply flawed.”

Jilannis didn’t immediately retort. The Moon Elf waited quietly until he had finished his rambling mutters, momentarily unable to think of anything else to say, before faintly asking, “Are you finished, Teacher?”

“Finished? What’s finished?” The Old Elf froze for a moment, then nodded as if in sudden realization. “I suppose so. What, are you going to argue with me?”

“To hide from you, I ran all the way to the Delusional Land, and yet you still found me after all these centuries! What more do you want to do to this wretched old man—”

“I don’t want to do anything to you. At least, not to my ‘real’ teacher.” Jilannis’s words caught in the Old Elf’s throat. He gaped, momentarily at a loss for words. “I have only two questions. First, how did you end up in this state? And second, who is the teacher outside, and who are you!”

Without waiting for a response, Jilannis began to loudly chant a spell. Streaks of multi-colored Magic Radiance flared up around the Old Elf’s body. Then, with a clear shattering sound that echoed through the cave, all the Magic on him dissipated in an instant!

“Dammit! Do you have any idea how much effort I have to put in every day to cast these spells!” the Old Elf roared, shocked and furious. The eight spider legs of his lower body skittered restlessly, prodding at the ground as if ready to launch him at Jilannis at any moment. “Who was your etiquette teacher, again? Or has hanging around with Laine’s pack of ambitious fools for so long made you forget even basic courtesy!”

“How dare you treat your teacher this way!”

“Sorry to interrupt, but I think we can all agree that the most important thing right now is to ensure everything you say and do can be trusted.” Victoria’s voice suddenly cut in from the side. As she raised her Holy Emblem, a domain enveloped the Old Elf.

“The Domain of Honesty? How wonderful. You even managed to recruit a Priest,” the Spider Elf snarled, baring his teeth. He took a deep breath, and the Red Mould that filled his lungs nearly killed him. An emblem of Heim flashed and vanished on the Old Elf’s exposed, withered chest; he had just tried to evade the Divine Magic’s effects, but he had failed. “Alright, alright. What was it you wanted to ask?”

“How did I end up in this pathetic state…? No, I’ll answer your second question first: you found that other fellow before you met me, didn’t you, Jian?”

Jilannis gave no reaction; the question didn’t need an answer. The other teacher’s hiding place was no easier to find than this Old Elf’s. If she hadn’t already met him, she could never have asked that question.

“Yes, yes, of course,” the Old Elf sighed theatrically. “He’s better looking than I am, isn’t he? Though we look equally old, he’s at least clean, has a tidy little den, and a good temper—unlike me, so caustic and ugly.”

“He’s exactly like the teacher in your memory, unchanged in every way except his appearance.”

“But think carefully, Jian. Is something like that truly possible?” The Old Elf snorted, his eight spider legs beginning to shuffle slowly toward the group. “Even for an Elf, after several centuries and after everything that’s happened, could he really remain the same, hmmm?”

“Let alone a perfect match for your imagination!” When Jilannis still didn’t respond, the Old Elf raised his voice. “Don’t be ridiculous! We certainly had our happy times together, but you weren’t my only student, and I wasn’t your only teacher!”

“Why would I be exactly as you remember me?!”

“Sir, would you mind not standing so close?” Aive frowned, stepping between Jilannis and this teacher of hers. “You may have lived a long time, but don’t treat us like fools.”

“You haven’t answered her question directly at all. You’re dodging the judgment of the Domain of Honesty! And on top of that, you keep inching over here. What on earth are you—”

Before Aive could finish her sentence, a string of the Elf Language accompanied by a whistling sound suddenly rang out from behind her:

“Well said, child. This foolish creature is trying to attack your friend!”

Even Jilannis clamped her hand down on the lion head on her shoulder. The wondrous Magic Item immediately bit into her palm, and the Moon Elf’s blood flowed down a groove into the vambrace. The Sword-Singing Lion Armor instantly began to ring out with a metallic hum!