Chapter 34
On the other hand, Aeon’s face looked incredibly pleased as he gave that order. Even his pale cheeks, usually so white, had a rosy tint. His eyes sparkled as if he were a child about to put candy in his mouth.
‘I can’t let things go the way Aeon wants them.’
My desire to fix the out-of-control situation made my voice come out slowly, almost without thinking.
“I’d like to be sure of the punishment I’ll receive instead.”
“As you know, you’ll be kicked out of the Mage Tower.”
“And where do people go after they’re kicked out? Can they return to the village or wherever they came from?”
Aeon stared at me directly. This time, I didn’t shy away and met his gaze head-on. In a way, I felt it might not be bad to reveal what he had done in front of so many people.
“Tell me, where do they go? And why is there a rule that says you can’t speak about those who’ve been kicked out?”
“The rule is just a rule. Don’t people have similar rules among themselves? Married women must take their husband’s surname, or the firstborn inherits the title. Like those, there’s no special reason for the Mage Tower’s rules either.”
“But the Mage Tower’s rules come with a punishment, right? There’s no ethical reason or harm to anyone, so shouldn’t there be a valid reason for the punishment?”
The doubts and anger I had been suppressing exploded, and my sharp tongue protested more forcefully than ever before.
“That matter…”
Aeon paused for a moment. Seeing that, I gained some confidence, thinking I had made him a little uncomfortable. Before I could fully seize that confidence, Aeon smiled at me.
‘He smiled?’
“The matter is known only to the great archmage.”
The sudden mention of this great archmage threw me off guard, but I responded calmly.
“So, the great archmage. Could you answer my question?”
“I am not the great archmage.”
I kept quiet this time. I had assumed he was talking about himself. I ransacked my memory of the books I had read.
‘Wasn’t Aeon the greatest mage in the world?’
Not only in the novels, but even Selly had said that Aeon was the greatest mage.
“So, who is this person?”
“The one who founded the Mage Tower and left various mages behind.”
“So…?”
“Unfortunately, he passed away three hundred years ago, so we can’t ask him why he created such rules.”
I let out a laugh without meaning to.
“How could you make such a joke…”
But Aeon didn’t seem to care, turning his gaze toward the researchers behind him.
“Do you all think my words are a joke?”
“No!”
A loud, unanimous response rang out. I recognized the voice.
‘Selly…’
Following that, smaller voices were heard.
“How dare anyone treat the great archmage’s will as a joke?”
“That person seems to hear it as a joke.”
“Pick someone and let’s end it already. Don’t waste time…”
Their reproach wasn’t aimed at Aeon for giving such a harsh punishment, but at me. With a satisfied voice, Aeon asked the group once again.
“Do you have any complaints about following the Mage Tower’s rules?”
“A Mage Tower researcher has no right to question the rules.”
It was Selly’s voice again. The other researchers didn’t seem to differ much from her thoughts.
“There’s nothing to be done. It’s a little inconvenient, but…”
“It’s the great archmage’s will, so what can we do?”
For a moment, I felt as if I had been struck by something, and my head spun. It was like I was seeing double, as though the existence in front of me flickered and overlapped before returning to one.
‘They’ve all lost their minds.’
The boundary between inside and outside the building seemed so trivial. But the world I knew and the Mage Tower were ruled by completely different common sense.
“If you’re so curious about the whereabouts of those who’ve been kicked out, you can just wait and see what happens to the person Lady Selinia chooses this time.”
Aeon smiled leisurely. No matter how much I struggled, I couldn’t make a dent in him—he was the law and the king in this place.
“Go ahead, choose.”
The moment Aeon spoke, one hundred and fifty pairs of green eyes focused on me. I couldn’t help but step back.
“Pick someone to take the punishment in your place.”
To avoid death, I had to make everyone in the Mage Tower my enemy. Furthermore, as someone who knew what would happen to that person, this was as good as indirect murder.
‘But… can I refuse Aeon’s offer?’
Even in this moment, I couldn’t bring myself to say that it would be better to die than sacrifice someone else. I hesitated, knowing full well how despicable and cowardly it was.
“Surely you won’t say you can’t choose?”
“Could I go wherever I want if I’m kicked out?”
“Are you saying you’ll take the punishment yourself?”
Aeon looked at me sharply, and a red glint appeared in his eyes. My response seemed to have provoked him.
“Why would you make such a foolish choice? It’s a punishment you could easily avoid.”
His eyes burned like fire, and it felt like he could burn me to death. I wasn’t imagining it out of fear—I knew exactly how far his magic could reach.
‘What point made him this angry?’
I couldn’t tell. But now, it was more important to calm his anger than understand his emotions.
My dry throat wouldn’t allow me to speak properly. I could barely make a sound, my dry lips trembling.
“No, I was just asking.”
“Good thinking.”
He bent down and leaned in closer to me.
“I believed you would make a wise choice this time.”
“W-when have I ever made a foolish choice?”
It was a sincere question. I wondered why Aeon was so fixated on me, an extra. Maybe I had done something wrong to him without realizing it. Given his reaction, it seemed that was the case.
“Yes. You have made a very, very foolish choice before.”
His slow, deliberate words pierced deep into my chest. In that instant, I knew that I couldn’t escape from him and would never be forgiven.
‘Karina.’
I barely held on to my collapsing heart, clinging to the hope of the protagonist’s promise.
Aeon leaned in even closer, his cold breath brushing against my ear. The killer’s breath was icy.
“That’s why I was so curious about the choice you would make this time.”
Only then did I realize. The great archmage’s rules were nothing but an excuse to Aeon. He was just curious about how I would react. My trembling figure had become his amusement, his new entertainment.
‘So that’s it.’
Growing up as an orphan, I had learned that it was better to stay low like an extra than to step up like the protagonist. This had been true in my past life and this one as well. A hero who takes care of everyone and sacrifices themselves wasn’t a role for orphans like me.
I had done it this way before, and there was no reason not to do it again. With that thought, I began to see this as my opportunity.
‘I could get rid of one of the killer’s puppets.’
My eyes naturally turned toward where the maids had gathered. Soon, my gaze met with someone I had been thinking of.
If I had been in their place, I would have turned away. They would have known what I was thinking. But this person didn’t avert their gaze. Instead, they calmly smiled, as though they had expected this all along.
“Karen.”
My voice seemed to deepen the silence that enveloped the Mage Tower. Perhaps the cruel sound of summoning someone to take my place had turned into black darkness, swallowing time and space. Only Karen moved slowly, like someone walking toward hell.
‘She already hated me, so now she wants to tear me apart.’
But in front of me, Karen seemed calmer than ever. She smiled softly and spoke with an easy demeanor.
“I knew you would choose me, Lady.”
“Why?”
“Why, you ask? Shouldn’t that be something I say to you?”
“Aren’t you resentful?”
“Not at all.”
“Then…?”
I wanted to grab Karen and shake her, demanding why she seemed so calm.
“The decision has been made. Karen will take Lady Selinia’s punishment.”
Without waiting any longer, Aeon announced that the victim had been chosen. A senior maid raised her hand. I thought she was going to speak about Karen’s punishment or the unfairness of it all.
“Then may we leave now? It’s time for dinner, after all.”
