Chapter 102
Chapter 102
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 102
Chapter Title: The Traitor
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Grandmother's house had an overall warm color scheme.
The floor and ceiling were made of light wood. Marble walls that contrasted with them added a touch of elegance to what might otherwise have looked worn. Pure white curtains hung over the windows, and the modestly sized kitchen and living room were impeccably tidy.
It didn't look like a hasty cleanup. There were no awkward spots, so she must keep things clean on a regular basis.
In one corner, cases of bottled water and tissues were stacked up. On top sat a moon-shaped mood light that was on, scattering pale glows in all directions and softly illuminating the room.
A wooden bookshelf stood against one wall. It was packed with all sorts of autobiographies and nonfiction books in various shapes and sizes, proudly displaying themselves. There were hardly any novels. The few present were classics like Sherlock Holmes, Crime and Punishment, and The Metamorphosis.
It seemed she enjoyed the act of reading more than cultural pursuits in general.
Ian let out a low hum as he slowly examined the books on the shelf. Among them, he spotted one that stood out.
The cover was plain. But it trembled faintly every time his gaze lingered, marking it unmistakably as a grimoire. It had to be her Lemegeton.
‘She’s no good at acting, it seems.’
Well, acting wasn’t a vital skill for a grimoire anyway. Ian shrugged it off and plopped down on the sofa Grandmother had shown him to.
The plush cushions softly cradled his body. Grandmother fetched a teapot, snacks, teacups, and such from the kitchen and sat across from him.
“Thank you for coming. Even fellow mages tend to shy away from entering another mage’s domain…”
She had a point.
In a ritual mage’s living space, the mage held absolute authority. They could freely manipulate the magic circles embedded everywhere—circles whose number and nature outsiders couldn’t possibly know. Invading a mage’s home or workshop was tantamount to suicide. That was why the arrogant Eddie had waited for him outside rather than barging in.
Even those who dealt in rote magic were somewhat less dangerous, but it was still risky all the same.
That was why entering a mage’s domain had become one of the things everyone involved with anomalies avoided. Being a fellow mage was no exception.
She might not have noticed yet, but the magic arrays in this room were even now spinning chillingly, awaiting her command. Any funny business, and they’d drop like a guillotine.
Ian had no intention of trying anything, so it was all good. He accepted the tea she offered with a faint smile.
“I didn’t think you were the type to ambush someone after inviting them over. I trust my judgment.”
More precisely, he trusted his reverse sight and the spells on his coat. The moment the sight blared a warning, he’d use every means at his disposal to escape and kill her.
No need for that now. As long as the sight stayed silent, he was safe.
Unless she was some psychopath incapable of malice or murderous intent—which she didn’t seem to be—it shouldn’t be an issue.
“That makes me even happier to hear.”
Grandmother forced a smile to hide her tension as she arranged the snacks on a plate. Plain potato chips and chocolate chips tumbled onto the fancy dish, an odd mismatch. She neatly folded the empty bags and tossed them in the trash before carefully setting the plate on the table.
“Please help yourself while we talk. Oh, should I order lunch ahead? The spell I’m using takes a bit of time. I’ll cover the bill, of course.”
“That’d be great. I’ll leave the menu to you. Nothing I avoid.”
“Hmm… Pizza, then? One should be fine, right?”
“That works for me.”
At Ian’s reply, Eun-ha nodded and ordered the pizza. She set her phone aside and took a sip of tea.
“…Hot, hot…”
She must have gulped it too fast; she stuck out her tongue slightly and grimaced. Ian chuckled softly and brought his cup to his lips.
The black tea’s signature bitterness and tartness mingled with a subtle sweetness on his tongue.
Not his favorite flavor. Coffee suited him much better.
Still, she’d gone to the trouble. Ian set down his cup without complaint and spoke.
“How does the spell work? Is there anything I need to do?”
“Oh, you’ll need to prick yourself a little with the prepared scales. It might sting a bit.”
No big deal. Ian nodded and rolled up one sleeve. Naturally, he kept his coat on.
“Can we start now?”
“Yes. One moment, please.”
Eun-ha rose and stepped into a small side room. Moments later, she returned with a set of silver scales and placed it on the table.
Scales engraved with a demon’s face. A sharp needle protruded from the top, and the pans bore carvings of burning human figures. Their faces twisted in agony, yet their eyes were blindfolded. Faint screams echoed from their gaping mouths.
No angle made it look ordinary. Ian narrowed his eyes and inspected the scales closely.
Click.
Eun-ha removed a small orb from the base of the scales.
A transparent orb. She pricked her finger on the needle, letting blood drip carefully into it.
Like paint blooming in water, the blood spread slowly before fully dyeing the orb red. Eun-ha slipped the orb back into the scales and closed her eyes.
“O Destroyer.”
She began chanting. The magic circle engraved on the pedestal glowed, responding to her will.
“You who possess a deceitful tongue. You who rule sinners with fire and sweetly savor their torment. I command you by these scales: let the blood’s owner speak only truth or falsehood, and reveal it plainly.”
Eun-ha nodded at Ian. He promptly pressed his finger to the needle, pricking it lightly.
A sharp sting accompanied the blood trickling down the needle into the silver pan below. The moment it pooled, the scant blood swelled rapidly, filling the pan. The sinners’ lower bodies submerged in the crimson tide.
They screamed in unison.
[Aaahhhh!]
[Hot, so hot! Save me! Damn it, what did I do to deserve this pain—!]
Silence.
The overlapping screams cut off abruptly.
And then.
[Beautiful blood. Truly delectable.]
An elderly man’s voice emanated from the mouths of the carved sinners on the scales.
[The bitter-sweet tang unique to mages. So concentrated—you must be quite skilled. I’d love to chat face-to-face.]
“Aim, obey my command.”
Grandmother issued the order in a cold voice.
Aim.
A name Ian remembered. One of Solomon’s 72 demons, ranked 23rd.
“…”
He watched their exchange calmly, wiping the blood from his hand onto his clothes.
[Easy now, Solomon’s heir. You’ll blow a fuse.]
“Aim.”
[Fine, fine. Got it. Damn bitch. Just do what she says. What a nasty temper—and that scary voice.]
The demon called Aim grumbled but soon started humming. Eun-ha pulled out a notepad from under the table, wrote something, and showed it to Ian.
‘We’ll use notes for conversation from now on. The demon might eavesdrop.’
[Scratching sounds. Writing something, eh? Care to share with me?]
‘I commanded it to speak only truth, so no funny business. Results take about an hour. We’ll talk via notes until then. Understood?’
[Scratch scratch. Damn scratching. Talk with your mouths! Hot, passionate, breathing fire!]
Eun-ha ignored Aim completely and looked up at Ian.
Her gaze was steady. Ian met her mint-green eyes briefly, then nodded. She gave a faint smile.
‘Then tell me. What happened to you, Ain. You can say this aloud.’
‘Yes.’
Ian scribbled a short reply, turned to the scales, and spoke.
“I killed a mage named Eddie. Recently, he asked a specific target if someone who obtained a grimoire was in Korea. That target took money and sold the info. The target’s a mage, joined the community.”
[Oho, new voice. Male? Figures. Solomon’s heir is female, so bringing a male makes sense. Haha! One-night fling? Or hot romance? Either way, I love a good romp—]
“Answer, Aim. Is what he said true?”
Eun-ha cut Aim off. Aim growled irritably but yielded to the grimoire and command.
[Hold on. Analyzing. You could’ve known instantly if you’d summoned me right. Why the hassle?]
“Only what’s necessary, Aim.”
[Hah, just like Solomon’s heir—same shitty personality. Human brat, how long can you stay cocky before demons? Hundreds of hell legions crave your blood and guts. Die already. Let us scatter your flesh in hell for eternal torment—]
“That must be essential for you. Fine, new order: analyze if the blood’s owner spoke truth or lie. Then shut up.”
Silence.
Aim’s voice vanished. Eun-ha twisted her lips and slowly sprinkled salt over the scales.
“You demons can never kill me. Because I’m Solomon’s heir.”
[……]
“May your light and love cover my shoulders and back, and keep me upright from the presence of evil.”
[……You bitch.]
“So shut up and obey.”
Eun-ha said no more. Neither did Aim. The difference was whether it was voluntary.
Hoo.
Having silenced the demon’s maw, Eun-ha exhaled deeply and sipped her tea. Ian watched, then wrote a question on the notepad.
‘Christian?’
Eun-ha gave a wry smile as she replied.
‘Atheist.’