Chapter 26

As a yellow magic circle appeared at their feet, the onlookers behind them gasped in admiration.

“A yellow glow means it’s high-level magic.”

“Our sect wanted him, but that old man snatched him up first.”

The brown-haired mage let out a shout and thrust one finger into the magical field.

“Oh! Oh, oh, it seems to have gone in!”

“How do you figure?”

“Doesn’t it look like the tip of the nail went in?”

“Just the fact that it didn’t bounce back is a significant achievement.”

The finger, now pale, pushed slightly further into the magical field.

“The first joint of the finger is now inside!”

“It’s only a matter of time before the whole body can pass through!”

“Keep pushing!”

A few of the knights waiting behind them snickered, but considering they couldn’t even manage this much and had to leave it to the mages, they had no room to talk.

“Noah, be careful. You might lose your finger.”

“What?”

At the mentor’s words, the brown-haired mage’s pupils began to tremble uncontrollably.

“Focus! Stay focused!”

“We’ve got your back, so don’t worry!”

Progress was slow as the sun, once high overhead, began to dip to the side.

By the time the brown-haired mage managed to push four fingers into the magical field, his robe was soaked with sweat, and the other mages were in a similar state.

“Brother, just a little more effort.”

“If this mission succeeds, the sect will reward you handsomely!”

“You might even be hailed as the hero who saved His Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Finally, our sect will produce a mage capable of standing against the Master of the Mage Tower!”

Standing against the Master of the Mage Tower? 

The brown-haired mage nearly lost his focus at the absurdity of the statement, which was clearly meant to encourage him.

Fortunately, he managed to hold himself together, but just as he was regaining his balance, a commotion erupted in the distance and began drawing closer.

“Miss Kanna! Over here! Come this way! You can’t go that way! Miss Kanna! Please, over here! Miss Kanna!”

A young knight, his face pale with fear, was bounding toward them, and ahead of him, deftly evading his grasp, was Kanna, charging straight toward the Mage Tower.

“It’s nothing, Brother! Don’t turn around and just keep—wait, no!”

Kanna lightly brushed past the brown-haired mage, causing him to lose his balance entirely.

Oh no, there goes my finger! I should’ve only put one in!

When he opened his tightly shut eyes again, the brown-haired mage found himself sprawled on the ground.

His right hand was intact.

As he slowly sat up, he saw the shocked faces of his fellow mages.

“I’m fine!”

He raised his hand and smiled broadly, but at that moment, a realization struck him like lightning.

“Wait, did I just… get inside?”

The magical field now stood between the brown-haired mage and his fellow mages.

Looking down, he realized he was clutching the hem of a child’s garment in his left hand. It was Kanna’s.

Kanna, who had fallen along with him, irritably yanked her clothes free.

“How did you…”

“How did you get in there so quickly…”

“Isn’t that Miss Kanna?”

“The Master of the Mage Tower’s child!”

“What on earth is she doing here?!”

Everyone pressed themselves against the magical field, shouting.

Dusting off the dirt from her palms, Kanna stood and gave the brown-haired mage a weary look.

What an absurd stroke of luck.

She had been pulled through the magical field simply because he grabbed her clothes.

“What are you planning to do now that you’re inside?”

“Well, I thought I’d rescue His Highness the Crown Prince…”

Before he could finish, Kanna turned her head away.

“Wait here. I’ll bring him out.”

But this time, the brown-haired mage grabbed her pant leg.

When Kanna turned around, she saw the brown-haired mage holding onto her ankle with both hands, lying flat on the ground.

“You can’t go in there. It’s dangerous!”

“Did no one tell you I used to live here?”

“It might still be dangerous now!”

“That’s why I need to get him out quickly.”

“No, that’s not what I meant!”

It was like talking to a wall.

That was the moment when both Kanna and the brown-haired mage decided on their first impressions of each other.

The onlookers outside the magical field banged on it and shouted.

“Just bring Miss Kanna out already!”

“The sun’s about to set!”

The brown-haired mage scooped Kanna up and ran toward the people outside the magical field.

But he collided with the magical field and fell on his backside.

“I can’t get out!”

“Use magic, you fool!”

“But if I try the same method as before while holding Miss Kanna…”

The brown-haired mage stomped his feet in frustration.

“What do I do?! My bunny-like wife is waiting for me at home!”

“You’re the bunny here!”

“This is your chance! Go save His Highness the Crown Prince!”

“Just grab Miss Kanna!”

By then, Kanna had slipped from his grasp and was sprinting straight toward the Mage Tower. Left with no choice, the brown-haired mage chased after her.

The Mage Tower was just ahead.

Kanna was annoyed by the brown-haired mage hot on her heels.

If she used magic now, in front of so many witnesses, her secret of pretending to be a child in the Crown Prince’s Palace would be exposed.

There was no way she could reveal her true identity now.

She had planned to resolve the situation peacefully, but the knight who first spotted her had rushed at her, throwing everything into chaos.

Now, her only option was to rescue Michael and figure out the rest later.

Panting, Kanna climbed the stairs and placed both hands on the Mage Tower’s main door.

Recognizing its master, the door opened, and Kanna dashed inside.

If only the door could close completely…

“Oof!”

The brown-haired mage toppled over Kanna.

“Miss Kanna! What do we do?”

“…”

“I’m stuck.”

“What?”

Thinking his ankle was caught, Kanna quickly stood up, only to find that the edge of his cloak was caught in the door.

“…”

“You can open it again, right?”

“…Just cut it.”

“No, this cloak is precious to me. It was a gift.”

“Then why did you wear it here?”

“It’s really important to me…”

Kanna understood his sentiment but knew the door couldn’t be opened again.

“You saw the magical field outside, right? Once it’s activated, nothing inside can leave, not even the Master of the Mage Tower.”

“So this is one of those ‘you can enter but can’t leave’ situations…”

“Enough. Just stay here and guard your cloak.”

Kanna turned away, but the brown-haired mage grabbed her hem again.

“What now?”

“You’re the reckless one here, Miss Kanna.”

The brown-haired mage tightened his grip as if he wouldn’t let go.

Kanna sighed.

Fine, let’s try reasoning first.

“I told you, I used to live here. That means I can handle this situation more safely than anyone else.”

“There’s no such thing as safety in front of a monster! Everything is dangerous!”

“What are you even saying?”

Seemingly resolved, the brown-haired mage let go of Kanna and stood up.

With the sound of fabric tearing, a corner of his cloak was left in tatters as he stood.

The brown-haired mage clapped his hands once and asked cheerfully.

“So, what do we do now?”

Kanna raised an eyebrow, narrowing her gaze.

“Oh, by the way, my name is Renoah.”

“I didn’t ask.”

“You’ll need to remember it to call me later.”

Kanna sighed and turned away.

“Things are about to get really dangerous.”

“You said you could handle it safely.”

“…”

“Is it true there’s a monster in the Mage Tower?”

“It wasn’t a secret in the past.”

Kanna muttered as she examined the cracks in the Mage Tower.

“This forest was ruined because of an underground monster dungeon.”

“An underground dungeon?”

“Yes. The Mage Tower was built over its entrance as a kind of seal.”

“I always thought this was the Master of the Mage Tower’s home.”

“It is. Anywhere you can lie down is home.”

Kanna stared at Renoah’s back as he looked around the Mage Tower’s interior.

Should I knock him out?

If she was going to disappear as “Kanna” after resolving this, there wouldn’t be any need to explain herself.

But while she hesitated, Renoah turned back toward her.

“This is my first time seeing the inside of the Mage Tower.”

“Of course it is.”

“It’s so empty. Oh, can you hear my voice echoing?”

“Yes.”

“Why did they build it so tall and big?”

“…”

“It’s completely empty inside anyway.”

“Maybe your sense of aesthetics is lacking.”

“That could be.”

Kanna sighed, knelt on one knee, and placed her palm on the floor.

She could feel a presence beneath her.