Chapter 77
“Found the Whereabouts”
The narrow passage, barely wide enough for two people, echoed with Allen’s voice and the tapping sound of his cane against the stone floor.
“The Tower Lord isn’t chosen by inheritance like an emperor or king. Nobody knows who the next Tower Lord will be.”
“…”
“Some once suggested appointing a successor in advance, but magic manifests at such different times in life that it was impossible. So, the Tower needed a way to always know the current Lord’s situation.”
At the end of the narrow corridor, stairs appeared.
Allen stepped onto the long spiral staircase that led down, and Calliere followed silently behind him.
“That’s how they came up with this rule: once someone becomes Tower Lord, all his actions are shared with the Tower’s First Image Orb. Of course, it was criticized as an invasion of privacy. Some even refused the position because of it.”
“…”
“So the Tower placed limits. The First Orb can only be checked if the Tower Lord has had no contact for over a month, or if he is suspected of breaking the Tower’s rules.”
The spiral stairs ended at the floor below.
Allen entered another narrow passage without hesitation.
“And even then, you can’t just check it right away. At least three high wizards must agree.”
At the dead end of the corridor, Allen stopped.
Calliere frowned at the large wall that blocked their path.
Turning back, Allen said in a calm voice:
“Just now, I received the consent of two high wizards.”
“…”
“And now, as the last high wizard—Allen Petric—I give my own consent.”
He tapped the wall with his staff.
A giant magic circle appeared, glowing faintly.
Allen struck the ground with his staff again.
“To confirm if Tower Lord Lafer Wizard has broken the rules, we open the First Image Orb in the presence of Grand Duke Esperos.”
The circle lit with white light, and the wall turned transparent.
Allen explained: “This wall was created by magic. Without the agreement of three high wizards, it cannot disappear.”
He stepped through the clear space, and Calliere followed.
Inside, Calliere felt as if time and space itself had vanished. He couldn’t tell how far or how long they walked, until finally the Image Orb appeared.
Calliere clenched his fists.
“…Heidi.”
At last, he thought he could find her whereabouts.
“Come closer, Your Grace. Look into the Orb—w-what is this?”
Allen’s face twisted in confusion.
Calliere hurried closer and frowned.
The Orb showed a figure covered by a white sheet.
“A g-ghost?”
Allen instinctively stepped back. But Calliere stepped closer, narrowing his eyes.
At that moment, the white cloth covered the Orb completely.
“What—what is this?!”
Allen reached out in panic. Calliere drew his sword in a flash and turned.
A familiar face appeared.
“Well, well. I know you like me, but spying on my private life? That’s a bit much.”
“Lafer Wizard.”
“Still greeting me so harshly, Cal.”
Lafer spread his hands with a playful smile.
Allen stared blankly before finally exploding.
“Where have you been all this time?!”
Lafer shrugged. “Scolding later. For now, let’s change the location.”
“Wait—!”
With a snap of his fingers, Allen and Calliere vanished.
“…”
Lafer let out a breath of relief, then pulled away the cloth covering the Orb.
Inside, Rebellia sat awkwardly, stiff under the blanket she had been hiding beneath.
Lafer chuckled.
“Ha. So that was the gaze I felt.”
A moment ago, he had remembered the Tower’s First Orb, watching every move of the Tower Lord. Normally it wouldn’t have been used just because he ignored their contact.
But then, the memory of Rebellia’s blood on the carpet flashed in his mind. And Calliere’s face when she disappeared.
“…Ah, how could I forget that?”
He turned back to the Orb.
Rebellia timidly removed the blanket, her face full of fear.
Lafer burst out laughing.
“See? I told you to count to ten. You really counted exactly ten.”
“….”
“Playing with you, Lady, is always the most fun.”
He sighed heavily, shoulders slumping.
“Alright, time to clean up this mess… Ugh, I really don’t want to.”
Even as he complained, Lafer vanished from the space.
So he never realized—the gaze he had felt wasn’t from the Orb.
Darkness returned to the room.
After counting to ten, I finally pulled off the blanket.
I didn’t think of myself as a coward, but being left alone in an unknown place… it was scary.
“…He really left?”
My frightened voice echoed in the empty room.
“…Wow. He actually left me.”
I gave a hollow laugh, glancing at the broom and mop lying on the floor.
I remembered Lafer waving his fingers lazily to help me clean with magic.
“Wait. Did he just run away because he didn’t want to clean?”
The thought popped up, but I shook my head.
He had been helping me in the first place—that was already a favor.
“That’s why they say… kindness too often becomes a right. Get it together, Rebellia.”
I picked up the rag and went to wipe the window frame.
Then I froze. Between the trees outside, I felt someone’s presence.
“What… what is that?”
I stared nervously out the window.
Nothing happened. Maybe I was imagining it.
But Lafer’s words from earlier returned to me:
“A haunted house… for the Lady.”
“…Could it really be haunted?”
I frowned and peered into the forest. Nothing moved.
“That’s why you should always check carefully before buying a house!”
Muttering complaints, I grabbed the dirty rag and left the room to wash it.
If I wanted to finish cleaning this whole house alone, I had to hurry.
Hidden deep in the trees, a man watched the small house.
The woman who had appeared at the window looked exactly like the portrait his client had given him.
He whistled. A hawk swooped down. He tied a letter to its leg.
“To the client.”
The hawk launched into the sky, and the man slipped away into the shadows.
