Free Web Novel"Ailag’s teacher?"
Neither the Origin Tower nor the Illusion School could shake my mind at this point, but upon hearing the old man’s second identity, my pupils shrank. Every muscle in my body tightened as I instinctively gripped the hilt of my blade.
Ailag had died by my hand, leaving not even bones behind. And now, the great man who had been his teacher suddenly appeared before me—could it be...
"Don’t be nervous. I didn’t come for revenge."
Hoggu let out a sudden sigh. A formless wave brushed past like a faint breeze, and a chill slipped through my mind. The alertness and killing intent I had gathered a moment ago were completely dissolved—disappearing without a trace.
Even the desire to draw my blade was gone.
"This is..."
My eyes widened. It felt like returning from a frozen wasteland to the warmth of early spring sunlight. Both my senses and my mood inexplicably brightened, and the tense, blade-on-blade atmosphere suddenly softened into something like a cordial reunion between old friends.
A mental interference–level psychological suggestion—far beyond Ailag’s.
Black flame flickered, a flash of clarity passing through my eyes. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
Still, I didn’t rush to attack again. Because now I could tell the old man before me held no killing intent at all. In that aged face, amidst the messy beard and hair, I saw only exhaustion—and a deep, hidden pain.
A leader of a school. A genuine Truth-Tier Grand Magus. If he had truly wished to kill me, I probably would have already died without realizing it—slain in some sweet, endless dream.
"A mere trick, nothing more. What I did just now was also just a small joke. If it truly offended you, then I apologize."
Hoggu placed his hat over his chest and actually bowed his head to me, a younger man. The gesture startled me, leaving me awkward and uncomfortable.
After ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) apologizing, he spoke again with a sigh of emotion.
"To have noticed even a slight anomaly in my illusion... Ailag truly didn’t lose unfairly. It seems I have nothing to complain about."
"Just luck."
I hesitated, then exhaled in relief.
"To be honest, I didn’t actually spot the flaw in your illusion. I simply trusted my senior unconditionally—and I knew this Holy City would never allow a powerful mage to cause chaos in the middle of the street."
That I could glimpse the shadow behind the illusion didn’t mean the world’s greatest illusionist before me was undeserving of his reputation. In truth, relying on the Black Flame and my own powerful mental strength, I hadn’t managed to capture even the smallest gap in the illusion despite feeling something was off.
It was like knowing you’re in a dream, but being utterly unable to wake from it—that alone proved how terrifying this old man was.
And as he’d said, it had only been a trivial “joke.” He had merely tested me casually. Because the truly terrifying illusions are always the sweet ones, the beautiful ones, the ones that make people sink into them without resistance.
If everything I had experienced last night had been an illusion, I should have already died on that bed of warm fragrance and soft jade.
"Unconditional trust, huh? That kind of feeling is admirable. But I heard you also have the title of being the princess’s fiancé or something..."
"Cough, cough..."
I hurriedly coughed to interrupt his spellcasting and shifted the topic. "Let’s not talk about that for now. Lord Hoggu, I assume you didn’t come here just to make jokes. And this person is...?"
My gaze fell upon the other old man.
He, too, seemed quite advanced in years, though his spirit was lively. His wide magician’s robe was embroidered with the image of a ferocious beast. As I stared at the design, the savage creature seemed to come alive, glaring right back at me.
"Summoning School, Dodge Slore."
In contrast to the monster’s ferocity, the old man himself looked kind, smiling warmly as he greeted me.
"My name’s not worth mentioning. But your name—I heard it long ago, when I was in Belrand."
"Not worth mentioning..."
I couldn’t help twitching my lips.
If a legendary figure like Dodge Slore, the mountain at the summit of the Summoning School, claimed his own name wasn’t worth mentioning, then what did that make me, the son of a duke? On the same level as a beggar on the street?
Still, realizing who these two men were made my heart jolt.
It wasn’t that I was weak-minded—but who wouldn’t flinch when suddenly stopped on the street by two Truth-Tier Grand Magi?
"Don’t worry, don’t worry. As I said, we’re not here to cause trouble."
Dodge chuckled reassuringly, then glanced sideways at the sorrowful Hoggu beside him, who looked hesitant and conflicted. Seeing his lifelong rival and old friend like that, Dodge sighed inwardly, then clapped him firmly on the shoulder and said to me,
"This old man’s too shy, so I’ll just say it for him—Muen Campbell, he came to apologize to you."
"Apologize?"
I blinked blankly.
What’s going on?
In that brief instant, I thought through many possibilities, but not once did I imagine that this dignified Truth-Tier Grand Magus had come personally to apologize to me.
"...Yes. I came to apologize to you, Muen Campbell."
Hoggu’s chapped lips trembled as he gave a bitter, desolate smile. Once again he removed the hat from his head and bowed deeply.
This time, the bow was very deep.
"The Church has shared with me some of what happened in Kanteville. For Ailag’s actions, as his teacher, I sincerely apologize to you."
"Ah, I see... Please, stand up."
I quickly helped the old man—whose cultivation might be unfathomably high but whose body was visibly frail and decaying—and sighed softly.
"It was all the work of an Evil God. You had nothing to do with it; you don’t need to take it on yourself."
"He was my disciple—my proudest disciple. I taught him how to manipulate others’ minds, but I forgot to teach him how to control his own. He was invaded by an Evil God because of that. It’s my fault. I won’t make excuses."
Hoggu’s trembling hand reached into his robe and took out a small gift box, which he handed to me.
"A small token of compensation."
"No..."
I shook my head. "Your apology alone is more than enough. I’m already grateful I can still stand here alive. I can’t possibly—"
"Take it, Muen Campbell."
Dodge suddenly cut in, his tone serious.
"You should accept it."
"..." I opened my mouth but found no words.
"Yes, take it," Hoggu added, his old face twitching, the scattered age spots more visible than before. He sighed heavily, his eyes full of pain.
"It’s precisely because you can still stand here that I can apologize. But those innocent girls Ailag killed—how can I apologize to them?"
"Innocent girls..."
In my mind flashed the image of that severed female head Ailag had stuffed into my chest—its pale, agonized face.
Yes. The living can still be consoled, but what about the dead?
Their souls had been devoured by an Evil God. Who could possibly deliver them from that torment?
Unable to bear the thought any longer, I forced the image away and accepted the box.
"Then... I’ll take it. What’s inside?"
"A Star Stone. Said to be fragments fallen from the stars themselves. It holds a large amount of pure energy—useful for mages."
Hoggu managed a faint smile as he explained.
"And the key point is... it’s beautiful."
I opened the box. Resting quietly at its center was a radiant gem, shining like a piece of fallen starlight. The instant brilliance it released made me momentarily lose focus.
"It really is beautiful."
"Right?"
Dodge grinned proudly.
"When I introduced that thing to this old geezer, I told him it suited a playboy like you perfectly!"
"..."
Why did that make me sound like some hopeless womanizer who used pretty gems to seduce girls everywhere?
"Well then, we’ll take our leave and stop delaying you."
After a few parting courtesies, Hoggu cast a meaningful glance toward Anna standing nearby, nodded, and said his farewell.
"Until we meet again, Muen Campbell."
"Goodbye, Mr. Hoggu. Goodbye, Mr. Dodge."
"Goodbye, goodbye. But..."
Dodge leaned in mysteriously.
"Next time we meet, let’s have a good long talk about the Great Path of Magic!" fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
"Huh?"
"Haha, don’t play dumb. I know perfectly well whose disciple you are."
Muttering about how young people nowadays all like to play the pig to eat the tiger, he gave my shoulder a hearty slap.
"As that person’s disciple, your magical skill must be extraordinary!"
"..."
...
"Finished your talk?"
"Senior, you’re so mean."
I stepped forward and caught Anna’s soft hand with mock irritation.
"You just watched me get bullied?"
"Those two didn’t seem malicious."
Anna turned her hand over to lace her fingers through mine, smiling.
"And they’re both Truth-Tier Grand Magi. You expected me to fight them to the death for you?"
"...Fair point."
I thought for a moment.
"If something like that ever happens again, don’t worry about me. Just run first."
"..."
"Right, are you going to that meeting next?"
"Yes."
"Then I’ll..."
"You’re coming too."
"Eh?"
I froze.
"Me? But I’m not part of the Silent Bureau... That wouldn’t be right."
"You are now."
Anna’s lips curled mischievously as she leaned close, whispering in my ear.
"Mr. Muen Campbell, I hereby appoint you as Special Evil-God Consultant to the Silent Bureau. Do you accept?"
"Consultant?"
I looked shyly flustered.
"Wouldn’t that be abuse of authority?"
"How could it be? You’ve had quite a few encounters with Evil Gods. Your experience is more than qualified for the position."
"Then... what about payment?" I blinked.
"Consultant fees don’t come cheap, you know."
"Oh my, how greedy."
Anna slipped an arm around my neck, rose on tiptoe until our noses touched, and the distance between our lips narrowed to a breath. Their familiar scents began to mingle.
Her eyes locked on mine with a wicked smile.
"Then... if I give myself to you as payment, would that be enough?"
"...Of course. But I’ll need an advance—just a little."
Heat surged through me again. With no one around, I couldn’t hold back any longer. I lowered my head and captured her soft, sweet lips.
