He was a person who was unparalleled in terms of honesty.

Wanting to be praised.

“I want to see you all go ‘wow’ and be amazed at what I’ve done.”

“I’m already amazed and saying ‘wow’. I really didn’t think you’d actually find them.”

“Who did you find?”

Teddy, who had been quietly listening to the conversation between the Tower Master and Sesenia, tilted his head.

“Well. The Tower Master found the culprit who did that to your hair.”

“…Really?”

“Yes. It’s quite old, but I’m certain.”

The Tower Master, who was proudly shrugging his shoulders with his chin jutting out, scratched his head as if he remembered something.

“No. I’m not 100% sure. I had too little contact with that slave.”

“…Now you say this…?”

“I just need to check once more.”

The Tower Master approached Teddy and touched his hair. Just like before, something flowed into Teddy through that hand.

The Tower Master nodded with a satisfied expression.

“As expected, I’m amazing.”

“Is it correct?”

“Yes. There aren’t many like me who can find the owner of that magic after seeing it just once. Sesenia. You’ve brought a very good person.”

Watching him shrug his shoulders, Sesenia nodded.

“That’s right. Having someone like you help me is truly heaven-sent.”

“Ah! I see. So even at times like this, God helps you.”

“God? Well, I’m an atheist.”

Looking at the resolute Sesenia, he gave an inexplicable smile.

“Instead of this, let’s quickly hear the story.”

With those words, the Tower Master twirled his finger. Once again, a separate space appeared.

Rummaging around as if looking inside a pocket, the Tower Master grasped a thick rope and pulled it out.

Then, a man with his mouth and eyes covered popped out.

The man who came out staggering without making a sound wobbled unsteadily and fell to the floor with a thud.

Watching the man roll around as if in pain, the Tower Master frowned.

“Crying in pain just from falling like that. Sit up properly.”

At those words, the man with his eyes and mouth covered hurriedly sat up.

Even that took quite a long time as his hands and feet were tied.

“Now I’ll reveal the culprit’s face.”

As if the Tower Master’s words were magic, as soon as he said he would hear the story, the black cloth covering the man’s eyes was removed.

“Have you seen him before?”

“No. I’ve never seen him before.”

“What about you?”

The Tower Master stared intently at Teddy. But Teddy shook his head.

“No. If I had seen him, it would have been a quite memorable face… I’ve never seen him before.”

It was the same for Sesenia.

In all of Sesenia’s lives, she had never seen a man who looked like this.

Should one say the man’s face was pentagonal? The man with a strangely angular face had wrinkles all over, as if to show he had aged.

“I see. Then let’s hear the story. Hey, criminal. Start talking.”

“…”

“You’re not going to talk?”

“…”

“Not saying anything at all. You’re a tough one.”

The Tower Master, who had pulled up a chair and sat down at some point, stroked his chin and shook his head.

Seeing this, Sesenia awkwardly pointed at the man’s mouth.

“Isn’t it because his mouth is covered?”

The man with his limbs bound had been struggling as if trying to say something since earlier.

The gag in his mouth seemed to be magical as no sound escaped, so he seemed to be trying to show that he was willing to speak through his actions.

Hearing Sesenia’s words and belatedly grasping the situation, the Tower Master’s eyes widened.

“Oh. I see. I had forgotten for a moment. That I had put that thing in his mouth.”

As he moved his finger, the gag in the man’s mouth disappeared.

“This guy’s name is Gelox. About 20 years ago, he was quite a notable magician in the magic tower, but he suddenly retired. It took a bit of effort to find him. Of course, I, the Tower Master, found him quickly.”

The Tower Master shrugged his shoulders and crossed his legs.

“How about that. Impressive, right?”

“It’s really impressive.”

For some reason, the Tower Master, who seemed very thirsty for praise, smiled brightly at Sesenia’s compliment.

“Yes. Now it’s your turn to talk. Hurry up and tell your story to make me shine even more.”

“What, what??”

“You really don’t understand words. What on earth happened?”

“What do you mean what happened… Suddenly you brought me here and ask questions out of nowhere… What am I supposed to say…!”

“Gelox.”

Sesenia called his name once.

“Y-yes, my name is Gelox, but… I don’t know anything. Even now, I was just dragged here without any explanation.”

“Are you really saying you’ve done nothing wrong? As a magician, have you really never once tarnished your own name? Gelox.”

The Tower Master looked at Gelox with a fierce expression.

“I can’t say I’m completely innocent. People usually… do small things. But I really haven’t done anything to tarnish my name. Miss, young sir. Please stop the Tower Master. I haven’t done anything wrong, but he’s cornering me like this. I’m terrified. I’ve been out of the magic tower for a long time and I’ve already quit being a magician. Why are you…”

As if feeling extremely wronged, he kept talking hurriedly.

Just looking at that, it seemed like they were bullying an innocent person, like they were planning something wicked, so Sesenia looked at the Tower Master.

With him protesting his innocence so much, is this man really the one who did it?

She looked at the Tower Master with that question in her eyes, and he seemed to immediately notice those gazes as he slightly rolled his eyes.

“Alright. Fine. I’ve really become kind.”

“Pardon?”

“In the past, I would have just, huh!? Sigh. Forget it. Alright. Let me tell you, since I’m being exceptionally kind today. Gelox. About 20 years ago. You cast a spell on a child.”

“What…?”

“And today is the time for atonement for that past transgression. If you speak of it with your own mouth, your sin will be greatly lightened, but if by any chance you don’t speak of it yourself… You’ll suffer a terrible fate.”

“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Hah, this is why the recent ones are so frustrating. Haven’t you heard the rumors about me, the Tower Master? I’m quite a terrible person, you know. And it’s not often that I give such a big opportunity like this.”

The Tower Master slowly shook his head as if looking at something pathetic.

“O-opportunity…?”

“Yes. Opportunity. A very precious opportunity. You’ve received a great favor. But my patience isn’t very long, you see. If you make me speak again painfully, I’ll just send you to hell regardless of your sin to wave goodbye, so speak.”

“…I, I really don’t know what this is about.”

“Ha. I tried to be nice but you’re really making this troublesome. Sesenia, wait a moment.”

The Tower Master, who had suddenly stood up from his chair, approached the man called Gelox without any hesitation.

Although he wasn’t particularly large in build so he wasn’t threatening, it was a very threatening situation for Gelox who was sitting tied up.

“W-what… what are you trying to do now…”

“I’m going to make you come to your senses.”

The Tower Master placed his hand on Gelox’s head. And then he made a snapping sound with his other hand.

In that moment, Gelox disappeared and then immediately reappeared.

“Hmm. I wonder if that was enough.”

Sesenia was about to ask what had happened, if anything had happened at all, but in her eyes she saw Gelox in a serious state.

In that brief moment, he was foaming at the mouth… he clearly wasn’t in a normal state.

“Now do you have the will to speak?”

“Ugh… ugh…”

“Really, these days people don’t come to their senses even with this much. I guess I’ll have to do it again…”

“I-I remember.”

Gelox, who had been groaning with foam in his mouth, hurriedly opened his mouth.

“Making strange sounds while being able to speak. I really don’t like it.”

He had somehow returned to the chair he was sitting in, and looked at the Tower Master with his body trembling.

Watching his behavior, which was closer to that of a gangster or thug, Sesenia tightly held Teddy’s hand.

As if to say, You have to protect me no matter what. I think I may have chosen the wrong side.

“If you mix in any lies, you’ll taste pain worse than before. You saw them, right? The people in the river of hell. Those who were reaching out with hands that were nothing but bones, trying to devour you. If you don’t want to be dragged in there, you should think very carefully. I’m feeling very good lately, so I’m being merciful.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll speak. Tower Master! 20 years ago, I did something I shouldn’t have done for money.”

It was quite a straightforward confession. Where one might have expected hesitation or evasion, he didn’t hesitate at all.

As if that incident earlier, what the Tower Master had done, was truly too terrifying.

“What specifically is this thing you shouldn’t have done?”

“In the Empire, changing the hair color of imperial citizens is strictly forbidden. This is because of those who create fake imperial hair colors. And I committed that strictly forbidden act. I did something illegal.”

That straightforwardness was almost excessive.

Rather, he spoke so calmly that it made one wonder if this man had any feelings of regret at all, or if he might have some mental issues.

‘Well, after being taken to that strange place, even a sane mind would have gone crazy…’

“So whose hair color did you change?”

The Tower Master spoke up in place of Sesenia, who was mumbling.

“That…”

“Why do you want to suffer again? Are you some kind of masochist? If you like that, this time I’ll pluck you like a live chicken and…”