Cassian stared at Astaire, who sat across from him with a sullen expression.
The chosen one was leisurely sipping his tea with a calm face.
“Then let’s do this. If I successfully complete the quest I was given, I’ll take on this task too.”
That was how Elsez ended up accepting the Mamarung quest and heading into the forest.
Cassian couldn’t shake the feeling that he had somehow been caught up in the pace set by Astaire and Elsez. But since it was Elsez’s choice, there wasn’t much he could do about it.
Unable to hide his displeasure, Cassian openly showed his irritation to the person before him, effectively dismissing him.
“If you’re done here, leave. Stop being a nuisance.”
“There’s something I haven’t told you yet.”
Cassian gave Astaire a bored look.
Astaire set down his teacup and finally spoke.
“The truth is, the Demon God has already been resurrected.”
“What?”
Cassian, who had been lounging with his chin resting on his hand, immediately sat up straight.
“You’re joking, right?”
“I wish I were.”
“That’s impossible. Do you know how hard we fought to take him down?”
At the mention of the Demon God, a certain face immediately came to mind.
“All that sacrifice… She died because of him…”
Cassian clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. Even now, recalling that memory felt like a blade piercing his chest.
“Then why aren’t you telling anyone else? You were the first to criticize the imperial family for covering up the recent incidents.”
“Knowing there are groups trying to open dimensional rifts allows us to prepare for possible damage. But knowing the Demon God has returned would only spread fear.”
After all, fighting the Demon God was their responsibility as those who held power. There was no need to burden the masses with such terror prematurely.
“That fear is ours alone to bear.”
Cassian silently stared at his comrade.
His voice was calm, as if stating something obvious.
No matter how others saw him, to Cassian, Astaire was a true hero.
He had always been that way, but after Ruel’s death, he seemed to embody that role even more.
As if living as a hero was his way of honoring her.
“I’m leaving now.”
Astaire finished his tea, set the cup down, and stood.
Cassian also rose, following his movements, and asked,
“Is Rashiel still holed up in the Tower?”
“I heard rumors he’s been bedridden, but the details are unclear. That place has always been so secretive. If you’re worried, why don’t you go check on him yourself?”
“Worried? About him?”
Cassian grimaced as if he had swallowed something bitter. But his expression soon grew serious as he continued.
“…He’s not actually researching dark magic, is he?”
Astaire immediately understood what Cassian was concerned about.
“No matter what, he’s not that kind of person. You know that. Remember how he was after the Master… after Luel died?”
Ruel’s death had devastated all four of them. Rashiel was no exception.
He had disappeared, taking Ruel’s body with him.
Even after Astaire searched for him multiple times, Rashiel refused to meet anyone.
But a month later, he suddenly returned her body.
Preserved perfectly, as if she had died just moments ago.
Yet he hadn’t attended her funeral. After that, he vanished entirely.
The next thing they heard was that Rashiel had killed the previous Tower Master and taken his place.
Since then, the Tower, already known for its isolation, became even more closed off.
All they could hear about Rashiel were rumors.
There was no way someone like him would want to revive the Demon God who had taken Ruel’s life.
Astaire was sure of that.
Cassian wanted to believe it too. But the lingering doubt refused to fade completely.
“Do you trust him?”
Astaire lowered his gaze for a moment, thinking carefully. Then, with firm conviction, he met Cassian’s eyes and replied,
“I don’t trust him…
But I trust the Master who believed in him.”
Comments (0)