Chapter : 77
According to the contract with James, Aria only needed to enter the dungeon—whether alone or with someone else—separate from her master.
So then…
‘If I go in with her, everything will be resolved.’
Besides, although James probably didn’t know this, magic items from the Mage Tower don’t work on high-ranking mages whose abilities surpass those of the item’s creator.
The contract itself was a fairly high-grade magical item, so it would be impossible for me—but who was my master again?
If things came to it, I could simply ask my master, a Grand Mage, to destroy the contract itself.
‘Though I’d rather it not come to that.’
We sped across the sea using a shortcut.
As if yesterday’s clear weather had been a lie, today thunder and lightning raged.
The dark clouds that filled the sky synergized perfectly with the darkness I had summoned just in case, completely concealing our ship.
Shaaah—!
We arrived at the gate before the ship carrying Aria and my master.
The area around the gate was once again swarming with fish-type monsters—far more than yesterday.
The longer a gate remains open, the more monsters it produces. So we hadn’t rushed here for nothing.
‘They’ll probably clear this out before entering.’
After scanning the surroundings once, I saw my master’s ship approaching from afar.
As my master raised his radiant sun-shaped staff, beams of light burst forth, splitting into multiple streaks and striking down like lightning.
The terrifying electric energy slammed down, and the fish monsters began burning away in an instant.
The speed at which the monsters died was incomparably faster than when we had fought them yesterday.
“…I thought Themis was impressive, but a Grand Mage truly is a Grand Mage for a reason.”
Jed stared at the light as if mesmerized.
“Everyone ready?”
But I had no room to pay attention to my master’s magic.
Every nerve in my body was focused on what we were about to do.
After all, we were about to pull a trick on that very Grand Mage.
I whispered to the darkness.
‘Darkness, you know what you need to do, right?’
[Of course! Flattening that Grand Mage’s arrogance. Ahhh, exhilarating. Lately, Themis only does things I like!]
The darkness was brimming with excitement.
[Themis is the best!]
It was embarrassing to receive such high praise—it made it clear how indifferent of a master I’d been until now.
Still, it was a positive change. The deeper my bond with the darkness grew, the stronger my magic became.
[You’re going to be a mage with me for a long, long time. Got it?]
Listening to the darkness, I gave an awkward smile. Instead of answering, I raised my staff.
“Take good care of Aria.”
[Got it!]
Thankfully, the darkness didn’t notice that I hadn’t actually answered and darted off at lightning speed.
Rumble! Thunder roared right on cue.
From early morning, dressing up so carefully before heading out was something even Achillan hadn’t expected of himself.
It was an entirely impulsive act.
Whether attending banquets or entering dungeons, he had never cared about his appearance before—but now, for some reason, he found himself paying attention.
Doesn’t this make me look too old compared to Everett…?
Ridiculous thoughts like that crossed his mind.
No, this wasn’t about sorting out his feelings. It was simply about maintaining dignity in front of his disciple, as a master should.
So, for the first time in a long while, he took out his uniform and put it on, even slicking back his hair himself with his clumsy hands.
At least, he thought it looked decent enough.
Though he didn’t know if it would impress Themis.
‘That damn “Master, Master.”’
He couldn’t help but feel irritated by the titles “master and disciple.”
Still, he knew that was the clearest bond connecting him to Themis, so he said nothing.
‘This should still be within proper bounds for a master.’
His actions today had been quite natural.
As a master, he went to check on his disciple as soon as he arrived, even sharing breakfast together.
He had also kindly answered the cryptic questions Themis asked while seeing him off.
Now, eager to finish the job quickly and go sightseeing in the village with Themis, Achillan felt impatient.
Just then, Aria—who had been assisting him in slaying monsters—spoke carefully.
“Is my support perhaps insufficient?”
“Not particularly.”
“I see.”
Accepting his curt reply, Aria refocused on her magic.
“H-How much longer until we enter the dungeon?!”
High Priest Owen shouted, his face pale as he dry-heaved from seasickness.
Though this ship was much better than the one Themis’s group had used yesterday, it was still no cruise ship—making the ride agony for him.
“We’re almost done. Or what, can’t a priest endure even this much?”
Achillan replied irritably, mixing in a half-formal tone, as he increased the number of light beams emerging from his staff.
Thousands of beams struck down like divine punishment.
Standing amid the light bombardment—enough to be called a natural disaster—Achillan calmly surveyed the situation.
Then, in the still-dark sky, he detected a familiar presence of darkness.
‘Themis…?’
It was unmistakably Themis’s power—something that should not have been felt here—slipping through the clouds.
‘Why is Themis’s power here…?’
Had they followed the ship? Why? Did he have something to say?
As Achillan pondered Themis’s intent—
“Ah…?”
Whoosh!
Darkness suddenly appeared, wrapped around Aria, and vanished in an instant.
It was such a clean abduction that it deserved applause.
“What kind of stunt is this now?”
“M-Monsters?! What in the world—?! Her Highness the Princess is gone! This is an emergency!”
Owen, who had been retching at the front, finally realized what had happened and jumped in panic.
“Stay still. Her Highness is safe.”
At the cold voice, Owen flinched and shut his mouth.
Achillan’s thoughts turned icy.
The one who had abducted the princess was unmistakably Themis’s darkness.
Achillan narrowed his eyes.
‘I clearly told him to stay put since I’d be entering this dungeon. So why pull something like this?’
Themis had nodded in agreement back then.
Lying to him—where had he learned that? From Everett? Or that mercenary named Jed?
Either way, it could be settled by catching Themis, who had to be hiding nearby, and asking him directly.
“Have I been taken lightly by my disciple?”
Achillan let out a soft chuckle, though his eyes held no mirth.
‘The madman is angry!’
Owen trembled violently.
He had only ever seen that expression when Achillan split a temple in half.
“So being called a Grand Mage is that amusing?”
As Achillan raised his hand, the light streaming from his staff intensified and surged skyward.
The tens of thousands of divided beams tore apart the storm clouds, illuminating the surroundings.
The power to alter even natural weather—that was the boundless strength of a Grand Mage.
As the area brightened, their field of view cleared instantly. Near the gate in the distance, a small ship came into sight.
“Hold on tight.”
“What do you mean—?!”
Leaving Owen’s bewildered face behind, Achillan moved the ship.
It shot toward the gate at a speed so fast it was hard to breathe.
The closer they got, the clearer Themis and his companions aboard the small ship became. Aria—who had been abducted moments ago—was with them.
They moved quickly, as if trying to enter the dungeon before Achillan’s ship.
But no one could outrun Achillan when he moved like light.
Especially not when he’d completely lost his temper.
“Well then, my disciple. Care to explain what exactly you’re doing?”
For the first time in a long while, Achillan—furious to his core—asked with a radiant smile.
His light had already overtaken Themis’s ship and formed a thick barrier in front of the gate.
Themis’s ship was trapped between Achillan’s vessel and the barrier.
With the dungeon entrance sealed by Achillan, Themis bit his lip before speaking.
“…It’s for your sake, Master.”
“So sneaking into a dungeon I said I’d enter, and abducting the princess, is for my sake?”
Achillan stroked his chin.
“I think I’ll need a much better explanation than that. Otherwise, I might just blow all of you away.”
