Chapter 39

“So, you two.”

Riana, who had stepped in between me and Ronos.

Riana looked back and forth between me and Ronos, then smiled leisurely and asked.

“Why are you fighting like this? First, Master. Why are you so angry?”

“Can’t you see? This guy is looking down on us!”

By the way, ‘Master.’

If what Riana said to Ronos is true, does that mean this demon Ronos is Riana’s magic teacher?

In my past life, when I met Riana again much later, she had become a far more powerful mage than Ronos.

What on earth happened…?

“We helped the Vanguard live a warm and comfortable life even in the frozen lands, and yet they dare to call us low-quality!”

“Really?”

Riana, faced with her master who was fuming with anger, didn’t get worked up herself and just blinked before calmly adding.

“We did help. But the Vanguard also helped our Rostia Magic Tower, didn’t they?”

“That’s not the way to look at it. We provided them with magic, and the Vanguard merely paid money. As a mage, you should know which holds more value, right?”

“Magic is, of course, useful. It’s true that its value and potential are limitless. But we can’t live without money. Mages need to eat and live before they can use magic, right?”

Riana’s calm words, delivered with a smile.

“We simply made a deal. Let’s call it mutual benefit. Is that not okay? Both sides gained from the deal, so why does one have to lose and the other win?”

“……”

Ronos’s expression seemed to have calmed down a lot after hearing that.

But to me, it seemed like he was just holding back even greater anger inside.

‘As Riana said, mages need to eat to use magic. But that doesn’t apply to Ronos. Because he’s…’

A demon, not human.

Ronos could survive without eating, but since he’s pretending to be human now, he couldn’t deny Riana’s words.

That’s why he’s suppressing the anger that naturally boils up from his disdain for humans.

But while that makes sense, it’s also puzzling.

Like other hidden demons, Ronos must have some purpose for hiding in this Magic Tower.

But when Commander Balthazar made a deal with the Rostia Magic Tower, it was after he had already made a pact with a demon.

There’s no way he didn’t know Ronos was a demon, so how did he become Riana’s teacher?

‘Ah. Is this also part of that guy’s design to create a more interesting situation…?’

The reason the Rostia Magic Tower didn’t help us until the end.

A design for more fun—if not that, there’s no other explanation to understand Balthazar and Ronos.

But if we leave it like this, the same thing will happen again.

No, it might be even worse.

Cerberus has already appeared much earlier than expected.

And even a particularly clever one at that.

With such a guy showing up early, if we reach that point in my past life again…

“Kairon oppa too.”

Riana called me, who was lost in thought.

“Master is a bit prickly, but you could be a little more polite. He’s one of the two most respected elders in our Magic Tower.”

“I apologize.”

I quickly bowed my head.

Of course, there wasn’t a shred of sincerity in that gesture.

Anyway, our goal is to break through the uncooperative Rostia Magic Tower’s interference and bring Riana to the Vanguard as a support mage.

If Riana says something, it’s worth listening to.

There’s no need to prove that my apology isn’t sincere, as I have no intention of apologizing to a demon.

“Hmph.”

Ronos stroked his beard as I bowed my head.

“Since it’s my most cherished disciple speaking, I’ll forgive you this once. Don’t show your lack of education. It reflects poorly not just on you, but on the group you belong to.”

I almost reached for my sword hilt.

No wonder he’s a demon, he knows exactly how to get under a human’s skin.

But since he said he’d forgive me this once, I decided to forgive Ronos just this once too.

After all, the ending will be…

I’ll make sure he burns and disappears from this world, just like the other demons.

“Master, can I go off on my own for a bit? Kairon oppa is someone I know.”

“No. Aren’t you my most cherished disciple? I can’t continue the lesson without you.”

“But he’s a precious guest who passed the Gatekeeper’s test, right? All guests should be treated with the utmost hospitality. That’s a common rule in all Magic Towers, isn’t it?”

“Ugh…”

Ronos pondered for a moment, then nodded.

“Fine. If you can’t attend the lesson, there’s no reason to continue. My head hurts just thinking about that guy, let’s end today’s lesson here.”

“Huh? I’m the only one not attending the lesson. There’s no need to go that far…”

“Everyone, dismissed! Go and rest!”

“Wow, thank you, Master Ronos!”

“Thanks, Riana!”

The students who were attending Ronos’s lesson cheered and scattered.

Most of them seemed to be promising talents, heading downstairs to rest.

“Ah, you could have continued without me.”

“It’s meaningless. Only you in this tower can understand my high-level teachings, my most cherished disciple. Then I’ll go rest too. But!”

Ronos, who had been speaking affectionately to Riana, suddenly glared at me.

“I don’t know what your relationship with that guy is, but don’t get too close.”

“Don’t worry. Kairon oppa isn’t a bad person.”

“Hmph. You still have a long way to go to become a great mage. The nature of all humans is… Huh?”

Ronos, who had been muttering to himself, suddenly widened his eyes and looked back and forth between me and Riana.

“Now that I think about it, it’s been a while since I’ve seen you this excited, Riana.”

“Ehehe, do I look like that?”

“It’s rare. I’ve never seen you smile like that before. Wait. Could it be that guy you mentioned…”

“Waaah!”

Riana suddenly rushed at Ronos, covering his mouth and forcing a calm smile.

“Be quiet, Master!”

“Ugh, ugh…”

“If you don’t, I won’t attend your lessons for a while.”

“……”

Riana only let go of Ronos when he stopped struggling.

“Fine. But my advice remains unchanged. Don’t get too close to that guy. Always remember. The nature of all humans is…”

“Master?”

“…Fine.”

Ronos, despite Riana’s warning, glared at me as if to make a point,

“Hmph!”

and walked away.

“Please understand our Master.”

Riana, looking at her retreating master with no hint of dislike, spoke to me with affectionate eyes.

“He’s strict with everyone except me. Even with himself. That’s why he reached such a high level in magic.”

“Well, I wonder. Anyway, it’s clear he cherishes you a lot.”

Finally, Riana and I could exchange relaxed glances.

“Have you been well, Riana?”

“No. I haven’t.”

“Wha…?”

The immediate answer caught me off guard.

“Why, why haven’t you been well? The Archmage of the Tower cherishes you so much.”

“Well…”

Riana suddenly smiled brightly,

and then—

Wham!

She unexpectedly threw herself at me, hugging me tightly.

“Wha, what the—?”

“I missed you so much, Kairon oppa!”

What is this aggressive display of affection?

The Riana I knew wasn’t like this.

When she was young, she was so shy she couldn’t even look me in the face, and when we met again in my past life, she was ice-cold.

But in this life, at this point, Riana is…

Riana, not satisfied with just hugging me, even rubbed her cheek against mine.

“Hehe, I missed you, Kairon oppa!”

“Get off me. What on earth is going on…”

“Hello.”

A stiff and calm voice made Riana and me freeze.

Turning our gaze, we saw Abelin bowing politely to Riana.

Riana, still holding onto me, asked Abelin in a gentle voice.

“Yes, hello. Who are you?”

“…Abelin.”

Abelin’s voice and expression, delivered so calmly, somehow felt…

“Abelin. Kairon’s companion.”

extremely cold and chilling.

I don’t know why, but it felt even more so than a cold-hearted demon…!