Chapter 133
Serin (2)
Johan knew a fair amount about Serena’s older sister, a woman named Serin.
Serin had appeared several times in the original novel.
The Marcano family fell from grace during the arc involving her.
It was because of the magical connection linking Serin and Serena.
The kingdom regarded magic as a product of evil.
Once it was revealed that they had used magic, not even House Marcano could escape ruin.
Their excuse that they had only done it to save their daughter did not work.
In the past, Horentz Marcano had secretly invited a mage to help Serin, who had been born frail.
The mage sealed Serin’s body and soul inside a mirror.
Thanks to that, Serin was able to cast aside her feeble body.
She could live forever within a subspace where time did not flow.
It was the greatest mistake Horentz had ever made.
His desire to save his daughter had brought about his family’s downfall.
In the end, even Serena had been sent to the execution block.
At least, that was what happened in the original novel.
Johan intended to change that development.
He had to protect the Heart-Seeing Eye.
Johan sat quietly, lost in thought.
Serena had visited him a short while ago.
She had rejected Johan’s marriage proposal.
It was because of Serin.
Serena had not admitted it herself, but Johan was certain Serin was the reason.
Other than Serin, there was no reason for Serena to refuse Johan’s proposal.
Serin must have opposed the engagement.
But why? For what reason?
Johan was able to guess the answer quite easily.
“Serin is an existence that lives within the world of mirrors.”
She could appear anywhere there was a mirror.
She enjoyed observing people through them.
That detail had been mentioned only briefly in the original novel.
Of course, her role had been so minor that Johan had almost completely forgotten Serin even existed.
He clicked his tongue.
There are always things I overlook.
Had Johan been a little more meticulous, he would have become conscious of Serin the moment the grimoire Kaiaze had given him took the form of a mirror.
Unfortunately, he had not been cautious enough.
He had failed to connect the mirror-shaped grimoire with Serin.
Johan swallowed a groan.
I never imagined they would become entangled like this.
Serin had most likely seen Johan’s true nature through the grimoire.
She must have witnessed him shifting between demon and human.
After witnessing such a horrifying sight, Serin could hardly have done anything but oppose her sister Serena’s marriage.
Johan sighed.
He had never dreamed events would unfold this way.
The situation had become extremely troublesome.
And it was not a problem he could simply put off because it was bothersome.
He needed an immediate solution.
He could not leave Serin alone.
After thinking for quite some time, Johan summoned Haman.
Butler Haman entered the drawing room.
“Did you call for me, Baron?”
Johan said,
“Haman, bring Ilea and Lumina here at once.”
Haman showed no particular change in expression.
Even though the Archmage who had supposedly been burned at the stake only a few days ago was alive and openly interacting with Johan, he displayed no doubt whatsoever.
At first glance, Haman seemed like a fool who was loyal only to his master.
No matter what his master did, the butler would simply obey.
Johan had already discerned that aspect of Haman’s character.
Haman was a butler he liked quite a bit.
After bowing, Haman left the office.
Before long, Ilea and Lumina came to see Johan.
Johan gave them a brief explanation of the situation thus far.
Interest shimmered in the eyes of the Witch and the Archmage.
Ilea spoke first.
“A human who swims through mirrors. That sounds rather fascinating.”
Lumina nodded.
“A fairly advanced form of subspace magic must have been used. The mage who designed it was probably one of my juniors. I think I have a rough idea who it was.”
Archmage Lumina was a master of subspace magic.
The place where Ilea had first encountered her had also been a subspace Lumina had created.
It was another dimension concealed within the royal palace. Lumina’s mastery of spatial magic was great enough to make a mockery of an entire kingdom’s royal family.
Ilea voiced her genuine admiration.
“To have a mage like that as your junior… You certainly didn’t become an Archmage for nothing, Lady Lumina.”
Lumina’s shoulders rose proudly. She spoke with a somewhat arrogant expression.
“I am pretty remarkable. There’s a reason even the imperial family couldn’t catch me.”
In truth, the Empire had repeatedly failed to capture Lumina.
Catching a mage capable of constructing other dimensions was no easy task.
Johan, who had been listening to their conversation, spoke.
“Excellent. Lumina, if it’s you, you should be able to put me in contact with Serin.”
As luck would have it, Lumina was an expert in spatial magic.
Johan had not known that.
After all, Lumina had barely appeared in the original novel.
Lumina raised one corner of her mouth.
“That’ll be child’s play for me. Besides, you said that little girl Serin already made contact with the grimoire, didn’t you? That bitch opened the way for us herself, so this will be even easier.”
She sounded exceedingly confident.
Her confidence was probably not unfounded.
Johan was quite pleased.
Capable subordinates were always welcome.
“I like that answer. I’d like to meet Serin as early as tonight. Is that possible?”
Lumina nodded.
“First, show me the grimoire. I need to understand its structure before I can begin working on it.”
Johan looked out the window.
There was still quite some time left until sunset.
“We have to wait until night. Be patient.”
He needed Mapheltan to summon the grimoire.
In Johan’s body, he could not use any demonic authorities whatsoever.
The two were completely separate existences.
Lumina stared intently at Johan.
“The Thirteenth End… No, the Watcher of Narak truly is a peculiar existence. Would you allow me to examine your body someday?”
Anyone who dealt in magic was bound to become obsessed with the mysteries surrounding Johan.
Like Ilea, Lumina harbored a deep desire to study him.
Johan replied,
“I don’t mind. With your abilities, you may be of considerable help.”
He glanced at Ilea to gauge her reaction.
Ilea nodded.
“I agree. That black rift above Johan’s head—Lady Lumina might be able to determine what it truly is.”
Lumina looked puzzled.
“A rift? What rift?”
Previously, a black void had opened because of Third Prince Gawain.
Within that alternate dimension, Johan had encountered Ganish, the Apostle of the End.
Johan spoke.
“To explain it briefly…”
He gave her a concise summary of what had happened.
After hearing the entire story, Lumina’s eyes lit up.
“I’ll investigate it! No, I absolutely have to!”
Johan chuckled.
“Work on it with Ilea.”
Johan wanted to see the results as soon as possible as well.
Lumina spoke excitedly to Ilea.
“Let’s start right now! I have a workshop that’s perfect for research!”
Ilea smiled with her eyes as she gently admonished Lumina.
“Fine. But the matter with Serin comes first. Let’s deal with Serin before anything else.”
Johan nodded.
“She’s right. Lumina, return as soon as the sun sets.”
Johan intended to meet Serin that very night.
He had to silence her as soon as possible.
A trace of disappointment crossed Lumina’s face.
She let out a quiet sigh.
“…All right. I’ll see you again shortly.”
Lumina and Ilea immediately left the drawing room.
They would likely exchange their magical theories in preparation for that night.
There was nothing in particular Johan could do to help.
He knew nothing about magic.
The sun set.
Mapheltan summoned the Mirror Grimoire for the first time in quite a while.
Lines of crimson text covered its transparent mirror-like surface.
Lumina and Ilea were conducting a complete analysis of the grimoire.
More than three hours had already passed since they began.
All manner of equations and magic arrays adorned the workshop.
Mapheltan waited silently for the two of them.
He did not want to interrupt.
Just as the boredom was becoming unbearable, Lumina finally spoke.
“Ha… This is something else.”
Ilea sighed.
“This is quite complicated.”
A trace of unease crossed Mapheltan’s face.
“Did it not work?”
Lumina answered with a grave expression.
“There isn’t much room for me to interfere. The grimoire itself was designed to respond only to an Apostle.”
Ilea nodded.
“We’ve done everything we can from the outside, but it’s difficult to interfere with its internal structure.”
Mapheltan swallowed a groan.
“Are you saying I can’t contact Serin through the grimoire?”
Lumina and Ilea exchanged glances.
Lumina spoke.
“You can make contact. However…”
“The problem is what happens afterward. Once you enter the grimoire, you may not be able to get back out.”
Entering would be easy, but leaving would be difficult.
That was the gist of it.
Mapheltan did not ask why.
It would be a matter of magical theory, and he would not understand even if they explained it.
Mapheltan raised the corners of his mouth.
“That is enough.”
Ilea sighed.
“I knew you would say that, Mapheltan.”
Lumina looked bewildered.
“Lord Apostle, are you sure you properly understood what we just said?”
Mapheltan strode toward the enormous grimoire.
A black void lay at the center of the mirror.
The rift was the entrance Ilea and Lumina had created.
Mapheltan placed a hand against it and said,
“I will go and meet Serin. You two do what you must.”
He was telling them to create an exit somehow.
As though resigned, Ilea silently drew upon her mana again.
She was far too accustomed to Mapheltan behaving this way.
“Be careful.”
Lumina shouted in disbelief.
“W-Wait…!”
At that moment, the rift swallowed Mapheltan.
His figure vanished.
As soon as he entered, Mapheltan spread his wings.
He hurtled through the darkness at a dizzying speed.
I see her.
A small girl was desperately shouting toward the light.
“Serin.”
Mapheltan reached her in an instant.
A black hand clamped over her mouth.
On the other side, Serena’s eyes trembled violently.
Mapheltan snatched Serin away and concealed himself in the darkness once more.
Holding Serin tightly, he spoke in an eerie voice.
The pitch-black space welcomed Mapheltan.
There was no need to worry about losing his way.
There was only one path.
Mapheltan strode toward the distant light.
His crimson eyes left long trails through the darkness.
The light ahead grew steadily brighter.
Someone’s shout reached them.
“That man is a demon! No, he shifts between human and demon…”
“Now, now, child. Don’t be frightened. I’m not a terrifying monster.”
Serin struggled in terror.
Her frail body could not break free from Mapheltan’s strength.
Only muffled whimpers escaped her.
With his free hand, Mapheltan stroked her hair.
“I am a friend who will ease your loneliness. I will fill the emptiness within you.”
At the same time, Mapheltan turned Serin’s body around.
Within the pitch-black darkness, the demon and the girl met each other’s gaze.
Serin’s pupils widened.
“E-Eek…”
Mapheltan’s lips stretched into a broad grin.
“But before that, you must pay the price for spying on me.”
His crimson eyes gleamed ominously.