The Master in White
After wrapping up my conversation with King Carlos II, I turned to search for my disciples and Master, who were still wandering the royal capital. The moment I stepped out of the palace, Daisy—who had been whimpering like a puppy—latched onto me.
"Did the talk go well?"
"It did. If it hadn't, I wouldn't have walked out so easily."
"What did you discuss?! I want to know too! Tell me, Master!"
"No. I'm not telling you. Go away."
"Why! Why won't you?"
"Why are you so desperate to know someone else's secret?"
"A secret only counts as a secret when you're the only one who knows it. But since you already told the king, it isn't his secret anymore! So it's fine!!"
"…."
I had never heard such twisted logic before. When I could only manage a helpless smile, Daisy grew even more agitated, insisting I tell her at once because she had every right to know. After all, she was a Hero—surely palace affairs were something she ought to be aware of.
Thinking it over, explaining everything might actually be for the best. That way the other disciples, Daisy included, could prepare for what lay ahead. So I recounted everything the king had told me, and everything I had said in return.
"…."
Daisy, usually so scatterbrained, fell completely silent. She had started with her usual giggles, but by the end her lips were pressed into a thin line.
"…How disgusting."
Those were the first words out of her mouth after hearing everything. If even someone who smiled through every situation reacted like that, the prince truly had to be the worst of the worst.
"So, Master, you believe that man really colluded with the Demon God Worshippers?"
"The odds are high. Very high. There's no sign of anything from inside, and trying to cause trouble from outside is pointless—the royal capital's barriers are far too solid. They can't be breached easily."
"So they found the perfect key to get inside and plan to use it. Is that it?"
I nodded at Daisy's words. Exactly. To the Demon God Worshippers, the prince was the ideal key. As royalty, any heavy-handed response would be difficult, and if they could stir up public support through their own schemes, the royal family would have no choice but to treat him well for the sake of appearances.
Even now there were nobles stirring up trouble, claiming the royal family wasn't doing enough against the monsters. They knew full well how vital defending the capital was, yet they seized the moment to undermine the throne for their own survival. Adding the prince's return to that already volatile mix could easily shatter the royal family's popularity and even their right to rule.
"The king still isn't certain, but I can see it clearly—something is going to happen."
"If you say so, Master, then it will. We need to start preparing right away."
"We do."
But where on earth had everyone gone? I'd told the king my disciples were behaving themselves, yet no trace of their presence lingered in the capital streets. Even Master was missing, and that was saying something—Iris was with her, after all, and she hated staying quiet anywhere.
I even checked Daisy's house on the off chance, but the only one waiting was Gerard, who had stayed behind to prepare for any emergency.
"No one came?"
"No, Master. I assumed they were still roaming the capital."
I'd thought the same, but apparently not. With a sigh, I nudged Daisy toward Gerard.
"Daisy. Stay here at your house."
"Huh? Why?!"
"Someone needs to explain the situation to Gerard. Stay and fill him in while you both prepare."
"Ugh… Understood…"
Leaving Daisy behind, I headed back into the capital streets. Following the faint trace of Iris's energy, a sudden chill ran down my spine. Every hair on my body stood on end. That killing intent was unmistakably Master's—and it was aimed squarely at someone, thick and murderous.
What the hell was going on now? Without stopping to think, I sprinted toward the source. When I arrived, the location was absurdly ordinary: a high-end dress shop that catered to noblewomen. Inside, Iris stood blocking Master, while the other Iris watched with a tense expression.
"What's going on here."
From the scene, it was obvious something had displeased Master greatly. She wouldn't direct that kind of killing intent at an ordinary person otherwise. I approached her to get a clearer picture.
Two things had changed. First, the decorative part of her earring was gone. A quick glance at the clerk suggested she had removed it. It wasn't broken—just detachable—so it could be reattached without issue. The second change was her outfit. Instead of her usual drab martial robes, she wore a pristine white dress as pure as the first snow of winter. She looked like a spotless maiden on the verge of marriage, radiating killing intent in that breathtaking form.
"…."
Master had always been beautiful, though she never seemed to care much about it herself. Yet right now her beauty transcended anything words could capture. And on top of that, a pure white dress? Whoever had suggested this had made an impossibly perfect choice.
"It suits you."
The words slipped out before I could stop them, and I immediately regretted it. This was Master, not someone else. What if she flew into a rage like last time? If she released any energy here, it would be catastrophic. I braced myself for the worst.
But her reaction was unexpected. Her expression went blank, and the killing intent gradually faded.
"H-Hyeon-ah?"
"It really suits you. You in a dress… This is rare."
No, my mouth had gone completely mad. The words kept coming before my brain could catch up. I wanted to clamp my lips shut, yet I didn't regret it. It was the truth—why should I take it back? Better to ease her mood completely while I had the chance.
I held out my hand to Iris, and she quickly caught on, placing the earring's ornament in my palm. "Stay still for a moment."
Just like the very first gift I'd ever given her long ago, I fastened the final piece to the ear of the Heavenly Demon, who stood flustered in her snow-white dress.
"Now you're even more beautiful."
"…."
It wasn't flattery. She was still unmistakably Master, yet the sight of her like this was something entirely different. She might never wear such clothes again, so I burned the image into my mind—the Heavenly Demon in white, cheeks flushed, unable to meet anyone's eyes as she fidgeted in place.
"Excuse me."
"Y-Yes! How can I help you, sir?"
"Help that lady change out of the dress. And be careful not to touch the earring."
"Ah, yes! Understood, sir!"
After giving the clerks their instructions, I walked over to Iris. There was plenty to discuss, but questions came first.
"Why did you come here in the first place?"
"Ah… well. I thought it might be nice for the Grandmaster to experience a bit of ordinary women's lives?"
"I warned you how dangerous it is to bring Master among ordinary people."
"I know! That's why I was extremely careful! Who could have predicted they'd touch the earring?! Even I didn't see that coming!"
Iris's words carried a deeper meaning—she, a regressor, had never experienced this situation before either.
"More importantly, where did you go, Master?"
"The palace."
"…Huh? Didn't you say you were never going back there?"
"That was the plan, but after learning the circumstances, things changed."
At that, Iris's expression shifted subtly. A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"…So you found something."
"Something I'm almost certain about."
"If you say so, Master, then it must be certain."
Iris fell silent after that. We waited quietly until Master emerged from the changing room. Then, out of nowhere, she poked me in the side.
"Was it true?"
"…What are you talking about all of a sudden."
"What you said earlier."
"That I found something?"
"No. Before that. What you said to the Grandmaster, not me."
"What…"
"That she was beautiful. Did you really mean it? Was that your true feeling?"
She had been fine after learning she was a regressor, yet here she was again, fixating on the strangest thing.
"Why are you asking that now?"
"I'm just curious."
"Then I'm not answering."
"Please tell me."
Iris pouted, lips jutting out. I knew she'd keep this up for days if I left her like that. With a small sigh, I answered honestly.
"Of course it was sincere. Why would I lie?"
"…I knew it."
She nodded to herself, then muttered under her breath. I caught fragments of it.
"This won't do. If I keep this up, all my efforts to yield will go up in flames again…"
"…Stop talking nonsense and get ready to leave."
"Didn't you say we still have time?"
"Even if we do, we don't have time to waste here."
"That doesn't make any sense! If there's time, I want to try one on too!"
"Try what?"
"A dress!"
With a loud shout, Iris stormed over to the clerk, gesturing wildly at various dresses. Did she even have the money? As far as I knew, she wasn't exactly wealthy.
"Sir."
I was about to tell her to stop messing around when the clerk approached me cautiously.
"What."
"I don't usually say this, but… would you mind staying a little longer?"
What kind of nonsense was this clerk spouting? I'd never seen someone solicit customers so blatantly. I was about to tell her to get lost when her next words stopped me cold.
"The lady who just tried on the dress earlier… She seemed like she wanted to try on another one."
"…."