After a brief moment, the door opened.

He was different from what Cordelia had imagined. He was neither a horned devil nor a three-eyed demon.

Maximilian was a handsome man with dark blonde hair and green eyes. His pleasant appearance made him look gentle and kind to anyone who saw him.

“I heard you called for me.”

“Oh, yes. Maximilian. Come in. There’s someone here you’ll be glad to see.”

“It seems to be someone I’m meeting for the first time.”

Maximilian greeted Cordelia with a slight nod of his eyes as he walked towards her. Cordelia noticed that his gait was subtly unusual.

“Hello. I’m Maximilian Atilei. And you are, my lady?”

“Cordelia, Cordelia Abrams.”

She took a deep breath before uttering her name.

“Abrams. The domain located in the northeast of Ershe. A place rich in iron ore, isn’t it?”

“…That’s right.”

It was a first. Someone who knew exactly where Abrams was located. Just that alone sent chills down Cordelia’s spine.

“Menufio said I would be glad to see this person, but I’m sorry to say I don’t know you well, my lady.”

He appeared so polite and gentle that it was hard to believe he was Leonard’s brother.

That made him even more frightening. To think that with that face, he had desecrated his mother’s remains and stabbed his own brother to death.

“Maximilian. Don’t be surprised. She is Leonard’s disciple, they say.”

“Brother’s disciple? Brother left a disciple behind?”

“Yes. Haha. It seems that rascal left some contingency plan before he died.”

“Brother always surprised us.”

He smiled gently while gazing at Cordelia. Instinctively, Cordelia turned her gaze away to avoid eye contact. Maximilian spoke to her in a kind tone.

“If you don’t mind, may I see your seal?”

“My seal?”

“Yes. It’s not that I doubt you, but it’s better to be certain in front of the Seirius.”

“I don’t mind, but…”

“Is there a problem?”

“I don’t know how to show the seal.”

A brief silence fell over the room at Cordelia’s words. One of the Seirius let out a groan.

“Oh, my head. We’re about to seat someone who can’t even manifest a seal in the Seirius.”

“Tsk tsk. Never mind. Maximilian, help her out.”

“Yes. Then, excuse me.”

He very politely placed one finger on Cordelia’s wrist. It felt like a butterfly had landed, with no sensation at all.

Soon after, just as Rosenblur had done at the entrance, the seal engraved on her body began to glow.

The other Seirius members showed no particular reaction to this, but Maximilian was different.

His eyes shone brightly as he looked at Cordelia, like a farmer who had found a treasure in his field.

“To think that Acheron’s official successor has appeared. This is a great blessing for the Mage Association.”

“Hmm. It’s of great significance that Atilei’s research won’t be lost. Although Abrams has only been learning magic for a year, she will lead Acheron as a Seirius. Help her as you helped your brother.”

“Of course. But only a year of learning magic? It seems brother took Abrams as a disciple in a hurry.”

“Yes. That’s a pity. But, well, it’s better than nothing at all.”

“Oh, Maximilian. Abrams wants to go to Atilei’s research lab, so please guide her there.”

“Ah, the research lab. I see. It’s as if you knew to come at just the right time. If you had been a day late, it would have been permanently closed.”

He spoke with a strangely regretful tone.

The other mages had already turned their attention away from Maximilian and Cordelia, too busy chattering among themselves to notice anything strange.

“Follow me. I’ll guide you to my brother’s research lab.”

“Th-thank you.”

Cordelia glanced around before following behind him. For now, getting out of this strange room was the priority. After that, she would have to find an opportunity to escape.

She fiddled with the ring on her finger.

Maximilian created a large rectangular door in the empty space, just as he had done when they first arrived, and pushed it open to move forward.

After blinking a few times, the scenery changed to a quiet corridor with no one around.

“How did you meet my brother?”

“Just, by chance.”

“There are no chances for mages. Only fate exists.”

“Then I suppose it was fate. Between me and my master.”

It was just a casual remark she made without much thought. Maximilian laughed silently.

“You resemble my brother.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Seeing you, Abrams, reminds me of my brother.”

The words to tell him to call her Cordelia comfortably didn’t come out. And she didn’t ask why seeing her reminded him of her master.

Cordelia walked tensely and noticed one thing.

Maximilian dragged his right foot on the floor when he walked. It wasn’t a simple injury, but it seemed he was born with one leg shorter than the other. It was certain when she saw him walking from behind.

“We’re here.”

“Oh, already?”

To think he would guide her to Leonard’s research lab so willingly. It made her excessive tension seem foolish.

“I received this key. With this…”

But surprisingly, the door of the research lab opened effortlessly with a light gesture from Maximilian. Cordelia opened her mouth in shock.

The Baron had clearly said that no one but her master could open it. How did he manage to open it?

“Shall we go in?”

Putting her doubts aside, she took a step inside. The scent of flowers greeted her first, brushing against her nose.

There were an enormous number of books, all neatly arranged. It was a bit surprising how normal the place seemed.

“Is this my master’s research lab?”

“No.”

“…Pardon?”

“It’s my research lab. I wanted to have a talk with you.”

No wonder he guided her so willingly. Cordelia, who had momentarily relaxed, tensed up again like a wary cat.

At that moment, a thin man in a white robe came rushing through the numerous bookshelves.

“You’ve arrived.”

“Charon. This is a guest. She claims to be my brother’s disciple.”

“What? Acheron’s Seirius left a disciple?”

“That’s what she says. It’s fortunate, isn’t it? I thought Acheron might be lost forever.”

“But he said he would never take a disciple…”

Charon stared intently at Cordelia. His gaze was so intense that Cordelia had to turn her face slightly to avoid it.

“Oh my. I’ve kept Abrams standing for too long. Charon.”

“Yes.”

“Could you prepare a meal?”

“A, a meal? What should I prepare?”

“Hmm. Since we don’t know our guest’s taste, how about lamb?”

Charon’s face immediately turned pale. He bit his lip and half-bowed his head.

“Well, the preparations are inadequate…”

“Ah, don’t worry. I bought some high-quality lamb recently and stored it.”

“…Y-yes. I understand. I’ll prepare it.”

Maximilian added cheerfully,

“Now, Abrams, just follow me.”

“I’m sorry, but I need to go to my master’s research lab. Let’s have the meal another time.”

She couldn’t be dragged along by him any further. Cordelia made a firm decision and took a step back.

Maximilian, who had been walking ahead, smiled lightly at her words.

“I’ll take you there. Just after we finish this meal.”

“No. Right now. I don’t have time.”

“Why don’t you have time? You’re going to live here until you die anyway.”

When he said ‘until you die,’ Maximilian slightly raised one corner of his mouth, visible only to Cordelia.

“My husband is waiting for me outside. So I need to go out.”

“Husband? You married early. Then Abrams isn’t your original surname. May I ask what your maiden name was?”

His manner of speech was polite, but his tone was not at all. It was forceful, as if speaking to a subordinate.

“It’s Vasquez.”

“Vasquez? You mean that Vasquez?”

“Is there anyone else in Ershe who can use that name?”

“I’m surprised. To think that my brother’s only disciple would be a Vasquez.”

“I’ve answered all your questions, so let me go now.”

“Hmm. You haven’t answered my last question yet.”

“Last question?”

Maximilian ignored Cordelia’s question and simply turned and walked away. Cordelia thought about running away even now and looked back. Charon, who had been standing behind, bowed his head awkwardly with a forced smile.

“I’ll prepare the meal shortly if you wait a moment.”

Cordelia asked Charon,

“Are you his servant?”

“Servant… No. I’m his disciple.”

“Then you must be a mage. Can you guide me to Leo- I mean, my master’s research lab?”

“Ah, I can’t. If I send a guest away on my own, I’ll be killed.”

Charon jumped up and tried to dissuade Cordelia. He strongly urged her to talk with Maximilian.

Cordelia looked alternately at the tightly closed door and where Maximilian had walked. Charon slightly blocked the door with his body and urged her.

“The master is waiting.”

“Alright.”

In the end, Cordelia had no choice but to turn her steps towards where Maximilian had gone.