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Chapter 40
“Of course it will. We’ll kill the demon beast and pull you out—”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Riman Jekal shook his head firmly.
“Please kill me.”
“……”
Cillia stepped right up to the demon beast and grabbed Riman by the collar. She didn’t even spare a glance at the monster thrashing about, trying to tear them apart. Twisting her lips into a smirk, she spoke.
“That’s a funny thing to say.”
“I told you not to treat me like a kid! I’m being serious!”
“Ha.”
A short, furious laugh escaped her.
“You really want to die here?”
“……”
“Say it honestly.”
Her voice dropped, sharp as a blade.
“Do you even know what dying means?”
He was still just a child.
“You really want to die?”
“…No.”
“Then why the hell would you say something so arrogant?”
“Because if I don’t…”
Riman’s pale lips trembled.
“If I don’t, everyone will die.”
“……”
“The Tower Master will be in danger too.”
For someone trembling, his expression was resolute. Riman glanced sideways at Akla, who was struggling to maintain the barrier.
“I grew up in the Tower before I even knew who I was.”
“I know.”
“I can’t destroy the only world I’ve ever known with my own hands.”
His voice was calm now, as if he had come to terms with himself — tinged with bitter self-mockery.
“I wanted to beat you.”
“I know.”
“I wanted to prove myself. But I knew that a regular research presentation wouldn’t do it. So I touched something I never should have touched.”
And the result was the chaos before them now —
a consequence born of pride and greed in a single moment.
He had shown this shameful sight to the Tower Master he revered like the heavens, and dragged fellow mages — his comrades — into the disaster.
So now…
“You were right about everything.”
“……”
“I was just a stupid frog in a well.”
He’d always known that deep down but refused to face it — and in running away, he had caused all this.
“You admit it easily enough.”
“At this point, denying it wouldn’t change anything.”
Riman could feel it — the demon beast was deeply connected to him. Even if his mana was weaker than Cillia’s, it still far surpassed most other mages. And that creature fed on his mana, growing stronger. Arrogant as it sounded, it would be a formidable enemy.
“The truth is… I want to live.”
The words slipped out before he could stop them.
“At least, not like this. I don’t want to die here. But—”
If he lived, the demon beast would live. And if the beast lived, this would never end.
“I have to take responsibility.”
Though his voice trembled, there was a steady strength beneath it.
Cillia tilted her head, her red hair falling forward.
Riman met her gaze — those emotionless silver eyes that always shone with cold light. Eyes that once made him uneasy, but now, somehow, felt reassuring. There was no pity in them. And because of that, he could breathe easier.
If even she pitied him, he wouldn’t have been able to bear it.
“This is the right thing to do. There’s no other way.”
Cillia’s response came casually, as if she were talking about the weather.
“I think there is.”
Riman blinked, dumbfounded.
“…Huh?”
“No, really. I think there is a way.”
Resignation turned into irritation in an instant.
‘Why is she always like this?’
“I regret ever admiring you. You’re still bluffing, even now.”
“It’s not a bluff.”
Cillia’s tone was sharp and clear — no trace of pity, only unwavering confidence.
Confidence that Riman never possessed.
His voice slipped out hollowly.
“How can you be so sure?”
“I’m not, really. I just thought — might as well try. What you said reminded me of something.”
“…What do you mean?”
“This all started because of your research presentation, didn’t it?”
Even as the ground trembled, Cillia drew a glowing sigil in the air with her sword — stronger than the net spell she’d used earlier. It wouldn’t last long before the demon beast adapted and broke it, but—
‘I don’t need that much time anyway.’
Whummm.
She had been studying how to control two opposing types of mana without letting them collide, but now wasn’t the time for caution.
Stronger. Faster.
Her heart lurched violently. Before she could even recognize the tremor as a mana seizure, an immense wave of binding magic slammed down, pinning the demon’s arms and legs.
GUUUUAAAAHHH!
The creature crashed to the ground with a thunderous thud. Cillia, still gripping Riman’s collar, leaned in close and whispered:
“I’ve been preparing something too.”
“…I figured as much.”
Riman’s voice was fading, his head throbbing from the recent mana shock. Cillia tapped his forehead lightly, as if telling him to listen.
“What I was planning to present was this.”
At that moment, a sudden surge of power burst from her.
The red-tinged air of the Tower blazed brighter, almost suffocatingly so — then silver mana exploded outward like scattered stardust. Her mana seizure was intensifying, pain searing her chest. She bit the inside of her mouth to stay conscious.
Then, from somewhere, a faint golden light drifted in and wrapped around her hand. She felt a weak healing spell.
‘The Tower Master?’
But the energy was clumsy, unstable — nothing like his usual finesse.
‘He’s weakened from protecting the others.’
Even so, he was using what little mana remained to aid her. Realizing that, Cillia drew on even more strength.
Riman gasped in horror.
“Stop! You’ll—”
“Who are you to tell me what to do?”
“You—”
“Hey.”
Her voice turned into a low growl.
“Don’t you ever say something as arrogant as ‘kill me’ in front of me again.”
“……”
Her chilling eyes fixed on him — a warning that if he said it again, she really wouldn’t forgive him. For a fleeting second, Riman thought he saw hurt in her eyes — and it startled him.
He’d thought she could kill him without feeling anything. But then, that sharpness softened, replaced by mild annoyance.
“You caused this mess, so shut up. Pay me back later — a hundredfold. I’m not kidding.”
Cillia flicked his forehead lightly. His face twisted, then froze in shock as he felt her draw even more power.
From such a small body, the mana pouring out was immense — terrifyingly so. It inspired awe, even reverence.
“Honestly, I don’t even know why I’m still doing this, or if I can manage it as well as that guy did.”
“……”
“But I won’t let you die.”
Yeah. You’re annoying, reckless, and childish—
But I’ll save you.
For all the people I couldn’t save in my past life.
The enchanted sword, Periot, began to glow. Concentrated mana gathered along its broken blade, filling the air with silver light.
A drop of sweat rolled down Cillia’s jaw and fell onto Riman’s forehead.
And in that instant, he understood why people were drawn to her.
Maybe he’d known from the very start — from the moment she’d met his eyes during the entrance exam, fearless and unflinching. Those silver eyes, framed by fiery red hair.
Eyes that seemed to know something beyond human understanding — eyes that inspired awe.
“…If he could use it, then I can too.”
Even if her power was a little lacking, Periot would make up for it. After all, it was a sword meant to slay demon beasts.
‘It’s perfect for this.’
Light burst forth, engulfing them both.
Cillia watched as red and silver mana layered delicately over each other, fusing around her sword — sharp and precise, every ounce of power drawn into its edge. At the broken tip of Periot, the condensed energy shaped itself into a blade of pure light.
‘I have to be careful.’
If she just ripped it out, Riman wouldn’t survive the shock. Soldiers often died from less on the battlefield.
She recalled the time she’d treated Ingram — striking and healing at the same time to offset the damage. That was her plan now: cut and heal in the same instant.
“Normally, I’d tell you to cast a paralysis spell, but every bit of magic you use just gets absorbed by this damn beast.”
“…I know.”
“Good. Then—”
The connection between Riman and the beast — that was her target. It wasn’t like normal flesh; it pulsed irregularly, twisted unnaturally together.
When the beast devoured Riman, it hadn’t completely absorbed him. She could still see parts of that flawed fusion. That was where she would strike. Periot could do it.
Cillia took a deep breath, closed her eyes, then opened them with fierce resolve.
“Clench your teeth.”
And with that, the blade sliced cleanly through.
