***
“Is the Archmage of Ilnord real?”
“Who knows?”
The magic displayed at the banquet was undoubtedly real.
However…
‘He’s nowhere near my teacher’s level.’
There was definitely some trick involved.
A letter secretly arrived for Delight.
‘This letter seems quite suspicious.’
Despite his thoughts, Delight checked the letter.
“What does it say?”
“See for yourself. Then burn it.”
Delight handed over the letter.
“Your Majesty, if this information is true…”
“We still don’t know the sender’s intentions. We must verify it carefully.”
“Understood.”
Zaire immediately placed the paper into a lamp and burned it.
“For now, if the Archmage of Ilnord’s abilities are real… we need to determine the extent of his skills.”
Since it was the founding anniversary, people from various nations had gathered.
Rather than feeling hostility or tension, most were simply intrigued after witnessing Hayron’s magic.
However, in Promian, if his abilities were indeed real, preparations had to be made.
At that moment, Delight, deep in thought, spoke quietly.
“Could it be possible to increase a mage’s mana using counterfeit magic stones?”
“That’s impossible. Magic stones serve only as an aid; they cannot be absorbed as mana.”
“Normally, that’s true.”
What he was referring to was a counterfeit magic stone.
A grotesque creation brought into existence after countless experiments driven by Ilnord’s obsession.
“…Even so.”
Even Zaire couldn’t completely deny the possibility.
“Do you think it’s possible that Archmage Hayron used them as well?”
“I can’t be sure.”
But the possibility had been on his mind from the beginning.
The real question was how it was possible.
And to what extent his power reached.
Based on the show he had put on, it was starting to make sense why Ilnord seemed so confident.
“There’s no way he came here just to show off his abilities.”
“I will keep monitoring him.”
***
Serdin was having breakfast with Hayron.
It was the only time of the day when they could sit together and discuss the progress of their work.
“Has the princess taken the potion?”
“Yes.”
“Could you tell me when exactly she drank it?”
At Hayron’s question, Serdin sharply stared at him.
“Are you doubting me and checking up on me?”
He did not bother hiding his displeasure.
No matter how great a mage Hayron was, Serdin was a prince.
Hayron had no right to command him or inspect his performance.
“Haha. Of course not. It’s just that I was the one who made the potion, after all.”
Hayron clarified, as if to avoid any misunderstanding.
“…What?”
“I made that potion.”
Hayron repeated himself firmly.
Serdin barely managed to keep his face from twitching as he calmly spoke.
“I mixed it into the wine that the princess drank during the banquet.”
“Ah, I remember. The wine you handed her.”
Hayron nodded in agreement.
“Then it should be enough now. I gave her some as well.”
“What do you mean? When?”
“Yesterday. The opportunity just happened to arise.”
Hayron smirked meaningfully.
“The princess has no mana, nor does she possess extraordinary physical abilities.”
“…….…”
“That makes it even more fatal.”
At that moment, Serdin felt his heart drop.
But he couldn’t let it show.
He clenched his fists tightly to suppress his emotions.
Seeing this, Hayron continued, looking a little excited.
“If she doesn’t take the potion, a single mana surge could be life-threatening.”
“………”
“She won’t last long.”
Hayron spoke with confidence.
Meanwhile, Serdin desperately fought to keep his composure.
Feigning nonchalance, he asked Hayron:
“By the way, are you not attending today’s banquet?”
“What about you, Prince?”
“The princess won’t be attending today, so I thought I might skip it as well.”
Serdin spoke calmly, trying to guide Hayron’s thoughts.
“Even if I don’t go, wouldn’t it be better for the Archmage to attend? You attracted quite a bit of attention yesterday.”
The more frequently he showed his face, the more attention he would receive.
Serdin had already noticed that Hayron enjoyed being in the spotlight.
“Hmm. Do you think so?”
Hayron pretended to consider it, but his interest was obvious.
And, as expected…
“Then I shall go.”
He made his decision without hesitation.
***
Serdin sat in his room, sipping tea.
Everything was quiet.
So quiet that he could hear a door shutting in the distance.
Even the sound of a humming voice gradually fading down the corridor.
Hayron had left his room.
Serdin set down his teacup and stood up.
Silently, he exited his own room and walked down the hallway.
He opened the door Hayron had just left from.
As expected, the room was empty.
‘I need to find the antidote.’
He carefully examined the objects in the room.
He searched the drawers and even looked under the bed, but found nothing.
He took another careful look around the room.
‘The bed seems a bit high…’
Lifting it slightly, he noticed something hidden within the frame.
When he removed the cover—
‘This is… the thing I saw before…’
It wasn’t the antidote he was looking for.
“I knew I wasn’t mistaken back then.”
An enormous number of counterfeit magic stones.
What could he possibly need so many for?
As Serdin carefully examined the amount of counterfeit magic stones, trying to assess their quantity—
“What exactly are you doing here?”
A familiar voice came from behind him.
Standing at the doorway, Hayron glared at Serdin with a cold gaze.
“It seems you’re searching for something in my room.”
Hayron slowly stepped forward and spoke.
“Is it this?”
Hayron took something out from his robes.
A small box containing a round pill.
“I brought an antidote with me when I came to Promian, just in case. There’s only one.”
“………”
“But seeing you looking for it… Don’t tell me—you’re betraying Ilnord?”
“Whether I follow His Majesty’s orders or not is my decision.”
Serdin’s eyes remained fixed on the item in Hayron’s hand.
Noticing this, Hayron smirked and tauntingly shook the box in front of him.
“It seems you want this quite badly.”
Then, with a sly grin, he tucked the box back into his robes.
“Don’t make me harm you, Prince.”
He released a faint aura of mana, his voice dripping with menace.
“If something were to happen to you here… there’s someone who would be quite pleased.”
“………”
Serdin knew exactly who he was referring to.
His expression darkened.
Just then, he sensed movement outside the door.
“Who’s there?!”
Hayron unleashed an attack spell toward the door.
Boom!
The door shattered, and whoever had been standing behind it was thrown back as well.
Hayron strode forward to inspect the intruder.
“Ah, no, I was just…”
“What are you doing here?”
Serdin recognized the person and frowned.
It was Derek Flint.
At first, even Serdin had trouble recognizing him.
But the nervous stuttering, the timid face—it reminded him of Derek’s younger self.
“I-I came to see Prince Serdin… but then I heard a loud noise from this side…”
Derek stammered, visibly shaken.
He looked completely overwhelmed and terrified, as if on the verge of panic.
Tsk. What terrible timing.
Serdin bit his lip, feeling a growing sense of urgency.
That’s when Hayron’s low voice rang out.
“Since you’ve overheard our conversation, I can’t just let you leave.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“It’s best to deal with him first and figure out the rest later.”
Just as Hayron raised his hand, aiming magic at Derek’s heart—
“No!”
Serdin pushed Hayron away.
“Are you interfering with me right now?”
“Don’t act recklessly.”
“If you keep resisting like this, I’ll deal with you first, Prince.”
Hayron’s eyes had a dangerous glint.
As if he had shifted his target from Derek to Serdin, he advanced without hesitation.
Serdin took a step back, only to find himself pressed against the wall.
“W-Watch out…!”
Derek pushed Serdin aside and lunged at Hayron.
The sudden attack caught Hayron off guard, making him lose his balance and fall backward, preventing him from casting his spell properly.
“What are you doing?!”
Serdin, shocked, tried to move toward Derek.
“D-Don’t come closer! Just go and… get someone, hurry!”
“Are you insane? Do you really think you can hold him off for even a minute?”
If they hesitated, Derek’s life would be in grave danger.
“I’ll hold him down; you go and—”
Serdin was trying to calculate a way to subdue Hayron when—
“Hurry…! I-I’m scared…!”
Derek, despite trembling in fear, held on to Hayron tightly and shouted.
“Hurry!”
Serdin had no idea why Derek was so stubborn about holding onto Hayron.
‘There’s no time to argue.’
With no other choice, Serdin turned away.
Lingering here was even more dangerous. It was better to get help as fast as possible.
“Just hold on a little longer. Or hide somewhere!”
Serdin sprinted off to find someone capable of subduing Hayron.
As fast as possible!
“Help me!”
Serdin burst into Delight’s office, shouting the moment he entered.
“What’s going on?”
Delight, surprised by his sudden entrance, frowned slightly.
“Serdin?”
Delight wasn’t alone. Ollia was there too, along with someone else.
“Derek Flint is being attacked by Hayron right now! Please help!”
But Serdin had no time to process the situation.
Every passing second only made him more anxious.
