* * *
I couldn’t just hang around there, so I checked the sea with magic one more time before leaving.
The kraken—well, we’re not calling it that here anymore—was gone, though a few minor creatures remained.
Thinking of the kraken also brought back the memory of that mouth-watering smell, which was… inconvenient.
When roasted octopus was served for dinner—Ateol’s idea, no doubt—I couldn’t even hide my expression.
Serta and Lessa, who were also invited, looked hesitant to pick up their forks.
Only Ateol was enjoying it like nothing was wrong.
Judging from the size, it probably wasn’t a kraken chunk.
And to be honest, it did smell really good, so I ended up eating it too.
“Today, once again, I was filled with awe, Tower Master.”
Ateol spoke up mid-meal. Serta and Lessa put down their utensils and looked at me in agreement.
Why now?
For what?
It was just a roasted octopus…
Okay, yes, one with suction cups larger than both arms stretched out, but still.
It wasn’t in my nature to act humble or to get cocky.
“Indeed. You handled that massive beast like swatting a fly.”
Lessa chimed in. I suddenly felt like an electric flyswatter.
Even the part about the lingering protein smell felt disturbingly accurate.
Ew, that was gross.
Serta just looked at me and smiled wordlessly.
The respect and affection in his eyes made me feel guilty.
Even after all that chaos, I still hadn’t confessed.
I really needed to run.
After dessert, my stamina hit 12.
Eating to recover stamina was surprisingly convenient.
At first, I thought it was ridiculous—Stamina 12? Really?—but if every bit of food and sleep counted as a recovery potion, it wasn’t so bad.
And casting magic didn’t use up any stamina anyway.
“Tower Master.”
“……”
The way he softly called out while holding a teacup somehow felt ominous.
“There’s something I’d like to discuss. Could you spare a moment?”
…Knew it.
But I couldn’t ignore what Ateol had said earlier, about having some kind of plan involving Siwoo.
I gave Serta a few pats on the shoulder and nodded, reading the look in his eyes that said “Just say no if you don’t want to.”
“Fine. But I’m tired, so make it quick.”
“Of course.”
And so, once again, I walked straight into the lion’s den.
Ateol’s room had some light snacks laid out—stuff that kept well and didn’t take much effort to eat.
This bastard.
He said he’d keep it short, but of course, that was a lie.
Without waiting for his invitation, I plopped down in front of the table and pushed back my hood.
Ateol watched me for a moment before taking a seat across from me.
“What did you mean earlier?”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t play dumb. What are you planning to do with Siwoo?”
“Hm… Have you grown close to him? I heard you even took him to the Imperial Library the other day.”
Oddly enough, there was a faint hint of jealousy in his voice.
Was he seriously jealous of Siwoo because he had no one else?
I dropped my shoulders in disbelief and jerked my chin at him.
It meant, Just answer already.
“Well… the Grand Duke’s actions seem suspicious lately.”
“The Grand Duke?”
“What do you think his objective is?”
“To get rid of the imposter and return the real one to the Tower, I’d imagine.”
Ateol rested his hand on his chin and tilted his head to the side.
“Hmm… if that were the case, knowing the Grand Duke’s personality, he would’ve sent Siwoo to His Majesty the moment he had doubts and come clean right away.”
That… actually made sense.
Besides, the Grand Duke was already overwhelmed just looking after Narksabel.
Even if it concerned state matters, anything related to the Mage Tower would’ve been left to the emperor.
“Doesn’t it feel like he’s aiming for something more specific?”
“Aiming for something? Are you saying the Grand Duke wants the throne?”
Ateol shrugged.
“He’s never shown any interest before. Narksabel has always ignored palace politics.”
…Huh?
“All they’ve ever cared about is conquest and suppression.”
“Maybe now he wants to do that somewhere else. Like, say, the capital?”
“But the current Grand Duke Roanes’s personality is…”
…Hmm?
The words spilled out of my mouth on their own, but something felt off.
Why did I sound like I knew the Grand Duke so well?
Since when did I know this much about the Narksabel family?
During the six years of my past life, my interactions with them were minimal.
Not nearly enough to speak with such certainty.
In fact, just a while ago, I was wondering if the Grand Duke might have ambitions for the throne, if he was trying to use Siwoo, or if there might be a coup.
It almost felt like someone had planted these thoughts in my head.
“These days, it looks like he’s training the army.”
Ateol’s voice cut into my thoughts.
Well, not that it really mattered.
The army, huh…
Around late summer, monsters living in the north tend to become sluggish from the heat.
So now was the season for training troops, something they hadn’t been able to do properly until now.
But Ateol’s tone was… strange.
“Are you saying that military training seems suspicious?”
“Everything seems suspicious. Even the way they’ve restocked their armory and filled the granaries. It’s all normal for this time of year… and yet.”
“…”
But with Siwoo around, there shouldn’t be any need for military conflict.
Once Siwoo regains his magic, all of this should be resolved.
“…If Siwoo gets his magic back.”
Ateol stared straight at me.
“Then it’s all over. You get that, right?”
“I suppose so.”
“Then let me go before that happens. You, find a way to survive using Siwoo. What’s the point of all these fake engagement rumors between us? How does that help you?”
“What kind of method do you think he’ll use to regain his magic?”
I froze.
“Well, I don’t know either. Only the real Yuri—no, not even me—only the original knows.”
In my past life, his magic returned before I even realized it.
I almost said it out loud.
The truth is, I don’t know how it happens.
Maybe he needs a helper.
Or time, a magic circle, a tool, a sacrifice—something.
Whatever the case, it could happen at any time.
The only thing giving me comfort right now is that Siwoo’s lost his memory.
But even that could just be part of an act.
“Which means… it could happen at any moment.”
“I don’t think there’s much time left.”
In my past life, it took six whole years.
Maybe not this time.
But I doubt it’s happening right now either.
If Siwoo’s faking his amnesia—or if it’s real—either way, it means he’s not ready yet.
“Then there’s only one solution.”
“One?”
“Kill him.”
“…”
I was speechless.
Kill him?
Kill Siwoo?
Did he really mean that literally?
A chill ran down my spine.
No matter what, even if Siwoo was just a character in a book…
That’s not right.
The Mage Tower rightfully belongs to Siwoo.
A fake—no, a fake of a fake—wants to kill the rightful owner to take his place?
Even if he’s a character in a book, there are lines you don’t cross.
This world belongs to Siwoo.
I may have been dragged here against my will, but messing with the story and stealing his place—that’s just wrong.
* * *
