Chapter 96
R2gjBWn“Now you know, don’t you? You never did me any favor. You’re nothing more than an uninvited intruder who betrayed on your own and then came looking for me.”Oix
4GNEtsIAt Lucian’s cold response, Colin nodded.pR9U
U6XThe spell he had just used was something he could only cast once, and only after prolonged preparation.ORgKbDF
DYNIf that single attack had been blocked, he would’ve had no way to defend himself and would have died without a chance. As long as the defensive scroll existed, Colin’s betrayal wouldn’t have changed the outcome of victory or defeat.2VZtY2k
zJOGv“I understand. Then at least allow me to say something as a rootless wanderer, Your Grace.”cV93Gs
m2E“Speak.”ZhDQY
c3hX“Take me in.”5hlZUX
oNq“…?”OWN
tEfwtF6Lucian blinked at the completely out-of-place request. Take him in? Just like that?GY8
WnnL“Don’t tell me you want to enter my service?”QlrE
Tc9“Yes. I want to work for you, Duke.”qkkUBf
oi7“You’re insane.”PcD
gfCmAqILucian let out an incredulous laugh. He didn’t say it on purpose—the surprise made the words slip out.0jJF43t
m0XQLhJ“Do you even know whom I’m pledging loyalty to right now?”nTPv
10lH3c“You serve the imperial family.”mppP
9yGO“And the imperial family is hunting and killing every mage it sees. Why would I take the risk of being branded a traitor just to hire you? And more importantly…”oBqM16
SPfpjipLucian pointed to the spot where the lightning had struck just moments ago. There, the charred remains of Godfrey and his men still lay scattered across the ground.p7Ib
XRUPmM“Now that those people are dead, I have to prove my innocence. And there’s no better way than handing over you, the direct culprit.”F2rO6Wg
8xQIf it were Calix, they could easily claim Lucian was killed by a lightning strike. But Lucian was already allied with the imperial family, who were full of magical artifacts.OBP
RCIYvlVEven with the same excuse, credibility would plummet with the Empire involved.uOXmIgE
k1g“Tell me—why should I give up all those benefits to keep someone who only brings me disadvantages? No—better yet, what made you think you could come looking for me in the first place?”Aqd
t53XAFrom a logical standpoint, no sane mage would seek out Lucian.aH7dWV
fIifEverything Lucian had shown so far was the perfect image of a loyal servant of the Emperor.zw46N
eDKgIf they knew of the Empire’s witch hunts, they’d flee just from seeing his shadow.C9YAyQ
T9p7eUnder Lucian’s suspicious gaze, Colin sighed and replied.L3s6t5L
An7c0“I came because I believed in another mage’s divination.”qsE
aOPd“…Divination?”7boq
1yFDXCf“Not all mages throw fire or summon lightning. Prophecies and divination are also a branch of magic.”ymM2k6l
2N2kVkFWith a half-resigned expression, Colin calmly explained.aofM7a
eRPHe had an acquaintance exceptionally skilled in divination. That acquaintance had made a prophecy about Lucian.TvW
jPCL1mAnd it was by trusting in that prophecy that he had betrayed Godfrey’s group.vD1xXV
u3MKVD“According to the divination, if I let Your Grace go, I’d become a death reaper who would come to kill me. But if I captured you, I’d become a benefactor.”KqdKw
60Qxgf5“And just from a simple prophecy you came to seek me out? Are you in your right mind?”SfTJ
xbdLucian couldn’t understand it at all. No matter how accurate a prediction was, it still lacked solid foundation.MP4pE
qXr0sAnd yet to throw himself straight into the lion’s den?ChCl8Y
LhHuta9Colin caught his gaze and gave a bitter smile.g97P
6Qc4XNc“I know, Your Grace. It’s hard to understand. But someone without hope has no choice but to cling to anything—even a prophecy.”rFRv
j453wv“What do you mean?”AnHp
YoGvCpA“It’s been three hundred years since the mages’ rebellion failed and the persecution began. How many mages do you think have been hunted in all that time?”nrE9q
kCaXThey couldn’t even research systematically, and just surviving was already difficult. Some even died of starvation despite having magical talent.gkSlZ
RO7Not being able to find disciples and pass on their knowledge was common, and even when they did, they often died in witch hunts before they could teach anything.py5D
UFNZYNaturally, the number of mages plummeted over the generations, and many schools disappeared entirely.73a8Yv
OhNZl“I’m no different from other mages. I’ve survived however I could, using what my master taught me and some improvisation—always under constant threats. But even that has its limits.”6ZZTzYM
t1vOUnable to train new disciples, living in hiding without knowing when death would come.Kzw5f
OWgpRHe made a living by pretending to be an assassin, but one slip-up and someone would try to stab him in the back.5T85
h1EEven people he had known had vanished, leaving only rumors that they’d been brutally executed by witch-hunting squads.Xhj
mBETired of life and having lost all hope, he received a strange prophecy from an old colleague.8USC
gHgvCUT“If it had only foretold my death, maybe I wouldn’t have done anything. But it also hinted at a sliver of hope. For someone worn out from living like me, that was reason enough to risk my life.”6FipP0
eSmT“…”mGGn
iNpaK2“If even now you can’t believe me, I have no other way to convince you. But please understand—these words are sincere.”O1dEs
QElAfter speaking, Colin lowered his head. He had nothing more to say; his attitude was clear—if they were going to kill him, then so be it.E6ht
d4jU1wAs the silence stretched on, Lucian rested his chin on his hand and pondered quietly.35dBjY
tGxcz‘What a coincidence. Just when I needed a mage, one appears—guided by a prophecy—asking to serve me.’55QXJ
IG7INo matter how suspicious it seemed, the possibility that the mage was lying was extremely low.Yv36
7DHvWIf not for a prophecy, there was practically no reason for a mage to seek out Lucian first.8wkUK43
meCBut even if all of it was true, the real question was whether Lucian could trust him enough to keep him at his side.KLKN
ZvOMw8‘The biggest problem is I have nowhere to hide him. From guards to servants, everyone is sent by the Empire. No matter where I hide him, they’ll find him quickly.’dOW
YTWlWTQLetting him go didn’t guarantee they’d be able to contact him again.UxNp9R1
EjrColin was being hunted, and Lucian could no longer move discreetly.DjG1piD
MlHRBesides, he still needed to explain Godfrey’s death.A6Y
JxY‘…No, there is a way.’rCEN7w
QwjsLucian quickly organized the solution that had just come to him.GNo2
6yWoIt depended a bit on luck, but if it worked, it could solve everything at once.UM34bv
3x2Xxf“I’ll make you a proposal.”bQbyQQ1
goQ6uw“Huh? A proposal?”YqqG
VvHJ“It’s a proposal where I win everything, and you lose everything. Although, if it goes according to plan, you might still achieve your goal.”HSo4
IRwMh“…?”T2W
I0IAt those unsettling words, Colin flinched involuntarily. What the hell was this man about to say?b1xwvQ
h34tShortly after, upon hearing the plan, Colin stared at Lucian completely dumbfounded.qiFF
Qz6K***ddVIs
vps6Kv“His Highness returned from the Hundred Days Hunt? What does that mean?”I5hwQZ
AC2The northern nobles widened their eyes at the unexpected news.cqJ6
0oD0NrThere were still five days left in the Hundred Days Hunt, and yet he had returned after just ten.RNob9EW
uTu5NCT“Don’t tell me he gave up? In an event he proposed himself?”qBN
SpaBxI“Impossible! Unless there was a serious accident…”Kznlt5f
0CG1j85“T-this… the situation is more complicated than it seems. His Highness said he would explain personally, so I ask you to wait a moment.”kBFnITF
cFUSKAt the servant’s words, the northern nobles began murmuring as they headed toward the banquet hall.KlB
NBNWhat in the world had happened for that arrogant brat to return halfway through the event?q00K
zsmAUpNAmid the chaotic atmosphere, Norvek clenched his cane with a sweat-soaked hand.PAP
ZIh‘I was expecting good news, but instead of my son, the target of the assassination returns.’YilU
diNm‘Did they fail? Then what happened to Godfrey? How is it that only he returned?’SuVs9
qhg7q3Bang!YmQ8
HpSPrAt that moment, a loud sound rang from the doors, and Lucian entered the hall.NZF
D6iXps2His stiff expression and determined stride made it clear that something unusual had occurred.TkeaV
KyOZo“Greetings to the Duke…!”8K3Rcu
AAfV“Godfrey is dead.”cTQlAh
tfCj“…What?!”RD5muBZ
fi6HvI“He died trying to kill me. He ended up falling into his own trap. I never imagined the Count could be so meticulous.”JMnUnK
t6RoAll eyes turned sharply toward Norvek. His face pale, he opened and closed his mouth without making a sound.WqT8
MnK“Godfrey…? My son is dead?”HfkIJt5
ImJk9uQ“Bring him in.”06n3HD
UB3Instead of answering, Lucian gave the order to his vassals.IWzJ
KC6bShortly after, they dragged in a man tightly bound. Upon seeing his face, Norvek’s eyes opened wide.Hp5
6XkQr“You…!”pIU
cDfIt was the mage who claimed he could summon lightning. The very one he had placed next to his son to use in place of a sword.SDrdCNU
2y8fiDbWhy had he returned in this state?WofD
eLLsYELucian cast a brief glance at Norvek, then spoke to Colin.ZFql
Ddex2FK“Speak with your own mouth. Say who you are and why you’ve been brought here.”osSxh
9KT“I-I am the mage Colin. From the School of Celestial Astrology. I was hired by that old man to assassinate His Highness.”xVgB
5EO9O“What did you say?!”fpOOv
gGRDD1SGasps of horror erupted throughout the hall. An assassination attempt might have been expected to a degree, but never that they would resort to an unauthorized mage—especially when the Empire was so sensitive about the subject.1Qsz
teHHvsv“What kind of nonsense is this!? A mage!? Are you suggesting that man is an unauthorized mage?!”nI6tvgm
MPVwiuGlenn, who had remained on the sidelines until now, shouted with a flushed face.5nCZ
NnEDAoIHiring an unauthorized mage was an act close to treason—too serious to be used as a simple false accusation.3cssaN6
0KbZo“Your Highness, explain yourself properly! If that man is truly an unauthorized mage…!”HRMu5
OSdmktm“He hasn’t finished his account, so calm down and listen. Mage, continue.”rUQtWs
30PtmXf“Y-yes.”XZ6DqWA
udHdfFUnder Glenn’s sharp pressure, Colin flinched but continued speaking. He explained how, wandering from place to place, his identity had been discovered by House Calix.zDOFbI
OIzzqsOHow he tried to flee, but was captured and forced to work as a slave for the Count. And how, in the end, he was coerced into accompanying Godfrey to assassinate Lucian.Br2EuQ7
VwNX“…And so, unable to endure it any longer, I used my magic not to kill the intended target, but to kill Godfrey and his group instead—and then I surrendered to His Highness. He brought me here immediately.”zNJ
gxv“You damn worthless mage! How dare you spew such lies?!”D7pu
1gkvv7Norvek felt, for the first time in his life, a rage so intense it seemed every vein in his body would burst.D4pf
TjPImprisoned and treated like a slave because his identity was discovered?8cGLpM
gWdEThat bastard had come willingly to sell his skills, taken gold coins as payment, and wandered around freely!3Eb
ZptrKyHowever, Colin remained composed and spoke seriously, glancing around the room.iBS
AU1WAQg“I can present all the proof you want. I can point out the exact location of the villa where that old man imprisoned me, as well as its internal layout. It’s in a hidden place, hard to find for an ordinary person.”Iis
PKWIt had been Colin himself who requested that the residence be prepared somewhere out of sight.laSNL
3GSRihAfter living there for months, there was no way he wouldn’t know its interior.3QV
nYDNhun“I also passed through some secret passages managed by House Calix.”ImS
hXmbmSince he was a mage, sharing secret routes was necessary to avoid drawing attention. Besides, they had planned to kill him once the job was done.BQSy9
xh4ia“And most importantly—the catalysts I needed for my magic were supplied frequently, so there should be traces.”4Nr7z
0rGFvSThose catalysts had even been requested by Colin himself. At this completely unexpected betrayal, a dry cracking sound escaped Norvek’s mouth.d2ul
qkeT“Count, is what he says true?”q7vuS
YxppFoLGlenn’s icy gaze pierced into Norvek. However, Norvek felt no fear at all. There was something he had to confirm first—above anything else.KNcyRh
SkRn“…And my son—what happened to Godfrey?”Jihg
xU56ZBR“I already told you. He died after receiving the spell meant for me. You can imagine roughly how he ended up.”pR8
4DBRXH“You expect me to believe that? You could’ve killed him yourself!”WNw
tGl“That’s exactly why I made sure to at least bring your son back. Fortunately, he got pretty light, so transporting him wasn’t too hard.”AWUfA
xs0lakVLucian gave a lopsided smile as he looked at the pale-faced Norvek.zPLS66
3eR“Want to see him? Though I’m not sure if you’ll still be able to recognize him.”gVZ
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