Chapter 35 : Millennium Height (9)

I raised my finger and poked the fallen thief guild members on the floor.

There was no response.

They must be dead.

“00”

No, wait.

I stood up and spoke to Tasha’s assistant.

“If we keep going like this, we won’t get any information. You should have been more reasonable.”

“Why are you here?”

Tasha’s assistant asked with suspicion.

It was a serious question, but before responding, I decided to address something important first.

“I’m Luina. Hello.”

“I know.”

“I’m Luina. Hello.”

“…Heyze.”

Heyze answered in a reluctant tone.

It seemed like he wasn’t very eager to greet me.

I wonder why.

Is it because he doesn’t want to show this kind of appearance in front of me, the currently famous Evil God’s Priest Hunter, Luina?

“That can’t be the case.”

Never mind.

Heyze grabbed the collar of the thief guild member and spoke.

“Answer me. Why are you here?”

“I have something to do. But I’m curious too. Those people have an appointment with me. Did you make an appointment with them as well?”

If that’s the case, it was a double booking.

I thought these guys were at least decent, but now they’re playing both sides?

That’s not cool.

Heyze crossed his arms, seeming to think for a moment.

Just then, one of the thief guild members, who had been pretending to be unconscious, suddenly stood up.

The thief guild member, without saying anything like “Die!” raised a dagger and rushed at Heyze from behind.

However, Heyze remained still with his arms crossed, seemingly unaware.

It was such an unguarded posture that I was about to activate my magic.

One of the two swords hanging at Heyze’s waist was drawn and swiftly decapitated the thief guild member.

Yet, Heyze still remained with his arms crossed.

The sword had drawn itself, slain the enemy on its own, and returned to its sheath, while I stared in amazement.

“Magic!”

“Such a childish reaction, as if you’ve never seen magic before. Aren’t you a magician yourself?”

Jerry muttered next to me, as if he didn’t understand.

Ignoring him, I approached Heyze and spoke.

“Is that wind magic?”

“…What?”

“You’re using wind magic to create a telekinesis-like effect, right? Does it activate automatically without you consciously doing anything, or are you activating it while pretending not to by crossing your arms?”

“What do you want?”

“The magic. Can you give it to me? I’ll pay you for it.”

Heyze made a subtle expression.

He didn’t understand what I meant.

“Are you asking me to teach you magic?”

“No. I don’t have an affinity for wind magic. I’m offering a trade, literally.”

“Trade? Do you think magic is an item? How are you going to trade it?”

“I can. Just answer me. I’ll meet your conditions as best as I can.”

“I’m not interested.”

That was disappointing.

It seemed like a really useful magic, but he refused to trade it.

Reluctantly, I gave Heyze one last request.

“If you change your mind later, please let me know.”

“No need.”

“By the way, what business do you have with them?”

“They stole my things.”

“Things? Wait, are you the owner of that ridiculously large castle?”

Huh.

“How did you know that, Heyze?”

“There’s a way.”

“No, that’s strange. How did a rumor about something like that reach a third party? Especially since it hasn’t even spread yet.”

The Alchemy Guild had discreetly released someone.

It hadn’t been advertised widely, so normally, only three people should know about the castle news.

Me, the Alchemy Guild, and the Thieves Guild who stole it.

But look at Heyze.

He came to me as if he had someone planted in the Thieves Guild.

“It’s just a coincidence.”

“Hmm.”

“Anyway, if you’re the owner, things will be easier. The Red Moon thieves took the castle. The Red Moon, they’re the higher-ups, right? Think of it like that. I’ll help you, so go take it.”

“Why?”

It’s nice to receive help.

It makes things easier.

But receiving help isn’t always good.

If the intent behind the help is unclear, rejecting the hand is often better for your safety.

When did he decide to help me?

Heyze didn’t like me.

During our first meeting, he almost killed me, but now he wants to help me out?

Receiving such kindness for free might end up causing trouble.

“Don’t want my help? Fine then.”

“Please explain. Why do you want to help me?”

“Well, my work wouldn’t change whether you’re involved or not, so why bother?”

Heyze smiled faintly, wiped the blood off his thumb, and started walking.

It was clearly a move toward the Red Moon, so I blocked his path.

Heyze frowned.

“What’s this?”

“Please explain.”

“No. Didn’t you hear me? The Red Moon took your castle.”

“I heard you.”

“Then why are you acting like this? Don’t you want it back?”

“But I want an explanation.”

Until I knew the owner of these sticky, sinister hands connected to my castle, I wasn’t going to make a move.

Because that’s the safest way.

“No. You didn’t listen to me. My work won’t change whether you’re involved or not, understand? Fine. I’ll get the castle, just wait quietly and take it.”

“That’s what I was going to say.”

I understood what Hayes said perfectly.

Then I blocked his path.

And Hayes didn’t realize what that meant.

It was Hayes who wasn’t willing to listen to me.

“Title or whatever, I’m not letting you through until I get an explanation, Sir Hayes. Understood?”

“Is this woman crazy? Wait. The title they stole was yours, wasn’t it?”

“What does that matter right now? It’s not that important.”

Only one thing mattered now: Could I get the truth from Hayes or not?

Everything else was irrelevant.

Rumble.

Tree soldiers rose from the ground.

Hayes sighed and drew his sword.

“So we’re doing this, huh?”

“I’m just trying to stop you.”

“Same difference!”

Hayes easily cut down the charging tree soldier.

His movements were graceful and controlled—very familiar to me.

They resembled Leon’s.

Which meant Hayes was an exceptional swordsman.

“Silence.”

When Hayes whispered softly, a second sword floated up into the air.

He held the first sword with both hands at head height, pointing its tip at me.

The second sword, still floating, also turned to point my way.

With both swords aimed at me, Hayes said,

“I won’t hold back. Surrender now.”

I didn’t answer.

I strengthened the flame in my lantern.

Hayes clicked his tongue and activated more magic.

Green magic shimmered over his sword.

It was refining magic.

But it was different from the kind I knew and had used often.

His brown eyes turned green.

Energy surged through Hayes’ body.

It was the first awakening of refining magic—physical enhancement.

In sync, eight red lines slashed through the air.

Just before they struck Hayes—Screeeee!

His sword cut through them in a near-instant with the sound of air ripping.

CRACK.

The wooden floor under his feet shattered, and Hayes shot forward like an arrow.

I threw the flame of devouring I had prepared,

But Hayes’ second sword calmly cut it down.

He was already right in front of me.

His sword reversed—he was going to strike me with the flat, not the blade.

To an outsider, it would look like Hayes had already won.

Not a chance.

THUD.

A small wooden giant sprang from behind me and slammed Hayes.

BOOM!

The wood giant began pounding him with relentless fists.

Hayes leapt backward to escape the assault.

I shook the lantern.

Inside, a concentrated flame burned quietly, ready to be unleashed.

I murmured, “Check.”

“You can shoot that if you want. I’ll block it easily.”

“So you want to see this through?”

I’ve got money—if I have to pay damages, so be it.

I’ll go all in.

I gathered mana to prepare my trump card.

“Whirling Ring.”

Then I turned my head at a voice coming from the side.

Hayes did the same.

A motor-like noise filled the building.

And from the midst of it, Jerry spoke:

“It’s two on one. You really want to keep going?”

“…I lost. I’ll explain.”

Yeah.

Hayes raised both arms and surrendered.

I also released my magic.

“Mr. Jerry, you’re surprisingly helpful.”

“Right? If I wasn’t helpful, why would you even bring me?”

“We’re a team, remember?”

Jerry sighed.

Hayes also sighed and sheathed his sword.

I held out my hand.

Hayes narrowed his eyes.

“What’s this?”

“You said the loser would hand over the magic.”

“Now you’re twisting reality too?”

“You fell for it.”

“Just so you know, I really didn’t want to say anything. Any problems caused by this are on you.”

“Such a fuss. Come on, how often does hearing something actually cause a problem?”

“Yeah?”

At my response, Hayes gave up and said,

“The one after your title is the Second Prince. More precisely, one of his close aides. I’m helping you to get in the way of the Second Prince. Got it?”

“That’s not much. Would’ve been nice if you’d just said that earlier.”

Seriously.

Still, why is the Second Prince after my title?

Or is he not the one?

The Second Prince isn’t even in the capital right now—he’s returning from the empire’s south.

So this was all orchestrated by his aide.

Though of course, that aide must have been following his orders.

But still, why are they after someone else’s title?

Holy Grail, titles, immortality.

There were rumors Chris had heard—that all sorts of life-extending relics were being gathered in the imperial capital…

Hmm.

I still don’t get it.

I stared hard at Hayes.

He was clearly still hiding something.

But he wasn’t going to say it, even now.

Pressing him further wouldn’t help.

Nothing I could do.

I jingled my lantern and turned away.

“Take me to the Red Moon’s base. I need to get my title back.”

“That was a quick decision.”

***

“Ms. Ruina? So what happened after that?”

“You can tell just by seeing me drink in broad daylight.”

“You always do that. Wait—did you already lose it?”

“Yes.”

We raided the Red Moon’s base with Hayes, but didn’t find the title.

Not even a trace.

It had likely already been passed on to the Second Prince.

With no evidence, there was nothing we could do.

Even if we had evidence, it probably wouldn’t have helped.

“Why did you even bother arguing under the moonlight?”

“How much time do you think that really delayed us? Judging by the lack of evidence, they passed it on long ago. Even if we hadn’t fought, the result would’ve been the same.”

“What are you going to do now?”

What could I do?

“There’s no way around it. I’ll move on.”

“Still sucks, doesn’t it?”

“It’s because I’m powerless. But I’ll remember this, and once I become a great mage, I’ll make them pay.”

Second Prince, I’m remembering this.

We’ll meet again.

“We’re meeting now, aren’t we?”

“It’s a metaphor. Besides, I need to remember your face if I’m going to make you pay later.”

I scolded Chris and looked up.

WAAAAAAH!

Cheers poured out as soldiers marched down the street in formation.

At the very front, a man on a white horse waved to the crowd.

Golden hair and twilight-colored eyes tinged with purple.

As the star of this triumphal procession appeared, the cheers grew louder.

I stared at the Second Prince, Isaac Eterno, and licked my lips.

My title…

My new lantern…