Chapter 347

Chapter 347. The Long, Long Night of the Mage Tower (3)

“I ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍already know that, you know?”

Inette ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍snapped back irritably.

“It ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is a staff made by a great archmage who contracted with the Great Spirit of Fire.”

That ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍much, she already knew.

A ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍powerful magical artifact passed down through the Imperial Family for generations.

A ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍staff that amplified the power of fire-aspected magic and could even store a powerful spell.

If its creator had been a great archmage contracted with the Great Spirit of Fire, then of course it would carry the aura of a great spirit.

‘So what is the big deal?’

Inette’s face crumpled.

What they needed right now was a practical way to break through this suffocating situation.

An Acting Mage Tower Master who had contracted with a great demon.

And the countless mages of the Mage Tower who followed him.

In the face of such an overwhelming disparity in force, what difference could a single staff—even one made by a great archmage—possibly make?

But her doubt was shattered by the Spirit of the Library’s furious shout.

“What kind of foolish nonsense is that?! This is not just any staff!”

The spirit whirled fiercely above Inette’s head as if driven mad by frustration.

Its pages trembled violently.

“Do you have any idea how difficult it is to create a magical artifact imbued with the aura of a great spirit? This is a ‘Great Spirit’ we are talking about! Even if you searched the entire history of the Empire, you would count such relics on one hand, if that!”

Everyone in the room held their breath at the spirit’s impassioned tirade.

Clicking his tongue, the Spirit of the Library continued.

“And it was deliberately designed so that it only functions properly within the Mage Tower. The creator’s stubbornness knew no bounds. Tsk, tsk. No wonder the Imperial Family has never been able to make proper use of it.”

That final remark stabbed straight into Inette’s pride as a Princess.

She flushed and was just about to retort when a faint voice cut into their conversation.

“…That is correct. It is the staff of the great archmage, Ignasio.”

All eyes turned toward the source of the voice.

It was Helio, the Mage Tower Master, lying on the bed.

Having barely regained consciousness, he was struggling to sit up with Armandy’s support.

Though his face was drained of all color, his eyes remained deep and lucid.

“That man took immense pride in being from the Mage Tower. That is why he deliberately made his masterpiece respond only to the tower’s pure mana.”

Helio continued.

“Only by unraveling it according to the Mage Tower’s system will the staff’s true power activate… cough!”

“Master! You should not speak so much.”

Armandy spoke urgently, steadying his back.

Helio’s condition still looked precarious.

Radel quietly approached his side.

Radel’s shadow fell across Helio’s gaunt face.

“Elder.”

At Radel’s low call, Helio bowed his head deeply toward him.

“…I have committed a grave discourtesy toward Your Highness all this time. Even knowing who you were, I pretended not to… Please punish this old man.”

His voice was weak, yet the resolve within it was not.

Everyone in the room—even Arteo—held their breath as they watched him.

“No.”

Radel answered firmly.

“I deceived you as well, Elder. So please rise. More importantly, we need your help now.”

He gently took Helio’s thin shoulders and helped him sit upright.

Meeting Radel’s serious gaze, Helio no longer resisted and gave a small nod.

“Please tell us everything you know about Inette’s staff. I beg you.”

At Radel’s earnest request, Helio fixed his gaze on the staff in the Princess’s hand.

A flicker of reverence passed through his eyes.

“That staff…”

Helio’s voice rang softly.

“It is the only object in this world capable of summoning the Great Spirit of Fire.”

Everyone gasped at his words.

***

A night that made the chaos outside feel like a lie.

A hidden storehouse within the Mage Tower.

There, Armandy was drawing ancient sigils on the floor, as Helio had instructed.

Mana flowed from his fingertips, weaving complex, intricate lines that glowed with a faint light.

Because the ritual was critical, everyone watched in breathless silence.

The one to break it was Radel.

Crouching with his chin propped in his hand, he scrutinized the magic circle and spoke.

“Armandy, you need to draw it properly. This part is sticking out a bit.”

His finger pointed to the outer edge of the spiraling magic circle.

A blue vein bulged on Armandy’s forehead.

“…That is how it is allowed to be.”

Though the words were ground out through clenched teeth, Radel did not care.

Putting on a deliberately grave expression, he asked,

“Are you sure? You said this ritual can only be performed once. The Elder warned us repeatedly. If this part is wrong, it will be a real problem.”

“I may look like this, but I am from the Mage Tower! I was an elite in magical array studies!”

Armandy finally exploded.

Watching the scene, a faint look of surprise appeared in Helio’s eyes.

Seeing his disciple raise his voice at a Prince without restraint was deeply unfamiliar to him.

Back in the Mage Tower, Armandy had always been quiet and well-mannered.

He had never once shown such emotion before Helio—or even before his senior disciple, Aaron.

Perhaps it was because there had been no one his age in the Mage Tower.

He had always acted as though he had forgotten his own years, trapped in the world of adults.

‘That looks more like Armandy.’

The thought suddenly crossed Helio’s mind.

Not the boy who suppressed his emotions and pretended to be an adult, but the one who sulked and flared up in a way fitting his age—perhaps that was the real Armandy.

He murmured softly.

“Is it because he met the 8th Prince…? Armandy has changed a great deal.”

Someone did not miss his mutter.

The Spirit of the Library, floating nearby, chimed in familiarly.

“You mean your disciple? He is a fairly capable worker when it comes to magic.”

…A worker?

Helio’s thoughts froze.

Oblivious to his confusion, the spirit continued enthusiastically.

“If my clumsy contractor drags him around for all sorts of odd jobs, that alone makes him exceptional.”

No one knew better than Helio what kind of child Armandy had been in the Mage Tower.

Unlike Aaron, whom he had taken in from the streets, Armandy came from one of the Empire’s foremost noble families.

The moment he recognized the boy’s genius, Helio had cherished him as a treasure of the Mage Tower and raised him in the finest environment.

An elite among elites, raised on nothing but the highest path.

A precious talent who had never once dirtied his hands.

And yet now, hearing the spirit boast—almost boast—about how Armandy skillfully made cotton candy and iced coffee, and even fried some sort of chicken dish, Helio was left utterly dumbfounded.

“Even if he looks like that, my contractor does not take just anyone along. You may take pride in that.”

Helio looked at Armandy with complicated emotions.

The back of his disciple, focused on the magic circle, seemed broader than it had in the past.

During the time he had been away from the Mage Tower, his youngest disciple had learned of the harsh world and grown in ways Helio did not know.

Though bewildered, Helio tried to accept that change.

‘Yes… even believing that this floating being before my eyes is a Great Spirit is difficult enough. What could possibly be more surprising now?’

He was soon proven wrong.

The 6th Prince suddenly sprang up and charged straight at Radel.

They had forgotten it in the brief moment of peace.

The most important fact of all.

Helio shouted urgently.

“You must stop him at once! Inside the 6th Prince is another personality—!”

“Oh, you mean that young beast?”

But the Spirit of the Library merely fluttered its pages indifferently.

“It is fine. Basic training is already finished.”

Basic training?

Before Helio could even process the meaning of those words, an even more incomprehensible sight unfolded before his eyes.

“Give it to me! The sweet thing!”

Sylvan lunged at Radel with a growl.

He was demanding marshmallows.

“Wait.”

Radel said firmly.

“No!”

“I said wait. This is an important ritual right now. If you cannot behave, there will be no snacks.”

There was no room for negotiation in his voice.

At Radel’s words, Sylvan bared his teeth.

“I want to eat it!”

He threw himself onto the floor in a tantrum, but Radel did not spare him a glance.

He merely let out a sigh.

Flinch.

The moment Radel sighed, Sylvan’s once-defiant body stiffened instinctively.

The fear etched into his memory.

That madman’s hand slapping his cheek the moment he came to his senses.

The chilling pressure that had emanated from the water bottle in that hand.

“If you keep this up, you will be punished, Sylvan.”

That calm voice sounded like a final verdict to Sylvan.

In the end, with a sulky face, he retreated to a corner, hugging his knees and curling up.

Helio stared blankly at the scene, mouth agape.

He had been forced to wager his very life to suppress the 6th Prince’s Ability rampage.

And yet the 8th Prince was perfectly controlling that dangerous existence with nothing more than a few words and a handful of snacks.

“How can something like this even be possible…?”

At his dazed murmur, the Spirit of the Library replied casually.

“Well, no need to be that shocked. That one tames demons as well.”

“Hah….”

A deep sigh escaped Helio’s lips.

Truly a descendant of the Great Sage.

There was no doubt he was a man who transcended all common sense.

At that moment, Armandy’s voice broke the silence.

“Your Highness, the magic circle is complete.”

At last, all preparations were finished.

On the floor, a massive magic circle composed of ancient script and geometric patterns glowed with a soft red light.

Now, all that remained was Inette’s resolve.

***

At the very center of the completed magic circle.

Inette stood with a determined expression.

She gripped the staff so tightly it felt as though it might break.

Helio gave her his final warning.

“Remember this well, Your Highness. You will have only one chance to meet the Great Spirit of Fire.”

According to Helio, the owner of the staff was granted only a single opportunity.

If the contract with the Great Spirit of Fire failed, there would be no second chance.

Inette swallowed hard and nodded.

The weight of pressure bore down on her shoulders.

Then Radel’s gentle voice reached her.

“Do not worry. Remember the Academy? All the fire spirits liked you. They followed you around to the point of annoyance. The Great Spirit of Fire will surely take a liking to you as well.”

At his words, Gusto also spoke, his face impassive.

“That is correct. You were unusually popular with fire-aspected spirits.”

Despite their encouragement, unease still lingered in Inette’s heart.

It was true that fire spirits had liked her.

But that had happened regardless of her own will.

‘Can I really do this?’

Reading the anxiety in her eyes, Radel grinned.

As if to say that she could do it, and that alone gave Inette the courage she needed.

“I will try.”

“Then we will begin.”

Armandy placed his hand on the edge of the magic circle and poured his mana into it.

Wooooong—!

Inette squeezed her eyes shut.

With the sensation of blazing red heat wrapping around her entire body, all sound faded away.

When she opened her eyes again, she was standing in a completely different world.

This was not an ordinary spirit realm.

It was an unknown domain that only those permitted by the Great Spirit of Fire could reach.

Standing alone within that surreal landscape, Inette looked around.

An endless expanse of pure white sand.

Unlike the harsh, crimson sands of the Carmine Desert, this sand was fine and white, like salt.

The soft sensation beneath her feet felt astonishingly real.

After a moment’s hesitation, she began to walk.

How long had she walked?

At last, Inette spotted a solitary red object lying in the middle of the white desert.

“A… gauntlet?”

As if it had been waiting for its owner, the gauntlet emitted a faint warmth toward her.

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