Chapter 13 - An Uncomfortable Encounter
The Madwoman.
That was how my mother had described her.
However, I knew almost nothing more than that.
The red eyes and blond hair, the symbols of Philhart, and a madness-tinged expression.
I had only deduced her identity from that.
"Ahahat! Correct!"
She clapped her hands—clap—and laughed.
What on earth was so amusing to her, I couldn't understand at all.
"What business brings you here?"
I asked, my expression hardening.
"Just~ because I wanted to see you!"
"Have we met before?"
"Nope? First time seeing you."
"…I see."
"Yeah. Why, is that not allowed?"
"Um, no, it's not that."
It hadn't even been a minute since we met.
Somehow, I felt like I could understand why she was called the Madwoman.
"Well then, it was nice meeting you."
Therefore, I wanted to avoid talking with her even more.
Not only was she unpredictable, but she also had power and authority.
She was too much for my current self to handle.
I naturally bowed my head and tried to close the door.
"Are you crazy? Do you want to die?"
The door only closed about halfway.
It was because I saw her expression twist viciously.
I thought that this woman might really try to kill me, no matter where we were.
Good grief, who was calling whom crazy…
"Open the door."
Creeeak—
I had no choice but to open the door again.
Then, as if nothing had happened, Ena walked into the quarters with a bright smile.
Of course, she didn't ask for my permission.
"Fufu, just kidding, just kidding. I like people like you, you see."
"People like me, you say…"
"People who don't bore me. Look at this, you get so tense even at a trivial joke, how could I be bored?"
Joke, my ass.
As if she didn't hide her killing intent.
At the very least, I could feel it.
That in that very moment, she had genuinely intended to kill me.
"Oh, right! I enjoyed the duel. You're already amazing for your age, you know?"
Ena naturally sat down on the sofa.
It seemed she had no intention of leaving anytime soon.
"Thank you for the compliment."
"How long are you going to stand there? You sit down too."
She patted the seat right next to her—pat, pat.
I lightly ignored it and sat down across from her.
"How cold."
"How could I dare to sit next to a Philhart."
"You may not be able to sit next to a Philhart, but I'll allow you to sit next to Ena."
"It's uncomfortable, so I'll just stay here. Ena Philhart-nim."
"You can call me big sister."
"We've only just met, haven't we."
"We'll be seeing each other often from now on."
"..."
It seems I've gotten myself into something bad.
I didn't enter the duel to catch this woman's eye.
I just wish she would stop and get lost now.
"You, you just thought I was annoying, didn't you?"
"No, I did not."
On top of that, she's annoyingly perceptive.
It might be more comfortable to talk with Argon.
At least he wouldn't have wasted time with such meaningless conversation.
"…So when are you going to tell me your real purpose?"
She said she just came to see my face, but I didn't believe her.
My mother had clearly said that the Philharts rarely came down to the 1st or 2nd floors.
Wouldn't it be stranger to believe that she came all the way down from the 5th floor to the 2nd at this late hour for the sole reason of wanting to see me?
"Real purpose? What's that. I told you earlier I came because I wanted to see you, didn't I?"
"Bu…"
Bullshit.
"Are you telling me to believe that right now?"
"You were about to say bullshit just now, weren't you?"
"No, I was not."
"Ahat! Really?"
"…Yes."
This woman, can she read minds?
The thought suddenly occurred to me, but I soon realized it couldn't be.
Mental-type magic didn't work on me.
"Hmm~ well~ it's not like I have no purpose at all, actually."
Ena said slyly, crossing her legs.
"Of course, 'wanting to see you' is 90% of it, but? Besides that, there's something I want to ask you."
"Something you want to ask?"
I felt unnecessarily anxious.
It was the first time I had shown my Aura directly.
I was worried that she might have recognized it.
"What's your relationship with my older brother?"
"Your older brother, you mean…"
"I mean Argon Philhart."
Thankfully, it was a completely different question.
I answered the question, inwardly relieved.
"We have no relationship whatsoever."
"Really?"
"Yes. At most, we just briefly passed by each other today, that was all."
"Passed by each other?"
I nodded confidently.
It was the truth, without a single lie.
There was no need to be intimidated.
"…But why did my brother tell me not to touch him? A connection of just passing by… no, wait, today…?"
At that, Ena furrowed her brow and began to mutter to herself.
"Is there a problem?"
"…Tsk."
She clicked her tongue and asked me again.
"You really never met my brother before?"
"This is the first time."
"…Hmm, it's not a lie."
After that, she muttered to herself for a long while, then finally stood up as if giving up.
"Well, alright! Then, your big sister will be going now. Let's see each other often from now on, okay?"
"..."
I couldn't offer any reply to those words.
It was awkward to deny what seemed like a polite farewell, but if I affirmed it, she seemed like she would take it seriously.
Just then.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to me.
This woman, if she's a Philhart, wouldn't she know something about them?
"Excuse me."
In the end, I called out to Ena, who was about to leave the room.
If not now, when would I ever be alone with someone from a great house like the Philharts again?
"Hm?"
"I have one thing I'm curious about as well."
She opened her eyes wide as if surprised.
But soon, as if her interest was piqued, she returned to the sofa, her lips twitching.
However, for some reason, she sat right next to me.
"Something you're curious about? What is it? Do you want to know about your big sister?"
"Do you happen to know about the Transcendent?"
I asked, moving a little to the side.
At that, Tiana's eyes widened in surprise.
"The Transcendent? You mean Sacnil Lohat?"
"Yes. That person."
Of course, I also need information about the Emperor and the Saintess.
But if I asked about all three at once, I might arouse unnecessary suspicion.
For now, information on one person was enough.
"Tch. What, so you weren't curious about me?"
"I heard that you have a close relationship with the Transcendent."
I had overheard such a story at the banquet hall.
It wasn't a particularly credible story, but still, such a rumor wouldn't have circulated for no reason.
"Hmph~."
She tilted her head as if in thought for a moment, then finally opened her mouth.
"That's right. Grandpa Lohat is my master, you see."
"…Your master, you say?"
"Yep. I'm an unofficial disciple, but… well, a disciple is a disciple."
It was a completely unexpected harvest.
I was just thinking it would be nice to get even a little information.
If she was really Sacnil's disciple, the scope of information I could obtain would change greatly.
"Actually, not many people know this besides our family, you know? You should be proud!"
"…And you're telling me, whom you've just met, something like that."
"Of course~ because you're special."
"Ah… yes."
This is so damn burdensome.
But what could I do?
In any case, it was to my advantage for now.
I had no choice but to use her as much as possible before she changed her mind.
"So, what are you curious about? Tell me."
I quickly organized my thoughts.
Within the scope that she, as a disciple, could answer, without arousing as much suspicion as possible, I chose the most useful information for me.
"Does the Transcendent have friends?"
"Puhah! What kind of question is that? I was so surprised because it was a question I never imagined."
"To be more precise, the Emperor and the Saintess. I'm curious about what kind of relationship he has with them."
In truth, finding out where the Transcendent is and what he's doing is not of much help to me right now.
That kind of thing will only be useful when I have the strength to go kill him.
Therefore, I turned my attention not to power, but to relationships.
The most difficult thing in the relationship between humans is not building a new one, but maintaining it.
No matter how close friends are, even lovers, it is quite difficult to be together for 10 or 20 years. Let alone now, after 300 years have passed, it was only natural to question whether the relationship of the three who once shared the same goal was still the same.
"Hmph~ so that's it. You're curious about the relationship between those who have reached the pinnacle of magic… interesting."
Thankfully, Ena also seemed interested.
She glanced at the clock hanging on one wall and then continued.
"Originally, I was just going to pretend to tell you and then leave, but since it's interesting, I'll give you a special answer!"
"..."
"Those three, they don't get along. No, it's not just that they don't get along. It's the worst. My master would probably have a fit just from hearing the Emperor's voice."
For a moment, I had to forcibly suppress the corners of my mouth from rising.
Because that was exactly the answer I wanted.
In the worst-case scenario, I might have had to face all three at once, but with this, that possibility becomes very slim.
How could they cooperate now when they are too busy fighting among themselves?
"I guess even people who have reached such high positions fight."
"No, rather, that's why they fight more. The more you have, the more you want."
She turned her eyes to the clock again and continued.
"How about it, have all your questions been answered? Your big sister really has to go now."
"Yes, thank you."
I bowed my head and opened the door wide for her to leave.
It looked like I was seeing her off, but in reality, it meant 'please leave quickly'.
"Oh my, thank you~."
She left with the words, "See you again~". I
hurriedly locked the door and returned to my bed.
"Haaah…"
It felt like a huge wave had passed.
But thanks to it, I had obtained some useful information, so it wasn't so bad.
If there was one thing I was worried about…
"She won't just come looking for me on purpose, will she?"
Her words about seeing each other often were bothering me for no reason.
In fact, considering the difference in status between Ena and me, it was normal for us not to meet unless it was a special event like this.
In the first place, even at this event, we wouldn't have run into each other if she hadn't come looking for me out of the blue.
"No, let's think positively."
Although it's a bit burdensome, thinking about it differently, I had gained a huge connection.
And a disciple of the Transcendent, at that.
I don't know about later, but for now, the benefits I would gain from her favor were greater.
"…Right, the light."
I got up again and covered the magic tool with its cap.
As the light that had been illuminating the quarters disappeared, drowsiness washed over me. I headed straight for the bed and fell asleep as if I had fainted.
***
"Ena, where have you been wandering off to on your own."
"Hah… Brother, no matter how much you like me, do I have to report my every move to you at this age?"
"You met with that kid. I'm sure I told you not to touch him."
Ena, who had returned to the 5th floor.
She pouted her lips at Argon's nagging.
"I didn't touch him. I just went to see his face once."
Argon looked at her with suspicious eyes.
Ena met his gaze confidently.
In fact, although Argon treated her as if she were very young, the two were only one year apart.
There was no reason for her to be intimidated in front of him.
"Why?"
"…You've become quite skilled at lying."
"What?"
Ena was surprised.
Not by the fact that her lie was caught, but by the fact that Argon had complimented her.
His compliments were harder to see than the highest quality magic stones.
It was only natural to be surprised.
"Wow, what's with the compliment from you, brother? Well, I have been getting better at lying lately… ah, no, it's not a lie, you know?"
At that, Argon sighed and corrected himself.
"My apologies. I take back what I just said."
"What, you're taking it back? There's no such thing! Once you say it, it's said!"
"Whatever, I'll say it again. Do not touch that kid. That is not a talent to be consumed by your mere amusement."
Argon understood Ena better than anyone.
What she liked, what her hobbies were, and even how she came to be called the Madwoman.
He might have known her better than their parents.
"…It's not like that this time."
Therefore, he could also easily tell that what Ena had just said was the truth.
"Is that so. Still, try to stay away from him as much as possible. The kid is Ariel's son."
"What? He was Ariel's son? Ah, no wonder… so that's why."
"What do you mean?"
"He suddenly asked me about my master."
At the word 'master', Argon's eyebrow twitched for a moment.
He took a deep breath as if to suppress his anger and opened his mouth.
"That kid… is he trying to get revenge."
"I guess so. He even asked if my master was close with the Emperor or the Saintess."
"Indeed, if they were to side with that bastard Sacnil, revenge would be next to impossible."
"Brother… still, in front of his disciple, calling him 'that bastard' is a bit…"
Ena frowned as if in a difficult position, but Argon paid her no mind and continued.
"So, what did you answer him?"
"Well, I told him the truth."
"He must have been relieved."
"Yeah. He seemed to be."
At that, the corners of Argon's mouth went up slightly.
He continued.
"Of course, his opponent is that Transcendent, so even if he's alone, it will be impossible. However…"
Argon had seen many who had surpassed their limits.
They all had one thing in common.
They were driven by a strong desire for revenge.
"If overwhelming talent is combined with a desire for revenge… perhaps a miracle might happen."
The overwhelming talent of reaching the 5th Circle at fifteen.
And the target of revenge, the Transcendent who had made his mother ill.
How strong would Lael, who was perfectly equipped with the conditions to become strong, become?
Argon, even he, could not dare to imagine.