Mage Kim Geunhong (4)

The name Black Tower came from the mage's mouth.

She had to be talking about the Black Tower I knew—the very same Black Tower still visible beyond this place.

I examined the painting again.

It was merely a gray background with a single straight black line drawn across it, but that line trembled ever so slightly. It was as though the painter had been consumed by fear and madness, his hand shaking as he barely managed to draw the line.

The Black Tower.

And the girl.

I guessed that both were terrifying entities far beyond imagination. Naturally, they must also be beings of immense stature in this world of inhuman magecraft.

"They say the Nightmare Painter went mad while painting this, gouged out his own eyes, shoved brushes into them, and died. In a sense, it's his final work."

"..."

"It's a truly great work, but...! As expected, with Lord Grok standing before it, the painting doesn't look great at all! Ah, how wonderful it would be if Lord Grok were the one hanging in this frame!"...