<Chapter 35> Maximilian
2023.12.05
She habitually fiddled with her ring as she opened the new door. At the center of a long table, Maximilian was already seated.
“Please, have a seat.”
“What’s the question?”
“I said sit down.”
“This is our first meeting—do we really need to have a meal together?”
Cordelia responded rather aggressively. She even hoped Maximilian would find her rude and kick her out.
But there was no change in Maximilian’s expression.
“You don’t seem to like me.”
“…That’s not true. I just have a hard time being around strangers, and it’s hard for me to eat with someone I’m meeting for the first time.”
“Why would you dislike me? I treated you politely and kindly.”
“Seems like you’ve forgotten that you invited me to a meal I didn’t want.”
“I was just curious about how you met my brother. I’ll never get to see him again.”
He wasn’t exactly the person who should be saying that, since he was the one who made it so she’d never see Leonard again. Cordelia marveled at his shamelessness.
“How much do you know about my brother?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why do you think he accepted you as his student?”
“Well, probably because he recognized my talent.”
“No matter what talent you have, it’s nothing compared to my brother’s. He awakened his magical power at five and has been rewriting the history of magic ever since.”
For the first time, Cordelia agreed with him. Though she was born with the ability to see magical energy, that alone didn’t determine one’s magical skill.
It wasn’t just about manipulating mana—one needed reasoning, memory, insight. Lacking any of these would make it impossible to reach Leonard’s level.
“My brother…”
Maximilian paused as if recalling something, then continued.
“He doesn’t trust people easily. That’s why he had no friends, no colleagues, not even students. He only used those relationships when they served a purpose.”
“I don’t see what you’re trying to say.”
“I’m saying you were just a chess piece. Used for his gain.”
“Well, that won’t be happening anymore, since someone killed him. He won’t be using me ever again.”
Cordelia sneered openly. Maximilian leaned forward and asked:
“Killed? That can’t be. I haven’t found his body yet.”
“……”
“You don’t know what kind of person my brother was. Until I burn his corpse to ashes myself, I won’t believe he’s dead.”
“Sounds like you’re saying you’ll find him just to burn him.”
“Exactly. I plan to find him and burn him. Only then can he rest in peace, don’t you think?”
With every exchange, Cordelia became more certain—this man was not sane. The most terrifying part was how naturally he wore a mask of kindness and politeness.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
Just then, Caron arrived carrying steaming lamb steak. He set the plate on the table and quickly left.
“Go ahead. Caron is an excellent cook.”
Cordelia sat, staring at the delicious-smelling lamb.
She recalled the first magic Leonard had taught her. It was a seemingly useless spell—one that could identify all the ingredients in a dish without eating it.
‘Instead of this, can’t you teach me how to shoot fire from my hands? Water or ice magic would be great too.’
‘Quit whining and do as I say.’
‘What am I going to do with some cooking magic? I’m not going to be a chef.’
‘At the very least, you’ll be able to detect poison.’
‘Come on. When would I ever be poisoned—’
But the lamb Caron brought was clearly laced with Tunaya, a toxic herb.
Colorless, odorless, ground into fine powder—it was impossible to detect with the naked eye. Without magic, Cordelia would’ve never known.
“What are you doing? I told you to eat.”
He calmly encouraged her. Cordelia took her eyes off the plate and stared directly into Maximilian’s.
“You must really hate me.”
“Me? Not at all. You’re my brother’s one and only disciple.”
“Then why is there Tunaya sprinkled on the lamb? Even a touch on the tongue is fatal.”
“Hm.”
Maximilian wasn’t surprised. Without changing his expression, he snapped his fingers. The sound was soft, yet Caron burst into the room as if thunder had struck.
“You called, Master?”
“Caron. The guest says there’s poison in the food.”
“W-What?”
“Why don’t you try it? Prove whether I was rude to our guest or not.”
“M-Master…”
At a small gesture from Maximilian, the plate floated up and gently descended in front of Caron.
His face went completely pale. Trembling all over, he collapsed to the floor.
“Please, Master, have mercy… Spare me…”
“If there’s no poison, you’ll be fine.”
Caron’s face was soon streaked with tears. Cordelia sprang up and shouted:
“What are you doing?! I told you it’s poisoned!”
“What do you mean? I’m just confirming whether it is or isn’t. Go ahead, Caron. You know I hate stalling.”
His voice remained as kind and gentle as when they first met.
Caron glanced up at Maximilian with tearful eyes, then, with trembling hands, picked up the lamb.
“Please take care of my sister, Master.”
“Of course. You know I care for Reyna the most.”
Cordelia rushed to stop him, but Caron was quicker. He closed his eyes tightly and took a bite. He didn’t chew much before his body started convulsing.
“Gah!”
“Hm.”
His limbs twisted grotesquely. Cordelia recoiled at the horrifying sight. The seizure was short-lived. Foam gathered at his lips, and he stopped breathing.
It had all happened in an instant.
Cordelia stared at the man who had just died at her feet.
She could hardly believe her eyes.
“You were right. Fortunately, the one who poisoned the food is dead now, so let’s just move on.”
“…You’re insane. Completely insane.”
“How did you know, by the way? You’ve only just started learning magic, but you already mastered identification spells?”
“You killed him. You ordered him to poison the food, and you killed your own disciple—how could you?”
“What are you talking about? I didn’t kill him. Caron poisoned the food himself, ate it, and died. That’s what we call suicide.”
Even in the face of Cordelia’s scream, Maximilian remained indifferent. Not a flicker of emotion crossed his face. The reality of Caron lying dead on the floor felt utterly surreal.
Cordelia stumbled backward. Chills crept from her toes to the top of her head.
One thought dominated her mind:
I need to get out of here.
“What do I need to do for you to let me go?”
“I told you. Just answer my final question.”
“What… is the final question?”
“Where is my brother right now?”
He rested his clasped hands under his chin and tilted his head slightly. Cordelia, panting, replied:
“How would I know? Where do dead people go?”
“Your seal… it was engraved recently.”
Like a hawk, he snatched Cordelia’s wrist. His grip was strong enough to make her grimace.
“Others might not know, but I’ve seen Acheron’s seal hundreds—no, thousands of times. So I know it well.”
“Ugh—”
“This was engraved only a couple of months ago.”
A glowing geometric pattern began to rise from her wrist. Cordelia twisted her arm with all her might to escape, but it was no use.
“In other words, this seal was engraved after my brother died—or rather, after he was said to have died.”
“Let me go.”
“Where is he? My brother?”
Magic began to gather at his fingertips.
Cordelia clenched her eyes shut.
