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Chapter 124
Fin had successfully repelled the demonic invasion of the imperial palace.
The moment he returned to the Mage Tower, however, he was met with Jerome’s belated questioning.
“No, you revealed that you’re the head of the Mage Tower?! Why?!”
Jerome looked at him as if to say, Are you seriously insane? Fin just stared back, as if wondering what the problem was.
“Everyone deserves to know.”
“But… when someone suddenly does something they’ve never done before, it’s frightening!”
Jerome frowned, clearly suspicious of Fin’s sudden change in behavior after all this effort to keep his identity hidden. Fin, however, appeared completely unshaken and calmly offered an explanation.
“If I hadn’t revealed my identity, I don’t think we could’ve defeated today’s monsters.”
“But it was long-range magic, so you could’ve used it from a distance!”
“Really?”
Fin thought for a moment, then nodded slightly. Shrugging, he added:
“Still, it’s better to check up close… to ensure the safety of the people around me.”
“……”
Jerome sighed deeply, apparently at a loss for any further argument. Instead, he asked something else.
“But… Lady Semperion didn’t come along?”
“……She went to the duke’s residence first.”
Yes, the Duke of Semperion had insisted strongly to the Emperor, the councilor, and Fin that he would take Elizia back to his residence. The Emperor had readily agreed, saying, She must have been very frightened, so she should rest at home. The councilor made no objection, and Fin also agreed.
Still, a part of him was worried.
‘Hmm… I’ll think about it. Right now, I don’t have any urgent matters…’
‘I’ll ask again later, so just wait!’
To vanish without even waiting for a response—that was clearly…
‘…She must be very angry.’
It was essentially a refusal. It seemed she felt a deep sense of betrayal that he had hidden his identity all this time. Fin could not hide the shock on his face and lowered his head.
‘Is she planning to leave the Mage Tower entirely?’
If she had been disappointed in him… if she didn’t want to see him anymore.
“No, why the face again? Did something else go wrong?”
“……”
“I get it. You regret me revealing my identity too late, right? See, people shouldn’t suddenly do things they’ve never done before…”
“……Let’s just work.”
Suppressing his gloom, Fin picked up the documents.
The work did not end quickly. Though he had secretly handled most matters as the head of the Mage Tower, and some of his close associates already knew he was the successor, much still needed to be done. The succession had to be formally announced, and those who didn’t even know who the head was had to be informed.
Reactions varied greatly.
“Wha… I thought you were just a scholar…! Please forgive me if I did something wrong.”
“I always assumed you were just a research mage and constantly interrupted your experiments…! Oh no! Did I get marked?!”
Some mages were flustered and apologized profusely, leaving Fin sweating from the pressure.
“Just speak casually like before.”
Even when Fin initiated this, the mages protested nervously.
“How can I…!”
“You must not belittle yourself like that!”
Watching his uneasy colleagues, Fin hid his own discomfort. Those who had once treated him like a friend now clearly seemed intimidated by him. It reminded him of Elizia.
Would she, too, keep her distance from him from now on?
‘I didn’t think she would…’
Elizia, who had been effortlessly confident around even the Crown Prince or the Saint, was not the type to feel burdened by his role as Mage Tower head.
‘She’s probably disappointed.’
She may feel betrayed and not want to see his face. After finishing the accumulated work, Fin rested his face in his hands and closed his eyes for a moment.
By now, it was already dawn. Yet sleep would not come. He took out a bracelet from the relic storage. Monitoring dimensional shifts was part of his duties, and with the recent demonic invasion, he needed to check for any instability or rifts between dimensions.
Having made up his mind, he attempted a dimensional shift.
Flash!
Fin arrived in the attic of a cabin, light surrounding him. He slowly looked around. No one had been there. However…
‘Indeed, the world seems slightly unsettled.’
The rogue demon appearing in the imperial palace must have crossed through a dimensional rift. The world felt increasingly unstable and interconnected.
‘…Not good.’
There were almost no people in the Empire capable of confronting such a powerful demon. Therefore, Elizia Semperion might frequently be called upon to face such threats.
‘If it’s her… she’ll volunteer without hesitation.’
She was always confident and composed, unflinching in the face of danger. Yet leaving all this responsibility to her alone was far too harsh. No one had the right to push her like that. He only hoped to be capable enough to walk beside her.
‘All the effort I’ve put into raising her skills shouldn’t go to waste.’
With that thought, Fin shook off his musings and moved forward. It was time to check the area around the house. As he strode through the door, he saw a very familiar figure in the distance.
Red hair, shining golden eyes—the person he had been thinking about, yet should not have been here.
“…Eliza?”
He murmured her name in surprise.
Flash!
Elizia vanished from sight.
“……”
Fin stood there, dazed. No matter how many times he rubbed his eyes or looked again, there was no one. Even approaching the spot later, it remained empty. There was no trace of anyone nearby.
‘Was it a dream?’
Sighing, he returned to his office. Thinking clearly, Elizia wouldn’t have had a relic with her, so she could not have been there.
“…Already a false alarm.”
He might not see her for some time, yet he was already this anxious. His condition was clearly not normal. Fin immediately headed to the potion storage.
“You don’t seem well.”
A mage in charge of the potions interjected cynically.
“Then take a rest. You were up all night yesterday too, right?”
Fin received a recovery potion and drank it. Another mage, who had been searching for him, hurried over.
“Mage Tower Head! Should we tidy Lady Semperion’s room?”
“……Hmm.”
If Elizia wouldn’t return soon, it was proper to pack her belongings and send them back to the Semperion residence. But…
“Better leave it as is, just in case.”
The mage giving the report looked troubled.
“Ah, but… there’s a little issue over there.”
“Issue?”
“Lady Semperion left a monster in her room… and it’s been crying since earlier.”
‘…I’ll have to check.’
Nyaaaan! (I want to go home too!)
Entering Elizia’s room, Fin found Selpyo running to him, crying.
Selpyo had begun crying in worry after Elizia failed to return for a long time. Even when told she was safe and back home, he refused to believe it.
Nyaaang! (I don’t believe it!) Nyaaang! Nyaaang! (I’ll go home too! I’ll see it with my own eyes!)
Though Elizia had intended to tell Selpyo she would briefly visit the palace and planned to return to retrieve him, he had clearly been anxious.
Nyaaaaan! (It wasn’t normal.) Nyaaang… (During that time, it must have been difficult for that human to survive…)
“Seems like he wants to be taken home,” observed one of the mages, confidently stepping in.
“I think we can just bring him to the Semperion residence… I’ll handle it!”
Nyaaang! (Where do you think you’re going!)
Selpyo, wary of the outstretched hand of a stranger, swatted it away with his paw and ran to cling to Fin’s leg.
Nyaaang! Nyaaang! (You’re familiar. You guide me!)
The mages glanced awkwardly between Selpyo and Fin.
“Looks like he trusts the Mage Tower Head a little at least.”
“Are you sure you can manage?”
Fin looked down at Selpyo. Though wary and with fur standing on end, he clung to Fin’s clothes and meowed pitifully. Fin spoke:
“Alright, I’ll take you.”
And now, Fin had entered the Semperion residence, holding Selpyo in his arms.
Nyaaaan! (We’re back!)
Selpyo cried happily, seeing the building. A servant, slightly confused, asked:
“So… your business is…?”
“This one wants to see Lady Semperion.”
Nyaaang! (Yes!) Nyaaang! (You know me, right? Let me through!)
Selpyo proudly lifted his head, as if to say, See?
“……I see.”
‘He came in person just for this?’
Everyone inwardly panicked, but outwardly remained composed as they escorted Fin inside.
Once seated in the reception room, Fin looked at the person opposite him. Elizia Semperion avoided his gaze nervously, holding her teacup.
“……Hello, Lord Ende. Ah, may I call you that?”
Before, she had freely called him “Thanks, Fin!”—so distant now.
“Just call me by my name like before.”
“…Alright.”
Silence fell over the room.
Elizia thought:
‘He probably came to ask about that, didn’t he?’
The dimensional shift—surely that was what he came to ask about. Otherwise, his sudden visit made no sense. Bringing Selpyo was only an excuse; there must be another purpose.
Nyaaang! (Human! You’re safe!)
Selpyo jumped excitedly toward her, tail up. Then, coyly, he spun around.
Nyaa! Nyaaang, Nyaaao. (But, thinking back, you’re annoying.)
Nyaaang! (Leaving me at the Mage Tower while going home!) Nyaaang! Nyaaang (Leaving me behind!)
“I meant to come get you today, sorry…!”
Elizia apologized. Selpyo glanced at her, then tapped the floor with his plump tail.
Nyaaaan… Nyaaang? (If you’re sorry, show it. Something tasty… maybe a snack?)
“I’ll give you lots of tasty treats. Tell me what you want!”
Nyaaang. Nyaaang. (Hmm, that was the right choice, no—bring more.)
Selpyo cried happily, then spun around again. Elizia chuckled at his cuteness. Fin then spoke:
“……There’s a rare fruit Selpyo especially likes. Shall I get it for you?”
Nyaaang!? (What?!)
Selpyo leapt from the sofa, running to tap Elizia’s arm as he meowed.
Nyaaang, Nyaaang, Nyaaaanng! (Give it to me now. This human seems good. Become friends fast!)
‘Don’t fall for him so quickly…’
Selpyo now shook Elizia’s arm with his small paws. Flustered, she spoke:
“Um, Fin.”
“Yes?”
“Did you come to speak with me… aside from Selpyo?”
Elizia asked cautiously, suspecting this was the moment he would finally ask about the dimensional shift. However…
Nyaaang! (Of course, it’s about the fruit! He came just to bring fruit! I’m sure of it!)
“…….”
