Pector, having left the Empire’s lands, was walking through the Demon King’s territory.
Yet, his steps were full of vigor.
He had finally reunited with a long-unseen rival.
Although their appearance and strength were different now, he believed they would be even stronger the next time they met.
‘Without a doubt,’ he thought.
‘The problem lies with the weapon.’
‘Who would have thought the sword of despair would break?’
It wasn’t just about dropping a meteor.
Moving the heavens? That human was truly extraordinary.
Even so, he ensured the lightning struck all at once to avoid harming the village.
If not for his armor, Pector might have died outright.
Honestly, if it weren’t for those meddlesome fools…
If records of the Demon King, the Four Heavenly Kings, and the Demon King’s army remained intact…
Perhaps they could have reached a final conclusion.
He regretted that.
***
While calming the satisfaction he felt from his unexpected encounter with a rival, a silver-haired woman appeared beside Pector.
“Heading to attack the Empire, were you? How charming.”
It was none other than Clanis.
A conniving man who excelled at manipulating from the shadows rather than fighting directly, he was the antithesis of Pector, who preferred direct clashes to settle scores.
“Leave, Clanis.”
“Typical. Charging ahead without thinking. But still, how did the so-called Four Heavenly Kings, bringer of despair to humanity, end up in this state? Surely, someone like you wouldn’t simply run away.”
“What are you trying to say?”
‘Today, he seemed to be pushing his patience more than usual. Was he looking for a fight?’
Even without a weapon, if it came to a head-on battle, he wouldn’t lose to someone like Clanis.
But instead, he whispered cautiously to him.
“Doesn’t this seem too strange? If you entered through Ashtar, you could have crushed Ashtar in one blow. Yet, you settled for occupying a single village and retreated to the Demon King’s territory in this state.”
***
“The man who killed the Demon King is still alive, isn’t he? There’s no one else who could have done this to you.”
He was quick to catch on, that sly woman.
“Why should I tell you anything?”
“Hey, you’re one of the Four Heavenly Kings, a subordinate of the Demon King. Are you hiding the man who killed him?”
“You’re foolish. Noah is dead.”
“Do you think that coward would have perished alongside the Demon King?”
Clanis’s gaze sharpened, his lips curving into a menacing grin as if split open.
His laughter was unsettling.
‘Were her followers just as deranged?’ At least Olivia seemed more tolerable.
“Don’t call someone cowardly when you run away every time you’re losing on the battlefield.”
“Done talking?”
“Noah… that man was noble. The Demon King fought him fairly and was defeated. He’s not someone you can speak about so lightly.”
“What?”
His reaction was laughable.
For someone who rarely stepped up, Clanis seemed overly enraged at this point.
Perhaps his loyalty to the Demon King was genuine.
This was madness—idolizing the Demon King to such an extent.
‘Still…’
Pector smirked faintly.
“The man who even the Demon King couldn’t defeat—do you think someone like you, who can’t fight head-on, could do anything to him?”
“…You’ll see,” he spat before disappearing into a rift in space.
The one who even subdued the Demon King… and this man, incapable of direct confrontation, had the audacity to comment?
If they dug into Zerato’s death, how distorted would that smug face become?
***
Stopping by the Ashtar main house, Pector was greeted with a summons from the patriarch.
Aslan needed rest, and thus the patriarch had called him to the main house.
“You’ve arrived,” the Ashtar Duke said.
For the first time in a while, Pector bowed his head.
He remembered being slapped last time. What would it be today?
Honestly, Aslan being captured by Pector was his fault.
Though he achieved his objective in the end, it didn’t excuse Aslan’s capture.
If he got hit again, this time he’d return the favor physically.
“From the Imperial capital to your battle with Pector, I’ve heard everything,” the Duke said.
“Yes, Father.”
Knowing that, perhaps he wouldn’t hit him.
“Pector exudes an aura that can demoralize armies and spread despair. You fought well enough.”
Unexpected praise.
“Yes. It was… coincidence, really.”
“Hmm. Are you physically unharmed?”
Though he still ached, he was fine.
“Ah, my right arm is a bit stiff, but it’s nothing serious.”
Considering he endured a lightning strike, it was only natural.
“That’s fortunate.”
“Yes.”
“I heard you have a deep interest in magic. Does that remain unchanged?”
Of course. This wasn’t mere obsession.
Becoming a mage was essential for him.
It wasn’t fair to have trained with magic all this time and not be acknowledged as a mage.
At the very least, he should be considered an archmage.
“Yes. I wish to become a mage.”
“But isn’t the Tower of Magic out of reach for you? As is the position of the Saintess.”
True, the Magic Tower was likely unattainable.
“Indeed.”
“Then perhaps attaching a mage corps to my church would suffice. No, wait…”
“Sorry?”
“Was there a way?”
“There are breaks, aren’t there? During the academy’s summer break, you could return under the guise of inspecting the estate and study with the mage corps. Wouldn’t that work?”
“Ah, shall I?”
It was a good suggestion.
During the summer break, I could return to the Ashtar estate and register with Ashtar’s mage corps.
After all, having a mage license was essential to being recognized as a mage.
“With your skills, becoming a mage shouldn’t be difficult. A month should suffice. If it takes longer, we can simply notify the academy.”
“Ah, yes.”
There would be no delays.
In fact, I would likely finish much earlier.
“With the summer break approaching, make sure to maintain your grades at Atlerina.”
“Yes.”
Maintaining grades wasn’t a challenge.
“Even if you are a Saintess, it doesn’t mean you cannot be part of Ashtar. In some cases, Saintesses are adopted into noble families.”
I had heard that commoner-born Saintesses were often adopted by noble families to avoid complications with their origins.
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Do not forget. You are an Ashtar. My daughter.”
“Yes, Father.”
‘What if he had said that to the First? Would it have made any difference?’
Probably not. At that time, I was already under Lily’s curse.
Even if he had spoken kindly, the curse Olivia had planted would not have been easily lifted.
“Now, you must be tired from your journey. You may go.”
“Yes.”
I left the duke’s office.
Since Rokton had gone to the western borders to fix the weaknesses in Ashtar’s defenses discovered during recent events, there was no need to visit him.
This gave me a chance to learn more about Olivia.
“Eh?”
A woman stood in the hallway.
Her dress was a simple wine-colored gown without any embellishments, which was unusual for a woman of the duke’s household.
She was Katarina, head of the assassin guild and the duchess.
I hadn’t expected to meet her in person.
“Olivia,” she said, gently embracing me.
‘Why was she hugging me? This was uncomfortable. And there was… a certain pressure.’
‘Katarina also had a rather generous figure. ‘
‘This was… awkward.’
“Mo… Mother?”
“You’ve been through so much.”
‘Could those words even come from this woman?’
Even though I knew she wasn’t responsible, a flicker of anger arose.
Katarina was the leader of the assassin guild.
She should have at least sensed her daughter’s predicament.
Perhaps, then, the First would have had a chance to survive.
“You should have said that sooner.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Mother, can I ask you something? I know falling for Lily’s succubus curse was my fault, but… did you really not know?”
Of course, she didn’t.
She probably didn’t see it for herself.
How much did she care about her daughter? Likely, she only sent her subordinates to investigate.
“I’m sorry.”
“Well, it doesn’t matter anymore.”
The First was already dead.
Even if she apologized a hundred, a thousand times, it wouldn’t make a difference.
“I heard your right arm is in pain.”
It hurt, but not that much.
“There’s a fine hot spring here in Ashtar. Stay and rest before heading back to the capital.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“You must be tired. Wash up and rest. This is Kise, the deputy head of the Ashtar Mage Corps. She will assist you for now.”
Suddenly, a woman stood beside Katarina.
She wore the uniform of the Ashtar Mage Corps, distinct from the robes of the Magic Tower.
“Yes, understood.”
After Katarina left, Kise approached and greeted me politely.
Ah, the perks of being a noble.
She had red hair, well-maintained, suggesting she might belong to a vassal family of the Ashtars.
“Please take care of me, Lady Olivia.”
“Kise, was it?”
“Yes, Lady Olivia. It’s been a while.”
‘Wait, do I know her?’
Her familiarity was puzzling.
“Do I… know you?”
“Lady Olivia, have you forgotten me?”
‘Did we know each other?’
The First must have had a wider network than I realized.
Being an Ashtar’s daughter, it made sense, but considering what happened with Lily, she didn’t seem like someone with many friends.
“Ah, sorry.”
“I understand. Despite being from a baron’s family, you’ve forgotten me!”
‘Was it worth getting that upset?’
“A baron’s family was still fairly noble, wasn’t it?”
“It’s not because you’re a commoner. I genuinely don’t remember.”
“I escorted you when you left for Atlerina.”
“Oh, I see. Sorry.”
She seemed loyal.
“I understand. You suffered greatly under Lily’s succubus curse, after all.”
“Mm, yes.”
“That’s why you’ve changed so much.”
“It’s not entirely because of that.”
There was no point explaining further. Pretending to have lost my memory seemed less suspicious.
“I should have helped you, but being part of the mage corps, I couldn’t leave for Atlerina. Besides, the mage corps knew nothing of Atlerina’s situation.”
“It’s fine. I understand.”
The Ashtar Mage Corps was based in the heart of the estate.
Unless something extraordinary happened, they rarely ventured beyond the estate.
Even my parents were unaware.
“How could the mage corps possibly know?”
“I’ll escort you to your room.”
“By the way, do you know what happened to Syria?”
“Syria had fallen asleep in the carriage.”
Although the Ashtar staff promised to take care of her, it was better to check.
“Syria? The mage from the Magic Tower?”
“Yes, her.”
Kise’s demeanor changed immediately.
The cheerful puppy-like expression was replaced by the haughty glare of a proud cat.
Ah, right. The Ashtar Mage Corps and the Magic Tower were sworn enemies.
Perhaps I shouldn’t have mentioned her.