Chapter 133 - Serin (2)

Yohan knew a fair amount about Serena's older sister, Serin. She had appeared a few times in the original novel. In an episode involving her, the Marcano family fell to ruin because of the magical connection between Serin and Serena.

The kingdom considered magic a product of evil. Once its use was discovered, not even House Marcano could escape ruin. The excuse that it had been done to save a daughter did not help.

Years ago, Horentz Marcano had secretly invited a mage to help Serin, who had been born frail. The mage had sealed her body and soul inside a mirror, allowing her to cast off her weak flesh. In a separate space where time stood still, she could live forever.

It was the greatest mistake of Horentz's life. His desire to save his daughter brought about his family's downfall. In the end, even Serena went to the scaffold.

That was how it had happened in the original novel. Yohan intended to twist that course of events. He had to protect the Mind-Piercing Eye.

Yohan sat still, lost in thought. Serena had visited a short while ago and rejected his proposal of engagement. Because of Serin.

Serena had not admitted it herself, but Yohan was convinced that Serin was the reason. There was no other reason for Serena to reject his proposal. Serin must have opposed the engagement.

But why would she? What reason did she have? Yohan could guess the answer fairly easily.

'Serin lives in the world inside mirrors.'

She could appear anywhere there was a mirror and enjoyed watching people through them. The original novel had touched on this very briefly. Her role had been so minor, of course, that Yohan had all but forgotten she existed.

He clicked his tongue.

'There's always something I miss.'

Had he been a little more thorough, he would have thought of Serin the moment he saw that the Book of Doom 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 Book of Doom with Serin.

Yohan stifled a groan.

'To think it would all tie together like this.'

Presumably, Serin had seen his true identity through the Book of Doom. She must have witnessed him changing between Demon and human. Having seen that horrifying sight, she would have had no choice but to oppose her younger sister Serena's marriage.

Yohan sighed. He had never dreamed things would turn out this way. The situation had become extremely troublesome. Yet this was not a problem he could put off simply because it was a headache. He needed a solution now. He could not leave Serin alone.

After mulling it over for a long time, he summoned Haman. The butler entered the drawing room.

"You called, my lord?"

Yohan said, "Haman, fetch Ilea and Lumina at once."

Haman's expression barely changed. An archmage burned at the stake only days ago was openly alive and associating with Yohan, yet he showed no sign of questioning it. His loyalty to his master alone bordered on foolishness. Whatever his master did, the butler would simply obey. Yohan had already recognized that trait in him. He was quite pleased with Haman as a butler.

Haman bowed and left the office. Before long, Ilea and Lumina came to see Yohan.

* * *

Yohan briefly explained the situation to them. Interest flickered in the eyes of both the witch and the archmage.

Ilea spoke first.

"A human who drifts through mirrors. That's rather fascinating."

Lumina nodded.

"It must involve some fairly advanced separate-space magic. The mage who designed it is probably one of my juniors. I have a pretty good idea who."

The archmage Lumina was a master of separate-space magic. The place where Ilea had first met her had also been a separate space of Lumina's creation, hidden within the royal palace. Her mastery of spatial magic was profound enough to make fools of an entire nation's royal family.

Ilea voiced her genuine admiration.

"To have a mage like that as your junior... You certainly earned your title of archmage, Lady Lumina."

Lumina drew herself up proudly and spoke with a somewhat smug expression.

"I am rather impressive. There's a reason even the imperial family couldn't catch me."

The Empire had indeed failed time and again to arrest her. Capturing a mage who could construct other realms was no easy task.

Yohan, who had been listening to their conversation, spoke.

"Excellent. Lumina, you should be able to put me in contact with Serin."

As luck would have it, Lumina was an expert in spatial magic. Yohan had not known that. She had barely played a part in the original novel.

One corner of Lumina's mouth lifted.

"It'll be a piece of cake for me. Besides, didn't you say that brat Serin has already made contact with the Book of Doom? The little bitch has opened a path for us. That makes it even easier."

She sounded supremely confident. It was probably not unfounded. Yohan was quite pleased. Competent subordinates were always welcome.

"That's what I like to hear. I'd like to meet Serin as early as today. Can you manage that?"

Lumina nodded.

"Show me the Book of Doom first. I need to understand its structure before I can get to work."

Yohan looked out the window. Sunset was still a long way off.

"It will have to wait until night. Be patient."

He needed Maphel’tan to summon the Book of Doom. In Yohan's body, he could not use any demonic powers. The two were entirely separate beings.

Lumina gazed steadily at him.

"Thirteenth end... No, Watcher of the Abyss, you truly are a peculiar being. Would you allow me to examine your body sometime?"

Anyone who wielded magic was bound to be consumed by the mysteries surrounding Yohan. Like Ilea, Lumina felt a deep desire to study him.

Yohan said, "Well, I don't mind. With your abilities, you could be quite helpful."

He glanced at Ilea to gauge her reaction. She nodded.

"I agree. Lady Lumina may be able to identify that pitch-black rift above your head, Yohan."

Lumina looked puzzled.

"A rift? What's this about a rift?"

Some time ago, the third prince, Gawain, had caused a pitch-black void to open. Within that separate space, Yohan had encountered Garnish, an Apostle of the End.

Yohan began, "To give you a rough idea..."

He briefly summarized what had happened. Once Lumina had heard it all, her eyes gleamed.

"I'll investigate it! No, I absolutely must!"

Yohan chuckled.

"Work on it with Ilea."

He, too, wanted to see the results as soon as possible.

Lumina turned to Ilea, her voice brimming with excitement.

"Let's start right away! I have a workshop that's perfect for the research!"

Ilea smiled, her eyes crinkling, and gently reined her in.

"All right. But Serin takes priority right now. Let's deal with her first."

Yohan nodded.

"She's right. Lumina, come back as soon as the sun sets."

He intended to meet Serin tonight. He had to silence her as soon as possible.

Disappointment crossed Lumina's face. She gave a small sigh.

"... All right. I'll see you in a little while."

Lumina and Ilea immediately left the drawing room. They would probably exchange ideas about magic in preparation for the night. There was little Yohan could do to help. He knew nothing about magic.

* * *

The sun set. For the first time in a while, Maphel’tan brought out the Book of Doom. Lines of crimson text ran across the transparent mirror.

Lumina and Ilea were meticulously dissecting and analyzing the Book of Doom. Well over three hours had passed since they began. Equations and spell arrays of every kind filled the workshop.

Maphel’tan waited in silence. He did not want to disturb them.

Just as he was growing bored, Lumina spoke.

"... Ha. Well, this is something."

Ilea sighed.

"It's quite tricky."

Unease flickered across Maphel’tan's face.

"Did it not go well?"

Lumina answered gravely.

"There's very little room for me to intervene. The Book of Doom itself is designed to respond only to Apostles."

Ilea nodded.

"We've done everything we can from the outside, but it's difficult to alter the internal structure."

Maphel’tan stifled a groan.

"Are you saying I can't contact Serin through the Book of Doom?"

Lumina and Ilea looked at each other. Lumina spoke.

"Contact is possible. But..."

"The problem is what comes afterward. Once you enter the Book of Doom, you may not be able to get out again."

Easy to enter, difficult to leave. That was the gist of it. Maphel’tan did not ask why. The explanation would involve magic anyway, and he would not understand it even if he listened.

Maphel’tan smiled.

"That will do."

Ilea sighed.

"I knew you'd say that, Maphel’tan."

Lumina looked bewildered.

"My lord Apostle, are you sure you understood us correctly?"

Maphel’tan strode toward the enormous Book of Doom. A pitch-black void lay at the center of the mirror. The rift was the entrance Ilea and Lumina had created.

He placed his hand against it.

"I'll go meet Serin. You two do what you need to do."

In other words, they were to find some way to create an exit. Seemingly resigned, Ilea silently drew up her mana again. She was all too familiar with this sort of behavior from Maphel’tan.

"Be careful."

Lumina shouted in disbelief.

"W-wait a moment...!"

At that same instant, the rift swallowed Maphel’tan. His figure vanished.

* * *

Pitch-black space greeted Maphel’tan. There was no need to worry about getting lost. There was only one passage.

He strode toward the light in the distance. His red eyes left long, shimmering trails in the darkness. The light ahead gradually brightened.

He heard someone shouting.

"He's a Demon! No, he changes between human and Demon—"

The instant the voice rang out, Maphel’tan spread his wings. He shot through the darkness at a staggering speed.

'I see her.'

A small girl was shouting desperately toward the light.

'Serin.'

Maphel’tan reached her in an instant and clamped his black hand over her mouth. On the other side, Serena's eyes were trembling. He snatched Serin up and slipped back into the darkness.

Holding her tightly, he spoke in a chilling voice.

"Don't be frightened, child. I'm not a scary monster."

Serin struggled in terror. Her frail body could not break free of Maphel’tan's strength. Only muffled groans escaped her.

He stroked her hair with his free hand.

"I'm a friend who will ease your loneliness. I will give you what you lack."

As he spoke, he abruptly turned her around. In the pitch-black darkness, the Demon and the girl met each other's gaze. Serin's pupils widened.

"E-eek..."

Maphel’tan's mouth stretched into a wide smile.

"But first, you'll have to pay the price for spying on me."

His red eyes flashed ominously.