Maxium’s eyes nearly popped out in surprise, but he quickly grabbed the book.

“How can such a book be in a place like this! May I, may I look at it?”

“Yes.”

As I nodded, Edan began to frantically turn the pages.

For a priest of the library, he seemed to have a great interest in books.

If it’s a book on black magic, it must be a rare item that can’t be seen in the temple.

Maxium’s expression, as he read through the book in an instant, was beaming for the first time.

“May I ask where this book came from?”

In the middle of frantically flipping through the book, Maxium suddenly looked at me with a darkened expression.

Well, I understand. Black magic is clearly illegal.

I raised my index finger and pointed to where the black book had been.

“It was over there in that corner.”

Maxium followed my fingertip with his gaze.

And only then did he calmly look around the library.

“What an enormous amount of books. On the way here, Hillstain said this was the Duke’s hidden house, but I didn’t know he had a hobby of buying books.”

“I don’t think Edan has such a hobby either. Because Edan doesn’t read books.”

“What? Then what are all these books for?”

I nodded to Maxium, who seemed bewildered, as if I fully understood his feelings.

“I think the original owner of the castle probably collected them.”

“Who was the original owner?”

“I don’t know. It’s hard to tell. There’s only that one book on black magic, and the other books range from plant growing to children’s fairy tales, romance… Sometimes even extremely red books appear.”

As I spoke, remembering the book titled “For a Burning Night” that Edan was holding, I blushed.

As I shook my head, trying to erase the memory that came to mind, Maxium suddenly clung to the edge of the desk.

“What’s wrong?”

“Th-th-this is the symbol of the Grand Magician!”

“What?”

The Grand Magician’s symbol? I hadn’t seen that.

As I approached to look closer, there really was a small symbol.

But it was too simple to be the Grand Magician’s symbol, just a square mark.

“This?”

Is it real? As I narrowed my eyes in disbelief, Maxium began to busily move around between the bookshelves.

“Look! Here too! And here, and here! The symbol is stamped on all the bookshelves!”

Maxium, who seemed very excited, spread his arms wide and shouted, his eyes sparkling as if he had discovered an incredible treasure trove.

Then he suddenly turned his head towards me.

“Lady Latieana.”

“Yes?”

“Does the Duke know as well? That this place…”

“Was the Grand Magician’s castle?”

“No. I just found out too. And it was Sir Ruben who purchased this place, and the two of them weren’t very interested in the castle.”

Originally, it was bought just to give Edan, who had become sensitive, a place to rest for a while.

Maxium clutched his head.

“To think you possessed such a precious heritage. As expected of the Duke.”

“But other than this book, there weren’t many important books. Especially books about witches, no matter how much I looked, I couldn’t find any…”

“That’s impossible. There must be a secret space somewhere.”

Hmm. The Grand Magician, huh.

Well, considering the state of the castle when I first came here, it wouldn’t be strange if an eccentric Grand Magician had stayed here.

“He was a person who mastered magic, black magic, witch’s spells, and everything else without discrimination to reach the highest position. Although he’s passed away now, having been ostracized for withdrawing from political struggles, he’s still called a legend among magicians and priests. To think that there are traces of such a person in this castle, if possible, I’d like to quit my priesthood and…”

Maxium, who had been feeling around the building, suddenly stopped speaking.

“But… why were you looking for books about witches?”

“Well, about that.”

Where should I start and where should I end the explanation? Having worked as Edan’s spy for several years, he was trustworthy enough to keep secrets. But still, since he’s a priest of the temple, I should be careful about talking about Ivy. And also about my healing power…

As I hesitated a little, Maxium came closer.

“Actually, I had something I wanted to ask Lady Latieana as well.”

“What is it?”

“That day, what happened in the Grand Saint’s room? What kind of person is Grand Saint Ivy?”

“…Pardon?”

That day, Maxium and Hillstain didn’t see Ivy taking away my power.

Then why is he asking such a question? Does he know something?

“First, before that, I’d like to ask. Are you two really like family?”

Like family… They’re just a f***ing relationship.

She just saw me as a sucker.

Recalling the past I remembered when I lost consciousness, I frowned.

“No. Not at all.”

At my cold response, as if saying what a terrible thing to say, Maxium nodded slightly.

“So it was a lie after all.”

“You were suspicious?”

“Actually, I didn’t know until I brought you to the temple. It was just because the Duke asked for it. But clearly that day…”

Maxium’s gaze turned to my hand.

“I saw Lady Latieana’s hand that had turned into a mummy. And in fact, I haven’t told anyone about this… but I saw it.”

“Saw what?”

“Grand Saint Ivy turning the saint candidates into mummies. So.”

“…You mean that my hand you saw in Ivy’s room that day and the saint candidates dying as mummies were Ivy’s doing?”

“Ah, probably.”

Maxium seemed a bit flustered by my calm demeanor after revealing such a big secret.

I spread my hand wide open to show him.

“It’s not probably. Ivy turned my hand into a mummy that day. Fortunately, it returned to normal, but if Edan hadn’t appeared, I would have died as a mummy like the other saint candidates.”

“I knew it! My guess was right!”

Maxium clenched his fist, saying he had expected this.

“Wait a moment, then… what happened? The Grand Saint has sufficient healing power…”

Maxium trailed off. After pondering something for a while, he suddenly widened his eyes. As if he had guessed something, he raised his head and stared at me intently.

“By any chance, have you used healing power on the Duke?”

It was a statement loaded with many meanings.

A spoonful of doubt about Ivy’s healing power, and a spoonful of curiosity about my healing power, which was known to be insignificant.

“Yes.”

As I nodded, Maxium almost shouted but covered his mouth.

“S-so that’s why the Duke seemed to be in a good mood lately, why he stormed into the temple to save Lady Latieana…”

As if he couldn’t hear what I was saying, Maxium was rolling his eyes back and forth, trying to organize his confused thoughts.

As a priest, he would know better than anyone.

The reason saint candidates die as mummies is that their healing power is taken away.

And that day my hand had turned into a mummy, and Edan came to save me.

In other words, Ivy tried to take away my healing power and Edan stopped it.

Maxium, who had been Edan’s spy, must have thought it was strange.

He had the same thought as Hillstain. He was suspicious of why Edan, who was suffering from side effects, was taking care of me instead of Ivy. And Ivy was desperately looking for me.

Maxium was likely to have noticed that I might have stronger power than Ivy.

“If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to measure Lady Latieana’s healing power again. Could you help me?”

It was as I expected. Maxium was thinking that I might be the real deal.

“Of course. Gladly.”

Maxium, who instantly realized that this place was the Grand Magician’s castle.

A man who can obtain information because he’s a priest and can give enough trust to reveal Ivy’s identity.

Moreover, he manages the books in the temple library, which is likely to have a much larger collection than this place.

It would be beneficial in many ways to join hands with him.

I extended my hand towards Maxium as if to negotiate, meaning I would do so anytime.

“…?”

Maxium, not understanding my intention, shook hands with me in bewilderment, and at that moment, there was a sound of the door being smashed. Bang bang!

“E-Edan?”

Goodness! I almost had a heart attack!

“Suddenly, what…”

“Knock.”

“…”

How on earth was that a knock just now?

I don’t know what twisted his mood again, but Edan tilted his head askew while saying something nonsensical. And behind him, Hillstain appeared.

“Please shake my hand too.”

“…”

Seeing the sharp eyes of the two men, Maxium quietly let go of my hand.

“Th-then I’d like to go back now. Could you please let me leave?”

What are you saying, Maxium.

I put my hand on my forehead, making a tearful face.

Anyway, whenever these weirdos appear, I get a headache.

Ivy, who returned to the room with an expression so cold it was devoid of any warmth, threw her clothes.

The sound of clothes falling to the floor was loud in the deep pre-dawn hours when not even the sound of insects could be heard.

Moonlight poured into the large, dark room.

Ivy raised her hand towards the window, naked in the moonlight.

Her nails, densely studded with pearls and diamonds, reflected the moonlight so brightly it was dazzling.

They were elaborate nails that suited her delicate fingers well.

The soft skin becoming increasingly white, almost transparent, the appearance of the Grand Saint that everyone praises as beautiful.

Whisk, as Ivy turned to face the large mirror, there was no trace of the cruel woman from moments ago anywhere in her appearance.

“Useless things.”

Ivy, who had briefly raised her smooth lips, quickly frowned.

Tonight too, she had returned after absorbing the power of the saint candidates. Tomorrow morning, several more mummies would be discovered, but it would have no impact on her.

Who would dare imagine?

That the cause of the saint candidates dying in the temple would be herself, the Grand Saint.