How to Live as the Terminally Ill Younger Sister of the Villain - Chapter 29 - 5. The Master of the Magic Tower
“…except for… kind… “
A dusty memory buried deep in his heart flashed by unexpectedly.
“…you. Kind… “
In the hazy smoke, a flesh-colored mass wavered, taking shape.
But before it could become clear, he squeezed his eyes shut to erase it.
It was a great regret he didn’t want to recall, a sin he wanted to hide and had tried countless times to forget.
Feeling the guilt that had been waiting for an opportunity slowly creeping up, he desperately pushed that worn-out memory back down to the depths.
“Is that so? How strange. It’s so obvious even after spending just a few minutes with you.”
Not noticing his dark expression, Angelina spoke softly, recalling the latter part of the novel.
“You’ll hear it a lot more in the future.”
He was loved by many, along with the female lead. He was more popular among commoners than nobles, but nonetheless, he was loved as a benevolent authority figure.
It was far in the future, but still, hearing it now wouldn’t change much.
“Consideration can be learned, but kindness is innate, they say.”
Angelina told him something that she felt she had heard somewhere before.
“And they say kind people attract others around them. So I think many good people will gather around Your Grace in the future.”
She thought it was quite good encouragement for him, who would be busy persuading departed vassals to return and gather his forces.
But Blake didn’t respond.
‘Kindness is something you’re born with. Not me.’
The memory he wanted to forget kept trying to surface, making his steps heavy.
Chapter 5. The Master of the Magic Tower
The journey continued without incident.
“Welcome, Angelina Flaubert. And Blake Kadenhart. We’ve been expecting you.”
And just past noon, they arrived at the checkpoint.
Seeing the mages fully prepared to receive guests, Angelina asked,
“Did you know we were coming?”
“Nothing happens in the Dark Forest without the Magic Tower knowing.”
Though he smiled with his eyes while speaking softly, Mason and the other Kadenhart aides felt a surge of anger for a moment.
The eyes that swept over them while saying those words seemed to clearly say, ‘We’ve been watching all your foolish actions too.’
But there was nothing to gain by getting angry here, so they calmed themselves with deep breaths.
“Would you like some tea?”
“Hmm… As far as I know, there are lodging facilities at the second checkpoint.”
“That’s correct.”
“Then I’ll have to decline the tea, thank you. If we pass through here quickly, we should be able to reach the second checkpoint before sunset. What do you think, Your Grace?”
“I agree.”
Blake nodded at Angelina’s opinion.
“I see. Shall we proceed with the procedures then?”
“Please do.”
“Come this way.”
“Miss Flaubert, after you.”
“Thank you for your consideration.”
Blake stepped back, and Angelina followed the mage into a building. The building was made of glass, so the inside and outside were clearly visible.
Throughout her walk, Angelina felt gazes following her. All the mages at the checkpoint were glancing at her.
‘Is it because nobles don’t come here often?’
It was strange not to notice when they were glancing so openly. Nobles in high society had techniques to hide such looks, but mages didn’t.
“By the way, Miss Flaubert, that creature…”
Before entering the building, the mage guiding Angelina pointed at the fox familiar in her arms and asked.
“Oh, it’s my pet. Are pets not allowed in?”
If so, where should I leave it?
“No, not at all. I just asked because it’s a magical beast I’ve never seen before.”
The mage looked at the fox familiar with eyes full of curiosity.
‘They say curiosity is the driving force of mages, I guess it’s true.’
“Would you like to hold it?”
As he couldn’t take his eyes off the familiar, Angelina offered to hand over the creature she was holding.
The familiar, limp in her hands, tilted its head back to look at Angelina. With eyes that seemed to say, ‘What are you doing?’
“Even so…”
“Kyahak-!”
“Eek!”
But as the mage’s hand approached, it suddenly bared its teeth.
“Ah… I’m sorry.”
Angelina hugged the familiar back to her chest. Once she held it again, it closed its eyes and became docile as if nothing had happened.
“I didn’t know it was shy around strangers.”
Angelina spoke awkwardly, realizing for the first time how sharp its teeth were, as it had never been aggressive towards Haley or the knights.
“No, no, it’s fine. Magical beasts tend to be strongly attached only to their owners and dislike others. It’s my fault for trying to touch it unnecessarily.”
The mage waved his hands, repeating that it was okay several times.
In a slightly awkward atmosphere, Angelina sat at the desk he guided her to.
“Um… Would you like some warm water?”
The mage sitting across from her asked. It seemed he was offering water since she had declined tea.
“I’m fine. This won’t take long, right?”
“Yes, yes. It will be over quickly.”
He hurriedly placed the necessary documents in front of Angelina.
“I apologize, but I need to verify your identification.”
“Of course.”
Angelina willingly handed over her identification. Turning her head, she saw the knights undergoing inspection outside the glass.
The mage checked Angelina’s identification with a magical device and immediately returned it.
“Ahem, um… I need to ask about your purpose of visit for the record, if you don’t mind.”
His tone seemed to be trying not to offend her in any way.
Angelina found this strange.
Mages of the Magic Tower are respected everywhere. No one in the empire wants to make an enemy of the politically neutral Magic Tower.
So even if they were of common birth, mages affiliated with the Tower had no need to be wary of nobles.
So why was this mage being so cautious around her?
“I came to see the Tower Master.”
“Hic!”
As soon as Angelina finished speaking, the mage hiccupped.
“Are you alright? Should I get you some water?”
“No, no. I’m fi- hic!”
He tried to use the folk remedy of holding his breath.
‘I thought there might be a magic spell to stop hiccups, but I guess not.’
Angelina, knowing nothing about magic basics, looked at the mage curiously.
After a few seconds, the mage held his breath until the hiccups stopped, then let out a long sigh.
“Why the Tower Master…?”
He asked cautiously. And as if to prevent misunderstanding, he quickly added,
“It’s not that it’s not allowed. I just need to relay the reason to the Tower Master…”
Angelina stared at the mage as he trailed off, wiping cold sweat with his sleeve.
“I’m absolutely not trying to interrogate you, nor am I trying to skim anything off the top.”
It was a desperate excuse.
Angelina glanced around.
It wasn’t just this mage. All the mages who had been glancing at her flinched at her gaze and pretended to be busy.
‘This is definitely strange.’
Even if nobles rarely visit and they’re curious and cautious, isn’t this a bit much?
“I apologize if I’ve offended you.”
The mage quickly apologized, having interpreted her gaze somehow.
When Angelina still didn’t respond, the mage hurriedly scribbled with his pen.
“I’ll, I’ll just report that the purpose is a ‘meeting’.”
Even stammering. As if he wanted to escape this situation quickly.
“You’ll let me meet without stating a reason?”
Angelina asked, feeling a bit dumbfounded.
“We just relay the records to the final checkpoint. The decision is made there.”
“So if I don’t answer properly here, I might travel all that way only to be turned away at the door?”
“No, who would dare turn away Miss-!”
He started to answer in surprise, then cleared his throat with an ‘oops’ expression and quickly composed himself.
“Ahem, I mean, that’s highly unlikely.”
“How strange. I heard the Tower Master usually declines meetings with nobles.”
“Well…”
The mage seemed at a loss for words, his eyes darting around.
“As I said, we just relay the documents to the final checkpoint…”
Seeing him offer explanations that sounded like excuses, Angelina sighed softly, feeling quite sorry for him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrogate you.”
Right, how could this mage know the Tower Master’s mind?
She had ended up just tormenting the mage for nothing.
“The black lake containing the shadow of the sun.”
“Pardon…?”
“That’s the reason I want to meet the Tower Master.”
The mage froze for a moment like a broken doll. Then, with eyes and mouth wide open, he exclaimed,
“Su- su- sun, lake…!”
