“Why so? Didn’t you win?”
Grisha, who found herself constrained by chains, raised her head and offered a smile, yet Lennok’s countenance remained unmoved.
“Let’s stop it already. Isn’t it a waste of your mana?”
“Damn, I was planning to tease you more, but you’re no fun since you catch on so quickly.”
In that instant, Grisha, who had been shackled, saw her form crumble, and she stepped out from right behind it, her visage unharmed.
Observing this, Lennok calmly produced a fresh cigarette.
It’s not particularly astonishing.
Even when he had chained her ankle and initiated the first attack, Grisha had completely broken free from the gravitational pull and appeared from a completely different location.
He had been skeptical when he first saw it, but after a second observation, he could clearly understand.
‘She’s bending perception by channeling a tremendous amount of mana into space… This isn’t something I can replicate.’
An extraordinarily powerful amount of mana, and a blunt method that couldn’t even be attempted without an equally powerful output.
It might not be without skill, but it far exceeds the cost-effectiveness of any spellcraft Lennok had considered.
“Shall we start the second round then? This time, let’s keep hitting each other until one of us passes out.”
Lennok responded sarcastically as she stepped forward, boosting her mana.
“Why should I?”
“What?”
“You think I’ll get angry or flustered if you keep provoking me like this? When you’re this blatant, it actually makes me less likely to get upset.”
At that moment, Grisha closed her mouth for the first time.
Lennok looked down at her and spoke calmly.
“The first time could have been a coincidence, but when several signs overlap, it’s close to inevitable. Amon’s subtle attitude was probably part of it too.”
There had been many indicators.
In the first few days after arriving in the autonomous region, the elemental Davi had continuously felt someone’s gaze on him.
Even after finding out Lennok’s true identity, Amon, who had been following Lennok, continued to test him.
And the mysterious attitude of Lapis, who never got to the point until Lennok himself arrived in the autonomous region.
Even Grisha’s actions, which seemed as if she was deliberately picking a fight with Lennok.
It was clear.
They were wary of Lennok accepting the proposal to join them, the very reason they had called him to the autonomous region in the first place.
Pieces fit together in Lennok’s mind, accelerating his thoughts.
‘Probably, the lighthouse keeper’s story about battle with the Pandemonium isn’t a lie. But the attitude of standing by while a spell caster initiates the first attack feels awkward. As if they’re constantly checking my reaction… I see.’
Lennok nodded.
“You were worried that I might have already made contact with the Pandemonium.”
A chilling silence followed.
Grisha’s overpowering mana that had filled the room also dwindled, and Lapis’s eyes widened.
Amon, who had been tagging along with Byzen, also stood up quietly and looked at Lennok.
“I assume you have some method to determine whether I’m in contact with the Pandemonium by shaking my emotions. And that method… is undoubtedly utilizing the ability of The Great Seer.”
Were Lennok’s casually spoken words a baseless bluff?
Or were they the blade probing the truth?
Judging by the reactions of the onlookers, the answer seemed clear.
“Hmm…”
At that moment, the enthusiasm that had filled Grisha’s face washed away like a lie, and she took a step back.
Grisha shrugged her shoulders, casting a glance at Lapis.
“So it’s come to this. Shall we continue?”
“…No, that’s enough. The result won’t be different anyway.”
Lapis, who replied with a composed expression, slowly rose from her seat.
Her eyes still radiated a profound intensity.
Lapis descended from the communal altar and approached Lennok.
A petite stature that barely reached Lennok’s chest, suggesting her youth.
Lapis looked up at Lennok, hesitated for a moment, and then lowered her head.
“I apologize. I had intended to explain everything after all this is over, but it’s not going so smoothly.”
“Go on.”
“I agree with what Evan said. Originally, I was planning to shake Evan with Grisha’s help and confirm the truth with my own eyes during the commotion.”
“…”
“Under this lighthouse, the ability of the Celestial Sight becomes stronger. Nevertheless, I found nothing inside you, Evan.”
Without any excuses, Lapis candidly admitted all of this.
Grisha and Amon silently accepted her decision from the side.
A complete change of attitude compared to earlier when they had disregarded Lapis, a sign that at least the chaotic spellcaster acknowledged her as a supervisor of the lighthouse.
While Lennok was gauging the reactions around him, Lapis continued.
“I’m not sure if you’re aware, but recently, the momentum of the Pandemonium has been unusual. Especially, there are rumors that they’re secretly approaching talented wizards like Evan.”
“So you needed to hastily verify my trustworthiness?”
Lennok tilted his head and replied. Smoke billowed from his mouth, dissipating into the cold air of the hall.
“That’s not a convincing excuse. If you want to persuade me, you’ll need a better reason.”
“…”
“As it stands, I don’t see a significant difference between you and the Pandemonium.”
“It’s not different.”
Lapis calmly acknowledged that blunt fact.
Now it was Lennok’s turn to fall silent.
“…”
“Not different. In an age where even the Ascendants have
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