Chapter 15: Ghost of the Divine Tree (8)
"Iliana!"
The moment he returned home, Eunhyeon called out for Iliana.
"Yeah?"
Wearing her glasses and immersed in a magic tome, she looked unusually intellectual compared to her usual self. Iliana lifted her gaze from the book at the sound of her name, spotting Eunhyeon standing in the entryway, having just arrived.
"Let's get ready."
Understanding the implication, a glint flashed in Iliana's eyes. It meant it was finally time to step in and resolve the incident for real.
"Before that, there's someone I want to introduce you to."
"Who?"
Before Eunhyeon could answer, his shadow slithered upward, taking on a human form. Iliana, watching the scene, narrowed her eyes.
"A black mage?"
"Yeah."
"Hmmm... I get the gist."
Iliana had already heard about Erin's past from Eunhyeon, so she wasn't particularly shocked that he'd brought along the black mage Elvin. Elvin, caught off guard by her reaction, showed a flicker of surprise.
"Why the shock?"
"I... I'm a black mage. Is it really okay to let someone like me into your home?"
Unlike his first encounter with Eunhyeon, Elvin spoke politely from the start to Iliana, whose fame was known across the continent. She was the Black Witch, a high-rank digit mage—one of the rare few with 8-digit magic on the entire continent—and an idol to all mages. This held true even for Elvin, who had strayed onto the unorthodox path of black magic.
"What, you planning to pull something in my house?"
Her expression screamed, 'You, of all people?' It brimmed with the unshakable confidence that no mage could rival her. Elvin couldn't help but admire her boldness and self-assurance.
"Don't people despise black mages like me? I figured you'd kill me on sight, Lady Witch."
Elvin spoke so calmly about his own potential death, his face showing no trace of fear or dread.
"Sure, black mages are full of trash, idiots, and hypocrites, which is why the world shuns them. But that doesn't mean all black mages are like that."
"......"
Her words were neither a denial nor endorsement of black mages, leaving Elvin with a strange expression.
"It's just a matter of proportions, right? Some swordsmen wield their blades to save the innocent and get hailed as heroes, while others slaughter people and get branded as mad killers. Black mages are the same—it's just that there are more among them who deserve the label of 'villain.' There have been good black mages who purely helped humanity. Don't you think there's a difference?"
In short, black magic itself wasn't evil; it was that most who wielded it were already twisted, their minds warped beyond reason.
"I'm not sure."
Elvin already saw himself as one of the villains. His magic was devouring his sanity, growing more feral and aggressive with time. He suspected that someday, he would cease to be human.
"I've heard your story from Hyun already."
She knows my circumstances. That meant this witch, like Eunhyeon, knew everything he'd done. Iliana's gaze toward Elvin held a hint of pity and sympathy.
"Even while your reason was being eroded, you took care to avoid harming innocents unrelated to your goal. Must've been tough."
Elvin had no response to her praise-like words of comfort.
"Lucky for you, he brought you here before things escalated. If you'd actually done something irreversible, your little sister might've been erased from this kingdom too. You know that, right?"
"...I'm reflecting on it."
Elvin's reason had been overtaken by the shadows, leaving him in a coma for days as he fought to regain it. When he finally awoke, he learned Erin had gone missing—and lost control completely.
"Alright. Cast's all here now, and the stage is set. Let's go."
"To Aiter?"
"Yeah. I sent out invitations with your name and Riod's on them, calling everyone there."
"Using our names so casually now."
"You forced me into this job—least you can do is this much."
"Hmph."
Iliana turned her head with a snort, clearly displeased. What irked her wasn't the situation itself, but how Eunhyeon always took charge, solved everything, yet never claimed credit for himself. She'd felt this way consistently for the past twenty years. The one who deserved the world's highest praise wasn't them—it was Eunhyeon. Whether he knew her feelings or not, Eunhyeon just smiled and kept walking.
"......"
Elvin stayed silent during their exchange, slipping back into Eunhyeon's shadow to hide.
Who is this guy...?
It was the moment Elvin truly saw Eunhyeon anew—the man on such familiar terms with the great hero's high mage that they bantered like old friends, a figure Elvin himself revered.
When the two arrived at Aiter Royal School, Eunhyeon noted that the main gate was wide open. They strode confidently through, heading to the garden where the Pernias Divine Tree stood—the same spot where he'd met Erin before. The tree no longer glowed with its vibrant green light. Instead, it masqueraded as an ordinary tree, likely the "Wish Tree" that the people of Pernias Kingdom saw daily.
Near the Wish Tree in the garden stood five people: a young woman and man, plus three middle-aged men. Their one common thread? They all hailed from high-ranking noble houses.
One of them spotted the newcomers, Eunhyeon and Iliana.
"The Black Witch? Why is she here?"
A nobleman with bright golden hair furrowed his brow, muttering in confusion at Iliana's unexpected appearance. Eunhyeon ignored him, stepping slightly ahead of Iliana and announcing himself loudly.
"Greetings, everyone. I'm Eunhyeon, assistant to the curator of the Merbiss Magic Library, Iliana Kenifer."
"Eunhyeon?"
"Of course..."
As they mulled over the unfamiliar name, trying to place it, the sole woman among the five—the duke's daughter, Elenoa Armitas—muttered while eyeing Eunhyeon.
"When I got the invitation with the Black Witch's name on it, I figured it was your doing."
Elenoa glared at him, clearly displeased.
"Huh? Something wrong? I'm practically your lifesaver, Lady Elenoa."
"How dare you say that with such a shameless mouth! You... that time with my... mff!"
In her anger, as she started berating him, Elenoa flushed crimson and clamped her hand over her mouth. She'd nearly blurted out that humiliating memory in front of everyone, cold sweat beading on her skin. Eunhyeon chuckled at the comical sight, though puzzled.
"What did you do to my sister?"
Her brother, Alex Armitas, had lost his cool unusually fast, glaring at Eunhyeon as he demanded answers.
"Pardon? I didn't do anything... If anything, I saved her life."
His aggrieved shrug and smarmy attitude only fueled Elenoa's rage further—it was infuriatingly glib.
"What did you do to that noble lady?"
"Oh, it's a misunderstanding! Lady Iliana! I swear, all I did was protect her from trouble!"
With an audience watching, Eunhyeon played his role as Iliana's assistant to perfection, feigning teary-eyed innocence. His 400-year-old mastery made the pitiful act utterly convincing; everyone except Iliana and Riod wore bemused expressions.
'Ugh, looking at that fake face pisses me off.'
Iliana scowled and cut in.
"Enough. Get to the point."
"Yes, ma'am."
Eunhyeon flashed a smile at the onlookers staring at his pathetic act.
"Looks like you all know each other well enough—no need for introductions. So, allow us to present the final guest we invited here."
Clap, clap!
With two crisp claps, Elvin emerged from Eunhyeon's shadow.
"Ugh...!"
"What?!"
Elenoa, having seen it once before, and the middle-aged man versed in magic instantly recognized the spell, staring at Elvin in shock. Riod grimaced.
"Black magic."
"Correct. This is Elvin Hersha, son of the now-executed Hersha baronet for embezzlement. And... Erin's missing brother."
"Hersha..."
Another middle-aged man muttered the name, tensing as he eyed Elvin.
"You all know each other, but our black mage guest might not, so let me introduce—"
"No need. I already know them all."
Elvin spoke first, addressing Riod on the far left.
"Riod Olivion, captain of the Artia Knights, the royal order that hunted me."
Riod and Elvin locked eyes silently. Elvin shifted his gaze next.
"Bernard Boris, royal finance minister, who came asking about the gold after my father died."
"......"
"And the Armitas duke's siblings, who made a deal with me... then betrayed me."
"What... did you say?"
"Betrayed? What do you—"
Ignoring the stunned siblings, Elvin turned to the last man on the right.
"Oliver Baotman, principal of Aiter—the place where my sister Erin went missing."
"Kuh..."
Having named them all and linked their connections to him, Elvin turned to Eunhyeon.
"Think they know enough now?"
"Yes. Perfect."
Eunhyeon smiled in affirmation.
Did he lead me into explaining their ties to me and Erin on purpose?
He surely knew who they were already. Seeing Eunhyeon's knowing smile only reinforced the thought. Elvin found Eunhyeon's sudden formal deference jarring after his abrupt shift in attitude, but he had no intention of complaining now.
"What do you mean?"
Alex stepped forward, demanding of Elvin.
"What do you mean the duke's house made a deal and betrayed you?"
Elvin tilted his head at the unexpected question.
"You really don't know?"
"I mean, what—"
"Now, now, I'll explain that in due time."
Alex's mind reeled at the sight of the man who'd tried to kill his sister. As tensions rose and he pressed Elvin aggressively, Eunhyeon intervened to halt the brewing fight.
"Lady Iliana and Captain Riod invited you here because, as our black mage said, you're all connected to the 'Hersha baronet incident'—either directly or indirectly."
"What?"
Alex echoed in disbelief.
"In other words, I'll show you the full story of the Hersha baronet incident, from start to finish."
The four excluding Riod looked puzzled at Eunhyeon's words. It wasn't 'tell' you—it was 'show' you, which made no sense. As they eyed him suspiciously like he was some con artist,
Eunhyeon ignored their stares, smiling, and snapped his fingers.
Snap!
With the crisp sound, the surroundings warped like ink dissolving in water.
"Wha...?"
Elenoa glanced around in alarm at the bizarre shift, clutching her brother Alex's sleeve in rising anxiety. From the snap onward, the world transformed.