WIBFGO 09

Episode 09

Why on earth would the Tower Master do something like this?

Was this how she treated a holy knight who had merely failed to show proper courtesy—mocking him like this just because he came from the provinces?

Marie’s thoughts grew heavier as she imagined the temperament of the Tower Master she would now have to work alongside.

To make matters worse, the very man who was supposed to guide them—Helios—had come to a complete stop, wearing a smile she had never seen before.

It was a crooked, almost savage smile.
One corner of his lips curled upward, as if everything before him were nothing more than a joke.

Marie could swear—this was not the man she knew.

“Pathetic tricks.”

Helios spoke coldly as he tucked away his silver compass.
Without a trace of agitation, he dismounted and gave his order.

“Gray. Marie. Gather around me.”

They didn’t need the command.
The dense, suffocating magic was already closing in on them.

Marie had only ever felt something like this once before—when they had faced the Demon King.

She and Gray quickly moved to his side.

“A stray cat is throwing a tantrum,” Helios muttered.

“Pardon?”

“That’s why we lost our way. Stay close, Marie.”

“…What are you—”

Before she could finish, divine power ignited in Helios’s gloved hand like a white flame.

Marie swallowed her questions and moved behind him.
Gray clung to her like a barnacle, whispering rapidly.

“Commander hates that woman, you know.”

“That woman… you mean Enya Valencia?”

“Yeah, her. Ever since your report, he’s been saying she’s worse than a beast. And now she nearly got me killed—of course he’s pissed. My neck, you know… my precious neck… haah…”

“…Ah.”

Marie almost said, I don’t think he’s angry because of you…
But instead, her gaze shifted to Helios’s straight, unyielding back as he gathered divine power.

Still… would someone describe a person they hate as a ‘cat’ throwing a tantrum?

No—this wasn’t hatred.

It was something else.
Something closer to the way a predator toys with prey caught in its trap.

A strange unease crept into her chest.

This mission… is going to be exhausting.

“Tower Master of Morgenda.”

The white flame in Helios’s hand flared violently, shaping itself into the blade of a sword.

“Is this all you’ve got?”

As if fully aware she was watching, he bared his teeth in a dazzling smile—then clenched his hand.

The shattered fragments of divine flame scattered outward, stretching into thin lines that formed a perfect circle around them.

Thud.

He stamped the ground once.

Like a giant striking the earth, the circle of divine power burst outward, expanding violently through the forest.

A storm of holy energy swept across the land.
Marie and Gray squeezed their eyes shut against the force.

In an instant, the divine power surged like a gale—
and purified every trace of Enya’s magic.

Silence fell.

Gray cautiously opened his eyes.

The dense forest that had surrounded them had vanished, pushed far into the distance.

And before them—

A towering structure pierced the sky.

“That… is the Morgenda Magic Tower…”

Marie couldn’t help but whisper.

Two massive vines, as thick as ancient tree trunks, coiled around the tower like serpents wrapped around a staff.

Gray, staring blankly, suddenly stiffened.

“Commander… does that mean the entire forest was an illusion?”

“No. The forest exists. Only what we saw was false.”

Helios answered indifferently, gesturing for their horses.

With no stable in sight, they tied the reins to nearby tree trunks and approached the tower entrance.

“What a… warm welcome.”

Marie quickly stepped beside Helios, her senses sharpened.

“Commander. Enya’s control over magic is exceptional. Just because she’s been in seclusion doesn’t mean she’s someone we can take lightly.”

Helios listened in silence—then his expression tightened slightly.

“…Marie. Do you know the Tower Master personally?”

“…Excuse me?”

“You speak her name rather freely.”

Marie blinked, completely caught off guard.

After a moment, Helios seemed to realize he needed to explain.

“She is skilled at changing faces. At deceiving people. I was concerned she might have extended her hand to you as well.”

Marie was certain of one thing—
he was not truly concerned about her.

Who speaks of concern without even looking at the person?

If anything, Helios seemed far more emotionally invested in Enya than in her.

Even now, his gaze was fixed upward, as if he could see Enya standing at the top of the tower.

Marie sighed.

“Commander… I think you’re misunderstanding. I’ve never met Enya—the Tower Master of Morgenda. I simply used her name because repeating her full title every time would be unnecessarily long.”

“Your report showed considerable favoritism toward the Tower Master.”

“Commander!”

Favoritism?
The absurdity of it left her speechless.

“Are you saying I’ve been bribed—no, that’s ridiculous! I recommended her because, objectively speaking, she was the best candidate!”

“Marie, I can overlook it once.”

His tone was almost… merciful.

“I am aware she has a certain charm that draws people in. So tell me the truth.”

“The truth is that I have not been bribed! I haven’t even met her! I don’t know what kind of ‘charm’ you’re talking about!”

Marie knew well that Helios was not someone who trusted others easily.

But this—

This was beyond unreasonable.

If someone disgusted you, the normal response was to keep your distance. Ignore them.
Yet here he was, fixating on Enya to the point of interrogating his own subordinate.

Why do you hate her this much?
The question rose to her throat—but she swallowed it.

Instead, she chose the words a capable subordinate should say.

“Commander, I understand your stance regarding Enya Valencia. But please dismiss these baseless suspicions. And… as your subordinate, I advise you—this subjugation is important. It would be best to maintain an appropriate distance with the Tower Master rather than deepen hostilities.”

Helios fell silent.

She was right.

There was no need to get along—
but neither was there a need to act like sworn enemies.

Since leaving the temple, he had survived among murderers and swindlers.
He knew how to deal with people like that.

Enya, of course, was far more dangerous.

Her unreadable eyes.
Her unpredictable behavior.
And this forest alone—overflowing with her magic, dense, vicious, and powerful.

For a fleeting moment, a fierce desire stirred within him—
to test her strength.

But there was no need.

If he simply kept his distance, none of this would matter.

Just act as usual.

He dragged a hand over his face, irritated with himself.

“Marie, as you said—”

“AAAH! W-What is that?!”

Gray’s scream cut him off.

Helios and Marie instantly drew their swords and rushed forward.

“Gray! Fall back—!”

“…Good heavens…”

They froze.

“It’s an illusion.”

The moment they stepped into the tower’s lobby, it was as if a grand performance had begun.

Boom—boom—
Drums thundered.

Strings sang.

Pink flower petals rained down from every direction.

This was no ordinary illusion—
not something that could be repelled by a mere layer of divine protection.

Silken veils drifted in midair.

Between them, impossibly beautiful figures—no, illusions—approached, swaying in sensual dance.

And at the center—

[You’ve come, my dear brother!]

There she was.

Ogedai.

Reclining upon a luxurious bed, radiant like the sun, lifting her goblet toward them.

[Helio! You’ve lived such an ascetic life lately. I prepared this gift just for you—so enjoy it to your heart’s content.]

Her golden eyes gleamed brilliantly.

Even her tone—perfect.

Identical to the real thing.

[Ah, Marie. So you are Marie.]

She approached smoothly, draping an arm around Marie’s shoulders.

The firm strength of her arm… the scent… the presence—

Marie’s body betrayed her.

“Y-Your Highness—! Th-this is improper—!”

[It’s fine. I’ve heard all about you.]

Even as Marie tried to pull away, the illusion of Ogedai was overwhelmingly beautiful.

Too real.

Too perfect.

Her will began to crumble.

The magic in the air seeped into their lungs like pollen.

Yet instead of pain—
it brought a hazy, intoxicating warmth.

At this rate… I’ll fall completely under it.

Clenching her teeth, Marie resisted with everything she had.

“I… belong to Sir Helios—!”

[I know your will and your loyalty lie with him.]

“…W-Wait, not like that—!”

[But surely you can give me just one night?]

Her golden eyes filled Marie’s vision.

[Marie… it already feels as though we are one.]

Blood burst from Marie’s nose.

Defeat.

Complete and utter defeat.

Gray fared no better.

Surrounded by beautiful women, he laughed and cried at the same time.

“Ahhh—! O gods! I could die happy right now!!!”

Chaos reigned.

The tower’s spiral staircases twisted and warped, rejecting all who entered.

Doors appeared and vanished by the dozens, like a thousand blinking eyes.

And beneath it all—

“Lady Ogedai… I’ve loved you for so long…!”

Marie’s broken confession—

“Let’s go live together in the West! You too! You too—! Haaah—yes!”

Gray’s delirious ramblings—

Everything blended into a grotesque spectacle.

Only one man remained untouched.

Helios.

Standing at the center of the chaos, he quietly closed his eyes—

and gathered divine power.

Marie… I’ll pretend I didn’t hear your advice.

At this point… it’s already too late for courtesy.