Chapter 27
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Chapter 27
What utter nonsense.
The absurdity of it all drained my will to fight entirely.
As I stood there gaping, Master continued spouting his ridiculous claims.
"Lovers do need to push and pull at times, but it's problematic when others get caught in the crossfire."
"Wait. I think you're operating under some bizarre misunderstanding. Lovers? I don't have anyone like that——"
In that instant, a face flashed through my mind.
"I don't have anyyyyone——"
My words trailed off into a thin, fading whisper.
"You don't?"
At his intrigued inquiry, I thrust my hand forward in a gesture to wait.
With my other hand, I pressed my forehead.
If Master deemed this serious enough to meet in person, and Hata was involved... that meant——
I dragged my palm down my face slowly before asking.
"Could it be... the one who took Hata is that Holy Knight who just entered the Underworld?"
"Hata is your familiar, is it not? Then yes."
I was going to lose my mind.
Absolutely lose it and bounce off the walls.
There was only one Holy Knight who would abduct someone's familiar.
'Hailon...!'
What was this madman thinking, stealing someone else's familiar and causing such a commotion?
If Hailon were standing before me right now, I'd strike him without hesitation.
'What is he thinking?'
He's not lacking in judgment, yet he commits such a catastrophic blunder.
The recklessness of his actions—something that could escalate into an inter-continental conflict—truly seemed insane.
All to summon me, no less.
"And you, witch."
Master spoke leisurely to me, half-dazed as I was.
"Do not lie to me. He is no Holy Knight."
The observation, delivered gently as a reproof, cut sharp and true.
Snapped back to focus by mention of Hailon, my expression hardened immediately.
"I have no obligation to tell you the truth."
Master released a soft laugh.
There are thirteen Heresy Inquisitors.
Their identities remain unknown to the world.
They participate in no public ceremonies and never show their faces for unnecessary matters.
In truth, most lived their entire lives without knowing of them.
To have seen a Heresy Inquisitor meant becoming their target.
Only an Emperor of a nation could meet a Heresy Inquisitor and continue living without incident.
The Underworld had never been entangled with the Holy Empire until now.
Master wouldn't have risked danger to uncover the Heresy Inquisitor's true identity either.
'How does he not get caught.'
I raised my guard against Master another notch.
"Fine, let's say he's a Holy Knight for now."
Master asked in a tone that suggested he knew everything but was letting it slide.
"If she's not your lover, then why are you stirring up such trouble?"
I couldn't say we had no connection at all.
I bit my lip for a moment, then spoke slowly.
"It's just personally complicated. Anyway, this problem did arise because of me, so I'll handle it. As quietly as possible."
"A satisfactory answer."
"What would you have done if it wasn't satisfactory?"
"I would have wrapped you up prettily with a ribbon and presented you to the Holy Knight while attempting negotiations."
Given that he seemed genuinely capable of summoning me here with that intention, it didn't feel like a joke at all.
I stared intently at the black cloth.
I questioned him while vaguely imagining the presence beyond the fabric.
"Let me ask you one thing too. Why did you think she was my lover?"
Normally when something like this happened, people would assume the Holy Knight had crossed the line in his zealous desire to capture a sorceress.
But Master had been certain from the start that it was a lovers' quarrel.
"I heard long ago that a certain Holy Knight frequents the Underworld."
"Is that all?"
"Well, and."
He continued with an amused chuckle.
"You had marked an intimate spot with your seal."
Intimate, my foot!
How dare he distort the mark I'd placed above my collarbone like that!
I barely suppressed my flaring temper and questioned him again.
"And you're acting as if you've examined the Holy Knight's uniform yourself."
It was a question I'd thrown out casually.
But Master immediately caught the fishing hook I was using to probe his identity.
He fell silent for a moment, then exhaled a long breath.
"Sorceress."
The short address was the coldest tone he'd used yet.
"I happen to like you. I hope you survive for a long time and continue to stir up interesting things in the Underworld."
". . . ."
"So don't develop curiosity about me."
How refined—a threat to stop being interested unless I wanted to die.
"Don't order me around."
"It's advice, not an order."
"Sure, whatever you say."
I answered dismissively while attempting to deduce his true identity.
'Seems like they're some kind of Imperial Nobleman.'
I could sense it from their refined word choice and eloquent manner of speech.
They'd received at least a high-level education.
That vague, half-familiar feeling kept gnawing at my mind.
But finding Hata was the priority right now.
"Our conversation's done, right? I'm going to look for the dog."
I ended the conversation unilaterally.
"It was pleasant meeting you, and let's make sure it doesn't happen again."
I left the room, leaving Master's laughter behind.
Jahan, who had been waiting outside, approached immediately.
"I'll escort you out."
"No. I don't have time for that."
Night had grown deep without my noticing.
I had to return home before dawn.
I drew my power up right there on the spot.
Flowers and butterflies bloomed all around, and Jahan showed a hint of surprise.
I didn't bother saying goodbye to him—I simply vanished.
To where Hailon was.
The place I arrived at was a large, dilapidated warehouse.
The interior was dark, with moonlight seeping through broken windows.
Yet I could immediately spot who I was looking for.
He seemed to be surrounded by radiance itself.
Silver hair touched by moonlight gleamed softly.
A man in a pure white uniform sat in a chair, polishing his sword.
The sight of him wiping the pristine blade of the holy sword with a dry cloth under the moonlight was surreal.
Hailon slowly lifted his gaze.
Eyes as brilliant as lightning met mine.
"...."
He said nothing.
I didn't rush to speak either.
A delicate silence settled over the warehouse.
My throat grew dry for no reason, and I licked my parched lips.
Those blue eyes that had been meeting mine briefly shifted to my lips before looking away.
Surprisingly, it was Hailon who spoke first.
"Enchantress."
He lowered the holy sword and rose from his chair.
"You crawl into a tomb for just one dog-eared beastkin?"
Behind Hailon, chains intertwined like spider webs emitted white light.
As the warehouse's darkness receded, I spotted Hata hanging limply in the center of the chains.
Fluffy hair with dog ears sprouting out once more.
The holy power purified the fairy's essence, causing the ears and tail that Chesa had concealed to manifest once more.
"Hata!"
I called out her name in shock, and Hata's body trembled.
Her head, which had hung lifelessly, slowly lifted.
Hata's eyes widened upon seeing Chesa.
"L-Lichesia...!"
Seeing her on the verge of tears, my heart quickened with urgency.
My impatience must have shown, for Hailon let out a hollow laugh.
"You've crossed the line this time."
I stepped toward him and spoke.
"Give my puppy back. Before I actually kill you."
Hailon, who had been standing motionless listening to my words, strode forward.
In a single stride, he closed the distance that would have taken Chesa two or three steps, positioning himself directly before me.
I looked up; he looked down.
Our gazes locked.
He stared at me intently for a moment before speaking.
"Tonight... the full moon rises."
The moment his soft whisper mingled with his breath, my words caught.
It was something I had never anticipated hearing.
The image of him polishing his blade beneath moonlight.
And the tone of his voice as he mentioned the full moon...
They stirred a memory from the distant past.
The day I first met Hailon.
That night too had been graced by a full moon.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org