Too Late for Regrets

I checked the quest that had popped up.

Wait, what does this mean...?

So the Mage Tower was involved in the Holy War too? The one that led to Akshan's annihilation.

'Well, maybe it's not that surprising.'

The top brass. The ones deciding the Mage Tower's major and minor affairs were demon worshippers, a majority including Karim Jeba. It made sense.

Besides, the Mage Tower hadn't actively participated in the Holy War.

"I realized, seeing you, that turning a blind eye cannot grant absolution. As you said, great power comes with great responsibility."

According to Marcelo.

The Mage Tower had simply ignored the Holy War. Just as they always had.

Marcelo added,

"You must have known everything already. But for me to confess only now... I have no words. The Mage Tower owes a tremendous debt to both you and Akshan."

No, maybe not to Akshan... but...

...you don't need to apologize to me so formally?

If it weren't for the Holy War and the quest, I wouldn't have known a thing. I've got a blank of over ten years, damn it!

But everything followed the heavy pride swelling in my chest.

I answered Marcelo.

Without changing my expression, brazenly.

"I understand you, Marcelo."

Don't play the benevolent act, Grandfell.

You might not know, but I do. The absurdities of office life.

'When the top is rotten, what can the bottom do?'

They tell you to jump, you jump. Marcelo probably couldn't voice an opinion in the Holy War either.

But from my position, it wasn't bad.

The Goddess Church. Tens of thousands of holy knights stationed in the holy city, Muon. To confront that massive force...

I thought I needed to become a big shot myself first.

"Sir, will you entrust this matter to me?"

The Mage Tower, a force greater than the Goddess Church, stepping in...

Marcelo showed his resolve, even invoking 'propriety' to prove it wasn't empty words.

My response was simple.

"If that is the Mage Tower's pride, I shall accept your request."

Aigoo, thank you. I'd be bowing my head in gratitude, yet here I was acting like the boss.

But admiring my own thick skin wasn't new.

Instead, I racked my brains.

'If the Mage Tower moves...'

I might not need to go through the trouble myself.

Even among chief mages, parachutists and elites are treated differently. Marcelo, unlike me, had prestige.

'Muon might drop their hostility.'

For the Mage Tower's face.

They'd at least hear Marcelo out, right?

With that in mind, I told him,

"What puzzles me is the existence of Freyja herself."

Even beyond the quest.

From Grandfell's pride, the saint Freyja's actions were incomprehensible.

She was particularly suspicious.

But wasn't I the only one speculating?

'Of course I need specifics.'

I didn't want a beating from the Goddess Church for blasphemy...

So I thought, but

"I understand. You suspect her."

As expected, Marcelo overestimated me.

He wouldn't question even the smallest doubt from me.

Marcelo didn't hesitate.

"Then, I shall go."

He rose immediately.

...Already? Going now?

No mental prep needed?

I worried, but Marcelo had already left the lab.

In the end, I could only watch and wait.

'Hopefully they settle it with words...'

Soon, I witnessed it through breaking news.

Marcelo appearing in Muon.

And with that, the firmly shut gates─ flung wide open.

Holy knights bowing their heads to welcome him.

...For real?

I knew the Mage Tower's greatness better than anyone.

As their parachutist.

I'd benefited from their halo more than most.

But damn, a real chief mage is on another level.

Of course, regardless of my inner thoughts, I lifted my teacup.

Clink─

Watching calmly, I remarked,

"They've shown at least the minimum propriety befitting knights."

Propriety veiled my pupils.

Of course, propriety didn't erase doubts about the Goddess Church.

Marcelo and the holy knight's conversation was brief.

Soon, he manifested a portal and returned to the Mage Tower, then reported to me.

"Your concerns were correct."

...My concerns were right?

"Even Holy Knight Captain Tarim has never seen Saint Freyja's face."

Indeed.

The Goddess Church's saint, Freyja.

She'd only conveyed her voice and prophecies from behind the veiled curtain.

My response was obvious.

"Such behavior lacks any trace of propriety."

There's a limit to ignoring people's sincerity.

'...No, not about propriety here.'

Think rationally.

'This is blatantly fishy.'

Not content with locking Muon's gates.

The enigmatic Freyja hid her identity even from close aides.

I was certain.

'Definitely reeks of demon.'

How did the Goddess Church fall for a so-called saint they'd never seen?

If it was a demon's power, Abnormal Status, that explained it.

The same Abnormal Status effective even on semi-gods and elder mages.

'...This won't be easy either.'

Would a demon this cautious reveal itself easily?

Obviously not.

She'd specifically mentioned 'Judgment Day,' so no appearance before then.

'If I can just approach Muon...'

Once inside, everything would be clear.

Demon hunter exclusive skill, Natural Enemy Relationship, sharper than ever.

If a demon lurked in Muon, I'd sense it.

But.

Marcelo's next words shocked me.

"As you said. I too suspected her identity."

That I understood.

Even Banggrit Tom, clueless about the world, would find it odd.

What saint never shows her true form?

"Thus, I invited Saint Freyja to the Mage Tower."

At those words.

I thought I'd misheard.

Marcelo must know she wouldn't accept.

But I'd forgotten momentarily.

What kind of group the Mage Tower was.

"If she refuses, we have our justification."

At those chilling words, I remembered.

Yes, the Mage Tower: Arcana's undisputed strongest force.

When they wanted something, nothing stood in their way.

Vanished without trace from the Arcana continent, or they stepped aside first.

Those facing the Mage Tower had two choices.

It hit me anew.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Such a colossal Mage Tower.

Moving for me, upholding propriety...

But Grandfell's ego was equally colossal.

How could I feel burdened?

I said steadily,

"We shall observe their response."

Yes.

At this moment, I wasn't the burdened one.

Someone else was sweating bullets.

The so-called saint Freyja.

Holy Knight Captain of the Goddess Church, Tarim.

He knelt before the veil.

The shadow of Saint Freyja wavered beneath the draped curtain.

Tarim confessed everything honestly.

"...The Mage Tower. They came to Muon."

He, tasked with protecting the saint.

Tarim lacked the face to show.

He'd never imagined facing the Mage Tower—not just in ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Arcana continent, but in this world.

Let alone the chief mage himself visiting Muon.

"I had no choice but to break the saint's rules."

Even recalling it made his vision spin.

"!"

If he hadn't remembered Chief Mage Marcelo's face from memory...

Muon would be reduced to ashes by a single gesture now.

Knowing the Mage Tower mages' power.

Tarim had no choice but to step outside Muon.

And spoke with Marcelo.

"They wished to speak with the saint. Chief Mage Marcelo formally invited her to the Mage Tower."

Tarim pondered, head bowed.

'Why does the Mage Tower want to talk to the saint?'

As he speculated reasons one by ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one.

Saint Freyja's voice came.

"Is that so. What do you think, Tarim?"

That languid voice held power.

"!"

Enough to blow away thoughts in his head.

An irresistible force.

"I believe the saint's will must come first."

A reply came from beyond the veil.

"Is that so, Tarim. Then why did you come to me?"

"...That is."

"I know. You were afraid, weren't you?"

The saint was right.

The Mage Tower terrified anyone.

But Tarim realized his thinking was wrong.

"Regrettably, you lack faith."

"L-Lack faith? No, Saint...!"

"No. I understand fully. You must be confused too. Demons weren't enough; our holy city Muon fell into this strange world. But worry not, Tarim. Don't you know?"

"...?"

"Even in this unfamiliar world, the goddess's grace remains."

"!"

At those words, Tarim recalled.

The goddess's grace, a miracle.

The reason Muon was called holy: the 'Saint's Tear.'

Yes, the saint's words held no fault.

Tarim said, eyes welling.

"I understand your words' meaning."

"Is that so, Tarim. Then what must you do?"

"I..."

As his words trailed.

A intense thought circled his mind.

The occasional 'goddess's revelation.'

Tarim continued.

"...As per the revelation, I shall open Muon. Prove the goddess's miracle in this world, spread the Goddess Church's greatness. Build a force even the Mage Tower cannot block."

At Tarim's declaration, the veil trembled faintly.

Somehow.

A satisfied laugh leaked out.

An unpredictable flow no one could grasp.

Chief Mage Marcelo appearing in Muon was shocking enough.

Yet hours later, Muon opening its gates itself?

"This situation can only be seen as the Mage Tower intervening in Muon somehow. That's my take."

"But isn't it strange? Before or after the Cataclysm. I've never seen the Mage Tower step forward so boldly."

"Right. Even when Korea's president... no, governments worldwide sent love calls, Chief Mage Marcelo never showed publicly, right?"

What change had come over the Mage Tower?

To shift their attitude so drastically.

Only one possibility to speculate.

-Just Hoyeol. The past and present Mage Tower.

The only change was the chief mage.

Hoyeol's existence.

Though Hoyeol hadn't even appeared near Muon.

Interest in him exploded.

Every channel, every community buzzed with talk of him.

Compared to the explosive interest in Hoyeol.

Still minor, but.

Centered on netuber players entering Muon.

One piece of info spread rapidly.

Muon's central lake.

Tales of the spring filling it.

"...This spring's effect is no joke, bros?"

"The holy knights didn't call it the goddess's miracle for nothing."

"W-With effects like this, I wanna convert to the Goddess Church too?!"

The news of the lake's spring spread like wildfire.

No need to explain its effects verbally.

Live streams broadcast them in real time.

As if the spring water was a true elixir of youth.

It made the netuber's skin youthful.

Himself.

And equally.

Surging interest in the goddess's miracle, the spring.

Naturally.

Confirming all this, Hoyeol was the same as ever.

Neatly adjusting his attire before the mirror.

Such Hoyeol soon set off.

Click─

Toward Muon.

.

.

.

The so-called saint better watch out.

I didn't expect her to open Muon herself.

Truly vile tactics.

Clear intent to frame us...

The media was already buzzing.

Muon's opening was all thanks to the Mage Tower, Marcelo.

And further, thanks to me moving Marcelo.

Yes, that's what Freyja aimed for.

If something happened in opened Muon, blame would arrow to the Mage Tower.

And inevitably, to me.

But this made it crystal clear.

"Vile scum indeed."

Only demons scheme like that.

Whoever the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠demon, impressive ability.

Not content swallowing Muon whole.

Using the Goddess Church to frame the Mage Tower.

And what? Elixir of yooouth?

Knowing people go nuts for health benefits.

Gathering followers—no, hostages—like that?

This could've been a huge hassle.

In that sense, good attempt.

Of course.

"Nothing as pathetic as knowing not one's place."

Me.

Your natural enemy, the one you tried erasing through your Holy War farce.

The demon hunter.