"......"

Here, Hilde made an honest confession through actions rather than words.

"Ugh! Hilde-ya?!"

Tears suddenly burst forth again.

It only took an instant for tears to fall from her pink eyes. Anyone could tell that her sorrow had reached its peak.

"You cried, Ayleth." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Ah, no, it's just that......"

"On our first meeting, too."

"Ughhh!"

Ayleth, unable to deny that she was the trigger, flustered and grabbed Hilde's shoulder.

"I-I'm sorry, Hilde-ya! I shouldn't have asked something so unnecessary...!"

"Ugh, sniff..."

"I was reckless. So, please, stop crying first..."

"Sniff..."

"No, why are you crying even more pitifully now?!"

"Waaahhh!"

"Ahh! I'm sorry for shouting! Even if I was completely wrong, please don't cry, don't cry. Hilde-ya, okay? Please stop crying. Be good... Ah, you’re not planning to stop, huh? Ugh, I give up. Fine, cry! Cry as much as you want! I’ll lend you my shoulder. Here!"

Hilde, in the end, did not refuse Ayleth’s shoulder and buried her face there.

While sobbing uncontrollably, Ayleth was confused, but in truth, the most confused person right now was Hilde herself.

'This isn’t like me.'

If she were to define her current behavior, it would undoubtedly be childish whining.

Was there any behavior less fitting for Hilde than this? Since she was young, she had always endured pain and sorrow in silence. And now, she was clearly being childish in front of a stranger.

'I’m supposed to be mature... Ah.'

It was only now that Hilde realized. It wasn't that she didn’t act childishly because she could endure it, or because she was emotionally numb, or because she was a strong person.

She simply couldn’t act that way. Whining was a luxury that required someone to accept it.

The child inside her, abandoned deep inside, wasn’t mature at all. She was so young that even the slightest kindness, a strange tenderness, felt like an opportunity to be seized.

It was embarrassing. And that was why she cried even more, feeling even more sorrowful.

'This kid...'

Meanwhile, Ayleth thought.

The incident that occurred with the collapse of the divine authority and the sacred order paradoxically affected the former members of the Goryung Church the most.

Hilde Marcelion no longer had a single trace of divine power. From the 7th tier to a powerless existence.

The significance of this fall was clear.

‘Goryung Church member.’

A heavy responsibility filled Ayleth’s arms with strength. As she embraced Hilde tightly, she awakened a solemn mission.

‘I have to spread the faith to her!’

But there was an obstacle.

"Have you cried it all out? Then sit up properly."

"Yes? Yes."

"That was an impressive cry, Hilde Marcelion. You’re right. There’s no god. You were right. We shouldn't acknowledge that the gods exist, especially after they've long left this world."

"Eh...?"

"Live hating the gods. Don't cling. Don't beg. You can live perfectly well without them."

"That..."

"Is humanity weak enough to rely on transcendent beings? Hilde Marcelion, are you that weak?"

"I... I..."

"You've been living well this far. Without any gods."

Reed was giving Hilde a mental lecture.

‘Hey, stop interrupting!’

Ayleth felt a serious sense of crisis and immediately intervened.

"What are you doing without even giving her a chance to respond? Are you brainwashing our Hilde-ya?"

"......Our Hilde-ya?"

"Ah, whatever! A new god has arrived, didn’t you hear? This god is different from the previous ones. And believing in this god doesn’t mean relying on their power. It means relying on their love and teachings as a beacon, just like how your eyes rely on light, your ears on sound, and your soul on emotions!"

"Is that a sermon? Sorry, but I’m an atheist."

"Uh-huh, right. Reed."

The declaration of a state religion was just used as a tool to cut off the regression, but Reed’s position remained firm.

Hilde quietly watched the back-and-forth between them.

Perhaps it was because of the strange intensity and energy they both exuded, or the sense of intimacy as though they had their own little world, but Hilde felt like she couldn't intervene.

'What should I do? Should I just step aside...?'

Of course, Ayleth had no intention of letting go of Hilde.

"Ah, what am I doing leaving Hilde-ya here? Let me introduce myself first. I’m Ayleth Rodeline. And this is Reed."

"Ah, yes..."

"Religious suggestions on a first meeting might be a bit much... By the way, will you attend the Mage Tower inauguration ceremony?"

The same question Ayleth had received earlier from her fellow mages during the day. However, a different answer came.

"...I don’t know. People like me can’t even get an invitation... If Odelite-unnie doesn’t take me... She used to like showing me off to people... but now... I’ve, um, become... no longer valuable... I’ve disappeared..."

Just as her voice began to break, Hilde was shocked. She realized she had been telling personal stories to this person.

"You must be exhausted from crying so much. Have this to cheer up."

Ayleth handed Hilde chocolate and candy, then reached out her hand to Reed.

"Reed. One invitation."

"For Hilde Marcelion?"

"Yes."

The dark-haired, handsome man opened his personal storage without a word and pulled out an invitation. As his elegant fingers brushed the edge, the name "Hilde Marcelion" was immediately written on it.

"Is she someone important from the Mage Tower?"

"Yes, very important."

With a mischievous smile, Ayleth introduced Reed playfully. Hilde blinked, not understanding.

"Now that Hilde-ya has an invitation, there shouldn't be any problem with her qualifications. Do you want to attend?"

"But..."

"Is there another issue bothering you?"

"Uhm... Alone... it’s a little..."

"Partner? It’s not necessary, but if you want, I have someone who can assist you."

"Yes?"

Hilde’s eyes widened, while Reed narrowed his gaze.

The first thing that came to mind when thinking about an escort was of course a knight. But Reed, who had long abandoned being a royal knight, reacted sensitively.

"I no longer need to bow to anyone or kneel for anyone."

Those things were reserved only for reverence.

Unfortunately, Reed didn’t get the chance to appeal that point to Ayleth.

"Don’t worry, Reed. I’m not asking you to do it."

"Then?"

"The Mage Republic is more open-minded compared to other countries."

It was possible even for same-sex partners. After all, Odelite had taken Hilde as her partner before.

That arrogant swordmaster had probably flaunted her dominance by accompanying the gentle 7th tier white mage as an ornament.

While Reed was dazed, Ayleth looked at Hilde and spoke.

"I hope to meet you again at the Mage Tower inauguration. Will you come?"

"......"

Once again, Hilde nodded as if hypnotized. Though she felt this wasn’t like her, by the third time, it didn’t seem so surprising.

✠

On the black-roofed Mage Tower, fireworks exploded across the blue sky, signaling the start of the Mage Tower Master’s inauguration ceremony.

The citizens still didn’t know who would become the new Mage Tower Master. The mages of the Republic’s leadership only guessed it would be Moriphis.

It was a huge misunderstanding, but the Mage Council didn’t correct it. Because they planned to make it happen.

"Great uncle, the black ceremonial robe suits you so well. If you enter the ceremony like this, everyone will surely recognize your authority as the Mage Tower Master."

"Hmm... Nephew, are you sure that person won’t show up today?"

"Yes. I’ve handled it properly."

Her words, handed along with a single earring, were pleasant to hear. Though the gaze directed downward carried a cunning glint.

'Yes, I’ve handled it well. The dead can’t come.'

Since Ayleth Rodeline and Reed left the Mage Tower, their whereabouts had been unclear.

After entering a restaurant, their very existence seemed to have been erased, a clean disappearance. This meant that the group hired by Odelite had done their work efficiently.

'No matter how powerful a magician, they can’t avoid an ambush. No, because they are great magicians, their stamina and reflexes must have been poor. Assassination is the best.'

There was no separate report of mission completion from the Night Eagle Assassination Guild. Usually, this would be an unsettling part, but Odelite found it satisfactory.

By avoiding unpleasant contact, they left no trace to be caught.

As expected, the guild handled the job cleanly.

"As planned, Great Uncle will take the seat of Mage Tower Master."

"It feels like a hijacking, but I guess I don’t need to worry about it. I would be happy to see that pink lady again!"

Spreading his wide arms in a joyful manner, Moriphis said excitedly. At just the right moment, attendants rushed to place a black robe adorned with gold bias and tassels on him.

Given the deep preference for dark colors among the Ragneap people, black symbolized the highest authority.

At the Mage Tower inauguration ceremony, wearing black was an unwritten rule, reserved for either the Mage Tower Master or their partner.

Thus, the mad magician’s attire was complete. Checking his pocket watch, Odelite’s eyes gleamed with excitement.

"Alright, it’s time. Enter with pride..."

At that moment, the problem occurred.

One of the Mage Council’s elders rushed in with news.

"Something’s wrong! Moriphis, Odelite! He’s here! He’s appeared!"