Chapter : 108
“…Your gaze keeps going to the wrong person.”
“It’s not like I’m not enough.”
After the master said that, I spent the night wide awake.
‘They keep saying strange things.’
What could have caused such a change in their mood? From where I stood, there seemed to be no reason for it.
I spent the entire night reflecting on my master’s words and actions. But no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t figure out what was going on in their mind.
In the meantime, I heard some footsteps outside the door. A knock echoed, followed by my master’s voice from beyond the door.
“Are you ready?”
Yes, there was still a much bigger problem ahead. Now was not the time to be pondering these things.
“Yes, let’s go!”
As soon as we returned from the imperial palace, both I and my master received treatment from Everett, and we were immediately scolded.
“Don’t exert yourself like that,” Everett said fervently. But both my master and I listened to the scolding with one ear and let it go through the other.
The next morning, our destination was the temple where the pope resided.
Inside the tightly packed bag, I had packed the evidence that Rider had sent since the early morning.
Everything was perfectly prepared.
“This time of day, the novice priests should be gone, so you can speak comfortably.”
Following Everett’s advice, we set out early in the morning.
The temple was not far from the mage tower, so in order to conserve our magical energy, we used a carriage.
Wearing our hoods, we left the mage tower separately and met in the middle, perfectly concealing our identities.
“The Holy Pope is waiting.”
Although we had requested a secret visit in advance, Owen, the temple official, personally welcomed us, probably because of my master’s visit.
It seemed the temple had experienced a change in atmosphere after returning from the temple.
We followed Owen through the temple. Since it was my first time visiting the temple early in the morning, everything felt strange.
The marble corridors made loud noises with every step, and it felt like they disturbed the otherwise serene temple.
I took a deep breath and walked in step with my master.
“It’s been a while, Grand Mage. And your disciple, Temis.”
At the end of the corridor, Pope Kyrsen was waiting.
As people age, their personalities often show through their expressions. When Kyrsen smiled, the deep lines around his mouth seemed to reveal the life he had led.
His soft eyes and wrinkles made him appear endlessly kind, but within them, sharpness could not be concealed.
“It’s been a while.”
My master’s voice was calm.
“I didn’t expect you to bring someone. And that it would be your disciple, Temis.”
Kyrsen looked at me carefully. His gentle smile reminded me of a wise sage in a painting.
“I have a feeling that this early visit is connected to the magic you’ve cast on yourself.”
It seemed the priests were sensitive to magic.
Just like when Everett sensed my presence while I was hidden in darkness, Kyrsen immediately noticed the illusion magic surrounding my master.
‘But he probably doesn’t know exactly what magic it is yet.’
My master, as if anticipating this, didn’t seem particularly surprised.
“We’ve come because there is something more urgent to discuss, Your Holiness.”
It was quite surprising that my master so easily shifted the topic.
However, Kyrsen did not seem to expect an answer and did not press further.
“What is it?”
“Have you heard the news about the death of the fire mage, Aren, who was being watched as the next mage tower leader?”
“Ah, yes. I’ve heard. I hope the blessings of Frúa’s God are with him.”
“However, evidence has surfaced showing that he was brainwashed and used by the temple.”
My master’s gaze locked directly onto Owen, who stood beside Kyrsen. Kyrsen tilted his head in confusion.
“A mage is under the control of the mage tower, right? How could someone from the temple have brainwashed a potential leader of the mage tower?”
Kyrsen genuinely seemed unaware and asked with a puzzled look.
Was the pope really this unaware, or was he pretending to not know, anticipating our move?
I shifted my gaze to Owen, who stood beside Kyrsen. Unlike the calm Kyrsen, Owen clearly looked uneasy.
“Owen, you look quite uncomfortable.”
“…Am I not a loyal temple official?”
“Are you suspecting me?”
Owen scowled dramatically.
“Your Holiness, please do not listen to the Grand Mage’s words that are tarnishing our temple’s honor. In the first place, a sign of rebellion was found on him. This matter has nothing to do with us.”
Perhaps because his credibility was on the line, Owen spoke at length, looking quite nervous.
“I, too, hope Owen’s actions will remain honorable before Frúa’s God.”
Kyrsen’s gaze on Owen remained kind, but there was an underlying coldness to it.
Owen seemed to sense this and trembled slightly.
“Could Owen, of all people, have done such a thing…”
Kyrsen placed a firm hand on Owen’s shoulder.
“Here’s the evidence.”
I pulled a charred piece of marble from my bag.
“In the secret space beneath the temple of Terma, traces of Aren’s magic were found.”
“That… that could have been evidence kept from another place. Or… yes! Maybe Aren was hiding underground, preparing to attack the temple with magic…!”
“And here is an artifact found in the burned ashes, which contains a recording of a conversation between Aren and Valencia, the temple official.”
Aren had not simply been manipulated by Owen.
She had made efforts to leave evidence of the things she had suffered whenever she regained her senses during the brainwashing.
This recording artifact was one of her attempts.
Aren used magic to leave traces in the underground space of the temple and burned everything to ashes. She hid this real evidence among the debris, hoping someone would find it after her death.
I activated the artifact in front of Kyrsen and Owen.
This time, Deshu… I need to make a move. Go and create a large-scale… for Lord James Conner… in the village… after that…
The quality of the recording was terrible due to poor storage conditions, but it was enough as evidence.
“T-that’s Valencia’s voice! It has nothing to do with me, Your Holiness!”
“Hmm, from my perspective, it seems Owen, who was with you, cannot escape suspicion either.”
Owen looked like a creature abandoned by its master.
It was surprising. Even though Kyrsen held the position of pope, I had thought that the real power lay with Owen and Valencia.
“Your Holiness, I…”
“I know this incident has shattered the trust that has been built between the temple and the mages over the years, Grand Mage.”
But now, it was clear that Kyrsen was above them.
“It is truly disappointing to see temple officials, who should live according to the will of the gods, engaging in such deeds… I, too, am guilty for not noticing it sooner.”
Perhaps because our evidence was too clear?
Kyrsen, unlike Owen, offered no rebuttal.
Instead, he immediately bowed his head and asked us to investigate both officials.
“I will send Valencia and Owen to the mage tower as soon as Valencia returns from Terma. I hope this unfortunate event will not hinder the faith in Frúa’s God.”
Kyrsen’s overly cooperative attitude left both my master and I speechless.
We never expected things to resolve so easily.
“Just in case, I will also call Everett, who accompanied us on this mission, and send him to the mage tower. I don’t believe he’s corrupted, but it’s always better to be cautious.”
He even volunteered to have Everett’s condition checked.
Things were going way too smoothly.
