Chapter 89
Chapter 89
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 89
Chapter Title: Epilogue: Aftermath ~Bennett's Side~
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Bennett had revised his view of the mage several times over.
When he first caught wind of the magic sword hidden in the academy, he'd seen him as a scheming villain harboring sinister intentions.
When they confronted each other in the lecture hall, the man struck him as a raving lunatic whose brains had been fried by magical research.
When he'd lured their group into another world, Bennett pegged him as a spider of a man who brooked no means or methods in pursuit of his goals.
And after enduring all that...
All he'd pieced together was that the mage was quietly working to save the world. But so much about him remained shrouded in mystery. He felt like the depths of a fathomless ocean.
Who was he? What drove his demeanor? What was his true aim?
Even if Bennett craned his neck to peer closer, all the rippling surface reflected back was his own face in fleeting glimpses. Narrowing his eyes to probe the abyss beyond yielded nothing but darkness from the pitch-black depths where no light could reach.
That was why Bennett was taking a gamble.
Confessing that he was a black mage. He could have gone to his mentor, Alexon, with whom he shared a good rapport, first. That might have been the cleaner option.
But he chose to approach the mad mage instead—partly because of his strong suspicions tying the man to Second Prince Irid. If he could be persuaded, the prince could serve as powerful backing one step removed. That was what Bennett's reason told him.
And Bennett's heart offered a different motive for the same action.
What he craved was a happy ending without any sacrifices. By conventional means, though, either his little sister or one of his two friends would have to be lost.
Dealing with the mighty black mage known as the Fear-Devouring Corpse Flower—summoned by a traitorous black mage—wouldn't stop there. Expecting her to somehow extract only the mental fragment and save Bennett's sister was wishful thinking divorced from reality.
But this man, whose inner workings no one could fathom...
Maybe—just maybe—he could resolve everything in some unimaginable way. It was a vague hunch like that.
Knock knock knock.
Three heavy raps echoed. Bennett announced himself beyond the professor's lab door.
"Bennett Hilton, coming in."
"I've been waiting. Come on in."
Creeeak...
As Bennett opened the door, the hinges let out a grating, unpleasant screech. A capable mage ought to have money to spare—why not replace them?
The mage noticed Bennett's gaze flicking to the hinges and explained without being asked.
"Ah, I did that on purpose—let rust build up and seize them tight. Best cost-effective security measure there is. Anyone sneaking in will make noise."
"...No magical wards?"
"Of course there are those too. It's about covering both angles. People figure there's either magic or physical traps, but not both... They fall for the obvious, primitive ones more often. No mage would bother with rusty hinges, right?"
"......"
Traps exploiting gaps in expectations. Bennett scanned the lab cautiously as he stepped inside. For an eccentric mage's workspace, it was remarkably tidy and orderly.
It resembled an office worker's cubicle.
The only oddity was the absence of books or bookshelves. You'd expect at least one or two, but none were in sight. In their place sat a few potted plants.
"Have a seat. Coffee okay?"
"...Sure."
Bennett settled onto the sofa by the square table at the room's center. The mage poured plain water into teacups and set them on the table. Colorless, odorless plain water.
"...Wasn't this coffee?"
The mage snapped his fingers.
"Now it is."
"......"
The liquid transformed into rich, aromatic black coffee. Whether he'd used illusion magic to fool water into coffee, or disguised coffee as water, was impossible to tell.
The mage crossed his legs and sat opposite Bennett. His face was a dull mask of neutrality, but his tone was friendly and playful.
"You said you had something on your mind? Romance advice? I'm all ears."
"Least of all from you. If it were love troubles, I'd grab a passerby."
"Ha... And here I am, a romance expert."
"Sure you are."
Bennett sipped the coffee. It tasted like bland plain water. From that, he gleaned the mage's intent.
Bennett couldn't distinguish coffee from water. A flick of the illusion mage's wrist toggled them at will. He was... indirectly flaunting his confidence in his abilities.
Flipping a person's black-and-white was this simple, it said.
Revealing such intent metaphorically at this juncture also meant... 'I already know who you are.'
Looking back, he'd said as much at their first meeting.
'Do you think... your beliefs... are the truth?' Hadn't he essentially asked if Bennett would keep walking the black mage's path? Bennett hadn't grasped it then. But he'd known from the start.
Whether from dream-reading or some other intel source, he didn't know. But tolerating Bennett's black magic was a positive sign.
For certainty's sake, Bennett asked outright.
"You knew?"
"Knew what?"
"That I'm a black mage."
"...Ah, yeah. A bit sooner than you think."
He'd probably hijacked the magic circle set up for summoning the Fear-Devouring Corpse Flower too. If he was orchestrating a grand scheme to save both worlds... pushing or pulling, bargaining—it was pointless.
A vast gulf separated Bennett from this mage who knew everything.
Bennett scrapped his naive plan to trade info for aid. He let out a hollow chuckle. In under five minutes since Bennett's arrival, the mage had pinned him down with elegant, metaphorical pressure.
Yet he'd tossed him a lifeline via the coffee. 'Cooperate nicely, and I can overlook your stains like this.' No choice but to lay all his cards on the table.
"I'll tell you everything I know."
"......"
Bennett spilled every scrap of intel gathered during his time embedded with the black mages. The academy disruptions. The revived Fear-Devouring Corpse Flower and her plans. The black mage outposts he knew of. And...
"There's a branch nearby too. They issued orders via magic comms to hide their location, but I traced them. That's all I have."
As Bennett finished, the mage—who'd listened intently—tilted his head. His ominous red eyes pierced Bennett's soul like a probe.
"...Mm. Grateful you trust me, but why come to me? Aren't you close to the Saintess? She could help."
"Tara's authority is high, but her faction's not strong. Protecting me would tarnish her standing. I won't ask that of her."
"I see..."
The mage clapped. Then cheerfully declared,
"Alright, here's the deal. You're a double agent secretly dispatched by the Saintess, coordinating with... Second Prince and the Imperial Defense Bureau for infiltration. You extracted tons of intel successfully, and as of today, mission end—retirement."
"Retirement... huh."
"Just to clarify, not telling you to leave the academy and take up farming. As a Saintess agent, return to her side. You've got to graduate anyway."
"...Got it."
The mage's lips quirked in satisfaction. He pulled a crude necklace from his pocket and placed it on the table. Cord and worn gears.
Bennett felt a powerful sense of déjà vu, like he'd seen it before.
"Bennett. I said I had a story to pass on... This is it."
"What's this?"
"A gift from Abraham."
Bennett realized from the mage's words. These gears were... parts from Abraham, trapped in the golem's body in the dungeon. He clenched his fist, glaring at the mage.
"...What's the angle."
"No idea on details—even why it's shaped like this. I just got it that way. From the Goddess."
At Bennett's hardening glare, the mage waved it off, protesting his innocence. And truly, the mad mage knew nothing. The Violet Magic Tower Master had handed it over for the trio.
"This world's Goddess filled the void left by the evil god, gathered power, and prepared this gift. She said Abraham's soul is in her care—no worries—and to pass that on."
"......"
Tension drained from Bennett's fist. Abraham had been saved by the Goddess. Profound relief washed over him, followed by... an urgent need to tell Tara and Niore.
"And this is Abraham's message. Bennett."
"...I'm listening."
"Thanks for granting my request. And for saving this old man's homeland—the world. I watched your fight from up in those skies. Clear as day to these old eyes. You shone like stars."
"......"
"The Goddess granted my wish to leave you a letter. Spent half my life as an atheist—should've picked up a faith sooner. No serving that bubbly nuisance in death either, though."
The mage's mouth formed the words, but Bennett heard Abraham's voice in them. He could even faintly picture the old man's expression.
"Got long-winded. My journey ends here. Yours stretches far and treacherous ahead. But even paths that look painful hold happiness nearby—don't forget. I'll pray for you. Abraham, to dear Tara, Bennett, and Niore."
Abraham's letter ended there. A bittersweet aftertaste lingered in Bennett's mouth, not unpleasant—like coffee.
"...Tara'll cry hearing this."
"Tears of joy, surely. And I have a personal... gift too. Yours, Bennett."
The mage proffered a ticket.
Bennett eyed the shoddy ticket and voiced his honest reaction.
"...What is this kid's craft project?"
"Our Tower Master lacks finesse. Looks rough, but it's authentic."
"Authentic?"
"She offered to help. Gotta save your sister, right? She's the pinnacle in that field—huge asset. Use it wisely."
"...You knew that too."
The Violet Magic Tower Master was a monster who'd ascended to sublimation, by rumor. Having witnessed uhua's power firsthand, Bennett could faintly grasp what "sublimation" entailed.
The Violet Tower had a poorer rep than others, so maybe she lagged behind other masters. But for magic affecting the mind—to save his sister—she was ideal, as the mage said. Bennett's heart pounded.
Examining the makeshift ticket closely revealed magic beyond comprehension. He couldn't parse all functions, but it wouldn't crumple, soak, or tear.
Odds were high it was legit.
Bennett ran his finger over the surface, reading the embedded info. The magic conveyed it fluidly.
Tear it, and his location transmitted instantly to the Violet Magic Tower Master, summoning her. Use it before the Fear-Devouring Corpse Flower...
"......"
Maybe—just maybe—he could really save her. Reclaim his long-lost sister, share morning greetings again. This was the surest shot yet.
Not self-deceptive hope, but... a clear, tangible chance right before his eyes.
His hands shook. Fearing he'd damage it, Bennett pocketed the ticket with utmost care.
Once joy and gratitude ebbed, anxiety surged.
Because he'd received far too much.
"...I gave scant info. No way that's worth a Tower Master's aid. Why? Why help this much?"
"Strange thing to say. A professor helping a student is natural... but that'd freak you out, huh? Unbelievable."
"......"
"Just fair trade concluded. Bennett. Forgotten your deeds already? Days ago."
The mage spread his arms, grinning.
"You saved the world, hero."
"......"
Bennett bowed his head. The desperate struggles of a boy who'd lost his sister one chill winter day—finally found meaning in this moment.
Hope sang out.
Now, only the path forward remained.