Chapter 27
The situation was serious. It seemed Duke Ishtar had done something to all the wine at the social gathering. Judging by the unpleasant sensation, similar to encountering a magical beast, it certainly wasn't anything good.
The problem, however, was that this same unpleasant sensation could be felt from the nobles who had drunk the wine. In other words, with every sip of wine, something was accumulating inside their bodies.
'What's going to happen?'
Even as the Magic Tower Master, Franz couldn't know everything in the world. Especially the actions of crazed cultists, which were often bizarre beyond imagination.
Franz placed the wine glass he was holding onto the table. It seemed he absolutely shouldn't drink it.
Arian tilted her head curiously.
"Master? Aren't you having any wine?"
"Arian, lend me your ear for a moment."
Though puzzled, Arian did as Franz asked and leaned in.
"Duke Ishtar did something to the wine here. Don't touch it under any circumstances."
Franz whispered softly, worried someone might overhear.
"R-Really...?"
Arian replied in an equally low whisper.
Franz nodded in response.
'He's completely insane.'
He'd been told to find evidence that Duke Ishtar was a cultist, thinking it would be hidden away somewhere, but the Duke was carrying out his plans right out in the open. Of course, the Duke probably thought he was hiding it.
'Should I just kill him now?'
It certainly seemed like that would end things cleanly without further complications. It was painfully obvious what kind of results would follow if Duke Ishtar made his move in earnest.
He thought it was strange how welcoming the Duke was despite them never having met before, and this is what he was doing behind the scenes? You're dead today.
It was then. A familiar face appeared at the edge of Franz's vision.
'Yuna...?'
Although she was much thinner than the last time he saw her, he had never seen anyone else with such red hair.
However, Yuna's condition was too severe to be described merely as thin. Dark circles hung heavily under her eyes, her lips were dry and cracked, and her eyes lacked any vitality. Like a dead person.
'What on earth happened to her?'
While her tendency to laugh off even serious situations was annoying, conversely, Yuna had rarely lost her smile. She even smiled in her sleep while talking.
The fact that she, who had been so bright, was now the gloomiest person in this place was simply baffling.
As Franz continued his thoughts, Yuna, who had been anxiously looking around while biting her nails, fixed her gaze precisely on him. She stared blankly at him for a moment, then slowly began to walk towards him.
"Master?"
Arian asked, sensing something strange about Franz's gaze. But Franz couldn't reply to her.
Stopping Yuna from bringing about the world's destruction and stopping Duke Ishtar's plan—his head felt like it would explode just from those two things alone.
Arian's gaze followed Franz's. And she realized. Franz was staring intently at some frail-looking beautiful girl.
'Huh? She looks familiar somehow?'
Arian felt like she had seen the frail beauty somewhere before. Red hair and golden eyes. The Hero, yes, she was the Hero.
Alarm bells rang in Arian's head. First, the Elf requested dispatch, then the Saint personally gave him tea leaves, and now even the Hero had appeared. Moreover, in a frail state that evoked protective instincts.
'Was it not the Hero's party but actually the Magician-Seducing party?'
Regardless, she couldn't let Franz be snatched away like this. Arian subtly pressed herself against Franz.
"Master, I suddenly feel dizzy, perhaps some fresh air..."
"Arian, sorry, but I need you to be alone for a moment."
"Yes...?"
"If anything seems like it's about to happen, send me a telepathic message immediately. Don't be needlessly stubborn."
Arian blinked, taken aback by Franz's words.
Franz left Arian behind and walked towards Yuna. While the cultists' actions could be dealt with somehow, no matter what they did, if things went wrong on this side, it would be truly overwhelming.
Soon, the two stood facing each other.
"Yuna, long time no see."
Franz greeted her first. But Yuna just stood there blankly, offering no response.
'Ah, this is making me anxious.'
Yustia and Hera, at least they had talked. But Yuna wasn't saying anything, making the situation feel unnecessarily grave. Still, he couldn't give up.
"Is something wrong? Have you been eating properly? Why are you so thin?"
Franz spoke words of concern, just as he had with Hera. People usually let their guard down around those who worry about them. But this time too, Yuna remained silent.
"I don't know if you remember, but I don't think of you as a stranger, you know? So if you're having a hard time, tell me anything. I'll do whatever I can within my power."
He threw out the words, thinking it was almost his last resort. After all, if Yuna didn't respond even after saying this much, whatever else he said would be meaningless. Pestering her with questions wasn't really his style either-, he thought.
Of course, that didn't mean he was giving up. It meant he would watch for an opportunity and take care of her appropriately.
Then, Yuna's lips moved faintly. Seeing her look like she had something to say, Franz felt a flicker of hope.
As if rewarding that hope, Yuna's voice flowed from her lips.
"Franz, will you really do anything...?"
"Then tell me anything."
With the power of the Magic Tower Master, how many things in the world were impossible? Money, honor, even if she wanted to become the Emperor, he could grant it. Though he would try to persuade her otherwise first.
Sensing that an important conversation was about to take place, Franz quietly cast a soundproofing spell. Immediately, Yuna opened her mouth.
"Franz..."
"Yes, go on."
"Save my mom and sister..."
Mom and sister...? Had her family been kidnapped?
"Can you tell me a bit more detail?"
"Duke Ishtar kidnapped my mom and sister. And he said I have to obey his every word..."
"That's enough."
Franz cut Yuna off mid-sentence. He felt he understood without needing to hear the rest.
'He was even more trash than I thought.'
Collaborating with a cult, involving the Empire's nobles in an incident, kidnapping the Hero's family, and even using the Hero through blackmail. It seemed Duke Ishtar shouldn't be let off easily. He was like a demon wearing human skin.
Since the important conversation was over, Franz dispelled the soundproofing magic.
"Yuna, follow me for now."
Yuna nodded.
Franz took Yuna and headed back towards Arian. Arian wore a sulky expression, perhaps displeased at being left alone.
Franz felt a little unfairly treated himself, but he didn't voice it. Regardless, it was true that he had done something regrettable.
"Yuna, this is Arian, my secretary? She's trustworthy, so stay with her."
Yuna nodded at Franz's words.
But Arian was full of dissatisfaction. Bringing a new woman out of the blue and telling her to stay with her, did this even make sense?
"Are you planning to go somewhere again?"
"Duke Ishtar kidnapped Yuna's family."
Franz whispered softly into Arian's ear. Arian sighed deeply and nodded.
"...Be careful."
"Alright, send a message if anything happens."
"Yes, don't worry and go."
Franz left Arian and Yuna behind and slipped out of the social gathering hall. He hid himself in a suitable spot and sent out waves of mana in all directions.
The mana waves detected the plants in the garden, the knights guarding the mansion, even the mice hiding in small holes.
But something was strange.
'There's something in the basement.'
There was a huge mass of mana in the basement. And its wavelength was remarkably similar to that of a human. The problem was that it was only similar, not human.
Franz focused his mana and sent it towards the basement. It was to get a clearer picture.
'What is this...'
Franz's expectations were completely off. There were people in the basement. People with grotesque and distorted forms due to the power of the cult.
At that moment, Yuna's words suddenly flashed through Franz's mind.
─ Duke Ishtar kidnapped my mom and sister.
No way.
It couldn't be.
Please, let it not be true.
He prayed desperately, but no matter how much he scanned with mana, there were no intact humans in the basement.
Franz finally used Teleport to see for himself. And upon arriving in the basement, he finally faced it.
"Ugh, ughhh-."
Among the grotesquely twisted figures, one had hair the exact same shade of red as Yuna's.
Franz's hand slowly rose to his forehead. A deep furrow formed between his brows.
Just then, a telepathic message came from Arian.
[Master, Duke Ishtar says he has business with the Hero.]