Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Helen's Pursuit
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Helen hurriedly followed Yuris, who was rushing off somewhere.
She dashed into the alley without even catching her breath, as if something incredibly urgent had come up.
"Haa, haa... Where the hell are you going?"
Helen struggled to keep up with Yuris's near-running pace, subtly drawing on her spirit power just to stay on her tail.
She had heard from Veron.
The knight order that won the mock battle held a banquet to celebrate their unity.
It was right around the time when Yuris, having won the mock battle, should have been feasting with her subordinates.
Yet the direction Yuris was heading was toward the outskirts of the capital.
What on earth could it be?
Why was she rushing there with such a desperate expression and lightning-fast steps?
Could she be hurrying to some secret rendezvous she couldn't let anyone find out about?
A hidden lover, perhaps.
Or maybe indulging in some forbidden drug.
If that was the case...
'I could uncover Iron-Blood Knight Yuris's weakness.'
It felt a bit cowardly to exploit an enemy's vulnerability for victory, but she couldn't just stand by and let her brother keep losing helplessly.
She couldn't let the Silvesta family remain a laughingstock forever.
It was time for her brother to shed the stigma of being the ever-defeated 2nd Knight Order Captain.
"Haa... Making me suffer because of my useless brother. What a pain."
But she was curious, too.
What weakness could the ever-perfect Iron-Blood Knight Yuris possibly have?
Helen knew plenty about Yuris.
The epitome of perfection, always focused solely on training.
She was so impeccable that people joked she must have a heart forged from iron—no personal stories ever leaked out.
Even the knights who trained closest to her said she had no hobbies beyond swordsmanship.
She might just be the first person to peek into Yuris's private life.
Yuris slipped into a narrow alley on the capital's outskirts and stopped in front of a small shop.
Glancing around warily to ensure no one was watching, she knocked on the door, her face flushed red as she waited for it to open.
-Hall of Illusions.
"That's...?"
Helen had heard the rumors: a place that fulfilled customers' desires.
They said it was a shop created by a genius illusion mage who distilled the essence of illusion magic.
She'd overheard nobles promoting it.
-Don't you want to taste those desires you can't share with others? We'll make it happen. And since it's not real, no worries about getting hurt or exhausted.
She remembered it hadn't spread good word among the nobles.
-Something about fulfilling desires? Sounds fishy.
-I've heard only weirdos study illusion magic.
-Honestly, what can you even do with illusion magic?
-I don't want to waste my time.
Everyone distrusted illusion magic.
Among commoners, it had a bad rep as a bizarre magic that could twist your body if experienced wrong.
Like, illusions bleeding into reality?
Someone who saw a werewolf illusion supposedly turned into a real one and attacked people?
Helen knew it was nonsense.
Illusion magic wasn't like that.
It distorted reality to create illusions.
That was illusion magic in a nutshell.
So why was Iron-Blood Knight Yuris heading there?
'No way she's doing combat simulations in a place like that?'
The moment the door opened, Yuris darted inside like she'd been waiting for it.
Whatever it was, her flushed face and excited breathing caught Helen's eye.
Her brow furrowed as she watched.
"Could it be...?"
No way she came here for something like that, right?
"Doing real-battle simulations with illusion magic?"
She'd heard some illusion magics that distorted reality could even slow time's flow.
Maybe Yuris's overwhelming strength was born in a space like that.
"This might let me uncover some huge secret."
She summoned a darkness spirit to conceal herself.
'I haven't learned anything yet. Let's wait until Yuris comes out.'
No point jumping to conclusions.
Helen hid quietly, waiting for Yuris to emerge.
It was past 9 p.m. when...
Yuris fled the shop like she was escaping.
Surprisingly, she looked fresh and clean.
Compared to how she'd entered—sweaty from battle, without even wiping it off—she looked impeccably neat now.
'Something's definitely up. Staying that long.'
No point going in now.
Any evidence would be gone by now.
Time for a direct approach.
Watch Yuris's reaction.
Helen released her spirit power and stepped in front of Yuris as she exited.
"Iron-Blood Knight, hello. Fancy meeting you here."
"Uh, huh? L-Lady Silvesta?"
Helen quickly scanned Yuris's reaction upon seeing her.
Her eyes panicked, losing direction.
Her face flushed red like a thief caught red-handed, and Helen's sharp senses picked up Yuris's racing heartbeat.
"Where are you coming from?"
"L-Lady Silvesta, what brings you out so late?"
"Well, with my brother's defeat weighing on me, I was taking a walk to clear my head. And... you just came out of that shop."
"Uh, wha?"
When Helen glanced at the Hall of Illusions while asking, Yuris's panic intensified.
"Th-that's... um..."
"I hear that shop fulfills desires or something. Don't tell me..."
"N-no, it's not that! The shop owner was worried about local security, so..."
"A mage worried about security?"
"I-illusion mages have almost no combat ability..."
"I see."
Even from the conversation alone, it was clear.
This woman was hiding something.
Something she did at the Hall of Illusions.
Something she shouldn't have.
"W-well, I should get going. It's late."
"Could you escort me? It's too late for a lady to walk alone."
"Sorry, but I can't. Lady Silvesta is a skilled spirit mage, isn't she? No thug would dare attack you."
She hurried off like she was fleeing.
Watching her back, Helen smirked.
"Definitely something there."
The Hall of Illusions, run by an illusion mage.
She'd have to visit once to grasp Yuris's weakness.
"Iron-Blood Knight, you will never beat anyone from the Silvesta family again."
-Empire 1st Knight Order vs. 2nd Knight Order Mock Battle: Iron-Blood Knight Yuris Beletaon's Victory.
-Spirit Mage Helen de Silvesta Contracts with an Advanced Darkness Spirit—First Imperial Academy Undergrad to Do So.
-100-Minute Debate: Martial God vs. Hero—Who Would Win in a Fight?
I read today's Imperial Gazette.
It summarized the major events from the empire yesterday.
Mostly stuff from the capital, heavy on the "Empire's so great!" vibes—nothing really worth reading.
The gossip columns or the 100-Minute Debates with expert opinions were the fun parts.
Still, it was the only paper giving a quick rundown on imperial affairs, plus occasional war news from the provinces or updates on other races. Not bad to check.
Pretty much the empire's sole daily paper.
"Advanced spirit, huh..."
I eyed the news about Helen de Silvesta contracting an advanced darkness spirit.
I'd heard even professors usually needed to be at that level for advanced spirits.
You needed spirit affinity and a mana core strong enough to handle their power.
Without both, no contract—and veteran spirit mages could bond higher tiers through long training.
That was just for the big four elements: fire, water, wind, earth.
Special ones like darkness or light had even trickier conditions.
Yet an undergrad pulls off an advanced darkness spirit contract.
"She's got natural talent, alright."
No wonder she achieved that so young.
My mentor Meiko popped into my head.
She was a genius too—professor before adulthood.
The Imperial Academy and magic school were basically separate.
The palace didn't fully trust mages, so they made distinct classes.
Mages trained at the magic school; everything else at the academy.
Some palace areas were still spirit-mage only, I heard.
Never been inside, so who knows.
"Imperial Academy. Jealous."
Must feel like real college life.
Fantasy university vibes.
Do they do MT trips or clubs? Sounds fun.
Magic school felt like a hardcore cram factory—no school spirit.
Like the military, forcing study halls till midnight.
"Ugh, whatever. Don't stare at fruit you can't pick."
I folded the paper and double-checked my magic circle.
Shop had one regular now, but customers could drop anytime—better prep.
Yuris was satisfied last time; probably won't show for days. Time for magic circle research and potion brewing for cash.
Bubble bubble.
I was heading to the workshop for some long-overdue potion-making when...
Knock knock.
Someone at the door.
"Huh?"
Customer this late?
No mail notice either.
"Real customer?"
Yuris again? She seemed extra horny lately—no way.
Thinking that, I opened the door.
"Nice to meet you. You're the owner here, right?"
A stunning silver-haired, blue-eyed beauty glared at me, arms crossed.
Sharp tone.
Luxurious outing attire from fine fabric.
And the blue epaulet marking her as an Imperial Academy undergrad.
The girl from the paper's photo.
"Helen de Silvesta?"
"Oh-ho, you've got sharp eyes."
"What brings a skilled spirit mage like you here?"
"I've got a favor to ask."
A favor.
From a rising star spirit mage and noble lady—what could she want from me?
"What did Yuris do here?"